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

Chapter 1396 Eva's Statement

When she heard the news, she initially thought she must have misheard.

The reason is simple: Eva felt she had betrayed Xiao Ce.

But Xiao Ce was still willing to believe her.

She knew it was very likely because of Xiao Yuanwang. Actually, it had little to do with her.

Actually, Eva does have some self-awareness...

Therefore, she did everything Xiao Ce had arranged, and along the way, she did her best to appease the people.

She then recounted the evil deeds of Shahar and Ries, and heard that Xiao Ce had directly ended the battle.

She wasn't surprised at first, but then she saw robot wreckage being transported to Xiao Kingdom.

She was shocked again.

Eva knew how powerful those robots were, and she also knew the true value of Xiao Ce's victory this time.

After returning to the Slavic Empire, she saw what the Slavic capital looked like.

She was still somewhat apprehensive.

After settling her troops, she went to find Xiao Ce.

Upon seeing Xiao Ce, Eva immediately knelt down before him and said, "Your Highness... thank you..."

...

Xiao Ce saw Eva's expression, smiled faintly, and then said, "Thank me? You know why I made you do this..."

Eva nodded, then said to Xiao Ce, "Your Highness, is it because you are looking into the distance?"

Xiao Ce didn't hide anything from Eva, saying, "For me, once unfaithful, always untrustworthy... But judging from your teachings and observations, you're probably not bad, just stupid..."

When Eva heard what Xiao Ce said, she was momentarily speechless...

All they said were thank you...

"Your Highness... thank you... thank you for still giving me this opportunity... and thank you even more for protecting Yuanwang..."

Her voice was choked with emotion, a mixture of genuine fear and gratitude.

She knew very well that if it weren't for her son Xiao Yuanwang's importance in Xiao Ce's heart, her fate would not be much better than Shahar's, and might even be worse...

As a former traitor...

Xiao Ce had his back to her, his gaze fixed on the ruins of the capital city outside the window, ravaged by war.

The setting sun, like blood, stained the broken city walls and charred houses with an ominous dark red.

He remained silent for a moment, a silence that felt like a cold, leaden weight pressing down on Eva's heart.

Finally, he turned around, his eyes sharp as knives, and calmly fell on Eva, but the pressure beneath that calmness almost suffocated her.

"First of all, Xiao Yuanwang is my child! Even a tiger wouldn't eat its own cub! Besides, that kid is quite good..."

"As for your thanks?"

Xiao Ce's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the chill in the hall as he spoke:

“Eva, you should know that this is not a blessing.”

"This is a deal, based on the last ticket I got for you in exchange for Yuanwang."

He took a step forward, an invisible pressure emanating from him, and stopped in front of Eva, who was kneeling on the ground...

Then, looking into his eyes, he continued:

"I'm giving you this chance now not because I trust your past, but because of your foresight, and also because you ultimately have Slavic royal blood flowing in your veins, which might still be of some use to this war-torn country."

He paused, each word like an icicle striking the ground, and said to Eva, "I hope you can seize this 'last' chance. If you don't, or if you seize the wrong one..."

He didn't finish speaking, but the temperature in the hall seemed to drop several degrees instantly. The unresolved threat was more unsettling than any specific punishment.

Eva trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from the fear deep in her soul and a sense of powerlessness that felt utterly exposed.

She abruptly raised her head, her eyes blazing with a fierce will to survive and a resolute determination: "I understand! Your Highness! Eva swears by the spirits of our Slavic ancestors..."

Xiao Ce interrupted Eva's oath, coldly saying, "Do you think I would care?"

Upon hearing this, Eva's expression immediately turned grim. Her eyes darted around before she said, "I swear on the life of my son, Yuanwang!"

"If I show the slightest disloyalty or fail to perform my duties this time, I am willing to suffer the punishment of being sliced ​​to death and never be reincarnated! This is truly my last chance, and I would never dare to fail again!"

Her vow echoed in the empty, ruined hall, carrying a resolute determination to gamble everything.

Xiao Ce scrutinized the flames in her eyes, which contained fear and guilt!

But at this moment, there is more of a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.

He nodded slightly after listening to Eva's words, which was a preliminary acceptance of her attitude.

"Alright. Then tell me, if the responsibility of rebuilding Slavic countries were entrusted to you, what would you do?"

"How can we revitalize this scorched land, and how can we ensure that it truly integrates into the Federation and no longer becomes a source of turmoil?"

He walked to the map, pointed heavily at the location representing the Slavic capital, and then looked at Eva and asked, "Here, countless eyes are watching and waiting."

"Public support is the foundation of your reconstruction and the key to whether you can maintain your position."

"Tell me? What do you want to do?"

Eva took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She had pondered this question countless times during her arduous journey after learning that she could return to her homeland.

She stood up, still respectful, but with a straighter back and a glint in her eyes, revealing her apparent confidence...

"Your Highness, the first step in reconstruction is to completely eradicate the old cancer and restore the will of the people!"

“Shahar and Rys, these traitors who colluded with Xiao Dingshan, let wolves into the house, and betrayed the interests of the Slavs, must be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!”

"Their crimes must be made clear and heard by every surviving Slav!"

"Oh?"

Xiao Ce raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice, and said, "They are prisoners now, their fates are sealed with a single word. How do you plan to make them understand clearly and plainly?"

A cold, ruthless glint flashed in Eva's eyes, which was incongruous with her beautiful face, as she said, "Your Highness, killing them directly would be too lenient on them, would not quell public anger, and would not serve as a warning to future generations."

She paused, then her voice grew even more resolute: "I want them to confess their sins! Before the people, they must admit in their own words how their greed, folly, and betrayal dragged the Slavs into the abyss of hell!"

"Confessing your guilt?"

Xiao Ce seemed intrigued: "Shahar may be afraid of death, but it's probably not so easy to get him to publicly portray himself as utterly wicked. Ries is an even more venomous snake; he might bite back before he dies."

"Your Majesty, please understand."

Eva's lips curled into a calculating smile as she continued to explain to Xiao Ce, "So, we're not going to interrogate him now."

“I will first appease Shahar and tell him that as long as he is willing to cooperate, deeply repent on an appropriate occasion, expose the inside story of Xiao Dingshan's coercion of him, and point out the conspiracy, in view of his eventual repentance and redemption, perhaps... he can be spared death and instead imprisoned for life, at least his life and basic dignity can be preserved.”

What is Shahar most afraid of right now?

Eva answered her own question, "His greatest fear was death, his greatest fear was being torn apart by an angry mob!"

"Give him even the slightest hope of survival, even if it's just an illusion, and he'll grasp it tightly like a lifeline!"

"He'd agree to anything and say anything to save his life! As for Rhys..."

Eva's eyes flashed even colder as she said, "If he knows what's good for him, he might get a quick death. If he doesn't, Shahar's confession will be the sharpest knife piercing his heart! Then he won't have a choice but to confess!"

Hearing Eva's words, Xiao Ce smiled and then said, "One is your father, and the other is your brother...you..."

Before Xiao Ce could finish speaking, Eva looked at him coldly and said, "Your Highness, do you still think Shahar treats me like a daughter? Do you still think Rhys treats me like a sister? No, if I could, I would rather shed all my blood and have nothing to do with them..."

Xiao Ce heard the resolute tone in his words.

Then he shut up.

Eva continued, "After they undergo their predetermined confession ceremony, as we demand, they will personally confess their crimes, completely disgraced before the surviving citizens and federal representatives..."

"Execute public executions again! Use their blood and curses to thoroughly wash away the filth of the old era and pave the way for the establishment of a new order! Let everyone see the consequences of betraying the Federation, colluding with foreign enemies, and harming one's own people!"

Xiao Ce listened quietly. Eva's plan was ruthless but effective, making full use of human weaknesses, especially Shahar's cowardice.

This not only strikes down the rebels to the greatest extent possible, but also quickly unites the people's hearts. The shared hatred of the traitors is often the most effective adhesive in the early stages of reconstruction.

He nodded, his tone indifferent yet tacitly approving: "This plan is feasible. Discuss the details with Han Da and Wei Wuji, ensuring everything goes smoothly and avoiding any unintended consequences. They can provide maximum assistance in terms of manpower and intelligence..."

“We must dig deep into Shahar’s confession. We must make him reveal every detail of the collusion, the benefits of the betrayal, and the disasters caused, leaving nothing out!”

"Yes, Your Highness! Eva understands!"

Eva was invigorated; receiving Xiao Ce's approval greatly boosted her confidence.

"So, what happens after the traitor is executed?"

Xiao Ce pressed further, saying that this was the core of the reconstruction.

"How do you plan to govern? How do you make Slavs a true part of the federation, rather than a powder keg that could explode at any moment?"

Eva was already confident. Pointing to the map, she spoke faster, with a kind of excitement that came from destruction and rebuilding: "Your Highness, one of the root causes of this catastrophe is that although the likes of Shahar and Ries nominally submit to the Federation, they are actually disobeying it in secret!"

“Deep down, they still dream of an independent kingdom and reject the federal government’s policies, culture, and economic ties! This gave Xiao Dingshan an opportunity to exploit their narrow-minded nationalism and greed, tearing apart the blood ties between the Slavs and the federation!”

"Therefore, the core of reconstruction must be complete integration! Erasing the traces that caused the division from the very foundation!"

Her voice was firm and resolute!

"First, the national language and script."

"From this moment forward, all official documents, school education, and public signs within Slavic territory must use the Common Language and script of the Federation! Slavic languages ​​may be retained for research as local languages, but will no longer have official status."

"The next generation of Slavs must identify themselves as Federation people, both in terms of language and mindset!"

"Secondly, currency is the lifeblood of the economy!"

"Abolish the current chaotic and discredited Slavic currency! Fully implement the federal currency!"

"All transactions, taxes, and salaries will be settled in Federal Currency. The Slavic economy will be completely integrated into the vast system of the Federation, so that we all prosper together and suffer together!"

"Only through deep economic ties can a true community of shared interests be formed, cutting off the conditions for separation!"

"Third, downplay the imperial imprint of the Slavic nation."

"The Slavic empire is history, a synonym for disaster."

"This newly formed land will exist as a federal Slavic autonomous state."

"I will gradually demolish or renovate those iconic buildings that symbolize the old imperial power and evoke associations! In textbooks and public opinion, I will emphasize the ancient ties between the Slavic tribes and the Central Plains, the inevitability and benefits of modern integration into the federation, and the painful lessons learned from this rebellion. Let the Slavic identity gradually give way to a broader and more inclusive identity as a member of the federation!"

Eva finished speaking in one breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Xiao Ce.

Her plan was bold and radical, almost to the point of transforming the land from its very cultural DNA.

This requires an iron fist and time, but it is undoubtedly a radical solution to eradicate the threat of division.

Xiao Ce's gaze was as deep as a cold pool. Of course, he understood the situation in Slavs and the arrogance and isolation that this land had once possessed.

Eva's strategy hit the nail on the head and coincided with his own vision for long-term stability.

Thorough cultural and economic integration is the foundation for long-term stability and security.

He stared at Eva, as if trying to see into the depths of her soul whether there was still a trace of wavering.

After a long while, only the mournful sound of the cold wind whistling through the hall remained.

Xiao Ce spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet carrying immense power; every word was imprinted on Eva's heart:

"Your strategy is feasible. Execute it accordingly."

"Handa will coordinate federal resources to support your reconstruction, and Wei Wuji will leave behind an elite force to assist you in maintaining order and implementing new policies. Remember, Eva..."

He took a step forward, and the invisible pressure made Eva involuntarily hold her breath.

"This is your last chance. It's also the only chance for survival that Yuanwang is fighting for for you."

“To govern a place, especially one that is in ruins, scarred and restless, ruthlessness and scheming are not enough; one must also have reverence. Reverence for the people under your rule, and reverence for the power in your hands.”

"The will of the people is like water; it can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

"How did Shahar and his forces perish? You saw it with your own eyes. They weren't defeated by my mechs and artillery, but by losing the hearts and minds of the people and being abandoned by everyone!"