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

The court session ended in the Golden Palace, and the officials bowed and left one after another.

On the magnificent and solemn steps of the imperial city, civil and military officials walked in twos and threes, whispering and discussing the earth-shattering rewards bestowed today. The entire court was amazed by the supreme honor of the God of War who guarded the country, and the rising momentum of the sixth prince, Xiao Yunchuan, who was promoted to general in one fell swoop.

As the crowd dispersed and the noise subsided, the Second Prince Xiao Yunshan stood alone at the top of the white jade steps, facing the wind.

A cool autumn breeze swept across the palace eaves, ruffling his plain court robes and dispelling the scheming and tension that had been weighing on his mind for days.

He slowly raised his head, exhaling a long breath of pent-up air. The deep shrewdness and meticulous sharpness that had always lingered between his brows vanished at this moment, leaving only endless weariness and relief in his eyes.

Five years of planning, step by step, meticulous calculations, day and night pondering the emperor's mind, checking the crown prince, and navigating the court, half a lifetime of thoughts were devoted to the position of crown prince, every step was cautious and treading on thin ice.

But today's bestowal of honors in the Golden Palace completely shattered all his obsessions and extravagant hopes.

Xiao Yunshan murmured softly to himself, his voice low and weary, yet filled with utter clarity and relief: "So, this battle that belonged to me was already over..."

"It's good that it's over. Day after day of backstabbing, deception, and constant anxiety was just too exhausting."

As he finished speaking, he slowly opened his arms, letting the breeze caress his body, and the heaviness and tension that had accumulated over the years dissipated slightly.

The long-running dispute over the crown prince may seem to be ongoing, but in reality, it has already been settled.

Rather than continuing to struggle in vain and ultimately ending up with nothing, it's better to let go and find peace of mind.

He relaxed and was about to step down the steps when a deep, slightly gloomy voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Second brother, please wait."

Xiao Yunshan paused, instantly wiping away all his relaxed demeanor and concealing the weariness in his eyes. In a flash, he regained his usual gentle, humble, and composed princely bearing, turning around to bow calmly: "Elder brother, may I ask what brings you to my presence?"

Crown Prince Xiao Yunfeng walked slowly over, his face still showing a hint of gloom and embarrassment that he could not hide, and his eyes filled with intense jealousy and fear.

He looked intently at the Second Prince, a half-smile playing on his lips, his tone tinged with a hint of probing: "We both heard the rewards bestowed in the palace just now. Sixth Brother has rendered meritorious service in the East Sea and been appointed General Dingyuan. He has won the Emperor's favor and can be said to have achieved great success at a young age, enjoying unparalleled prominence."

These words, seemingly full of emotion, are actually rife with bitterness and jealousy.

Xiao Yunshan was insightful and saw through the Crown Prince's gloom and resentment at a glance.

He understood that the Crown Prince now regarded the rising star Xiao Yunchuan as his number one rival and was anxious and uneasy. The Crown Prince was testing him now to find out his position and see if he would take the opportunity to join forces with his sixth brother to counterbalance the Eastern Palace.

Xiao Yunshan smiled faintly, his expression calm and composed, and replied, "Yes, Sixth Brother is the youngest, but he is resolute and exceptionally brave."

"Abandoning the honor of a prince, he went to the battlefield to fight bloody battles, personally killed enemy generals, and made great achievements. This courage and accomplishment is something that neither you nor I, his brothers, can match."

"He made great contributions at a young age, was loyal and brave in protecting the country, and was deeply loved by his father, which is only natural."

The Crown Prince stared intently at Xiao Yunshan's expression, pondering it repeatedly, becoming increasingly unable to fathom his true nature.

He didn't know whether his second brother was still obsessed with vying for the throne and planned to use his sixth brother's power to counterbalance him, or whether he had already decided to retire and was content to be content with his lot.

After years of fighting, he knew Xiao Yunshan's forbearance and shrewdness all too well. This man often concealed the deepest calculations without making a sound, which made him never dare to let his guard down.

Seeing the Crown Prince's suspicious and distrustful expression, Xiao Yunshan found it laughable and decided to speak frankly and freely: "Brother, Sixth Brother is brave and resourceful, and has made outstanding contributions. He is worthy of our humble learning."

"If there is nothing else, I am hungry and will return to the palace for a meal."

Having said that, without waiting for the Crown Prince to say anything more, Xiao Yunshan cupped his hands slightly, turned around, and calmly left.

Reaching a secluded corner of the palace, and making sure he was out of the Crown Prince's sight, Xiao Yunshan slowly stopped, glanced back at the direction of the Golden Palace, and a relieved and carefree smile appeared on his lips.

The outcome of the power struggle for the crown prince position is already decided; there is no need for further maneuvering.

Instead of returning to his princely residence, he turned around and headed straight for the Qiwu Palace in the inner palace—the bedroom of his mother, Consort Hui, Shen Qinghe.

Inside Qiwu Palace, the atmosphere was serene and elegant, warm and inviting, completely devoid of the turbulent power struggles and intrigues of the previous dynasty.

Consort Hui, Shen Qinghe, was always unambitious and lived a quiet life. Although she lived deep in the palace, she rarely interfered in the court or the struggle for the crown prince. She only sought peace, stability, and happiness for herself and her son.

As Xiao Yunshan stepped into the palace gate, a rich and mellow aroma of meat wafted towards him, lingering in his nostrils and whetting his appetite.

Upon seeing the Second Prince arrive, several maids in the hall hurriedly bowed and paid their respects. Xiao Yunshan paid no attention to them, and followed the fragrance quickly into the inner hall. He immediately saw that the table was filled with exquisite dishes, and his mother, Consort Shen Qinghe, was sitting at the table, leisurely eating.

Seeing the bright red and fragrant Eight Treasure Duck on the plate, Xiao Yunshan's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Eight Treasure Duck! So it's my child's favorite Eight Treasure Duck!"

Shen Qinghe was slightly surprised to see her son arrive so suddenly. She put down her chopsticks and smiled gently, "My dear child, you're usually so busy with court affairs and palace social obligations that you rarely show your face. What brings you to your mother's palace today?"

Xiao Yunshan strode forward, sat down intimately, and smiled warmly, all his courtly sharpness gone: "I missed Mother Consort, so I took some time to come and see her. It was just in time, as Mother Consort was having her meal, and I even stumbled upon my favorite dish."

He turned to the palace maid standing beside him and ordered, "Quickly, bring me a set of chopsticks and a bowl."

The palace maids quickly prepared bowls and chopsticks, and Xiao Yunshan, without any restraint, ate the meal heartily, having not been so relaxed and at ease in a long time.

After a few bites of the fragrant, tender duck meat, the pent-up frustration in his heart eased slightly. He looked up at his mother and casually asked, "Mother, is there any good wine in the palace?"

Shen Qinghe was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, her eyes filled with doubt: "You rarely drink alcohol with meals, why do you suddenly want to drink today?"

Xiao Yunshan simply smiled faintly, offered no explanation, and continued to eat with his head down.

Shen Qinghe knew her son's temperament well. She knew that he was usually calm and restrained, and that he would never act so abnormally unless he had something on his mind or was having trouble calming down.

Despite his doubts, he didn't press the matter further and immediately waved his hand, ordering a palace maid to bring him some fine wine from the palace.

Before long, a pot of fine wine and two wine cups were served on the table.

Xiao Yunshan poured himself a full glass of wine, picked it up, and drank it all in one gulp. The strong liquor burned his throat, washing away his weariness.

One cup, two cups, three cups...

After downing three bowls of strong liquor, he remained silent, not uttering a single word, but the forbearance and weariness in his eyes grew ever stronger.

Shen Qinghe looked at her son quietly, becoming more and more certain that her child must have encountered some unresolved troubles and was feeling depressed.

She sighed softly, then raised her hand, signaling all the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall to leave, close the hall doors, and shut out all outsiders.

The hall fell silent instantly, leaving only the mother and son sitting facing each other.

Shen Qinghe looked at her son, whose eyes were red and whose expression was forlorn, with gentle eyes, and said softly, "Shan'er, from childhood to adulthood, you have never been able to hide anything from your mother."

"Why are you drinking so unusually and looking so melancholy today? What grievance have you suffered? Or have you encountered some difficulty? Tell Mother everything. Keeping it to yourself is bad for your health."

The gentle words instantly shattered all of Xiao Yunshan's pretense and bravado.

His composure, forbearance, shrewdness, and strength, honed from years away from home, crumbled completely in front of his beloved mother.

He slowly raised his head, his usually calm and deep eyes now slightly moist, his voice carrying an undisguised weariness and hoarseness as he softly uttered a heartfelt sentiment that had been building up for years: "Mother, I am so tired."

These three simple words encapsulate all the hardships and struggles of five years of planning and navigating every step with trepidation.

Shen Qinghe's heart softened, and she instantly understood. She asked softly, "Is the Crown Prince once again antagonizing you and making things difficult for you?"

Xiao Yunshan shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with melancholy, his tone both relieved and helpless: "He is not the Crown Prince."

He took a deep breath, finally letting go of all his obsessions, and said frankly, "Mother, I no longer want to compete for the position of Crown Prince."

boom!

These words struck Shen Qinghe like a thunderbolt, leaving her instantly shocked and staring at her son in disbelief.

She knew all too well Xiao Yunshan's obsession.

For five whole years, from boy to young man, he worked diligently day and night, painstakingly planning and patiently lying low, taking each step with care, devoting all his heart, energy and thoughts to the struggle for the crown prince position, never slacking off or backing down in the slightest.

Everyone knows that the Second Prince, Xiao Yunshan, is one of the strongest contenders for the position of Crown Prince. He is patient, shrewd, and has a very high chance of winning.

But now, he has actually said that he no longer wants to fight!

Suppressing her shock, Shen Qinghe quickly asked, "Shan'er, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly have such a thought? Is someone putting pressure on you, or has something major happened in the court?"

"Could it be that the Crown Prince secretly plotted against you, cutting off your path forward?"

Xiao Yunshan shook his head again, his eyes filled with understanding and helplessness, and slowly explained the reason: "It's not him. What made me give up completely was my sixth brother, Xiao Yunchuan."

"Yun Chuan?" Shen Qinghe asked in surprise. "He has always been gentle and kind, with no interest in power struggles. He has always preferred chivalry and martial arts and has never participated in the struggle for the throne. How could he have blocked your path?"

"Mother, you don't know." Xiao Yunshan gave a bitter smile and recounted all the rewards bestowed upon him in the Golden Palace today, his tone full of relief and helplessness: "My sixth brother became a disciple of Su Mu, went to the East Sea to fight a bloody battle, and made a great contribution to the destruction of a country. Today, Father Emperor personally bestowed upon him the title of General Dingyuan!"

"From now on, he will hold military power, have made great contributions, be deeply loved by the army, and have the powerful backing of General Su Mu!"

"Who is Su Mu? He is the current War God who protects the nation, possessing unparalleled honor and power, commanding the loyalty of the military, and unmatched by any other official! And then there is the Third Prince, Xiao Jingyu, whose wisdom is unmatched, who is well-versed in politics, and is the most trusted relative and minister of the imperial family by Father Emperor!"

"Sixth Brother alone enjoys the protection of the God of War, the assistance of a wise advisor, the support of the army, and the favor of the Emperor!"

He sighed deeply, having seen through the entire situation: "All the scheming and fighting between me and the Crown Prince has amounted to nothing but a joke in the end."

"I ask you, throughout the entire court and the whole world, who can rival Xiao Yunchuan, who holds the trump card of Su Mu?"

"Look at those who opposed Su Mu in the past: Prime Minister Li Yuan and General Xu Shigui. Weren't they all high-ranking officials? Yet in the end, they all ended up in prison, disgraced, and met tragic ends!"

"Those who oppose Su Mu never meet a good end!"

"With Su Mu's full support, Sixth Brother has already secured victory and has long since won the Great Qian Empire!"

Xiao Yunshan's eyes cleared completely, without a trace of obsession: "I have fought for five years, I am tired and weary."

"Continuing to fight will not only be futile, but will also lead to utter defeat, and may even implicate my mother and bring misfortune to the entire Qiwu Palace."

He looked up at his mother, a hint of trepidation and inferiority in his eyes, and asked softly, "Mother, is it too cowardly and pathetic of me to give up so easily?"

Seeing the weariness and unease in her son's eyes, Shen Qinghe felt a pang of pain in her heart. She gently reached out and stroked his eyebrows and eyes, her eyes full of doting and tolerance. She smiled tenderly and said, "Silly child, in your mother's heart, you will always be the most outstanding and the most sensible."

"The path to the throne is bloody, cruel, and fraught with danger at every turn. Countless princes and members of the imperial family have met with disgrace and death."

"Your ability to see through things in time, withdraw and stop, preserve yourself and live a peaceful life, is a sign of great wisdom and good fortune. How can you say you're unambitious?"

"It's better not to fight. From now on, you should put aside the court disputes, get married, establish a career, live a peaceful life, stay by your mother's side, and have peace and prosperity every year. That is your mother's greatest wish in this life."

Looking at his gentle and tolerant mother, Xiao Yunshan felt all his weariness disappear, and his eyes were filled with clarity and peace.

Five years of scheming and power struggles have come to nothing; only by letting go of obsessions can one find peace and freedom for the rest of one's life.