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

Xiao Jinyan recognized his former comrade-in-arms at a glance. His eyes held both emotion and expectation: "Chen Boda, you are a former general of the Crown Prince and know the greater good of the nation. Do not continue to serve that tyrannical Emperor Liu Kun. Now, it is time to fight alongside us and create a bright new era together!"

Chen Boda's voice sounded particularly heavy in the silence, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if fear and struggle were intertwined: "Commander Xiao, are you... plotting a rebellion?"

As he spoke, his gaze lingered on Xiao Jinyan's resolute face, trying to find a trace of wavering.

Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a resolute smile, his eyes gleaming with unwavering determination: "That's right, it's treason. Chen Boda, let's do it together! For justice, for the wronged crown prince, we can no longer remain silent."

However, an indescribable pain and hesitation appeared on Chen Boda's face: "Commander Xiao, please forgive me for not being able to obey. Although I am a military officer, I know the importance of loyalty to the emperor. Rebellion is no small matter."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's gaze hardened. He slowly approached Chen Boda, his voice low and powerful: "Chen Boda, you are a former general of the Crown Prince. Have you forgotten how the Crown Prince was murdered by that traitor Liu Kun? His blood has not yet dried! We cannot let him sacrifice in vain!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Boda's expression changed drastically. He naturally remembered the Crown Prince's injustice and his unfulfilled loyalty. But the thought of the consequences of treason filled him with conflict and struggle: "But, Commander Xiao, you are now plotting a rebellion! If you fail, you will face utter ruin!"

Xiao Jinyan gently patted Chen Boda's shoulder, her eyes full of trust and encouragement: "Chen Boda, don't be so stubborn. As long as we kill Liu Kun and restore order to the court, who will care about whether it's treason or not? At that time, we will all be meritorious officials, and our names will be recorded in history. Why not do it?"

However, Chen Boda remained hesitant, his heart like a stormy sea, turbulent and difficult to calm.

Just then, a clear and firm voice broke the silence: "Chen Boda, stop being so indecisive, look at what this is!"

After saying that, he suddenly waved his hand, and a bloody head flew in an arc and crashed heavily to the ground. It was Liancheng's head, his face contorted, his eyes wide open, dying with his eyes wide open.

Upon seeing this, Chen Boda was struck dumb, his body swaying as if he were about to fall to the ground. He murmured in disbelief, "General Liancheng... how... how could you die like this?"

Just then, Xiao Jinyan stepped forward, her gaze sharp as she stared directly at Chen Boda, her tone carrying an undeniable authority: "Chen Boda, have you seen clearly? Your superior, the once-powerful Liancheng, is now a headless corpse. Do you still intend to continue your stubborn resistance?"

Wang Xuanyu's lips curled into a cold smile, his tone tinged with mockery and reminiscence: "Yes, Chen Boda, surrender. We used to be colleagues, we worked together, why must we come to this point of fighting each other? Out of consideration for our past relationship, I'll give you a choice."

Chen Boda's expression was uncertain, and his inner struggle was obvious.

After a moment of silence, he finally seemed to have made up his mind. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling but firm: "Alright... Since Commander Xiao is so magnanimous, then I, Chen Boda... will surrender."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he waved his hand, "Good! Since General Chen is willing to see the error of his ways, let us fight side by side, storm the palace, strike at the heart of the enemy, and end this pointless war!"

The group quickly gathered their equipment, their eyes gleaming with determination and courage. Led by Xiao Jinyan, they silently advanced into the depths of the palace, their target Liu Kun's bedchamber. Along the way, they occasionally encountered patrolling soldiers, but they were all dealt with swiftly and decisively, without alerting any further enemies.

Outside Liu Kun's magnificent palace, a tense atmosphere, like the impending storm, filled the air. Suddenly, a series of rapid, heavy footsteps broke the silence, striking the hearts of everyone like war drums.

A soldier clad in iron armor, with resolute eyes, strode through the heavy guards of the imperial bedchamber like a god of war, carrying in his hand none other than the usually aloof emperor, Liu Kun.

Liu Kun was disheveled, pale-faced, and his eyes were filled with terror and confusion, as if he couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes. The soldiers ruthlessly dragged him out of the palace and through the winding corridors, each step accompanied by Liu Kun's staggering steps and unwilling struggles.

In the end, Liu Kun was forced to kneel before Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan's brows revealed a sense of determination and tragic grandeur. He stood with his hands behind his back, a cold smile on his face.

"Haha, Liu Kun, you've finally met your match!" Xiao Jinyan's voice was deep and powerful.

Liu Kun was tightly bound by the soldier and knelt on the ground, his eyes filled with both anger and fear. His voice trembled as he hysterically shouted, "Xiao Jinyan, you traitor! I have treated you well, yet you dare to rebel!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's lips curled into a cold smile: "Liu Kun, you tyrant!"

His voice suddenly rose, echoing in the empty palace, "Today, for the sake of all living beings, I, Xiao Jinyan, will depose you, this tyrannical and incompetent ruler!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun seemed to have been struck by lightning, collapsing to the ground. He still roared in fury, "What? Xiao Jinyan, you traitor! You usurped the throne as a subject! This is treason! Utter disloyalty!"

Xiao Jinyan's gaze became unusually sharp. He slowly walked up to Liu Kun, his eyes like torches, staring directly at the former monarch.

"Liu Kun, you have committed many unjust acts, been licentious and tyrannical, treated the common people like dirt, and regarded the imperial court as a joke. For the sake of all living beings, for the sake of every life on this land, I, Xiao Jinyan, will depose you!"

Liu Kun's face was contorted, his eyes wide open, and he shouted hoarsely at the figure in front of him, "Xiao Jinyan! You traitor! You are plotting rebellion!"

His voice echoed in the empty hall, filled with resentment and despair, as if it could shatter the ancient palace walls.

Xiao Jinyan's face was cold and stern, his eyes revealing an undeniable determination. He gently raised his hand, his tone calm yet full of authority: "Bring Liu Kun to Qianyang Palace to await his judgment."

After he finished speaking, two burly soldiers rushed forward like tigers descending a mountain, grabbing Liu Kun from either side and striding towards the Qianyang Palace, ignoring his struggles and roars.

Liu Kun's furious roars continued unabated, "Xiao Jinyan, you traitor! You'll die a horrible death!"

Every word seemed to burst forth from the depths of his heart, carrying endless hatred and curses.

Just then, a lithe soldier stepped out from the crowd, his steps steady, his face beaming with the radiance of a victor. He approached Xiao Jinyan, knelt on one knee, and said with a hint of excitement and pride in his voice, "Commander Xiao, it was this humble general who just captured that tyrannical emperor Liu Kun alive."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his armor, reflecting a dazzling light, as if even heaven and earth were crowning this warrior.

Xiao Jinyan nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Oh? You're so brave."

Upon hearing this, the soldier's eyes flashed with wild joy, but this was quickly followed by a hint of trepidation. He cautiously asked, "Commander Xiao, what about... my title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households and the 100,000 taels of gold..."

Xiao Jinyan chuckled lightly, his tone reassuring and confident: "Don't worry, you can collect the gold from my residence at any time. As for the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, once I have enthroned a new emperor, I will naturally speak on your behalf before him. At that time, wealth and honor will be just around the corner."

The dashing soldier in silver armor knelt on one knee, the long spear he gripped gleaming coldly in the afterglow of the setting sun. He looked up at the imposing Commander Xiao before him, his eyes filled with gratitude and respect: "This humble general, Li Xiaotian, thanks Commander Xiao for his promotion. I will forever remember this kindness and gratitude!"

Xiao Jinyan waved his hand gently, a faint smile playing on his lips: "General Li, you are too kind. On the battlefield, the brave and fearless deserve the glory they are worthy of. This is what you deserve. I, Xiao Jinyan, have always been fair in rewarding and punishing, and I will never bury any hero."

Just as the two were talking, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence.

Wang Xuanyu rushed over, his expression anxious: "Lord Protector, I have searched the entire harem as you instructed, but I still cannot find Princess Yiyang. What should we do?"

Princess Liu Lianyue of Yiyang, for some reason, went into hiding in Liu Kun's luxurious and complicated harem, and was brought into the harem by Liu Kun under the identity of "Consort Yin". Her disappearance undoubtedly added another layer of mystery to this already complicated situation.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan frowned, a resolute glint in her eyes: "Fine, I'll go find it myself. Wang Xuanyu, you stay here and guard the inner palace to ensure everything is safe."

After saying that, Xiao Jinyan's figure blurred, and she shot out like an arrow, heading straight for Liu Kun's harem.

As he wandered among the flowers, searching for that familiar figure, a faint cry for help drifted over: "Don't come any closer! Let me tell you, I am Princess Liu Lianyue of Yiyang, Xiao Jinyan's woman! Anyone who dares to touch me will be punished severely!"

Her voice trembled slightly, yet remained resolute; it was Liu Lianyue's last struggle in despair.

Immediately afterwards, several rough voices rang out unrestrainedly, filled with greed and disdain for beauty: "Hahaha, beauty, come on, have some fun with us old men. Brothers, let's go!"

Xiao Jinyan's heart tightened suddenly, and his pace quickened instantly. In the blink of an eye, he had rushed out. The scene before him ignited his anger—several armored soldiers were surrounding Liu Lianyue, their actions frivolous and their words offensive.

When the soldiers saw Xiao Jinyan appear suddenly like a ghost, they were all stunned. Their hands stopped moving abruptly, and their faces were filled with astonishment and panic.

"What are you doing!" Xiao Jinyan's voice was deep and powerful, his eyes sharp, like a hawk in the cold night, staring directly at the group of soldiers.

A soldier who appeared to be the leader forced a smile, trying to ease the tension: "Commander Xiao, what... are you doing here?"

"Why can't I be here?" Xiao Jinyan sneered, his tone carrying an undeniable authority. "If I had arrived even a moment later, my woman would have been played with by you all!"

Upon hearing this, the soldier's face turned deathly pale, as if he had finally realized just how terrifying the wrath of the military commander before him could be.

"Ah, so this really is Commander Xiao's woman! I was truly blind to her greatness, please forgive me, sir!"

"Nonsense!" Xiao Jinyan roared, his voice shaking everyone present. "She is Princess Yiyang, my betrothed, Xiao Jinyan! How dare you touch her? You're asking for trouble!"

Upon seeing this, the soldier immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy: "Commander Xiao, we were wrong, we'll leave right away, we'll leave right away!"

After saying that, he scrambled to his feet and called to his men, fleeing the scene in a disheveled state, leaving behind only a series of hurried footsteps.

Xiao Jinyan then turned around and walked towards Liu Lianyue, who was still in shock, his eyes full of tenderness and apology: "Madam, I'm sorry I'm late."

Liu Lianyue's eyes flashed with an indomitable light. Her voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable determination: "Xiao Jinyan, what exactly happened? Those soldiers just now dared to try to force themselves on me!"

Xiao Jinyan's brows furrowed with anxiety. He quickly glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered his voice and explained, "Lianyue, they've mistaken you for a concubine of that tyrant Liu Kun. In this chaotic world, people are filled with fear, and discipline has long since vanished."