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

Cao Yuan struggled to get up from his arms and looked at the man beside her. Only at this moment did she realize how unfamiliar he was.

"Ah Yuan, don't be afraid. It won't hurt anymore after you drink it. Trust me." Chu Yan reached out and put his arm around her.

"I don't want to, Jinzhu, take me back."

Jinzhu stood there, stunned. "Your Highness, you used..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chu Yan glared at her, signaling that she should have said so earlier.

"Your Highness... perhaps we should listen to the Crown Prince." Jinzhu lowered her eyes and gripped the tray tightly in her hands, unsure of what to say.

Compared to Cao Yuan's health, the child was nothing.

"Jinzhu, how can you say that too?"

Cao Yuan sat up in bed, trying to leave, but Chu Yan hugged her from behind. "Let go of me! Chu Yan, let go of me!"

"Ah Yuan, would you like to drink this?" Chu Yan held the medicine bowl in front of her face. "We don't want this child."

Cao Yuan's eyes glistened with tears, like two sparkling pearls about to fall.

She bit her lip tightly, trying hard not to cry out, but the tears flowed down her fair chin like a burst dam.

Cao Yuan felt as if a huge boulder was pressing down on her heart, making it so heavy that she could hardly breathe. That suffocating feeling gripped her tightly, leaving her feeling utterly desperate and helpless.

"How cruel you are! That's our child," Cao Yuan said in a trembling voice, her eyes filled with sorrow and anger.

"I won't drink this medicine, I absolutely won't!" Cao Yuan said, shaking her head frantically.

“Ah Yuan, we can have more children in the future. But this one can’t stay with us now.”

He wanted the child too, but for him, Cao Yuan was the most important person.

"You think this child will threaten your throne? I can take him with me. Would you please not have him?"

Chu Yan let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with heartache, "A Yuan! Your body can't handle the birth of this child. I promise you, I will definitely have more in the future."

Chu Yan hugged her tenderly.

"Here, drink it." Chu Yan took the medicine from Jin Zhu's hand again.

Cao Yuan stepped back, clutching her lower abdomen. "No, I can feel him still moving. He doesn't want to leave. Chu Yan, please, don't give me any more to drink."

"Ah Yuan, how could that be? He's only a month old, how could he possibly be moving? This is just your hallucination." Chu Yan tried his best to explain, but Cao Yuan wouldn't listen at all.

"I don't care what you think of me, whether you hate me or resent me, you have to drink this medicine." Chu Yan's tone was firm.

"I won't drink it! I won't drink it!"

Cao Yuan threw the medicine Jin Zhu handed her onto the ground, then her legs gave way and she fell to the ground.

"Your Highness!" Jinzhu quickly went over to help Cao Yuan.

Cao Yuan pulled the hairpin from her hair and pointed it at her neck. Everyone around her stopped in their tracks, not daring to approach.

"Ah Yuan, what are you doing? Put those things down!"

"If this child lives, I live; if this child dies, I die. You decide what to do!" Cao Yuan said resolutely, her hand trembling as she held the hairpin. Her face was pale with pain from her stomach, but she still persisted.

Chu Yan stepped back, looking at her in panic, "Alright, alright! I won't force you! Give me the hairpin so you don't hurt yourself."

"Let me out! I want to go back to my palace." Cao Yuan felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. "I...don't want...to be here."

As soon as she finished speaking, Cao Yuan's vision went black and she fainted.

"Your Highness, Your Highness."

"Ah Yuan!"

Cao Yuan fainted from exhaustion and fell into Chu Yan's arms. He took the hairpin from her hand and threw it aside.

The imperial physician came over and took her pulse again. "Your Highness," he said, "pregnancy is a time when a woman's emotions fluctuate greatly. Please try to accommodate Princess Huayang's temperament."

"I understand. I will make her take the medicine willingly."

Chu Yan sighed, tenderly touching her cheek. He looked down with a melancholy expression, realizing he could only wait until she was more receptive before giving her the medicine.

"Jinzhu, take good care of her. Don't tell her that the child was caused by the musk she used. I'm afraid she'll feel guilty."

Xuanfeng came in from outside. When Chu Yan saw Xuanfeng, he got up and left.

"Your Highness, where are you going?"

Jinzhu asked the question.

What's meant to happen will happen sooner or later.

-

Chu Yan changed into new clothes and went to the main hall to apologize.

When he arrived, Xiao Jingfeng had been waiting there for quite some time.

"Your subject begs for forgiveness from Your Majesty." Chu Yan knelt down and bowed.

Xiao Shengxi sat on the dragon throne, his hand on his forehead.

"Yan'er, how dare you! You actually dared to break her out of prison! And then you brought her back to the East Palace!"

“There was a reason for this! My fifth brother abused Princess Huayang’s power in the prison. I only wanted to rescue her by breaking her out of prison.”

"Your Majesty, there's a limit to lying. I never tortured Princess Huayang. Perhaps someone took pity on her. What exactly are the feelings between Your Majesty and Princess Huayang?"

"Cough cough..." Xiao Shengxi coughed softly a few times.

"Brother, only two princesses have come from Wei. Are you going to lay a hand on both of them?"

"Fifth Brother! I have never laid a finger on the Imperial Uncle's harem. Please investigate thoroughly, Imperial Uncle."

"Feng'er, you may step back now! I have something to say to Yan'er."

"Yes!"

After Xiao Jingfeng left, Chu Yan finally spoke up to explain, "Uncle, please listen to me, I have never..."

"Did you meet in the State of Wei?" Xiao Shengxi asked.

Chu Yan's heart trembled, but he dared not lie. "Yes... when we were in Wei, we had already pledged our lives to each other. I don't know why she was chosen for the marriage alliance. But we have always adhered to the palace rules."

“Adhere to palace rules? Then why did she go to the East Palace in the middle of the night? You also seem to go to her bedchamber from time to time. Yan’er, I’m not stupid.”

"Uncle knew a long time ago." Chu Yan lowered his head guiltily, thinking he had hidden it well.

"I've watched you grow up since you were a child. Do you think I can't tell who you like and who you don't like?"

“But you are the Crown Prince! You have to shoulder the responsibility of the Shu Kingdom. She has become your weakness. You didn’t want to come back before because of her, did you? She cannot be with you.”

"Making her disappear is the best way."

"Uncle! Your son knows his mistake. Your son will grant you anything, except this one. Please, Uncle, grant us your request! Your son can give up the throne."

Upon hearing Chu Yan's words, Xiao Shengxi flew into a rage, stood up abruptly, slammed his fist on the table, and shouted, "You unfilial son!"

"You spineless wretch! You'd give up the throne for a woman! I see her as a source of trouble; she cannot be allowed to live. I want her... I want her..."

Suddenly, Xiao Shengxi spat out a mouthful of blood.

"His Majesty!"

"Uncle Emperor!"

Xiao Shengxi fainted on the throne.

"Uncle, why is this happening, Uncle!" Chu Yan stumbled to Xiao Shengxi's side, looking at him helplessly.