Possessed by my father, I was reborn and became the supreme ruler.

Xuancang Royal Palace Room

Consort Zhou, with red and swollen handprints on her face, crawled over and grabbed Consort Yu's skirt.

Consort Zhou (pleading): Consort Yu, please help me, I beg you!

Si Tianxiang kicked Consort Zhou in disgust, then turned to Consort Yu ingratiatingly.

Si Tianxiang: Miss, please speak.

Consort Yu sized up Si Tianxiang and slowly spoke.

Consort Yu, Princess Xuancang will be arriving in the capital soon. Eunuch Han and Li Anyuan have discussed this extensively, and Li Anyuan has agreed to temporarily relinquish the position of Princess Consort so that Eunuch Han can marry the princess and form a marriage alliance with Bian Sha to gain support. This has caused a rift between the two. Your Highness, this is a great opportunity for you.

Upon hearing this, Si Tianxiang became excited, pacing back and forth, repeatedly muttering to himself.

Si Tianxiang (to himself): Good, good, good. This young lady has helped me a great deal this time, and I will definitely repay her in the future. In that case, I must not let Eunuch Han get his hands on this princess!

Zhou Anren looked at the wounds on Consort Zhou's face with heartache and was furious.

Zhou Anren (in a hateful voice): He dares to treat my precious daughter like this, then I will overthrow the Song family's empire! What Si Tianxiang wants, I will not let him have!

Consort Zhou (with tears in her eyes): Father, have you thought it through? How do you deal with that vile woman, Li Anyuan?

Zhou Anren smiled smugly, her face full of disdain.

Zhou Anren: After today, I will make her wish she were dead! Consort Zhou, Princess Xuancang, Xuan Shishi, has entered the capital. She will marry Eunuch Han and become our eyes and ears in the palace. As long as we obtain military power in the northern border, you can do whatever you want with them.

Consort Zhou (pondering): But Si Tianxiang has also had his eye on this, I'm afraid...

Zhou Anren (comfortingly): Don't worry, my dear daughter, everything is under control. Li Anyuan's death is imminent...

Li Anyuan held Han, the eunuch, in his arms, extremely nervous.

Li Anyuan: Ah Ci, I'm so scared. Many things are different from the last life. I don't know if there will be any mistakes.

Han, the eunuch (reassuring Li Anyuan): Don't worry, even if your plan fails, I'll still be there to protect you. This time, we'll definitely be able to grow old together in peace.

Li Anyuan: Have you never doubted that I am a madman, and that everything I say about the absurdity of rebirth is just nonsense?

Han, the eunuch: I said I would never doubt you.

Eunuch Li ran to the gate and shouted in the courtyard.

Eunuch Li: Your Highness and Princess are requested to come to the palace immediately for an audience to discuss important matters. No disobedience is permitted.

Lady Zhou knelt at the lower end and bowed to the King of Xuancang and the Queen in response.

Zhou Anren: King Xuancang, Tang Ming's disturbance of the border region is a crime deserving of death. I have devoted myself to negotiating peace with the border region for the sake of the people's peace. Now that he is frequently provoking us, we can only stabilize the relations between our two countries through marriage!

King Xuancang's expression remained calm and unreadable. Zhou Anren stole a glance at him, and King Xuancang remained silent for a long while.

King Xuancang: In your opinion, Minister Zhou, who would be most suitable to arrange this marriage?

Zhou Anren (smirking triumphantly): In my opinion, it depends on the princess's own wishes. There are quite a few eligible nobles in the capital now, so it depends on how the princess chooses.

Han, the eunuch Li Anyuan, and Si Tianxiang, the concubine Zhou, entered one after the other. Zhou Anren noticed that the two women exchanged glances.

King Xuancang: I have summoned you here today regarding Princess Xuancang. Her marriage to Darong is a gesture of peace. We cannot betray Bian Sha's painstaking efforts.

Consort Zhou tugged at Si Tianxiang's sleeve in a fawning manner.

Consort Zhou: Your Highness, the princess has already received Bian Sha's decree; she is determined to marry Eunuch Han. Let's not argue about it.

Si Tianxiang disgustedly shook off her hand, glaring at Li Anyuan with hatred.

King Xuancang glanced at the people standing below, and the Queen spoke first.

Empress: I know that you all have families, but the princess's relationship with you is not only a private matter but also a matter of national importance. No matter who the Prince of Xuancang chooses in a moment, you must be more mindful of the bigger picture. Do you understand?

Han, the eunuch/Si Tianxiang: Yes!

Zhou Anren cupped her hands and continued to report.

Zhou Anren: Regarding the matter of the Duke of Zhenguo disturbing the border, I request the King of Xuancang to make a decision. We cannot allow such a scourge to stir up trouble in the court. I urge the King of Xuancang to execute the treacherous officials and severely punish the villains!

Han, the palace attendant: Prime Minister Zhou, what do you mean by "treacherous villain"? That is inappropriate! The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has served three emperors and is filled with loyal and righteous men. They would never do anything that would harm the country. I urge the Prince of Xuancang to investigate thoroughly!

Empress: Who can know what is truly in one's heart? And no one can dig out the heart of the Duke of Zhenguo to see if the words "loyalty" are written on it!

Li Anyuan knelt on the ground, lifting her skirt, and pleaded.

Li Anyuan: King Xuancang, please reconsider! My father is old and has long intended to retire from the military and return to his hometown; he would never do such a thing!

King Xuancang slammed his fist on the table and roared.

King Xuancang: Enough! All this chatter! Whom should I listen to?

The Empress, supporting the Prince of Xuancang's arm, said in a sarcastic tone...

Empress: I know that the women of the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics. The affairs of the court and the relationships between relatives and friends are really complicated. As a woman in the inner palace, I can only observe from the sidelines.

Li Anyuan (clenching his fist): King Xuancang!

King Xuancang: Enough! If the Princess continues to behave improperly, she should go down and sober up!

Li Anyuan feigned a frustrated expression.

Zhou Anren: Prince Xuancang, since the Duke of Zhenguo has offended Bian Sha, then the Princess should make concessions and allow the Prince to marry the Princess, which would be worthy of her status.

Han, the palace attendant (feigning agreement): Your humble servant is willing to share the burdens of King Xuancang.

Si Tianxiang (interrupting): Father, I think this is inappropriate!

Hearing Si Tianxiang speak, Li Anyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and secretly exchanged a glance with Eunuch Han.

King Xuancang remained calm as he surveyed the group, while the Queen was the first to lose her composure.

Empress (with a dark face): Lin'er, stop fooling around!

Si Tianxiang (disdainfully): Father, matters of the court cannot be decided by one side alone. Your son is willing to share your burdens and marry the princess as your principal wife, thus relieving your uncle of his worries.

Just as Han was about to speak, Li Anyuan knelt down and grabbed the hem of Han's robe.

Li Anyuan (angrily): Eunuch Han, what did you promise me? If you marry the princess, I will die at the gate of the palace. While you enjoy your wedding night with your red bridal procession, I will hang myself and my bones will turn to dust.

Han, the eunuch (feigning impatience): Li Anyuan, haven't you made enough of a scene? Can't you put the bigger picture first?

Li Anyuan: King Xuancang, if you insist on blaming my father for offending Bian Sha, then there is no need for Your Highness to atone for my father's sins. Please, King Xuancang, grant me death!

Li Anyuan knelt deeply, leaving the King of Xuancang and the Queen at a loss for what to do.

King Xuancang: The princess has come from afar, which is a sign of Bian Sha's sincerity and a blessing for my Great Rong. You are so jealous and relentlessly pressuring me. Do you think that matters of state are not as important as your personal feelings for your children?

Han, the palace attendant: Your Majesty, I request the Emperor's decree to divorce your wife and marry the princess instead of this jealous woman.

Li Anyuan drew his sword and held it to his neck, his eyes red as he looked at Eunuch Han.

Li Anyuan (crying): If you dare to divorce me, I will die here rather than be a discarded wife!

Consort Zhou: This vile woman has finally met her end. This time, King Xuancang will surely be enraged.