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

A flame still burned in Wei Kui's heart—a deep longing for Yang Rong, the woman with whom he had once made vows of eternal love, yet who had gradually drifted away.

Just then, the maid outside the door was not paying attention, and Wei Kui mustered up his courage and rushed into Yang Rong's boudoir, trying to rekindle the extinguished flames of their love. However, when he stood in front of Yang Rong, his eyes, which had once been full of tenderness and affection, were now filled only with indifference and aloofness.

"Wei Kui, the past between us is long gone."

Yang Rong's voice was cold and clear, each word like a sharp blade, cutting away the remaining warmth in Wei Kui's heart.

"Yang Rong, I never expected you to be so heartless!"

Wei Kui was unwilling to accept this cruel reality; he hoped Yang Rong would change her mind.

But Yang Rong's attitude was firm, and there was no wavering in her eyes.

“Wei Kui, I am already the Crown Prince’s woman. I will remain chaste for him and will never be entangled with you again in this life.”

Yang Rong's words were like icy spring water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Wei Kui's heart.

Wei Kui felt as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart. He knew that continuing to entangle himself would be futile, and he could only leave in sorrow and resentment.

Back in the magnificent yet desolate Right Minister's mansion, he cursed in the courtyard: "Xiao Jinyan, you bastard! You stole my woman! One day, I'll tear you to pieces! And Yang Rong, you bitch! One day, I'll get you too, I'll get you in every way imaginable! You are my woman, forever and ever!"

Just as Wei Kui was immersed in self-pity, a steady sound of footsteps came from this direction.

The Right Minister Wei Wuji, who was over fifty years old, walked slowly with a dignified expression and a hint of barely perceptible fatigue.

"Kui'er, what kind of behavior is this! Is it really necessary to lose your composure like this for a woman?"

Wei Wuji's voice carried a hint of reproach, but even more so, disappointment.

Wei Kui looked up, his eyes reddening, his voice choked with emotion: "Father, I only love Yang Rong. I can't forget her, I can't forget the vow we made."

Wei Wuji sighed, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Kui'er, the current situation is turbulent, and the struggle for the throne between the Crown Prince and the Prince of Guangling is becoming increasingly fierce. We are at the forefront of this storm, so how can we have time to indulge in these personal feelings? You should pull yourself together and lend your father a hand to face the coming storm together."

Wei Kui sighed and said, "Father, I know what I should be doing right now, but I just can't let go of Yang Rong. What should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji's expression hardened, and he roared, "Kui'er, pull yourself together! Right now, we should prioritize the great cause of the Prince of Guangling. Once the Prince of Guangling succeeds in seizing the throne and ascends the throne as emperor, what kind of woman wouldn't you have? Why would you care about a mere Yang Rong?"

Wei Kui knew his father was right; in this vortex of power struggles, personal feelings seemed so insignificant. He nodded silently, feeling resentful but understanding that he had to shoulder the responsibility of being the son of the Right Minister, fight alongside his father, and face the unknown challenges ahead.

Just then, a gentle knock came at the mansion gate, accompanied by a deep and powerful announcement, like the echo of an ancient war drum, reverberating through every inch of air…

"The Prince of Guangling has arrived!"

This announcement, however, was like a gentle spring breeze, instantly dispelling the gloom and oppression within the mansion.

The gates of the mansion opened, and a handsome, tall, and unrestrained young man of sixteen or seventeen, with a hint of wickedness in his eyes, strode into the mansion wearing a blue cloud-patterned brocade robe, surrounded by heavily armed soldiers.

It was none other than the fourth prince, Liu Kun, the Prince of Guangling.

His arrival was like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, instantly enlivening the previously silent atmosphere. However, when his gaze swept over Wei Kui's gloomy face, a sense of unease arose in his heart.

"Brother Wei, you look so serious today. Is something bothering you?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Kui forced a bitter smile, shook his head, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "It's nothing, just some trivial family matters, nothing for Your Majesty to worry about."

After speaking, he deliberately avoided Liu Kun's insightful gaze, as if some unspeakable secret was weighing heavily on his heart.

Wei Wuji sighed and said, "My son is truly useless, causing Your Majesty to worry about him. I am truly ashamed."

After he finished speaking, he gently patted Wei Kui on the shoulder, his eyes filled with both reproach and encouragement, as if silently telling him: A man should be self-reliant.

Immediately, Wei Wuji changed the subject and said to Liu Kun, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to discuss with you. Why don't we move to a private room to talk in detail?"

After speaking, Wei Wuji led Liu Kun through the winding corridors to a hidden secret room.

This secret chamber is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It is surrounded by thick soundproof walls; even the most discerning ear, pressed close to the walls, can only hear a deathly silence, as if time itself has been shut out. The chamber's door is heavy and sturdy, emitting a low rumble when it opens, like the panting of an ancient beast. The room is dimly lit, with only a few exquisite candles flickering, adding to the mystery and solemnity of this secluded space.

Liu Kun and Wei Wuji entered the secret chamber. In the candlelight, their shadows cast dappled patterns on the wall, like an ancient mural recording untold secrets and conspiracies. They sat facing each other, the candlelight dancing on their faces, reflecting their deep and complex eyes.

In this quiet yet oppressive atmosphere, Liu Kun frowned and said in a low voice, "Xiao Jinyan's assassination attempt failed, and the Crown Prince cleverly used matchmakers to bring the Duke of Qi into his camp. I'm afraid the Crown Prince's position is now as solid as a rock and difficult to shake. What should we do?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji's lips curled into a faint smile, a smile that concealed an unknown depth and confidence. He gently waved his hand, as if dispelling the gloom in the room: "It's alright, Your Majesty need not worry too much. Although the Duke of Qi commands 300,000 iron cavalry and wields considerable power, those elite troops are far away in the northern border. Within the capital, the situation is constantly changing, and in the event of an emergency, the Duke of Qi would be unable to act effectively."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's expression did not ease but instead became even more grave: "That may be true, but that is, after all, an army of 300,000, enough to shake the power of the court and the public. Now, the Crown Prince is getting closer and closer to the Duke of Qi through marriage. If they join forces, it will undoubtedly be adding insult to injury for us. What's worse is that if the Duke of Qi finds out about our plot to assassinate Xiao Jinyan, given his temper and methods, he probably won't let it go easily."

A sly glint flashed in Wei Wuji's eyes: "Your Majesty, please calm down. First of all, the Duke of Qi is a powerful and influential military commander. He may not necessarily become completely devoted to the Crown Prince and give him his personal instructions just because the Crown Prince acted as matchmaker and a marriage was arranged. Secondly, Xiao Jinyan may not even know that Your Majesty was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on him!"