After being reborn, I went on a killing spree in the imperial court.

In the Jinluan Palace.

Cao Yuan had just finished the morning court session when Eunuch Wang came to report to her.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

Cao Yuan turned around and asked, "What is it, Eunuch Wang?"

"Your Highness, His Majesty invites you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

It must be related to the Marquis of Ping Le.

Cao Yuan entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!" Cao Yuan knelt down and bowed.

"Get up!"

"Do you know why I've summoned you?" The emperor sat on the dragon throne, scrutinizing Cao Yuan.

"I suspect it is related to the case in Anzhou."

"You seemed distracted during court today. Were you angry because you gave the Censorate three days yesterday?"

Cao Yuan knelt on the ground with a thud. "Please forgive me, Father Emperor. I was just lost in thought for a moment. I had no other intentions!"

"I was just asking, you don't need to be so nervous."

"I, like you, want to bring these corrupt officials to justice as soon as possible, but he happens to be related to the Marquis of Pingle by marriage."

“You are probably not familiar with the Marquis of Ping Le. The title has been passed down for three generations. The previous Marquis of Ping Le saved your grandfather’s life, so even I can only turn a blind eye to it.”

"Is Father Emperor blaming me for going to Anzhou?"

"Since I have appointed you to take over the Ministry of War, it is naturally because I trust you."

"With two more days, if the Censorate cannot produce any new evidence, the Marquis of Pingle will naturally be unable to say anything either."

"Thank you, Father!"

"I heard that you took in a suspect who attempted to assassinate someone?"

Cao Yuan nodded. "Yes! Her name is Bai Lu."

"It's her again!" The emperor's expression was clearly displeased.

"Father, although I captured her, she is merely a scapegoat. I only wanted Bailu to lure out the person behind the scenes. However, I haven't found the right opportunity yet!"

"Where is the man?"

"He's been imprisoned...in the Ministry of Justice."

"Does Father want to know why Qin Sima was killed?"

The emperor seemed to have guessed something. "Yuan'er, the crown prince is no longer here. Let things be as they are!"

"Your subject knows his mistake!"

"It's nothing, you may leave!" the emperor waved his hand.

"Father, since we've brought up Anzhou, I have an idea: could we allow women to enter officialdom in the future?" Cao Yuan took a deep breath and looked at the emperor with a determined gaze.

Before the emperor could respond, Cao Yuan continued, "Your subject believes that male officials often engage in acts of bullying men and women. Just from what I saw in Anzhou, a mere Sima had twenty-eight concubines, all of whom were forcibly abducted."

Her voice was filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

"Such an absurd thing has happened!"

The emperor's eyes widened in shock that such a thing could happen in his own country.

"Therefore, I believe that if women could be more widely employed in official positions, wouldn't that reduce these acts of bullying men and oppressing women?" Cao Yuan looked at the emperor expectantly, hoping that he could understand and support her.

The emperor shook his head. "Your idea has already failed to be proven on Bai Lu."

Speaking of this, I feel annoyed just thinking about Bailu. A perfectly good official has suddenly become a prisoner.

"However, you can go back and think about it again. If you have enough reasons to convince those old fogies in the court, I can give you another chance!"

Cao Yuan's hope was rekindled. "Thank you, Father!"

Cao Yuan returned to the Ministry of War.

Sitting alone in the room, my thoughts wandered off somewhere else again.

Fan Qingli just happened to come in to report.

"Your Highness, this is my revised plan for promotions in the army. Please take a look!"

After Fan Qingli finished speaking, he saw Cao Yuan lower her head and remain silent, so he walked closer and shouted loudly, "Your Highness, Your Highness!"

"Huh?" Cao Yuan finally came to her senses and noticed the person in front of her. "When did Lord Fan arrive?"

"Your Highness, I've been standing here for a while now! Are you alright?"

Cao Yuan shook her head. "I'm fine! What do you need me for?"

"This is the revised military promotion schedule, please take a look!"

"Okay! I'll check right away."

"Then I'll leave first."

Cao Yuan stared intently at the documents Fan Qingli had sent her. She needed to keep herself busy so she could forget about him.

Although Cao Yuan was reviewing various documents, her mind was elsewhere.

It was midday.

When lunchtime arrived, Cao Yuan didn't want to move around or eat, so she had to stay at the Ministry of War.

"Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan!"

Cao Yuan looked over at the sound and saw a figure slowly walking in. Xue Xinian was carrying a food box.

"How did you come?"

"Ah Yuan, I've brought you your food," Xue Xi said softly, her tone revealing a hint of tenderness and worry.

Cao Yuan looked up at the food box in Xue Xinian's hand and shook her head. "I have no appetite! I don't want to eat!"

His voice sounded a little tired.

Xue Xinian placed the food box on the table, gently held her hand, his eyes full of heartache, "A-Yuan, you still need to eat. Your health is the most important thing. How can you not eat?"

Cao Yuan frowned slightly, trying to break free from Xue Xinian's hand, "I don't want to eat anything..."

She was feeling down, and her mind was filled with worries that made her lose her appetite, let alone with him around.

Xue Xinian showed no intention of leaving and placed the food on the table.

“Ah Yuan, you haven’t been eating with us for a while, and you’ve gotten so thin.”

"Because I have no appetite looking at you."

Cao Yuan said coldly.

She just wanted to get rid of him.

Xue Xinian's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned. "Ah Yuan, it's just the two of us now, let's eat something."

Seeing that he wasn't planning to leave, Cao Yuan thought for a moment and decided to eat a couple of bites to get rid of him.

Xue Xinian ladled out a bowl of soup. "Didn't A-Yuan say she didn't have a good appetite? So I asked the kitchen to make a soup to strengthen the spleen and stomach. Have a sip!"

"Ok!"

While eating, Xue Xinian said, "Our Ministry of Rites and Ministry of War aren't far apart. Why don't we eat lunch together from now on?"

Cao Yuan suddenly stopped using her chopsticks, presumably because her father's words last time had frightened Xue Xinian.

He's trying so hard to get close to Cao Shang because he's afraid Cao Shang will ruin his career; he knows Cao Shang has to please him.

"I'm not always at the Ministry of War! Sometimes I might go to the military camps below."

"It's alright, A-Yuan, are you still bothered by Shang'er's matter?"

"Ok?"

"I will divorce her later. We will never be apart."

"Ok?"

"We'll stay together forever, and then we'll have a baby. Our house will be so lively then."

"Wait! What are you saying?" Cao Yuan felt increasingly uneasy.

Cao Yuan suddenly felt extremely sleepy, and her eyelids kept trembling.

“You, you drugged me…” Cao Yuan pointed at Xue Xinian.

Xue Xinian looked at her affectionately, cupped her face in his hands, and asked, "A-Yuan, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Shall I take you to see a doctor?"

“Xue Xinian…”

Cao Yuan lost consciousness and collapsed into his arms.

Xue Xinian touched her face and said, "A Yuan, I really love you. Now that Chu Yan is gone, you're mine alone."