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

At this point, Xiao Jinyan's tone became increasingly impassioned.

"Do you know that the people are already boiling with resentment? What they yearn for is a monarch who can set things right and lead them to the light, instead of continuing to endure a tyrant like Liu Kun! And you, Wei Wuji, as a high-ranking official, not only failed to speak up for the people, but also aided and abetted the tyrant. Where is your conscience? Where is your sagely way?"

Wei Wuji was speechless at this moment, and could only stare wide-eyed at Xiao Jinyan, his eyes filled with both anger and a trace of barely perceptible fear.

Wei Wuji snorted coldly, his eyes blazing: "What exactly did His Majesty do during his reign? He was nothing more than indulging in the pleasures of the harem and playing with a few women. What is there to mention about such behavior? Since ancient times, which emperor who ruled the world did not have a harem full of beauties, with three thousand beauties vying for attention? This is nothing unusual in the imperial family!"

"As for His Majesty's so-called misdeeds—appointing corrupt officials, imposing exorbitant taxes, abusing the people's labor, and engaging in large-scale construction projects, pushing the country to the brink of collapse," Wei Wuji's tone became increasingly impassioned, his eyes flashing with hatred for injustice and corruption, "all of this was not His Majesty's original intention, but was caused by treacherous villains like Yu Jin and He Songzhi, who were secretly instigating and inducing him! They are like termites eroding the court, pushing our beautiful land step by step into the abyss."

Xiao Jinyan finally couldn't suppress the turmoil in his heart. He slowly said, "The collusion between Liu Kun, Yu Jin, He Songzhi and their gang is not just a matter of mutual benefit, but also a deep-seated scumbag. They are in cahoots to do evil and commit all sorts of crimes."

Wei Wuji, his gaze deep, slowly said, “Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers. Everything in this world has its own reason. The ancient sages, such as Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang, whose brilliance shines through the ages, could not escape the saying that even the most flawless jade has its imperfections. No one is perfect; this is a fundamental truth of the universe. How much more so the emperor sitting on the dragon throne today? Tell me, in the long river of history, which emperor has not had both merits and demerits, both virtues and flaws? In my opinion, although His Majesty may occasionally indulge in private life, it is like a wisp of cloud under the bright moon, unable to obscure his radiant light. He is a man of both literary and military prowess, commanding a million soldiers in his heart, and governing the country with wisdom and brilliance, bringing peace to the world and allowing the people to live in contentment. Is this not the demeanor of a capable ruler? How can the hopes of the people be completely negated because of a few transgressions in private morality?”

Xiao Jinyan's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. His clenched fists were so tight that the veins bulged, and he was both incredulous and enraged by Wei Wuji's lenient words.

“Wei Wuji, you are mistaken! As the ruler of all people, how can you forgive yourself for a minor transgression? If you do not cultivate your personal virtue, how can you win the hearts of the people? The pillars of the nation should set an example in order to lead the world! With such protection and indulgence, where do you place the law of the country? Where do you place the hearts of the people?”

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Jinyan could no longer contain himself. A surge of righteous energy erupted from his body, as unstoppable as a volcanic eruption. With all his might, he slapped Wei Wuji's face with a whooshing sound.

"Slap!" A crisp, loud slap resounded, like a thunderclap.

Wei Wuji's cheeks instantly swelled up, revealing a bruised "Five Finger Mountain," a mark of Xiao Jinyan's anger and persistence.

Wei Wuji staggered a few steps, regaining his balance. His face showed not only pain, but also shock and confusion. He looked at Xiao Jinyan, and in those burning eyes, he seemed to see his younger self, with that reckless persistence and purity.

Xiao Jinyan roared, “Wei Wuji, today I, Xiao, am beating you, you scoundrel who can’t distinguish right from wrong and twist the truth! That Liu Kun is utterly depraved and shameless. He’s so audacious that he didn’t even spare his own aunt. This kind of wicked creature is a rare and incompetent fool. Even if the late Emperor were alive, he would probably be so angry that he would jump out of his coffin and personally have him executed by slow slicing and chopped into mincemeat! Wei Wuji, you keep saying that Liu Kun only had a ‘minor fault,’ then tell me, in the face of his inhumane behavior, what is a ‘major fault’?”

Wei Wuji's deep-set eyes gleamed with a complex and unfathomable light.

"For many years," he began slowly, "I have always believed that Yu Jin is the number one traitor of our Great Song Dynasty. Yu Jin's cunning and ruthless methods have kept me awake at night countless times, fearing that his every move would push our Great Song Dynasty into an abyss of no return. However, I never expected that the title of 'number one traitor of the Great Song Dynasty' would one day fall on your head, Xiao Jinyan."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a cold smile.

“Wei Wuji,” he said, enunciating each word with disdain and anger, “you old scoundrel, in all your years, I have never seen such a shameless person! Your life, like the night, is dark and twisted. You are treacherous and cunning, unable to distinguish right from wrong, aiding and abetting evil, pushing the people of my Great Song into an endless abyss of suffering!”

When he got excited, Xiao Jinyan's eyes became sharp as swords, as if trying to pierce through Wei Wuji's hypocritical mask and look directly into the filth and decay deep in his soul.

"You keep calling me a treacherous minister, but you've forgotten that you are the real mastermind behind everything, pushing the country to the brink of disaster! You abused your power, formed cliques, and eliminated dissidents. Have the souls of those loyal and virtuous people who died because of you ever found peace? Now that you're facing death, you actually dare to call me a treacherous minister! Humph, this is truly the biggest joke in the world!"

Wei Wuji's face appeared even paler in the candlelight. His hand trembled as he pointed at Xiao Jinyan, his voice sharp with anger and fear: "You...you're spouting lies! Xiao Jinyan, stop trying to distort the truth and confuse the public!"

But Xiao Jinyan ignored his explanations and continued in an almost judgmental tone: "Let me tell you, Wei Wuji, there is no more treacherous minister in the world than you! Your deeds are too numerous to record, and even the sharpest pen cannot depict the depth of your crimes! Today, let all of this come to an end!"

Wei Wuji's voice boomed like thunder, and his eyes were like torches.

"Xiao Jinyan!" He spoke each word with utmost deliberation, his tone filled with heartache and indignation. "As a high-ranking official of the court, you have received the Emperor's boundless grace for generations, enjoying a generous salary from the court. You should have been devoted to serving the country with utmost loyalty, relieving His Majesty's worries, and protecting the stability of our Great Song Dynasty. However, you have disregarded the greater good of the nation, harbored treacherous intentions, and even conceived the rebellious thought of plotting rebellion! Where is your conscience? How can you face your ancestors and the Emperor's trust and cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a cold smile. He straightened his back and retorted, "You're talking nonsense! Everything I, Xiao Jinyan, have done is merely to set things right and save the crumbling Song Dynasty! The court is rife with treacherous officials and villains, and the country is in dire straits. If I do not act now, the Song Dynasty will be doomed! What I am doing is in accordance with the will of Heaven to save the people from their suffering!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji was furious but laughed, his voice filled with mockery and disdain: "Setting things right? What a high-sounding excuse! You clearly intend to assist that traitor Liu Huan in his attempt to usurp the throne and overthrow the legitimate rule of our Great Song! How is such behavior any different from that of a treacherous minister? If you, Xiao Jinyan, are not the 'Number One Traitor of the Great Song,' then who else in the world can bear that title?"

Xiao Jinyan's face instantly darkened. He glared at Wei Wuji, his voice low and firm: "You! Wei Wuji, you are the real traitor! You spout righteousness and morality, but in reality, you are a heartless scoundrel. For your own benefit, you don't hesitate to frame loyal officials and confuse the public. Do you know that what you are protecting is nothing more than a corrupt and crumbling system of governance, while I am fighting for the true future of the nation and the well-being of millions of people!"

Wei Wuji's eyes blazed with fury as he roared, "You treacherous villain! Have you ever considered that this beautiful land would be toyed with by petty scoundrels like you!"

Xiao Jinyan spoke slowly, each word firm and powerful: "As the saying goes, 'No destruction, no construction; destruction precedes construction.' In the past, Yu the Great controlled the floods by dredging rather than blocking, which enabled him to achieve a great feat for all time. The same is true for the Great Song Dynasty today."

His words were like a thunderclap in spring: "The Song Dynasty, under the wanton trampling of the incompetent Emperor Liu Kun, was already riddled with holes and teetering on the brink of collapse, like a small boat struggling in the raging storm."

He continued, "The people are displaced, the court is in disarray, and loyal officials have died unjustly—all of this stems from the incompetence and folly of this foolish ruler! Since this empire has rotted away at its very core, there's no need to cling to this decaying shell. Let us simply await the arrival of a wise and benevolent ruler who will rise up with overwhelming force to clean up this mess, completely overthrow this rotten Song dynasty, rebuild a prosperous and enlightened era, and reshape the world!"

At this point, Xiao Jinyan's gaze became exceptionally firm, as if he could already see that brand new world beckoning to him. "This is the true path of the king, the righteous path that aligns with the heavens and earth! Each of us has the responsibility and the obligation to pursue that light and hope for the sake of the billions of people on this land!"

Wei Wuji's face was ashen, his eyes blazing. He roared, "Nonsense! Our current emperor is a man of dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like grace, wise and virtuous, shining like the sun and moon in the sky, illuminating all people. He is diligent in his duties, compassionate towards the people, and strives to govern every inch of the Song Dynasty, making it prosperous and thriving. His heart is like a clear mirror, discerning the smallest detail. He is truly a great and capable ruler, revered by all! Yet, this magnificent land has been ravaged step by step by treacherous villains like Yu Jin, and you, Xiao Jinyan, you bunch of heartless scoundrels, leaving it riddled with holes and the people suffering!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's expression changed drastically, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He snorted coldly and said in an icy tone, "You're still spouting nonsense and trying to confuse the public! Wei Wuji, do you really think that with your silver tongue you can turn black into white and salvage your crumbling loyalty?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji was enraged, then laughed, a laugh tinged with sorrow and resolve. He pointed at Xiao Jinyan and shouted, "Xiao Jinyan, you treacherous villain, how dare you even dream of supporting that traitor Liu Huan as emperor? It's utterly delusional, a pipe dream! Liu Huan is a man of treacherous intentions and boundless ambition. What virtue or ability does he possess to deserve the title of 'unparalleled wise ruler'? Bah! He's nothing but a clown, a defeated general under the Emperor's command. The Emperor has long since manipulated him like a beast kept in the palace, ready to take his head at any moment! You bunch of traitors, attempting to use Liu Huan to overthrow the foundation of our Great Song Dynasty, are simply delusional and courting death!"

At this point, Wei Wuji's voice was almost a roar, and his eyes burned with raging anger.

Xiao Jinyan shouted sternly, "Shut up! Wei Wuji, you shameless madman, stop spouting nonsense and filthy words here. His Highness the Prince of Xiangyang is ambitious, wise, and brave. He wishes to emulate the wise rulers of ancient times, such as Tang of Shang overthrowing Jie and King Wu of Zhou, raising the banner of benevolence and righteousness, leading a just army to sweep away the injustices of the world, punish the tyrannical and incompetent ruler, restore peace and order to the world, unify the Song Dynasty, and bring peace and prosperity to the four seas! How could such a grand plan and great undertaking be slandered in the slightest by a despicable person like you?"

Wei Wuji roared, “Nonsense! Utter absurdities! No matter how new your shoes are, you still need to be grounded; no matter how worn your hat is, it still needs to protect you from the wind. Even if His Majesty occasionally makes a mistake, as his subjects, we should patiently guide and admonish him. How can we so easily speak of rebellion and readily invoke the word 'treason'?! If Liu Huan dares to recklessly wage war and defy his superiors, that would be an unforgivable act against Heaven and Earth! You, all of you, are burdened with the sins of the Song Dynasty!”

Xiao Jinyan's gaze was deep, and he sighed inwardly: Talking to this old bastard is several times more difficult than trying to negotiate with a tiger… This Wei Wuji is so deeply poisoned that no mortal medicine can cure him. The poison has spread to his bone marrow; even the most miraculous elixirs from the heavens are powerless to save him. His soul has long been devoured by greed and ambition; there is no cure, no one who can save him…