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

Liu Lianyue sighed softly, her words carrying an undeniable resolve: "Does being the ruler of a country mean one can wantonly trample on morality and act recklessly without restraint? Liu Kun is a perverse and wicked man. If this continues, he will surely lose the hearts of the people and end up being abandoned by everyone. At that time, the foundation of our ancestors will probably be on the verge of collapse."

These heartfelt words, like a gentle spring breeze, quietly brushed across Wei Wuji's heart, touching the deepest, most worrisome strings of his soul.

Wei Wuji pondered to himself that Liu Lianyue's words perfectly reflected the lingering gloom in his heart. Liu Kun was increasingly indulging in sensual pleasures, favoring sycophants over virtuous ministers, and turning a deaf ear to honest advice. His actions betrayed the precarious state of the empire. Wei Wuji seemed to sense the ominous atmosphere, a harbinger of impending storm, and the empire's glory perhaps facing an unprecedented challenge.

Just as Wei Wuji was deeply mired in his predicament, his brow furrowed, almost overwhelmed by the tide of despair, a glimmer of inspiration, like the brightest star in the night sky, suddenly pierced through the gloom in his heart. He discovered someone who might be able to save this precarious situation—Liu Lianyue, the "Number One Beauty of the Great Song Dynasty" who had captivated Liu Kun and made him obey her every word.

Thinking of this, Wei Wuji couldn't help but smile meaningfully. He slowly turned to Liu Lian and said softly, "Hehe, Consort Yin, I did have some reservations at first, thinking that His Majesty was not wise to risk angering the world just to win a smile from his beloved. However, now, I... don't seem to think so anymore."

A hint of confusion crossed Liu Lianyue's brows as she softly asked, "Wei Wuji, what do you mean by that?"

Wei Wuji hesitated for a moment, his gaze deep, and slowly said, "Consort Yin, I have seen countless people and I am sure I have not misjudged you. You are no ordinary person; you are gentle and virtuous, with a strong sense of righteousness, and are worthy of being the Empress who will bear the heavy responsibility of ruling the world. Only your words can truly capture His Majesty's heart. His Majesty will be transformed because of you, from a foolish ruler to a wise and sagacious one."

Upon hearing this, Liu Lianyue smiled gently and said softly, "You flatter me, Duke of Qin. I am but a humble woman, how could I dare to assume such an important responsibility?"

Wei Wuji sighed softly, “It is a great blessing for His Majesty to have Consort Yin by his side. It is not only a blessing for the emperor, but also a blessing for the country and the people! In this light, the benefits of having Consort Yin by His Majesty’s side to manage the six palaces far outweigh those of a million-strong army. Even if it means suffering criticism from the world, it is still a worthwhile thing to do.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Lianyue felt a mix of emotions. Her bitter smile was tinged with an indescribable anger. She said softly, "Heh... this is nothing but your and Liu Kun's one-sided fantasy! Your actions are nothing more than coldly burying my life's happiness under the dust."

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji's face darkened, and a deep sense of guilt flashed in his eyes.

Liu Lianyue's words were insightful and revealing that this was nothing more than a pipe dream for Liu Kun and Wei Wuji, and that the outcome was contrary to their wishes. Liu Kun, by his very nature, bore the mark of a foolish ruler, deeply mired in his incompetence, unable to extricate himself, truly terminally ill and beyond redemption. Even though Liu Lianyue possessed the potential to be a virtuous and capable wife, able to gently advise her husband and correct his mistakes, all of this was ultimately just external assistance, unable to address the root cause.

Liu Lianyue's power was like an ant trying to shake a tree; its scope was extremely limited, and she could hardly be the key to turning the tide. Moreover, at this moment, Liu Lianyue's heart was already with Xiao Jinyan, and she was secretly plotting to lend him a hand. Life is like a game of chess, and each player has their own destiny. Liu Kun and Wei Wuji's unrequited love could only ultimately turn into an empty dream, vanishing with the wind.

Ten days later, in a side hall of the Duke of Chu's mansion.

The sky seemed to be lightly covered by a thick gray veil. The moonlight, though bright, appeared diluted by the endless haze. The stars were pitifully sparse, occasionally twinkling once or twice, as if nature were making its last struggle in this oppressive atmosphere. The night wind carried a chill, gently brushing past the ancient and solemn mansion, emitting a low whimper, foreshadowing the approaching storm.

Chu Liangchen walked steadily and quickly through the winding corridor, finally stopping in front of Yu Jin's study. He knocked gently on the door, and after receiving permission, he pushed it open and entered. He saw Yu Jin sitting upright at his desk, his brows furrowed, as if pondering some thorny problem. The dim candlelight flickered, casting long shadows of the two men, adding to the mystery and tension.

“Father-in-law,” Chu Liangchen said in a low but firm voice, “that old scoundrel Wei Wuji is deeply entrenched, his influence spreading like a spider web throughout the court and the country. He is irreconcilably opposed to you, and he hates you to the bone, wanting to kill you as soon as possible. If we do not take action in time, I am afraid that disaster will befall us sooner or later, and it will be too late to regret it then.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's teacup trembled slightly, and tea spilled onto the table, forming several mottled water stains, just like his complicated feelings at that moment.

“My son-in-law is absolutely right,” he sighed, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and helplessness. “That old scoundrel Wei Wuji is a huge boulder in my heart, making it hard for me to breathe. I wish I could get rid of him with my own hands right now to relieve my hatred.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Liangchen's eyes hardened. He slowly walked to the window, gazing at the world shrouded in night, his heart filled with endless thoughts.

"What's most terrifying right now isn't Wei Wuji's vast power, but his cunning and unpredictable nature. He never plays by the rules, making him impossible to guard against."

He turned around, his tone urgent, "We must find his weakness as soon as possible and kill him in one blow, otherwise, things could get complicated and the consequences could be unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, a resolute glint flashed in Yu Jin's eyes. He stood up, walked to Chu Liangchen's side, patted him on the shoulder, and said firmly and forcefully, "My dear son-in-law, we are family, and now is the time for us to weather this storm together. Rest assured, I will do everything in my power to fight against that old scoundrel Wei Wuji. No matter how treacherous the road ahead, we will forge a path to survival and let that old scoundrel know that the Yu family are not to be slaughtered at will!"

Chu Liangchen's expression was solemn, his eyes sharp as he looked at Yu Jin, who was filled with fear. He spoke slowly, each word firm and resolute: "Father-in-law, forgive my bluntness, but once Wei Wuji harbors any intention to harm you, you will not be able to escape even if you have wings, and you will surely die. At that time, not only will you not be able to escape this calamity, but my beloved wife, your precious daughter, and I will also be mercilessly swept into this storm. No one in our family will be able to escape unscathed."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's face turned deathly pale. His teacup trembled slightly, and he didn't even notice the tea spilling onto his clothes. He muttered to himself, "Ah? My dear son-in-law, this... this is truly a bolt from the blue. What am I to do?"

Seeing this, Chu Liangchen was anxious, but his expression became even more determined. He stepped forward, gently placed his hands on his father-in-law's shoulders, and said, "Father-in-law, our Yu family cannot sit idly by and wait for death, allowing Wei Wuji to manipulate us at will! We must strike first to stabilize our position in this turbulent situation and protect our family."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's eyes flashed with a glint of light, and he said repeatedly, "What my son-in-law says is absolutely right, every word is a gem, it's like the clouds have parted and the sun is shining through, it's enlightening. But... but my son-in-law, what should we do in our current situation?"

Chu Liangchen's gaze was deep. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly spoke: "Father-in-law, in my opinion, Wei Wuji is cunning and ruthless, and indeed, he is not someone that ordinary people can deal with. But precisely because of this, we cannot afford to be complacent in the slightest. We need to secretly gather our strength, weaken his power without making a sound, and at the same time find his weakness to strike decisively. In addition, we must find a way to contact those forces that also harbor dissatisfaction with Wei Wuji, and join forces to fight against him, in order to increase our chances of victory."

At this point, Chu Liangchen's eyes gleamed with wisdom, as if he had already laid out an ingenious game on an invisible chessboard, waiting for the right moment to force his opponent into a desperate situation.

Yu Jin raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving his lips, and slowly said, "Oh? What is the reason that makes my son-in-law so certain?"

Chu Liangchen stood up, his steps steady, his gaze sharp. He took a deep breath and said, "Father-in-law, after careful consideration, I have three reasons, which I will explain in detail. First, Wei Wuji is a man of immense power, serving as the Grand Secretary of the current dynasty. He is truly second only to the emperor, wielding immense influence. Imagine if Father-in-law could cleverly orchestrate a plan to overthrow this powerful minister and successfully replace him. Then Father-in-law would become the chief prime minister of the Great Xia Dynasty. With power in hand, what great things could not be accomplished?"

At this point, a fierce light flashed in Chu Liangchen's eyes. He paused briefly, then continued, "Secondly, Wei Wuji is not only a stumbling block to Father-in-law's career, but also a major threat. He stirs up trouble for no reason, opposing Father-in-law at every turn, as if Father-in-law's existence is a thorn in his side that he cannot bear to remove. What's even more perplexing is that Father-in-law and he have no past grudges or recent feuds, yet he seems blinded by hatred, determined to put Father-in-law to death! Such behavior is chilling and appalling. Therefore, from the perspective of self-preservation to counterattack, we should eliminate him as soon as possible!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's eyes flickered, as if he were weighing the weight of Chu Liangchen's words.

He stroked his short mustache, pondered for a moment, and finally nodded, saying, "What you say is absolutely right. Wei Wuji is indeed someone who cannot be allowed to live. However..."

Seeing this, Chu Liangchen knew his father-in-law had already made a decision, but fearing he might have reservations, he quickly added, "Father-in-law, rest assured. Although Wei Wuji seems impregnable due to his high position and influence, with his cronies throughout the court, he is actually riddled with internal conflicts and is outwardly strong but inwardly weak. Moreover, his increasingly arrogant and domineering behavior in recent years has already aroused the dissatisfaction and fear of many ministers in the court. We only need to cleverly plan and use these conflicts to achieve our goal with minimal effort!"

As he spoke with great emotion, Chu Liangchen unconsciously clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with determination and wisdom, as if he could already see the horns of victory sounding in the distance.

Yu Jin's eyes flashed with a cold light, and a resolute smile appeared on his lips: "I mean what I say. Wei Wuji's days are numbered. Kill him!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Liangchen smiled slightly, but his eyes held a deep and unseen depth: "Father-in-law, in my opinion, Wei Wuji is currently at his last gasp and on the verge of death. However, to make him disappear from this world completely, we still need to devise a plan."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's eyes flashed with approval. He slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "My dear son-in-law, your insightful words have been like a wake-up call, far surpassing ten years of hard study! Quickly, tell me in detail how we should put Wei Wuji to death?"

Chu Liangchen gently smoothed his sleeves, slowly walked to the window, and said, "Father-in-law, the current situation is like a game of chess in the middle stage. One wrong move and the whole game is lost. For now, we only have one way to break the deadlock—to join forces with Xiao Jinyan."

"What?!" Yu Jin was shocked upon hearing this, almost jumping up. "Together with Xiao Jinyan? How can this be allowed? Xiao Jinyan and I are already irreconcilable enemies in the court, with opposing political views. How can we possibly join forces?"

Chu Liangchen turned around, his eyes blazing, and said, “Father-in-law, please calm down and let me explain in detail. In the Warring States period, Su Qin used the strategy of vertical alliance to unite the six states against Qin and achieved great success. In the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang also allied with Wu against Cao, displaying unparalleled wisdom. Although today’s situation is not the same as the Warring States and Three Kingdoms periods, the principles are the same.”

He took a few steps closer, lowered his voice, and said, "Although Xiao Jinyan disagrees with my father-in-law on political matters, he is a man of both wisdom and courage, and an invaluable ally. Once Wei Wuji falls, the power vacuum he leaves behind will inevitably become the focus of everyone's struggle. At that time, if we can join forces with Xiao Jinyan, we can not only quickly quell the situation, but also use his strength to weaken the power of other potential rivals. Why not do it?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin frowned and fell into deep thought.