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

Dali Temple.

It was just as Chu Yan was having breakfast.

It was a cool day, and Chu Yan was having a meal in the pavilion in the courtyard. Winter was approaching, and the ginkgo leaves in the courtyard were scattered all over the ground, intertwined with the withered yellow earth.

A cold wind blew by, and I already felt chilly despite wearing only thin clothes.

When Xuanfeng came to collect the food, he looked at the untouched food on the table and said, "Young Master, you don't have a good appetite today? Did you soak in the water for too long yesterday? Should I call a doctor to take your pulse?"

Since meeting Cao Yuan, he had also felt that Chu Yan's health was not very good.

Chu Yan braced his elbow against the handle; he wasn't actually lacking appetite, he was just feeling guilty.

"Do I really look like someone who will die young?"

Xuanfeng spat, "What are you saying? Young master, you're blessed with good fortune, don't be fooled by the princess!"

"Ah Feng!"

"Ok?"

"Is there any medication that can cause temporary amnesia?"

"Amnesia? Temporary amnesia! Just kill him already! Young master, who do you want me to kill?" Xuanfeng brandished his sword, his face filled with murderous intent.

Chu Yan clutched his head, his mind filled with thoughts of murder. "There's no need to be so cruel!"

“Cruel?” Xuanfeng thought he had heard a joke.

"Young master, where in the entire Great Wei is there anyone more cruel than you! Look at the dungeons, they're almost full of prisoners. People who curse you in the street, who give you a sideways glance when they walk by, and even those who say you're good-looking get dragged in and beaten!"

Chu Yan cleared his throat. So this was the kind of person he was? How come he hadn't noticed before!

"It's a good thing you can't stand blood. If you could, the wronged souls of the Dali Temple would be wandering the streets!"

Chu Yan's face darkened. "If you dare to laugh at me again, I'll let you try the torture instruments in this prison!"

"No, no, no, young master, if you're talking about someone more cruel than you, the only one I've ever seen is Princess Huayang!"

Why are you bringing her up like this?!

"Oh? I was just saying. Doesn't the young master like her?"

"Who likes her!"

"Young master, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean that kind of liking! I just feel that you usually meddle in other people's business. Lately, you've been meddling in the princess's affairs!"

"Her name is forbidden to be mentioned within the Dali Temple from now on!"

Chu Yan wheeled himself into the house.

I thought to myself, I kissed her yesterday, she probably doesn't remember about her leg anymore.

"Alright, alright! Since the young master didn't come yesterday, should we send another message?"

"Not for now! Just look at the place he chose, you can tell he's up to no good! We still have to report back to the higher-ups about Grand Tutor Li's matter, let's wait until we're done with this busy period!"

“Speaking of Grand Tutor Li, he really had a hard life. His son died of illness and his wife even reported him.” Xuanfeng sighed.

"Tomorrow... no, today, you will come with me to Anzhou, the hometown of Lady Li, the wife of Grand Tutor Li. Go pack your things! Let's go now!"

"Young master, are you going too?"

Xuanfeng scratched his head. Why were they walking in such a hurry?

-

In the dimly lit prison.

The jailer unlocked the chains on Bailu's cell door. "Bailu, someone has come to see you!"

Cao Yuan stepped into the cell. Bai Lu leaned against the wall, her eyelids drooping with a look of utter despair, not even lifting her eyes.

"So listless, you're not even eating!" Cao Yuan looked at the untouched bowls and chopsticks on the ground.

"It is beneath the dignity of a princess to come here and visit a commoner like me!"

"You've already given up on yourself after only a few days. It seems that even if I rescue you, you'll be of no use!"

The jailer brought over a chair, and Cao Yuan sat down with a flick of her sleeve.

"You're willing to rescue me?" Bai Lu raised her eyelids slightly.

"I only save those who are useful!"

Hope rekindled in Bai Lu's eyes as she crawled along the chains to Cao Yuan's side. "Your Highness needs capable advisors. The Crown Prince's forces have crumbled, leaving only the Fourth Prince and the Prime Minister's factions in the court. His Majesty allowed you to stir up trouble in court because he wanted to dampen the spirits of one side! Given the current situation, Princess, only by forming your own faction can you break the deadlock!"

"I've already won over the Prime Minister's adopted son, so why should I bother becoming a sacrifice in their power struggle? I can just align myself directly with the Prime Minister! You're wrong!"

"Is the princess willing to be suppressed by these old ministers? Why not form your own faction! You have the Tiger Tally, but your maternal clan will eventually be feared! Why not take control of everything yourself!"

Cao Yuan stared intently at the person before her. Though a woman, she possessed immense ambition. She wondered if this person would be of any benefit to her. It seemed she would need to observe her for some time.

"I don't have such grand ambitions!"

Cao Yuan looked at the eunuch beside her, who entered and announced, "By imperial decree, the subject Bai Lu, though guilty of deceiving the emperor, is hereby granted the position of Assistant Minister of Rites to atone for his crime, but is to serve a two-year probationary period. If he commits no further crimes during this two-year probationary period, this crime will be offset!"

"This humble subject obeys the decree! Thank you for Your Majesty's great favor! Thank you, Princess!"

"If you, a woman, were to become an official, I would not believe it unless you had some ulterior motive. When you need something, you can tell me, and I will help you solve it!"

Bai Lu knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Cao Yuan, saying, "This sinful subject has no other purpose than to serve the Great Wei with my life!"

"Then you'd better remember your word! You must never go back on your promise!"

"I will never break my promise!"

It was the dead of night.

A figure dressed in a black cloak quickly slipped into the Fourth Prince's residence.

"This servant pays respects to the Fourth Prince!" The man in the black cloak knelt down and bowed.

"Get up!"

The black cloak was removed, revealing Bai Lu's face.

"Princess Huayang rescued you so quickly! It seems she's believed the act you put on with me in court." The Fourth Prince was very satisfied.

"This servant has insulted Your Highness so blatantly in court. Please punish me, Your Highness!" Bai Lu knelt on the ground and kowtowed.

"This servant will serve the Fourth Prince faithfully from now on!"

“From now on, you will be Huayang’s dog! Huayang is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and wants to interfere in the court. The Dali Temple is also close to her. You must be careful! The death of the former crown prince may also be related to them.”

The Fourth Prince's attempt to cover up his true intentions only made Bai Lu more anxious.

"This servant understands. Is there anything else Your Highness needs this servant to do? This servant will certainly do my best!"

"Next, you just need to make Huayang trust you and become her confidant!"

-

That evening, Cao Yuan had dinner with the Xue family. Xue Xinian looked up and made eye contact with Xue Xiqiong.

Xue Xiqiong questioned, "Where did the princess go yesterday? She said she wasn't feeling well and went to her room, making Xinian search for her at the restaurant for a long time!"

"Sister, don't mention it!" Xi Nian began to play peacemaker. "It was my fault for letting A Yuan go back to her room by herself. Fortunately, Lord Chu came to her rescue in time."

"What Lord Chu? You didn't even invite him, Xinian. How could he be in a place like that? What a coincidence! Could he be meeting someone else?" Xue Xiqiong's words were loaded with meaning.

"Don't you have ears?" Cao Yuan asked softly.

Xue Xiqiong thought she had misheard Cao Yuan's rudeness, "What did you say!"

"Are you deaf?! Didn't you hear me tell you to be quiet?!"

"You're always stirring up trouble here, doing nothing but causing chaos." Cao Yuan stood up. "You're constantly trying to sow discord between me and Xinian!"

In a fit of anger, Xue Xiqiong slammed her hand on the table. "Xinian, Mother! According to insiders, she went into the room of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and she was completely soaked. Just imagine what a lone man and woman could be doing in there!"

"What insider? Who knows if you're deliberately trying to slander me and sabotage my relationship with Xinian! You think you can drive a wedge between us just because you're an insider!"

"I saw it! I saw it! You're the one who went into that cripple's room!"

"Sister, if you care about me so much, why are you keeping such a close watch on me? Then why did you make Xinian search for me for so long?"

"Which of you is lying?"