At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Late at night, at the Third Prince's residence.

It was already past midnight. Ordinary people would have already turned off their lights and gone to sleep, but the Prince's mansion was still brightly lit, with people coming and going. The sounds of footsteps, voices, and the creaking of doors opening and closing were all mixed together and were particularly clear in the quiet night.

The main hall was brightly lit by candlelight.

Xiao Jingyu paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed.

He had been walking like this for several hours.

"Report!"

A servant ran in from outside, covered in sweat and panting heavily.

"Your Highness, we've searched the entire northern city, but we haven't found any trace of Miss Su!"

Xiao Jingyu's expression darkened further, and he waved his hand.

"Keep searching! Expand the search area, don't miss a single corner!"

"yes!"

The servant turned and ran out.

Xiao Jingyu walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked at the dark night outside, feeling as if a stone was pressing on his heart.

Qingxue has been missing for almost a day and a night. He has sent out everyone he can from the palace, and even mobilized his advisors in the martial arts world, but so far, there is still no news.

"General Su, you entrusted your granddaughter to me, but I failed to keep an eye on her..."

He muttered to himself, his voice filled with remorse.

"father!"

Xiao Zhi Qiu and Xiao Zhi Xia walked in from outside, both of them wearing undisguised fatigue and disappointment.

Xiao Zhi Qiu's eyes were red, clearly from crying.

Although Xiao Zhixia was relatively composed, her brows were still filled with anxiety.

Xiao Jingyu turned around and asked anxiously, "How is it? Any news?"

Xiao Zhixia shook her head, her voice low.

"Father, your daughter led a search of all the inns in the south of the city, and even checked abandoned houses, but we couldn't find Qingxue. Zhiqiu led a search of the east of the city, but we didn't find any clues either."

Xiao Zhi Qiu bit her lip, her eyes reddening again.

"Father, we searched almost the entire capital, but those people were hiding too well."

"They planned this all along, and they must have prepared a hiding place beforehand. It won't be so easy for us to find them."

Xiao Zhi Qiu walked up to Xiao Jing Yu and voiced the suspicion that had been weighing on her mind all day.

"Father, do you think it's possible that the Crown Prince or the Prime Minister's men kidnapped Qingxue?"

"Didn't you say before that the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister were both protecting Xu Shigui in the court? They must hate Grandpa Su to death."

"If they capture Qingxue and take her to the Crown Prince's or Prime Minister's residence, our people won't be able to search her. How will we find her?"

Xiao Jingyu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He had thought of what Xiao Zhi Qiu said.

Crown Prince, Chancellor, heir apparent, and court minister.

If they really did it, then this is not just a simple "kidnapping," but a power struggle within the court, a game of power, and a conspiracy to kill Su Mu.

"First thing tomorrow morning,"

"I need to go to the Crown Prince's residence to find out the truth."

Xiao Zhixia frowned: "Father, you're going to the Crown Prince's residence? What if it really was the Crown Prince who did it? Wouldn't you be alerting him?"

Xiao Jingyu sneered, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"To stir up trouble? I want to stir up trouble and let them know that I've got my eye on this matter. If Qingxue loses even a single hair, I'll make them pay."

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The voice just fell.

The butler, Old Liu, stumbled in from outside, a smile of excitement on his face.

"She's back! She's back! Miss Su is back!"

Xiao Jingyu's heart skipped a beat, his eyes widened suddenly, and he asked loudly:

"What? Qingxue is back?"

Xiao Zhi Qiu asked excitedly, "Where? Where?"

Old Liu, panting, pointed outside the door, grinning from ear to ear.

"It's...it's right behind us! An old man on a white horse brought her back! They're already inside the mansion!"

An old man riding a white horse?

Xiao Jingyu's pupils constricted, utterly shocked.

"It's Elder Su!"

He rushed out of the main hall, his robe tipping over a teacup on the table, spilling tea all over the table, but he didn't care.

Xiao Zhi Qiu and Xiao Zhi Xia exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with surprise and joy, and quickly followed behind and ran out.

……

In the courtyard, the moonlight was like water.

Su Mu, holding Su Qingxue's hand, slowly walked towards the main hall.

Xiao Jingyu rushed out of the main hall, but stopped abruptly when he saw the figures of the old man and the child.

It really is a Shetland Sheepdog!

"Uncle Xiao! Sister Zhixia! Sister Zhiqiu! Qingxue is back!"

Su Qingxue let go of her grandfather's hand and ran towards the three of them.

Xiao Zhi Qiu was the first to rush forward, hugging Qing Xue tightly, tears streaming down her face.

"Qingxue! Where did you go? Do you know how long we've been looking for you? You scared me to death!"

Xiao Zhi Qiu hugged her, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Su Qingxue was held tightly by her, and gently patted Xiao Zhi Qiu's back.

"Sister Zhi Qiu, Qing Xue didn't run away on her own; she was kidnapped by bad guys."

"Those bad guys tried to use me to threaten Grandpa, but now everything's fine!"

She glanced back at her grandfather, a smile playing on her lips.

"With Grandpa here, those bad guys won't dare to come."

Xiao Zhixia walked over, squatted down, and carefully examined Su Qingxue, feeling both pain and anger in her heart.

"Qingxue, are you hurt? Did they hit you?"

Su Qingxue shook her head and said seriously, "No, they wanted to hit me, but Grandpa arrived quickly."

Xiao Zhixia pulled her into her arms and gently patted her back.

"It's alright, it's alright, it's good that you're back."

Xiao Jingyu walked up to Su Mu, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

"Lord Su, what brings you to the capital? You should have informed me beforehand so I could have come out of the city to greet you."

Su Mu helped him up and replied with a smile:

"I was so eager to see my granddaughter that I didn't think too much about it and came straight to the capital."

"Upon arriving at the city gate, I learned that someone had captured Qingxue, so I secretly took action to rescue her first."

Xiao Jingyu straightened up, his expression becoming serious.

"Old Su, who captured Qingxue?"

Su Mu nodded, but the anger in his eyes surged up again.

"They are from the Blood Robe Tower. They took money from the Xu brothers, Xu Zhaowen and Xu Zhaowu, to do their bidding."

Xiao Jingyu clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth.

"Xu Zhaowen and Xu Zhaowu? Those two beasts! How dare they lay a hand on anyone from my residence! They're courting death!"

His chest heaved violently, burning with rage.

"When His Majesty returns to court, I will definitely report this matter to him and punish them! How dare they send people to kidnap people right under the Emperor's nose, in the residence of a prince?"

Su Mu shook his head, his voice calm.

"Your Highness, there's no need to trouble yourself."

"They have all been killed by me, and the Blood Robe Tower's hidden agents on East Street have also been wiped out by me, burned to the ground."

Xiao Jingyu was stunned.

He stared at Su Mu with his mouth agape.

killed?

Xu Zhaowen and Xu Zhaowu were killed by Su Mu just like that?

Blood-Clad Tower, one of the most mysterious assassin organizations in the martial arts world, had been operating in the capital for many years, yet Su Mu wiped it out single-handedly.

"Mr. Su, you..."

Are you alone?

Su Mu smiled, seemingly unperturbed.

"Yes, alone."

Su Mu did not want to expose Liu Yuzhou's identity, which was also Liu Yuzhou's request.

Xiao Jingyu took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

He remained silent for a moment, then solemnly cupped his hands in greeting.

"Just kill him then."

"These two aren't good people either; they usually do shady things for the Crown Prince."

"They still dare to kidnap Qingxue; they deserve to die."

"I am already at odds with the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister in the court, so I don't care about adding this one more feud."

"I will go to the Crown Prince's residence first thing tomorrow morning to investigate his strength and weaknesses. If they dare to make a fuss about this, I will fight them to the bitter end."

He raised his head, his gaze resolute.

"Elder Su, I assure you, I will never allow the meritorious officials who have recovered lost territory for the Great Qian to be bullied by these corrupt officials in the court."

"When His Majesty returns to court and learns that the Northern Di King has been executed and the northern border has been fully restored, he will surely reward Elder Su and reward the three armies. At that time, let's see who dares to touch you and Qingxue."

Su Mu asked, "Is His Majesty not in the palace?"

Xiao Jingyu sighed, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"His Majesty took Consort Xu to the Ziyun Temple to cultivate his mind and body."

"Alas... His Majesty's health has been poor in recent years, and he has become obsessed with the pursuit of immortality, inevitably neglecting state affairs."

Su Mu smiled but didn't say anything.

He didn't want to get involved in matters of the imperial court.

Now, all he wants to do is spend quality time with his granddaughter.

Xiao Jingyu snapped out of his daze and quickly instructed, "Zhixia, quickly take Grandpa Su and Qingxue to their room to rest, boil some water, prepare clean clothes, and have the kitchen cook some good dishes."

Xiao Zhixia stepped forward, bowed to Su Mu, and spoke in a gentle voice.

"Grandpa Su, you must be tired from your journey. Let Zhixia take you to rest."

Su Mu smiled, his eyes full of kindness.

"Thank you for your trouble, little girl."

Xiao Zhixia then looked at Su Qingxue and reached out her hand.

"Qingxue, come on, let your sister take you to take a hot bath, change into clean clothes, and then get a good night's sleep."

Su Qingxue glanced at her grandfather, then at Xiao Zhixia, and obediently walked over and took her hand.

"Sister Zhixia, can Qingxue stay in the same courtyard as Grandpa tonight?"

Xiao Zhixia smiled and patted her head.

"Of course you can. Your grandfather lives right next door. You can see him as soon as you open the door."

Su Qingxue nodded happily and followed Xiao Zhixia to the backyard.

After taking a few steps, he turned back and glanced at his grandfather again.

"Grandpa, come quickly, Qingxue is waiting for you."

Su Mu smiled and waved his hand.

"Okay, Grandpa's coming right away."

Xiao Zhi Qiu followed behind, skipping and hopping away.

Xiao Jingyu said, "Mr. Su, you've worked hard. Get some rest."

Su Mu nodded and turned to walk towards the backyard.

Xiao Jingyu stood in the courtyard, watching Su Mu's figure disappear at the end of the corridor, and remained motionless for a long time.

The night wind blew by, making his robes flutter.

At that moment, he had already made up his mind.

Tomorrow, we will go to the Crown Prince's residence.

He wanted to see how the Crown Prince, the future emperor, would treat the meritorious officials of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If the Crown Prince continues to persecute Su Mu, a meritorious official, he will definitely try every means to support other princes and compete for the position of Crown Prince!