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

Cherry and Peach exchanged a smile, seemingly finding their master's frankness endearing. They then turned and went into the outer room, returning shortly to return with two plates of exquisite pastries, which they gracefully placed on the table. The pastries were tempting in color and fragrant in aroma, making one's mouth water.

Seeing this, Li Yuerui disregarded all decorum and directly picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth. She then began to eat one pastry after another, wolfing it down without any restraint whatsoever.

I haven't eaten for three days, I almost starved to death!

Cherry and Peach watched in stunned silence. This beauty looked more like a beggar than anything else…

Just as Li Yuerui was enjoying her meal, a series of steady footsteps came from outside the door.

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Jinyan, dressed in magnificent robes, slowly entered the room. The moment his gaze fell upon Li Yuerui, it involuntarily softened.

Upon noticing Xiao Jinyan's arrival, Li Yuerui was slightly taken aback. She then wiped her lips and asked warily, "You are Xiao Jinyan, the heir of the Duke of Qi?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded and said, "That's right."

Li Yuerui's eyes held a mixture of wariness and curiosity: "Why did you save me?"

Xiao Jinyan smiled slightly, a smile that held both profound meaning and a hint of amusement: "I think you're a talented person. In this chaotic world, what's most important? Talent!"

After saying that, he thought to himself, "Although it's not the 21st century now, talent is the most important thing in any era."

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible flicker of emotion crossed Li Yuerui's brows, but she quickly regained her cold demeanor: "You want me to be used by you?"

Xiao Jinyan shook her head slightly, a faint smile curving her lips: "Do you have any other choice?"

Yes, he had committed a serious crime of treason. The Prince of Guangling had ascended the throne and was now wanted throughout the city. Now, apart from Xiao Jinyan, a ruthless character, who would dare to take him in?

Li Yuerui remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded, her eyes flashing with determination: "Okay, I can do things for you."

Xiao Jinyan seemed to have anticipated her answer, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips: "Don't rush to agree. To work for me, you need to meet two conditions: first, you must be capable; second, you must be loyal. I will personally test both of these."

His gaze sharpened, as if he were assessing Li Yuerui's determination and ability.

Li Yuerui raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with both anticipation and resentment: "How will you test me?"

"Let's talk about your abilities first," Xiao Jinyan said, pacing slowly, his figure appearing exceptionally tall and slender. "I've heard you're highly skilled in martial arts. Would you be willing to let me witness it for myself?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuerui smiled confidently and said, "No problem."

"Okay, come with me."

Xiao Jinyan flicked his sleeve, turned and walked out of the room, leading Li Yuerui through the winding corridors to a quiet garden.

In that garden full of blooming flowers and fragrant aromas, sunlight filters through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows and adding a touch of vibrancy and energy to this tranquil space.

Luo Chuan and Wang Xuanyu stood quietly to the side, their gazes lingering on every beautiful spot in the garden.

Xiao Jinyan said to Wang Xuanyu, "Xuanyu, you are known as the fiercest general of the Tiger Warriors. Today I would like to see just how good your swordsmanship is."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xuanyu's lips curled into a proud smile, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's: "General, in the Tiger Legion, if I, Wang Xuanyu, claim to be second in swordsmanship, then no one would dare to claim to be first!"

These words immediately created a tense and subtle atmosphere.

Xiao Jinyan turned to look at Li Yuerui, who stood gracefully and heroically to the side, a sly glint in his eyes: "Yinrui, this is the fiercest general of my Tiger Warrior Camp. Since you boast of your extraordinary martial arts skills, why don't you have a swordsmanship contest with him?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yuerui raised an eyebrow, a stubborn glint of defiance playing on her lips: "Playing with knives? I, Yinrui, have never been afraid of anyone since I was a child!"

After saying that, she flashed and drew two gleaming knives, one long and one short, from her waist. The lengths of the knives were intertwined, like two dragons emerging from the sea, and she instantly assumed a fighting stance.

Upon seeing this, Wang Xuanyu's eyes flashed with surprise, then a playful smile appeared on his lips: "Heh, this little wench is quite confident. In that case, let me, Wang Xuanyu, experience your skills!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already drawn a broadsword from behind his back. The blade was heavy and gleamed with a cold light, clearly a rare and formidable weapon.

Immediately afterwards, the two sides began to compete, and a chilling atmosphere filled the air.

Wang Xuanyu suddenly sprang up like a tiger descending a mountain, wielding his sword and slashing fiercely at Li Yuerui. The wind from the sword howled, causing the grass and trees to rustle.

Seeing this, Li Yuerui advanced instead of retreating, her long sword flashing like a snake, instantly blocking Wang Xuanyu's powerful attack. The moment the two swords clashed, she twisted her wrist, her short sword flashing like lightning in a graceful arc, aiming straight for Wang Xuanyu's ribs.

Wang Xuanyu snorted coldly, sidestepped the attack, and simultaneously swept his broadsword horizontally, attacking Li Yuerui once more...

The two exchanged blows, their swords flashing and their skill seemingly evenly matched. The wind howled, and each clash sparked a shower of fire, turning the entire garden into a battlefield of tension and excitement. Luo Chuan and Xiao Jinyan watched intently, secretly filled with admiration.

Wang Xuanyu and Li Yuerui's figures were like two agile cheetahs, weaving together a series of dazzling battle scenes.

At first, the two were evenly matched. Amidst the flashing swords and blades, Wang Xuanyu's swordsmanship was both fierce and unparalleled, like a tiger descending the mountain, and Li Yuerui's swordsmanship was both agile and graceful, like a dragon playing in the water.

After more than a hundred moves, their clothes were soaked with sweat. Each clash of weapons was accompanied by the clear sound of metal striking metal, stirring the heartstrings of everyone present.

However, as time went on, Wang Xuanyu's steps began to become slightly heavy, and the composure in his swordsmanship was gradually replaced by a hint of panic. Each of his strikes seemed to be more hesitant than before, while Li Yuerui seized the opportunity, her sword flashing like a tapestry, becoming increasingly sharp.

Wang Xuanyu, the fiercest general of the Tiger Warriors, was gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.

Xiao Jinyan, watching the battle, had sharp, discerning eyes. He subtly winked at Luo Chuan beside him.

Luo Chuan instantly understood, a faint smile playing on his lips. He took out a pebble from his pocket, flicked it lightly with his fingertip, and the pebble shot through the air like an arrow, carrying an indescribable force as it headed straight for Li Yue Rui.

The pebble, though small, was incredibly accurate, hitting Li Yuerui squarely in the chest.

At that moment, Li Yuerui felt a sudden force jolt her to the side, her steps faltering as she narrowly avoided a sharp blade that Wang Xuanyu had swung out. The blade grazed her cheek, lifting a strand of hair, and a chilling aura filled the air.

"Xiao Jinyan! How could you allow someone to launch a sneak attack with hidden weapons?!"

Li Yuerui glared angrily, her voice filled with barely suppressed indignation. Her chest heaved violently; clearly, this sudden turn of events had enraged her beyond measure.