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

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He hugged He Jian's shoulders tightly, and tears streamed down his face like broken beads: "Brother, I can't leave you here alone!"

He Jian took a deep breath, suppressing his grief and despair: "Han Xiu, if you really consider me a brother, then give me a quick death."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu felt as if his heart was being torn apart: "Brother, how could I..."

He Jian said sternly, "Rather than being slowly sliced ​​to death tomorrow and suffering endless torture, it would be better to die by your blade, brother, which would be cleaner and more swift!"

Han Xiu's hand holding the knife trembled incessantly. Looking into He Jian's firm and resolute eyes, he knew that this was He Jian's last request and his only way out.

"No... I can't..." Han Xiu's voice trembled, and his tears blurred his vision.

However, He Jian clung tightly to his shoulders, his voice pleading, "Give me a cut! I don't want to live like this anymore! Brother, please..."

Han Xiu closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. He took a deep breath, as if bidding a final farewell. Then, he suddenly opened his eyes and swung his sword at He Jian.

The knife drew a cold arc in the air, splashing a bloody red spray, and He Jian fell to the ground dead.

Han Xiu turned around, staring intently at Xiao Jinyan, and said, "Let's go."

However, Xiao Jinyan waved his hand gently: "Wait."

Upon hearing this, Han Xiu's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt: "You want to back out?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinyan slowly took off the magnificent brocade robe she was wearing. Then, she took out a bulletproof vest with a faint metallic sheen from the inner lining.

"Put this on," Xiao Jinyan gently handed the bulletproof vest to Han Xiu. "Otherwise, if pursuers shoot arrows at you from behind, how will you defend yourself?"

The moment Han Xiu received the bulletproof vest, her heart completely let down its guard.

"Jinyan..." Han Xiu's voice trembled slightly, "I misunderstood you before."

---------

Three days later, at the Duke of Qi's residence.

As night fell, the moonlight, like fine silver gauze, gently spilled across the quiet courtyard.

Guan Lingxuan walked hurriedly, her figure appearing and disappearing among the dappled shadows of the trees. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and the scenes she had just experienced were still swirling in her mind—she had rescued a strong but seriously injured man and secretly placed him in her room.

At this moment, Guan Lingxuan was filled with tension and anxiety, and urgently needed to report this matter to Xiao Jinyan. However, it happened to be Yu Xin'er's turn to serve the emperor tonight, and Xiao Jinyan was currently in Yu Xin'er's room.

As Guan Lingxuan walked through the winding corridors, pondering how to see Xiao Jinyan as soon as possible, a sudden voice interrupted her thoughts...

"Zixuan, how have you been?"

The voice was clear and melodious, yet carried a hint of cunning that was difficult to detect.

Guan Lingxuan turned around abruptly and saw that Green Pearl had been standing not far away. Under the moonlight, her smile was like a blooming night-blooming jasmine, both beautiful and carrying an indescribable meaning.

"Green Pearl, weren't you locked up in the backyard with Yang Rong and not allowed to move around freely?"

Guan Lingxuan frowned, her tone wary.

Green Pearl smiled gently, a hint of smugness and provocation in her smile: "Yang Rong can't move around freely, but I'm different."

Guan Lingxuan's eyes sharpened: "What makes you different?"

Green Pearl seemed to enjoy Guan Lingxuan's surprise and confusion. She deliberately dragged out her words and said slowly, "Look, I'm not a virgin anymore, just like you."

As Green Pearl spoke, she slowly raised her fair wrist, and the cinnabar mole that should have been on her delicate, porcelain-like skin miraculously disappeared.

Upon seeing this, Guan Lingxuan frowned, a sense of foreboding flashing in her bright eyes: "You...who did you give your body to? It couldn't be...some shameless wild man, could it?"

Upon hearing this, Green Pearl smiled calmly and said, "What wild man? The one I gave him was the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan's heart skipped a beat: "Which prince?"

Green Pearl smiled gently, a smile that was both mischievous and sweet: "In Jiankang City, which other prince could there be? Of course, it's the elegant and talented Xiao Jinyan."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan's expression instantly became complicated and unreadable: "You...you seduced him?"

Green Pearl smiled knowingly: "What seduction? We are truly in love."

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan was speechless for a moment and could only say, "I'll settle the score with you later."

After saying that, she hurriedly turned and left.

Seeing this, Green Pearl hurriedly chased after him, her voice filled with a mixture of urgency and tenderness: "By the way, Zi Xuan, you still haven't told me how many times your husband and I consummated our marriage on our first night together?"

Guan Lingxuan frowned slightly: "Green Pearl, why are you starting to call him 'husband' too?"

Green Pearl's voice carried a hint of teasing: "If you can call out, why can't I?"

Guan Lingxuan bit her lip, momentarily unable to find the right words to refute.

Seeing this, Green Pearl smiled smugly, nudged Guan Lingxuan lightly with her shoulder, and said in a teasing tone, "Tell me, how many times have you made love?"

Guan Lingxuan lowered her eyes helplessly and whispered, "Three times? What's wrong?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Green Pearl proudly stretched out four slender fingers and waved them in front of Guan Lingxuan, her eyes gleaming with victory: "Me, four times!"

Upon hearing this, Guan Lingxuan frowned slightly and said, "Fine, you wait."

After saying that, he turned to leave, his steps carrying a hint of determination.

Seeing this, Green Pearl hurriedly asked, "Hey, where are you going?"

Guan Lingxuan stopped in her tracks, her face filled with anger and resentment: "Of course I'll go find my husband and consummate our marriage, how about that?"

Meanwhile, in Yu Xin'er's boudoir, the flickering candlelight illuminated the figures of a perfect couple.

Xiao Jinyan was sitting upright next to Yu Xin'er, his expression somewhat solemn.

Yu Xin'er gently grasped Xiao Jinyan's hand, her eyes filled with concern and reproach: "Husband, it's not that I want to criticize you, but you acted too rashly this time. Why didn't you discuss the matter of saving Han Xiu with me first?"

Thanks to Xiao Jinyan's efforts, Han Xiu successfully escaped Jiankang and went to Pengcheng to seek refuge with Xiao Cheng. However, this news reached Liu Kun's ears that very day.

Xiao Jinyan's explanation was that Han Xiu was his former superior who had treated him well, so he wanted to see Han Xiu before his execution and bring him some good food. However, he didn't expect Han Xiu to take the opportunity to kidnap him, kill the prison guards, and escape.

Wei Wuji then took the opportunity to impeach Xiao Jinyan, saying that he deliberately let Han Xiu go and had ulterior motives.

Fortunately, Liu Kun still held Xiao Jinyan in high regard, believing him to be loyal and simply visiting his old leader. However, Wei Wuji dismissed Han Xiu's cunning and treacherous nature as something to be disregarded.

Xiao Jinyan patted Yu Xin'er on the shoulder and said, "I was just worried that Madam would worry."