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

Chu Yan had just been arrested when Cao Yuan and the Prime Minister of Chu were urgently summoned to the palace.

Upon entering the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cao Ji was already inside, and it was unknown what he had just discussed with the emperor.

"This old minister pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

The two spoke in unison, knelt down together, and bowed to the emperor.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his face so dark it seemed to drip water. He coldly looked at the two kneeling men below, his eyes flashing with anger, and said in a deep voice, "Prime Minister Chu, do you know your crime!"

Chu Xiang's body trembled slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, raised his head, looked directly into the emperor's eyes, and answered firmly, "Your Majesty, this old minister knows his crime! When my adopted son Chu Yan was arrested, the villains said he was dead. This old minister sent many secret guards to search for him, but to no avail. That's why I hurriedly arranged his funeral! Who would have thought that he would come back alive?"

"I will bear all the blame myself."

Cao Ji brought up the topic, "Prime Minister Chu, you're not just hiding these things, are you? What exactly is Chu Yan's true identity?"

"Your Highness, this old minister does not know why you are targeting Yan'er! But he is an abandoned child I picked up from the battlefield, and no matter his status, he is my child!"

"Second Prince, what have you found out this time?" The Emperor's eyes were sharp.

"Father, I have discovered that this former Minister of the Court of Judicial Review not only faked his death, but is also a native of Shu. He has concealed his identity as a Shu citizen and is lurking in our Great Wei. I wonder what his intentions are!" Cao Ji's voice grew louder as he spoke.

"Second Prince, did you kill so many Shu people in the street just to prove that Lord Chu is from Shu? Our Great Wei has had cases of people of different nationalities serving as officials in foreign countries before. Could it be that you just want to take this opportunity to slaughter more Shu people and incite war between our two countries?"

“If it were just because he’s from Shu, it wouldn’t matter! But, my dear sister, Chu Yan is not just from Shu.”

Cao Yuan couldn't help but sneer, "Second Brother, you really insist on framing Lord Chu. I'd like to hear what kind of identity could attract your attention! Could he be the Emperor of Shu?"

Cao Ji smiled and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right!"

"Father, although Chu Yan is not the current emperor of Shu, he is the eldest prince of the current Shu dynasty! The future ruler of Shu!"

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.

Cao Yuan, of course, didn't believe it. She stared wide-eyed at Cao Ji in disbelief and said, "Second brother, you're putting a huge accusation on him! How could Chu Yan be the crown prince of Shu? What crown prince would serve as a subject in another country!"

She found the claim utterly absurd and unbelievable.

Chu Yan has always demonstrated loyalty and dedication to the Great Wei, and even went out of his way to facilitate peace talks between the State of Chen and the State of Wei.

Although he was from the Shu Kingdom, he was completely different from the ruler of Shu.

How could such a person be the crown prince of Shu?

“Yuan’er is right. How could Chu Yan, who is loyal to my Great Wei, be the crown prince of Shu?”

Cao Ji opened a scroll with a gloomy expression. As the scroll slowly unfurled, a portrait came into view, and the person in the painting was none other than Chu Yan.

He pointed to the portrait and said to the emperor, "Father! This portrait was painted by the hostage prince of our country's Shu Kingdom. After confirmation, this person is indeed Xiao Hanxing, the elder brother of Xiao Hanjing, the crown prince of Shu Kingdom!"

Cao Ji's tone was filled with anger and dissatisfaction as he continued, "The reason he's here is solely to spy on our Great Wei's secrets! Father should immediately order the execution of everyone who has concealed his identity!"

Cao Yuan shook her head, indicating that she could not accept such a fact, and retorted, "This is utterly absurd! This is absolutely impossible! Chu Yan clearly told me that he had no relatives in Shu!"

Cao Yuan turned her gaze to Prime Minister Chu, her eyes flashing with excitement and doubt. "Prime Minister Chu, please tell me that all of this is just a misunderstanding! Chu Yan can't possibly be the Crown Prince of Shu, right?"

At this moment, the Prime Minister of Chu lowered his head and remained silent.

Cao Yuan's heart sank; she couldn't accept this fact.

Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice trembled, "Prime Minister Chu! Why won't you answer me??"

Her body began to sway, as if she had lost her support, and she slowly collapsed onto the cold ground.

Her thoughts instantly became a jumbled mess, making it difficult for her to think, and her mind went completely blank.

"How could this be... how could he possibly be the crown prince of Shu..."

Cao Yuan murmured to herself, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness. This sudden truth shattered her inner peace, plunging her into endless pain.

"Your Highness, you acted very well! Did you really not know?"

"Speak, Prime Minister Chu!" the emperor said.

The Prime Minister of Chu explained, "Your Majesty, this old minister has nothing to say!"

Cao Yuan's shoulders slumped; her last hope was shattered. She had been deceived again.

"Your Majesty, please be wise. Although Chu Yan is the Crown Prince of Shu, he has never done anything to betray Wei while serving as the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He was only searching for his missing brother. I beg Your Majesty to show leniency and punish only me!" The Prime Minister of Chu was still defending Chu Yan.

Cao Yuan was stunned. She remembered that he had been so eager to enter the palace when he was looking for someone, and she had given him a jade token.

That makes sense now: the hostage, the Crown Prince, and the White Dew.

Cao Yuan scoffed, realizing that she was the only one who had been fooled by them.

Cao Yuan, you're just as stupid as you were in your previous life.

"My sister is so heartbroken, it seems she really doesn't know anything about it."

At this moment, Cao Ji was still gloating.

"The Prime Minister of Chu has deceived his superiors and concealed the truth; his crimes are unforgivable! Throw the Prime Minister of Chu into the imperial prison!" the emperor ordered.

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuan was stunned, but she was speechless.

“Yuan’er…” The emperor hesitated as he looked at Cao Yuan.

Cao Yuan snapped out of her daze, quickly wiped away her tears, and said, "Your subject is here!"

"Father! Fourth Princess has been misled by Chu Yan and Prime Minister Chu. Please, Father, show leniency!"

Who would have thought that Cao Ji would actually plead for Cao Yuan at this moment?

"Go back to your residence and reflect on your actions!"

"Thank you, Father!" Cao Ji said with a relaxed smile.

"Thank you, Father!"

"This matter is now under your jurisdiction!"

"Yes! Your subject obeys the decree!" Cao Ji was secretly delighted.