The prince is fierce: Who dares to steal my woman?

Wei Wuji was furious, his eyes almost spitting fire. He roared hoarsely, "Xiao Jinyan, how dare you humiliate me in the court! If I don't settle this score with you today, I swear I'm not a man!"

Having said that, he rushed towards Xiao Jinyan without regard for anything else, determined to fight him to the death. However, the surrounding ministers would not stand idly by; they quickly formed a human wall, firmly blocking Wei Wuji, and the scene became chaotic.

Just as tensions were about to rise, Liu Kun finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Dismiss the court!"

After saying this, he hurriedly turned and left, leaving the entire court of officials standing there in a daze.

Liu Kun hurried to the Xuanzheng Hall, silently pondering how to quell the turmoil. Inside the hall, candlelight flickered, with only the occasional crackling of the flames breaking the heavy silence.

However, he had just stepped into the Xuanzheng Hall and hadn't even sat down when he heard hurried footsteps approaching. He looked up in surprise and saw Wei Wuji chasing after him with an angry expression, like a raging beast.

"Duke of Qin, why are you here again?" Liu Kun frowned, his tone tinged with displeasure. He knew Wei Wuji was of a fiery temperament, but he hadn't expected him to be so persistent.

Wei Wuji seemed oblivious to Liu Kun's discontent. He walked straight up to Liu Kun, clenched his fists, and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, Xiao Jinyan and Princess Heyang are plotting a rebellion. This is absolutely true and must not be let off lightly! And that Yang Rong, she is the princess of the fallen Qiuchi Kingdom, yet she is now entangled with Xiao Jinyan. The two of them are in cahoots and are both traitors!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned even more deeply. He knew that Wei Kui's matter had been a great blow to Wei Wuji, but he also understood that he could not draw conclusions based solely on personal feelings.

Then, he looked intently at Wei Wuji, his tone carrying a hint of consolation: "Duke of Qin, I know that Wei Kui's matter has caused you great grief, but as the Emperor, I must act justly and impartially. If you can produce conclusive evidence to prove their crimes, I will punish them severely according to the law. But if it is merely a baseless accusation, I will not tolerate it!"

“Your Majesty,” Wei Wuji said, his face pale but his eyes resolute, trembling slightly, “I swear on my family’s century-old reputation that every word I have spoken is true, without a trace of personal bias. Xiao Jinyan, though he rendered meritorious service in supporting the ascension of the throne, harbors treacherous intentions, secretly forming cliques and plotting rebellion; Princess Heyang, as a member of the royal family, not only behaves dissolutely but also colludes with Xiao Jinyan, which is also treasonous; as for Yang Rong, this woman is cunning and treacherous, and is also the princess of the fallen Qiuchi kingdom, detrimental to the Song Dynasty. All three of them are undoubtedly traitors!”

Liu Kun gently rubbed his temples, a complex light flashing in his eyes. He knew the grudge between Wei Wuji and Xiao Jinyan, but when Princess Heyang was mentioned, his brows furrowed slightly.

“Enough, Duke of Qin,” Liu Kun’s voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable air of authority. “I naturally understand your hatred for Xiao Jinyan. Yang Rong is indeed implicated in Wei Kui’s affair, and I can understand your anger. But Princess Heyang, she is just an innocent and naive girl who couldn’t resist temptation and was played by Xiao Jinyan. How could you accuse her as well? Your actions are chilling. Could it be that you have truly been blinded by hatred and lost your reason?”

At this point, a beautiful picture of a woman inadvertently appeared in Liu Kun's mind. The woman in the picture was none other than his beloved older sister, Liu Xiyu.

Liu Xiyu, this princess of the Song Dynasty, though unruly and prone to wandering, was always Liu Kun's most precious treasure, an irreplaceable presence in his heart. He selectively ignored the gossip and rumors, for his love for Liu Xiyu was deep and selfless, enough to encompass everything about her.

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji's face turned even paler: "Your Majesty, every word I have spoken comes from the bottom of my heart, without the slightest falsehood. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly and not to make a grave mistake out of momentary compassion!"

Liu Kun sighed softly, his gaze falling back on Wei Wuji, his eyes filled with both helplessness and disappointment.

"Alright, Duke of Qin, I am tired today. We will discuss this matter later. You may leave now."

After speaking, Liu Kun waved his hand gently, signaling Wei Wuji to step down.

Helpless, Wei Wuji could only rise and slowly retreat from the hall, each step feeling exceptionally heavy. The hall returned to silence, leaving only Liu Kun sitting alone on the dragon throne, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Just then, Yu Jin, dressed in court robes, stepped steadily into the hall. His face was solemn, but his eyes flickered with a complex emotion that was difficult to detect. He walked to the foot of the imperial steps and respectfully bowed: "Your humble servant Yu Jin greets Your Majesty."

Liu Kun gently raised his hand, gesturing for Yu Jin to dispense with the formalities, then slowly spoke, his tone tinged with amusement and incomprehension: "Duke of Chu, tell me about the Duke of Qin's matter. His precious son, Wei Kui, dared to flirt with Xiao Jinyan's lover, and ended up being beaten into an idiot by Xiao Jinyan. This was entirely his own fault, but instead of reflecting on his actions, the Duke of Qin falsely accused Xiao Jinyan and Princess Heyang of treason. Isn't this the most ridiculous thing imaginable?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin frowned slightly, seemingly weighing the weight of each word in his mind. He coughed lightly, his voice tinged with helplessness and sympathy: "Your Majesty is absolutely right. However, the Duke of Qin only has one son, Wei Kui, whom he has always doted on. Now that he has encountered such a misfortune, it is understandable that he has been blinded by anger. As parents, what one can stand idly by and watch their own flesh and blood be humiliated?"

At this point, a barely perceptible hint of worry flashed in Yu Jin's eyes. He knew all too well that the court was a turbulent place, where every word could become a target for attack. But he also understood that his stance was always to follow the Emperor's will and protect Liu Kun's feelings. Therefore, his words always conveyed the same meaning to Liu Kun, neither offending the Emperor nor going against human sentiment.

Upon hearing Yu Jin's words, Liu Kun sneered, "Hmph, I know perfectly well what's going on. Xiao Jinyan is nothing but a philandering scoundrel. At most, he and Princess Heyang have some ambiguous affair. How could he dare to conspire with the princess to rebel? This Duke of Qin must be desperate to come up with such an absurd plan."

Yu Jin nodded slightly, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and slowly said, "Yes, Your Majesty, things in this world are often unexpected, yet also reasonable. Xiao Jinyan and Princess Heyang, one prides himself on being romantic and unconventional, the other is dissolute and unrestrained by etiquette. They are both well-known figures in Jiankang City, and it would be illogical if they were not entangled together."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned and sighed, "Duke of Chu, Wei Kui's brain has been damaged by Xiao Jinyan. In my opinion, Wei Wuji's brain has also been damaged along with it. In the near future, you, Duke of Chu, will have to take on more responsibility for matters of the court."