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

Under the tent.

Zhou Rui looked nervous.

"Who's winning?"

The kneeling guard shook his head in terror.

"There's no news from the A-level area; it seems all the guards there have disappeared."

"What?"

Zhou Rui immediately stood up and realized that something was wrong.

Is someone trying to cause trouble?

Why is it that the guards in Zone A have disappeared without a trace?

Could it be that someone is trying to assassinate the Third Prince?

Zhou Rui's first reaction was to turn his head to look at Qin Zhi'ang. With just one glance, Zhou Rui relaxed.

Qin Zhi'ang's expression was very solemn, but he did not seem uneasy. He gripped the wine cup tightly with his hand, his eyes were vacant, as if he was thinking about something.

This proves that Qin Zhi'ang was aware of the situation, and that the chaos was not directed at the Third Prince.

This could even be a scheme set up by Qin Zhi'ang!

"What about the Crown Prince?"

Zhou Rui turned his head and asked, his eyes becoming even sharper.

The guard raised his head guiltily.

"Everything is normal."

Zhou Rui didn't notice anything amiss and breathed a sigh of relief.

That should be fine. Even if someone resorts to underhanded tactics, it's probably only for the sake of winning the championship, and wouldn't lead to the deaths of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince.

However, Zhou Rui could not accept that someone had planted spies among the imperial guards.

The Imperial Guards only obey the Emperor's orders. Now that someone can mobilize them, who knows, Zhou Rui might be surrounded by them without even knowing it one day!

"Such a huge blunder has occurred; it's time to interrogate you guards."

"Huang Chen, the matter of reviewing the Imperial Guards is now entrusted to you!"

"I'd also like to know, when did my imperial guards become someone else's henchmen!"

The old eunuch stepped forward and bowed, then turned and waved to the young eunuch behind him.

"Pass down the order: all guards shall remove their armor on the spot and await inspection."

"The training competition will be entirely under the control of our factory guards."

"You must ensure the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Third Prince."

The eunuch turned and left. The kneeling guard looked up in fear and looked at Zhou Rui, but Zhou Rui didn't even glance at him.

In fact, the moment these guards chose to obey orders, it was destined that most of the innocent guards would suffer as well!

These were the emperor's personal guards, so it was perfectly normal for them to be punished collectively.

If things go wrong, the families of these guards could be implicated.

The guard's legs buckled, and he couldn't even stand up.

Two eunuchs went over and lifted him up. Just as they were about to leave, the Duke of Huguo suddenly stood up.

"Wait!"

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials were taken aback.

Zhou Rui also turned to look at Zheng Rong.

What is Zheng Rong trying to do?

The Duke of Protectorate did not speak. He walked up to the guard, looked him over carefully, patted the guard's leg, and then narrowed his eyes.

"You seem very scared?"

"What do you know? Speak!"

The guard shook his head in fear.

"Your subordinate knows nothing."

The Duke of Protectorate's gaze sharpened further as he turned to look at Huang Chen.

"Steward Huang, this man is suspicious. His fear is excessive and abnormal. He must know something inside."

"I suggest you torture him now, make sure you get him to talk!"

A sinister smile appeared on Huang Chen's face.

"Don't worry, my lord. Once someone enters my Imperial Guard, there's no one whose mouth can't be pried open."

"Guards, take him away and subject him to severe torture!"

The guard's pupils contracted, and he could no longer control himself.

"Yes! I have something to say!"

"Your Majesty, I have something to say!"

Zhou Rui's heart skipped a beat, and he stared intently at the guard.

"explain!"

The guards knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately.

"The commander has ordered us to leave the A and E zones. Now, the Third Prince's camp and the Crown Prince's camp... are not accompanied by any guards."

Zhou Rui suddenly stood up, pointed at the guard, his hand trembling.

"Then why do you say the Crown Prince is perfectly fine?"

"Are you lying to me?"

"How dare you!"

The guard's head kept hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Your Majesty, this is the Commander's order, and I don't want to do it!"

"But my entire family is under the control of the Commander. If I disobey, my whole family will die!"

Zhou Rui laughed in anger.

"Do you even know that deceiving me means your whole family will not survive!"

It was obvious that Zhou Rui was so angry that he lost his mind.

The civil and military officials were also in an uproar.

But the Duke of Protectorate remained very calm.

He turned to look at Zhou Rui, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke.

"Your Majesty, now is not the time to pursue this matter. We must ensure the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince immediately!"

"This old minister suggests that we immediately send Chief Steward Huang with men into the hunting grounds to control the situation and bring His Highness the Crown Prince back first!"

Zhou Rui also came to his senses and turned to look at Huang Chen.

"Huang Chen, do as the Duke of Protectorate says immediately, and bring the Crown Prince back safely!"

……

The National Protection Army barracks.

Zhou Tiancheng was eating beef in his tent when a soldier rushed in.

"Your Highness, someone is moving the barricades. They have iron swords, and our men dare not stop them."

Zhou Tiancheng was taken aback.

"Who is moving the barricades? Why haven't we heard anything about it?"

He stood up as he spoke, his head full of confusion.

When he went outside, he discovered that a group of strangers had appeared on the outskirts of the camp.

But how is that possible?

The reconnaissance battalion is right outside; if someone calls, there's no way they wouldn't have gotten through at all!

Even if these people weren't enemies, but were sent by Zhou Rui, any changes from above would surely be communicated to him, the Crown Prince, first.

But why doesn't he know anything?

The key point is that this group of people also seemed a bit off.

Their clothes didn't look like those for a competition, and their armor was a mess, with some wearing paper armor and others leather armor. But most importantly, they had iron swords and knives!

Are they imperial guards?

The guards' uniforms are uniform, so how could they be so disorganized?

Those were the soldiers of the Grand Competition?

Soldiers were equipped with paper armor, wooden swords, and wooden knives; iron weapons were not allowed.

Who are they?

Zhou Tiancheng was startled, and Hou Tian suddenly came to mind.

have to say.

Hou Tian's suicide gave him and Xinhua a great lesson!

Zhou Tiancheng's pupils dilated, and he ran straight towards the stable.

"Everyone, listen up! Run! Run now!"

"These people are assassins!"

assassin?

Upon hearing those two words, the remaining fifty people were completely bewildered.

No, there really is an assassin?

Who is so audacious as to dare to assassinate the Crown Prince?

Does he have a death wish?

This was the first time the soldiers had encountered such a situation, and they were noticeably a beat slow to react. Half of the barricades had already been removed, but they were still standing there, stunned.

Zhou Tiancheng roared at them.

"Run! What are you all standing there for?!"

The crowd then came to their senses and rushed toward the stable.

Once the barricades were completely removed, the group charged on horseback, rapidly closing in.

Zhou Tiancheng reacted the fastest and had already run a mile away!

But as he ran, he heard screams behind him.

At this moment, Zhou Tiancheng hesitated.