The number one rebel of the Great Wu

"One month!"

All the officials were greatly shocked upon hearing this.

Although everyone knows that the Third Prince Xiao Ce is wealthy and has the support of several other princes, it should not be difficult for him to accomplish this task.

But a month...

"good!"

Xiao Jingtian slammed his hand on the table and laughed loudly.

"Ce'er, I am very pleased that you have this thought in your heart!"

"This matter concerns the country and its people. If you can truly raise the necessary provisions and funds within a month, I will bestow upon you the title of Prince!"

"Hahaha!"

"Your subject will do everything in his power!"

Xiao Ce smiled confidently, then glanced at Crown Prince Xiao Lie without making a sound.

Xiao Lie's face immediately turned bright red.

He knew he didn't have the ability to raise the necessary supplies and funds.

The Di and Wa people have joined forces to show disrespect to the Great Wu Dynasty on the Emperor's birthday. Whoever can make a contribution in this matter will surely gain the Emperor's trust and favor in the future!

He really didn't want to miss this opportunity!

"Father, I am willing to lead the army into battle!"

"This matter originated with me, and naturally it should be resolved by me!"

Xiao Lie stepped forward, unconvinced.

Immediately, disdainful glances came from all directions.

You know you caused this mess?

If you hadn't been so reckless and given the other party this excuse, His Majesty wouldn't have been in such an embarrassing situation today on his birthday.

Besides, my Great Wu Dynasty has so many generals, all of whom are willing to lead troops into battle, so why would it be your turn!

"Your subject is also willing to recommend Second Brother to lead the troops into battle!"

Just then, the Third Prince Xiao Ce also bowed and offered his advice.

"what?"

An uproar immediately erupted inside the hall.

Everyone looked puzzled.

Raising provisions and funds requires an immense amount of effort and can cost a fortune.

If the crown prince is allowed to lead the troops in the end, wouldn't he get all the credit?

What was the third prince thinking?

Xiao Jingtian's expression changed slightly, and he asked softly.

"Ce'er, is that really what you think?"

Xiao Ce nodded heavily.

"The Crown Prince is the next emperor of our Great Wu Dynasty, and that represents the will of our Great Wu Dynasty."

"This time, the Di people have insulted our national prestige. It is most appropriate for the Crown Prince to personally lead the troops to subdue them!"

"Hahaha! Great!"

Xiao Jingtian's displeasure vanished instantly, and he turned his gaze to Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness, are you willing?"

Just now, Xiao Lie clearly said he was willing, but now Xiao Jingtian actually stood up to confirm it again.

Although Xiao Lie was slightly puzzled, he still bowed with unwavering resolve.

"Of course I am willing to serve the country and share the burdens of my father, it is my duty..."

"You bastard!"

"Of course you'd love to!"

Xiao Jingtian's expression suddenly changed drastically.

"On my birthday banquet today, you speak so arrogantly."

"If you are allowed to lead troops into battle again and return victorious, you will have made great contributions and hold military power."

"Wouldn't that mean they'd lead a large army back to the capital and force the emperor to abdicate?!"

Xiao Lie was dumbfounded.

Unexpectedly, her father had doubted her to this extent, and she felt extremely bitter, unable to utter a single word.

He immediately knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"Your subject... has nothing to say."

"I beg Your Majesty to order my confinement to my residence. I am willing to prove my innocence until this matter is settled!"

Xiao Lie was truly heartbroken this time.

The Emperor called his third brother "Ce'er" repeatedly.

He calls himself "Crown Prince," yet he is merely a prince.

It's obvious that they've completely shown favoritism.

There was nothing he could do; he was just an incompetent crown prince, only able to talk the talk but unable to actually share his father's burdens.

"Hmph! Guards, draft the decree!"

Xiao Jingtian gave a heavy snort.

"Crown Prince Xiao Lie is of bad character, acts recklessly and ruins the country, plots treason and intends to rebel. He is truly an unfaithful, unjust and unfilial person."

"I have decided immediately to remove the Second Prince, Xiao Lie, from his position as Crown Prince!"

"From this moment forward, the Crown Prince is under house arrest in his residence. Without my personal order, no one is permitted to visit him, nor may he leave!"

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

"Your Majesty!"

Panic erupted inside the hall, and the crowd began to kowtow frantically!

After hearing the imperial edict, Crown Prince Xiao Lie only looked up and gave Xiao Jingtian a deep look before collapsing to the ground with a thud.

……

Prince's Mansion.

Several imperial physicians came and went, then came again.

It wasn't until the afternoon, after taking several doses of medicine, that he came to the lobby to say goodbye to Shen Qingci.

Now, Shen Qingci looked exhausted and bewildered, staring blankly at the distant sky, her feelings complicated.

She never expected that the Emperor would be so ruthless as to depose the Crown Prince.

Just a few days ago, she gave herself to Chen Changgeng in order to give birth to the emperor's grandson.

After all this fuss, what has it all amounted to? What was it all for?

"Like frost".

Shen Qingci raised her wrist.

Ru Shuang instantly understood, reached out and gently touched him, her face turning slightly pale.

"Your Highness... I've got it."

Shen Qingci was stunned and looked at Ru Shuang, who looked embarrassed, in disbelief.

He could only manage a bitter smile.

A few days ago, I tried everything to get what I wanted, but to no avail.

Now, having fallen from such a height, yet...

"Go back to the Shen family and get me a potion to help me conceive."

"This child cannot be kept."

Despair filled Shen Qingci's eyes.

Even if the child isn't the crown prince, he's still his own flesh and blood.

How could she give it up so easily?

"Your Highness!"

Ru Shuang looked on with a look of pity!

"go!"

Ru Shuang gritted her teeth, knelt down with a thud, and cried.

"Your Highness, you mustn't act rashly!"

"Leaving aside the fact that this matter is harmful to his health, perhaps the Crown Prince will have a chance to make a comeback in the future..."

"Which dynasty or era had a crown prince who was deposed and then reinstated?"

"Once this matter is over, the Third Prince Xiao Ce will surely be proven right, and your Crown Prince will never be able to rise again in this lifetime."

"Perhaps, we'll all die here together."

Shen Qingci understood that if Xiao Ce seized power, Xiao Ce would surely die.

"That's hard to say."

Chen Changgeng walked in with a calm expression.

Shen Qingci's eyes trembled slightly.

"I didn't call you, what are you doing here?"

Chen Changgeng put his hands on his hips.

"You're trying to kill my child! If I don't come to protect him right away, our family line will be cut off!"

"nonsense!"

Shen Qingci was furious, but after glancing around and seeing that no one else was around, her anger subsided.

"Keeping this child alive will surely bring disaster."

"Harming you will harm me too!"

Chen Changgeng was naturally aware of this.

"You tiger woman, what's your hurry?"

"Your Majesty is protecting the Crown Prince, can't you see that?"

Chen Changgeng pointed at Shen Qingci and said irritably.

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

"Wait... protection?"

Shen Qingci blinked her big eyes a few times, looking puzzled.

"Next, the Third Prince will be in charge of procuring provisions; this matter will be entirely under his responsibility."

"Tell me, if His Majesty truly agrees to let the Third Prince be in charge of the allocation of provisions and funds in the rear, while the Crown Prince goes out to lead troops into battle, what will the outcome be?"

Chen Changgeng asked in return.

Shen Qingci pondered for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed.

"You mean the Third Prince will definitely delay the supply of provisions and funds, causing the Crown Prince to suffer a defeat due to insufficient supplies and unstable morale?"

"No way! This matter concerns the fate of the nation, how could he be so audacious!"

Chen Changgeng sneered.

"When did you become so sentimental?"

"If you were the Third Prince, and a single defeat could lead to the Crown Prince's death on the frontier, wouldn't you do it?"