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

The man in plain clothes noticed Da Lei's suspicion and immediately took out the note Xiao Ce had left behind, handing it to Da Lei: "This is what that gentleman asked me to give you..."

After taking the note, Da Lei glanced at it and immediately confirmed it.

This time, Da Lei's attitude improved a lot, and his wary expression returned to normal.

Da Lei said to the man in plain clothes, "Then, sir, please lead the way."

The man in plain clothes became even more respectful after hearing Da Lei's words.

They took Da Lei and got into the car they had prepared, as night fell.

Under the cover of night, the city lights shone brightly, outlining the silhouette of a concrete jungle, with the glow of neon signs flowing across the car windows.

Da Lei had no interest in appreciating the bustling scene; his gaze was fixed, and his thoughts were churning.

He searched everywhere? Could it be that General Dan and his son Dan Lei live near the Presidential Palace?

After all, Yin Weiyong knew that General Dan and his wife were of paramount importance, and it was possible that they were placed in an absolutely safe location...

He entered the area of ​​the presidential palace. He had actually been here once before. Although the defenses here were very tight, they were nothing to Da Lei.

The reason he didn't infiltrate was simply because he didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble.

The heavy doors of the Presidential Palace's Jing'an Garden slid open silently. Led by guards, Da Lei passed through layers of heavily guarded passages and was finally taken to the outer hall of the courtyard where Yin Weiyong's study was located.

Director Mi and Mi Long stood silently outside like two guardian deities, and nodded slightly in greeting when they saw Da Lei.

The study was brightly lit, and the faint sounds of low conversation could be heard.

Just then, Director Mi was about to go in and call out, but Da Lei said to him, "Is Your Highness discussing business? I'm not in a hurry..."

Director Mi nodded first, then shook his head and said, "We were discussing business, but they instructed us to notify them immediately if we received any news about you..."

Da Lei nodded, and then stopped being coy...

After Director Mi went in, the study door opened and Yin Pan'er came out.

"Da Lei, you've arrived! Father and the Prince are waiting for you inside..."

In fact, after Yin Weiyong finished sending those letters, he went to find Xiao Ce.

Just now, Director Mi saw Yin Pan'er as soon as he went in. After hearing what Director Mi said, Yin Pan'er did not allow Director Mi to see Xiao Ce.

Because Xiao Ce and Yin Weiyong were chatting idly...

Da Lei first bowed and greeted her: "Your Highness..."

Yin Pan'er said to Da Lei, "You must not have found General Dan and Dan Lei."

Da Lei nodded, then looked at Yin Pan'er with a hint of expectation.

Before Da Lei could even speak, Yin Pan'er said, "Da Lei, we just found out that General Dan and Dan Lei are also not used to life here. After you and the Prince left, they discussed it with my father and then went back to the Western Regions..."

After hearing Yin Pan'er's words, Da Lei smiled first, then said, "Your Highness, I actually guessed it too..."

Yin Pan'er also noticed a hint of melancholy in Da Lei's eyes.

"Da Lei, don't be disappointed... I heard from my father that there's now a train to the Western Regions that can take you there in two days. There are daily trains... We'll arrange for you to go directly there..."

Upon hearing Yin Pan'er's words, Da Lei smiled and then said, "Yes, Your Highness..."

Without further ado, Yin Pan'er led Da Lei directly into the study.

The study door opened, and I went inside.

At this moment, Xiao Ce and Yin Weiyong were eating hot pot and chatting.

After Da Lei arrived, he bowed to the two men.

"Your Majesty."

"Prime Minister Yin!" Da Lei realized something was amiss and quickly corrected himself, saying, "Your Excellency the President."

Upon hearing Da Lei's words, Yin Weiyong smiled and said, "Mr. Da Lei, don't worry about those titles. To be honest, I still prefer you to call me Prime Minister Yin; it feels much more intimate..."

"Come...sit down..."

Da Lei would have been polite at first, but after spending so much time with Xiao Ce, he stopped wasting words...

He nodded: "Thank you, Prime Minister Yin."

Xiao Ce then said to Da Lei, "Did we come up empty-handed?"

Da Lei gave an awkward smile and then said, "Yes. I searched according to my memory, but the old house was nowhere to be found and had become a new neighborhood. I couldn't find anything by asking around. I've been here before, but it looks heavily guarded. I could sneak in, but I thought it was unnecessary to cause any trouble, so I went back to the restaurant first."

Xiao Ce nodded: "That's right, Pan'er followed your advice?"

Da Lei nodded: "As long as their mother and child are safe... Besides, Dan actually told me that he might go back to the Western Regions."

Yin Weiyong nodded, then said to Da Lei, "Mr. Da Lei, the train from here to the Western Regions is quite fast... You can go tomorrow after you finish attending the conference..."

Da Lei asked with some confusion, "The conference?"

Xiao Ce explained his decision, and Da Lei nodded after listening. Then he asked, "Will all the members of the Twelve Fiends come?"

Xiao Ce nodded: "Apart from Hu Yidao, Hu Yidao is currently the president in India, and he's doing a very good job..."

Da Lei nodded: "Then, Your Highness, I'll cooperate with you on those matters first... Once the matter of the Hidden Dragon Tomb is confirmed and resolved, it won't be too late for me to go find my wife and children..."

Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, "Alright... you can go take a look..."

Da Lei nodded, then became somewhat excited.

Xiao Ce looked at Da Lei and said, "You seem more excited to see those people than anything else..."

Da Lei nodded: "That's right, it's been a long time since I've seen the Twelve Fiends... In terms of feelings, I've definitely grown closer to them..."

As they talked, they joked around amidst laughter and chatter.

...

Meanwhile, at this time, the three marshals were in their respective locations.

They each received the message. The first to receive it was Han Da. Although Han Da's Grand Marshal's Mansion also had a residence in the capital, he had always been stationed in the heart of Xiao Kingdom.

The main reason is that his location allows him to obtain information from all parties as quickly as possible.

Upon receiving the message, he immediately became wary, as Yin Weiyong rarely sent such messages or summoned him...

He dared not delay and immediately gathered his team, rushing back day and night.

Similarly, both Yan Jia and Wei Wuji dared not delay after receiving this news...

The next day.

It's on the top floor of the Presidential Administration Building.

Xiao Ce, Yin Weiyong, and Yin Pan'er went to the government building early in the morning.

At this very moment, on the top floor of the highest-level government building, Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er were resting in a lounge.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the conference room was so heavy it was almost palpable. The enormous circular rosewood conference table gleamed with an eerie light, exuding solemnity. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; only the soft yet cold light from the glass palace lamps overhead reflected the undisguised doubt and gravity on the faces of every participant.

Having received the President's highest-level secret order, the Marshal of the Three Armies, the Directors of the Six Departments, the leaders of the Golden Society, the Dean of the Heavenly Secrets Institute, the Vice President, and all the core members of the Twelve Fiends who had already arrived in Kyoto, except for Hu Yidao, were all present.

They were all powerful figures who held authority over the Xiao Kingdom and even the East Asian Alliance, and whose every move could shake the world. Yet, at this moment, they all held their breath and focused their attention on the empty chair next to the main seat, the one that symbolized the highest power.

Yin Weiyong has not yet appeared.

Marshal Han Da, dressed in full military uniform with three shining stars on his shoulder insignia, frowned and scanned the entire scene with sharp eyes.

Marshal Yan Jia's face was as cold and hard as iron. He sat upright and looked around.

Marshal Wei Wuji appeared more composed, but there was also a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Qian Lai, Qian Dahai, and Qian Dafang, the three giants of the Golden Club, exchanged glances, conveying a meaning only they understood.

Lin Zhong stroked his chin, lost in thought.

The six directors, Xu Zhiyuan, Rong Heping, Nan Changfeng, Lin Hai, Xing Shoulu, and Xin Xiaoci, along with Vice President Tian Jinxian, and the twelve members of the Fiends, including Ye Mao, Da Lei, Fu Niu, Xie Zhi, Lu Shu, Bat, Yang Wanli, Yin Taisui, Shan Lei, Yin Jiu, and Wan San, all sat upright, an invisible pressure permeating the air.

They were all very nervous, after all, these people were the foundation of the Xiao Kingdom.

They could even be considered some of the most powerful people in the entire East Asian Union.

Of course, the Twelve Fiends are not included. Although they do not have much power, the assassins and intelligence agencies they command are no less powerful than those with thousands of troops.

If used properly, it can be more effective than a thousand troops...

After everyone looked at each other's work, they...

"Why has the President summoned us so urgently?" Lin Hai, the Minister of Revenue, finally couldn't help but ask Xu Zhiyuan, the Minister of the Censorate, in a low voice. He was in charge of household registration and finances, and what he feared most was chaos throughout the land.

Xu Zhiyuan shook his head slightly, lowering his voice even further: "The secret order didn't mention it at all, and it was sealed with wax, which is unprecedented. I'm afraid... it's a matter that will shake the heavens." He glanced at everyone in the hall and added, "The three marshals are all here, the six departments are all present, the Golden Society, the Heavenly Secrets Institute, the Twelve Fiends... even the vice president is here. This kind of lineup is probably the first time since the establishment of the East Asian Alliance."

"Could it be a surprise move by the Western Allied Forces?" Shang Jun Si Nan Changfeng said in a deep voice. He was in charge of military supplies and was most sensitive to the atmosphere of war.

“It doesn’t seem like…” Air Force Marshal Wei Wuji continued, “If it were military intelligence, there would be an urgent military report sent first, not something so secretive. Moreover, the secret order requires us to arrive today, which is a bit more relaxed in terms of time, not a situation of extreme urgency.”

"Could it be that there's some major trouble within the alliance?" A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the Punisher.

"Or... is the rumor true?" Xin Xiaoci's voice trembled slightly, his gaze sweeping over Night Cat and the others, whose expressions had also subtly changed...

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into an instant silence. Rumors about "that person" had already been circulating widely in Kyoto, but no one dared to mention it in public.

At this moment, with Xin Xiaoci pointing it out, the tension in everyone's hearts almost snapped.

After all, these Twelve Fiends were actually the people that person trusted the most before...

Actually, no matter what the event was, at most one night owl would attend; it was never these people appearing together...

perhaps...

They didn't even dare to think about it...

Just then, the faint sound of the side door opening broke the silence.

Yin Weiyong, dressed in a dark gray presidential uniform, walked in. His face was expressionless, only showing a deep weariness and an indescribable solemnity. Behind him followed his personal bodyguard, Lin Feng, who also had a solemn expression.

Upon seeing Yin Weiyong enter, everyone stood up in unison, their eyes all focused on him, waiting for him to reveal the mystery.

"Mr President."

As they spoke, their eyes kept darting over Yin Weiyong's face...

They were all trying to glean something from Yin Weiyong's face.

Unfortunately, Yin Weiyong, that old fox, naturally wouldn't let anyone see any trace of his true intentions on his face...

Yin Weiyong walked to the head seat but did not sit down.

He surveyed the entire room, his gaze lingering for a moment on the face of each high-ranking official. His expression was incredibly complex, containing a mix of heaviness, excitement, and an indescribable reverence...

"Gentlemen..." Yin Weiyong's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an unquestionable authority.

"I have gathered you all here today because I have a top-secret matter to discuss with you, which concerns the very foundation of my Xiao Kingdom, the safety of the East Asian Alliance, and even the very fate of the world. This matter is of utmost importance, far beyond your imagination. Before I begin, please remember that everything you see and hear today is a top state secret. If even the slightest leak occurs, do not blame the law for being merciless!"

This opening statement, like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, stirred up a tidal wave in everyone's heart.

Yin Weiyong's tone was more serious than ever before! In fact, some major events have occurred within the East Asian Alliance these days.

However, Yin Weiyong has never acted like this before.

What earth-shattering event could make this veteran president, who has weathered many storms and held the reins of power for so many years, take it so seriously?

Everyone's hearts were in their throats; the air in the hall seemed to freeze...

Yin Weiyong took a deep breath and slowly shifted his gaze to the heavy oak door that was tightly closed on the inside of the conference hall.

His eyes became incredibly complex at that moment, filled with indescribable excitement and awe.

However, Han Da, and some other intelligent people, vaguely guessed what was going on when they saw this...

"Fellow colleagues, what's next..." Yin Weiyong's voice trembled slightly, yet remained perfectly clear, "Please stand up."

The crowd was even more surprised and suspicious, but no one dared to disobey, and they all stood up straight again.

Yin Weiyong bowed deeply to the door, his voice suddenly rising in pitch, carrying an almost reverent and excited tone:

"Welcome, Your Highness!!"

The word "Your Highness" resounded like a thunderclap from the heavens, echoing throughout the entire conference room...

boom...!

They couldn't even believe their ears...