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

The next day.

Luo Xuemei was taken back to the government office.

Fan Qingli, who had been anxiously waiting, could no longer contain her excitement and worry and rushed forward like a whirlwind.

"Mei'er!"

Fan Qingli called out his lover's name in a trembling voice, tears glistening in his eyes. He opened his arms and embraced Luo Xuemei tightly, as if he wanted to melt all the pain and longing brought about by their separation into this hug.

The two embraced and wept, tears streaming down their faces uncontrollably, soaking their clothes.

After a while, Fan Qingli loosened his embrace slightly, but his hands still gently supported Luo Xuemei's shoulders. He lowered his head slightly, gazing at her with tender yet urgent eyes, his concern evident in his expression.

With a tender heart, he gently stroked Luo Xuemei's slightly pale face with his fingers and asked softly, "Mei'er, are you alright? Did they do anything to you? It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have suffered like this."

"My lord, I'm alright. It was the prince who saved me. The bandits didn't do anything to me! Believe me, I really didn't do anything to betray you!"

"No need to say more! I believe in Mei'er!" Fan Qingli took her hand and led her back into the room. "Let's go back to our room first."

Cen Yin stood alone in the corner observing them, and when she turned her head, she met Cao Yuan's eyes.

"Your Majesty!"

"Ayin, why don't you go out? What are you doing hiding here?"

"I'm leaving!" Cen Yin said calmly.

"Leave? Didn't you just get back? Didn't Fan Qingli say you wouldn't care about these things?"

Cen Yin smiled easily, "This is a letter I wrote to Qing Li. If I stay here, it will only make things difficult for him! Besides, his concubine has just gone through such a hardship and needs him! I won't disturb them here."

"Are you truly in love with him?"

Cen Yin didn't speak, handed the letter to Cao Yuan, and then left with her veil on.

“Hey, Ah Yin…”

Looking at her back, just as when she arrived, a strong heart was hidden beneath her slender figure.

Cao Yuan walked outside Fan Qingli's house and felt somewhat awkward looking at the intimate scene between the two.

Fan Qingli looked up and met Cao Yuan's eyes, seemingly sensing Cao Yuan's predicament.

"Mei'er, you rest first, I'll be right back!"

Fan Qingli strode up to Cao Yuan.

"Is there something you need, Your Highness?"

"This is from Ayin! She's gone!"

Fan Qingli hurriedly opened the letter, which contained only one sentence: "The vast landscape only evokes longing, fallen flowers and wind and rain only deepen the sorrow of spring. Take care!"

Did she say where she was going?

"Fan Qingli, where Cen Yin goes is her business. Don't ignore her and run away again!"

Although Cao Yuan didn't know what had happened between Fan Qingli and Cen Yin during the time she was away, she also didn't know whether Cen Yin's purpose in approaching Fan Qingli was pure or not.

I still hope they can have a happy ending, but unfortunately, Minister Fan will not allow someone like Cen Yin, who has no background, to enter the Minister's mansion.

“Your Highness, I didn’t intend to run away. It was only after Mei’er’s incident that I saw the true colors of Qiong… Xue Xiqiong. Once I return to the manor, regardless of whether my father agrees or not, I will make Mei’er my legal wife.” Fan Qingli spoke with conviction and determination.

Cao Yuan was also very satisfied with this answer.

"Are you really not bothered by the banditry?"

"Your Highness, how can you say such a thing! Xuemei is my woman, how can I abandon her just because she was captured by bandits!"

Hearing her say that, Cao Yuan felt relieved. Although Fan Qingli was a bit of a playboy, he had never made any mistakes in important matters.

He is a responsible man.

"Then when you go back, don't tell anyone, not even your father, lest someone with ulterior motives make a big deal out of it!"

"Don't worry, I know that!"

Hiding in the corner, Xue Xiqiong came up with a new idea.

-

Inside the military camp.

The formal meeting between Cao Ji and Xiao Jingfeng was also the first time the two countries discussed peace terms.

"Fifth Prince, this is the ceasefire agreement drafted by my Wei Kingdom. Are you satisfied with it?"

Cao Ji presented the ceasefire agreement.

“Very good! But His Majesty added another condition.” Xiao Jingfeng glanced at it casually and tossed it onto the table.

Cao Ji felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

"This year is the first year of peace negotiations. To show your sincerity, your Wei Kingdom must form a marriage alliance with my Shu Kingdom this year to stabilize the war."

Cao Ji jumped up from his seat as if electrocuted, exclaiming in astonishment, "A marriage alliance?"

His wide eyes revealed an expression of disbelief.

The person opposite nodded and answered affirmatively, "That's right, it's a marriage alliance with my Shu Kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Ji's eyes darted around, and he began to ponder in his heart.

Thinking that he might as well agree first, since there were no legitimate princesses in the Wei Kingdom who were not yet married, he decided to accept the offer.

Once we return to the capital, we can simply choose any woman from the imperial clan to serve as the princess for the marriage alliance. This should not be difficult to arrange.

He composed himself and said, "Alright! We can agree to this condition! So, there shouldn't be any other requests, right?"

Xiao Hanfeng seemed to see through Cao Ji's thoughts. He smiled slightly and made his point clear: "Second Prince, perhaps I did not express myself clearly before. The princess to be married off this time must be a princess of noble birth and pure blood from the Wei royal family, so that she can be a match for my Shu Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ji was taken aback, his brows furrowing slightly. After a moment's thought, he replied, "To be honest, our country currently only has three princesses. One of them has already been married off to your country, and the remaining two have also been betrothed to other men. There are really no suitable candidates for a marriage alliance."

His words revealed a hint of helplessness.

"Oh? They're all already married?"

A meaningful smile appeared on Xiao Hanfeng's face. He thought to himself: My elder brother has been in the Eastern Palace since he was a child. I never expected that he would like another man's wife. This is getting more and more interesting...

"Yes! They've all been married!" Cao Ji thought this would dispel Shu's idea of ​​a marriage alliance.

"It doesn't matter! Marriage is fine too! We in Shu don't care about these things! As long as it's a member of the Wei royal family, it's fine."

Cao Ji was naturally aware of his intentions. Cao Shang had been living in the capital for a long time, and their desire for whom he wanted was already out in the open.

"This... Fifth Prince, please allow me to speak frankly. Although my Wei Kingdom has surrendered, since the founding of the kingdom, there has never been a rule to send married women to marry foreign rulers. If it were a princess who had lost her husband, that would be understandable!"

"Is it against the law for newlyweds to forcibly break up their marriage? Our Emperor would certainly not agree to it."

"Moreover, Princess Zhaoyang of my Wei Kingdom is still in Shu Kingdom, this..."

Xiao Hanfeng's eyes were sharp, but a smile still lingered on his lips. "I've made myself very clear! The Second Prince's word is it: agree or disagree!"

Cao Ji could not hide his sorrow. After a long while, he finally relented, "Then allow me to go back and inform His Majesty, and issue an edict to sever ties before proceeding with the marriage alliance!"

"Very good!"