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

"Young master, this way please!"

The waiter led Fan Qingli to a private room upstairs. Fan Qingli looked around the restaurant; it was deserted downstairs with only a few tables occupied.

"Is your business that bad?"

The waiter said, "Sigh! We were at war with the Shu Kingdom a while ago! Our restaurant's specialty is foreign cuisine, so we were affected too."

"Things are much better now! During the war, they almost smashed our restaurant to pieces."

"The boss came back recently, so we just renovated and reopened."

Fan Qingli ordered a few dishes and drank alone in silence.

Suddenly, a woman wearing a veil entered the room.

Fan Qingli didn't even look up at her. "I don't have any women!"

Cen Yin sat behind the screen and changed her tone, "Young master, I only sing songs! Would you like to hear one?"

"whatever!"

Fan Qingli drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.

Cen Yin frowned slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on the person in front of her. She saw that his sword-like eyebrows were tightly furrowed and his expression was solemn, as if he had a lot of worries on his mind.

She understood, so she gently picked up the pipa, her jade fingers lightly brushing the strings, and began to play a series of light and cheerful tunes.

The clear and melodious piano music flowed from her fingertips like a gentle stream, crisp and pleasant to the ear.

The sound of the pipa was like a clear spring, continuously flowing into the other person's heart, gradually relaxing their tense nerves.

During the few days he spent with Cen Yin, he heard her say that she used to sing for others.

Unfortunately, he had never heard of it.

Fan Qingli lowered his eyes and took out a gold ingot from his chest and placed it on the table.

"You don't need to sing anymore, this is for you."

"There are too many. Our boss said that we have to sing for a full hour in one room, or we'll be fined and won't get any food."

Cen Yin put down her zither, not intending to step outside the screen. "Why don't I keep you company and talk to you? You must have a lot of worries."

"Would it be convenient for you to tell me?"

"Were you sold here?" Fan Qingli asked calmly.

"Yes! My family was poor when I was a child, and since I was a girl, I had to sell myself to get some food for my family." Cen Yin made up a lie.

“I had a friend who said she grew up in a brothel and, like you, sang for the customers.”

"Unfortunately, I've never heard of her, and I can't find her anymore."

Fan Qingli chatted with her casually.

I wonder where she is now!

"To win the favor of the young master, she must be an extraordinary woman."

"Judging from your attire, young master, you must be from a wealthy family and probably already married. Would you still be so attached to courtesans?"

“Your background doesn’t define everything. You’re belittling yourself by saying that.”

Cen Yin gave a wry smile. "What you say is true, young master! I have indeed come to understand myself."

“I started a family, and I had too many ties, so I let her down, and she chose to leave.”

"I searched for her in the capital for a long time, but I couldn't find her anywhere. Maybe she didn't want me to find her!"

Fan Qingli looked as if she had lost her soul, her whole body appearing utterly dejected, slumped lifelessly in that large chair.

At some point, the strong smell of alcohol began to rise in her heart, like an invisible net tightly wrapping around Fan Qingli.

Unable to resist the combined effects of fatigue and intoxication, he tilted his head and fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing that he was unconscious, Cen Yin quietly walked out from behind the screen.

She tiptoed to Fan Qingli's side and let out a long breath.

A moment later, she carefully extended a delicate hand and gently stroked Fan Qingli's slightly disheveled hair, her eyes revealing an indescribable concern and tenderness.

Cen Yin bent down slightly and gently took the wine glass, which still had a little wine left in it, from Fan Qingli's released hand.

It seems he's been having a tough time lately.

Just as Cen Yin was lost in thought, Fan Qingli squinted and raised his eyelids, the person in front of him both blurry and clear.

Fan Qingli and Cen Yin's eyes met; those purple eyes were deep and captivating.

As soon as Cen Yin raised her hand, Fan Qingli grabbed it. "A-Yin, is that you?"

"You came to see me?"

Fan Qingli stood up from his seat, reached out and lifted the veil from her face. Seeing that familiar face, he smiled easily.

He was about to embrace the woman before him when he suddenly fell into her arms, murmuring, "Ayin, you've finally agreed to see me!"

-

Cao Yuan lay in bed all day, staring blankly upwards.

"Your Highness, please have something to eat!"

Jinzhu brought the food to her, "Or tell me if there's anything you'd like to eat!"

Cao Yuan remained silent, as if she had lost her soul.

“Your Highness, even if you’re angry, you still have to eat! Even if you want this child, the child still needs to eat if you don’t eat!” Jinzhu said worriedly, leaning over the bedside.

Upon hearing Jinzhu's words, Cao Yuan immediately reacted. She touched her lower abdomen and could indeed feel a small life inside her, but she still refused to talk to them, fearing that they might have put something in her food.

Cao Yuan felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen, and she tried to curl up to relieve it.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? Does your stomach hurt?"

"Wait for me!"

Jinzhu got up anxiously, opened the door and went out to find Xuanfeng.

"Xuanfeng! Where did the Crown Prince go? Why hasn't he returned to the palace yet?"

"The Crown Prince hasn't returned yet. I heard His Majesty has something to do. What happened?" Xuanfeng asked.

"Your Highness has a stomachache, could you please go and fetch the imperial physician?"

"The Crown Prince told me to stay by his side at all times."

Jinzhu couldn't wait that long. "No! Her Highness has a stomachache. I'm afraid something's wrong with her. Go find the imperial physician right now!"

"Hurry up!" Jinzhu urged him anxiously.

"Okay, okay, I'll go right now."

Xuanfeng selected a group of people to guard Cao Yuan's room.

Not far away, a palace maid watched from a corner as Xuanfeng left the East Palace and entered Liu Xueqing's room.

"Your Highness, Xuanfeng has already left. There is only one squad of guards outside the door."

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Liu Xueqing slammed the comb on the table. "Hmph! Lock all the doors of the East Palace! Don't let anyone in."

"I want to see how long this vixen plans to stay in the Eastern Palace."

Liu Xueqing, accompanied by several palace maids and eunuchs, arrived at Chu Yan's bedchamber.

Several guards bowed and greeted, "Crown Princess!"

"The Crown Prince ordered me to come and see Princess Huayang."

The guards were immediately confused.

"Um, Your Highness. Lord Xuan just said that no one is allowed to come in," one of them said.

"You scoundrel! This is the Crown Princess! This is the Eastern Palace, where does Xuanfeng have the right to speak!"

The palace maid behind him scolded him.

"I won't make things difficult for you. Open the door quickly and let me in."

Liu Xueqing stepped forward, but the guards stood guard tightly.

"Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for us."

"I'm going in today. Do you dare touch me?"

Liu Xueqing walked up the steps one by one, while the guards retreated one step at a time until they had nowhere left to go.

Several palace maids cleared the way for Liu Xueqing.

These guards had no choice but to give way to her.

Liu Xueqing kicked the door open, and the palace maids closed it and locked it from the inside.