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

The daggers were drawn, a flash of cold light, and almost simultaneously, the two men lightly slashed their wrists, blood flowing out like a thin stream, dripping into the delicate wine glasses, staining the clear liquid a shocking red. That blood was not only a testament to their vows, but also a declaration of fearless challenges to the future.

Blood droplets gathered, the wine gradually changed color, and two cups of blood wine, carrying faith and determination, were quietly placed on the table, as if they had gathered the deepest power in the world.

Xiao Jinyan and Chu Liangchen slowly rose, their eyes meeting. No words were needed; everything was understood. They raised their wine glasses, and the wine seemed more mellow than ever before, each drop weighing a thousand pounds.

"To punish the wicked, to kill the tyrant, to establish a wise ruler, and to rebuild the world!" Their voices boomed in the night sky like thunder, reverberating through every inch of air and stirring each other's souls.

Having said that, they simultaneously tilted their heads back and drank it all in one gulp. The blood-red wine slid down their throats, carrying an indescribable fervor and resolve, as if completely merging their will and strength in that moment. The cups clattered to the ground with a crisp sound, like the rolling wheels of history.

Ten days later, in the Qianyang Hall of the Great Song Dynasty court.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting dappled patterns on the glazed tiles and giving the solemn palace a soft golden glow.

The weather was indeed lovely, with a gentle breeze, birdsong, and fragrant flowers; it seemed as if even the air itself was filled with the harbinger of victory.

Liu Kun sat on the dragon throne, wearing an exquisite dragon robe, the golden silk threads of which shimmered in the sunlight.

However, beneath this brilliance, he appeared exceptionally tired, his eyes slightly red, with a barely perceptible dimness hidden in them—a trace of the previous night's indulgence in sensual pleasures and excessive womanizing.

Inside the main hall, civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, stood or stood, each with a different expression, but all revealing their awe and anticipation for the emperor. They waited silently, as if the air itself had frozen, awaiting only a single word from Liu Kun that could stir up waves in the court.

"My esteemed ministers, if you have something to report, please do so; otherwise, the court may adjourn."

Liu Kun's voice was slightly hoarse, and his impatience was evident. Clearly, his mind was not on the tedious affairs of state at the moment.

However, just as those words were about to fade into the air, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the hall: "Great Victory at Qingzhou!"

This sudden good news was like a thunderclap in spring, instantly breaking the dullness and oppression in the hall.

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Kun's eyes, and his fatigue vanished instantly. He sat up abruptly, his voice becoming strong: "Quickly! Someone, how is the battle going in Qingzhou?"

A moment later, a dusty soldier rushed into the hall, bent his knees, and knelt heavily on the cold stone slab. His face was filled with undisguised excitement and pride: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on the great victory at Qingzhou!"

Liu Kun pressed on impatiently, "Quickly! Tell me quickly, how did Qingzhou win this battle?"

The soldier took a deep breath to calm himself before slowly speaking: "Your Majesty, Duke Xiao Cheng of Qi led a large army and, with fewer troops, achieved a great victory. Through clever strategies, he successfully annihilated 100,000 troops of the Northern Wei and even captured their commander, Tuoba Mao. In the Battle of Qingzhou, our Great Song Dynasty has won a complete victory!"

These words caused an instant uproar in the hall. Civil and military officials whispered among themselves, some marveling at Xiao Cheng's military prowess, while others began to envision the profound impact of this victory on the future of the empire.

In that era of constant warfare and relentless battle drums, a battle that determined the fate of the Song Dynasty finally came to an end in Qingzhou. As the smoke of battle gradually dissipated, the cruelty and tragedy of the battlefield were gently covered by the rising sun, as if nature itself was silently mourning and celebrating this victory.

Xiao Jinyan thought to himself: Excellent, the Battle of Qingzhou is over. This means that we can finally withdraw our elite troops from the smoke-filled front lines, head straight for Jiankang, and eliminate that incompetent and corrupt emperor Liu Kun.

His eyes gleamed with determination and justice, as if he could already see the moment when that corrupt dynasty collapsed.

Liu Kun sat high on the dragon throne, a triumphant smile on his face, and announced to the assembled civil and military officials: "Excellent! What a fine Duke Xiao Cheng of Qi! He has brought glory to our Great Song Dynasty! This great victory at Qingzhou is truly a glory to our Great Song Dynasty, and I am very pleased."

Yu Jin, a minister who was always good at reading people's expressions, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said in a flattering tone, "Your Majesty, I congratulate you. It is Your Majesty's imperial might that caused the Northern Wei army to flee at the mere sight of you, and the fame of our Great Song has spread far and wide."

However, not everyone was immersed in this false celebration.

Wei Wuji frowned and slowly said, "In this way, Xiao Chengjun's military achievements will be even greater, he will hold a large army, and his prestige will rise day by day. I'm afraid this is not a good thing for our Great Song Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin's expression changed slightly, but he still tried to ease the heavy atmosphere with a smile: "Duke of Qin, on such a joyous day, why do you only say discouraging things? Duke Xiao is a loyal minister of our Great Song Dynasty. His victory is naturally also a victory for His Majesty and our Great Song Dynasty."

Wei Wuji remained unmoved and insisted on his opinion: "What I said is the truth. Only by being prepared for danger in times of peace can we achieve long-term stability. Your Majesty, we must be vigilant."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned slightly, then relaxed and smiled, saying, "Alright, no matter what, this is great news, worthy of celebration by me and all my beloved ministers. Today, I will hold a grand banquet for all my officials to reward this achievement!"

Inside the main hall, Xiao Jinyan, dressed in court robes with flowing sleeves, slowly stepped forward, his voice filled with undisguised excitement and respect: "Your Majesty, I congratulate you. My father achieved a resounding victory in the border war. This was all thanks to Your Majesty's mighty and unpredictable divine power, which made our army even more powerful and invincible."

Liu Kun sat upright on the dragon throne, his gaze deep, a satisfied smile curving his lips: "Good, Xiao Jinyan, your father has made great contributions this time, ensuring the peace of our borders. I am very pleased and will reward him handsomely to commend his loyalty and bravery."

Upon hearing this, a hint of emotion flashed in Xiao Jinyan's eyes. He bowed deeply and said sincerely, "Your Majesty's kindness moves me to tears. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to Your Majesty on behalf of my father. My father has dedicated his life to the country, all thanks to Your Majesty's high regard and trust. The entire Xiao family swears to be loyal to you to the death."

Liu Kun nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with admiration: "Good, the Xiao family is truly a family of loyal and righteous men, pillars of the nation. I am at ease."

After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall became solemn and dignified, as if even the air itself was solemn.

Just as everyone was immersed in this glory and respect, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. Then, a deep and powerful voice broke the silence: "Your Majesty, Princess Tuoba Rou of Leling of Northern Wei will arrive in Jiankang soon to hold peace talks with the Great Song."

Liu Kun frowned slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping towards the entrance of the main hall, his voice carrying a hint of authority: "Who's speaking outside? Introduce them in immediately!"

Before the words were finished, a soldier rushed into the hall, his clothes slightly disheveled and his face covered in sweat, clearly having traveled a long distance. He knelt down, still breathing heavily, and urgently repeated, "Your Majesty, Princess Tuoba Rou of Leling from the Northern Wei Dynasty is leading a delegation to Jiankang to conduct peace negotiations with our country. This matter is urgent, and we beseech Your Majesty to make a decision."

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

The Northern Wei and the Song Dynasty have been at war for many years. Now that Princess Leling has come in person, it has undoubtedly brought an unusual turning point to this protracted war.

A complex light flashed in Liu Kun's eyes, reflecting both caution about the unknown situation and a longing for the dawn of peace.

He slowly rose to his feet, his voice steady and powerful: "Send down the order to prepare to receive the Northern Wei delegation. I want to personally meet Princess Leling and see what this legendary heroine is really up to."

It turned out that Xiao Cheng, amidst the vast army, was like a tiger descending the mountain, single-handedly capturing the Northern Wei commander-in-chief, Tuoba Mao. This Tuoba Mao was no ordinary man; he was a renowned prince of the Northern Wei royal family, the second elder brother of Tuoba Rou, and held immense prestige within the Northern Wei army. His capture was undoubtedly a severe blow to the Northern Wei.

In the imperial court, the officials were in high spirits, and Yu Jin could not hide his excitement. He bowed and said with undisguised pride, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Northern Wei has finally bowed its head in this land where dragons and tigers roam. This is a sign that Your Majesty's might is overwhelming and that the whole world submits to you!"

Liu Kun's gaze was deep, as if he were contemplating a far-reaching plan. He spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful: "Princess Leling of Northern Wei has come in person, intending to cede territory to sue for peace in exchange for her brother Tuoba Mao. This peace negotiation is no small matter; it concerns the future of our Great Song Dynasty. My esteemed ministers, who among you is willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility, to serve as the peace envoy, and to secure the greatest possible benefit for our Great Song Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, the court fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, Yu Jin had already made up his mind. He stepped forward and said firmly, "Your Majesty, I dare to recommend Minister of Justice He Songzhi. Minister He is eloquent and wise. He has resolved crises in court many times with his silver tongue. He will surely live up to Your Majesty's expectations and win more bargaining chips for our Great Song at the peace negotiation table."

These words sparked a flurry of discussion in the court. Everyone recognized He Songzhi's talent, but they also understood that this was not merely a simple diplomatic mission, but a contest concerning national dignity and interests. Whoever was chosen as the peace envoy would shoulder the heavy responsibility of securing glory and peace for the Song Dynasty, becoming a hero celebrated by future generations.

Wei Wuji slowly stood up, his voice slightly aged but firm: "I am not talented, but I am willing to risk my life to serve as the peace envoy and negotiate with Princess Leling. Although I am old, my passion is not yet waning. I will do my utmost to secure the greatest benefits for our Great Song Dynasty and ensure the stability of the country."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin frowned and gently advised, "Duke of Qin, you have made outstanding contributions throughout your life. Now that you are in your twilight years, why not put down the heavy burden on your shoulders and enjoy the pleasures of family life? Give those young people who are eager to make achievements some opportunities, let them grow in practice, and serve the country."

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom: "Duke of Chu, you are mistaken. Old ginger is spicier. Young people may be energetic, but they lack experience and are bound to make mistakes. This peace talk concerns the fate of the nation, and I am truly uneasy about entrusting such an important task to them."

After speaking, he swept his gaze around the hall with a deep and complex look, as if silently declaring: I'm determined to take this credit.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly subtle. Wei Wuji's mind was racing with calculations. He knew that this was not just a contest of peace talks, but also a silent power struggle among the court's factions. He had no intention of handing over this ready-made credit to Yu Jin's faction, which was the foundation of his position in the court.

Liu Kun's gaze was deep, as if he were gauging the thoughts of each minister. He coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the hall: "My dear ministers, what other opinions do you have regarding the selection of the peace envoy? Please feel free to speak your minds and work together to select the right person for the country."

Upon hearing this, Du Xuan, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that since the victory was won by Xiao Cheng, the father of Xiao Jinyan, whose family is at the height of its prestige, and Xiao Jinyan himself is also exceptionally talented, wise, and brave, why not consider appointing him to this position? Firstly, it would demonstrate Your Majesty’s high regard for the descendants of meritorious officials, and secondly, it would boost morale and let the world see that our Great Song Dynasty is full of heroes and its national fortune is prosperous.”

Liu Kun stared directly at Xiao Jinyan below, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Xiao Jinyan, what is your decision?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's body trembled slightly, then he took a firm step forward, cupped his hands in salute, and his eyes shone with determination and loyalty: "Your Majesty, I am willing to share your burdens, and it is my duty. No matter how difficult and dangerous the road ahead may be, I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."