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

"Then capture them all and take them back!"

The man stroked his chin, looking the two women up and down.

Xue Xiqiong shouted, "Who are you people? How dare you treat us like this! Do you know who we are?"

"All you need to know is that we are your ancestors!" the man smiled.

Just as the bandits were about to step forward, Xue Xiqiong stopped them, "We are the families of the generals who guard Liucheng! We live in the Ministry of Rites in the capital! How dare you! Believe me or not, I'll tear you apart with five horses!"

Upon hearing that he was the general defending Liucheng, they burst into laughter.

"Why are you laughing!"

"Don't you people of the capital know? Liucheng surrendered two days ago! Rather than you becoming prisoners of the enemy, you might as well let us have our way!"

The speaker wore a mocking expression, looking at them with amusement.

Upon hearing this, the two men froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

"Wh...what! Liucheng has surrendered?" the two exclaimed in unison, their voices filled with astonishment and fear.

"How is that possible?"

This sudden news came like a bolt from the blue, leaving the two completely at a loss.

"Family members, huh? Then tell me, who is the legal wife? Let's see how much you're worth! I'll release the rest and send them to Liucheng to deliver a message!"

"I am..." Xue Xiqiong, having become more cautious, grabbed Luo Xuemei and pointed at her, saying, "She, she is Fan Qingli's legal wife, and I am just a maid! Of course she is more valuable! Let me go deliver the message!"

"Xue Xiqiong, what did you say?"

Luo Xuemei never expected that she would betray her like this at this time.

At this point, after fighting with her for so long in the mansion, has Xue Xiqiong finally acknowledged Luo Xuemei as her legal wife?

"She is the legal wife of Fan Qingli, the general of Liucheng. I'm here to keep her company. Please let me go, brothers!"

"I can't do anything, but she can do everything—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

"Oh! It's her! I think her figure is much better than yours! I wonder how the wives of the generals in Liucheng serve their husbands!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

"You, you guys!"

The man pointed at Luo Xuemei and said, "Tie her up and take her away!"

"no, do not want!"

Luo Xuemei tried to back away and escape, but Xue Xiqiong quickly grabbed her.

"Where are you going! Don't run away!"

"Let go of me, Xue Xiqiong! What are you doing?!"

Luo Xuemei was still struggling, "I'm not the legal wife, let me go, let me go! Xue Xiqiong, how could you treat me like this!"

“Once you’re inside the bandits’ den, you’ll lose your innocence. Let’s see how you compete with me for Qingli!” Xue Xiqiong’s eyes widened, and she gripped her arm tightly.

"You, you deliberately tricked me into coming to Liucheng with you!"

Luo Xuemei kicked her to the ground, and when she tried to run away, the bandits had already surrounded her.

Xue Xiqiong got up. "Luo Xuemei, I did it on purpose! Enjoy your last moments of happiness!" Xue Xiqiong's eyes were fierce and vicious as she threw her directly to the bandits.

Luo Xuemei tried to resist, but was captured by the leader.

"She even knows martial arts! Just like my ex-lover! Come back with me and enjoy a life of luxury!"

The man mounted the horse and carried Luo Xuemei on his back.

"Xue Xiqiong, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

"I won't let you go!"

The man led his men and horses away triumphantly.

"Luo Xuemei, don't blame me! It's just your bad luck!"

Luo Xuemei resignedly watched Xue Xiqiong, who stood smugly in place, grow further and further away from her. Tears welled up in her eyes with resentment, for what awaited her was hellish torment.

-

The first snow melted, the sky cleared, and even the long-absent sun peeked out.

Chu Yan thought he would take Cao Yuan to the nearby village market.

Before leaving, Chu Yan pulled Cao Yuan to sit in front of the dressing table by the window, a place that wasn't there before.

These were items that Chu Yan had specially bought at the market a few days ago for women to use. Although Cao Yuan was blind, she would eventually be able to see again.

"Weren't you going out for a walk? Why are you sitting here?" Cao Yuan asked hastily, not knowing what Chu Yan was up to.

"Your injury is almost healed! Since you're going out, you should at least do your hair and makeup!" Chu Yan squatted down and looked at her at eye level.

During the few days she was with him here, she hadn't taken good care of her hair; it was just simply tied up.

"But I can't see. Do I look ugly now?" Cao Yuan touched her hair in frustration.

"I come!"

Chu Yan picked up the comb on the table and began to comb her hair, gently combing it strand by strand. The black hair brushed against his hands, as if each strand tugged at his heartstrings.

"I didn't expect you could comb hair! Looks like I'm not the first one!"

As soon as Cao Yuan finished speaking, Chu Yan thought she was testing him, so he explained, "I'm not very good at it either. My mother always did my hair when I was little. This is the first time I've ever done a woman's hair!"

Cao Yuan smiled slightly, "I was just asking! Why are you so nervous!"

"This is the first time a man has ever combed my hair!" Cao Yuan said, her face flushing with a girlish shyness.

Chu Yan imitated his mother's hairstyle from before, and even braided Cao Yuan's hair.

"But do you really know how to comb hair?"

"It'll be ready soon! I won't let you go out and embarrass yourself!"

If outsiders knew that the Crown Prince of Shu was combing the hair of the Princess of Wei, they would surely laugh at Chu Yan.

Thinking of this, Cao Yuan couldn't suppress a smile.

"Alright! Alright!" Chu Yan styled Cao Yuan's hair into a simple bun, with a braid hanging down in front of her chest, adorned with an exquisite plum blossom hairpin.

Chu Yan picked up a box of rouge from the table. "Ah Yuan, I asked my master to go out and see a doctor a few days ago and he bought you some rouge. Would you like to try it too?"

Cao Yuan blinked, a little disappointed. "Chu Yan! Am I really that ugly now?"

"In my heart, you are beautiful no matter what! I just want you to be able to go shopping comfortably like any other woman."

"Then apply it for me! I don't know how to use these..."

Cao Yuan closed her eyes and waited for him.

Chu Yan opened the box and clumsily touched it. He had just applied the product to her face when he realized he had used too much. He then rubbed it with his fingertip, which happened to touch her soft lips. Cao Yuan's lips trembled.

Chu Yan suddenly stopped moving. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and everything around him became exceptionally quiet.

He could clearly feel his breathing and heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably, one beat after another, like dense drumbeats pounding against his chest.

Sunlight streamed in through the half-open window, forming a golden beam that shone directly on Cao Yuan.

Her neatly combed hair shone with a glossy black sheen, like a bright star in the night sky; and on her carefully made-up face, a touch of rouge perfectly accentuated her delicate and charming blush, adding to her a rare and graceful feminine charm.

Her aura was like an invisible magic, drawing people's attention to her and making it difficult to look away.

Chu Yan lowered his hand and slowly moved closer.

Cao Yuan could clearly feel his breathing getting closer, but she pretended to be calm.

"Chu, Chu Yan, are you done wiping?"