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

Inside the Minister's residence.

Fan Qingli returned to the mansion with Luo Xuemei and the others.

Upon entering, Fan Qingli saw Minister Fan, whom he had not seen for a long time, in the hall. He knelt down and said, "Father! Your unfilial son failed to win the battle."

"Father!"

Luo Xuemei and Xue Xiqiong also knelt down to pay their respects.

Minister Fan glanced at Luo Xuemei and waved his hand, "It's good that you're back safe and sound! Take your two concubines and go rest!"

"I've already instructed the servants to prepare hot water. You should all take a nice bath to get rid of the bad luck."

Fan Qingli did not intend to get up. "Father, I have something to say."

"Mei'er, you all go down first!"

"Father takes his leave!"

Luo Xuemei and Xue Xiqiong withdrew together.

"Father!"

"This trip to Liucheng was all thanks to Mei'er. My son wants to make Mei'er his principal wife!"

"Nonsense!" Minister Fan slammed his hand on the table.

"How can she, a concubine's daughter, be your legal wife! I think you've gone mad from fighting the war."

"If you hadn't returned safely this time, I would have sent her to be buried with you long ago."

"Father! How could you...?"

"Hmph! I think you've been bewitched by her. In a few days, I'll choose a suitable wife for you!"

"Father! Father!"

Minister Fan turned and left. He was in a great mood today, having long awaited the safe return of his eldest son, but this unfilial son brought him such news.

Luo Xuemei and Xue Xiqiong returned to their room together.

Just as Luo Xuemei was about to go inside and close the door, Xue Xiqiong grabbed the door frame.

"How dare you, a woman who has gone into the bandits' den and disobeyed her husband's wishes, return to the Minister's mansion!" Xue Xiqiong said unhappily, as if she had come here to show off like a victor.

Luo Xuemei said calmly, "If you dare to come back, why shouldn't I dare to come back?"

"I came back because Qingli told me to. He said he couldn't live without me! Otherwise, he wouldn't have changed his mind!"

"If I were you, I'd hang myself with a rope to prevent others from discovering your shameful deeds!"

"Oh!"

"But that's your shameful secret, isn't it?"

Xue Xiqiong was in the wrong and had nothing to say.

"If I were you, I should go and care about Princess Huafeng."

Cao Shang returned with them, and Cao Ji asked her to look after them, but she got into Fan Qingli's carriage by herself.

“Your Highness… Princess Huayang has already gone to marry a foreign ruler. Now your Xue family is just clinging to life thanks to Princess Huafeng. Yet you have shown no concern for Princess Huafeng’s health along the way. Do you think she might seek revenge on you? She is a member of the Xue family.”

Luo Xuemei's words struck a chord with Xue Xiqiong. Although she didn't know why the Cao Chamber of Commerce had appeared in Liucheng, even the most naive person could guess that it was inextricably linked to a marriage alliance.

Luo Xuemei slammed the door shut. She slowly turned around, leaned against the door, and looked dejected. She had lost all the toughness and stubbornness she had shown when she was confronting the other person.

Tears, like a burst dam, surged from her once bright and captivating eyes, streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground, splashing tiny droplets. Just moments before, every word Xue Xiqiong had spoken was like a sharp blade, mercilessly piercing her already wounded heart. Those words were like icicles in the cold wind, deeply embedded in the softest corner of her soul, causing her unbearable pain.

Tears welled up in her eyes; every word Xue Xiqiong had just said felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart.

She was filled with grievances and helplessness, but she didn't know who to confide in. She was clearly the victim, so why did she have to bear all this alone?

-

The Xue Residence.

Cao Shang was carried into the room.

The imperial physician was taking his pulse.

Xue Xinian and her son paced anxiously to the side.

"How is it? How is the child?" Xue's mother asked anxiously.

"Lord Xue, the princess's baby is going to be lost. She has miscarried, so you must take good care of her. I will prescribe a medicine for you to take twice a day."

"What about later? Can we still have it later?" Xue's mother asked.

"This, this..."

The imperial physician looked at Xue Xiqiong, sighed, shook his head, and left.

Xue's mother's legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground.

"Mother!"

"How could this happen! They suddenly rushed into the manor, kidnapped the princess, and then suddenly brought her back, only to have her miscarry!"

"How could I be so careless!"

"Xi Nian, why don't you go and ask the Second Prince?"

Xue Xinian remained silent, but he roughly understood the reason behind it.

“Xue Lang…” Cao Shang’s face was pale, and his hand was outstretched in mid-air towards Xue Xinian.

"Shang'er!"

Xue Xinian sat down on the edge of the bed and held Cao Shang's hand tenderly. At this moment, he was probably genuinely worried about Cao Shang.

"Xue Lang, I want to see Father Emperor! Take me to see Father Emperor... My second brother forced me to drink an abortion potion so that I would be sent to a marriage alliance."

"My unborn child is still unborn... He killed our child." Cao Yuan said angrily, her face pale, as she grabbed Xue Xinian's collar tightly, her eyes filled with grief and resentment.

"Shang'er is no good! His Majesty is ill and has stopped seeing people. The Second Prince is handling state affairs now, and he has been trying to win over the ministers lately."

"Offending the Second Prince will not end well for us."

Cao Shang felt even more aggrieved, "Is our child really going to be gone like this? Father didn't even ask me to go for the marriage alliance; he took it upon himself to have me arrested! It's all Cao Yuan's fault; if she had gone for the marriage alliance sooner, none of this would have happened! Waaah..."

"I can't swallow this! Xue Lang is your child too, how can you just ignore him like this!"

Xue Xinian hugged Cao Shang, "Shang'er, this time the Second Prince gave you an abortion pill, who knows what he might do next time! We're still young, we can have children again..."

"Woo..."

After coaxing Cao Shang to rest, Xue Xinian left the room.

"Xi Nian!" Xue Xiqiong stood with her mother.

Xue Xinian rushed forward, while Xue Xiqiong hid behind her mother, crying out, "Mother!"

"Mother, get out of my way!"

"Xi Nian, don't get agitated. Qiong'er didn't know this would happen either."

"Xue Xiqiong! Shang'er was captured and taken to Liucheng, why didn't you stop him?"

"Brother, you can't blame me for this! I could barely protect myself when I went to Liucheng!"

"The Second Prince is so audacious that I don't even respect His Majesty. You should take this opportunity to try and win him over."

That night, Xue Xinian went to Cao Ji's residence after Cao Shang fell asleep.

Cao Ji's attendants led him into the inner hall.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Highness the Second Prince!"

Cao Ji sat lazily in the main seat. "Have you come here to interrogate me?"

"Your Highness is too kind. I dare not accept such praise."

"It is my honor to share the burdens of His Highness the Second Prince."

"If there is anything I can do to serve Your Highness, I will gladly give my life."

"I do have something I need you to do!"

After Xue Xinian left, Xiao Jinghan came out from behind the screen.

Is a civil official who relies on women reliable?

"He's a master of currying favor. Once we've succeeded, the Xue family will be useless!"