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

While scrubbing himself in the bathtub, Xiao Ce said to Nie Bing, "Just say what you want to say."

Once Nie Bing remembered the important matter, she cleared her mind of all distractions.

“I’ve already given the granaries I found to Qianlong, and he should be checking them now. After your great victory over the Turks this time, they certainly won’t be lenient! Next, they will definitely find a way to destroy them.”

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "You told me about this before. I know."

Nie Bing frowned slightly: "Aren't you going to think of a solution? If this granary is burned down, the people of the Nine Cities will starve to death! Your great victory today will have become meaningless!"

Xiao Ce replied calmly, "Of course I know."

Nie Bing said, "Aren't you going to move those grain supplies now?"

Xiao Ce looked at Nie Bing: "If it's moved, that Hidden Dragon will still come looking for you. He'll make you find the location of those grain supplies."

Nie Bing's expression was cold and stern: "Your Highness, you underestimate me. Although I care about my family, if Qianlong orders me to kill you, I will do it! Because you are a scumbag."

Xiao Ce wasn't angry when he heard him say that. He knew very well that Qianlong had asked her to kill him, but she had chosen to follow his lead.

“However, now Qianlong is going to destroy these grain supplies, which are crucial to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in these nine cities. I cannot do it. My father, if he were alive, would not allow me to do so. If Qianlong kills my family because of this, I will kill Qianlong to avenge my family…”

“I agreed to go with him before because you wanted me to infiltrate the area. If you can’t stop them from destroying the grain, I will do it my own way. I won’t take the blame.”

Nie Bing's gaze was icy, her expression one of resignation to death.

Xiao Ce and Nie Bing were so excited: "Don't get excited, when have you ever seen me fight a battle unprepared!"

"Have you made all the arrangements?" Nie Bing asked Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Of course, I went to great lengths to get those provisions. How could I joke about something that concerns my life?"

Nie Bing asked curiously, "Were the addresses I gave you fake?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "Do you think that Qianlong is stupid? Of course it's not fake, it really is a granary!"

Nie Bing was even more puzzled: "Then how are you going to protect those granaries?"

Xiao Ce revealed a meaningful smile and beckoned to Nie Bing.

"What do you mean?"

Xiao Ce teased Nie Bing, "You want to know? Come and give me a massage. If you make me feel good, I'll tell you."

Nie Bingyu frowned, thinking she had misheard: "What?"

"If you want to know my plan, come and serve me, and I'll tell you!" Xiao Ce said jokingly.

Nie Bing's face flushed red, and she looked furious: "You're dreaming!"

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Alright, since you don't want to know, then just pretend you don't know anything. Don't worry, I won't let my people go hungry."

Seeing Nie Bing still standing there, Xiao Ce said teasingly, "If you don't have anything else to do, you can leave now. Don't delay me, I want to enjoy myself. Or perhaps, you want to..."

Before Xiao Ce could finish speaking, Nie Bing interrupted angrily, "Don't even think about it..."

With that, he left in embarrassment.

Xiao Ce couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Then, Xiao Jiu was sent to bring the seasonal girls back to serve them.

...

As soon as Nie Bing went out, she bumped into Yin Pan'er.

Yin Pan'er looked at Nie Bing's fair face, which was still flushed.

"Sister Bing? Did you just come from the Prince's place?"

When Nie Bing saw Yin Pan'er, she nodded somewhat guiltily and asked, "Are you going to find him too?"

Yin Pan'er nodded: "I need to talk to him about something. Are you alright?"

Nie Bing looked at Yin Pan'er in confusion: "What?"

Yin Pan'er pointed at Nie Bing's face: "Your face is very red..."

Nie Bing then said awkwardly and angrily, "You know he's shameless... I advise you to go back too."

Yin Pan'er smiled and said, "Okay!"

As she spoke, she took Nie Bing's hand and said, "Sister Bing, it's been so long since we had dinner together. You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's go eat..."

Nie Bing was about to refuse.

Yin Pan'er said to Nie Bing, "Sister Bing, I want to apologize to you."

Nie Bing was confused by Yin Pan'er's nonsensical remark.

"what?"

Yin Pan'er took Nie Bing to her residence.

She instructed the kitchen to prepare some dishes that the two of them would like to eat.

Yin Pan'er then said to Nie Bing, "Sister Bing, I suspected you before... and even followed you... but now I know I misunderstood you..."

Nie Bing was stunned for a moment after hearing Yin Pan'er's words, and her expression immediately turned awkward: "You know about the granary?"

Yin Pan'er nodded.

Nie Bing's expression became increasingly awkward.

"Then I'm the one who should apologize. Pan'er, it wasn't that I didn't mean to keep it from you. It's just that Xiao Ce said the fewer people who know about this, the better... I..."

Yin Pan'er held Nie Bing's hand: "Sister Bing, I know. It was my fault. I shouldn't have doubted you... I even... considered killing you. But I just can't believe you're that kind of person..."

Nie Bing smiled and said firmly, "Pan'er, if I ever do such a thing, don't hesitate, kill me!"

Yin Pan'er was somewhat surprised by Nie Bing's words.

Nie Bing said with a serious expression, "I'm serious! Even my father's dying wish was that one day the people of this land would have enough to eat and drink."

Yin Pan'er nodded: "Sister Bing, I know. Me too. If one day I do something to harm the people of this land, you can kill me."

After looking at each other, the two couldn't help but laugh.

Yin Pan'er continued, "Sister Bing, are you willing to give up your family?"

Nie Bing saw that Yin Pan'er knew quite a lot: "You know everything?"

Yin Pan'er then told her everything she knew.

Nie Bing gave a wry smile: "Actually, at first, when I heard about them, I was very happy. I wanted to see them. At that time, I was even a little obsessed."

"However, after this period of calm, and through my understanding of Qianlong, I've realized that he's definitely not a good person. My family may have been saved by him, but they may also have been brainwashed by him."

“If Qianlong wants to harm the people here and this country, I cannot give in to them. My father never regretted anything he did until his death! So, I have also made up my mind. I want to save my family. But this cannot be done at the expense of the people.”

Listening to Nie Bing's words, Yin Pan'er looked at her with admiration: "Sister Bing, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. You're still as righteous and indignant as ever."

Nie Bing joked, "Aren't you the same? Back then, you listened to Xiao Yang's words and even thought of using yourself as bait to eliminate that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce!"

Yin Pan'er gave an awkward smile: "It can be considered a blessing in disguise. Who would have thought that Xiao Ce was so cunning... Before, he was a complete good-for-nothing. I thought that if the country fell into the hands of such a good-for-nothing, wouldn't that be a sign of national ruin?"

Nie Bing gave a wry smile: "I really didn't expect that Xiao Ce is so capable, achieving such great results in such a short time!"

Yin Pan'er smiled and pulled Nie Bing, saying, "Has Sister Bing made up her mind to throw herself into the arms of the King of Mobei?"

Nie Bing was immediately embarrassed: "What are you saying...you little brat, you're teasing me again..."

Then the two of them started tickling each other's armpits and playfully fighting.

...

Outside the city of Zenda.

The heads of the four new major clans lined up at the entrance to greet them.

From afar, we could see a dejected group approaching.

Cai Yong and his entourage hurriedly ran to greet him.

When they were about ten meters away from the crowd, they knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Greetings, Khans! You have worked hard. We have prepared food, wine, and hot water within the city!"

Ashina, who was in the lead, looked at the group and finally focused his gaze on Kan Shanyue.

"Are you Kan Shanyue?"

Kan Shanyue was somewhat taken aback when Ashina called him: "Reporting to the Khan, it is indeed me!"

Ashina drew the sword from his waist.

This terrified Kan Shanyue, who prostrated himself on the ground, crying, "Khan, spare me... Khan, spare me..."

Ashina dismounted and held his sword to Kan Shanyue's neck.

"It was you who set fire to our camp, and it was you who launched a sneak attack and massacred five thousand Turkic warriors in our camp!"

Kan Shanyue was secretly pleased to hear this, but he quickly denied it.

"I'm innocent... Ashina Khan, even if you gave me ten thousand lives, I would never dare to disrespect the Turkic warriors!"

Cai Yong, standing to the side, said, "Ashina Khan, there must be a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding!"

Ashina snorted coldly: "That's right, a misunderstanding! There is indeed a misunderstanding here! I have never killed a single person from your Qingshan County."

When Ashina brought it up, Kan Shanyue prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to raise his head: "Khan, I know... I believe you!"

Ashina asked with some surprise, "Oh? You believe that!"

Cai Yong handed Qianlong's letter to Ashina: "Mr. Ashina, this is a letter from Mr. Qianlong!"

Ashina was taken aback when he heard Cai Yong say this.

He took the letter, glanced at it, and said with resentment, "That good-for-nothing again!"

Ashide stepped forward curiously and asked, "Ashna, Mr. Qianlong, is it your benefactor who has been secretly helping you all along?"

Ashina didn't hide anything: "That's right! This time, all the powerful clans and aristocratic families in Qingshan County and Ping'an County were killed by Xiao Ce, all in an attempt to sow discord among us."

Ashide nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Ashina looked at the four powerful family heads kneeling on the ground and said, "Alright, since it's a misunderstanding, get up. Mr. Qianlong promised you that he wouldn't let your families die in vain. I also promise you that I will avenge you!"

The heads of the four major clans kowtowed in gratitude.

Ashina then mounted his horse again and reined it in.

He turned to look at the dejected Turkic coalition.

"My fellow Turkic warriors, I know you are frustrated... but this is not your fault! You fought very bravely in this battle. The reason you lost is entirely because they used some despicable means. If it weren't for those exploding sacks, we wouldn't have lost!"

"Rest assured, as long as we find a way to deal with those exploding bags, we will still be able to wipe them out completely! My brave warriors, I believe you have not only not lost, but won! Our survival is victory!"

"Keep your anger inside, everyone. Next time, we'll breach the city! We'll skin those people alive! We'll drink their blood and boil their flesh! Do you have the confidence?"

The Turkic people shouted in unison, "Martial! Martial! Martial!"

Ashina said, "Very well, the heads of various powerful families have prepared fine wine and delicacies for us. Go into the city and let loose! Everything in the city is open to you, and the beauties in the city are also for you to enjoy! They are all a reward for you!"

"Wu! Wu! Wu!"

Upon hearing Ashina's words, Cai Yong's face turned ashen, as if he had eaten shit.

"Ashina Khan...this...this...this is not..."

Ashina stared wide-eyed at Cai Yong: "What's wrong? Our Turkic warriors are fighting bloody battles for you on the front lines? You won't even agree to such a small thing?"

Cai Yong said awkwardly, "No...no...it's just that...could you..."

Ashina said, "No! What right do you have to negotiate here! Do you know how difficult it is for our soldiers to survive, risking their lives nine times over!"

The Helu tribesmen on one side said, "That's right. Have all the women in your city come out and stand in the street for our warriors to choose from! Don't try to hide any women; if we find out, we'll kill a hundred of your men for every woman you hide, understand?"

The group of Turks unanimously agreed.

Cai Yong did not answer.

The mountain-like Fan Gang Ashina behind Ashina held a giant hammer against Cai Yong's head: "What, you have a problem with that?"

Cai Yong gave an awkward smile: "No...no...no...okay...I'll go give the order right away."

Mos Ashina sneered, "You should all be grateful that our Turkic warriors' holy elixir could nourish your women..."

Cai Yong nodded awkwardly and said yes.

The expressions of the family heads on one side were somewhat unpleasant, but they dared not utter a sound.

Mos Ashina shouted, "Turkic warriors, enter the city! Release your pent-up emotions! Tonight, there will be no military discipline. Do whatever you want! You are the kings of Zhenda!"

"Wu! Wu! Wu!"

As they spoke, the lifeless Turks regained their passion once again.

At their command, the pack of wild beasts entered the city.

Cai Yong and his entourage bowed and scraped as they led the way for the several chieftains and clansmen...