Deposed Crown Prince: After three years of service on the frontier, the entire court knelt and begge

Meanwhile, Xiao Ce and the others were resting in their small courtyard.

Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, do you think Xing Wudao will speak frankly with Qi Lin? After all, Xing Wudao seems to be Qi Lin's confidant..."

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan'er, "He probably won't say, but I think Qi Lin will guess... Anyone Han Da can set his sights on is no ordinary person..."

Yin Pan'er nodded after hearing Xiao Ce's words.

On the other side, Xing Wudao left Qi Lin's camp.

My heart was pounding like a drum.

Xing Wudao understood perfectly the deeper meaning behind General Qi Lin's seemingly calm reaction, especially his "I understand" and the subsequent order emphasizing secrecy.

The general must have guessed it! He dared not delay and strode towards Jing'an Residence...

Pushing open the gate of Jing'an Residence, Xing Wudao saw Xiao Ce standing with his hands behind his back in the small courtyard, gazing at the bustling silhouette of the port in the distance.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the steel behemoth-like port in a warm golden light, and the steam cranes stood like silent giants.

Yin Pan'er stood to the side...

“Sir…” Xing Wudao walked up behind Xiao Ce, bowed respectfully, and lowered his voice.

Hearing the commotion from the side, Xiao Ce slowly looked at Xing Wu and asked, "How is it?"

Xing Wudao took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound steady, but the excitement and a hint of awe in his eyes were still evident: "Reporting to you, sir, I have truthfully reported the details of last night's 'rescue' and the resettlement situation to General Qi. Everything was reported according to your instructions..."

"What was General Qi's reaction?" Xiao Ce pressed, his tone calm, his gaze fixed intently on Xing Wudao.

Xing Wudao recalled every subtle expression and movement of Qi Lin at that time...

He carefully organized his thoughts as he spoke to Xiao Ce, “General… at first, upon hearing that they were merchants from the ‘Golden Merchant Guild’ who had perished, I only inquired routinely, my expression serious. But when I mentioned, as you said, the details of the people on the ship having ‘extraordinary bearing,’ carrying ‘unusually heavy’ items, and the guards having ‘cold eyes and precise movements’…”

He paused, looked up to observe Xiao Ce's expression, and seeing that the other party remained calm, he continued, "The general's eyes... changed. Although I did not say it explicitly, the general... seemed to understand something instantly. He was silent for a moment, and although his expression did not change much, I could feel that he was holding his breath... In the end, he only said three words: 'I understand.'"

Xing Wudao imitated Qi Lin's tone at the time...

"Got it?" Yin Pan'er repeated softly, looking at Xiao Ce.

Xing Wudao nodded vigorously and then repeated Qi Lin's order: "Then, the general immediately issued a strict order: I am required to personally take charge of the guarding of Jing'an Residence and select absolutely reliable people; without his order, no one is allowed to contact Mr. and his party, and it is strictly forbidden to spread the news. Anyone who violates the order will be punished by military law! He also specifically emphasized that I should take good care of them and not be negligent."

After he finished speaking, he added, "The general gave me one last look, and his expression was... very complex. There was shock, disbelief, but more than that... it was something I can't quite put my finger on... However, I think he probably guessed it..."

"Finally, I did as you said... After I finished speaking, seeing that the general didn't seem to want to see you... I pressed him further, asking if he wasn't going to come and check on things. His answer was yes, and that if he came directly, it would definitely cause unnecessary trouble..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce revealed a knowing smile that reached his eyes.

He turned to look at Yin Pan'er and Da Lei: "Pan'er, Da Lei, did you hear that? General Qi Lin, as expected of Han Da's protégé, is meticulous and quick to understand. Not only did he guess it, but he also immediately understood my intention and made the most appropriate arrangements."

Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce, "So, what was the deeper meaning behind the last question you had Xing Wudao ask?"

Xiao Ce nodded to Yin Pan'er, and without hiding it from Xing Wu, said, "If he guessed it and came directly, then it means that this person may act impulsively, but he may not be considerate enough. When I meet him next time, I may hold back a bit."

"However, after guessing my identity, this person didn't rush over. He even considered that I wanted to conceal my identity... His thoughtfulness in waiting to come later, to avoid attracting attention, shows that he is a shrewd and reliable person, someone who can be entrusted with important tasks..."

He paused, his tone appreciative.

After hearing this, Xing Wudao, who was standing to the side, was filled with admiration.

Yin Pan'er breathed a sigh of relief, a relaxed smile appearing on her face.

"General Xing's description was so detailed, and General Qi's reaction really says it all. He not only guessed the prince's identity, but also understood that the prince needed to keep it a secret. This tacit understanding and execution ability live up to the trust of the prince and Marshal Han."

“So, sir…” Xing Wudao asked tentatively. “Then… sir, is there anything else you need me to do?”

"Next..." Xiao Ce looked in the direction of the camp, the sea breeze ruffling his clothes, but he didn't answer in a hurry.

After a pause, he slowly said, "We're just waiting for General Qi. Now that he knows, he will definitely come, and he will choose the safest time. There are many people and eyes around at the port now, so it will probably be after nightfall."

He patted Xing Wudao on the shoulder: "Major General Xing, thank you for your hard work. Just follow General Qi's orders. Remember, until we leave this place, my identity will still be Mr. Xiao of the Gold Merchant Guild."

"Understood, sir!" Xing Wu nodded emphatically, then said earnestly, "Please rest assured, sir, I will personally oversee everything inside and outside Jing'an Residence, and there will be absolutely no mishaps!"

Xiao Ce smiled at Xing Wudao's expression and said, "No need to be so deliberate, relax... Otherwise, if you make yourself too tense, you'll only attract attention..."

Xing Wudao nodded after hearing Xiao Ce's words.

As he spoke, Xiao Ce paused, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, Xing Wudao, you don't need to pay too much attention to my situation... I have something else I need to tell you..."

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Xing Wudao exclaimed in surprise, "Sir, please give your orders..."

"Go and send some people you trust to stay here and observe. See who has been paying the most attention to us since our arrival, and who has been asking the most questions about us..."