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

Xiao Ce's expression immediately changed.

Now it's confirmed, the imposter has arrived!

However, Xiao Ce did not show it. Zhao Rang asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Xiao Ce smiled slightly at Zhao Rang's expression and then said, "It's alright! You're not just thinking of having me entertain you here, are you?"

Upon hearing Xiao Ce's words, Zhao Rang smiled and then respectfully gestured for Xiao Ce to enter.

Xiao Ce looked at Zhao Rang with a strange expression.

Clearly, Zhao Rang had noticed Xiao Ce's difference.

Xiao Ce knew very well that Zhao Rang was also a smart man, and it was obvious that he had also noticed that Xiao Ce was somewhat different from the person he had known before.

Xiao Ce had actually guessed what was going on from the moment Zhao Rang started speaking.

Upon entering the prefectural governor's residence, one of the courtyards was bustling with activity.

Seeing Xiao Ce stop and look, he said directly to him, "Your Highness, they are auctioning off those Slavic prisoners...would you like to take a look...?"

Xiao Ce vaguely heard the voices of those people, and waved his hand, saying, "No need to look... I have something to ask you."

Zhao Rang bowed and nodded as they entered a reception room.

Upon arriving at the house, Zhao Rang respectfully invited Xiao Ce to sit down.

He then stood respectfully to the side.

Xiao Ce said to Zhao Rang, "Prefect Zhao, you don't need to be so polite... Although you have met me once, this is the first time I have met you."

Zhao Rang listened to Xiao Ce with a hint of doubt on his face: "Your Highness, was that really not you before?"

When Zhao Rang said this, Xiao Ce knew that he had definitely been deceived.

However, he wasn't surprised: "That's right, the person you saw before wasn't me... Tell me, what happened?"

Zhao Rang then told the whole story.

Just three days ago, they captured all the Slavs, and also arrested Nikolaevich Ries, Nie Bing, and a group of high-ranking officials.

The night after he was arrested, which was two days ago, someone suddenly came to find Zhao Rang.

He claimed to be Xiao Ce, but Xiao Ce did not show himself; instead, he sent someone.

Zhao Rang heard that Xiao Ce might have returned to the country, and he also knew that Xiao Ce was usually elusive and unpredictable...

He didn't suspect anything and led his men straight out...

After they went outside, they saw a carriage outside the city.

Sitting in the carriage was Xiao Ce, although Zhao Rang had never met Xiao Ce face to face.

But Xiao Ce's image is everywhere, in every household.

As he spoke, Zhao Rang took out a personal protective amulet with Xiao Ce's image on it.

Therefore, Zhao Rang assumed that he was the one without even thinking about it.

Xiao Ce then told Zhao Rang that Nie Bing was his person, and that he and Zhao Rang had deceived the Slavs, which was why their operation had gone so smoothly.

After hearing this, Zhao Rang believed it without even thinking...

So, they brought Nie Bing out.

Zhao Rang said that Nie Bing seemed completely unaware of the situation and looked utterly bewildered.

Zhao Rang was also skeptical at first.

However, he didn't dare to say anything.

Xiao Ce then took Nie Bing away.

After Zhao Rang finished speaking, he looked at Xiao Ce with curiosity and asked, "Your Highness... was that really not you?"

Xiao Ce smiled and said to Zhao Rang, "Of course it wasn't me... Did he say anything else besides taking Nie Bing away?"

Zhao Rang shook his head and said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, that's all... He just had Nie Bing taken away... After Nie Bing was taken away, he didn't give any other instructions..."

Zhao Rang paused for a moment before continuing, "I didn't dare say anything more to that person... and he didn't say anything more to me either!"

Xiao Ce then asked Zhao Rang, "How do you know I'm the real one? And that one is fake...?"

Zhao Rang glanced at Xiao Ce, then gave a mysterious and enigmatic answer.

"Feel?"

Zhao Rang's words left Xiao Ce feeling both amused and exasperated. He asked, "Feelings?"

Zhao Rang nodded: "Your Highness...it's strange, really. Looking at him alone, there's not much difference! But after seeing you, I could tell at a glance that the other person was fake...maybe...maybe..."

Zhao Rang thought for a long time, seemingly struggling to come up with a few words...

After holding it in for a while, I came up with a term: "the aura of a king"...

After listening to Zhao Rang's words, Xiao Ce smiled and said, "Are you sure it's a good word?"

Zhao Rang was stunned for a moment, clearly not understanding the meaning of Xiao Ce's joke.

The night owl beside Xiao Ce said, "Great phrase! Definitely a great phrase! Actually, I also wanted to say... Your Highness, you possess an indescribable aura..."

Zhao Rang echoed, saying that was exactly what he meant...

"Your Highness...should I send someone to pursue them?"

Xiao Ce gave a wry smile and waved his hand, saying, "No need... We've already been chasing them for two days."

Zhao Rang, looking at Xiao Ce with curiosity, asked, "Your Highness, what exactly is going on? Do you have a younger brother...?"

"Actually, just looking at their faces, they're practically identical...not a single difference...but in terms of aura, it's easy to tell them apart...you're obviously a prince..."

Xiao Ce waved his hand and said, "I don't think I have any younger brothers... The Emperor probably only had me as his son..."

Zhao Rang looked on with curiosity, wondering if there really were two people in this world who were so similar...

Just then, Zhao Rang suddenly thought of something and asked Xiao Ce, "Your Highness...shouldn't you send this message to the prefects of various counties that someone is impersonating you...? Actually, for most people, it's difficult to detect that the person is an imposter...it's just that they only took away Nie Bing...if they ask us to release all these Slavic prisoners...then..."

Seeing Zhao Rang's expression, Xiao Ce smiled and said to him, "Zhao Rang, if that fake asked you to release the Slavs, would you do it?"

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Zhao Rang gave a wry smile and replied, "Your Highness, we will definitely do as you say... We never expected there would be a fake... So, you'd better hurry up."

Seeing Zhao Rang's words, Xiao Ce smiled and continued, "It's alright! There are only two forces... Besides, I've already sent a message. It's just that the message probably hasn't reached here yet..."

Zhao Rang nodded, then suddenly realized something: "Your Highness, however, if that's the case, many people will lose trust in you... Then, even if you appear, others will doubt your identity..."

Zhao Rang was quite intelligent; he quickly analyzed the pros and cons of the matter.

Xiao Ce smiled, then said to Zhao Rang, "It's alright! That's not important. Actually, the people around me can already tell us apart... In fact, you said it yourself, that person only looks similar, but their bodies are completely different... They should be aware of this... Otherwise, they wouldn't have said or done what they did..."

Zhao Rang listened and nodded, then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, what do you think their purpose is? They're pretty much doomed."

Xiao Ce smiled and said, "That's right. Within the Xiao Kingdom, they shouldn't even think about seizing an inch of land... As long as you don't fight amongst yourselves, I can guarantee that our country won't face any problems... Moreover, I've already spoken with Prime Minister Yin about establishing comprehensive legislation, and each of your prefectures will provide their opinions! This country is now in your hands..."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Zhao Rang looked at him with some concern: "Your Highness, we can't lose you..."

Hearing Zhao Rang's words, Xiao Ce was both amused and exasperated: "Alright, why can't I lose him... Everyone in this world can lose someone else... No one can truly live without someone else... You've seen it yourself, you're all doing just fine without me..."

Just as Zhao Rang was about to say something, Xiao Ce interrupted him, saying, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore... Isn't it good enough that I'm not here? Actually, it's much better for me to disappear than for me to be here... For example, like now, if I were to show up frequently, everyone's expectations of me would obviously decrease... They would probably think I'm nothing special."

After hearing Xiao Ce's words, Zhao Rang kept shaking his head, saying he wouldn't...

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said to Zhao Rang, "Alright, I've already told Yin Weiyong about the grand plan for the next ten, even twenty years... As long as you follow it, we can make Xiao Kingdom stand at the top of the world... As for how long we can stand there, that depends on you..."

"Of course, I'll always support you from behind the scenes. Don't worry, I won't abandon you..."

Zhao Rang nodded.

Still, I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Xiao Ce asked Zhao Rang, "By the way, is that Nikolayevich Ries locked up?"

Zhao Rang nodded: "That's right..."

Xiao Ce said to Zhao Rang, "Bring him over..."

Zhao Rang looked at Xiao Ce with a puzzled expression and asked, "Are you going to take him away?"

Xiao Ce looked at Zhao Rang, who was saying this, but his eyes showed a suspicious expression...

It's obvious that he only said that, describing Xiao Ce as having an aura of dominance and such.

However, as soon as Xiao Ce was about to leave with his men, he began to show a look of suspicion.

Seeing this, Xiao Ce said to Zhao Rang, "Why isn't the aura of dominance working this time? It looks like a fake to me again?"

Zhao Rang gave an awkward smile, then waved his hand: "No...no...it's just that what do you need this person for? Nikolayevich Reis's army has all been captured, so he's no longer of any use to you."