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

Xiao Yang not only helped the Xiao Kingdom guard its borders, but after the emperor's death, he did not follow the example of the other princes.

To establish an independent regime with an army would instead lead to a long journey to mourn the dead...

Not only that, but he also cried so bitterly when the emperor died.

They really are loyal and righteous!

For a full half hour, Xiao Yang's voice became hoarse from howling.

It really put him in a difficult position.

After howling for a long time, he still couldn't squeeze out a single tear.

Actually, he did all of this according to Xiao Ce's instructions.

Xiao Ce said that doing this would win people's hearts and lay the groundwork for him to become emperor in the future.

Xiao Yang's voice was hoarse from howling, and he was exhausted. He held his throat and cried dryly.

Seeing that Xiao Yang had finally calmed down, Xiao Wenqin called out to the eunuch beside him.

"Quickly, someone help Prince Anyang to the side to rest, so he won't continue to grieve here."

The eunuch, dressed in mourning clothes, rushed forward to help Xiao Yang.

Xiao Yang pretended not to want to leave, and with the help of several eunuchs, he left.

Xiao Wenqin frowned slightly as he watched Xiao Yang's departing figure, and then followed after him.

Some of the civil officials here couldn't help but sigh.

"A friend in need is a friend indeed, and that saying is absolutely true! Who would have thought that the prince who seemed the most unreliable before would turn out to be the most loyal and affectionate?"

"Indeed! It seems the late emperor's doting on the Second Prince wasn't in vain. I just wonder, now that the Second Prince has returned, does he have any objections to the late emperor's will?"

"Since he chose to come back, it means there must be no objections..."

"Hopefully, the Second Prince's return will change this situation..."

"Yes, yes, if the other princes continue to insist, our Xiao Kingdom will surely be torn apart!"

...

Upon arriving at a side hall, they sat down to rest with the eunuchs serving them.

He was sitting in a chair resting, and he really felt a bit weak.

He immediately realized that he might have used too much force.

Just then, Xiao Yang saw Xiao Wenqin walking over and quickly put on a sorrowful expression.

After Xiao Wenqin walked over, he said to Xiao Yang, "Second Brother, don't be too sad... It wouldn't be good if you hurt yourself. Right now, I still have to rely on you completely."

Xiao Yang looked up at Xiao Wenqin: "Little Thirteen..."

He immediately realized he had misspoke after he blurted it out.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me... I misspoke..."

Xiao Wenqin smiled calmly and said, "Second Brother, there's no one around here, you can just call me Little Thirteen. I think it'll feel more intimate."

Xiao Yang waved his hand and said, "That won't do... You are the new emperor now. We are first and foremost ruler and subject, then brothers..."

Upon hearing Xiao Yang's words, Xiao Wenqin quickly said, "Second Brother, so, by saying this, you mean you acknowledge me?"

Seeing this, Xiao Yang gave a wry smile: "To be honest, I still don't understand. Why would Father Emperor make you the Crown Prince and let you inherit the throne?"

Seeing Xiao Wenqin's slightly stiff expression, Xiao Yang quickly added, "However, since Father has issued the imperial edict... there's no use in me not understanding! Your Majesty, rest assured... I'm a man of my word, and I can afford to lose. Letting you be emperor is better than letting that son of a bitch Xiao Xiangqing be emperor..."

Xiao Yang muttered curses as he spoke.

Xiao Wenqin, his face full of gratitude, grasped Xiao Yang's hand: "Second Brother, I never expected you to support me like this... Actually, I also think you're more suitable to be emperor? If, Second Brother, you wish... I will abdicate without hesitation..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yang waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, you must be joking! How can Your Majesty's will be treated so lightly? Besides, I didn't know before, but now that I've experienced so much, I feel that being emperor is not suitable for me. I'm more suited to being a general guarding a side!"

After listening to Xiao Yang's words, Xiao Wenqin nodded sincerely: "Second brother, you are too modest... If you can guard the border, you will definitely have no problem governing the country."

Seeing that he was about to feign abdication again, Xiao Yang quickly waved his hands and put on a stern face: "Your Majesty, if you do this, you are treating me like those rebellious princes. You underestimate me. Since Father Emperor has bestowed upon me the title of Prince of Anyang, I will be a good prince and help you guard the border... Please don't say anything more!"

Xiao Yang knew very well that Xiao Wenqin, who seemed very sincere, was actually setting a trap for him.

After he said that, Hsiao Wen-chin didn't continue the topic.

Instead, he changed the subject: "By the way, second brother, where's eldest brother? Didn't he come?"

Xiao Yang said to Xiao Wenqin, "Don't you know? The empress of the Western Regions won't release them..."

Xiao Wenqin asked in confusion, "The Empress of the Western Regions?"

Seeing that Xiao Wenqin was unaware of what had happened in the Western Regions, Xiao Yang did as Xiao Ce had instructed.

He recounted how the Western Regions were unified and formed into a federation.

The purpose was to tell Xiao Wenqin that the border of the Western Regions was now facing a great threat.

After Xiao Yang finished speaking, Xiao Wenqin's expression was not good...

"What? You're saying those small kingdoms in the Western Regions have already been unified?" Xiao Wenqin asked.

Xiao Yang nodded and said, "That's right. That woman from Shanshan didn't seem like much... but I didn't expect her to actually be quite capable. I never imagined she was so competent."

Xiao Wenqin was silent for a moment, then asked Xiao Yang, "Second brother, in which country was eldest brother assigned as a hostage?"

Xiao Yang's heart skipped a beat, and looking at Xiao Wenqin's expression, he seemed to have guessed something.

He quickly replied, "I really don't know... Anyway, I was a hostage in the Western Regions, and now that they're all one family, it doesn't really matter which family I'm with. What's wrong?"

Xiao Wenqin said sharply, "Do you think... their unification might be related to my elder brother?"

When Xiao Yang heard Xiao Wenqin say this, his heart skipped a beat, and he was stunned for two seconds.

Xiao Yang then burst into laughter: "Hahaha, you think you can really joke like that? What does it have to do with him? Do you think it was that good-for-nothing Xiao Ce who helped them unify the Western Regions? Hahahaha... Your Majesty, your imagination is really too rich."

"That good-for-nothing, if he had any ability, he wouldn't be the emperor, would he?"

Xiao Wenqin's expression was a little unnatural as he listened, and he said to Xiao Yang with a sincere look, "Second brother, it's probably inappropriate for you to say that about eldest brother."

Xiao Yang continued his act, saying, "Your Majesty, let's not talk about these things... I know you're close to that good-for-nothing. But you also know that he and I are nemesis. Besides, Your Majesty, to put it bluntly, you shouldn't care about that good-for-nothing right now... That good-for-nothing will definitely be fine in the Western Regions."

"Take a look at your situation first. Those people have rebelled against you. What do you plan to do? I've made it clear to you... My troops cannot be moved. Those people from the Western Regions have now unified the country. If I dare to make any move, they will definitely take advantage of the situation and attack."

"Besides, to be honest, I don't want to get involved in internal strife!"

After hearing Xiao Yang's words, Xiao Wenqin looked somewhat embarrassed and said, "So, Second Brother, you mean... you don't want to get involved, is that right?"

Xiao Yang gave Xiao Wenqin a wry smile: "It's not that I don't want to get involved... If you ask me to, then I'll mobilize troops. I've already told you about the situation in the Western Regions... If you trust me, I can handle it. After all, I don't like Xiao Xiangqing, so if you ask me to go and fight him, that's absolutely no problem..."

"But then, who will guard the Western Regions? What if you haven't achieved anything, and the Western Regions people just sweep through and wipe us out..."

Xiao Wenqin nodded: "Second brother, you're right... I'm not planning to use force to deal with them either!"

Upon hearing Xiao Wenqin's words, Xiao Yang immediately became interested.

"Oh? You don't want to use force to solve it? You have a plan?"

Xiao Wenqin shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying no. Then, Xiao Wenqin continued to talk to Xiao Yang about the emperor's funeral arrangements.

Xiao Yang waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, once you've made your decision, that's fine! I have no objections either."

Xiao Wenqin nodded.

Xiao Yang then explained his purpose: "By the way, how is my mother?"

Xiao Wenqin nodded to Xiao Yang: "Consort Hui is doing well, but after Father Emperor fell ill, Consort Hui seemed to be possessed, saying she wanted to become a nun. Since then, Consort Hui has locked herself in her room, keeping only the lamp for company..."

"He's become a monk?" Xiao Yang's eyes widened.

Xiao Wenqin nodded: "However, Second Brother, don't worry. I sent the imperial physician to examine her. Consort Hui is perfectly fine."

Xiao Yang nodded, then asked Xiao Wenqin, "Your Majesty, may I see my mother?"

Seeing this, Xiao Wenqin nodded repeatedly: "Second Brother, of course there's no problem!"

As he spoke, Xiao Wenqin stared at Xiao Yang.

This made Xiao Yang feel uneasy: "Your Majesty, why are you looking at me like that?"

Xiao Wenqin asked Xiao Yang, "Second brother, you don't suspect that your mother's ordination as a nun has anything to do with me, do you? You can ask Consort Hui; this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me."

After listening to Xiao Wenqin's words, Xiao Yang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you're overthinking it... How could I possibly doubt you? Rest assured, I know what kind of person you are."

Xiao Wenqin's face showed a relieved expression: "I was afraid you would misunderstand, Second Brother. You just got back, so go and see Consort Hui first."

Xiao Yang left with his hands clasped in front of him.

Xiao Wenqin was very polite in every action, whether speaking or otherwise, and could even be described as very sincere.

However, Xiao Yang had an inexplicable feeling of discomfort.

After Xiao Yang left.

Xiao Wenqin's kind face immediately darkened, and he gave a wink to a little eunuch beside him.

The young eunuch immediately understood, bowed, and left.

Xiao Yang was walking alone, but he always felt like someone was watching him from behind.

But when I turned my head, I didn't see a single person.

Upon reaching the harem area, the entire harem had become much quieter.

They went all the way to his mother's palace.

As soon as he reached the door, two eunuchs greeted him.

"Greetings, Prince Anyang!"

Xiao Yang knew every single one of the eunuchs in Consort Hui's palace.

However, the two eunuchs standing at the door looked somewhat unfamiliar to Xiao Yang...

However, he didn't say anything.

Is my mother here?

The eunuch nodded: "Consort Hui is reciting scriptures."

Without a word, Xiao Yang had the eunuch lead him inside.

Upon entering this area, Xiao Yang immediately sensed something was amiss.

Nothing in this palace looks different, but in reality, none of the eunuchs and palace maids here are familiar to anyone anymore.

It's obvious they've all been replaced.

When Xiao Yang arrived at the entrance of his mother's palace, he could smell a faint sandalwood scent.

The sound of a wooden fish drum could be heard from inside from time to time.

Just as Xiao Yang was about to knock on the door, the eunuch stopped him and reminded him, "Your Highness, Consort Hui instructed that... no outsiders should disturb him while he is reciting scriptures and doing his homework."

Xiao Yang was already annoyed, and now that he was being blocked by a little eunuch he had never seen before, he immediately became displeased.

She slapped him across the face with a backhand. "You dog, are you blind? Do you think I'm some nobody?"

Xiao Yang used almost all his strength to slap him to the ground.

The little eunuch was so frightened that he knelt down on the ground.

Still angry, Xiao Yang kicked him again: "Damn it... where did this bastard come from? You have no sense of propriety. Don't let me see you here again."

Xiao Yang revealed his spoiled and arrogant nature, which terrified the little eunuch.

So frightened, he scrambled out of the room.

To Xiao Yang's surprise, despite the commotion he made outside, the sound of the wooden fish inside never stopped.

They really did manage to ignore everything else.

Seeing this, Xiao Yang knocked on the door, and only then did the sound of the wooden fish stop.

"Mother, it's me..." Xiao Yang called out again into the house upon seeing this.

The sound of the wooden fish stopped, but no one came to open the door for a long time.

"Mother, your son has returned!"

Xiao Yang called out again into the house, but there was still no response.

Xiao Yang sensed something was wrong and quickly pushed the door open.

The door wasn't locked; it opened with a gentle push.

The original bedroom has now been transformed into a place resembling a Buddhist shrine.

A nun dressed in hemp robes was kneeling in front of a Buddhist shrine, sitting on a prayer mat, holding a string of prayer beads, and chanting incantations.

Even in the candlelight, Xiao Yang recognized her at a glance; it was his mother.

He stepped forward and said, "Mother, I'm here! Why aren't you paying attention to me? Are you alright?"

Consort Hui remained kneeling before the prayer mat, chanting sutras and turning the prayer beads, her eyes slightly closed, still ignoring Xiao Yang.