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

"Your Majesty, please say something!"

Some people knelt on the ground, begging Zhou Rui to stop the Crown Prince.

Some people wept bitterly and spoke out directly.

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince cannot be harmed! He is the hope of our Great Qian!"

They seem to have forgotten that when some people said the Crown Prince was an incompetent fool, that he was capricious, cruel, and tyrannical, they too had made a few comments.

But now, all they can think about is keeping the crown prince alive.

Zhou Rui remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, even changing his self-reference.

"Cheng'er, you can't go! Your father won't allow it!"

Zhou Tiancheng had already prepared his words, so he knelt on the ground and put on a sincere and earnest act.

"Father, I must go!"

"If Father Emperor ignores the retired Emperor, the people of the world will say that Father Emperor is unfilial."

"If Father Emperor agrees to Kazan's conditions and offers so much silver and supplies in exchange for the Emperor Emeritus's return to the country, the world will say that Father Emperor is a traitor!"

"No matter what, it's wrong, so why don't you let me go?"

"If I return alive, I will still be Father's son."

"If I die, Father, you will have given an explanation to the people of the world."

These words made Zhou Rui unable to hold back any longer.

A tear slid down his face, but he forgot to wipe it away.

What does it mean to give an explanation to the world?

He understood.

As long as Zhou Tiancheng dies in Northern Xia, then his father Zhou Rui can send troops to attack Northern Xia.

The reason is simple: even if you hold the Emperor Emeritus in your hands, the moment the Crown Prince dies, you become the enemy of the Great Qian Dynasty. No one else in your hands will matter, because you will be facing a father who is furious and has lost his mind.

A father like that can be forgiven for anything he does.

This is the excuse the Crown Prince gave Zhou Rui, and this is the explanation he gave to the people of the world!

In Zhou Rui's eyes, the Crown Prince was planning to use his life to silence the public and make up for the losses that the Emperor Emeritus had caused to the Great Qian Dynasty!

But the price was far too high!

"Cheng'er! Don't be so impulsive. Father can think of other ways. Father won't let you go to your death."

Zhou Rui no longer calls him Crown Prince, but instead calls him Cheng'er, clearly showing the power of paternal love.

Zhou Tiancheng raised his head and gave a bitter smile.

"Father, if there were any other way, Kazan would already be dead by now."

"Since you have no other choice, then let your son show his filial piety to you one more time."

Finally, Zhou Tiancheng stood up and walked directly outside the Qiankun Palace.

"Shi Cheng, Sun Tong, Hou Feng, heed my command!"

"Don't you want to go back to the northern frontier?"

"Follow me on this expedition!"

This moment.

All Zhou Tiancheng left for his civil and military officials was his towering figure.

Grand Secretary Wang Ze could no longer hold back.

He wasn't an official of Qin Zhi'ang's faction. In fact, at his position, he spoke his mind and had nothing to hide.

At this moment, he wanted to stop the Crown Prince!

He stood below the stage and shouted at Zhou Tiancheng's back.

"Your Highness, you are a son of a noble family. You should not risk your life. The Emperor Emeritus may die, so why should you risk your own?"

This was the first person to say that an emperor emeritus could die.

Although this is the thought in the minds of the vast majority of people.

But before that, no one dared to say it!

The court fell silent, everyone staring at Wang Ze in astonishment.

They thought Wang Ze was courting death.

This is contempt for imperial authority; these are treasonous words!

Little did he know that Wang Ze was determined to expose this, even at the cost of his own life, rather than let the Crown Prince die for an Emperor Emeritus who might return and cause trouble!

Even Zhou Tiancheng turned around in surprise, glanced at Wang Ze, and then chuckled softly.

"If I, the Empress, am afraid of death, then shouldn't the millions of soldiers who guard my royal land be afraid of death? And shouldn't the laborers who repair and mend my Great Qian be afraid of death?"

"They've never enjoyed any happiness in their lives, while I've been wealthy and powerful for over a decade. They can die, but I can't?"

"Everyone only has one life. Besides, I am not some rich girl. I am just an ordinary person who likes good food and beautiful women."

"I will use my life to tell the world that the royal family is worth their sacrifice."

"As for Lord Wang, I would like to ask Father Emperor to look after him. After I welcome my grandfather back, I would like to return and have a drink with Lord Wang. I just hope that this time, Lord Wang will not break his promise."

Wang Ze's hands were shaking.

He had also received an invitation when the Crown Prince hosted a banquet for court officials.

However, he always kept his distance from the Crown Prince.

Now, he has offered his head for the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince knows his thoughts and accepts his good intentions, but he does not take his advice and still chooses to die, leaving him with a golden statue. What a heroic spirit!

This wave is truly a two-way race.

Unfortunately, we arrived a little too late this time.

Wang Ze wiped his eyes and nodded in agreement.

"If His Highness the Crown Prince returns, this old minister will welcome him with open arms and will certainly not break his promise."

Zhou Tiancheng smiled and walked away without looking back.

now.

Everyone in the court looked at each other, and finally subconsciously looked at Wang Ze.

Their eyes held a mix of admiration, incomprehension, and even malice, but Wang Ze didn't care about any of it.

He bowed to Zhou Rui.

"This old minister knows he has spoken out of turn and begs Your Majesty for punishment."

Zhou Rui glanced at everyone and spoke calmly.

"His Highness the Crown Prince vouched for you with his life, how could I bear to punish you?"

"Let's end the court session here today. I'm tired. You may all leave."

Zhou Rui turned and left, his departure almost hurried.

He understood that from the moment Wang Ze uttered those words, there was no turning back once the Crown Prince embarked on his campaign.

If the crown prince doesn't leave, it will be Wang Ze who dies, and the crown prince will be despised by the whole world.

But everyone knows that the retired emperor would be better off dead. Only Wang Ze dared to say that, and he was the only loyal minister of the court!

Since that's the case, Wang Ze should naturally be kept as a helper for the Crown Prince in the future.

The prerequisite is that the Crown Prince can return from the northern frontier!

……

The Eastern Palace's sleeping quarters.

Instead of being sad or upset, Zhou Tiancheng packed his things in the house with a smile on his face.

Steward Liu walked over, trembling with fear.

"Is His Highness the Crown Prince going to fight in the northern frontier?"

Guli was so frightened that her face turned pale.

Only Zhou Rui remained calm.

"War? What a load of crap! We'll just run away."

"Old Liu, Guli, you two will come with me. We'll open a shop, make lots of money, and live the life of rich men."

"Old Liu, I'll take care of you in your old age."

"Guli, you'll be the mistress of my house."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to enjoy ourselves together?"

Manager Liu was taken aback for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile.

Guli's face regained its color, and she responded shyly.

Just now.

A knock came at the door.

Zhou Tiancheng's smile vanished, replaced by a stern face as he opened the door.

Outside the door, there was a dense crowd of people.

Xinhua stood at the door, handing over a letter in his hand.

Zhou Tiancheng was completely bewildered.

"What are you doing?"

Xinhua remained calm.

"This is a will. Please have someone keep it safe, Your Highness. If we do not return, please send these wills to our families."

Zhou Tiancheng was stunned.

He looked up and saw that the courtyard was full of National Protection Army soldiers, each holding a suicide note!

His hands began to tremble, and his eyes became somewhat evasive.

He can run away and live the life of a wealthy man, but what about them?

These people are willing to entrust their lives to me, so do I have to make them follow me into hiding, away from their families?

Or perhaps, take them to Northern Xia to their deaths?

Zhou Tiancheng was suddenly stunned.

He realized that he seemed to have made a foolish decision.

He spoke with a stern face.

"You are not allowed to go. Go home, go back to your families."

He didn't want to lead these brothers, with whom he had lived for a month, to their deaths, and he certainly didn't want to deceive them!

But none of these people moved.

Instead, their faces were full of smiles.

The reply given to Zhou Tiancheng was only six words.

"Never abandon, never give up!"

Xinhua nodded in satisfaction, looking at Zhou Tiancheng with a smug expression.

"Your Highness, this is the motto of our National Protection Army! You want to go to the northern frontier alone to make a name for yourself? We, the National Protection Army, will not allow it!"

"If we're going, let's all go together!"

Zhou Tiancheng felt a lump in his throat and his eyes welled up with tears.

He slammed the door shut and looked solemnly at Steward Liu and Guli.

"The plan has changed."