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

Yang Rong's lips curled into a cold smile, a smile that concealed determination and ruthlessness: "Green Pearl, quickly prepare the most potent and incurable poison. Remember, it must be the kind that can make a person disappear silently, leaving no trace. Give the poison to Zi Xuan and have her poison Xiao Jin Yan!"

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in Green Pearl's eyes, and she resolutely replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Yang Rong's eyes suddenly turned cold, flashing like icy stars. Her clenched fists revealed an undeniable determination: "The blood feud of my Qiu Chi clan is finally about to be avenged! Xiao Jinyan, your father, Xiao Cheng, led his iron cavalry to conquer my Qiu Chi clan back then. In that catastrophe, almost all the royal family members were slaughtered, and rivers of blood flowed. This blood debt has come to you, and it's time to settle it."

At this moment, the Moonlit Pavilion was still filled with singing and dancing, and bustling with noise; but in this private room, it seemed as if an invisible force was enveloping it, and tension and unease filled the air.

--------

As night fell and silver light spilled down, the high walls and deep courtyards of the Duke of Qi's mansion seemed to be gently covered by a mysterious veil, making it appear exceptionally quiet and oppressive.

Guan Lingxuan's figure appeared particularly slender under the moonlight. After hesitating for a long time, she finally mustered up her courage and quietly slipped out through the crack of the carved door, her heart filled with reluctance and resistance to the unknown she was about to face.

For some reason, Guan Lingxuan had a bad feeling that her current happy life might be coming to an end. Yang Rong's letter sent by carrier pigeon was like the brightest star in the night sky, guiding her to an unknown secret meeting and stirring up her originally peaceful life.

Passing through the winding path, Guan Lingxuan arrived at a secluded bamboo grove beside the Duke of Qi's mansion. Moonlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, dappling the cobblestone path and adding a touch of mystery and unease to the tranquil night. Just as she looked around, trying to find clues left by Yang Rong, a graceful figure emerged from the shadows—it was Green Pearl. Dressed in emerald green, she seemed to blend into the bamboo grove, her eyes gleaming with an unusual light.

"Zixuan, you've arrived."

Green Pearl's voice was deep and magnetic, as if it could penetrate the night and strike the heart.

Guan Lingxuan's heart tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm and asked, "Green Pearl, what's the matter that you're in such a hurry to see me?"

Green Pearl didn't answer directly. Instead, she slowly took out a small, exquisite porcelain bottle from her sleeve. Under the moonlight, the bottle glowed with a faint blue light, appearing particularly eerie. She gently handed the bottle to Guan Lingxuan, a barely perceptible hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

Guan Lingxuan took the porcelain bottle with a puzzled look and shook it gently. It seemed to contain some kind of liquid, making a soft and crisp sound.

"what is this?"

Guan Lingxuan asked cautiously, a vague sense of foreboding already creeping into her heart.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Green Pearl's lips, her voice low and firm: "This is a deadly poison that kills instantly. You must bring it back to the manor and put it in Xiao Jinyan's food."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan felt the porcelain bottle in her hand suddenly become scalding hot. She looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with shock and confusion: "What? You want to poison Xiao Jinyan? But didn't the princess say that Xiao Jinyan's life should be spared? Does he still have any use to her?"

Green Pearl's eyes turned icy, as if they could freeze everything: "That's right, the princess did have that intention. But the situation has changed now, and Xiao Jinyan is no longer of any use to us. On the contrary, his continued existence will only be a stumbling block for us, and may even threaten the princess's safety. Therefore, he must die."

Guan Lingxuan's face turned pale. Her lips trembled as she asked in confusion, "But... wouldn't doing this go against the princess's original intention?"

Green Pearl shook her head, her tone filled with unwavering resolve: "Times have changed. Back then, we spared Xiao Jinyan's life so that he could stir up trouble in Jiankang, cause the princes to fight for the throne, and turn the Song Kingdom upside down."

Guan Lingxuan asked in confusion, "Then what's different now?"

Green Pearl said decisively, "The situation is different now. The emperor is about to die, and the princess has ordered Silver Plum to help Prince Guangling kill the crown prince at Xuanwu Gate. Once it's done, Xuanwu Gate will be opened so that the crown prince's confidants can kill Prince Guangling. In that case, both the crown prince and Prince Guangling will die, the Song Kingdom will be thrown into chaos, and my great grudge against Qiu Chi will be avenged. Judging from the current situation, Xiao Jinyan's Tiger Warrior Camp is the biggest variable on this chessboard. The princess is afraid he will cause trouble, so she wants to poison him."

A strange sense of unease welled up inside Guan Lingxuan. She frowned and said, "But what trouble will Xiao Jinyan cause? Is the princess really afraid of him and worried that he will help the Prince of Guangling?"

Upon hearing this, Green Pearl paused slightly, then nodded, her voice firm: "That's right, Princess must have this concern. Although Xiao Jinyan acts recklessly in ordinary times, he can always stir up trouble at crucial moments, so we must be wary of him."

Guan Lingxuan shook her head slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips: "No, I understand Xiao Jinyan. His heart has always been with the Crown Prince, and his loyalty to the Crown Prince is as unbreakable as a rock. How could he easily help the Prince of Guangling?"

Upon hearing this, Green Pearl frowned slightly, seemingly not entirely agreeing with Guan Lingxuan's view: "That's true, but if the Crown Prince unfortunately perishes in this struggle for imperial power, then Xiao Jinyan's attitude will be hard to predict. After all, people's hearts are unpredictable, and who can guarantee what choice he will make at the crossroads of fate?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan's eyes flashed with displeasure, but she remained calm and rational: "Even if the Crown Prince really suffers misfortune, Xiao Jinyan would not help the Prince of Guangling to deal with the Crown Prince's confidants and former subordinates. Xiao Jinyan is not the kind of person who would betray others so easily."

Green Pearl sighed, her voice tinged with worry: "The Tiger Guard Battalion under Xiao Jinyan's command is the most elite force in the capital. Once the Crown Prince dies and the situation becomes unstable, if the Tiger Guard Battalion sides with the Prince of Guangling, the consequences will be unimaginable. With this powerful ally, the Prince of Guangling could very well seize the opportunity to secure his throne. At that time, everything you, Princess, have carefully planned will all be in vain."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan's expression instantly turned serious, and she said, "But, once Xiao Jinyan dies, wouldn't the princess also lose her only support and protection?"

At present, Yang Rong is still nominally Xiao Jinyan's lover. She has broken up with her previous lover, Wei Kui, and is now nominally under Xiao Jinyan's protection.

Upon hearing this, Green Pearl frowned, her eyes flashing with unwavering determination.

"The princess has her own considerations and arrangements; it's none of your business to worry about her." Her tone carried a hint of reproach and an unyielding authority. "Besides, Xiao Jinyan's father, Xiao Cheng, orchestrated and personally led the army to destroy the Qiuchi Kingdom. That battle was a bloodbath, and almost no member of the royal family survived. Between the princess and Xiao Jinyan lies a deep-seated hatred; for that reason alone, Xiao Jinyan must die."