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

Da Lei couldn't help but exclaim, "Is this still the Kyoto we know and understand?"

The group of people were somewhat surprised and taken aback.

Their surprise stemmed from the fact that they all knew what this place had been like before.

Such a stark contrast is still surprising.

The central avenue here has been widened considerably, with six lanes in both directions, and a wide green median strip in the middle, with some greenery planted along the roadside.

Once inside, there were very few horse-drawn carriages, and even fewer oxcarts; instead, bicycles were the main mode of transportation.

Here, modern traffic guidance aids such as traffic lights and zebra crossings have also appeared.

And the population density here is even higher than before...

Although there were many people, the order was very good and everything was in good order.

After entering Kyoto, Atie drove at a much slower pace.

The houses on both sides of the road are relatively new building complexes, generally four to six stories high, with structures mainly made of brick, stone and concrete, but their appearance is not simple either, inheriting the aesthetics of the previous Xiao Kingdom architecture.

There are also some busy intersections with shops, which are actually more accurately described as shopping malls...

Long queues have started forming outside the mall.

The shopping mall has a sign that reads: "Gold Mall..."

It's clearly a property of the Golden Society; their naming is simple and direct...

"Oh my god..."

Xiaoyue pressed her face against the car window, her eyes wide, and murmured, "Is...is this still Kyoto? I...I don't even recognize it! It's bigger than Rome...no, bigger than any other Western city I've ever seen..."

She couldn't find the right words for a moment.

"We must all be full of energy and hope."

Seeing that she was at a loss for words, Yin Pan'er added.

Xiaoyue nodded repeatedly after hearing Yin Pan'er's words.

Yin Pan's eyes glistened as she tightly gripped Xiao Ce's hand. "Father and the others... they really did it. Your Highness, look, everywhere here are the shadows of your drawings from back then... reinforced concrete buildings, wide roads, trams, cars... they've all become reality..."

Xiao Ce nodded!

His gaze slowly swept over the city that had risen from the ashes.

Then he said to Atie, "Atie, let's find a place to rest."

A-Tie naturally nodded, and they drove the car to a bustling area, which was the same area that was closer to the palace.

Then, they found a restaurant, the Golden Restaurant.

It's also a property of the Golden Association. I didn't think much about it when I looked for it. It's just a place directly operated by the Golden Association, so there shouldn't be any problems.

It's equivalent to a five-star hotel, and he wasn't worried about their identities at all.

Qi Lin had previously prepared military identities for all of them, as the military has a certain number of exemptions from inspection.

With that ID card, you can freely enter and exit any place without inspection.

Qi Lin said that many of them use this identity.

It was mainly for the purpose of maintaining secrecy.

So when Da Lei helped them check in, the people here saw the ID card and didn't think there was anything wrong with it, nor did they ask any questions.

After paying, you can check in...

This Golden Restaurant is lavishly decorated, and its prices aren't exactly cheap.

They were taken to their respective residences, and Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er also found a room to rest.

A short while later, Da Lei came and found him.

Seeing Da Lei's hesitant expression, Xiao Ce said to him, "Da Lei, are you thinking of going to find your wife and children...?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei smiled and nodded, "That's right, Your Highness, as expected, nothing can be hidden from you..."

Seeing Da Lei's response, Xiao Ce smiled at him and then asked, "Do you know where your wife and children are right now?"

Are they still in Kyoto?

Xiao Ce's two questions completely stumped Da Lei.

Da Lei scratched his head: "I hadn't considered that, but it's not difficult for me to find someone by wandering around. The thing is, I came to ask you if my going out would have any impact on what you're doing?"

Xiao Ce shook his head at Da Lei and said, "It won't have any impact, what impact could it have... Besides, after so much time, very few people probably know you anymore... After you meet General Dan, just tell them to keep it a secret..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei nodded and then said, "No problem... Your Highness. May I go?"

Looking at Da Lei's expression, Xiao Ce chuckled and said, "Of course you can go. I'm being so discreet, sneaking in to avoid unnecessary trouble. We're not criminals, nor are we pariahs... We don't need to be so tense..."

Da Lei listened and nodded with a smile.

Xiao Ce smiled at Da Lei and said, "It was my fault...you misunderstood. Just go normally...even if you go find Night Owl and the others..."

After listening to Xiao Ce's words, Da Lei nodded.

He then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, are you alright while I'm away?"

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded at Da Lei, then said, "Don't worry, there won't be any problems. Aren't there the three Mi brothers? And those three androids from the Creation Base? They'll definitely be fine..."

Da Lei nodded: "Then, Your Highness, I'll take my leave now..."

Xiao Ce didn't ask Da Lei any further questions, simply nodding: "After you find General Dan, please give him my regards. And..."

Xiao Ce paused as he spoke, and Da Lei looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Xiao Ce wore a wicked smile again, then said, "Also, don't come back for the next few days. Make sure you pay the back taxes you owe..."

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, a blush immediately appeared on Da Lei's resolute face.

He nodded and then left.

Watching Da Lei leave, Yin Pan'er smiled and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, you really are quite wicked..."

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow and then said, "Isn't what I did just showing consideration for my subordinates? How is that wrong...?"

When Yin Pan'er heard Xiao Ce say this, she was speechless for a moment and could not refute him.

Xiao Ce still found Yin Pan'er somewhat adorable.

He smiled and said to Yin Pan'er, "Pan'er, it's time we went to find your father..."

Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness? Shall we go straight there?"

Xiao Ce nodded to Yin Pan'er: "That's right. I had some doubts before, wondering if there might be any problems within Xiao Kingdom... but now it seems there aren't any. Everything is normal, which means your father and the others are fine..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er nodded: "So, does that mean we should just go directly? Will...?"

Xiao Ce waved his hand, interrupting Yin Pan'er before she could finish speaking, "No, I've already done the testing for you... there won't be any problems... and as long as the general direction is correct, we don't need to worry too much about the details..."

Yin Pan'er nodded, then said to Xiao Ce, "Then can we just go there directly?"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "That's right."

Yin Pan'er asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, do you know where my father is right now?"

Xiao Ce smiled at Yin Pan'er and said, "This isn't difficult. If I'm not mistaken, it should be in your former Prime Minister's residence..."

Yin Pan'er nodded.

Xiao Ce smiled at Yin Pan'er and then said, "Shall we rest for a while, or set off immediately?"

Yin Pan'er looked at Xiao Ce and said, "Your Highness, it's all up to you... If you think there's no problem, then there's no problem... I will naturally listen to you..."

Xiao Ce said to Yin Pan'er, "Then let's set off..."

Yin Pan'er nodded to Xiao Ce, then said, "Now?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's right, there's no time to lose..."

Yin Pan'er nodded and then said, "Then Your Highness, I will follow your arrangements."

Without saying a word, Xiao Ce led his group downstairs.

He left the three androids from the creation base here, and then took the three people with him.

Including A-Tie, one robot and three humanoids are enough to ensure their safety.

After they left, they had Atie drive them directly to the location of the former prime minister's residence.

Originally, they intended to use their memories.

As a result, the entire city of Kyoto, except for the imperial palace, was completely transformed...

However, Xiao Ce was not in a hurry and let A Tie drive around.

They soon discovered that in the heart of Kyoto, there were several official office buildings, including a federal building.

There is also the Xiao State Government Building, and it is obvious that the people there work there.

Xiao Ce wasn't in a hurry to go over; he probably already knew the location.

The former residences of princes and nobles have also been renovated...

However, that area is off-limits to unauthorized personnel, and there are dedicated patrols.

Clearly, their identification wouldn't be enough to get them in...

Xiao Ce also decided not to go in, since there were probably many eyes watching in such a place.

After wandering around for a while, Xiao Ce said to A Tie, "A Tie, let's go back..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Pan'er asked, "Your Highness, isn't it..."

Xiao Ce pointed to these places: "Once we get there, we'll definitely attract a lot of attention. This place is completely different from what I imagined. Let's try a different approach; let your father come directly to us..."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at Xiao Yue to the side.

Yin Pan'er then looked at Xiao Ce knowingly and said, "Your Highness, do you want Xiao Yue to go find her father?"

When Xiao Ce saw Yin Pan'er like this, he knew what Xiao Ce was thinking.

"That's right. Does your father know Xiaoyue?"

Yin Pan'er nodded: "They should know each other, after all, she's been my maid since I was little..."

Xiao Ce nodded and continued, "Besides your father, probably no one else knows Xiaoyue either..."

Yin Pan'er nodded, then said to Xiao Ce, "That's right, this person probably doesn't know Xiao Yue... After all, the people in the capital have changed many times over..."

Xiao Ce nodded after listening to Yin Pan'er's words.

"Xiaoyue, how are you?"

When Xiao Ce asked this, Xiao Yue smiled earnestly and said, "Your Highness, of course there is no problem... but where can I find Prime Minister Yin?"

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Ce said directly to Xiao Yue, "Go to that building you just went to, and tell him that you are a distant relative of Yin Weiyong and have come to seek refuge with him..."

Then Xiao Ce looked at Yin Pan'er and asked, "Pan'er, which kind of relative are you talking about? Your father will definitely meet them."

Yin Pan'er's eyes darted around twice, then she said to Xiaoyue, "Just say you're a member of the Rong family, and that Rong Fang sent you to find your father..."

Xiaoyue nodded after listening to Yin Pan'er's words.

Xiao Ce then said to Yin Pan'er, "Rong Fang is..."

Yin Pan'er said to Xiao Ce, "It's my mother's family. Rong Fang is my maternal grandfather. However, because they didn't participate in worldly affairs, very few people know about them... So, as long as my father hears this name, he will definitely meet with them."

Upon hearing Yin Pan'er's words, Xiao Ce, without saying a word, instructed A Tie to continue driving the car to those buildings.

Then Xiaoyue was asked to come down first, and just to be on the safe side, Milong was asked to follow her.

Xiao Ce followed Xiao Yue's advice and told her that after meeting Yin Weiyong, she could tell him the truth.

If it's convenient for Yin Weiyong, he can come directly to them. If it's not convenient, he can instruct Xiao Ce and the others to go find them...

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Yue naturally became extremely respectful...

"Yes, Your Highness..."

With that, Xiaoyue got off the bus.

After they got out of the car, Mi Long looked around first.

Xiaoyue's counter-surveillance skills are quite strong; after wandering around the area for a while...

After passing through the bustling crowds, I walked towards the majestic building that symbolized the highest administrative power of the Xiao Kingdom—the Xiao Kingdom Government Affairs Center.

The building is constructed entirely of light gray granite and massive glass curtain walls, with clean, powerful lines that reflect a cold, hard light in the afternoon sun.

On either side of the entrance, guards dressed in new dark blue uniforms and holding sophisticated automatic rifles stood like statues, their sharp eyes scanning everyone who tried to approach.

Xiaoyue took a deep breath, suppressed her nervousness, and stepped towards the guard post at the main entrance.

Milong followed closely behind.

"Stop! Please show your identification or state your purpose!"

A young guard stepped forward, reached out and stopped Xiaoyue, his voice carrying a formulaic seriousness.

His gaze swept over Xiaoyue's simple clothes, with a scrutinizing tone.

The government service center is not a place that ordinary people can just walk into...

Xiaoyue stopped and said with unusual composure, "Sir, please inform President Yin that I have important business to discuss with him."