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

"That won't do! In the entire Wei Kingdom, how can a daughter-in-law not serve morning tea?"

Xue Xiqiong put her hands on her hips, her eyes wide open, and said shamelessly, "Doesn't the princess even know this basic etiquette?"

She seemed confident in her words, and her voice unconsciously rose a few decibels.

Upon hearing this, Cao Yuan lowered her head slightly, a hint of mockery and disdain flashing in her eyes.

She slowly stood up, walked to the head seat, and sat down with graceful and composed movements.

"I thought we were all family, but since you insist, then kneel down one by one and offer this salute to me."

Cao Yuan's voice carried an irresistible air of authority.

Her gaze swept over the crowd, her eyes flashing with a cold light that instilled fear in them.

The whole scene suddenly became tense, and a suffocating atmosphere filled the air.

Everyone's hearts tightened, and they all lowered their heads, not daring to meet Cao Yuan's gaze.

For a moment, the hall fell silent, with only the soft sounds of breathing and heartbeats mingling together.

After a long silence, Xue Xiqiong finally broke it, "Princess, you were the one who served tea to my mother and made your elder kneel before you. Do you think you deserve that?"

"Sister, you flatter me. I am a direct descendant of the royal family of the Great Wei, a woman of noble birth, and I am second only to the emperor. Even if someone is older than my mother, I am certainly worthy of their respect."

"Let alone you... mere commoners!" Cao Yuan's gaze was icy as she raised her arrogant head.

Madam Xue's face fell instantly, and although Xue Xiqiong was unwilling, she had nothing to say.

This sudden change made the Xue family very uncomfortable.

"Someone! Serve them tea!" Cao Yuan shouted.

"Yes!"

The maids in the mansion were quite sensible; they knew who the master of the Xue family was, and immediately served three cups of hot tea.

The lobby was silent; no one stepped forward.

"Madam, Miss, Prince Consort, who would like to go first?" Jinzhu warmly presented them with teacups.

Xue Xiqiong turned and sat down on the chair next to her, refusing to kneel.

"Since none of you are willing to pay your respects to me morning and evening, then let's cancel it from now on! It will save my mother, who is already old, from having to bow to me."

Cao Yuan spoke softly, with a hint of arrogance in her tone, "Mother, can I be considered filial to you in this way?"

Filial piety, really filial piety!

"I've been waiting for you all for so long and I'm getting tired. You may all leave!"

After saying that, Cao Yuan flung her skirt aside and strode away.

Seeing Cao Yuan leave, Xue Xiqiong quickly ran to Xue Xinian and said, "It must be because you didn't go into the bridal chamber yesterday that she took her anger out on us. Hurry up and go and coax her!"

Xue Xinian was a little embarrassed, but for the sake of a better future, he could only patiently chase after her.

"Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan!"

Cao Yuan stopped in her tracks.

"Ah Yuan, I drank too much yesterday and was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I didn't go. Are you upset that I didn't go to your room yesterday?" Xue Xinian chased after him into the corridor, forcing a smile.

Cao Yuan turned to the side, looking at the forced smile on his face. How come she hadn't seen it at all in her previous life? "Xi Nian, am I such a narrow-minded person?"

"Of course not. It's just that you seem a little different than before."

Before marriage, she followed him closely, obeyed Xue Xinian's every word, and showed no resistance or doubt towards his family, displaying utmost obedience and respect.

How come she changed so much after just one night of marriage?

"Xi Nian, I still love you just the same as before. Your thinking like that will break my heart."

Xue Xinian smiled and took Cao Yuan's hand. "Since there's nothing else, I'll go to the Ministry of Rites. My mother is getting old, so as the new bride, you should accommodate her."

To give in to the mother?

Then your older sister doesn't need to make concessions.

Cao Yuan smiled at him.

Back in her bedroom, she sat in front of the bronze mirror and wiped the rouge off her face. Her skin was as white and smooth as jade, and her almond-shaped eyes were clear as water, yet unfathomable.

A hint of loneliness lingered in her eyes. Ten years of vicissitudes had transformed her into a mature woman. Although she still had the skin of a young girl from ten years ago, her eyes could not return to what they were ten years ago. They seemed to have been sculpted by time and had endured many hardships.

"Your Highness, I've had the kitchen prepare some bird's nest soup. You haven't eaten anything this early!"

Jinzhu placed the bird's nest on the table. "The Prince Consort is really something. He didn't even go into the bridal chamber on their wedding night. What will people think if word gets out? There are already a lot of opinions about His Highness and the Prince Consort getting married!"

Xue Xinian was both talented and handsome. Soon after taking office, he gained many admirers among the women in the court, and Cao Yuan was particularly attracted to him.

He openly followed Xue Xinian, not allowing any woman to get close. Xue Xinian was very aloof and always kept his distance from Cao Yuan. For Cao Yuan, who was in the military camp all year round, a man like Xue Xinian was truly rare.

Later, Cao Yuan petitioned the emperor for a decree to grant them marriage. Although there were some setbacks along the way, the two still got married. They were even ridiculed by others for believing that the marriage was just Cao Yuan's wishful thinking.

However, the subsequent results proved to her that she had indeed been wishful thinking.

If she hadn't died once, she would never have imagined that marrying into the Xue family was a trap.

In this life, she wants to see if Xue Xinian can still become a powerful prime minister without her support.

"Jinzhu, from now on, tell the Xue family not to bother me without my permission."

"Ah? Your Highness, don't you really like the Prince Consort?"

Cao Yuan had worked so hard to get the Emperor to grant her the marriage decree, so why did it suddenly...?

"Suddenly I feel that the prince consort is not a good match." But now is not the time to divorce him.

"It's so good that Your Highness thinks this way."

Jinzhu's mouth practically stretched to her ears in a wide grin, but then she became melancholy again. "But Your Highness, what will we do in the future? Do you want a divorce? But wouldn't it be bad to divorce so soon after getting married?"

"It's not a divorce, it's a divorce!"

"Your Highness, although there are laws in our Great Wei for women to divorce their husbands, no woman has ever used them. You will surely be impeached if you divorce your husband without cause."

Jinzhu is right!

But simply divorcing him would be too lenient on that despicable couple.

Not only should she divorce him, but she should also ruin Xue Xinian's reputation!

"Xue Xinian, I will destroy everything you have," Cao Yuan said, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

The Emperor's birthday is just a few days away. In her previous life, Xue Xi was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites based on the Emperor's birthday celebration, though she herself had put in a lot of effort.

However, she is determined to avenge herself on this birthday.