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

These words, spoken lightly, struck like a thunderclap from a clear sky, suddenly resounding in the tranquil Imperial Study!

Li Fuquan, who was standing to the side, froze, his pupils contracted sharply, and he instantly became vigilant. He glanced at Consort Xu quickly, and a huge wave of emotions surged in his heart!

The women in the inner palace are forbidden from interfering in politics, and even more so from making unwarranted comments about the merits and demerits of military generals in the court, or from harboring suspicions against loyal ministers!

Consort Xu's words had already overstepped the bounds of a concubine's duties, and were even directed at General Su, the most meritorious official of the court who held military power. Every word she uttered was a major taboo that would sow discord between the emperor and his ministers!

Li Fuquan instantly held his breath, concealed all his emotions, and listened intently, his heart filled with apprehension.

The gentleness and relief on Xiao Jinghuan's face vanished instantly, replaced by shock. He frowned at Consort Xu, his tone filled with disbelief:

"Why do you say that, my beloved concubine?"

"General Su is a centenarian loyalist who guarded the Great Qian, fighting enemies in the north and quelling rebellions in the East China Sea. He risked his life for the country, devoting himself wholeheartedly to the cause. His loyalty to me and to the Great Qian is as clear as day. How could there be any talk of rebellion!"

"Your Majesty, you can know a person's face but not their heart!"

Consort Xu immediately stepped forward, her tone becoming increasingly earnest, carrying a hint of anxious worry, and deliberately emphasizing the weight of her words.

"Has Your Majesty considered this carefully? Su Mu now wields immense power, commands a large army, and holds sway over the entire court!"

"The 100,000 elite cavalrymen of the northern border are under his command year-round, and they only know Commander Su, not the Emperor's orders."

"This great victory in the eastern expedition, along with the addition of 300,000 well-organized troops to Jiangnan, were all trained and promoted by him. His soldiers all follow his lead without question!"

"He commanded 400,000 elite troops, spanning the north and south, controlling rivers and seas. His military power was unparalleled throughout the entire century of the Great Qian Dynasty!"

Consort Xu's eyes flashed with a cold light, her words hitting the nail on the head, deliberately exaggerating the hidden dangers:

"With such immense military power concentrated in one person's hands, if one day he harbors rebellious thoughts, raises an army in rebellion, and launches a coordinated attack from the north and south, his forces would march straight towards the capital, who in the Great Qian Dynasty could withstand him? Who could restrain him?"

Xiao Jinghuan frowned, his expression thoughtful, his fingertips paused slightly, and a faint hesitation flashed through his mind.

He trusted Su Mu and never had any suspicions about him. However, with 400,000 troops at his disposal, the power was too terrifying. When someone else pointed it out to him, he couldn't help but have some doubts for a moment.

Seeing the emperor's wavering expression, Consort Xu immediately pressed her advantage, uttering the most cutting words: "Your Majesty, your achievements are too great, threatening the throne!"

These four simple words encapsulate the taboos between rulers and ministers throughout history.

Throughout history, most meritorious officials who had achieved too much and wielded too much military power rarely met a good end. This was not because the monarchs were unkind, but because the imperial power could not tolerate the powerful ministers who overpowered the monarch.

Xiao Jinghuan's gaze deepened as he looked at Consort Xu and asked in a low voice, "In your opinion, how should I handle Su Mu's rewards and military power?"

Finally, they got to the crucial point!

A hint of hidden pleasure flashed in Consort Xu's eyes, but she quickly composed herself, feigning gentleness and respect, and said softly, "Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, although Su Mu's achievements are great, he should not be further rewarded, lest his power be increased."

"He is old and has long been exhausted by the hardships of military life."

"Why doesn't Your Majesty, under the pretext of showing compassion for this old minister, take back all military power in both the northern and southern armies, strip him of his command authority, and then bestow upon him a thousand acres of fertile land and ten thousand taels of gold to support his old age and reward his service?"

"In this way, it can not only demonstrate His Majesty's benevolent mind in caring for meritorious officials, but also allow Su Mu to retire from the army and live out his old age in peace, and more importantly, completely eliminate the hidden danger of excessive military power, thus preserving the relationship between the emperor and his ministers. It is a win-win-win situation."

These words, though seemingly kind and benevolent, are in fact extremely malicious!

Under the guise of showing compassion for the elderly, the real purpose was to strip him of his military power and destroy his foundation, turning a hero who fought for the country on the battlefield into a powerless and idle old man!

Li Fuquan, who had been listening intently, could no longer contain his anxiety. Disregarding social hierarchy, he quickly stepped forward, bowed, and urgently pleaded, "Your Highness! This is absolutely unacceptable!"

His expression was anxious, and his tone was earnest: "General Su has just pacified the Eastern Barbarians and returned to the capital in great victory. This is a time when the morale of the army is high and the whole country is praising him! All the soldiers are grateful for the old general's kindness, and they are united in their loyalty to Commander Su!"

"If Your Majesty were to suddenly strip him of his military power at this moment and order him to retire to his hometown without cause, it would be tantamount to chilling the hearts and minds of the entire army!"

"If the soldiers on the front lines sacrifice their lives for a great victory, but the commander-in-chief is discarded after the birds are used up, it will inevitably cause uproar and chaos within the army!"

"At that time, the valiant generals under General Su's command will harbor resentment, which could easily lead to chaos and endanger the stability of the court, Your Majesty!"

Li Fuquan had served the emperor for many years and had a keen understanding of the situation.

Su Mu's prestige can no longer be measured by his official rank and title; it is the spirit and morale of the army that he has earned through his hard work!

Forcibly removing the armor would be tantamount to demoralizing the army and destroying our own Great Wall!

"presumptuous!"

Before she could finish speaking, Consort Xu suddenly shouted angrily, all the gentleness in her eyes vanishing, leaving only a sharp and cold look.

She abruptly turned her head, glaring angrily at Li Fuquan, her aura suddenly intensifying as she sternly rebuked him:

"You audacious lackey! His Majesty is discussing important matters of state with me, and a mere eunuch dares to interrupt and speak recklessly about politics? Who gave you the guts! Are you tired of living and want to lose your head?"

A rebuke, authoritative and imposing, filled with anger.

Li Fu's whole body trembled violently, and he was instantly suppressed and dared not say another word.

He was both anxious and helpless, and could only turn to look at Xiao Jinghuan, who was sitting on the dragon throne, with earnest eyes that revealed his anxiety, silently pleading with the emperor to reconsider.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly became tense, with swords drawn.

Just then, Xiao Jinghuan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly chuckled, breaking the stagnant atmosphere. His expression was calm, showing no sign of anger.

He raised his hand to suppress Consort Xu's anger, his tone calm yet unwavering: "My beloved consort, please do not be angry. Why bother arguing with a mere servant?"

Immediately, his gaze was intense, his attitude resolute, and his words resounding: "As for the reward for General Su, my mind is made up. The matter of bestowing the title of God of War upon the Nation is absolutely unchangeable. My beloved consort need not try to persuade me any further."

Consort Xu's face stiffened, her expression one of utter astonishment.

Xiao Jinghuan continued speaking slowly, his tone revealing his complete understanding.

"I know what you're thinking, and I'm also aware that you've always held a grudge against General Su."

"Your elder brother and nephews brought this upon themselves."

"This matter is long past, and it's time to let go of your obsession."

That one sentence reveals the root of the problem!

Consort Xu's years of pent-up resentment were instantly shattered. The facade of gentleness on her face crumbled completely, her eyes filled with grievance and resentment. She let out a cold snort, and tears welled up again: "Your Majesty! How can you treat me like this now! You no longer love me!"

"Your Majesty once promised me that you would protect me and ensure my safety and well-being throughout my life."

"Yet now, for the sake of a mere foreign official, Your Majesty is mistreating me! Your Majesty has broken your word!"

She choked back tears, her shoulders trembling slightly, and cried out in a mournful voice, "Your Majesty has never understood my suffering!"

"With all my loved ones gone, I am alone in the deep palace, unable to sleep at night, and longing for my family every day. Your Majesty will never understand the feeling of being helpless and utterly alone!"

Seeing her sobbing uncontrollably, Xiao Jinghuan sighed helplessly and could only soften his tone again, gently comforting her and patiently consoling her for a long time.

Consort Xu gradually stopped crying, raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes showing no softening, but rather a deep stubbornness and resentment, as she spoke coldly, word by word:

"Your Majesty is determined to do this, ignoring my loyal advice, and insists on bestowing a generous reward upon Su Mu. One day, Your Majesty will surely regret your actions today!"

Her tone was icy, carrying a blatant threat: "I hereby declare that I will never allow Su Mu to enjoy honor and privilege in this lifetime; he shall not even dream of a peaceful end!"

"presumptuous!"

At this moment, Xiao Jinghuan completely suppressed all his gentleness and flew into a rage!

The emperor's majesty erupted suddenly, the air in the entire imperial study instantly froze, and a chilling pressure swept in all directions, making it suffocating.

Xiao Jinghuan's eyes were filled with anger as he sternly rebuked, "My national war god, loyal to the emperor and devoted to the country, whose achievements are unparalleled, is the pillar of our Great Qian!"

"As a noble consort in the harem, instead of maintaining peace and propriety, you harbor personal grudges, presumptuously discuss state affairs, frame meritorious officials, and even dare to utter wild words, threatening to harm my trusted ministers!"

"I hereby declare to you clearly today! Under heaven, anyone who dares to lay a finger on Su Mu will have their entire family executed, without any leniency!"

His furious roar reverberated throughout the palace, each word like a thunderclap!

This is the emperor's most solemn and resolute promise!

Anyone who dares to harm Su Mu is an enemy of the Great Qian Dynasty and of Xiao Jinghuan!

Xiao Jinghuan's chest heaved slightly as he suppressed his raging anger and said coldly, "I am physically and mentally exhausted today and do not wish to say any more."

"My beloved concubine, you may leave! Return to your palace and reflect on your actions, and fulfill your duties!"

Consort Xu had never seen the emperor be so harsh and resolute towards her. The grievances, resentment, and unwillingness in her heart instantly intertwined and turned into a raging fire.

She dared not openly defy the emperor any longer. She could only bite her lip tightly, suppressing her tears. Filled with resentment and unwillingness, she glared fiercely in the direction of the imperial study, turned around, flicked her sleeves, and with a heart full of hostility, hurriedly left the imperial study while crying.

As soon as Consort Xu disappeared outside the palace gate, Li Fuquan, who had been standing with his head bowed, hurriedly chased after her, wanting to offer some words of comfort and prevent the Consort from causing any further trouble.

Silence finally returned to the Imperial Study.

Xiao Jinghuan stood by the window, watching Consort Xu's angry departure, his expression cold and without a trace of regret.

After a long while, he slowly withdrew his gaze, the anger in his eyes fading, leaving only clarity and certainty.

He understood Su Mu's value better than anyone else.

Turbulent times need great generals, and prosperous times rely on meritorious officials.

As long as Su Mu is in court, the land of Daqian will be peaceful and stable. Foreign enemies will not dare to invade, and internal strife will have no way to arise!

Only then could he sit on the throne in peace.

Regardless of the private grudges in the harem or the rumors in the court, no one can touch his war god who protects the country, and no one can shake Su Mu in the slightest!