We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

Road blockage?

Is this a coincidence?

Lin Tong's heart pounded, and the premonition in his heart grew increasingly ominous.

He suppressed his unease, raised the broken military flag in his hand, and roared at the top of his lungs.

"The flag is broken! You have all fallen in battle! Get out of my way!"

The soldiers stuck in the road looked at each other in bewilderment.

They came to provide support, but before they even reached the military camp, their military flag was broken.

What are they here to help for?

Just as they were about to make way, bewildered, Lin Tong heard the Third Prince's mocking voice.

"Let's see who dares to make way."

The slow sound of hooves rang out, and Zhou Tianze, dressed in iron armor, lazily rode out from behind Lin Tong.

He glanced at the many soldiers, his gaze finally settling on Lin Tong.

"General Lin, why are you in such a hurry to go back?"

Lin Tong felt a chill run down his spine.

Xue Fan is not here.

The warhorse has gone missing.

The third prince blocked the way.

Everything points to a massive conspiracy.

Someone is plotting to assassinate the Crown Prince!

Lin Tong realized the seriousness of the matter, and a chill ran through him. He stared coldly at Zhou Tianze, gritting his teeth and shouting angrily.

"Third Prince, do you know that doing this is a grave act of treason?"

"Aren't you afraid the Emperor will hold you accountable?!"

Zhou Tianze's expression was somewhat gloomy.

He didn't want to assassinate Zhou Tiancheng either, because he knew that Zhou was a fake crown prince!

To let a lowly person die at his hands while bearing the title of Crown Prince is an insult to the royal family!

But the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released.

Qin Zhi'ang's scheme has reached this point, and Xue Fan has even risked the lives of his entire family. All Zhou Tianze can do is try his best to hold Lin Tong back and not let them down!

He turned his head away from Lin Tong's gaze and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"I don't know what Coach Lin is talking about."

"I've already lost the battle, and I'm resentful. Can't I hold these soldiers accountable?"

He was being unreasonable, but Lin Tong couldn't help but ask a pointless question.

"Does it really have to be at this time that we have to hold people accountable?"

"Third Prince, do you think the officials of the court, the Emperor, and the people of the world are fools?!"

Zhou Tianze's eyelids drooped slightly, and his fingers gripped the reins tightly.

"This is just your guess, Instructor Lin. If you can't produce any evidence, I will inform the Emperor and have you charged with defamation!"

These words infuriated Lin Tong.

Where did the Third Prince get the audacity to be so arrogant?

But at this moment, he couldn't care about anything else; he was more concerned about his future!

No matter how well he fought, if the crown prince died, he would have no merit!

He absolutely will not allow this to happen!

But how can we go back and save the emperor now?

Lin Tong was in a bit of a predicament.

Behind him, the veins on Xinhua's neck were clearly visible, and his face was already dark red with anger.

If it were anyone else, he would have already taken action.

But this is the Third Prince!

Xinhua dares not act recklessly, lest it give the Third Prince a handle to use against them.

He could only ride his warhorse towards the rabble in front of him, desperately waving his whip, trying to drive away the crowd blocking his way.

After a few lashes of the whip, the crowd began to make way, and a narrow passage was taking shape.

But something even more hateful happened.

Zhou Tianze suddenly raised his head and roared at the group of people.

"Nobody is allowed to move!"

"If anyone moves, I'll go back and kill their entire family!"

The soldiers looked up in astonishment, staring at Zhou Tianze in disbelief.

This is the Third Prince, the wise and virtuous king in their hearts!

Why would he issue such an order?

What frightened them even more was that they were citizens of Kyoto who had registered before participating in the military training, so they wouldn't be able to escape.

They couldn't even afford to offend ordinary nobles, let alone the Third Prince.

I dare not gamble!

No one knows whether the Third Prince will kill their whole family.

So they could only stand there, bracing themselves and letting the whips fall on their bodies, not daring to fight back, dodge, or move an inch!

Xinhua's hands were so weak that he could no longer hold the whip, yet he couldn't move an inch!

Having run out of options, he simply dismounted and tried to detour through the mountains.

Lin Tong frowned, shook his head, and spoke.

"It's no use, new general. The Crown Prince has warhorses, and so does Xue Fan. Your two legs can't outrun them."

The last road was also blocked.

Even if they abandon their warhorses and charge back, they won't be able to help the Crown Prince.

What should we do?

Click!

A crisp sound rang out.

Lin Tong subconsciously turned his head away.

His pupils immediately contracted, and he looked at the person in front of him in disbelief.

It's Xiao Shi!

The wooden sword in his hand was broken, and sharp, jagged pieces of wood could still be seen at the break.

Holding the broken sword, he rushed directly behind the Third Prince, grabbed the Third Prince's head with one hand, forcing him to raise his head, and held the broken sword against the Third Prince's neck with the other hand.

Iron armor does offer protection, but it can't protect a vulnerable neck.

Xiao Shi's face was expressionless, all his emotions were covered by the iron mask, only his fierce eyes were exposed.

"Give the order to allow passage."

"Otherwise, I'll kill you right now."

Zhou Tianze stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

"You dare?"

Xiao Shi showed no emotional fluctuation.

He applied force with his hand, and the sharp splinter of wood pierced Zhou Tianze's skin.

It was visible to the naked eye that Zhou Tianze's neck had sunken in, and a line of blood was gradually spreading downwards.

Zhou Tianze panicked.

"How much did that fake prince pay you? I can give you double! Why do you insist on working for that good-for-nothing?"

"Do you know that what you're doing will result in the extermination of your entire family?"

"Put down your sword, and I can let this matter go. But if you remain obstinate, even if I let you go, your entire family will not survive!"

Beneath the mask, Xiao Shi's lips curled up slightly.

First of all, he was a barbarian and was not married.

He was the only one left in his family, so he didn't care whether he lived or died.

Second.

He was an orphan.

The threat of exterminating nine generations of a family was completely irrelevant to him; the Third Prince's threat had no effect whatsoever.

He gave the Third Prince a cold look.

"I'll say it again, give the order: let them pass!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he thrust the broken sword in his hand forward a few more inches.

The Third Prince looked up in utter humiliation, trying to intimidate Xiao Shi with his gaze, but Xiao Shi was behind him and he couldn't see him at all, so he could only grit his teeth and roar.

"Make way! Everyone, make way!"

"I'll remember you! You just wait!"

Xiao Shi didn't let go; instead, he gripped Zhou Tianze's head even tighter, forcing Zhou Tianze to raise his head in an even more humiliating way.

Zhou Tianze was so angry that he started cursing.

"Where are the guards?!"

"Are you blind? Someone is trying to assassinate me, aren't you going to come out?"

But no one answered him.

The reason is very simple.

Xue Fan has already cleared out the nearby guards!

To avoid implicating the Third Prince, Xue Fan had already contacted Qin Zhi'ang's agents, turning this area into an information blind spot!

Zhou Tianze cried out to heaven and earth in vain, and could only watch helplessly as Lin Tong led his men toward the National Protection Army camp.

What he found even more shameful was that, from beginning to end, Xiao Shi behind him held his head tightly, pressing a wooden sword against his neck, preventing him from leaving.

As soon as the army broke out of the area, Xiao Shi kicked Zhou Tianze hard in the back, knocking him off his horse, and then turned and rode away.