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

The capital city, the Xiao residence.

In the east wing, a little girl was standing by the bed, tiptoeing, trying her best to straighten the neatly folded quilt.

She wore a light blue dress; although the fabric wasn't the most expensive, it was well-tailored, making her small face appear even whiter.

Her hair was tied into a small bun with a silver hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears, swaying gently with her movements.

Su Qingxue has been living in the Xiao residence for almost two months.

In the past two months, she has gradually become more plump and healthy, instead of being a skinny, bony girl.

His face regained color, his eyes shone, and even his voice was much clearer than before.

But that hardworking spirit just won't go away.

"Qingxue! Qingxue! What are you doing?"

A crisp sound came from outside the door, and then a figure in green skipped and hopped in.

Xiao Zhi Qiu was all smiles, his almond-shaped eyes darting around mischievously.

"Second sister, I'm here!" Su Qingxue peeked out from behind the bed curtains, holding a bundle of sheets in her hands.

Xiao Zhi Qiu rushed over, and when he saw the bundle of sheets in her arms, the smile on his face immediately changed.

"Qingxue, what are you doing? Didn't I tell you that these chores should be done by the servants? Why do you always do them yourself?"

She snatched the sheet from Su Qingxue's arms, threw it back onto the bed, put her hands on her hips, and looked reproachful.

"You're so young, how can you do such rough work?"

Su Qingxue blinked and smiled slightly, a smile that was both obedient and stubborn.

"Second sister, Qingxue has hands and feet and can do things herself. Grandpa often taught me that self-reliance leads to abundance and that we can't rely on others for everything."

Xiao Zhi Qiu sighed, took Su Qing Xue's hand, and helped her sit down on the edge of the bed. He then squatted down, looked her straight in the eye, and said earnestly, "Qing Xue, remember this: we are sisters now. In the Xiao family, you are a young lady. Young ladies don't need to do these chores; the maids can do them."

Su Qingxue opened her mouth as if to say something, but Xiao Zhi Qiu gently covered her mouth with her hand.

"Listen to me! If you do all this work, what will the maids do? They'll have nothing to do, the steward will fire them, and then they'll have no food and nowhere to live. Do you want to see them homeless?"

Su Qingxue's eyes widened suddenly, and she shook her head vigorously: "No! No!"

"Isn't that settled then?" Xiao Zhi Qiu patted her hand with a smile. "So, you can just be a pampered young lady. Studying, shopping, eating well and having fun are what you should be doing. Leave the rest to the maids."

Su Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

"That's a good girl!"

Xiao Zhi Qiu stood up, took her hand, and walked outside.

"And if you really can't stay idle, then read more books, or practice your swordsmanship with your eldest sister."

"Or, come shopping with me! We'll buy some pretty new clothes and eat those candied hawthorns from that stall at the street corner—they're so sweet!"

"Candied hawthorns?" Su Qingxue's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again. "But... Grandpa said we can't waste money..."

Xiao Zhi Qiu chuckled: "Your grandfather is right, we really should be frugal. Can't we indulge ourselves once in a while? Come on, let's go!"

She grabbed Su Qingxue's hand and ran out of the east wing.

As soon as I stepped out, I bumped into a tall figure.

"Zhi Qiu, where are you going?"

Xiao Jingyu stood in the courtyard, dressed in an indigo blue casual robe with a jade belt at his waist. His face was serious, and his brows carried a hint of the heroic spirit of a military general.

He put his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the two little girls, and his tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"You're always running around like that, never serious. Don't lead Qingxue astray."

Xiao Zhi Qiu immediately let go of Su Qing Xue's hand, then happily pounced on her father, hugging his arm and acting coquettishly.

"Dad, I wasn't jumping around at all! I just took Qingxue out for a walk. She's been in the capital for so long and hasn't had a proper chance to explore! She's so bored at home. I'm taking Qingxue out for a drive, to see what's going on, and to buy some good food. We'll be right back!"

Xiao Jingyu's arm was shaken by her, but he couldn't maintain his serious expression, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Going for a drive? You just want to go out and have fun."

"father……"

Xiao Jingyu raised his hand to stop her from acting coquettishly and said seriously, "You two don't leave yet. Go and call your eldest sister here too. I have something important to ask you."

Xiao Zhi Qiu was stunned for a moment. Seeing the unusual solemnity on his father's face, he obediently nodded and turned to run towards the west wing.

"Big sister...big sister! Father wants you here! Hurry up!"

A short while later, Xiao Zhixia came out of the west wing.

She wore an elegant moon-white long dress, her hair was styled in a high bun, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, and her steps were steady, exuding the composure of a well-bred lady.

Unlike her lively and outgoing younger sister Xiao Zhi Qiu, she was quieter and more composed.

"Father, you wanted to see us?" Xiao Zhixia approached and gave a slight bow.

Xiao Jingyu nodded and turned to walk towards the main hall.

"Come in, all of you."

……

In the main hall, Xiao Jingyu sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed, as if he were considering something important.

Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi sat on either side, while Su Qingxue stood beside Xiao Zhiqi, holding her small hand.

"Father, please tell me, what's all this secrecy about?" Xiao Zhi Qiu couldn't help but urge.

Xiao Jingyu's gaze swept across his two daughters' faces before finally landing on Su Qingxue.

"If I remember correctly, you once said that the person who rescued you in the Northern Border was a hundred-year-old man, who was Qingxue's grandfather. Is that true?"

Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

"Yes, Father," Xiao Zhi Qiu interjected, "That old man was incredibly skilled! Although he was a hundred years old and had white hair, he could cut down a Northern Di soldier with a single stroke in battle! His swordsmanship was so fast and ruthless; I've never seen such amazing swordsmanship before!"

Xiao Zhixia chimed in, "Zhiqiu is absolutely right. Qingxue's grandfather is extremely skilled in martial arts."

Xiao Jingyu's fingers tightened slightly, and the turmoil in his eyes deepened.

He then looked at Su Qingxue, his voice softening slightly.

"Qingxue, what's your grandfather's name?"

Su Qingxue raised her head, looked into Xiao Jingyu's eyes, and without hesitation, her voice was clear and firm.

"Su Mu".

Xiao Jingyu's fingers trembled violently, his face showed utter shock, and his lips quivered slightly.

Su Mu.

It really is a Shetland Sheepdog.

The centenarian Zhang Heng mentioned in court, the old general Wu Wenyuan wrote about in his letter who killed Yeluqi with a single blow, and the war god Qin Hao protected—that's the grandfather of this little girl in front of me.

A surge of joy welled up in Xiao Jingyu's heart.

While the ministers in the court were still doubting, arguing, and saying, "How could a centenarian go to the battlefield?", he already knew that it was all true.

There is indeed such a formidable centenarian in the Daqian army.

Moreover, this person has a great connection with his Xiao family.

"Okay! Okay!"

Xiao Jingyu suddenly stood up, his gloom vanishing from his face, and laughed loudly, "God bless my Great Qian! God bless my Great Qian!"

Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi looked at each other, their faces full of doubt.

"Father, what are you talking about? What do you mean by 'Heaven blesses the Great Qian'? Explain yourself clearly!"

Xiao Zhi Qiu was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet.

Xiao Jingyu suppressed his smile, sat down again, and recounted in detail what had happened in the court that day.

From Xu Shigui's humiliating return to the capital and his tearful account of the defeat in the northern border, to Wu Wenyuan's report of victory and Zhang Heng's presentation of it in court, to Su Mu's centenarian killing of the enemy, beheading Yeluqi with a single stroke, and recapture of Yuzhou City.

Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi listened with their eyes widening and their mouths opening wider and wider.

"Oh my god! Grandpa really went to join the army?" Xiao Zhi Qiu covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening.

Although Xiao Zhixia didn't say anything, she was also deeply shocked.

She had known all along that the old man was no ordinary person.

But she never expected him to go this far.

They recaptured Yuzhou City and killed the Northern Di general.

That's something countless generals of the Great Qian Dynasty couldn't achieve even after a lifetime of hard work.

Su Qingxue stood there, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes.

Her lips were trembling slightly, and tears were welling up in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and refused to cry.

Grandpa is still alive.

Grandpa is not dead.

Grandpa really did join the army, won a battle, and became a great hero.

She looked up at Xiao Jingyu, her voice slightly choked, yet clear and distinct.

"Uncle Xiao, my grandfather... he really won the battle? He really killed that general?"

Xiao Jingyu looked at her and nodded solemnly.

"It's true. Although some people in the court still have doubts, I believe that your grandfather is a hero of the Great Qian Dynasty."

Su Qingxue's tears finally fell.

She didn't cry out loud, but tears kept falling down her face. She tried desperately to wipe them away with the back of her hand, but she couldn't stop.

Xiao Zhi Qiu hugged her tightly, his eyes reddening.

"Qingxue, your grandfather is a great hero! Don't cry, you should be proud!"

Xiao Jingyu looked at the three girls, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly lowered his voice and his expression became serious.

"Zhixia, Zhiqiu, listen up."

Xiao Zhixia and Xiao Zhiqi looked up at their father.

"In the imperial court, some people doubted Old Master Su's deeds, and some wanted to use this as an excuse to cause trouble."

"Although Xu Shigui has been arrested, he still has many cronies in the court, and Prime Minister Li Yuan also has some reservations about Su Lao."

"If they knew that Old Master Su's granddaughter was in our house, they would definitely try to use Qingxue to deal with Old Master Su."

Xiao Zhi Qiu's eyes widened instantly: "They dare!"

"In the imperial court, there is nothing one dares not do."

"Therefore, in the days to come, you must protect Qingxue."

"Her identity should not be revealed to outsiders for the time being."

"Besides the three of us, father and daughters, no one else can know."

Xiao Zhixia nodded solemnly: "Father, don't worry, my sister and I will definitely protect Qingxue."

Xiao Zhi Qiu also put away his usual playful manner and said seriously, "Father, don't worry, if anyone dares to touch a single hair on Qing Xue's head, I, Xiao Zhi Qiu, will be the first to object!"

Xiao Jingyu looked at his two daughters and nodded with satisfaction.

He turned to look at Su Qingxue, his voice much gentler.

"Qingxue, I'm sorry to trouble you, you can't go out for a while."

Su Qingxue wiped away her tears and shook her head.

"Uncle Xiao, I'm not wronged. I'll do anything as long as I can wait for Grandpa to come back."

Xiao Jingyu reached out and gently patted her head.

"Don't worry, your grandfather will definitely come back."