Zhang Xiren's trap was truly designed to kill Zhou Heng.
The crossbow bolts seemed to be enhanced by an array, as they were accompanied by a burst of golden light and a deafening whistling sound.
The power of this crossbow bolt is such that even a regular grandmaster might not be able to withstand it, let alone those useless guards in the palace.
Just then, Yang Cheng suddenly shouted, "Night Wanderer! What are you waiting for? Don't forget our deal!"
A shadow appeared beneath Zhou Heng's feet, as if Zhou Heng's shadow had come to life.
Endless darkness surged forth before the shadow, like a black hole, completely swallowing the crossbow bolt.
The Night Wanderer impatiently picked at his ear: "What are you yelling for? Do you think I'm the kind of person who doesn't keep his word? I've been here the whole time."
Yang Cheng glanced at the Vajra Subduing Demon Formation surrounding him and said, "You should have the ability to swap me out, right?"
In fact, he could have let Night Wanderer handle everything, since Night Wanderer's current strength was comparable to the Eight Gates, and dealing with Zhang Xiren and his group would not be a problem.
However, although the multi-person participation in the cycle mission is simple, the evaluation at the end will definitely be lower.
Although Yang Cheng didn't know whether the Night Wanderer's involvement counted as a multiplayer mission, he still planned to use the Night Wanderer as a trump card, and he intended to complete the key missions himself.
Night Wanderer glanced at Yang Cheng with slight surprise and muttered, "You're quite cunning, newbie."
As he spoke, the Night Wanderer transformed into a shadow and seeped into the formation from the ground, simultaneously dragging Yang Cheng out of the shadow, and the two instantly switched places.
After glancing at the flesh-and-blood spider and the Shaolin Temple's formation, Night Wanderer waved his hand and said, "These two things are quite troublesome. I'll take care of them for you, and then our deal is done."
Yang Cheng ignored the Night Wanderer and stood in front of Zhou Heng, looking at Zhang Xiren. He shook his head and said, "Grand Scholar Zhang, although I had some guesses before, I still don't understand why this person is you?"
Yang Cheng couldn't understand Zhang Xiren's actions; no one in the entire Great Zhou court could understand how such a renowned and loyal minister could commit regicide.
Seeing that Yang Cheng had actually summoned a strange man to help him escape, Zhang Xiren's expression changed, and he sighed, "General Yang, I have always valued you since you were under Han Jin's command, but I never thought that I would underestimate you in the end."
Seeing Yang Cheng freed, Zhou Heng seemed to regain his confidence and stood up to question Zhang Xiren: "Zhang Xiren! In all these years, what have I done to wrong you that you would want to kill me?"
Facing Zhou Heng, Zhang Xiren said with a guilty tone, "Your Majesty has not wronged this old minister. This old minister has upset Your Majesty countless times over the years, but Your Majesty has never punished this old minister with even a penny of his salary."
"Then you still want to kill me?"
"If His Majesty does not die, the Great Zhou dynasty will not be able to survive!"
Zhang Xiren raised his head and said in a deep voice: "The Golden Horde is aggressive, the Jurchen tribes have long since risen up, and there are also the Thirty-Six Great Bandits and the evil people like the Holy Duke Zhang Liang causing trouble. My Great Zhou is already riddled with holes, and it may completely disintegrate at any time!"
Your Majesty, you are a good emperor, but it's a pity you were born in the wrong era!
"You are incompetent and too soft-hearted. You listen to the Empress Dowager, you listen to the Empress Dowager, and you even listen to a treacherous minister like Cai Yan who has brought ruin to the country!"
Grand Tutor Cai scoffed, "I may be a treacherous minister, but at least I did not murder the emperor!"
"Shut up!"
Zhang Xiren gave Cai Yan a cold look that made him feel uneasy, before turning to Zhou Heng and saying helplessly, "Your Majesty, if you were in a peaceful and prosperous era, you would be a wise ruler."
But now we live in the late Zhou Dynasty, with war raging everywhere. Your Majesty, you are still trying to smooth things over in the court. You must know that in times of chaos, severe punishments are necessary!
Over the years, no matter how I advised Your Majesty, you still wouldn't listen. When this old minister and Cai Yan argued, you always blamed both of them equally, which resulted in any national policy being implemented in a muddled and ineffective manner.
The Great Zhou can no longer afford to delay; it is on the verge of becoming intractable. Therefore, this old minister has no choice but to administer a drastic measure!
Although His Highness the Crown Prince is young, he is decisive, intelligent and quick-witted.
This old minister has no choice but to send Your Majesty on your way and place His Highness the Crown Prince on the throne!
Throughout history, it has been quite common for fathers and sons to kill each other. For the sake of the throne, there is nothing they would not do.
But Zhang Xiren's audacity in wanting to replace the emperor simply because the emperor was incompetent shocked everyone present.
Zhou Heng looked at Zhou Ce next to Zhang Xiren with a face full of grief and anger.
He never imagined that besides Zhang Xiren, his own biological son would also want him dead.
Although he was lazy and rarely taught even his own son, I am still his father. How could he bear to hurt him?
"If you want me to abdicate, just say so. It's not that I can't step down. Why do you have to take my life?" Zhou Heng asked with a face full of grief and indignation.
Zhang Xiren sighed and said, "Your Majesty, you are too naive, so you are really not suitable to be the emperor."
Even if you abdicate and become a retired emperor, there will always be people in the court who harbor illusions.
They may be dissatisfied with the old ministers or the new emperor, so they try to incite Your Majesty to seize power, which will lead to another bloody storm.
My Great Zhou Dynasty can no longer withstand further turmoil, so Your Majesty, you have no other choice but death.
Zhou Heng trembled with anger, while Yang Cheng shook his head and said, "Lord Zhang, your plan is indeed excellent, but have you ever considered that the crown prince you want to support might not perfectly meet your requirements?"
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