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

Upon hearing this, Yu Xin'er's face lit up with a bright smile, as if she had received the most satisfactory answer: "I know you understand. Alright, hurry up and go find Guan Lingxuan, she must be getting impatient."

Xiao Jinyan smiled with satisfaction: "Is Madam truly so magnanimous?"

Yu Xin'er pouted, seemingly unwilling: "Otherwise what? Should I keep this lecherous scoundrel here to continue dominating my bosom?"

Xiao Jinyan gave an awkward laugh.

Yu Xin'er added, "By the way, be gentle with her. If we serve her well, she might be able to be used by us."

Xiao Jinyan sneered and said mockingly, "Madam, you've sold me out."

Yu Xin'er gave a mischievous smile: "The 'handsome man strategy,' you know what it means?"

Xiao Jinyan then asked, "Isn't Madam worried that she might kill me?"

Yu Xin'er gently shook her head, her eyes full of trust and determination: "Don't worry, she won't kill you, at most... she'll drain you dry!"

After saying that, he made a face at Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan gave Yu Xin'er a deep look, then turned and walked into the night, his heart filled with concern and guilt for her. Yu Xin'er stood there, watching Xiao Jinyan leave until his figure completely disappeared into the darkness.

As night fell, the moonlight, like a fine veil, gently covered the ancient courtyard, adding a touch of mystery to the tranquil night.

Xiao Jinyan hurried through the winding corridors, each step seemingly filled with eagerness and anticipation. His heart pounded faster as the distance closed, as if he were about to face a fateful encounter.

Guan Lingxuan's room was located in the quietest corner of the mansion. The candlelight flickered, illuminating her delicate face, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. She was already sitting in front of the bronze mirror, meticulously combing her cascading long hair. Her fingertips lightly touched her lips, and a barely perceptible blush crept onto her cheeks.

Outside the door, every subtle sound tugged at Guan Lingxuan's heartstrings. When the familiar footsteps approached, she almost instinctively stood up and quickly walked towards the door.

"Squeak-"

The moment the door opened, time seemed to freeze.

Xiao Jinyan's figure came into view.

At that moment, all the waiting and anticipation transformed into a silent, warm current flowing between the two of them.

Guan Lingxuan rushed forward without hesitation, like a moth drawn to a flame, and hugged Xiao Jinyan tightly. Their heartbeats resonated at that moment, as if the whole world had stopped.

Then came a passionate and lingering kiss, their lips intertwined as if whispering unspoken words, their love surging like a tidal wave. Driven by passion, their clothes were carelessly discarded, scattered across the floor, mirroring their now unreserved and intense emotions.

(The following ten thousand words are omitted.)

When everything returned to calm, the bright red stain on the bed sheet, like a newly blooming rose, was both dazzling and beautiful, symbolizing Guan Lingxuan's pure and flawless surrender.

Xiao Jinyan gently embraced the beauty in his arms, stroking her smooth, flawless back, his eyes filled with tenderness and affection, and softly asked, "Did I hurt you?"

Guan Lingxuan nestled against Xiao Jinyan's chest, her long, fair legs draped over him, a hint of shyness and happiness on her face, and softly replied, "I'm a virgin, it does hurt a little, but it's mostly pleasure."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan felt an indescribable surge of excitement and promised, "It might hurt the first time, but it won't hurt after that; all that will remain is pleasure."

Guan Lingxuan looked up, her eyes sparkling with both anticipation and unease for the future, and whispered, "Do we even have a future?"

Xiao Jinyan held Guan Lingxuan's hand tightly, his gaze unwavering: "Of course, until the end of time, until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble."

Guan Lingxuan's eyes welled up with tears, and she softly called out, "Husband." Her voice was full of affection and dependence. "Promise me you will never leave me. Let us spend every sunrise and sunset together."

Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing the beautiful couple in its glow. In this tranquil night, their hearts were intertwined, and they made a vow to be together for all eternity.

---------

One month later, Tiger Guard Camp.

To be fair, Xiao Jinyan's time in the Imperial Guard had been relatively easy. His days consisted mainly of drills and guard duty, with occasional hunting trips outside the city. It seemed that being a soldier was a good choice when there was no war. Sometimes, Xiao Jinyan would chat with his comrades in the camp.

The people most closely associated with Xiao Jinyan were several captains under his command: Wu Qi, Xie Dun, and Wang Xuanyu, with whom he had a misunderstanding.

Don't underestimate these few captains; they all have impressive backgrounds. Wu Qi comes from the Wu clan of Chenliu. Xie Dun comes from the Xie clan of Chenjun. Wang Xuanyu comes from the Wang clan of Taiyuan.

It was precisely because these individuals had some family connections that they were able to rise to the rank of captain. If they were just ordinary people, they would probably only be able to start as common soldiers. No wonder, the saying "the upper ranks have no poor scholars, and the lower ranks have no noble families" was a characteristic of this era.

Xiao Jinyan himself comes from the renowned Lanling Xiao clan, which originated from Xiao He, the founding prime minister of the Western Han Dynasty. The clan has a history of hundreds of years and is a very prestigious and long-standing family.

Xiao Jinyan's wife, Yu Xin'er, came from the Yu clan of Yingchuan. In the previous dynasty, the Yu clan was known as one of the four great families, along with the Wang, Xie, and Huan clans, and its disciples and former officials were all over the country. Even Xiao Jinyan's close advisor, Huan Rongzu, came from the Huan clan of Longkang. Although the clan had declined, the genetic foundation remained, and he was not a commoner born and raised in the countryside.

Therefore, Xiao Jinyan's social circle is actually quite narrow.

On this day, a handsome young officer with refined features and a sturdy but not overly imposing build was seen in the camp, flipping through a military book. It was Wu Qi.

Just then, a tall, burly man with thick limbs snatched the military book from Wu Qi's hand and said mockingly, "Hey, Wu Qi, still reading your military book? What's the point of a captain like you reading this stuff? It's useless. You'd be better off practicing your martial arts so you can fight bravely on the battlefield!"

That burly man was Xie Dun.

"Give it to me!" Wu Qi retorted defiantly, snatching back the military treatise and scoffing, "Hmph! What do you know, you crude wretch? Military strategy is a weapon against ten thousand men!"

Xiao Jinyan chuckled and said, "Although Wu Qi is only a captain, he has lofty ambitions and is diligent in his studies. Xie Dun, you should learn from Wu Qi in this regard."

Wang Xuanyu nodded and said, "The general is right. We can't just shout for battle; we need to learn to use our brains!"

After saying that, he pointed to his temple.

Upon hearing this, Xie Dun looked aggrieved and said, "Fine, you're all speaking up for Wu Qi."

Xiao Jinyan smiled gently and said, "However, Wu Qi, while military strategy is important, fighting bravely and being invincible on the battlefield is equally important. Otherwise, no matter how powerful the military strategy is, it is just empty talk if you can't fight hard on the battlefield."

Wang Xuanyu nodded and said, "The general is right, Wu Qi. You should really work on your martial arts. Xie Dun could take on ten of you. If you don't improve your skills, you'll get killed on the battlefield one day. What's the point of talking about military strategy then?"

Xie Dun felt somewhat relieved after hearing this.