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

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Ce immediately tensed up.

Da Lei and his men immediately became alert.

Xiao Ce adjusted his expression and turned around.

"Sir, is there anything else you need?"

The captain waved the note in his hand: "Here's a note for you! Even without this note, someone will still come to check on you."

Xiao Ce breathed a sigh of relief, because he didn't want to confront them head-on for the time being.

He stepped forward and took the note with both hands.

"Thank you, thank you!"

Then they entered Lingxiao City.

Lingxiao City was much more lively, befitting its status as the central city of the four prefectures of Mobei.

The buildings here are quite distinctive, scattered throughout the city in a pleasing, staggered fashion.

Although there were many people on the road, they looked more like zombies.

Xiao Ce also saw the legendary indigenous people, whose faces were tattooed with a crooked "Mo" character.

These people with their names tattooed on their faces seem to be of even lower social status, doing manual labor.

After walking for a while, the atmosphere in this city was suffocating.

What he saw was complete polarization.

One type is domestic slaves and slaves who are native inhabitants; their faces are more numb, expressionless, and devoid of much emotion.

The wealthy have a very grand entourage, even more so than some of the princes and nobles in Kyoto.

I didn't see any hungry people begging.

They must have been cleared out.

After walking for a while, I saw a wooden building in the style of the Central Plains on one side of the street.

A huge plaque hangs on the wall: "Qianji Trading Company".

Xiao Ce parked the carriage at the door, and soon a little boy with the word "Mo" tattooed on his face walked up with a standard smile.

"Gentlemen, is there anything you'd like to buy or sell? We have everything here!"

Looking at the child's thin body, it felt like he would fall over with a gust of wind.

Xiao Ce asked the children, "Is your manager here?"

The child nodded and said to Xiao Ce, "Yes, boss. You're looking for our manager. Please come in!"

Xiao Ce nodded and followed, instructing Da Lei to arrange for a few people to guard the car.

Upon entering the trading house, the interior furnishings were exactly the same as those of the Central Plains Trading House.

After the child settled Xiao Ce down to sit, he went to call the shopkeeper.

A short while later, a round-faced, chubby shopkeeper with a big smile appeared.

Xiao Ce looked at the shopkeeper and felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

It seems that when I met Manager Qian in Anhua City, he looked the same.

"Young Master Xiao, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting here for a long time."

Just as Xiao Ce thought the man looked familiar, the manager of the Qian family came forward to greet him.

Xiao Ce heard the other party directly call out his surname.

Somewhat surprised: "You know me?"

The shopkeeper dismissed the servants around him before approaching Xiao Ce, kowtowing to him and saying, "Young Master Xiao, I am the shopkeeper of the Qian family in Anhua City. I met you once before, but you are a busy man and surely do not remember me."

After hearing the shopkeeper's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "So it's you! I was wondering if the Qian family's shopkeepers all have standards! I didn't expect you to come from Anhua City!"

The innkeeper cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to you, young master, ever since our boss learned that you were coming to the four prefectures of Mobei, he instructed me to come here first and await your orders. I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. I haven't even been here for a few days."

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "Your boss, the Qian family, certainly has a good eye."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Our boss told me that you, young master, are destined for greatness! If we could have you help us out, we would certainly benefit. So, our boss said that whatever you say, we will do. Even if we can't do it, we will do it!"

Xiao Ce nodded in satisfaction and said, "Your boss is a smart man! Alright, since that's the case, I won't beat around the bush. I rushed over here just to attend General Bao An's wedding where he's taking twenty concubines. Has your Qian Family Trading Company been invited?"

The shopkeeper nodded and bowed, replying, "Reporting to the young master, we were invited. Not only us, but General Bao An also called it a wedding, but it was actually a money-making scheme. Therefore, everyone involved was invited."

Xiao Ce nodded in agreement: "Good! That's good."

The shopkeeper followed up by asking, "Young master, do you wish to participate?"

Xiao Ce nodded, without waiting for his reply.

The shopkeeper asked in confusion, "Young master, you intend to participate using the Qian Family Trading Company's name, rather than your own, is that right?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Not bad! No problem, right?"

The shopkeeper nodded and said, "Of course, no problem. However, young master, the seats we were invited to are all on the outer perimeter, and we won't even be able to see General Bao An!"

Xiao Ce said, "What if we send some generous gifts?"

Seeing Xiao Ce's words, the shopkeeper said, "If the gift is heavy enough, it might be able to be placed in the inner hall."

Xiao Ce said with a smile, "You don't think fifty catties of snow sugar and snow salt is a generous gift?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Of course... But, young master, you don't need to send so much. Ten catties of each will be enough. The news about the snow sugar and snow salt has spread here! The price per catty has already been inflated to two thousand taels of silver, because only our Qian family business has them, but the dozens of catties we brought were snapped up in no time."

"So, giving each item fifty catties is far too much."

After hearing this, Xiao Ce felt a little wistful; the rich people here really were rich.

A pound of white sugar costs two thousand taels, and people are still scrambling to buy it!

It seems his marketing was quite effective.

After all, for these powerful and aristocratic families, money might just be a number, but the ability to buy lifespan with money is something they would naturally flock to.

Xiao Ce waved his hand at the shopkeeper and said, "It's alright! Even if I take it out, he still won't be able to get it!"

As Xiao Ce spoke, a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes.

The shopkeeper had seen countless people, but the undisguised killing intent in Xiao Ce's eyes sent chills down his spine!

"Young master, do you have some kind of plan?"

Xiao Ce didn't hide anything and said, "That's right. So, it might implicate your Qian Family Trading Company! As for the plan, I won't tell you. Are you still willing to cooperate with me?"

The shopkeeper nodded and bowed, saying, "Of course. Young master, please don't misunderstand. I wanted to ask if there's anything I can help you with?"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "It's nothing. I'm just borrowing your identities to go in first!"

Without a second thought, the shopkeeper readily agreed: "Of course, no problem."

Xiao Ce looked at the shopkeeper with a meaningful smile: "If my plan fails, your Qian Family Trading Company will definitely be implicated. You might even lose your life, and your Qian Family Trading Company's businesses in the four prefectures of Mobei will be wiped out."

The shopkeeper listened to Xiao Ce's words with a calm expression, cupping his hands in greeting: "Young master, you have no fear of your status. Compared to you, our things are insignificant. Our boss's motto is: help if we can, and even risk our lives to help if we can't!"

Xiao Ce laughed heartily and said, "Alright! I'll remember this favor. Since you dared to gamble, I definitely won't let you lose!"

As he spoke, Xiao Ce looked at the shopkeeper and said, "Shopkeeper, I don't even know your name yet."

The shopkeeper bowed and said, "Reporting to the young master, my name is Qian Lai. I was adopted and given this name by Master Qian."

"Qian Lai, what a good name! From now on, I'll call you Manager Lai."

Qian Lai cupped his hands and said, "Yes, young master. Then, young master, you can attend the banquet later as a young master of the Qian family."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Okay! When is their banquet? Who will be attending?"

Qian Lai replied to Xiao Ce, "Reporting to Young Master, all the prominent people from the four prefectures of Mobei will be coming. First, there will be people from the four great clans, followed by people from various famous families, as well as merchants from various households."

As Qian Lai spoke, a wary expression appeared on his face. He looked around furtively and said to Xiao Ce, "Young Master, I've heard that the Turkic people will also send a prince!"

Xiao Ce's smile widened even more as he listened: "Haha, great! It seems we really can make a big score!"

Qian Lai looked at Xiao Ce and asked, "Young Master, do you need private guards for protection?"

Xiao Ce asked curiously, "Private guards?"

"These are our private guards. We have five hundred of them. Each of these guards is a master fighter, capable of taking on ten men!"

Xiao Ce shook his head and said, "No need. It's about time, isn't it? Do you have any clothes here? I've traveled a long way and I'm covered in dust, so I need to change my clothes."

Qian Lai said to Xiao Ce, "Young Master, I will have someone serve you right away."

Qian then greeted two girls, who had fair skin and curvaceous figures.

Her features are also very delicate; she is a true beauty.

However, their faces were tattooed with crooked characters for "Mo" (漠).

Xiao Ce thought to himself that it was a pity, such a handsome face.

"You all go and serve the young master well, and help him bathe and change his clothes."

The two girls kept their heads down the whole time, being served by the two men.

Xiao Ce took a comfortable bath.

The two girls were clearly trained; their technique was quite good.

This was the first time Xiao Ce had been served here, and to be honest, it felt wonderful.

He also got to experience what it's like to have everything done for you.

She changed into a set of brocade light blue robes.

Xiao Ce then walked out.

Qian Lai was already waiting.

"Young master, it's almost time. We can set off now!"

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "Alright, let's go! No matter what happens later, don't be afraid. Just listen to me. I'll make sure you're safe!"

Qian Lai nodded and said, "Yes, sir. Please, young master!"

Xiao Ce watched as Qian Lai prepared a luxurious carriage, and then watched as the Twelve Fiends followed.

Qian Lai reminded him, "Young master, given our identities, only two of us can go in at most, including me. That means you can only bring one person in."

Xiao Ce nodded and said, "I know! Only Da Lei will go in with him; the others will find their own way in!"

With that, Xiao Ce said to Da Lei, "Go and prepare the big gift that I'm going to personally hand over to Bao An!"

Da Lei nodded and said, "Young Master, rest assured, everything has been arranged!"