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

Yin Weiyong nodded when he heard Xiao Ce say this.

"Your Highness, alright! Then please be careful!"

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Yin Weiyong, "Father-in-law, I'm a man who values ​​his life the most! Don't worry, I'm leaving this place in your care!"

Yin Weiyong nodded, seemingly still having something to say.

Seeing Yin Weiyong's hesitant expression, Xiao Ce said to him, "Father-in-law, is there anything else you need to say? Just say it..."

Yin Weiyong looked at Xiao Ce and said, "Your Highness, have you ever considered establishing yourself as an independent ruler?"

"Self-reliance?"

Indeed, Xiao Ce had never considered this idea.

Yin Weiyong nodded and said, "Now that everyone has become independent, everyone can start their own businesses and recruit soldiers and talented people!"

"If we don't become independent, we will always be under the control of the court! Even if we don't listen to them, we will inevitably be subject to their command and be hindered by them!"

"It's not just us, but also the Prince of Anyang at Yumen Pass. If we don't declare ourselves independent, we fear we'll be targeted by Xiao Tao's ministers..."

Before Yin Weiyong could finish speaking, Xiao Ce smiled slightly and said, "Father-in-law, if we become independent, wouldn't we be just like them?"

"Moreover, we only have one emperor to serve, and that is Xiao Wenqin!"

Xiao Ce's words left Yin Weiyong completely dumbfounded.

"Xiao Wenqin? Isn't he already dead?"

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "He should have arrived at Yumen Pass by now!"

Yin Weiyong was even more confused and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, what do you mean? I don't understand..."

A sly smile appeared on Xiao Ce's lips as he began to speak.

Actually, right after the dog emperor died from poisoning, the poison was said to be food poisoning.

Xiao Ce felt that this matter was not simple, and he couldn't find the antidote or the person who administered the drug in a short time.

This includes those wealthy people in Kyoto.

Xiao Ce figured that if he couldn't find it, he should let a professional look for it.

So, following Da Lei, he brought out Night Cat, one of the Twelve Fiends, who was skilled in poisoning, escaping, and tracking.

After the night owl arrived, it immediately began researching the poisons.

In truth, the diagnoses made by the imperial physicians and coroners here were both right and wrong...

This poison doesn't utilize the properties of food incompatibility, although the principle is as described.

This is a toxin that is not native to the country.

Night Owl said he could cure it, but he needed to test it on a poisoned person.

Xiao Ce then sent Night Cat to secretly infiltrate the capital city and observe the situation.

As expected, Xiao Ce's guess was correct; they waited for only a short while.

They continued to poison him, and the targets were Xiao Wenqin and his mother, Consort Yun.

After Ye Mao told Da Lei the news, Xiao Ce asked him to find a way to save Xiao Wenqin.

It was then sent to Yumen Pass.

So after Consort Yun died, Night Cat found a suitable opportunity and took Xiao Wenqin away.

After taking it out, the night owl detoxified itself along the way.

Night Owl actually managed to concoct some antidotes, but Xiao Wenqin was already quite severely poisoned.

Therefore, conditioning and recovery will take some time.

So, if all goes well, Night Owl and Xiao Wenqin have already arrived at Yumen Pass.

Yin Weiyong listened to Xiao Ce's words with a look of surprise.

"Your Highness, how did you do that? Did you know beforehand that they would still poison us?"

Xiao Ce smiled slightly: "Just lucky... just lucky... if you do a lot of these preventative measures, you're bound to be lucky a few times out of nowhere."

Yin Weiyong didn't take Xiao Ce's polite words seriously.

This kind of thing can't be summed up with a mere fluke.

"Your Highness, why do you still support that Xiao Wenqin... You support Xiao Yang as emperor, at least he's more obedient, isn't he?"

Xiao Ce said, "It's very simple. Xiao Wenqin has the largest academic clique in Xiao Kingdom behind him. These scholars may not seem to have much ability, but their pens are extremely powerful."

“During war, you may not see anything. But once peace is restored, these people’s pens can kill. I want a peaceful country. Even if I have to support a puppet ruler, I will make sure that Xiao Yang ascends to the throne legitimately.”

"Even now, the people still recognize Emperor Xiao Wenqin in their hearts. As for the others, even if Xiao Tao were gone, all his actions were for the sake of the people's hearts. If news of Xiao Wenqin's survival were to spread, and Xiao Tao were accused... then Xiao Tao would be a traitor. And Xiao Yang, he came to the emperor's aid at the crucial moment, and under no circumstances did he betray him..."

"By then, the people's hearts will be with him! Xiao Wenqin has already been poisoned, and even though he has recovered a lot under Ye Mao's treatment, his body is already damaged and he won't live for many more years. And since Xiao Wenqin has no children, won't Xiao Yang be the rightful heir?"

"In truth, all that's needed for ascending the throne is a title... Why bother with such an empty name? We hold significant military power; that's what's most important!"

After Xiao Ce finished his analysis, Yin Weiyong nodded in agreement.

"Your Highness, haven't you ever thought about taking it yourself?"

Xiao Ce smiled and shook his head with absolute certainty: "What I'm sure of is that I haven't thought about it. In fact, the palace is a prison, and the throne is a shackle... Why should a person's life be trapped there and die?"

"To be honest, my dream is to reach for the stars! If we could lead the army of our Xiao Kingdom to conquer the world and make everyone in the world speak our Xiao Kingdom language, wouldn't that be even more meaningful?"

Yin Weiyong didn't quite understand what Xiao Ce was saying.

He was used to Xiao Ce occasionally using some incomprehensible words, so he didn't press the matter further.

"Alright, father-in-law, that's all in the future... Given the current situation, my vision may not be realized!"

"I'm leaving this to you! Please!"

Yin Weiyong said with a smile, "Your Highness, you're being too polite!"

After a pause, Yin Weiyong's expression immediately turned serious.

"Your Highness, I'll leave Pan'er's matter to you! She's my only daughter in my entire life!"

Xiao Ce nodded emphatically to Yin Weiyong.

"Father-in-law, don't worry. I only have one wife!"

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Yin Weiyong was deeply moved and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, I am relieved to hear your words."

...

Xiao Ce's estimate was about right; it was near Yumen Pass.

Night Owl and Xiao Wenqin had just arrived at Yumen Pass.

Xiao Wenqin's body was too weak to withstand the bumpy ride.

Therefore, they moved very slowly.

On this day, outside Nufeng City, Xiao Yang stood at the gate with a group of people.

When Xiao Wenqin saw Xiao Yang, his eyes immediately reddened.

"Brother...it's you!"

Xiao Wenqin looked frail and weak, and walked out shakily with the help of a servant.

Xiao Yang and his group all knelt down.

"Welcome, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

After Xiao Yang knelt down, everyone behind him followed suit and knelt down in unison.

Xiao Wenqin had been worried the whole way.

Because Night Owl was with several apprentices, they remained silent the entire way.

Xiao Wenqin didn't even know who Night Owl and his group were.

What are they going to do?

Where are they going?

Actually, even after seeing Xiao Yang, Xiao Wenqin still felt uncertain.

After all, he had heard before that it was Consort Hui who assassinated them.

However, later on the way, he heard that Consort Hui had supported Xiao Tao to become emperor.

This puzzled him.

As Xiao Wenqin spoke, he took three steps at a time and walked up to Xiao Yang.

"Brother, please rise... please rise..."

Xiao Yang stood up and said, "Your Majesty, are you alright...? I really didn't expect that all of this was done by my mother... She's truly insane..."

Xiao Wenqin nodded: "Your Majesty, I'm perfectly fine... all thanks to the divine physician you arranged. Otherwise, I would be dead by now... You and Consort Hui..."

"Your Majesty, this is not the place to talk."

With that, Xiao Yang led Xiao Wenqin into the city.

He recounted the whole story along the way, including how he was being chased.

Xiao Wenqin, looking frail and weak, said to Xiao Yang, "It's terrifying... They say even poison doesn't eat its own offspring... She..."

Xiao Yang's face hardened: "She's gone mad..."

"Regardless of the circumstances, she is still my mother. I beg Your Majesty to forgive her..."

Xiao Wenqin waved his hand and said to Xiao Yang, "Brother, you're being too polite... You're a victim too... She's her, and you're you!"

Xiao Yang nodded in agreement with Xiao Wenqin's words.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. Since this matter was orchestrated by my mother, I will take full responsibility!"

Xiao Wenqin listened and said to Xiao Yang, "Brother, after experiencing so much, I've realized that I'm not suited to be emperor... and you, brother..."

Xiao Yang didn't need Xiao Wenqin to finish speaking before he guessed what he was going to say.

Before he could finish speaking, he interrupted, "Your Majesty, please stop... You are the emperor appointed by my father, while I am the Prince of Anyang... No matter what, I am your subject... Please don't talk about taking your place. If I really had such ambitions, wouldn't my saving you be pointless? Don't you think so?"

Xiao Yang spoke with a serious expression.

"Your Majesty, by saying that, you are placing me in an unjust and immoral position. You're making me think of me as someone like my mother..."

Xiao Wenqin nodded in agreement: "Alright... Your Majesty! Then, I will do whatever you say."

Xiao Yang said to Xiao Wenqin, "Your Majesty, you've actually come... I think you can now expose to the public all the things my mother did, including what Xiao Tao did..."

Xiao Wenqin asked with some doubt, "Brother, isn't this a bad idea...?"

Xiao Yang said, “Your Majesty, things are fine now. You can issue a proclamation to the world, and then call upon all those with aspirations to rise up against the rebels. Furthermore, summon all the ministers of our Xiao Kingdom! Let us establish the capital here and fight against them!”

Xiao Wenqin nodded after listening to Xiao Yang's words.

He then began to write; Xiao Wenqin had been reading these kinds of things since he was a child.

When it comes to writing, it's still very evocative.

Xiao Wenqin wrote a ten-thousand-word proclamation denouncing the traitors, first denouncing several rebellious kings for bringing the Xiao Kingdom to its knees.

He also wrote down how Xiao Tao and Cai Hui poisoned the late emperor and how they poisoned him.

Finally, we urge everyone to join together in resisting these traitorous kings.

This includes telling Xiao Xiangqing and Xiao Zhan not to be so stubborn and to turn back to the right path.

Xiao Wenqin will forgive and forget.

We must not allow our land to be torn apart.

He also allowed civil and military officials, as well as all kinds of talented people, to come and serve him.

After reading the lengthy 10,000-word essay for a while, Xiao Yang was quite satisfied.

They sent someone to issue the notice.

After struggling for a while, Xiao Wenqin was completely exhausted.

Seeing his appearance, Xiao Yang was certain of what Xiao Ce had said: even if Xiao Wenqin were saved, he wouldn't live much longer...

...

They used various carrier pigeons to transmit messages through Qian Dafang's business network.

Therefore, the letter spread very quickly.

Since the letters were all made by rubbing.

After this letter was sent out, it caused a huge uproar throughout the entire Xiao Kingdom.

On this day, Cai Hui was still enjoying a comfortable life in the harem.

Xiao Tao rushed over with a letter from Xiao Wenqin in his hand.

Seeing Xiao Tao rushing over, Cai Hui had no idea what had happened: "Your Majesty, why are you in such a hurry? Isn't the shipment of weapons from Fusang going very smoothly? What could be making you so anxious?"

Xiao Tao said to Cai Hui, "Mother! Are you sure you poisoned Xiao Wenqin?"

Cai Hui was bewildered by Xiao Tao's direct remark, looking at the eunuchs and He Gong following behind him!

With an embarrassed and nervous expression, he said, "What nonsense are you talking about, Your Majesty!"

Xiao Tao said to Cai Hui, "Mother, you don't need to worry about them... Just repeat after me, did you poison Xiao Wenqin?"

Seeing Xiao Tao's anxious expression, Cai Hui's heart began to pound.

"Of course...although he's missing. But it's no use. After all this time, his body is probably completely rotten by now!"

"What happened? Did they find Xiao Wenqin? Even if they did, it's probably nothing. What trouble can he possibly cause?"

Xiao Tao, his face ashen, handed Cai Hui a rubbing of the ten-thousand-word letter.

After taking it, Cai Hui exclaimed in surprise, "This...this is impossible! How could this be!"

"He can't possibly still be alive... He can't be..."

Looking at Cai Hui's expression, Xiao Tao sneered, "Impossible? We've already had many people verify this handwriting; it's definitely Xiao Wenqin's own letter. Now, your good son, the Prince of Anyang, has taken him in... Not only that, after this letter was released, those officials who originally supported us are now outside the palace gates, demanding an explanation from us."