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

Consort Hui nodded, cupped her hands, and said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed about Yang'er! However, we are not here to ask for supplies, but to celebrate some good news!"

Xiao Dingbang looked curious: "Oh? Good news?"

"Just now, I received a letter from Yang'er. He said that he and General Xing Daorong won a great victory in their battle against the Turks, capturing three thousand Turks who are currently being held captive. They are preparing for the Turks to come and negotiate!"

Before Consort Hui could finish speaking, Xiao Dingbang exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? There really have been one victory after another lately! As expected of my son! Such a great victory will surely inspire all the officials. Tomorrow in court, I will inform all the officials of this great victory! Hahaha!"

Consort Hui continued, "As for the disaster victims in the four prefectures of the northern desert, Yang'er has instructed the local powerful clans and noble families to contribute money and grain, and to allow them to sponsor the victims. So far, things are going smoothly!"

Xiao Dingbang's surprise deepened upon hearing this: "Those powerful clans and aristocratic families did just that?"

Consort Hui nodded and smiled, saying with pride, "I don't believe it myself, but that's what Yang'er said. He said that the court won't need to provide disaster relief grain anymore. Not only that, the 100,000-strong army that that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce gathered has now been incorporated into General Xing's army! Because the four prefectures in the northern desert are bitterly cold, His Majesty still needs to provide military supplies!"

Xiao Dingbang laughed and said, "Hahaha, good! Good! Second Prince, you really exceeded my expectations! I was just worried about the loss of so many soldiers at Yumen Pass, and now Second Prince has made up for it. Since that is my army, it is natural for me to provide military supplies! Good! Good! Good!"

"Didn't that piece of trash put up a fight?"

Seeing that Emperor Xiao Dingbang was overjoyed, Consort Hui continued, "Your Majesty, when the second prince went there, that good-for-nothing had already made a mess of the four prefectures of Mobei. He had huddled the troops he had recruited in one city. If it weren't for Yang'er's arrival, Xiao Ce would have fled."

"Yang'er followed that good-for-nothing's suggestion that he return to the capital to accuse the King of Zhen of his treasonous acts, and he agreed without hesitation. Now, the four prefectures of Mobei are guarded by General Xing Daorong with 100,000 troops, and are now as solid as a rock."

"To prevent any accidents, Yang'er secretly brought Xiao Ce back. However, to prevent those pedantic officials from finding out, she didn't let Prime Minister Yin's daughter come back."

Xiao Dingbang listened with a face full of disdain: "A piece of trash is always a piece of trash! Fine, with him back, Xiao Dingshan is doomed this time."

As he spoke, Xiao Dingbang revealed a sinister smile: "I wonder what kind of expression Xiao Dingshan will have when he sees Xiao Ce, whom he regards as his own son, accusing him? Hahaha!"

"Consort Hui, you really have brought good news. I underestimated the Second Prince, who usually seems so unreliable. When it comes to actually doing something, he's quite capable of handling things!"

Consort Hui glanced subconsciously at Xiao Xiangqing, whose face was not looking good, and secretly rejoiced. She replied, "It's all thanks to His Majesty's excellent teaching. Yang'er has always been well protected by His Majesty in the capital. His Majesty sheltered him from the wind and rain and never let him encounter any trouble. Fortunately, Yang'er has lived up to His Majesty's expectations and has not let him down."

Consort Hui sighed, "It's also because Yang'er was too slow. If he had set off earlier, the soldiers at Yumen Pass probably wouldn't have been in such a predicament..."

Consort Hui stopped there and did not continue.

Xiao Dingbang waved his hand and said, "Those people were all Xiao Dingshan's confidants, his disciples and old friends were all among them. Now that they are all dead, it can be considered that one of my biggest worries has been put to rest."

Consort Hui nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I have already ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a meal for you. This is a great joy. Please join us in enjoying it."

Xiao Dingbang smiled and nodded: "Alright! I'll go to your palace tonight."

As he spoke, he looked at Xiao Xiangqing and said, "Eighth Prince, go and tell your mother that I am going to Consort Hui's palace today."

Xiao Xiangqing smiled and said, "Then Father and Consort Hui can celebrate. I will take my leave now!"

Siu Ting-pong nodded with a smile.

As Xiao Xiangqing left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, his smiling face immediately turned gloomy.

In Consort De's palace.

Consort De smiled as she watched her favored son return: "Xiang Qing, where is your father, the Emperor?"

"They went to Consort Hui's palace!" Xiao Xiangqing said through gritted teeth.

Consort De looked at Xiao Xiangqing with a dark expression and asked, "Xiangqing, are you alright?"

Xiao Xiangqing, with a dark face, recounted what had just happened in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Consort De was not angry; instead, she smiled and said, "Xiang Qing, I always thought you wouldn't make a mistake. What, are you making a mistake now?"

After hearing Consort De's words, Xiao Xiangqing asked with a puzzled expression, "Mother, what do you mean?"

Consort De smiled faintly: "Xiao Ce is a good-for-nothing, as we all know. But, isn't Xiao Yang just as good? If His Majesty hadn't intentionally promoted him all these years, he wouldn't be much better than Xiao Ce."

"Are the Turks so easy to deal with? To claim a great victory is utterly ridiculous! They are clearly deceiving Your Majesty."

Xiao Xiangqing looked puzzled: "How dare they?"

Consort De continued, "Before, Consort Hui's cousin Bao An and his associates betrayed the interests of the four prefectures of the northern desert in exchange for terms with the Turks. Now they must have used the same method to reach a reconciliation with the Turks."

Seeing Consort De's unwavering resolve, Xiao Xiangqing asked, "Mother, are you sure?"

Consort De nodded: "How many famous generals have been sent to the four prefectures of the northern desert? They all met their end there. What makes Xing Daorong and Xiao Yang, with only a few thousand troops, so capable? There's no need to worry."

Xiao Xiangqing nodded: "Mother, do you think that good-for-nothing really came to accuse the King of Zhen?"

Consort De nodded: "There's no doubt about that. That cowardly good-for-nothing. The boldest thing he ever did in his life was to take the charade with the Prime Minister's daughter for real. But a good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing... He only cares about surviving for himself!"

Xiao Xiangqing nodded: "Then, according to Mother's wishes, we don't need to do anything?"

"Of course not! Xiao Ce's return is to accuse Xiao Dingshan... This matter is extremely advantageous to us. As long as Xiao Dingshan is alive, he remains a threat! As for Xiao Yang, he's utterly incompetent. If he were hiding in the desolate northern desert, we wouldn't be able to deal with him... Now that he dares to return, we have a way to take care of him..."

Consort De said with a confident expression.

Xiao Xiangqing chimed in, "The crime of deceiving the emperor alone is enough to warrant countless deaths... Didn't he say he had already subdued an army of 100,000? Now that there are no soldiers at Yumen Pass, let them go."