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

Lu Yao obtained the imperial seal and also received handwritten letters from two people.

Before that, he had already figured out who was in Wang Guanzhong's army.

In fact, he had already made the contact well in advance.

However, Wang Guanzhong still maintained strong control over his army.

Therefore, they need a legitimate reason to do so.

Now that Lu Yao has the imperial seal, he has a legitimate reason to contact his accomplices.

Then he killed all of Wang Guanzhong's confidants.

Immediately afterwards, holding the imperial seal, he directly used the emperor's name to accuse Wang Guanzhong of rebellion.

Most soldiers are blind, let alone under the protection of the Imperial Seal.

Almost overnight, Lu Yao had turned Wang Guanzhong's army against him.

The only ones left are probably a few hundred of Wang Guanzhong's confidants.

Early that morning, Lu Yao arrived at the palace with all his troops.

When Wang Guanzhong saw Lu Yao leading his army, he was initially surprised.

Immediately afterward, when Lu Yao raised his hand and shouted, "On behalf of Heaven, punish the traitors!" Wang Guanzhong understood.

He wanted to say something, but Lu Yao didn't give him the chance.

At his command, a thousand arrows pierced his heart.

They shot Wang Guanzhong so many times that he was riddled with arrows. After Wang Guanzhong died, his close associates...

Without a word, they all surrendered.

To justify his actions, Lu Yao even sent people to bring out the emperor and empress dowager.

He was furious when he learned that Lu Yao had killed Wang Guanzhong.

However, Lu Yao quickly said that the antidote had been found at Wang Guanzhong's residence, and they were safe.

This made Consort Yun extremely happy.

Consort Yun, despite her exhaustion, praised the three armies and then affirmed Lu Yao.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Yao was temporarily put in charge of the three armies.

Subsequently, he rewarded the three armies, and it was because of this that they confirmed Lu Yao's actions.

Wang Guanzhong, it could be said, never understood what was going on until his death.

After finishing all this, Lu Yao simply locked up both Yun Fei and Xiao Wenqin.

Consort Yun initially took the antidote with high hopes, and then went to quell several rebellious princes...

However, after they were locked up, no one cared about them anymore.

The next day, she started to come to her senses, but it was no use; they wanted to yell at her, but they couldn't even get a chance to...

All I can do is curse at the air.

On the third day, although no one followed his lead.

However, she finally understood what had happened. But it was too late.

Lu Yao didn't even want to see them, and that's how Consort Yun died on this very day.

...

Lu Yao was overjoyed to receive the news from his subordinates.

With Consort Yun dead, Xiao Wenqin's own death is not far off.

He didn't collect Yunfei's body, thinking that after the two of them died together, he could just bury them anywhere.

On this day, Lu Yao had something more important to do.

That means Xiao Tao has already brought his army here and will arrive outside Kyoto this afternoon.

This time, he subdued Wang Guanzhong's army without shedding a drop of blood, and he will surely be rewarded!

He made arrangements to welcome Xiao Tao early in the morning.

...

Meanwhile, in the Jiangnan region occupied by Xiao Xiangqing.

He had hoped that Xiao Tao would come back.

However, Xiao Tao, who should have arrived long ago, had no news of the main force.

Even Xiao Zhan, whom he had notified late, came.

At this moment, in a mansion.

A prince with an arrogant face, a muscular build, and wearing golden armor said to Xiao Xiangqing, "Xiao Xiangqing, you're not playing me for a fool, are you? You tricked me into coming back! Where's Xiao Tao? He should have arrived long ago!"

Xiao Xiangqing's expression was not good. Logically speaking, Xiao Tao should have arrived by now.

"Xiao Zhan, don't worry! I'm not that kind of person... Besides, I've made myself very clear. Xiao Tao promised me back then... Unless, he's playing me..."

Xiao Zhan said with an unfriendly expression, "Xiao Xiangqing, what do you mean?"

Xiao Xiangqing said to Xiao Zhan, "Xiao Zhan, I swear to God, I didn't lie to you. As for what happened on Xiao Tao's side? We don't know! You were willing to come back in the first place, and I didn't trick you into coming back!"

"You must have considered many factors before coming back, right?"

Just then, the scouts that Xiao Xiangqing had sent out at the door hurriedly returned.

Xiao Xiangqing addressed the scout at the door: "Well? Any news about Xiao Tao?"

The scout bowed, glancing at Xiao Zhan to the side, seemingly unable to speak.

Mr. Qianlong, who was sitting next to Xiao Xiangqing, said, "Speak up, we're all family here. His Highness Xiao Zhan is also our partner. We have nothing to hide!"

After Mr. Qianlong spoke, Xiao Zhan's expression softened considerably.

The scouts weren't very familiar with Mr. Qianlong, even though Mr. Qianlong had spoken up.

The scouts still wouldn't speak.

Xiao Xiangqing then slowly spoke up: "What are you standing there for? Mr. Qianlong's meaning is my meaning."

The scout then bowed and reported, "Your Highness, Xiao Tao's army has not retreated, but is heading towards the capital. They have not encountered any troops blocking their way! According to our estimates, they will arrive in the capital today!"

After the scout said this...

Xiao Xiangqing's face darkened as he said, "That despicable Xiao Tao actually..."

Xiao Zhan suddenly stood up, pointed at Xiao Xiangqing, and said, "Xiao Xiangqing, stop acting. Have you all teamed up? Are you deliberately trying to fool me?"

Xiao Xiangqing wore a pained expression: "Bullshit... I freaking don't know how this happened. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have advised you at all, I would have gone there by myself! I wouldn't have bothered asking you for help, I really wanted to help you! Don't you have eyes? If you're not happy now, go and fight them. It's not too late to fight them later!"

Before Xiao Zhan could even utter a curse.

At this moment, an old man with white hair bowed and stepped forward, reminding Xiao Zhan, "Ninth Prince, please calm down. Actually, what Prince Xiao Xiangqing said is right... We do need to thank them."

Xiao Zhan glanced at the white-haired old man beside him with a puzzled look.

"Uncle Bi, what do you mean?"

The white-haired old man, named Bi Han, was a very famous minister in the Xiao Kingdom.

He became famous when he was young, but later, for reasons unknown, he retired from public life.

Until recently, he actually became one of Xiao Zhan's strategists.

"Your Highness, given the current situation, it's clear that Xiao Wenqin and Xiao Tao had already planned this in advance. They just didn't tell us. Or perhaps, after Prince Xiao Xiangqing spoke with them, they reached an agreement with the capital. In fact, regardless of the situation, if we rashly go there, we will be surrounded and annihilated!"

"So, thanks to His Highness Xiao Xiangqing's advice, we stopped!"

Hearing Bi Hu say this, Xiao Xiangqing nodded repeatedly and gave Bi Hu a thumbs up.

"As expected of Lord Bihan, Xiao Zhan! I understand now, how could someone with your single-minded brain possibly raise an army!" Xiao Xiangqing retorted without any politeness.

Xiao Zhan did not refute it, after all, what Xiao Xiangqing said was true.

"Uncle Bi, how do you know they're not in cahoots?"

Bi Hu laughed and said, "If they are in cahoots, they have many ways to persuade us. They don't need to use this method at all. They showed us their weapons and told us all the secrets they knew about Xiao Ce!"

Upon hearing Bi Han's words, Xiao Xiangqing nodded repeatedly, expressing his complete agreement: "That's right...that's right...talking to smart people is so reassuring..."

"Sir, what do you think we should do next?" Xiao Xiangqing asked with some concern.

Bi Han bowed humbly and said, "It's actually very simple! Let's wait and see! On one hand, we'll strengthen ourselves and equip ourselves with the weapons you mentioned. On the other hand, we can see what's really happening in Kyoto!"

"As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain; they will absolutely not be at peace on that side! Their ultimate outcome will inevitably be one side annexing the other. And given the current situation, it is clear that these matters cannot be resolved in a short time! Therefore, we must prepare for a protracted war!"