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

As Xiao Yang spoke, he looked at Xiao Dingbang.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Xiao Dingbang said coldly, "Second Prince, what are you saying? I didn't know beforehand that that good-for-nothing was returning."

Xiao Dingbang refused to acknowledge it.

Xiao Yang wasn't surprised. How could the emperor possibly admit it? He also blamed himself for his mouth being faster than his brain.

With an awkward laugh, he added, "Father, I forgot. It was I who brought Xiao Ce back. I wanted to come with you to report, but I was delayed by military affairs."

Xiao Xiangqing sneered and said sarcastically, "Second Prince, I remember you and the King of Mobei were at odds, weren't you? Why are you speaking up for him now? Could it be that he has some leverage over you? In other words, you know about his return? Then what is his purpose in coming back this time? Do you know that a prince returning to the capital without authorization is treason! Since you know that, aren't you an accomplice?"

Xiao Yang rolled his eyes at him: "I brought him back for a reason! It's none of your business! Besides, am I speaking up for him? I'm stating the facts!"

"You keep accusing us of rebellion! I think you have a serious problem... The leader of the Western Regions' Wuzi Kingdom is your uncle, isn't he? Your uncle is the leader of the Western Regions' allied forces, isn't he? Right now, he's invading our country from beyond the Great Wall! And you're here persecuting loyal officials and stirring up internal strife? Are you two playing a pincer movement, attacking from both inside and outside?"

Xiao Yang arrogantly pointed at Xiao Xiangqing and kept talking, becoming more and more excited as he spoke.

He's found that feeling again, and he's found his comfort zone!

Upon hearing Xiao Yang's voice, the officials immediately felt that their familiar Second Prince had returned.

Xiao Xiangqing, her face flushed, pointed at Xiao Yang and said, "You...you...bullshit! If it weren't for my uncle's mediation, the Western Regions' allied forces would have already invaded our country. Who are you to be attacking me here!"

Xiao Yang, with a smug look on his face, said, "You're the one talking nonsense! I'm increasingly convinced that you're a traitor. Those small countries in the Western Regions are just trash! Even if they unite, they're just a bunch of trash! You're always boosting others' morale while diminishing your own! What, are you trying to pave the way for future surrender and ceding territory to make peace?"

Xiao Yang had completely found his comfort zone and was passionately criticizing without any regard for the consequences.

Xiao Ce had told him that he was now highly accomplished, and as long as he didn't offend the emperor, he could stand against anyone in the court.

Not to mention Xiao Xiangqing, especially since Xiao Ce said that Xiao Dingbang hoped the two of them would quarrel.

Xiao Yang seemed to be speaking recklessly, but in reality, his eyes were constantly scanning Xiao Dingbang on the dragon throne.

Xiao Dingbang's face was initially very grim, but after hearing Xiao Yang's words, his expression softened considerably. He knew then that he had not done anything wrong.

"You're talking nonsense! I have no selfish motives whatsoever. I am a prince of the Xiao Kingdom, I must..."

Before Xiao Xiangqing could finish speaking, Xiao Yang interrupted, "You're the one talking nonsense! You, you still know you're a prince of Xiao Kingdom? If you're a prince of Xiao Kingdom, then say those trashy allied forces are going to conquer our country!"

"Where do you place our military generals? Do you consider them all useless? To declare defeat before even fighting, aren't you a traitor? I think you're a defector! In my opinion, Father Emperor was misled by you, which is why he arrested the Prince of Zhen, in order to undermine the morale of the army and make it easier for your uncle to attack Yumen Pass!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiangqing was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!

He immediately became furious!

"You're talking nonsense! Stop spewing filth! You still have the nerve to talk back to me? Have you even cleaned your own ass? People, the worst thing is when you start bragging and then start believing it yourself! Don't you know what's going on in the Northern Desert? Do you want me to report to Father?"

Xiao Yang was not afraid at all: "Oh my god! You son of a bitch! What the hell are you going to spout now? Tell me! What's going on in the Northern Desert? Come here, you better explain to Father Emperor! If you don't tell me today, you're not a son of a bitch!"

The two of them were arguing heatedly, their faces flushed, and the argument was getting less and less sophisticated, with every three sentences revolving around poop and pee!

Moreover, no matter how Xiao Dingbang listened, he felt that Xiao Yang was seemingly scolding Xiao Xiangqing, but in fact he was also scolding him!

"Alright! You two, get to the point! Don't let personal grudges get in the way!"

Siu Ting-pong's words interrupted the two of them, allowing them to calm down a bit!

Xiao Xiangqing's face was full of indignation: "Father, please be wise! Second Prince, you've slandered me as a traitor and even tried to whitewash the traitorous Prince Xiao Dingshan. Although Diliti is my uncle, every letter between us has been reviewed and approved by Father..."

"I swear on your mother, if there's even one letter you have that the Emperor doesn't know about, may your mother die a horrible death! May every son you have be born without an anus!" Xiao Yang interrupted again in a vulgar manner.

Xiao Xiangqing wasn't as shameless as Xiao Yang; his eyes were practically spitting fire.

He certainly wouldn't dare to swear an oath.

He and his uncle exchanged quite a few letters in private!

He said, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty, "Hmph, then dare you swear an oath?"

Xiao Yang looked completely at ease: "What's there to be afraid of! Didn't you question my achievements in the Northern Desert?"

"I, Xiao Yang, hereby swear that if, without my participation, we annihilate and capture over 80,000 Turks, achieving a great victory over them, then may I die a horrible death, may my head be covered in sores, and may my feet ooze pus! May my sons be born without an anus!"

Xiao Yang wasn't exactly a rogue; he played a word game. He said he would participate.

He was indeed involved! Even though he was constantly imprisoned and tortured by Xiao Ce in Lingxiao City, he was still involved!

At this moment, Xiao Xiangqing didn't react, she just thought Xiao Yang was too shameless!

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Xiangqing with a playful expression: "Eighth Brother, it's your turn! I'm an upright gentleman, but do you dare to swear an oath?"

Xiao Xiangqing's face turned pale and then purple!

"Father, the Second Prince is making baseless accusations! Moreover, I have heard that the Second Prince is merely a puppet of the King of the Northern Desert! He is controlled by the King of the Northern Desert! The events on the Northern Desert border were all the work of Xiao Ce, and have absolutely nothing to do with Xiao Yang!"

Xiao Xiangqing's words immediately caused a burst of laughter.

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Dingbang with disdain: "Father, Eighth Prince is now a mad dog! He's making baseless accusations! He'll say anything to smear me! What is Xiao Ce? To control me? I, Xiao Yang, would never be controlled by that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce! This is an insult to my dignity! Father, please do me justice! I fought the Turks on the front lines, not to be humiliated like this by Eighth Prince!"

Xiao Dingbang wholeheartedly agreed: "Eighth Prince, you've gone too far! I'll believe whatever you say, but on this one point, you're saying that the victory in the four northern prefectures was done by Xiao Ce? Isn't that utterly ridiculous?"

"Who in the entire court doesn't know what Xiao Ce is? Don't even mention asking him to defeat 80,000 ferocious Turks! You couldn't even ask him to kill 80,000 chickens!"

"Besides, although the second brother's words are rough, he swore an oath himself! If you have a clear conscience, you can simply swear an oath along with him, and I believe that will dispel Xiao Yang's doubts about you!"

Hearing Xiao Dingbang's words, Xiao Xiangqing's expression was not good.

“Father, this is the imperial court. If I swear an oath along with him, wouldn’t I be just like him? The imperial court is a place for evidence! If everything is based on oaths, what’s the point of having a disciplinary office?”

Xiao Yang scoffed: "Hmph, you bastard! Now you know how to talk about evidence? When you were smearing me, why didn't you produce any evidence? I'm too lazy to argue with you!"

With that, Xiao Yang turned to Xiao Dingbang and cupped his hands, saying, "Father, haven't you been asking me what reward I want? I hadn't decided before, but now I have. I want to take overall responsibility for the negotiations with the Western Regions Allied Army!"

Xiao Xiangqing's face turned grim as he said, "Father, you mustn't. Xiao Yang is crude and uncouth. If we put him in charge of the negotiations with the Western Regions Alliance, he will definitely mess it up! Besides, Father has already agreed that I will be fully in charge! A word from the Emperor is as good as gold."

Xiao Yang cupped his hands and continued, "Father, if you feel that I am not up to the task, you must not let the Eighth Prince take it! The Eighth Prince is related to Diliti, the leader of the Uzbek Kingdom! If he has ulterior motives, he could sell us out without us even realizing it!"

Before Xiao Xiangqing could speak, Yin Weiyong said from the side, "Your Majesty, although the Second Prince's words are rough, they are reasonable! There has always been a rule of avoiding suspicion! If there are relatives of His Highness the Eighth Prince in the Western Regions Alliance delegation, the Eighth Prince can participate in this negotiation, but he cannot assume any decision-making position!"

Soon, the other civil officials began to invoke ancestral rules and laws.

Seeing this, Xiao Yang cupped his hands and said, "Father, the reason I volunteer for the position of negotiator is entirely because I have dealt with these foreign tribes! The Turks are arrogant and domineering enough, but they still have to obediently bow down and surrender in front of me!"

Xiao Xiangqing was about to step forward and speak.

Xiao Dingbang stopped him with a raised hand: "Second Prince, you are indeed exceptionally talented in leading troops and fighting battles. You are very capable! But I have also seen that you are too impulsive. In negotiations between two countries, peace should be the priority! Therefore, the Western Regions Alliance delegation's visit to the capital this time will be fully managed by Prime Minister Yin Weiyong! The Second Prince and the Eighth Prince will assist you!"

Xiao Yang now has a deeper understanding of the balancing act that Xiao Ce talked about!

However, as long as he achieves his goal, it's fine for him to follow Yin Weiyong's lead.

Xiao Yang cupped his hands in greeting: "Since Father has spoken, then everything will be done according to Father's wishes!"

Xiao Dingbang looked at Xiao Xiangqing, who had been silent and had a grim expression: "Eighth Brother?"

Xiao Xiangqing was extremely unwilling: "Everything will be done according to Father's wishes."

Xiao Dingbang nodded: "Alright, Lord Xing, the case of the King's treason cannot be closed with a death sentence. You still need to continue the investigation!"

Xing Shoulu nodded.

Xiao Dingbang continued, "Prime Minister Yin, go and assemble a team to deal with the Western Regions Alliance delegation. Remember, if it's possible to negotiate, then negotiate, without harming our national interests!"

"Our country has been engaged in continuous wars, and the government treasury is really struggling to keep up! If we get bogged down in a protracted war with the Western Regions Alliance, it will inevitably drag us into a quagmire!"

Seeing Xiao Dingbang say this, Xiao Xiangqing seemed to have grasped a lifeline: "Father, don't worry. I will definitely do my best to get them to back down. In the negotiations, I will shut up some brainless brutes, otherwise, all our efforts will be in vain!"

Xiao Dingbang chimed in, "But we can't be too weak either. If we are too weak, they will take advantage of us. You need to find the right balance yourself. We just don't want to fight, not because we're afraid of fighting. We have Yang'er. If they really want to fight, it's not impossible for Yang'er to lead the troops."

Xiao Yang exclaimed excitedly, "Father, I am willing to go! If they dare to spout nonsense, I will beat them into submission!"

Xiao Xiangqing scoffed, "You've been bragging too much; you've actually fooled yourself!"

Yin Weiyong then bowed and stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I will certainly consider this carefully."

As he was about to announce his resignation from court, Xiao Dingbang was about to do so.

"Father, about Xiao Ce..."

Xiao Dingbang waved his hand and interrupted Xiao Xiangqing before he could finish speaking, saying, "He has already been handed over to the Ministry of Punishments, and I have also entrusted the matter to the Second Prince. Everything will be handled according to the law!"

After Xiao Dingbang finished speaking, he announced the adjournment of the court before Xiao Xiangqing could continue.

Xiao Yang left along with the officials.

After leaving the main hall, Xiao Yang wanted to ask Yin Weiyong why he had suddenly chosen sides.

However, before they could catch up with Yin Weiyong, they heard a voice behind them, an unfriendly voice.

"Xiao Yang! Stop right there!"

Xiao Yang stopped and turned around. He saw Xiao Xiangqing covered in injuries, limping towards him.

"Hmph, you really are a person with a strong will despite being disabled."

Xiao Xiangqing walked up to Xiao Yang: "Xiao Yang, I know everything about you. Stop pretending! I know the situation in Mobei perfectly well! Do you really want to be Xiao Ce's dog willingly? As long as we join forces and take down Xiao Ce, you will be free."

Xiao Yang sneered when he heard Xiao Xiangqing say that.

Xiao Xiangqing said coldly, "What are you laughing at?"

Xiao Yang said, "Just from what you said, I know you have absolutely no understanding of the situation in the Northern Desert. You think you can fight alongside Xiao Ce?"

"I won't lie to you, I love being Xiao Ce's dog! Woof woof woof!"

"I'm someone's dog, and aren't you? You probably don't know yet. That damn Hidden Dragon... no, what Hidden Dragon? That damn Hidden Insect, he supported the Turks before, but the Turks got soundly beaten by Xiao Ce. That Hidden Insect was so scared that he abandoned the Turks... and then came after you, his pawn..."

"If Xiao Ce can make the lurking insects lose once, he can make them lose ten times, a hundred times! And you... hmph... if I become a dog, at least I'll be a living dog! But you're destined to become a dead dog!"

Xiao Yang said this and then turned to leave.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Father Emperor?"

Xiao Yang turned around with a sinister grin: "Go ahead and talk to him... let's see if he believes it or not?"

Xiao Yang paused for a moment, then said to Xiao Xiangqing, "Eighth Brother, as brothers, listen to my advice! Behave yourself as a prince and behave yourself. If you have too many ideas, you will die too quickly!"

Xiao Xiangqing looked defiant: "I don't believe in superstition! I'll see... who dies first!"