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

A hundred miles west of the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Ziyun Mountains rise in layers, shrouded in clouds and mist.

At this moment, in an extremely secluded and elegant room in the backyard of Ziyun Temple, the fragrance of sandalwood wafts through the air, and wisps of smoke curl around the beams and pillars. The room is simply furnished with a wooden table and two futons, exuding a rustic and tranquil atmosphere, completely isolated from the world.

Consort Xu, still dressed in her magnificent palace attire, had shed the feigned gentleness of the palace. Her brows were filled with an unyielding gloom and resentment. She sat upright on the prayer mat, her face cold, her eyes churning with endless resentment and unwillingness.

After being reprimanded and expelled from the palace by the emperor in the imperial study, she neither returned to the palace nor to her own bedroom. Instead, she dismissed all her personal servants, rode out of the city alone, and headed all the way to Ziyun Mountain to find the only person she could confide in and who could help her plan her future.

Sitting opposite her was an old Taoist priest with half-white hair and beard, dressed in a plain-colored robe.

This person is the abbot of Ziyun Temple, Daoist Ziyun.

He had a lean face and deep eyes, exuding an aura of Taoist wisdom. He seemed indifferent and detached, but his eyes held a profound understanding of the ways of the world.

Master Ziyun quietly observed the melancholy Consort Xu before him, and after a moment spoke slowly, his voice calm and drawn-out:

"Her Imperial Concubine has been looking gloomy lately, with a deep frown and a menacing aura around her, clearly indicating that she is burdened with worries."

"What troubles could possibly cause such unease in a noble concubine like herself?"

Consort Xu raised her eyes, looked at the unfathomable old Taoist priest before her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and said coldly:

"The Taoist priest is known for his uncanny ability to foresee events, observe celestial secrets, and discern people's thoughts. Why don't you give me a guess?"

Upon hearing this, Master Ziyun smiled calmly, raised his hand and extended three fingers, gently pinching them together. He closed his eyes and concentrated, as if he were calculating a divination. His eyebrows and eyes rose and fell slightly as he made his calculations.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze resolute, and slowly said, "This old servant observes that Your Majesty's fortune is fluctuating, and there is a clash between the emperor and his ministers, indicating that your blessings are diminished. It is likely that you have developed a rift with His Majesty and have fallen out of favor in the palace."

He paused slightly, a knowing glint in his eyes, and continued:

"Moreover, the root of this turmoil lies not in palace intrigues or the entanglements among the concubines, but most likely in connection with General Su, who has just achieved an unparalleled feat. Am I right?"

Every word was precise and accurate, directly hitting all of Consort Xu's inner conflicts and experiences.

Consort Xu was shocked, her face filled with disbelief and astonishment.

The incident of her arguing with the emperor in the imperial study had only occurred a few hours earlier, yet the Taoist temple in the mountains, separated by hundreds of miles, was able to discern the whole story in a single sentence. This ability to deduce the secrets of heaven is truly miraculous.

She composed herself, rose, and nodded slightly to Master Ziyun, her tone tinged with admiration and a touch of melancholy: "Master, you are truly a divine being; every word you utter is true, without the slightest error."

All the grievances, anger, and resentment that had been building up inside erupted completely at this moment.

Consort Xu slowly sat down and recounted everything that had happened in the Imperial Study that day.

As she spoke, Consort Xu's eyes reddened, and her tone was filled with resentment: "Does the Daoist priest know? That Su Mu has an irreconcilable blood feud with my Xu family!"

"My elder brother, Xu Shigui, once guarded the northern border, protecting the country's frontier. He only wanted to accumulate merit and bring glory to the family. Su Mu, however, was narrow-minded and jealous of my brother's military achievements. He deliberately set a trap to frame my brother, throwing him into the imperial prison where he suffered endless torture!"

"My two nephews, Xu Zhaowen and Xu Zhaowu, were merely seeking revenge for their family. In a moment of impulse, they kidnapped Su Mu's granddaughter without harming her. However, Su Mu, being vengeful, brutally murdered two of my Xu family sons, severing my Xu family's bloodline!"

"My Xu family was full of loyal martyrs, yet we ended up with our family destroyed and our home torn apart, leaving me alone to guard the deep palace!"

"But that emperor completely disregarded my years of companionship and the past contributions of my Xu family in defending the borders. He unilaterally favored Su Mu, protecting the enemy who slaughtered my Xu family!"

Every word was written in tears, every sentence filled with resentment; the pent-up hatred in his heart was finally released at this moment.

After listening to her entire story, Master Ziyun stroked his long beard, smiled faintly, and gave a meaningful look.

"The title of 'Guardian God of War' is a title that will last for a thousand years. It is the highest honor for a general of the Great Qian Dynasty. Su Mu deserves this title for his great victory in the East China Sea and his achievements in expanding the territory. No one in the court or the country can stop him."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze becoming deep and intense.

"But His Majesty not only rewarded Su Mu handsomely, but also vigorously promoted the Sixth Prince Xiao Yunchuan. This move is quite intriguing and has a hidden meaning."

Upon hearing this, Consort Xu sneered coldly, a clear and icy glint in her eyes: "Why must you feign mystery, Daoist? I know His Majesty's thoughts perfectly well!"

"He's deliberately supporting the Sixth Prince, intending to replace the Crown Prince as heir apparent!"

She took a deep breath and slowly revealed the emperor's thoughts, which she had observed with a cold eye for many years: "When the Crown Prince was in charge of the country and led the eastern expedition, he was ambitious, stubborn, narrow-minded, and lacked any sense of the big picture. He missed several opportunities, suffered heavy losses, and almost lost the army at the front."

"From that time on, His Majesty saw clearly that the Crown Prince was incapable of shouldering great responsibilities, was not a suitable emperor, and was unable to rule the vast land of the Great Qian Dynasty."

"On the other hand, the Sixth Prince Xiao Yunchuan is young, but he is pure of heart, sincere and kind, cares about the people of the world, and has a chivalrous spirit."

"During this eastern expedition, he personally went to dangerous places as a prince, took the lead, and made many outstanding achievements. He was not afraid of death, was diligent and pragmatic, and won the recognition of the soldiers and officials in the court."

"His Majesty did not directly depose the Crown Prince at the time, but only because of the dignity of the royal family and the rules of the court, and did not want to hastily destabilize the court."

"But now, having returned victorious and secured the world's stability, his intention to support the Sixth Prince is now crystal clear!"

These words revealed the biggest upheaval in the future of the entire Daqian Dynasty, a colossal secret that could shake the very foundations of the nation.

Master Ziyun frowned suddenly, stroked his long beard, and his expression became solemn.

"If that's the case, the situation is extremely unfavorable for Your Majesty."

"In the court today, the Sixth Prince has gained an absolute advantage."

"He enjoys the Emperor's exclusive favor, and his position as Crown Prince is almost a certainty."

"What's even more terrifying is that he has the strong support of Su Mu, the God of War who protects the country, who holds military power in the country, and the assistance of the Third Prince, the top strategist of the court."

"On the other hand, the Crown Prince has few achievements, has lost the support of the people, has no powerful ministers to support him, and has no army to back him. His foundation is already crumbling and he has no chance of winning whatsoever."

He looked up at Consort Xu, whose face was cold and gloomy, and solemnly warned, "Your Majesty, the whole world knows that you and Su Mu are sworn enemies."

"Su Mu is shrewd and insightful, with a keen understanding of human nature. How could he not see through His Majesty's scheme?"

"When the sixth prince ascends the throne, Su Mu will become the imperial tutor, wielding immense power and unchecked by anyone."

"By then, given his ruthlessness and cunning, he will surely settle old scores. You will be alone in the deep palace, with no one to rely on. The only fate awaiting you is death!"

This insightful analysis, every word of it piercing to the heart, struck at the deepest fears in Consort Xu's heart.

Now, her only fear is that Su Mu will hold immense power and control the entire country, ultimately settling old scores with her to make her lose everything and meet a tragic end.

Extreme fear completely fueled the madness and rage within her.

A flash of manic bloodlust suddenly crossed Consort Xu's eyes, and her aura instantly turned icy and chilling. She threw her head back and laughed wildly, her laughter shrill and venomous, carrying a sense of desperate resolve to fight to the death.

"A dead end?"

"I have spent half my life in the deep palace, utterly alone. The entire Xu family has perished; I have no more attachments in this world!"

"Ever since my two nephews were brutally murdered and my brother was imprisoned, I, Xu Jinniang, have felt that life is worse than death!"

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, drawing fine blood. Her eyes were filled with a crazed and ruthless glint, and her words were sharp and resolute:

"Since Xiao Jinghuan disregards our marital bond, favors our enemy, and insists on elevating Su Mu and Xiao Yunchuan to power, thus cutting off my path to survival, then I will fight to the death!"

"Since he won't let me live, I won't let him sit on the throne!"

"If the Sixth Prince truly intends to ascend the throne, and Su Mu seeks to settle old scores... then I will personally kill Xiao Jinghuan! Kill this biased and heartless dog emperor!"

Consort Xu's words resounded like a thunderclap in the quiet and elegant room!

Kill the emperor!

This is a heinous crime of treason, a capital offense punishable by death, and an offense that will implicate nine generations of one's family!

Even the usually aloof and cunning Master Ziyun, who was accustomed to the wickedness of human nature, suddenly changed color, his eyes widened in shock, and he instantly stood up from the futon.

His expression turned horrified, and he quickly raised his hand to stop her, lowering his voice to urgently dissuade her: "Your Majesty, be careful what you say! Be careful what you say!"

"The words 'murder of the emperor' are a heinous crime, an offense against the heavens, bringing calamity upon all living beings! Such mad words should not utter a single verse from this school!"

"If outsiders were to hear of this and it reached the palace, even if Her Highness held the rank of Imperial Concubine, she would not escape death, with no chance of redemption!"

Consort Xu, however, showed no fear of death. Her face was filled with a morbid madness. She gave a cold, mocking laugh, her tone devoid of any fear, only filled with utter despair and violence.

"Death? I have long since ceased to fear it!"

"Without relatives or friends, without any ties, spending years in the deep palace, enduring daily torment, what difference is there between living and dying?"

"Rather than be humiliated and punished by Su Mu in the future, and die a miserable death, it's better to take a gamble, kill this heartless emperor, and drag the entire court down with me for the Xu family!"

"I, Xu Jinniang, have long seen through everything; what do I fear of life and death!"

Her eyes were sharp and resolute, showing no sign of backing down. Her reckless and mad aura sent chills down Master Ziyun's spine.

Master Ziyun stared intently at her, his expression complex, and tentatively asked in a soft voice, "Your Majesty, are you truly not just speaking in anger? Are you really planning to take the risk and commit regicide?"

Consort Xu abruptly raised her eyes, her gaze filled with chilling murderous intent, her tone resolute and without the slightest hesitation: "Do you think I'm joking?"

The words landed with a resounding clang, the sandalwood incense in the room fell silent, and the atmosphere became deathly still, suffocatingly so.

Just then, from behind the secluded screen connecting the elegant room to the inner courtyard, a deep, cold, and familiar male voice, filled with boundless rage and chill, suddenly boomed out!

"Xu Jinniang! How dare you! You actually dared to murder the emperor and try to kill me?"

The voice was majestic and chilling, carrying the emperor's boundless rage and bone-chilling cold, each word resounding throughout the elegant room!

In an instant, Consort Xu froze, as if struck by lightning!

His blood froze instantly, his limbs felt icy cold, his scalp tingled, and he stood there completely stunned!

She knew that voice all too well!

It is Emperor Xiao Jinghuan of the Great Qian Dynasty!