Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

In the courtyard, Tao'er was playing with Ayan and Huanhuan.

Tao'er fiddled with the herbs in her hands, which she had picked herself on the mountain a few days ago.

Now that the sun-dried flowers are almost done, she's sorting them out.

The two children were flying kites in the yard, and it just so happened that there was wind today.

The kite design was drawn by Tao'er, but Xiao Yi made the kite.

While Dongkui was embroidering, she couldn't help but start gossiping.

"Little Peach, I never imagined that Young Master Chen was actually a prince. Does that mean we can't call him Brother Chen anymore?"

Dongkui never expected that Tao'er would casually save a prince.

"It's really inappropriate to call him Brother Chen anymore."

In front of outsiders, just call him Young Master Chen!

"It's best not to address him as 'Your Highness,' lest his identity be exposed."

After all, they have regained their memories and can no longer act as freely as before.

Even if Xie Jingchen doesn't mind, they can't call him that anymore.

"Alright, I'll listen to Sister Tao'er. From now on, you can call him Young Master Chen. That's more appropriate."

"Sister Tao'er, since you returned the jade pendant to Young Master Chen, does that mean you're no longer considering him?"

Dongkui nodded and asked.

"I never even considered him."

Sister Dongkui, do you know what Young Master Chen's past identity was?

Tao'er looked at Xie Jingchen's room and asked with a smile.

Winter Okra shook her head, indicating that she didn't know.

"He was originally the Crown Prince, but he was framed and suspected by the Emperor, which led to his removal from the position of Crown Prince and his appointment as the Prince of the North."

Although he was deposed, he was still a prince and the emperor's son.

"He'll have plenty of wives and concubines in the future, how could I possibly have any inappropriate fantasies about him?"

Tao'er was telling the truth.

"Wow……

Young Master Chen is actually...

OMG!

That scared me to death!

Luckily I didn't curse him, otherwise I would have lost my life!

"Little Peach, you're right that you don't have those thoughts."

Dongkui covered her mouth, looking surprised.

"Ha ha……

Sister Dongkui, look at you, even the Crown Prince isn't that scary.

Young Master Chen is actually a very nice person.

Tao'er covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

After saying that, he looked up and thought to himself that Xiao Yi and the others must be talking about something important!

They're probably leaving soon, which is good, so she can leave with the children too.

Inside the room, Xiao Yi took a deep breath and knelt down on one knee before the Northern King sitting above him.

"Your Highness, Xiao Yi is guilty."

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, echoing in the quiet room.

Qingfeng also knelt down behind him.

If the master kneels, he must kneel too.

Xie Jingchen was slightly taken aback, his gaze falling on Xiao Yi.

The once young general is now much thinner, and his face is still somewhat pale due to lingering poisoning, but his spirit remains unbroken.

"Xiao Yi, what are you doing?"

Get up quickly...

Xie Jingchen stepped forward.

Xiao Yi did not get up. He raised his head, his eyes filled with solemnity: "Three years ago, I was ordered to go to war, and the news of my death on the battlefield reached the capital."

At that time, I was seriously injured and unconscious, but was later rescued by a kind person.

"Ke Chen's defeat wasn't due to the incompetence of our soldiers, but rather because someone betrayed the deployment map. I've been investigating this matter."

"I see!

I always knew General Xiao was brave and invincible, how could he possibly be defeated!

It turns out there was a traitor among them!

Have you found any leads yet?

Xie Jingchen asked.

"We found out that Zhang Fei, the deputy general back then, colluded with King Cheng and also allied with foreign powers, which led to the heavy losses of Xiao's 100,000-strong army."

Zhang Fei has now been killed by me, but unfortunately I still haven't obtained evidence that King Cheng is colluding with foreign powers.

Xiao Yi spoke of the Xiao family army with a mixture of sorrow and indignation.

"Hmph! Xie Jingxing, that beast!"

How could he collude with foreign powers and kill a loyal minister!

Damn!

It's such a pity for those innocent soldiers who lost their lives...

Xie Jingchen slammed his hand on the table, his face filled with barely concealed anger.

"Your Highness, please don't be angry. I must avenge this grudge!"

Regardless of the circumstances, it is a fact that I deceived my superiors and concealed my death.

Such deception of the court, the Emperor, and His Highness is a grave crime, and Xiao Yi knows he is guilty.

He spoke frankly and openly, without the slightest attempt to evade or embellish.

Qingfeng stood to the side, his lips moved, but he ultimately did not speak.

He knew his master had more to say.

Xie Jingchen fell silent, his dark eyes darkening slightly, his expression unreadable.

Xiao Yi continued, "Back then, I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure; it was truly out of sheer desperation."

Someone has secretly sabotaged the battlefield. If I don't fake my death, there's no way to expose the person hiding in the shadows.

"I could only feign my death to escape, but I never expected..."

Xiao Yi's face was filled with grief as he spoke.

"Now the Xiao family has been falsely accused, and the entire family has been exiled and their property confiscated."

I must not expose myself.

If I were to show myself, not only would my own life be in danger, but it would also confirm the Xiao family's crime of deceiving the emperor, and implicate my family who are still in exile.

I can only remain anonymous and secretly search for evidence, hoping to exonerate the Xiao family in the future.

"At that time, I will return to the capital, plead guilty with a bundle of thorns on my back, and submit to Your Majesty's judgment."

After saying this, Xiao Yi kowtowed deeply.

Xie Jingchen looked at his hunched back, his expression shifting.

There was shock, guilt, and deep self-reproach.

The next moment, Xie Jingchen bent down and firmly supported Xiao Yi's arms with both hands.

"stand up."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power.

"Xiao Yi, please get up quickly."

You are a meritorious official of the Great Zhou Dynasty and a hero of all people!

"Your Xiao family has always been loyal subjects; what crime have you committed?"

Xiao Yi looked up and met Xie Jingchen's eyes.

Those eyes were clear and bright, and even more so, they held a deep and sincere sincerity.

Xie Jingchen helped him up from the ground, holding his shoulders with both hands for a long time without letting go.

Xie Jingchen's voice was slightly hoarse, "You did nothing wrong, and the Xiao family did nothing wrong either!"

The royal family is wrong.

It was my foolish father.

"The Xiao family's downfall is also my fault."

"I have implicated the Xiao family, I have implicated Prime Minister Xiao, and I have implicated dozens of people in your Xiao family."

"I have let your Xiao family down..."

Xie Jingchen's face was filled with guilt and self-blame!

Xiao Yi was almost killed because of his younger brother's selfishness and malice.

The entire Xiao family offended Prince Cheng and the Imperial Concubine for speaking out on his behalf, and were falsely accused, their property confiscated, and they were exiled.

It's all because they're royalty.

"Your Highness..."

This isn't your fault, how can I blame you...

Before Xiao Yi could finish speaking, Xie Jingchen raised his hand to stop him.

"Let me finish."

Xie Jingchen released his grip, turned his back, and faced the window. His back was straight, yet it exuded an indescribable loneliness.

"My father deposed me as crown prince, but nominally made me the Prince of the North."

On the surface, it's a title bestowed upon a king to guard the region, but what it really means is something we both know.

It's just...

"Prime Minister Xiao could have preserved the Xiao family's century-old reputation this time."

However, he incurred the wrath of Prince Cheng and Consort Gui's faction because he defended me.

Of all the charges that those people in the court brought against the Xiao family, which one is true?

But Father believed it, or rather, Father originally intended to use someone else to do his dirty work!

He turned around, his gaze as calm as a deep pool, yet beneath the surface churned undercurrents unseen by others.

"The Xiao family is full of loyal and righteous men. Prime Minister Xiao assisted the government for more than ten years. He was honest and upright and never compromised his principles."

I feel deeply ashamed and uneasy about how I have ended up in this situation.

Thank goodness you're still alive!

The only thing that comforts me is that Prime Minister Xiao and the others are still alive.

Xiao Yi was stunned.

He didn't expect Xie Jingchen to say those things.

Every word seemed to be ripped from the heart, stained with blood and heat, burning hot.

It seems that Xie Jingchen is indeed a good candidate for crown prince, no wonder his elder brother strongly supports him.