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

Liu Kun, not to be outdone, roared back: "Liu Zhan, you dare to murder the emperor and usurp the throne! Your crimes are heinous! All soldiers, listen to my command! Follow me to punish this traitor! Whoever can cut off Liu Zhan's head, I swear I will bestow upon him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, and his descendants will enjoy such honor for generations!"

Having spoken, Liu Kun waved his hand, and the order was given like a landslide. Soldiers around him instantly drew their swords, their cold gleam reflecting on their resolute and courageous faces. In this corner of the palace, a brutal struggle concerning the fate of the empire and the succession of imperial power suddenly began…

In an instant, the sounds of battle were deafening, the air was thick with the stench of blood, and the clash of swords was incessant.

After a fierce and brutal battle, the crown prince and his loyal and fearless personal guards fell one by one, ultimately perishing in the vortex of power. Their bodies lay silently on the cold stone road, their blood splattering the surrounding path, becoming the cruelest footnote to this struggle for the throne.

At this moment, Liu Kun's face showed an uncontrollable excitement. His heart was pounding, and his eyes sparkled with a desire for victory and a vision for the future. However, this joy did not last long before it was interrupted by a sudden change.

At this critical moment, a soldier covered in dust and looking panicked rushed over. His voice trembled as if it were a death sentence: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Some disloyal and unrighteous scoundrel has opened the Xuanwu Gate without permission, and He Jian is leading his imperial guards to attack this way!"

These words struck Liu Kun like a heavy hammer blow. He froze, then seemed to lose all his strength, collapsing onto the cold ground, his face as pale as paper, his eyes filled with disbelief, fear, and despair.

Who on earth was so blind as to open the Xuanwu Gate? He Jian's Imperial Guards outnumbered Liancheng's by at least three times. If Liancheng were to be defeated, wouldn't he be sending himself to his doom?

My life is at an end...

To Liu Kun's surprise, the "blind fool" was none other than Li Yuerui, who had been lurking in the Imperial Guard for a long time.

At this critical moment, Wei Wuji swiftly stepped forward and helped Liu Kun to his feet. His gaze was firm and profound: "Your Majesty, pull yourself together! The Crown Prince is dead, and you are now the most qualified person in this capital to inherit the throne. What are you afraid of?"

Liu Kun's lips trembled as he stared blankly into the distance, muttering, "Right Minister, He Jian is coming with overwhelming force, surely seeking revenge for the Crown Prince. How should we defend ourselves?"

His voice was filled with helplessness and confusion.

Wei Wuji took a deep breath, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The Crown Prince's head is our most powerful weapon! As long as we quickly display the Crown Prince's head, we will surely crush He Jian's army's morale, make them suspicious, and greatly reduce their fighting spirit."

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun nodded quickly and ordered, "Alright, quickly cut off the Crown Prince's head and hang it in the most conspicuous place on the city gate so that all the Imperial Guards will know that the Crown Prince is dead!"

Wei Wuji took a breath and continued, "Furthermore, He Jian's rebellion is a heinous crime. Your Majesty should, in the manner of a new ruler, issue a pardon, promising to forgive the crimes of all the soldiers under He Jian's command, and only execute He Jian. If any soldiers abandon the darkness and join the light, they should kill He Jian and be granted the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households. Let those soldiers understand that loyalty to you is their only way out!"

These words were like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the gloom in Liu Kun's heart. He suddenly raised his head, his eyes regaining their light—a light born of unwavering belief in victory and boundless anticipation for the future.

Liu Kun clenched his fists, his voice deep and powerful: "Good! We'll follow the Right Minister's plan!"

Wei Wuji's voice pierced through the clamor of the wind, echoing clearly in the ears of every soldier: "Soldiers, did you all hear that? He Jian is plotting rebellion, a crime deserving of death! Whoever can capture and kill He Jian will be ennobled as a marquis of ten thousand households!"

His words were like a fire in winter, instantly igniting the anger and loyalty in the hearts of the soldiers.

Just then, Liu Kun slowly stepped forward, his voice carrying an indescribable air of authority and allure: "My valiant soldiers, I hereby swear that as long as you help me successfully ascend the throne, every soldier present today, regardless of their social status, will be promoted three ranks!"

Liu Kun's words were like a warm current, soothing the weary hearts of the soldiers. Their eyes began to sparkle with anticipation for the future and a yearning for victory. An indescribable sense of excitement and exhilaration filled the air, as if even the wind itself paused to listen to the glorious chapter that was about to unfold.

"Slay the traitors and pledge allegiance to the King!"

Liancheng raised his arms and shouted, his voice like a bugle call, awakening the passion and heroism in the hearts of all the soldiers.

Immediately afterwards, countless voices converged into a torrent, resounding through the sky...

"Slay the traitors and pledge allegiance to the King!"

The shouts were deafening, seemingly echoing through the heavens.

At this moment, dappled sunlight streamed into the Tiger Warriors' tent, illuminating two tense and anxious faces—Xiao Jinyan and Huan Rongzu. The wind outside seemed to whisper ominous omens. The two sat facing each other, their gazes frequently drifting beyond the tent flap, their anxieties about the upheavals within the palace surging like a tidal wave, impossible to calm.

Suddenly, the tent flap was flung open, and Luo Chuan stumbled in, his face filled with panic and exhaustion, as if he had just escaped from a nightmare. His arrival instantly brought the already tense atmosphere to a breaking point.

Xiao Jinyan stood up abruptly, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and asked urgently, "Where is the Crown Prince? Has he been rescued?"

His voice carried an undeniable urgency, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth.

Luo Chuan, still panting and pale, shook his head with difficulty, his voice low and heavy: "General, I have failed in my duty. I arrived too late. The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince has already been killed by the Prince of Guangling."

These words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the three people in the tent stunned, as if the air itself had frozen.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's body trembled as if struck by an invisible giant hammer. He slumped back into his chair, his eyes vacant, his face drained of all color. He slowly said, "How could this happen... The Crown Prince... Sigh... What's the situation in the palace now?"

His words were filled with disbelief and deep sorrow.

Suppressing his grief, Luo Chuan continued, "After the Crown Prince's death, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Li Yuerui opened the Xuanwu Gate, letting He Jian's troops in. At this moment, He Jian is leading his elite troops in a fierce attack, engaging in a life-or-death struggle with Liancheng's troops inside the palace. The battle cries are deafening, and blood flows like a river."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan's eyes widened, his fists clenched, veins bulging, and a surge of anger and resentment welled up within him. He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, turned his gaze to Huan Rongzu, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Now, what should we do?"

Huan Rongzu's expression was solemn, his gaze deep, as if he had weighed a thousand possibilities in his mind. He spoke slowly, each word resounding: "General, the current situation leaves us no room for hesitation; there is only one path to take."