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

Upon hearing this, Liu Lang's eyes sharpened: "Yes, Princess."

"do you know who he is?"

Liu Xiyu pressed for an answer.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Lang said, "He is the newly appointed Commander of the Central Guard, Xiao Jinyan."

The name Xiao Jinyan struck Liu Xiyu's heart like a heavy hammer. She looked up abruptly, her eyes flashing with rage: "He's Xiao Jinyan? My brother, the Crown Prince, has been incredibly kind to him, treating him like a brother. How dare he betray my brother and join the Prince of Guangling? This man must be killed!"

Liu Lang knew Liu Xiyu's decision well, but he could not hide the worry on his face: "Killing this person is indeed not an easy task. However, as long as it is the princess's order, even if it is a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire, Liu Lang will not hesitate."

Meanwhile, deep within the dark, damp, and heavily guarded death cell, Xiao Jinyan slowly stepped in with heavy steps. The dim candlelight flickered, casting a long shadow of him onto the mottled stone wall.

The moment Han Xiu saw Xiao Jinyan, he seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, and he lunged at the cell bars, his eyes wide open, his voice hoarse and filled with hatred: "Xiao Jinyan, what are you doing here? You traitor! You will die a horrible death!"

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a deep-seated hatred.

He Jian, in the next cell, also had a cold expression, a hint of disdain on his lips, and gave Xiao Jinyan a contemptuous glance.

Faced with this surging tide of anger, Xiao Jinyan's expression remained unusually calm. His gaze was deep, and his tone was gentle: "General Han, do you hate me very much?"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu's anger intensified, and she almost burst through the fence: "Xiao Jinyan, you treacherous villain! I wish I could eat your flesh, drink your blood, and pull out your tendons!"

Xiao Jinyan sighed softly: "May I ask the general a question?"

Han Xiu glared at him, perhaps due to some inexplicable force, and finally snorted coldly: "Speak up if you have something to say, or shut up if you have something to say, stop dawdling!"

Xiao Jinyan slowly spoke: "If the general had learned that the Crown Prince had been killed by the Prince of Guangling, what would you have done?"

Han Xiu resolutely replied, "Is there any need to ask? Of course, we will lead 50,000 imperial guards into the palace to avenge the Crown Prince! Even if it means our lives are shattered to pieces, we will not hesitate!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan gave a bitter smile: "Then I should have captured the general back then, seized his military power, and stopped him from fighting among his own men and wreaking havoc on the world!"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu became even more agitated. He shook the cold fence violently, his eyes blazing with fury, and roared, "Xiao Jinyan, you bastard! I'm going to kill you!"

"General, please hear me out."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu paused, glaring angrily at Xiao Jinyan.

Seeing this, Xiao Jinyan spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible warmth: "General, do you remember the battle against the Northern Wei in Qingzhou in the eighteenth year of Yuanjia? You led three thousand elite cavalry against fifty thousand enemy troops. You were fearless, charging into the enemy ranks alone, killing the enemy's commander, and turning the tide of the battle single-handedly. From then on, your tiger-headed golden spear struck fear into the hearts of the Northern Wei soldiers, earning you the nickname 'King of the Spears in the North'."

"Furthermore, in the twenty-third year of the Yuanjia era, the Northern Wei launched a massive invasion, their army advancing directly towards Guabu. Our important Song town of Zhongli was besieged by the Wei army for several months. It was you who stepped forward, leading five thousand elite cavalry northwards, sweeping away the enemy and killing over twenty thousand, thus relieving the siege of Zhongli. This action left the Wei army attacked from both sides, and their supplies could not be replenished, forcing them to retreat northwards soon after. Which of these achievements is not a source of pride for the Song Dynasty? Which one is not a testament to your unwavering loyalty and courage?"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu's expression became complicated: "Why are you saying all this?"

Xiao Jinyan's gaze was profound: "General, you are a rare military talent in the Song Dynasty."

Han Xiu sneered and said, "What's the use? I'm imprisoned now, with no way to serve my country!"

Xiao Jinyan shook his head and said, "However, although you are a talented general, you only know how to be loyal to the Crown Prince, not to the country and the nation of our Great Song!"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu frowned, his voice low and puzzled: "What do you mean by that?"

Xiao Jinyan took a deep breath and said, "If the general really succeeds in killing the Prince of Guangling and avenging the Crown Prince, then what? The Song Dynasty will be plunged into endless strife and turmoil, the people will be displaced, and the country will be torn apart. Is this the situation the general wants to see?"

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu's expression froze, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He Jian, in the adjacent cell, also frowned, his gaze deep in thought.

Xiao Jinyan continued, "The general says he has no way to serve his country, so I, Xiao Jinyan, will give him a chance. However, I hope that the general will always prioritize the well-being of the Song Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu abruptly raised her head: "What did you say?"

Xiao Jinyan did not answer, but shouted, "Warden, open the cell door!"

Just as the jailer was obediently following orders and letting his guard down, Xiao Jinyan moved with lightning speed. He suddenly drew the knife from his waist and slashed the jailer to the ground with lightning speed.

Blood splattered everywhere, and a pungent, metallic smell instantly filled the air. Before the nearby jailer could react, Xiao Jinyan was already upon him, chasing after him and wielding his knife once more, cleanly and efficiently eliminating yet another obstacle.

The series of movements were fluid and efficient, without any hesitation, causing Han Xiu and He Jian, who witnessed it all, to gasp in astonishment.

Han Xiu's voice was filled with disbelief and a hint of urgency: "Xiao Jinyan, you want to let me go?"

Xiao Jinyan nodded gently, her eyes filled with determination and reluctance: "There's no time to say more, General Han. When we go out, take this knife and use it as cover. There's a black horse outside named Jueying. This horse can travel a thousand miles a day and eight hundred miles at night. Ride it north, escape Jiankang, and go to Pengcheng to seek refuge with my father. He will take you in."

After saying that, Xiao Jinyan quickly shoved the knife in her hand into Han Xiu's hand, and then moved closer, ready to become a "hostage".

At present, Xiao Cheng, as the governor of four provinces of Qing, Xu, Yan and Yu, with his capital in Pengcheng, is the only one who has the courage to take in Han Xiu, as he commands 300,000 troops and obeys orders but not summons.

Han Xiu gripped the cold knife, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He Jian's gaze flickered uncertainly in the dimly lit cell. He looked at Xiao Jinyan standing in front of the cell door, his voice tinged with incomprehension and desolation: "Xiao Jinyan, I understand you less and less."

Just then, Han Xiu, wielding the knife, forcefully cleaved open the cell door and charged in like an enraged lion. With a determined look in his eyes, he said to He Jian, "Brother, let's go together!"

He Jian shook his head slightly, his gaze falling on his only remaining leg. The scars on that stump seemed to tell of the suffering and struggle he had endured. He smiled bitterly, his voice tinged with helplessness: "Go away. I'm a cripple now. I can't escape."

At this moment, not only He Jian himself, but also Xiao Jinyan and Han Xiu knew very well that He Jian, who had lost a leg, had no chance of escaping Jiankang.