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

Green Pearl's cries were sharp and shrill; she was trying her best to break free from her restraints and protect Yang Rong.

However, Xiao Jinyan merely glanced at her coldly and issued an even more ruthless order: "Gag that stinking woman."

In an instant, a soldier took off his boots and socks and shoved them into Green Pearl's mouth without mercy. Her cries stopped abruptly, and a foul smell made her nauseous. Only her helpless eyes told of her inner fear and anger.

Despite being subdued, Yang Rong maintained an extraordinary composure, as if engaging in a silent confrontation with Xiao Jinyan.

Xiao Jinyan's eyes turned icy as he drew the Xuanming Sword. The blade gleamed with a faint blue light, seemingly capable of absorbing the surrounding chill. With a sudden swing, the Xuanming Sword embedded itself into the table with incredible speed. The blade trembled, almost touching Yang Rong's pale yet still stubborn cheek, leaving a chilling glint in its eyes.

"Yang Rong, this Xuanming Sword of mine can behead tyrannical emperors, cut down treacherous officials, and even kill... the princess of an enemy country."

Xiao Jinyan's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable determination.

There was no fear in Yang Rong's eyes, but rather a resolute indifference. A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "Xiao Jinyan, the winner is king, the loser is a thief. I, Yang Rong, have nothing to say. Just kill me!"

Xiao Jinyan's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if weighing something, before he finally spoke slowly: "Yang Rong, I can spare your life, but you have to answer one question for me."

Yang Rong frowned slightly, seemingly surprised by this sudden turn of events, but she quickly regained her composure: "What's the problem?"

"Of the Four Beauties of the Capital, who is the last one? Besides Zi Xuan, Lü Zhu, and Yin Rui, who is ranked number one?"

Xiao Jinyan has realized how terrifying Yang Rong is, and what he needs to do now is to uncover all of Yang Rong's hidden agents in Jiankang to eliminate any future worries.

Upon hearing this, Yang Rong's lips curled into a sarcastic smile: "Enough with the nonsense, just kill me already. Even in death, I won't reveal a single word."

Xiao Jinyan seemed to have expected this, and instead of getting angry, he smiled slightly, which seemed particularly strange: "Yang Rong, I've heard that the Prince of Guangling is a ruthless person, and his cruelty is unmatched. If I hand you over to him, how do you think he will deal with you?"

Yang Rong's face turned deathly pale instantly. She had naturally heard of the infamous reputation of the Prince of Guangling, and the thought of possibly falling into the hands of that devil filled her with an indescribable fear.

Even so, Yang Rong's eyes remained firm and unwavering: "Xiao Jinyan, even if you kill me or hand me over to the Prince of Guangling, you will never find out the whereabouts of the last of the Four Beauties of the Capital."

At this moment, Xiao Jinyan was burning with rage; he wished he could kill Yang Rong with a single sword stroke. But if he were to truly harden his heart and kill a weak woman who couldn't even kill a chicken, especially such a beautiful woman, he really couldn't bring himself to do it.

Thinking of Guan Lingxuan's continued poisoning, Xiao Jinyan went to Lüzhu's side again. When he met Lüzhu's provocative eyes, he did not hesitate at all and swiftly pulled the sock out of Lüzhu's mouth.

Green Pearl took a few deep breaths and coughed violently, as if she were coughing up her internal organs. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she felt nauseous. She suppressed her discomfort, her gaze hardening as she stared intently at Xiao Jinyan, as if trying to pierce through him with her eyes.

"What about the antidote for the poison that Guan Lingxuan was poisoned with?"

Xiao Jinyan's voice was deep and powerful, revealing an unquestionable authority.

Green Pearl sneered, her voice laced with mockery: "Release the princess, or you'll never get the antidote."

Xiao Jinyan frowned, a complex smile curving his lips: "Release her? Impossible. But I can promise you, I won't kill her."

Upon hearing this, a sly glint flashed in Green Pearl's eyes: "You mean, to place the princess under house arrest in the Duke of Qi's mansion?"

"Exactly."

Xiao Jinyan gave a brief acknowledgment.

If we could put Yang Rong under house arrest and stop her from causing trouble, then finding an opportunity to dig out the most mysterious of the four beauties of the capital might be a good option.

"Then you must treat her to the best food and drink, and not neglect her. Also, you must never reveal the princess's identity, and you must never hand her over to the Prince of Guangling."

Green Pearl continued to make her demands, her tone firm and unwavering.

"no problem."

Xiao Jinyan readily agreed; this condition was nothing to him.

Seeing this, Green Pearl added, "I have one more condition."

His voice was deep and mysterious, as if what he was about to say was the key.

Xiao Jinyan frowned again, but his tone remained calm: "What are the conditions?"

His eyes revealed a mixture of curiosity and wariness, clearly indicating that he had anticipated this final condition would not be simple.

Green Pearl's eyes were unusually bright: "I need to talk to you alone."

Xiao Jinyan thought for a moment and said to Luo Chuan, "Luo Chuan, take them all back to the Duke of Qi's mansion and keep them under strict guard. Also, spread the word that Yang Rong, that slut, slept with a pretty boy in private and cuckolded me, so I sealed up Mianyue Tower."

Thus, with an iron will, Xiao Jinyan swiftly sealed off the once-renowned Mianyue Tower in Jiankang City, his imposing presence causing everyone within to tremble. Following this swift action, Xiao Jinyan captured Yang Rong and Lü Zhu, bringing them back to the Duke of Qi's mansion.

That night, moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, dappling a bedroom in the Duke of Qi's mansion.

Facing Green Pearl, Xiao Jinyan's eyes flashed with a complex expression. He led Green Pearl to this simply decorated yet extraordinary room, the door gently closed, isolating her from the noise of the outside world.

"Speak quickly," Xiao Jinyan's voice was deep and powerful, each word seemingly squeezed out from his throat, "What conditions will it take for you to hand over the antidote?"

His eyes held both urgency and unwavering determination, for obtaining the antidote was a matter of life and death for Guan Lingxuan.

A playful smile appeared on Green Pearl's lips, her eyes seemingly able to see into the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

“I want to know,” Green Pearl spoke slowly, her voice laced with a hint of provocation, “what is it about you that makes Zi Xuan so willing to betray the princess she has always served?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan frowned slightly. He had not expected Green Pearl to ask such a question, and for a moment he was speechless.

"That's it?"

Green Pearl chuckled, a sly glint in her eyes: "Yes, that's it. But you have to let me experience firsthand how alluring and irresistible it is to be your woman, so that a resolute assassin would abandon his beliefs and loyalty."

Before she finished speaking, she began to slowly remove her gauze dress, her movements elegant and resolute, as if she were performing a silent ritual.

Xiao Jinyan was shocked. He had never encountered such direct provocation before. He quickly reached out to stop him: "What are you doing? Put your clothes on properly."