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

When Chu Yan hurriedly arrived at the city gate tower, it was already dark, the surroundings were pitch black, and the city gate had already been closed.

Just as he looked up at the city tower, trying to find another way out of the city, he suddenly heard a slight noise coming from the city tower.

Chu Yan's heart tightened. He realized that there might be someone patrolling or guarding the city wall, so he quickly slipped into a nearby alley and hid.

Just as Chu Yan was thinking of a solution, Cao Ji suddenly stood on the city wall.

The guard Jiang Hen approached Cao Ji and whispered in his ear, "Your Highness, what about Minister Xue...?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Ji said impatiently, "How dare they poison the Ministry of War! They deserve it!"

"Does Your Highness wish to go see him?"

"Once your hands are crippled, you'll be useless. What good will you be then?" Cao Ji looked at Xue Xinian with disdain.

Cao Ji thought for a moment and a smug smile appeared on his face. "So it seems that Chu Yan is definitely not going to be able to leave."

"Chu Yan! The city gates are closed. You'd better come out here. I'm only giving you one day, or everyone will be buried with you!"

Seeing this, Chu Yan thought about it carefully and realized that he had to think of another way to escape.

Cao Ji did not have the tiger tally. Whether anything major has happened in the city, it will definitely be open again tomorrow.

He flew away from the place.

The following morning, sunlight shone through the clouds, bringing warmth and tranquility to the entire capital city.

Cao Yuan sat in the carriage, clutching the imperial edict tightly in her hand, her gaze fixed on the window. Squads of soldiers marched in orderly formation through the streets, their footsteps and the clanging of their armor creating a solemn and oppressive atmosphere.

A question arose in Cao Yuan's mind: why were there so many soldiers in the city today? Did Chu Yan not leave the city yesterday?

Just as Cao Yuan was lost in thought, the carriage suddenly stopped. She frowned, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Wait!" Cao Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and casually called out to one of the soldiers.

"So it's His Highness Prince Shuo!" The officers and soldiers all bowed to Cao Yuan.

"What happened today? Why are there so many soldiers on the street?"

"It was the Second Prince who gave the order yesterday, saying that there have been spies from Shu Kingdom infiltrated the city recently, and that we should patrol carefully!"

"Is the city gate open?"

"The commander said that it will not be open today."

Cao Yuan lowered the carriage curtain, a bad feeling creeping into her heart.

It seems that the commander of the Imperial Guards has already colluded with Cao Ji.

Although the city gates were closed for a day, they were not usually closed arbitrarily unless there was a major event inside the city. Once today was over, Chu Yan could leave the city.

-

In the magnificent and solemn Golden Palace, the courtiers stood on both sides, each one silent and trembling, not daring to utter a sound.

At this moment, a man named Liu stepped out from the queue, holding a document in his hands. He respectfully bowed to the emperor on the dragon throne and said, "Your Majesty, this is my testimony from interrogating the criminal!"

The emperor frowned slightly and gestured for Eunuch Wang to bring the documents forward.

Eunuch Wang hurriedly stepped forward, took the document, and then carefully handed it to the emperor.

The emperor opened the document and began to read it carefully.

After a while, he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials before finally settling on Lord Liu. He asked in a calm but authoritative tone, "What is the difference between this testimony and that of His Highness Prince Shuo?"

Lord Liu stepped forward, bowed, and replied, “Your Majesty, this testimony details the severe torture His Highness Prince Shuo inflicted on the three officials, and how they were forced by His Highness Prince Shuo to confess their crimes.”

For a moment, the atmosphere in the main hall was tense, and everyone was filled with anxiety.

Cao Yuan raised an eyebrow; so it turned out they were after her.

To think that he could come up with such a superficial reason, fortunately, my father had already told me his opinion on this matter.

"Lord Liu, you're wrong to say that! My father made it very clear last time that these three days are for you to investigate this matter thoroughly. Your testimony now sounds like you're deliberately targeting me!"

“It is inevitable to use some methods when interrogating prisoners. Besides, my testimony was given voluntarily by them, not something I forced them to write! The testimony was recorded by Lord Fan Qingli, not by me alone.”

The emperor naturally saw through the deception, "Minister Liu!"

"Chen is here!"

“Yuan’er is right. In these three days, your Censorate hasn’t made any progress, has it?!”

Lord Liu hurriedly replied, fearing that he would lose his head if he was even a moment late, "Your Majesty, of course! Your humble servant has already investigated and found that Lord Fan was not the only one who went to Anzhou with Prince Shuo; there was also an advisor."

Cao Yuan's expression was solemn.

"This advisor is none other than Chu Yan, the son of the late Chancellor of Chu!"

His Highness and his courtiers were all whispering among themselves.

"Wasn't Chu Yan the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? If he's dead, how come he's still serving as Prince Shuo's advisor?"

"Yes! This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"

"I heard Princess Huafeng from the palace say a few days ago that Prince Shuo is keeping male concubines. Is it true?"

Cao Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and her body stiffened. She looked at Prime Minister Chu, who remained calm, showing no emotion on his face.

At this point, she could not back down. Feigning composure, she asked, "Lord Liu, do you have any evidence that my advisor is the deceased Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"

“Your Majesty, this is a coroner that Prince Shuo brought back from Anzhou. He is currently an apprentice coroner in the Ministry of Justice. I have already interrogated him, and this is his testimony!”

The emperor took the testimony, read it carefully, and his face turned grim.

"He did say that he heard Her Highness Prince Shuo call the masked aide next to her 'Minister of the Court of Judicial Review'!"

The emperor looked at Cao Yuan, a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Cao Yuan sneered, "Lord Liu, can this be considered evidence?"

“Your Highness, this apprentice came from Anzhou with you. How can he not be considered evidence?” Lord Liu said confidently.

"Does calling someone the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review mean they are someone I can call corrupt officials? If I call you a corrupt official now, are you corrupt officials too?" Cao Yuan raised an eyebrow at him.

Lord Liu was so angry that his face turned red, but he dared not utter a sound. He could only grit his teeth and say, "Your Highness, how can you speak such nonsense! I am innocent and cannot be slandered at will!"

At this moment, Cao Ji suddenly stood up and said loudly, "Father, since Lord Liu said he found traces of Chu Yan still being alive, then I have a way to prove whether this is true!"

The emperor looked at Cao Ji with great interest and asked, "Tell me about it!"

"Open the coffin and examine the body!" Cao Ji's voice was firm and powerful.