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

Wei Wuji was both amused and exasperated, and could only say, "Your Majesty, this old minister is wary of Xiao Jinyan, not because he has taken Wei Kui's lover, but because Yang Rong's identity is very suspicious!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun frowned slightly, his doubt evident in his expression: "Oh? What exactly is suspicious about Yang Rong?"

Wei Wuji sighed softly, as if reminiscing about the past, or perhaps lamenting the impermanence of life: "Does Your Majesty still remember the Kingdom of Qiuchi, the country that was destroyed by our late emperor?"

Liu Kun nodded, memories flooding back: "Of course I remember, it's been a few years since the fall of the Qiuchi Kingdom, hasn't it?"

“That’s why,” Wei Wuji’s voice was even lower, “that there was a princess of the fallen kingdom of Qiuchi, and her whereabouts have not yet been found.”

Liu Kun's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes flashed with disbelief: "Duke of Qin, are you saying... you suspect that Yang Rong is actually the princess of the fallen Qiu Chi Kingdom?"

Wei Wuji nodded, his expression solemn: "Currently, there is a lack of conclusive evidence, but after my extensive investigation over this period of time, and based on various signs, it is highly likely that Yang Rong is the long-lost princess of the fallen Qiuchi Kingdom."

Liu Kun's expression was stern, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness: "Duke of Qin, without solid evidence, do not jump to conclusions. How can you accuse Yang Rong of being the princess of the fallen Qiu Chi kingdom simply because she cheated on Wei Kui? Such baseless speculation is utterly absurd!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji was utterly dumbfounded, his face turning green with anger. He shook his head slightly and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister has dedicated his life to the country; how could I possibly have any selfish motives? Yang Rong's identity is indeed highly suspicious. She could very well be the long-lost princess of the fallen Qiu Chi kingdom. And if Xiao Jinyan truly harbors this princess and keeps it a secret, doesn't that prove he harbors ulterior motives and plots against us?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes filled with disdain for Yang Rong: "Hmph, Yang Rong is nothing but a promiscuous, shameless woman. She's fickle, first she cuckolded Wei Kui, then hooked up with Xiao Jinyan, and now she's cheating on Xiao Jinyan with someone else. Xiao Jinyan has this slut under house arrest simply to prevent her from having an affair and seducing other men. What's wrong with that?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Wuji frowned, his voice filled with worry: "Your Majesty, you must not be deceived by Xiao Jinyan's hypocritical appearance! This villain is extremely cunning and ruthless. I'm afraid that everything he has done is far more complicated than it appears on the surface."

Liu Kun waved his hand, his expression revealing a hint of impatience: "I know that words are not enough, everything requires evidence. Duke Qin, please don't keep telling me these unfounded rumors. If there is truly conclusive evidence that Yang Rong is the princess of the fallen Qiu Chi kingdom, and Xiao Jinyan knew about it but did not report it and deliberately harbored her, I will investigate and deal with him!"

By this time, Xiao Jinyan's dissolute behavior and Yang Rong's allure had become deeply ingrained in people's minds, and Liu Kun was convinced of it. He also now had a rather favorable impression of Xiao Jinyan, finding her pleasing to the eye in every way. Therefore, Liu Kun wouldn't listen to a single word of Wei Wuji's suspicions.

Wei Wuji could only sigh helplessly and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister will find evidence sooner or later to expose the true face of Xiao Jinyan, this treacherous villain!"

----------

At this moment, on the streets of Jiankang.

All around were rows of shops and restaurants, bustling crowds, and a constant flow of traffic.

Xiao Jinyan, dressed in a brocade robe, walked resolutely along the mottled stone path, a gleaming knife gripping his hand. His purpose was to go to the death row to see someone of paramount importance to him, and to find a way to rescue that person.

This person is Han Xiu, the "Northern Gun King," and Xiao Jinyan's former boss.

To be honest, Han Xiu was really badly harmed by Xiao Jinyan.

After the Crown Prince was killed, Xiao Jinyan worried that Han Xiu, the Crown Prince's close confidant, would lead the Imperial Guards to avenge the Crown Prince, causing the soldiers to make pointless sacrifices. He was also afraid that the Song Dynasty would fall into internal strife, so he devised a plan to capture him and seize his military power.

Although Han Xiu did not actually lead troops to cause trouble, or rather, Xiao Jinyan nipped his restless heart in the bud, Liu Kun still did not intend to let him go.

To this day, Han Xiu remains imprisoned on death row, and Liu Kun has decided to execute him in the autumn. Xiao Jinyan, however, has taken over Han Xiu's 50,000-strong imperial guard and has been officially recognized as the Central Protector General by Liu Kun, who has just ascended the throne.

Therefore, Xiao Jinyan felt quite sorry for Han Xiu.

Furthermore, on the one hand, Xiao Jinyan felt that a fierce general like Han Xiu should be galloping across the battlefield, making contributions to the Song Dynasty, rather than being killed so easily, which would be a complete waste of talent. On the other hand, Xiao Jinyan also scorned Liu Kun's narrow-mindedness, believing that he was incapable of achieving great things.

Both Li Shimin and Li Shimin seized the throne by killing their brothers, and both experienced the Xuanwu Gate Incident. How did Li Shimin handle the aftermath?

Wei Zheng, Xue Wanche, Xie Shufang, Li Anyan, and others were all close confidants of the Crown Prince before, but in the end, they were all pardoned and given important positions by Li Shimin.

Perhaps, some people simply lack the innate talent to become a great emperor throughout history...

At that very moment, at the entrance to the death row, a beautiful young woman dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing expensive jewelry was negotiating with a greedy-looking prison warden.

The woman was graceful and beautiful, with clear eyes and fair skin that radiated a wild and vibrant life. Beside her stood a man with a delicate face, sharp eyes, and exceptionally handsome features.

This woman was Princess Liu Xiyu of Heyang, He Jian's wife, known as the most licentious woman in the history of the Song Dynasty, who kept more than 300 male concubines in her household.

The man with the effeminate features was one of Liu Xiyu's male lovers, whom she called "Sixth Brother".

"Warden, please let me go in and see him."

Liu Xiyu's voice was gentle. She gently raised her hand, and two heavy silver ingots silently slipped into the jailer's greasy hand.

A glint of greed flashed in the jailer's eyes. Taking advantage of the opportunity to receive the silver, he deliberately touched Liu Xiyu's delicate, jade-like hand, and a smug smile appeared on his lips.

"Your Highness, you're putting me in a difficult position. He Jian has committed the grave crime of treason..."

The jailer feigned embarrassment as he spoke, but the silver in his hand was already tightly gripped.

Liu Xiyu frowned slightly, a troubled look on her face: "Warden, please be lenient with me."

The jailer chuckled, deliberately using a affected tone: "It'll cost more."

After saying that, his greedy gaze swept over Liu Xiyu's graceful figure again, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Helpless, Liu Xiyu took out two silver ingots from her sleeve and handed them to the jailer. The jailer took the silver, a greedy glint in his eyes, before nodding and letting Liu Xiyu in.

Liu Xiyu trudged heavily into the dark, damp, musty, and despair-filled death cell. The surrounding walls seemed to be sculpted by time and suffering, every brick and tile exuding endless desolation.