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

Gou An nodded in agreement: "That's right, Your Highness, you're so clever! I'll make the arrangements."

Xiao Xiangqing looked indignant and fierce: "Fine, make them all be careful this time. We can't afford to fail this time."

Gou An nodded: "Your Highness, rest assured. The assassins we have this time are all professionally trained, and there will be absolutely no problems! Even if they fail, they are all death squad members and will never live on in disgrace."

Xiao Xiangqing was relieved and told Gou An to get on with it quickly.

...

After returning from the palace, Xiao Yang first went to the imperial prison.

With the emperor's letter, Xiao Yang traveled without hindrance.

The main reason is that Zhang Ba's group was all dismissed by Xing Shoulu, and Ma Su was brought back.

When he arrived at the prison and saw that Xiao Ce and Da Lei were locked in the same cell, he felt somewhat relieved.

Xiao Yang glanced at Ma Su: "Commander Ma, may I go in?"

Ma Su nodded: "Your Highness, that's certainly possible. However, we need to search you first."

Before Xiao Yang could speak, Xiao Ce said to Ma Su from the inside, "He doesn't need to be searched."

Ma Su listened to Xiao Ce's words and nodded respectfully: "Yes, King of Mobei."

Xiao Yang was stunned when he saw this.

He had originally intended to do a favor by instructing the people here to take good care of Ma Su.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ce had already used his abilities to make the jailers here treat him with utmost respect.

In fact, Xiao Ce did nothing.

Ma Su felt guilty, after all, he was the one who brought Xiao Ce and caused Xiao Ce to be framed.

Xiao Ce not only didn't blame him, but also spoke up for him, which is why Xing Shoulu didn't pursue the matter.

Therefore, Ma Su was exceptionally respectful to Xiao Ce.

As Ma Su spoke, he opened the door and said to Xiao Yang, "Please come in, Second Prince."

He then respectfully asked Xiao Ce, "King of the Northern Desert, should we ask the people here to leave?"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Let's avoid this. There won't be any danger with Da Lei around."

Ma Su bowed and nodded in agreement, then left with the surrounding jailers and guards.

Xiao Yang was dumbfounded.

"Brother, you truly are something else! Even while in prison, you managed to turn the jailers into your underlings!"

Xiao Ce smiled but didn't explain: "How was it? Did it go smoothly?"

Seeing that Xiao Ce didn't respond and went straight to the point, Xiao Yang quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, everything went very smoothly, and I even managed to extract some useful information from the dog emperor."

Xiao Yang then recounted everything Xiao Dingbang had said, including what he had extracted from him.

His memory is comparable to Xiao Jiu's.

When Xiao Yang mentioned the Western Regions...

"Western Regions? Who calls that?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is what they call themselves. They call themselves the Western Regions Alliance, but this alliance is still led by the Kingdom of Uz, which is Xiao Xiangqing's uncle. It is because of Xiao Xiangqing's uncle that the dog emperor is looking at Xiao Xiangqing differently. It is said that the Kingdom of Uz is the leader of this alliance."

Xiao Ce scoffed: "Allied nations? It's all nonsense. Just like the Turkic Khaganate, they seem to be allies, but in reality, they're a disorganized mess."

Xiao Yang nodded and boasted, "Brother, of course it is for you. By the way, that dog emperor even asked me how I should deal with their delegation when they come. Since you didn't give any instructions, I just said I didn't know them, so I didn't know."

“Your answer is good! I initially thought he favored you, but I've come to understand now! This dog emperor is playing a game of checks and balances... He only loves his own throne.”

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Ce with a puzzled expression and asked, "The art of checks and balances? Your Highness, what is the art of checks and balances?"

Seeing Xiao Yang's blank expression, Xiao Ce didn't bother to explain.

"Never mind if you don't understand."

From what Xiao Yang just said.

Xiao Ce realized that the emperor was trying to balance the power of his sons and prevent them from becoming too powerful and affecting his imperial authority.

When he was the crown prince, he supported Xiao Yang to deal with him.

When he left, he supported Xiao Xiangqing to deal with Xiao Yang, making them fight each other.

This way, no single entity can become too powerful and threaten the emperor's privileges.

Moreover, he can make the most of the influence of the maternal families of the princes.

Xiao Yang gave an awkward smile and didn't dare to ask, but just waited quietly to the side.

Xiao Ce didn't want to go into details with Xiao Yang.

However, thinking about it, the purpose was to deal with that dog emperor, Xiao Dingbang.

Let them fight like dogs; that could be quite a show.

Looking at Xiao Yang beside him, who was staring at him expectantly, he asked, "Want to know?"

Seeing Xiao Ce change the subject, Xiao Yang looked somewhat embarrassed: "Brother, how could I possibly know? If you want to tell me, I'll want to know. If you don't want to tell me, I won't want to know!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Alright, since you haven't caused any trouble, I'll tell you."

"The so-called art of checks and balances is that when you are in power, he is supporting another. Then he lets you fight each other, so that he can always restrain you and prevent one of you from becoming too powerful. His question about your attitude towards foreign races is just a blatant attempt to sow discord, isn't it?"

"Xiao Xiangqing is definitely a proponent of peace. His implication just now was that you should advocate for war and oppose him. Regardless of whether he ultimately advocates for war or peace, he will always benefit..."

Xiao Ce briefly explained the advantages and disadvantages.

Fortunately, Xiao Yang wasn't too stupid; with a little guidance from Xiao Ce, he understood.

Xiao Yang's eyes widened: "Royal brother, do you mean that that dog emperor never intended for me to be the crown prince?"

Xiao Ce did not answer: "Figure it out yourself."

Xiao Yang seemed to be recalling something, then suddenly realized.

"Brother, now that I think about it carefully, it is indeed the case! So what should we do?"

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Yang, "You don't need to be in such a hurry! As long as you listen to me obediently, I will definitely not let him hurt you in the slightest."

Xiao Yang believed Xiao Ce's words without a doubt and nodded repeatedly.

"Brother, what should I do next?"

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Yang, "From now on, you must take a tough stance against the foreign tribes. Since Xiao Xiangqing sent those foreign envoys here, it's simply to negotiate, and you must be firm and advocate for war. At that time, you will definitely gain the support of the court!"

Xiao Yang nodded in agreement: "Brother, wasn't that just falling for the dog emperor's trick?"

Xiao Ce said to Xiao Yang, "What? You still want to go with Xiao Xiangqing's group and advocate for peace?"

Xiao Yang scratched his head as he listened: "That's true, but you won't be locked up for long, Your Majesty. You'll be able to get out soon. With your support and guidance, dealing with them will be a piece of cake. I'll listen to you."

Xiao Ce nodded: "I won't go out for now."

Xiao Yang asked with a hint of doubt, "Aren't you going out?"

"Didn't the Emperor say that the decision was yours? Although I didn't kill Uncle Jiu, trespassing into the Imperial Prison is still a crime. Detain me for a few more days! I still have some things to attend to."

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Ce in confusion, wanting to ask, but held back.

Xiao Ce was thinking that those who framed him and put him in prison must have more to do with it; it couldn't be as simple as just putting him in jail.

He was thinking of waiting for further developments here, and then he changed the subject: "By the way, I asked you to arrange for my people to go there, did you do that?"

Xiao Yang nodded: "Your Majesty, rest assured, I did everything you said. Not only did the Twelve Fiends go, but I also sent that big guy, Fan Gang Ashina, along. However, Your Majesty, that fellow Xiao Xiangqing is in dire straits himself right now, can he still assassinate Prime Minister Yin?"

Xiao Ce said calmly, "It's precisely because of his current situation that he would take such a risk. He has met with Mr. Qianlong, who has also fought me remotely. He must have told Xiao Xiangqing about my situation."

"I beat him up again, and now he probably realizes he's no match for me! He desperately needs a backer, so to curry favor with Mr. Qianlong, he has to offer a pledge of allegiance, and he definitely will!"

Xiao Yang listened and nodded repeatedly.

"Brother, is there anything else I need to do?"

Xiao Ce shook his head: "Do everything else as I say."

Xiao Yang nodded respectfully and then left.

...

At this moment, in the Prime Minister's residence, Yin Weiyong was lying on a recliner in a courtyard.

I held a book in my hands all afternoon, but didn't turn a single page.

Yin Weiyong had been staying at home on sick leave for some time, even though he had heard that his son-in-law Xiao Ce had returned.

However, after careful consideration, he did not go to see them.

Although Yin Weiyong and Yin Pan'er kept in touch by letter, Yin Pan'er did not explain the actual situation in the northern desert very clearly.

Therefore, Yin Weiyong only had a superficial understanding of the true situation in the northern desert.

When Xiao Yang was beaten up, everyone went to see him, so he went along to meet him.

Xiao Yang then told him that Xiao Xiangqing was instructed by someone to assassinate him.

At first, Yin Weiyong didn't take it seriously, after all, he didn't think he had any conflicts with Xiao Xiangqing.

Until I heard that Siu Ding Shan had committed suicide.

Yin Weiyong then became nervous.

After all, Kyoto appears calm on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath.

Although Xiao Yang sent some guards over, and these guards seemed very professional, he still felt uneasy. After all, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark!

As night fell, a night breeze blew by, carrying the sound of birdsong.

Bat, dressed as a servant standing next to Yin Weiyong, heard the commotion and said to Yin Weiyong, "Prime Minister Yin, the fish has taken the bait!"

Yin Weiyong immediately looked around nervously, asking, "Where? Where?"

The bat said to Yin Weiyong, "Prime Minister Yin, just sit still, they should be here soon."

At that moment, several dark figures appeared from the side of the wall.

The shadowy figures swiftly scaled the wall and entered as if no one was there. Their movements were agile, like nimble cats, and they headed straight for Yin Weiyong's residence.

They arrived at the courtyard outside Yin Weiyong's residence.

They saw Yin Weiyong sitting in a recliner with a book in his hand. They all pulled out their gleaming, cold blades and charged at him.

At this moment, the bat, who had been waiting for a long time, shouted sternly: "You rats, how dare you assassinate the Prime Minister!"

The assassins were startled by the sudden noise.

Meanwhile, crossbowmen were lying in ambush on one side.

The guards, who were lying in ambush, took out their crossbows and started firing.

Yin Weiyong watched from the side, initially worried about whether these people could protect him.

But a few breaths later, more than a dozen assassins fell to the ground.

Now it was Yin Weiyong's turn to panic: "Don't kill them! Leave them alive! Leave them alive!"

After seeing the assassins riddled with arrows, Yin Weiyong wished he could step in and shield them from the arrows himself.

The bat pulled Yin Weiyong aside, saying, "Prime Minister Yin, we didn't attack any vital organs."

At this moment, more than twenty guards who had been lying in ambush immediately came out to clean up the scene: "Oh no, they committed suicide by poisoning themselves!"

Before the bat could speak, the deer-like creature on the side heard the commotion and came out as well.

"Want to die? It's not that easy..."

He walked over to the assassins, took a needle, and pricked their necks several times, causing them to vomit.

After letting them vomit for a while, Lu Shu took out a small ceramic bottle, poured out a few pills, and stuffed them into their mouths.

At this moment, Yin Weiyong stepped forward and asked, "Sir, they won't die, will they?"

The bat said to Yin Weiyong, "Prime Minister Yin, leave the rest of the interrogation to me."

Looking at their well-trained demeanor, Yin Weiyong nodded subconsciously.

Previously, he had even doubted their abilities.

Looking at their practiced movements, they are clearly not ordinary guards.

Yin Weiyong asked the bat, "Sir, your master is not His Highness the Second Prince, is he?"

The bat glanced at Yin Weiyong and nodded: "That's right, our master is indeed not His Highness the Second Prince."

"Could it be the King of the Northern Desert?" Yin Weiyong asked tentatively.

The bat nodded.

They said it with authorization.

After the bat finished speaking, the xiezhi beside it directed their respective units to continue their ambush.

Yin Weiyong stood there stunned for a long time before he came to his senses and muttered to himself, "It seems the rumors circulating in the streets are true."

Yin Weiyong found a guard and wanted to ask about the four prefectures of Mobei.

As a result, the guard remained silent, saying that he could not speak!

Yin Weiyong was a smart man; he knew what was going on just by saying a few simple words.

As he spoke, Yin Weiyong's expression became excited: "It seems my daughter has really found a good husband. I was wondering why Xiao Yang suddenly changed his ways and came to help me! It seems he's been tamed by my son-in-law! In that case, I can't hide anymore!"

He watched as the guards beside him went back to their respective duties.

He summoned his steward: "Find my official robe! Now that the King of Zhen is dead, and I have been staying at home on sick leave for a long time, I must go to court tomorrow!"