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

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "This is his test for me, and it is also my test for her!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce asked Da Lei and the others if they were ready.

They indicated that there was no problem and that they could disappear from Xiao Ce's side at any time.

However, Da Lei was still somewhat worried about Xiao Ce, since joining the guard team was different from being by his side.

After flicking his sleeve, Xiao Ce found a flintlock pistol in his hand.

"With this, even if I have different people protecting me, it won't be a big problem!"

As he spoke, he flicked his left hand again, and a wooden-handled grenade appeared in his hand.

"Grenade in the left hand, gun in the right. Who am I afraid of?"

"Besides, I'm your apprentice, after all. Who can beat me in hand-to-hand combat?"

Da Lei's expression softened a bit after hearing this.

...

After Ling Chang returned, some of the female officials who accompanied her came forward to ask her questions.

Ling Chang recounted what had just happened with Xiao Ce.

The female officials listened with expressions of utter disbelief.

"Lady Ling Chang, he said he knows someone is trying to assassinate him? Could he be bluffing you? You should know that this information is top secret. Even within Dilit's delegation from Uzbekistan, very few people besides Dilit know about it!"

Ling Chang shook her head and said, "It doesn't seem like it; he seems to really know."

Another female official asked, "And what about that rumor in the northern desert? Did he just admit it like that? Isn't that too easy? Could it be that he claimed it fraudulently?"

"Yes, if he did it, he would try his best to hide it. How could he admit it so readily..."

...

As Ling Chang listened to the female officials raising their questions one after another, she smiled and said, "We don't need to rush... Let's see if he can protect the loyal guards around him before we talk about it."

"If we've already warned him, and he still couldn't protect those people, then it proves he's all show and no substance!"

The ladies-in-waiting nodded in agreement, then said they would wait and see.

The next day.

While Ling Chang was still sleeping, a maid came forward and called her softly.

Ling Chang slowly woke up.

"What's wrong? Are we about to set off?"

The maid shook her head and whispered a few words in Ling Chang's ear.

Ling Chang narrowed her eyes slightly and asked, "Really?"

The maid said, "Everyone has gone to see it; Your Excellency can go and see for yourself whether it's true or not."

After getting up, Ling Chang hurriedly headed towards Xiao Ce's hostage camp.

People from the delegations of the five Western Regions kingdoms were gathered around and watching.

The female official who had arrived earlier bowed and greeted Ling Chang as she approached.

Ling Chang asked, "What's the situation now?"

The female official, her eyes filled with undisguised disdain, said to Ling Chang, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the guards accompanying this hostage have gone missing. He's now insisting that we find all the guards before he'll set off! Otherwise, he refuses to leave."

"Several officials around Dilit were trying to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen. He's resorting to shamelessness. It looks like Dilit will be here soon."

Ling Chang nodded and looked toward the military camp.

At this moment, Xiao Ce was acting like a rogue in front of his own military tent.

"Don't move! I told you! My personal guards have gone missing! None of you are allowed to move! Let them go if they want, but I won't leave until I find them! I told you they are professionally trained. They wouldn't just disappear without a trace; they must have encountered some danger!"

"Go and find them for me! Otherwise, I'm not leaving... They're here to ensure my safety!"

...

Ling Chang's expression became much more interesting when she saw Xiao Ce's appearance.

Others might not know, but she could tell at a glance that Xiao Ce was just pretending.

After all, Ling Chang had witnessed Xiao Ce's wisdom the previous night.

His wisdom cannot be faked!

The rogue in front of her was acting very well, but Ling Chang could tell at a glance that he was acting.

However, Ling Chang looked around and saw the disdain in the eyes of the envoys.

This includes the female officials of the Shanshan Kingdom.

She was actually very happy!

The more they believe Xiao Ce is a scoundrel and a good-for-nothing, the more they despise him.

The more stable her future cooperation with Xiao Ce will be.

Xiao Ce was still acting at this moment.

On the other side, Dilit's voice could be heard.

"Wow, it's quite lively here. Everyone's come to see what's going on!"

As he spoke, Diliti walked up to Xiao Ce, his tone slightly provocative and teasing: "My eldest prince, what's wrong with you now? We know exactly how far we travel each day. Because of you, we've delayed our return. Can you take responsibility for that?"

Xiao Ce's acting was quite nuanced as he addressed Diliti, saying, "Grand Preceptor, I truly have no other choice. You should know that I used to have several close guards by my side. Those people were very important to me; they were protecting me all along, but overnight, they seemed to have vanished into thin air..."

“I think there’s definitely something wrong with this. Either they had an urgent matter to attend to, or they encountered some trouble... I need to find them before I can leave.”

Diliti listened with disdain, his face full of mockery: "Is it possible that they didn't want to go with you as hostages, so they secretly ran away?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "This is impossible... Imperial Preceptor, I..."

Diliti interrupted Xiao Ce directly, saying sternly, "Xiao Ce, your guards have gone missing. Do you want to delay the movements of everyone on our side?"

Xiao Ce wanted to explain.

However, Diliti didn't give Xiao Ce a chance to speak, and quickly said, "A few guards have left. Even if all your guards leave, we will still protect your safety! You don't need to worry about that!"

"Also, you need to understand your own situation... You are a proton now, you have no right to do anything, understand? What you need to do now is to obediently follow us and cooperate with us. I will make your journey more comfortable."

As he spoke, Diliti's voice grew increasingly cold.

"Of course, if you insist on challenging me, I won't tolerate it! Don't force me to use force against you."

Xiao Ce said awkwardly, "Are you... are you threatening me? I... although..."

Diliti interrupted again, saying, "You can interpret it that way! I'm threatening you. You were Xiao Yang's dog before, so you should know how to be a dog! If you obediently act as my dog, I'll let you live. But if you don't recognize your place... then..."

Diliti's face hardened, and he slapped Xiao Ce's shoulder forcefully: "I'll make you regret ever being born, you know that?"

Xiao Ce put on an extremely embarrassed yet indignant expression: "I'm not Xiao Yang's dog. Haven't you heard the rumors? About the Northern Desert!"

Xiao Ce said that on purpose.

After all, he knew very well that Xiao Xiangqing would definitely tell Diliti what Mr. Qianlong had said.

If so, his attempts to conceal the truth would only arouse Diliti's suspicion.

However, if he were to bring it up now to show off, it would confirm to Diliti that Xiao Xiangqing's news was false.

Judging from Dilit's reaction, Xiao Ce's move was brilliant.

Diliti burst into laughter upon hearing this: "Rumors? What rumors? You conquered the Northern Desert? You controlled Xiao Yang!"

Seeing this, Xiao Ce cooperated fully, putting on an expression that showed both confirmation and some guilt.

Diliti burst into laughter: "Haha! Since you're so powerful, why did we use you as a hostage instead of sending Xiao Yang..."

Xiao Ce stammered, trying to explain.

Diliti looked at Xiao Ce and laughed until tears streamed down his face: "Alright...alright...shut up. You think you're so tough? Try and fight back! See if I don't teach you a lesson!"

Then Diliti shouted loudly to the person beside him, "Alright! Anyone who dares to stay here and not leave, just chop them up!"

He then said to the soldiers beside him, "If he dares to utter a sound, arrest him, tie him up, and take him away!"

Xiao Ce feigned an expression of exasperation coupled with helplessness: "You...you...you..."

"What do you mean, 'you'? If you don't believe me, just try it and you'll see," Diliti said arrogantly.

After saying that, Diliti waved his hand and said, "Hurry up, everyone disperse! Pack your things quickly! If you delay your return, see how I deal with you."

As Diliti spoke, watching Xiao Ce put on a frustrated expression, he said, "So? Are you going to obediently listen to me? Or will you continue to show off with me? Let me see what you're capable of!"

Xiao Ce put on an unpredictable expression.

"Everyone, get ready to depart."

When Diliti saw Xiao Ce manage to utter those words with a flushed face, he burst into laughter.

"I told you you're a smart dog!"

As he spoke, Diliti couldn't help but burst into laughter again, then turned and left.

Diliti, standing some distance away beside his instructor, couldn't help but feel a deep respect for Xiao Ce as he looked at him.

He admired him; it seemed that Xiao Ce really was behind what happened in the northern desert.

He was absolutely convinced at that moment.

After all, it's not a big deal for someone to be arrogant and domineering.

Rather, it is a person's ability to endure that is the most valuable quality for becoming a successful person.

After leaving in a very arrogant manner, Diliti said to one of his servants beside him.

"I'll write to Abbas (Xiao Xiangqing) later and tell him not to believe what that Mr. Qianlong said. This Xiao Ce is a good-for-nothing, and that rumor is probably just something Xiao Yang said on purpose to cover things up."

A servant beside him bowed and nodded.

...

Xiao Ce entered the military tent with a dejected expression.

His guards quickly began to tidy up.

This scene filled the Western Regions delegation members with disdain.

This includes some of the envoys who believed the rumors from the northern deserts and wanted to get close to Xiao Ce; at this moment, they had completely given up on the idea.

The reason is simple: Xiao Ce was too useless.

Meanwhile, Ling Chang was very glad that she had met Xiao Ce last night, and she was even more glad that Xiao Ce hadn't put on an act when he met her yesterday.

Because Xiao Ce's acting skills were simply too good.

She even began to doubt whether the person she had seen last night was Xiao Ce.

If Xiao Ce had acted like this when he met her yesterday, she believed she wouldn't have doubted it at all.

However, seeing Xiao Ce's acting skills, she became even more certain.

The rumors about the northern desert are true.

She's even getting a little excited now.

The reason is simple: Xiao Ce was able to change the world in the northern desert all by himself.

If they get Xiao Ce's help, their Shanshan Kingdom will truly have a chance!

...

After the main force set off, thanks to Xiao Ce's superb acting skills...

Therefore, Diliti and all the Western Regions delegations lost interest in Xiao Ce.

Diliti originally wanted to torment Xiao Ce, but Xiao Ce was just too weak.

The instructor's words implied that he was afraid Xiao Ce might be so badly tortured that he would commit suicide, which would be a huge loss.

After all, Diliti still wanted Xiao Ce to be useful.

Therefore, Xiao Ce has been unusually free these days.

However, along the way west, Xiao Ce passed through several cities.

Xiao Ce had thought that these people would be better off.

However, Xiao Ce discovered that these people were also living in extreme poverty...

Their lives were not any better because of their geographical location.

Moreover, this situation is somewhat similar to that of going to the northern desert.

The further west they went, the more severe their hardships became.

Xiao Ce finally understood what it meant when a dynasty prospers, the people suffer; when a dynasty falls, the people suffer.

To Xiao Ce's disappointment, Ling Chang had not come to see him since he performed a play for Diliti last time.

Xiao Ce thought he had scared Ling Chang away.

His disappointment stemmed from the feeling that he had misjudged Ling Chang, having initially thought she was a clever woman.

What he didn't know was that Ling Chang hadn't come this time entirely to avoid suspicion.

It was precisely because she valued Xiao Ce that she dared not rush over.

She was afraid of arousing suspicion from others, who might then compete with her for Xiao Ce.

They were not traveling fast, so it took them a full month to get from Kyoto to Mount Nu.

This past month has been the most leisurely time for Xiao Ce.

During the day, he rode his horse alongside their large group, completely embracing the experience as if he were sightseeing.

In the evening, I sorted out my thoughts and slowly wrote down the memories of the modern era that he had not forgotten.

Regardless of whether it's useful or not.

Because he discovered a drawback, perhaps due to his inability to determine if he had traveled from another time.

The longer he stayed here, the more his memories of the modern world began to fade.

He recorded these things using his own modern methods.

Only he can understand these things.

Even some modern people wouldn't understand it.

Because Da Lei cannot openly practice with him, and he also cannot let others discover that he is exercising in the morning.

Every morning, Xiao Ce would get up and conduct physical training in his military tent.

On this day, he was training as usual when he noticed Da Lei, who was dressed up, rushing in.

Xiao Ce saw Da Lei wipe the sweat off his body and quickly asked what was wrong.