After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

When she left the public housing, the morning light had already crept onto the eaves of the Taiji Palace. Not far away came the sounds of eunuchs sweeping the courtyard, intertwined with the birdsong, as if the assassination had never happened.

Crossing Chengtianmen Cross Street and entering Chengtianmen, Pei Jiaoran paused before the Lizheng Hall of the Taiji Palace. The dagger wound at her waist still oozed blood, staining her crimson official uniform darkly. She had deliberately not changed her clothes, not even treating the wound. Sometimes, blood is the best advice.

Today, the Emperor of Wei adjourned court as usual, but instead issued an edict directing the three ministries to coordinate all state affairs. Pei Jiaoran stood with his sleeves folded, his eyes concealing the thoughts in his eyes.

"Prince Pei, His Majesty summons you to the audience." The eunuch on duty in front of the palace announced with his head lowered and his eyes submissive, but when he raised his eyes and saw the blood on her waist, his pupils shrank slightly.

Hearing this, Pei Jiaoran nodded slightly and stepped over the high threshold. The scent of ambergris in the hall wafted towards him, mixed with a faint hint of medicine. The Emperor of Wei might be suffering from a headache again.

"Your Majesty, I, Pei Jiaoran, pay my respects to you." She stopped a short distance from the imperial desk and performed a meticulously respectful ceremony. Although the wound on her waist was disturbed when she bent over, her brows furrowed slightly, but she quickly recovered as usual.

Yuan Zhengze, who was standing beside the throne, stared at Pei Jiaoran intently.

Glancing at Yuan Zhengze, Pei Jiaoran smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I have something important to report." Then she picked up a wooden box.

"Present it." The Emperor of Wei waved his hand, signaling Yuan Zhengze to go down and get the memorial.

Yuan Zhengze responded and walked up to Pei Jiaoran, sizing her up. After a moment's hesitation, he took the wooden box from her. He then presented the box to the Emperor of Wei and returned to his seat.

The Emperor of Wei took the wooden box and felt something sticky on his fingertips. He looked down and saw dark red blood stains on the sandalwood box.

"Pei Qing, this blood..." The Emperor of Wei frowned, suddenly noticing the dark spot on Pei Jiaoran's waist, "Are you injured?"

Pei Jiaoran bowed his head, his voice steady as usual: "Your Majesty, I was attacked while in the Secretariat. Fortunately, the injury was not serious, and I only damaged the memorial. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"What!" The Emperor of Wei slammed the table, causing the teacups on it to clink and clatter. "Who is so bold as to assassinate the Prime Minister in the imperial city?"

Yuan Zhengze, who was standing by, had a slightly changed expression and unconsciously clenched the corner of his clothes.

Pei Jiaoran still lowered his head under the throne, then raised it slightly in the blink of an eye, his eyes passing over the Wei Emperor. At this moment, the Wei Emperor was sitting on the throne with a furious face and breathing heavily.

Hearing the Emperor of Wei's increasingly heavy breathing, Pei Jiaoran raised his head and spoke calmly, "My injury is not serious, Your Majesty, please rest assured. Please read the memorial in the box first."

"Heh." The Wei Emperor sneered, his voice as cold as a snow-covered wasteland. "Today, you dare to assassinate the prime minister in the palace. Tomorrow, will you threaten the emperor to control the world? Pei Qing, can you interrogate who did this?"

Pei Jiaoran slowly straightened up. "The assassin, dressed as a eunuch, claimed to be Wang Bao and entered the palace last year. I originally wanted to imprison him for questioning, but unfortunately he escaped. He concealed his crime by threatening death and died by hitting a pillar."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Emperor's expression turned even worse. His chest heaved violently, and the pain from his headache made his vision blurry.

The Crown Prince was gone, the King of Wu was gone, and while the other kings were present, they were unworthy of his position. He had few people to rely on, and now the Prime Minister was being assassinated in the Secretariat. Where was the Emperor's safety?

A huge sense of fear spread in the heart of the Wei Emperor. He stroked his chest and stared at Pei Jiaoran. "Tell the general of the gate to come to see me quickly! I want to ask him how he got the job."

Yuan Zhengze's gaze lingered on Pei Jiaoran's waist for a moment, then quickly shifted away. He whispered, "Your Majesty, please calm down. Prime Minister Pei is seriously injured. Should we call the imperial physician first?"

"No need," Pei Jiaoran interrupted, his voice gentle but undeniable. "My death is not a pity, but this matter concerns the safety of the court. I must report it to Your Majesty immediately."

Squinting his eyes at Pei Jiaoran, the Emperor of Wei waved his hand, signaling Yuan Zhengze to leave.

Yuan Zhengze, who was once again excluded from power by the Emperor of Wei, retreated unwillingly, taking with him all the eunuchs and palace maids serving in the room.

At this moment, only the Emperor of Wei and Pei Jiaoran were left in the hall.

Since there was no one else in the hall, Pei Jiaoran no longer hesitated. He smiled and strode towards the Emperor of Wei, stopping before him and bowing.

The Minister of the Central Secretariat, who was at the height of his power, was so close. Although the Emperor of Wei looked frightened, his voice remained calm. "What are you planning?"

Pei Jiaoran looked towards the door and said coldly, "As the Crown Prince's tutor, I must make plans for him. Your Majesty is the Crown Prince's greatest guarantee. If Your Majesty is killed by the rebels, both the Crown Prince and I will be beheaded. Therefore, Your Majesty must stay alive..."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Wei was suddenly stunned. "How dare you hold me hostage?" However, he thought of the wooden box on the table that had not yet been opened, and his eyes showed a thoughtful look. He pushed open the buckle and found the rolled white deer paper inside.

Under Pei Jiaoran's gaze, the Emperor of Wei unrolled the scroll, glanced at it quickly, and suddenly smiled. He had been ill for some time, his body already weakened. He slumped back onto the throne. He didn't look at Pei Jiaoran again, but instead took out the scroll he had placed aside.

"Pei Jiaoran." The Emperor of Wei stroked the unrolled scroll, his voice hoarse. "Do you know why I'm wary of you? Which emperor in history wasn't wary of powerful ministers? They either hold them in their hands or give them leverage to the new emperor, waiting for the opportunity to destroy them. They can't give them even the slightest chance. You understand the rules of building a tower of power and know how to navigate it. Huo Bolu spent decades at the side of Emperor Wu of Han, cautious and careful, before he was given the opportunity to assist in the administration. There were only a handful of people like him later. And you are even smarter and more perceptive. After overthrowing Wang Yu, you didn't rush to take the throne, but waited for the imperial power to grant you power. At that moment, I knew that your understanding of power was no worse than mine. From that day on, I wanted to catch you making a mistake all the time, but you were too cautious, too cautious. Even the crown prince trusted you, I..."

"Your Majesty, I am not as good as Huo Guang." Pei Jiaoran gazed at the Wei Emperor quietly and said in a deep voice, "Duke Zhou was vain, and Bolu is hard to come by. Most people who gain power today are usurpers. But I am not one of them. I am thankful that Your Majesty has not drawn the sword against me." After a pause, she continued, "However, the current situation is unclear. I implore Your Majesty to allow your brother, King Huan Yuansheng of Han, to assist in government affairs to prevent treacherous villains from causing trouble."

Listening to her words, the Emperor of Wei closed his eyes and sighed. Prince Huan Yuansheng of Han was his half-brother. Although he had devoted himself to nature in recent years, he was also known for his generosity. Pei Jiaoran's decision to invite this highly respected relative to preside over the situation, rather than letting power fall into the hands of the Prime Minister, was truly undeniable.

Smiling, the Emperor of Wei said, "Do as you wish. You may also take this painting. I hope you will understand my intentions before the Crown Prince returns."