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

Han Da faced Xiao Ce and felt a suffocating aura emanating from him.

No longer daring to conceal it, she subconsciously swallowed hard: "Your Highness, the Princess was indeed attacked! It was done by the Slavs!"

Seeing that Xiao Ce's gaze was almost icy, she quickly added, "However, Your Highness, please rest assured... the Princess Consort is very fortunate and has survived! It's just that..."

"But what?"

Han Da lowered his head again: "My face was cut by shrapnel from the explosion, and I'm afraid it will leave a scar..."

Xiao Ce finally breathed a sigh of relief: "You're breathing so heavily, are you out of danger?"

Han Da nodded vigorously.

"what happened?"

Since Han Da had already spoken, he dared not hide anything any longer and spoke frankly.

Not long ago, Yin Pan'er was on her daily patrols in various places.

They encountered some extreme Slavic organizations.

These people launched their attacks using suicidal tactics.

Fortunately, Yin Pan'er was surrounded by the Twelve Fiends, who had received professional training, as well as some special forces soldiers.

Therefore, the danger was detected and stopped immediately.

However, those people chose to carry out a suicide attack by self-destruction.

Some special forces soldiers shielded Yin Pan'er from the blast wave with their bodies, which prevented her from suffering serious injury.

However, that attack resulted in the deaths of dozens of special forces soldiers and serious injuries to more than ten others.

Xiao Ce frowned. This was what worried him: with the widespread use of firearms, assassination would become much easier for them.

Han Da chimed in, "Your Highness, please rest assured... We immediately took the Princess to a safe place for treatment. Furthermore, we did our utmost to search for those people, capturing over thirty Slavs in no time! However, since we don't understand their language, we have no way to effectively interrogate them... so we can only keep them imprisoned!"

"Furthermore, we have already strictly prohibited Slavs from entering our five northern prefectures! We have posted notices and mobilized the people! Because Slavs are very easy to identify, the people are extremely grateful to Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er. They cherish everything they have now."

"The attack on Yin Pan'er has enraged the entire population of the five prefectures of the northern desert. Therefore, the Slavs are now like rats in the street. For now, they are absolutely safe!"

Xiao Ce frowned: "What if they try to bribe one of our people? Do you have a solution?"

"..."

Han Da was speechless for a moment.

"We people from the northern desert wouldn't do that, would we?"

Xiao Ce chuckled speechlessly: "Han Da, long time no see, you've become quite naive. You can't see into someone's heart, everyone is different, are you really that sure?"

Han Da was extremely embarrassed: "Your Highness, I was wrong. I will go again..."

Xiao Ce patted his shoulder: "Alright, this has nothing to do with you. Let's go back quickly."

Han Da nodded: "Your Highness, I will make the necessary arrangements. Please go in and rest for a while."

"What else needs to be arranged?" Xiao Ce asked with a hint of doubt.

Han Da awkwardly explained that when they came over, they thought they should tell the people that Xiao Ce was coming in order to appease them.

After Xiao Ce's reminder, he realized that there were bound to be some people who harbored resentment towards Xiao Ce.

If they find out, wouldn't they be making Xiao Ce a sitting duck?

Xiao Ce nodded upon hearing this, and then gave Han Da a suggestion: to split up and act separately.

Get a carriage, and then put a puppet dressed in his clothes to deceive people.

Xiao Ce led a team to follow closely behind, so that they could be alerted if there was any danger.

Han Da nodded and reminded him, "Your Highness, would you like to change into the clothes of an ordinary soldier?"

Xiao Ce waved his hand with a wry smile: "It's not that bad. This is my base camp after all. If I were some assassin who was so scared that I disguised myself as an ordinary soldier, people would laugh their teeth out if word got out."

Seeing that Han Da had misunderstood, he said, "What I mean is that we shouldn't underestimate them, but we also shouldn't be afraid of them. We can't throw the baby out with the bathwater, right?"

Han Da nodded and went to make the arrangements.

They were then taken inside the high city walls of Yanmen Pass.

This city wall is called the Dragon Wall because it looks like a city wall from the outside.

Looking from the northern desert towards this side, it also resembles a reclining dragon.

After entering Yanmen Pass, the first place is Yanmen City.

Upon entering Yanmen City, Xiao Ce was momentarily stunned.

The once barren and desolate Yanmen City was now covered in yellow sand.

At this time, the houses were built in a well-organized manner, and the roads in the city were all paved with cement, making them flat and clean.

The houses here may not be particularly beautiful, but they are all made of cement and are very sturdy.

The people were all dressed in clothes of various colors, and their faces were beaming with smiles.

The styles of clothing here are also quite diverse.

When they first entered, none of the people noticed Xiao Ce.

However, Gulimiza followed Xiao Ce.

After noticing Gulimiza, they looked wary.

After all, ordinary people probably couldn't tell the difference between people from the Western Regions and Slavs.

After all, they do have some similarities.

However, before Xiao Ce could even begin to explain...

Among these people, one of them suddenly let out a howl!

"what!"

"It is His Highness the King of the Northern Desert!"

The man became excited as he spoke, and his eyes seemed to well up with tears.

He then knelt down with a thud, exclaiming in surprise as he bowed to Xiao Ce, "This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness, the King of the Northern Desert! I am truly so fortunate..."

Once someone spoke up, the nearby residents quickly gathered around.

Then they all performed the kneeling and bowing ceremony.

Xiao Ce was initially stunned, unsure how they had recognized him.

After all, they weren't just following the trend.

They stared at him for a while before confirming his identity.

"Your Highness, King of the Northern Desert, we have heard of your arrival! We cordially welcome Your Highness..."

"Your Highness, King of the Northern Desert, I never imagined I would meet you in my lifetime. Without you, I wouldn't have the good life I enjoy today..."

"Yes, Your Highness, King of the Northern Desert, you are our great benefactor. During the previous great disaster, if it weren't for you, our whole family would have starved to death..."

...

Similar words came from beside Xiao Ce.

Seeing their eyes filled with tears, I spoke from the bottom of my heart.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please rise. I have done nothing wrong; you have all earned this good life with your own hard work!"

"Sir, I can't accept your kneeling. At most, we can help each other succeed."

No matter what Xiao Ce said, none of these people showed any intention of getting up.

Moreover, it spread by word of mouth over time, in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

As Xiao Ce looked up, he was shocked to find that the ten-mile-long street before him was already filled with kneeling people...

This was something he truly hadn't expected.

Fortunately, Han Da noticed the commotion and quickly led his men to protect them.

While evacuating the people, Xiao Ce still had important matters to attend to.

They surrounded and protected Xiao Ce.

The people were obedient and immediately made way for Xiao Ce.

"Please punish me, Your Highness..."

Xiao Ce was bewildered when Han Da suddenly apologized to him: "What? Did you arrange for these people? Or are you saying you leaked the news that I'm here?"

Han Da shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum.

He then spoke, saying, "Your Highness, neither...neither..."

"Then what are you doing?"

Han Da gave an awkward smile: "I forgot to mention to you that in our northern lands, all the people hang your portrait, have various statues of you, and even have wooden plaques engraved with your image like pendants... So, your appearance is practically etched in the hearts of every one of our people..."

Xiao Ce's eye twitched: "I'm not dead yet... and they're already using me to ward off evil and protect themselves?"

Han Da waved his hand: "No...no...Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. They didn't set up a memorial tablet for you. They worship you and think you are a celestial being or a god...We actually bought them all, because it is said that wearing your image can bring peace and safety."

Han Da chuckled as he spoke, pulling out a jade pendant from around his neck.

The jade plaque is carved with Xiao Ce's large head, and it looks really lifelike.

"My wife got this for me... saying it brings good news!"

"Your Highness, it's truly strange. Ever since I started wearing your jade pendant, every time I've encountered danger, I've managed to escape unscathed. Misfortune has turned into good fortune..."

Xiao Ce was surprised to hear that even Han Da, the commander-in-chief of the three armies, was so superstitious.

I'm speechless. They're being treated like gods.

"Who started this? Aren't you going to stop them? Don't you know I prefer to keep a low profile? Making this public knowledge isn't good..."

Han Da scratched his head sheepishly: "Your Highness, when this matter first came up, it did cause quite a stir in the Northern Desert Prince's Mansion. The Princess Consort didn't actually intend for things to turn out this way."

"However, many ministers in the royal court think this is a good thing. They said that the people need faith, and this will reduce a lot of trouble. If everyone believes in Xiao Ce, and as long as everyone believes in him to the core, then even if there is any trouble in the northern desert, these people will always be Xiao Ce's biggest support."

"Furthermore, even if someone with ulterior motives tries to sow discord among them, they are not easily swayed! Although, if Xiao Ce's appearance were made public, it might let those with ulterior motives know about it."

"However, what everyone means is that Xiao Ce is the Lord of the Northern Desert, and in everyone's hearts, they all agree that Xiao Ce may also become the Lord of the World in the future. If it is kept secret, although it will be mysterious, it will lack some of his authority."

"If we were to make Xiao Ce's appearance public, it would be tantamount to telling them that Xiao Ce is not afraid of any villains."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow, his face full of bitterness.

He was still thinking of hiding his true intentions, but it was definitely too late now.

He did not interrupt Han Da.

"Your Highness, after intense internal discussions, we feel that in the northern desert, everything is in ruins and needs to be rebuilt. We all need someone to be a pillar of support for us."

"After much discussion, everyone felt that this was a matter of more advantages than disadvantages. So everyone responded positively! And so, it was agreed upon. Moreover, these items are sold exclusively by official stores; private shops are not allowed to manufacture or sell them privately."

"The Northern Desert Royal Palace has made a considerable amount of money by selling your related items..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce was both amused and exasperated, but he realized that what Han Da and the others said was true.

"I did not repeat what you said, so please punish me, Your Highness..."

After listening, Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "Alright, do you take me for some kind of tyrant? Should I cover my face now...?"

Han Da, standing to Xiao Ce's side, said, "Your Highness, it's best if you don't wander off right now. Everyone here is on high alert, especially since you've brought a girl from the Western Regions. This girl looks remarkably like a Slav..."

"Your presence will definitely cause a stir, and perhaps even trouble... Even if you wear a straw hat or a mask, you'll become the focus of everyone's attention..."

Xiao Ce nodded: "Alright, then I'll just wait it out for a bit. Are you ready? When can we set off?"

Han Da nodded and said that everything had been arranged, if Xiao Ce wished.

We can set off in an hour.

Xiao Ce nodded.

Right now, his thoughts are on Yin Pan'er.

Although Han Da described it in a lighthearted manner, Xiao Ce was quite certain that Yin Pan'er was seriously injured.

During this period, he was 'expanding territory'.

But this hands-off manager also did a very solid job.

To be honest, his 'expansion' at the front was made possible by Yin Pan'er taking excellent care of his rear.

Therefore, things won't go so smoothly for him ahead.

At the very least, it would have helped unify the Western Regions, but that couldn't have happened so smoothly.

He then told Han Da to make preparations so that they could depart at any time.

Xiao Ce stood up and saw Gulimiza looking at him with an expression of adoration.

Seeing her looking at him like that, Xiao Ce asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Gulimiza said with a grin, "Hi... Your Highness, I actually thought you would be very powerful and popular... But I never expected you to be this powerful and popular... They practically treat you like a god!"

"No, you are God!"

Xiao Ce watched as Gulimiza would come over to flatter him from time to time, providing plenty of emotional value.

However, Xiao Ce always felt that it sounded like flattery.

However, after Gulimiza finished speaking, a deep sense of disappointment appeared in her eyes.

Xiao Ce still managed to catch that hint of disappointment.

Xiao Ce asked, "Gulimiza, what's wrong? You seem down. Are you homesick?"