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

Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction and said, "No rush! News of our return must have spread by now. Let's see who comes to see us."

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at Da Lei.

"Da Lei, you're now in charge of all defenses here, right?"

Da Lei nodded: "That's right. Xiao Yang has already put our people in control here, and I've also arranged for the guards who used to watch over the place to leave."

"Okay, then give me a list of all the people who come from this area and want to see me."

Da Lei nodded.

...

At this moment, Consort Hui learned of Xiao Yang's return immediately within the palace.

She sent people to wait at the palace gate, so as soon as Xiao Yang entered the palace, he was picked up by the people she had arranged.

Xiao Yang followed them to Consort Hui's palace.

Upon seeing Xiao Yang, Consort Hui immediately stood up and quickly walked forward.

"Yang'er!"

"Mother!" Xiao Yang stepped forward excitedly.

"Yang'er, you've lost weight?" Consort Hui said to Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang nodded with a wronged look on his face: "Mother, that's right. I almost didn't make it back from that godforsaken place, the Four Counties of the Northern Desert!"

Consort Hui looked distressed: "My Yang'er, it's good that you're back...it's good that you're back...This time, the merit you've made is unparalleled...From now on, you won't have to risk your life in those remote and impoverished places. Your mother will definitely secure the position of Crown Prince for you this time!"

As she spoke, she pulled Xiao Yang to sit down.

"By the way, Mother, why did you stop me at the palace gate? Why didn't you let me see Father first?"

Consort Hui said, "Isn't it because the foreign tribes are restless? They were originally on the side of Nu Mountain, but after resting for a few days, they started to harass our people again! Just two days ago, the foreign tribes robbed people from several of our border cities and killed many civilians."

"Your father is currently convening some important officials to discuss how to deal with the foreign tribes. Therefore, he probably still doesn't know that you've returned to the city. I intercepted you on the way to tell you this. Eighth Prince Xiao Xiangqing is a proponent of peace. If your father asks, don't stubbornly say that you advocate war."

"We've finally managed to build up some of our own power in the four northern prefectures..."

After hearing Consort Hui speak to this point, Xiao Yang interrupted, saying, "Mother, please dismiss everyone."

Consort Hui was taken aback when she heard Xiao Yang say this, but she could tell that Xiao Yang had something to say.

Consort Hui nodded: "You may all leave. No one may approach without my permission!"

Upon hearing this, a group of palace maids and eunuchs bowed and withdrew.

Seeing Xiao Yang's expression, Consort Hui, with a worried look, asked with concern, "Yang'er, is there something you want to say?"

Xiao Yang's expression was extremely unpleasant; he was also struggling internally at that moment.

Ever since he left the northern desert, the idea of ​​rebellion had taken root in his heart.

Although he was wary of Gui Jianchou and their methods, he still felt resentful when he thought about Xiao Ce's treatment of him.

This feeling grew stronger as we got closer to Kyoto.

He kept seeing Consort Hui, and he decided to take a gamble. He figured his mother, the Empress Dowager, wouldn't harm him anyway.

Even if there's no other way, his mother wouldn't harm him.

On the contrary, if her mother had a way, she could have directly broken free from Xiao Ce's control.

Then he would have a way to avenge himself and repay Xiao Ce a thousandfold for tormenting him.

He didn't hesitate for long before turning to Consort Hui with a mournful face and pleading, "Mother, please, you must save me!"

Consort Hui was startled by Xiao Yang's sudden action: "Yang'er, what's wrong?"

Xiao Yang then vividly recounted his tragic journey to the northern desert, with tears streaming down his face.

Consort Hui's face turned extremely ugly upon hearing this, and a murderous intent was clearly visible on her face.

"That piece of trash, how dare he treat you like this! I want him dead!"

Xiao Yang listened to Consort Hui's gloomy voice: "Mother, that good-for-nothing was just acting... He's not a good-for-nothing at all... He's incredibly capable. We've all been fooled by him."

"He now commands hundreds of thousands of elite troops in the northern desert, and the people there revere him like a god. Those Turks were formidable, weren't they? He wiped them all out. Xing Daorong, whom you all praise to the skies, didn't even have a chance to fight him before he was killed!"

Consort Hui listened to Xiao Yang recount Xiao Ce's 'achievements' in the northern desert and said with a displeased expression, "Is what you're saying true? Don't be fooled by him!"

Xiao Yang said with absolute certainty, "Mother, no, I witnessed it all with my own eyes. Mother, do you have any way to get me out of his clutches?"

Consort Hui paced back and forth several times, weighing the pros and cons of various factors.

“Since he dared to come back with you and let you leave alone, he was very confident that he had brought you on board. After all, if you told your father the truth about the situation in the northern desert, someone would definitely attack you for deceiving the emperor. Even if you told him about Xiao Ce’s situation in the northern desert, it would only make your father despise you even more.”

"Moreover, times have changed! Xiao Xiangqing is quite prominent in the court. Your father already had some reservations about you. Fortunately, the news of your great victory in the northern desert has changed his opinion. If you had followed your father's words, you would have been treated with disdain."

"If he really has that ability, why don't we do as he says first! He said he would support you to become the crown prince, right?"

Xiao Yang nodded: "That's what he said. He said he wasn't interested in being emperor... As long as I obediently listen to him, he will support me to become the crown prince."

Consort Hui nodded, her gaze sharp, and said, "Then let's do it his way... Just do as he says. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. You also said that he knows that Xiao Xiangqing and his faction are the ones dealing with the Prince of Zhen this time. Let's use their strength against them."

"Let them fight like dogs, and we'll reap the benefits. Yang'er, don't be afraid. We're in the capital now, and the initiative is in our hands. As for the pain he caused you, we don't need to rush. A gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years!"

Listening to Consort Hui's analysis, Xiao Yang nodded with a grim expression: "Mother, so, you also have no choice, right?"

Consort Hui said, "Maintaining the status quo is the best approach. Just do as he says for now. If it benefits us, that's ideal. But if things turn against us, we'll put all the blame on him. We'll say he coerced you!"

"Once you've secured your position and made him believe you're wholeheartedly devoted to him, we can easily eliminate him once he lowers his guard! Then we can use his name to command the troops of the four northern prefectures to obey our orders!"

Xiao Yang listened to Consort Hui's analysis and nodded.

"Then the poison in my body..."

Consort Hui comforted Xiao Yang, saying, "The poison in your body was the responsibility of his men, wasn't it? Once Xiao Ce is dead, do you think their dogs will obediently surrender? Besides, I will find some renowned doctors for you, or, next time you take the antidote, I'll secretly save some for you to prepare!"

Just as they were speaking, they heard the voice of a eunuch coming from outside the door.

"Your Majesty is here!"

Then came a hearty laugh from Siu Ting-pong.

"Yang'er, you returned to the palace but didn't come to see me. Instead, you paid your respects to your mother first."

As soon as he finished speaking, Siu Ting-pong walked over with a bright and sunny expression.

His face showed no sign of distress over the invasion of foreign races.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Yang immediately bowed and knelt down to pay his respects to Xiao Dingbang.

"See Father!"

Consort Hui spoke up to explain, "Your Majesty, this was all my idea. I heard that Your Majesty was discussing important state affairs, and I didn't want Yang'er to disturb Your Majesty's affairs as soon as he returned to the palace, so I sent someone to bring him here first."

Xiao Dingbang said with a smile, "The matter of the alien race is no problem! Eighth Brother has already provided a solution that satisfies both sides!"

As he spoke, Xiao Dingbang pointed to Xiao Xiangqing, who was following behind him.

Consort Hui glanced at Xiao Xiangqing's fake smile and a hint of displeasure flashed across her face, but she managed her expression very well.

This expression was also fleeting.

Xiao Dingbang said with a smile, "Just now, when Lao Ba heard that Yang'er had returned, he wanted to come over and see his second brother!"

Xiao Xiangqing stepped forward, a fake smile on his face, and said, "Greetings to Consort Hui, greetings to Your Majesty! Your Majesty, this time in the northern desert, you not only defeated the Turks, but also quelled the rebellion of the disaster victims! You are truly a role model for us all."

Seeing this, Xiao Yang didn't mince words: "These little Turks are nothing! Eighth Prince, these are nothing! As subjects, we must share the Emperor's burdens!"

Xiao Dingbang smiled and nodded: "Not bad, Yang'er, you've become much more confident!"

As he spoke, Xiao Dingbang looked around, his smile fading slightly as he asked, "By the way, where's that good-for-nothing?"