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

Yang Changlin was extremely excited after hearing this.

"What! My father-in-law has always been in good health..."

Fang Haoshan, the eldest son of the Fang family and Yang Changlin's brother-in-law, stepped forward and said, "Changlin, wasn't it all caused by those Turkic beasts..."

Fang Haoshan recounted these events in detail: after the Turks entered the city, they burned, killed, and looted in Zhenda City.

On the first day, the incident happened suddenly, and the entire Fang family suffered.

The next day, the head of the Fang family used many connections to contact Cai Yong, the most powerful and influential family in Chanda County and also the county magistrate.

They sought Cai Yong's protection, and Cai Yong agreed.

However, they made an outrageous demand, asking for almost half of the Fang family's entire fortune.

After much deliberation, the head of the Fang family decided that people were more important than money and agreed.

As a result, Cai Yong came and collected the money.

The Turks came over, drawn by the smell, indicating that Cai Yong's word was not law.

If you want peace, just give them the same amount as Cai Yong.

They will then protect them.

On the contrary, if they refuse to pay, then the Turks can go on and cause them as much trouble as they want.

The head of the Fang family went to find Cai Yong, but Cai Yong simply refused to see him.

Seeing the Turks arrive with their menacing troops and block the gate, the head of the Fang family knew that if they did not comply...

That would definitely be a catastrophe.

Left with no other choice, he had to hand over all his family's wealth.

As soon as one horse left, another Turkic horse arrived the next day.

They want money and provisions, and if the Fang family doesn't provide them, they will still come.

But the Fang family had already emptied their coffers, so nothing they said mattered.

They approached the Turks, who said they were simply Ashina. They assured them that Ashina's Turks would not harass them.

The head of the Fang family was so angry that he fell into a coma. The doctor said that the sudden anger caused him to fall into a coma.

Today has come the day the Turks have spoken of; if we cannot produce the money and provisions by now…

Today may be the end of the Fang family.

Yang Changlin asked, "Surely this kind of thing isn't limited to the Fang family alone."

Fang Haoshan nodded: "Besides ordinary people, we're the worst off in the city. Ordinary people are all alone, so they can just endure it. But those of us with a little wealth, they'll find every way to torment and bully us... There are dozens, if not fifty, of identical families in the city..."

Yang Changlin nodded thoughtfully.

Fang Haoshan seemed to have thought of something and asked excitedly, "Changlin, you serve under the King of Mobei as the commander of the Imperial Guards. Did you bring good news this time? Is the King coming to rescue us?"

Hearing Fang Haoshan's words, even though Yang Changlin didn't say anything, the Fang family members beside him had eager eyes.

The fame of the King of the Northern Desert had already spread throughout the four prefectures and thirty-nine cities of the Northern Desert.

However, Yang Changlin's next words instantly disappointed them.

"Your Highness, there are countless matters to attend to right now. Going out to attack this area is definitely not a good strategy."

Seeing the disappointment on everyone's faces.

Yang Changlin continued, "However, the prince has brought a solution that may temporarily repel the Turks and relieve our immediate crisis."

The crowd became excited once again.

Yang Changlin said, "I'll go see my father-in-law first."

Everyone nodded and led Yang Changlin to his room.

Looking at this person who was originally very healthy and full of energy, now lying motionless in bed.

Just as Yang Changlin walked to the old man's side, he gently took his hand.

But then they realized something was wrong.

Then, with trembling hands, he placed them near the old man's nose and gently felt it.

But they found that the old man was no longer breathing.

After Yang Changlin called out twice, the Yang family members let out a wail.

The sound of crying echoed throughout the entire house.

Fang Haoshan, his eyes bloodshot, asked Yang Changlin, "Changlin, what plan did the Prince say? As long as we can deal with these Turks, we'll go through fire and water, no matter what! We'll fight them to the death!"

The Fang family members all wore expressions of resignation to their fate.

Yang Changlin said in a low voice, "Gentlemen, this method is somewhat risky... but it's the only option left."

Then, Yang Changlin explained Xiao Ce's plan.

Everyone thought it was feasible.

"As expected of the King of the Northern Desert, I think his brilliant plan is feasible!"

"I think it's feasible too!"

Then Yang Changlin said, "While my father-in-law's body is still warm, we need to do something..."

Everyone nodded in agreement: "Father will definitely understand..."

Although everyone agreed, no one dared to take action.

Yang Changlin then told everyone to step back, and that he would take action.

He then gave everyone some medicine prepared by Shen Jiu, one of Xiao Ce's Twelve Fiends.

"You should all apply it to yourselves. You will develop blistering all over your bodies in a short time, and it will be extremely painful! Of course, don't worry, it won't be life-threatening."

Everyone nodded in unison, indicating that they were not afraid even if their lives were in danger...

As Yang Changlin spoke, he turned to Fang Haoshan and said, "Brother-in-law, go out and announce the death... Remember what I told you... Say that the old man has suddenly fallen seriously ill... Then do as I told you..."

Fang Haoshan nodded.

"Changlin, do you need a list of the other families?"

Yang Changlin nodded: "We don't need many, but they must be people we can absolutely trust?"

Fang Haoshan nodded and wrote down the list for Yang Changlin.

Immediately afterwards, the Fang family ordered people to hang white silk ribbons.

Yang Changlin secretly left again.

As soon as Fang Haoshan stepped out, he encountered a Turk from the Helu tribe.

"Where are you going? There are only three hours left until you pay us! If you don't have the money by then... don't blame us..."

Fang Haoshan nodded and scratched himself as he left, bowing and scraping.

"My esteemed Turkic lords, I'll go and raise the money right away... raise the money..."

Fang Haoshan kept scratching.

The Turks on one side frowned as they watched.

"Why are you scratching like that... it's making me itchy... and why do you have blisters all over your body?"

Seeing this, Fang Haoshan quickly tightened his clothes: "No...no...it was from scratching, wasn't it..."

The Turk waved his hand dismissively: "Don't try anything funny... You'll either get paid, or you'll have the girls in your household become our bitches... Hahaha..."

Fang Haoshan nodded with a very unpleasant expression.

Fang Haoshan didn't linger and rushed to the Cai family without stopping.

When they arrived at the Cai family's house, they knocked on the door.

Upon seeing Fang Haoshan, the Cai family's butler immediately tried to close the door.

Fang Haoshan, a man in his forties, knelt down with a thud: "Steward Cai, we've been old friends, haven't we? I didn't come here to make things difficult for you... I know the Prefect is in dire straits himself... I didn't come to borrow money... I came to deliver news of a death..."

Butler Cai and Fang Haoshan had previously been on good terms, but upon hearing Fang Haoshan's words, the butler's face immediately darkened. "Announce a death? Your master..." he said.

There are connections here too. If an ordinary member of the Fang family dies, there's no need to come here to announce the death.

Only when the patriarch of the Fang family dies do we need to follow them in announcing the death.

Fang Haoshan's face was grim: "Butler Cai, my father is gone!"

Steward Cai's face turned grim: "How could this be? The Prefect has already instructed several Turkic leaders not to harm the old master!"

Fang Haoshan nodded: "Reporting to Steward Cai. My father had been feeling unwell before, his body was always itchy and he had blisters, but this unpleasant incident worsened his condition, which is why... cough... cough cough..."

Before Fang Hao could finish speaking, he kept coughing and scratching his body.

Red blisters would occasionally appear in the exposed areas, and when scratched, they would ooze pus.

"Fang Haoshan, are you alright...?"

Fang Haoshan put on a full-on acting performance, trying to cover up the exposed blisters: "It's nothing...it's nothing...I've only been feeling a little itchy since yesterday, but...cough...cough cough...I'm fine!"

The more Fang Haoshan acted this way, the more suspicious the butler became.

As a highly experienced butler, he instinctively took a step back, covering his nose and saying:

"Fang Haoshan, since such a serious matter has happened in your family, you should go back and handle the old man's funeral arrangements first... I will report to the Prefectural Magistrate..."

Fang Haoshan said with a bitter face, "Steward Cai, cough...cough cough...this isn't in accordance with the rules, is it? Besides, the Helu tribe wants us to hand over the same amount of money to them before dark, otherwise...they...cough cough...cough cough..."

Butler Cai nodded: "I understand, don't worry. No matter what, we will ensure the old man has a peaceful funeral!"

Watching Fang Haoshan scratch and cough made Butler Cai feel uncomfortable all over.

"Fang Haoshan, you should go back now. Also, if you're not feeling well... please see a doctor!"

Fang Haoshan made a gesture of suppressing a cough: "It's nothing, probably just a cold. Everyone in the family has a cough, that's why...it's nothing...cough...cough cough...besides, I...we...we don't have any more money to call a doctor...cough...cough cough..."

His words terrified Butler Cai.

"Is your whole family like this?"