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

Xiao Xiangqing's face was grim, and he bowed with his hands clasped.

Without saying a word, Siu Ting-pong waved him away.

Xiao Xiangqing left dejectedly, looking like a wilted eggplant.

This made him suspicious of Mr. Qianlong.

Xiao Yang's words kept echoing in his mind.

"Back then, Mr. Qianlong supported the Turks, but he lost to Xiao Ce and was driven out of the northern desert!"

...

When Xiao Yang returned, he found that Xiao Ce had already arrived at the Prince of Zhenguo's Mansion.

The entrance remained deserted.

These civil and military officials knew the emperor's attitude.

They didn't dare come over to offer sacrifices.

Since everyone here is Xiao Ce's man, Xiao Yang didn't pretend.

"Brother, what's going on? Is there no one here?"

Xiao Ce smiled, not surprised: "It's human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm! As for you, the method I told you still works, right?"

Xiao Yang's eyes widened, his face filled with excitement: "It works! Royal brother, it works incredibly well..."

Xiao Yang recounted the events that occurred inside the palace with great enthusiasm.

Xiao Ce heard this and realized that Mr. Qianlong was coming towards him again!

However, this method is rather crude.

After Xiao Yang finished speaking, he said mysteriously, "Brother, I made quite a gain this time when I went to the palace! I got some huge news."

Xiao Ce asked in confusion, "Oh?"

Xiao Yang nodded: "Why don't you take a guess?"

Xiao Ce said calmly, "Stop talking nonsense, speak!"

Xiao Yang shrank back, "Brother, please don't be angry... I'll talk... I'll talk... The Emperor wants you to be a hostage..."

Xiao Yang then recounted Xiao Dingbang's plan in its entirety.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce suddenly understood and said with a smile, "I was wondering why he also wanted me to attend the morning court sessions at the palace as usual..."

Xiao Yang asked, "Brother, you have to think of a way... we can't let that scoundrel emperor get away with this..."

Xiao Ce's expression was priceless: "I was just wondering what to do, and this damn emperor actually gave me a solution."

Xiao Yang looked at Xiao Ce in confusion: "What do you mean, Your Majesty?"

Xiao Ce pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "You'll find out later!"

Xiao Yang wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

Just then, a shout came from the doorway.

"There are guests!"

Xiao Yang said with some surprise, "At this critical juncture, someone is still willing to come? That must mean they have a very close relationship with Uncle Jiu."

Both of them looked towards the doorway.

The newcomer was Yin Weiyong, dressed in plain clothes, with two servants with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes beside him.

Judging from the way the two servants walked, you could tell they were trained martial artists.

The others who followed stopped at the entrance, exhausted.

Xiao Yang glanced at Xiao Ce: "Brother, shall you go, or shall I go?"

Xiao Ce said, "I'll go, you come with me."

Since he had previously sent people to protect him, Xiao Ce hadn't bothered to keep it a secret.

After all, he only has one daughter who helps him manage the four prefectures in the northern desert.

Moreover, judging from his attitude in court, it was clear that Yin Weiyong knew something.

Xiao Yang nodded.

The two men stepped forward, and Xiao Ce cupped his hands in greeting: "Father-in-law, you've arrived!"

Yin Weiyong thought Xiao Ce would continue to pretend, but to his surprise, he actually came over openly this time.

"My dear son-in-law, please accept my condolences!"

Without exchanging any pleasantries, Xiao Ce led Yin Weiyong into the mourning hall.

After offering three sticks of incense to the King of Zhen, Yin Weiyong leaned against the coffin, his face filled with grief: "King of Zhen, you've been foolish! His Highness the First Prince has returned! If you had just held on for a few more days, the First Prince would have definitely rescued you!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said, "Father-in-law, Uncle Jiu probably never intended to leave alive."

Yin Weiyong looked at Xiao Ce.

Xiao Ce said to Yin Weiyong, "Father-in-law, you don't have anything urgent, do you?"

Yin Weiyong nodded.

Xiao Ce gestured to Yin Weiyong, "Father-in-law, let's talk in private."

Yin Weiyong nodded.

Xiao Ce then led Yin Weiyong to a side room.

"Father-in-law, I didn't come to Kyoto to visit you. Are you angry?"

Yin Weiyong smiled and waved his hand: "My dear son-in-law, how could that be? I know that you didn't come to see me back then to avoid suspicion."

Xiao Ce smiled and nodded: "It's good that Father-in-law doesn't blame me. But Father-in-law, you've always been careful to protect yourself. Why did you stand up to His Majesty this time?"

Yin Weiyong said with a wry smile, "My dear son-in-law, you're probably blaming me for not helping you before, aren't you?"

Xiao Ce said with a serious expression, "Father-in-law, you misunderstand! I absolutely did not mean that. Moreover, I believe that with Uncle Jiu's power, there must be many people who want to save him. If he wants to leave, no one can stop him... That's why I said earlier that Uncle Jiu probably doesn't intend to leave alive."

Yin Weiyong breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Xiao Ce's words.

“My dear son-in-law, I knew I hadn’t misjudged you! Indeed, when King Buqi of Zhen was arrested, I used my connections to get in and see him. However, at that time, he didn’t say a word, and no matter what I said, he remained unmoved!”

"At that time, there was no good news from you and Pan'er in the northern desert. Even when Pan'er wrote to me, she only wrote the four words 'all is well.' I didn't know how you were doing in the northern desert. So, firstly, I was afraid of implicating you. Secondly, I was afraid that if you encountered any difficulties, I would be your last resort."

"I also know that Xiao Dingshan has always been a thorn in the emperor's side! Even the Prince of Zhen himself is not cooperating, so I didn't want to offend the prince and cause any trouble. I just kept playing both sides, and later I claimed to be ill and stayed at home."

"If that were the case, I would have had no worries if I had known you were doing so well in the Northern Desert..."

Hearing Yin Weiyong say this, Xiao Ce said, "Father-in-law, please forgive me. Actually, the four prefectures in the northern desert are only just being settled, but I didn't mean to hide it from you. After all, if I wrote a letter about these things, there would be too many changes."

"We've finally managed to stabilize this place; we can't let that scoundrel of an emperor reap the rewards, can we? I came here to rescue Uncle Nine before coming to see you, but who knew this would happen..."

Yin Weiyong nodded: "I understand...I understand...My dear son-in-law, what exactly is going on in the four prefectures of Mobei? If I'm not mistaken, the Second Prince's credit, as people say, was all done by you, wasn't it?"

Xiao Ce laughed and said, "Then you really underestimate me..."

Xiao Ce did not hide anything from Yin Weiyong and briefly recounted what had happened in the four prefectures of Mobei.

His goal was simple: he needed Yin Weiyong to have enough trust in him.

He still wields considerable influence in the court, and his future endeavors will undoubtedly require Yin Weiyong's support.

Just as Xiao Ce had imagined, after he finished speaking, Yin Weiyong's eyes widened, and his whole body trembled with excitement.

"My...son-in-law...are you telling the truth?"

Xiao Ce nodded: "Father-in-law, that's right. Not only are the four prefectures of the northern desert under my control, but I've also eliminated all the powerful and influential clans. Even the new emperor of the Turkic Kingdom is my sworn brother. And as for the Tian Shan snow sugar, fine salt, and divine wine you know about, they're all my businesses..."

Xiao Ce first showed off his businesses. However, he held back when it came to Zhang Yunqing, not revealing that he was Zhang's subordinate.

"Incredible...incredible..."

After a moment of surprise, Yin Weiyong suddenly realized something.

"My dear son-in-law, are you aware of the rumors that have suddenly started circulating in the streets today regarding the King of Zhen?"

Xiao Ce gave him a meaningful look: "Of course..."

Yin Weiyong noticed something in Xiao Ce's expression and asked in surprise, "Could it be...could it be that these rumors also originated from you?"