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

As night fell, a dark figure swiftly slipped into the East Palace like a ghost.

The East Palace was completely silent, with only a few dim lanterns casting a faint glow, creating an atmosphere of mystery and darkness.

"You came!"

A deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded behind her.

The shadowy figure was startled and turned around abruptly. Xiao Hanjing was already standing behind her, his white figure appearing sinister and terrifying in the dim firelight.

With slightly trembling hands, Hua Changzai slowly removed the hood of the black cloak, revealing her originally beautiful face.

She had several obvious bruises and swelling on her face, making her look rather disheveled.

Hua Changzai knelt down and respectfully said, "Greetings, Master!"

Xiao Hanjing's gaze fell on Hua Changzai's face, his brows furrowed slightly, and he asked coldly, "What happened to your face?"

"Thank you for your concern, Master! Something unexpected happened."

Xiao Hanjing stepped forward, lifted her chin, and examined her closely. "You're badly injured! Why didn't you fight back?"

"I'm just a lowly concubine; if I were to be favored by the emperor, someone would surely be eyeing me!"

"Hmph! She's obviously that old woman who gave birth to a son!" Xiao Hanjing turned his back.

"Be careful in the palace! Don't come looking for me again unless I give you instructions."

"Master, I have entered the palace. What is the next step?"

"Serve the Emperor well! Your rank is too low; he doesn't need you for now."

"The Chen Kingdom and the Shu Kingdom are about to go to war. The emperor should send troops to support them. I have to go and see." Xiao Hanjing sighed.

"Yes!"

"I hope that when I come back next time, you won't die at the hands of Consort Xian."

Hua Changzai understood Xiao Hanjing's meaning and lowered his head to reply, "I know what to do. Please return safely, Master."

The next instant, the dark figure flashed out of the East Palace.

After Consort Hua returned to the palace, Yue'e was not in the hall.

Hua Changzai thought she hadn't returned yet, so she took off her cloak and started to do her hair.

Yue'e entered from outside the palace and saw Hua Changzai sitting in front of the bronze mirror. She said happily, "Changzai is back! I didn't see you when I came back just now. I thought you were doing something rash, so I took people outside to look for you."

"I'm fine, I'm just a little bored and want to wander around by myself."

Yue'e said easily, "It's good that you're alright! But it's so late, Consort, you shouldn't go out alone in the future. If someone with ulterior motives sees you, they might say something to His Majesty."

"Well, it's getting late, you should go and get some rest!"

"Yes!"

Hua Changzai sat in front of the bronze mirror and looked at her face. The red mark from earlier had almost faded.

She removed her jewelry and makeup, then turned off the lights and rested.

The next day.

Yue'e got up and brought water for Consort Hua to wash her face.

"Always here..."

As soon as she entered, the basin of water was so startled that it fell to the ground, and Yue'e pointed at her face in a panic.

"Always on your face!"

Hua Changzai calmly touched his slightly swollen face.

At this moment, the emperor, who had just finished the morning court session, also arrived at Hua Changzai's Fanghua Hall.

"His Majesty has arrived! Please have Consort Hua come out to greet him!"

"Close the door quickly!"

Eunuch Wang walked in and knocked on the door. "Is Consort Hua here? What's going on? Why are you not welcoming me?"

"I have caught a cold and cannot greet you."

"No! This is against the rules! Please, Attendant Hua, immediately..."

The emperor stepped inside but was also shut out. "Why is the door closed in broad daylight?"

"Your Majesty, Consort Hua says she has caught a cold and is unable to meet with you!"

"Really? Then we definitely have to open the door and take a look!"

Yue'e trembled with fear inside the palace, saying, "The Consort cannot close the door any longer; it will punish us for the crime of great disrespect."

Hua Changzai put on her veil and nodded, signaling her to open the door.

Yue'e quickly opened the door.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

The two knelt down to pay their respects.

"Get up quickly!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Hua Changzai and Yue'e got up.

"Why is my beloved concubine wearing a veil? I heard you caught a cold, have you seen the imperial physician?"

“Your Majesty, these are minor matters; there’s no need to summon the imperial physician,” said Consort Hua, bowing her head.

"I wondered why you didn't come yesterday. It turns out you caught a cold."

"Let me help you to bed to rest!"

The emperor led Consort Hua to the bedside, just as the light gauze curtain happened to fall down.

"Your face!" The emperor suddenly stood up, looking at the red and swollen finger marks on her face.

Consort Hua got off the bed and quickly knelt on the ground, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty! Please forgive me for offending Your Majesty!"

Hua Changzai was seen hurriedly covering his face.

"This! Who on earth could be so ruthless?" The emperor's eyes widened, his face contorted with rage as he questioned. His gaze was piercing, fixed on Hua Chang's swollen cheeks and trembling body.

Hua Changzai silently lowered her head, biting her lip and remaining silent. Her once clear and bright eyes were now red, and large tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, one after another, like pearls falling from a broken string. Her pitiful appearance would evoke pity in anyone who saw her.

"I wondered why you were so late yesterday; it turns out you suffered this terrible fate!"

The emperor was both angry and heartbroken, and his voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

He whirled around, pointed at the trembling palace maid standing to the side, and shouted sternly, "Tell me! Who did this? If you utter even the slightest lie, I will not let you off easily!"

"Your Majesty, last night on my way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, I was reprimanded by Consort Xian."

"Outrageous! I haven't seen her for so long, and she dares to lay a hand on someone!"

"Your Majesty, it was my ignorance of the rules that offended Consort Xian. You cannot blame my sister."

"Summon Consort Xian to me!"

"Your Majesty, no! I am of humble status and have only just entered the palace. If Your Majesty stands up for me just because my sister disciplined herself, it will be even more difficult for me to stay in the palace in the future." Consort Hua quickly stopped the emperor.

"This will only deepen the misunderstanding between my sister and me."

"She beat you up like this, I must stand up for you."

“Your Majesty, if I go to my sister now, she will definitely think that I told on her. She specifically told me not to tell on her.”

"Please, Your Majesty, just pretend you didn't see it!"

"She actually dared to threaten you! That's outrageous!"

"Your Majesty..." Consort Hua looked at the emperor with a wronged expression.

The emperor saw that Consort Hua was kowtowing on the ground, so he helped her up with both hands.

"Alright, alright, if you don't want to pursue this, then forget it!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Eunuch Wang, go and summon the imperial physician to take a look."

"Yes!"

Eunuch Wang left the sleeping quarters.

The Emperor held Consort Hua's hand and said with heartache, "I've wronged you. How about this, I'll promote you to the rank of Consort! At least you won't have too much of a hard time in the palace."

"But I've only just been promoted to Changzai. If I were promoted to Pin, many people would definitely have objections!" Changzai Hua pouted, looking quite disappointed.

"No problem! Who dares to object to my decree!" The emperor hugged her tightly, and a smug smile appeared on her lips.