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

Seeing Xiao Ce looking up at him, Xiao Yang said sternly, "What are you looking at! Wait to receive the imperial decree! If I don't say anything, you'd better kneel down obediently. Don't you know the rules?"

As he spoke, Xiao Yang's face was full of provocation.

Xiao Ce glanced at Da Lei beside him subconsciously and found that Da Lei was also looking at him.

He then gave Da Lei a wink.

The reason why Da Lei was able to become the leader of the Twelve Fiends was not only because of his martial prowess, but also because of his intelligence.

With just a glance from Xiao Ce, Da Lei understood immediately.

Seeing that Xiao Yang had no intention of issuing the decree, Xiao Ce spoke directly, saying, "Thank you, Father Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Your subject accepts the decree!"

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Ce with a completely bewildered expression: "What are you thanking me for? I..."

Before he could finish speaking, Da Lei moved like a rabbit.

Before they could react, they snatched the imperial edict and handed it to Xiao Ce.

Because all of this happened so suddenly, by the time he came to his senses, the imperial edict was already in Xiao Ce's hands.

Xiao Yang's eyes widened as he pointed at Da Lei: "You bastard, what are you doing? Are you trying to rebel? How dare you openly steal the imperial edict?!"

Da Lei stood behind Xiao Ce, not even glancing at him directly.

Xiao Ce opened the imperial edict, glanced at it, and cursed inwardly, "You dog emperor!"

The imperial edict first reprimanded Xiao Ce, basically saying that he was incompetent, had turned the four prefectures of Mobei into a mess, and had even been invaded by the Turks.

Therefore, he now appointed Xiao Yang to bring Xing Daorong, who was stationed in Maoming City, to assist him, and made him obey Xiao Yang's orders in everything.

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Yang, "Second brother, you held up the imperial edict for a long time without reading it. I thought it was a secret edict that you couldn't read. That's why I sent someone to retrieve it. Isn't that what you meant?"

Xiao Yang said with a dark face, "Bullshit! When did I say this was a secret decree? I have my reasons for not announcing it! You can't just try to steal it!"

Xiao Ce shrugged: "Second brother, I've already taken it and opened it. What do you suggest we do? It's such a small matter, you don't need to be so angry. This imperial edict was originally for me! Or, I'll return it to you!"

Xiao Yang pointed at Xiao Ce and said, "Stop with the nonsense! General Xing, arrest Xiao Ce! I don't think he's telling the truth! First, he delayed in receiving the imperial edict, and now he's openly snatching it! I think he's showing contempt for imperial authority and deserves to die!"

Xing Daorong cupped his hands in greeting and was about to call out to someone.

Xiao Ce was not afraid when he saw that they wanted to make a move.

He's probably scared them so much they won't dare come in!

He stood still and nodded to Mingwu to one side.

With a cold expression, Mingwu put his hand in his mouth and whistled.

Drums suddenly began to beat on the city wall, and the sky darkened.

Torches were lit one by one, illuminating the entire Yanmen Pass, making it resemble a fiery dragon.

The soldiers on the city wall nodded in unison, gesturing with their weapons and making synchronized "humph" and "ha" sounds.

It exudes majesty even in the darkness!

Xiao Yang pointed at Xiao Ce and said, "Xiao...Xiao Ce...what...are you trying to do? What do you mean? Are you rebelling?"

Xiao Ce smiled slightly and took a few steps forward: "Second brother, I have been polite and very friendly from the beginning until now. You, on the other hand, have not been so polite!"

"No matter how badly I perform as the King of the Northern Desert, I still have some loyal followers."

“I’ve read the imperial decree from my father! It’s nothing more than wanting you to claim credit, and I can cooperate with you! But I just want to live a quiet life as a carefree prince in this little corner of the land... If you insist on putting me to death, I’ll risk my life to protect this little corner of the land!”

Xiao Yang heard Xiao Ce's deep voice, his sinister expression, and his narrowed eyes: "Are you trying to intimidate me?"

Xiao Ce shook his head at Xiao Yang and said, "I've already retreated this far! Any further and there's an abyss behind me! You can try... They say a common man's anger can spill blood five steps away! If you push me too far, even if I'm just a common man, I'll definitely splatter blood all over your face!"

"I won't lie to you, I have over ten thousand men behind me! These are absolutely my trusted confidants, people I've fed and raised! If you want to risk your life, you can try!"

Just as Xiao Yang was about to say something, Xing Daorong stopped him and pulled him aside.

Xiao Yang was seething with anger and felt incredibly frustrated.

"Uncle Xing, why are you pulling me like that? Didn't you see this good-for-nothing baring his teeth at me..."

Xing Daorong said, "Second Prince, I think he has a point. He's just a good-for-nothing, wanting only a place to eke out a living! We don't need to take him seriously..."

"His Majesty's decree is for him to hand over all military power to you! As long as you trick him into handing over military power, what are you afraid of him for? But right now, military power is still in his hands! There's no need to push him too far."

Seeing Xiao Yang still hesitating, Xing Daorong continued, "Second Prince, there's a saying among the common people: 'Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those with something to lose.' He is barefoot, and we don't need to be stubborn with him. Once we cross Yanmen Pass and seize his military power, he'll be nothing..."

"He still has hope, Your Highness, let's try to appease him..."

Listening to Xing Daorong's analysis, Xiao Yang nodded: "Uncle Xing, then we'll listen to you. Do you think he'll give us military power?"

Xing Daorong nodded: "Didn't you see how obsequious he was at first? He wouldn't have bared his teeth if we hadn't been about to arrest him... Just do as I say later..."

As Xing Daorong spoke, he whispered a few words in Xiao Yang's ear.

Xiao Yang nodded and turned to look at Xiao Ce.

"Xiao Ce, are you sure you weren't deliberately delaying to receive the imperial decree?"

Xiao Ce saw that Xiao Yang had changed his expression, which clearly meant that Xing Daorong had persuaded him.

This saved him a lot of trouble...

Xiao Ce nodded: "I swear on my father's life that if I knew you were here to deliver the imperial decree, I would not come! May my father be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

The person standing nearby twitched involuntarily upon hearing Xiao Ce's oath.

Xiao Yang's face darkened as he said, "Why don't you swear on your own life, but instead swear on the Emperor's life?"

Xiao Ce said solemnly, "Because my father is the person I cherish and value most in my life... Only by swearing an oath on the person I value most can I show my sincerity!"

Xiao Yang stopped dwelling on it: "Alright, I'll just assume someone is interfering. You saw Father's imperial edict, didn't you?"

Xiao Ce nodded: "Second brother, I know Father has always wanted to support you as the crown prince. I also feel that the crown prince of Xiao Kingdom is none other than you... Before, I was made crown prince only because I was held back by those conservative ministers. I didn't want to be that lousy crown prince anymore... I know my own limitations very well..."

"This time, Father wants to give you a great achievement, and I'll fully cooperate! As long as you let me be a carefree prince here, I'll be happy! I remember all your kindness. If you hadn't generously given me your fiancée, how could I have married such a wonderful girl... I should thank you!"

Xiao Yang listened to Xiao Ce's words with a pleased expression: "Hmph, I wish you had realized this sooner. Fine, I promise you. As long as you obediently listen to me, I'll let you be the emperor here peacefully."

Xiao Ce nodded: "Alright... After we enter the pass, I will introduce my generals to you. I will entrust them with full command!"

Xing Daorong asked, "King of the Northern Desert, how many troops do you have?"

Xiao Ce said, "A total of over thirty thousand!"

Xing Daorong asked with some surprise, "More than 30,000? Didn't you previously claim to have 100,000 troops?"

Xiao Ce scratched his head: "We did have 100,000 before, but many were killed by the Turks, and others starved to death... It's good that you've come, I really don't have the talent to lead troops!"

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Yang and Xing Daorong both wore expressions that said, "He really is a good-for-nothing."

"Alright, Xiao Ce, it's settled then. Once we're inside, you'll hand over all military power to me! After General Xing leads his troops to defeat the Turks, I'll also use my connections to send people to provide disaster relief and solve your food shortage problem! Understand?"

Xiao Ce nodded, feigning eagerness: "Alright! Alright! Alright! But second brother, you can't let Father Emperor strip me of my title as a prince!"

Xiao Yang said arrogantly, "Don't worry, as long as you behave like a good dog, I might keep you around!"

With that, Xiao Yang mounted his horse and said to Xing Daorong beside him, "Let's go, Uncle Xing, let's go into the pass!"