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

It was already evening when Cao Yuan and Xue Xinian left the Minister's residence.

As soon as the two arrived home, Xue Xiqiong surrounded them.

"What did you say?"

Xue Xinian looked worried. "The Minister said that the eldest son can be married, but..."

Xue Xiqiong jumped up happily before she even heard it, completely ignoring the rest of Xue Xinian's sentence.

"I can marry into the Minister's household now. Where is the marriage certificate? Where is the marriage certificate?"

Xue Xiqiong took the marriage certificate from Xue Xinian's hand, and the moment she opened it, the joy on her face turned into astonishment. "How could this be! How could she be a concubine!"

Old Madam Xue took the marriage certificate from her hand. "Let me see. She really is a concubine!"

In her previous life, Xue Xiqiong was indeed the principal wife and the matriarch of the Fan family.

This was largely due to Cao Yuan requesting an imperial edict from the emperor.

However, Cao Yuan would not be so foolish as to do someone else's work for her benefit. She had already had some unpleasantness with Minister Fan during the imperial examination, and now that she had lost face, how could Minister Fan, who was so concerned about his reputation, be willing to do so?

Xue Xinian said, "Mother, elder sister, and the Minister's wife said that this matter has become too big a fuss, and she can no longer be the principal wife."

"How could this happen!" Old Madam Xue was at a loss for what to do.

“There’s no other way now. Sister, you didn’t go, so you don’t know what the Minister’s wife said about us. She said that you’re not even married yet and you’ve already caused such a scene with your own concubine, and you’ve even disfigured yourself, making the Minister’s family lose face. It’s already a miracle that you were allowed into the mansion. So, sister, please don’t take it to heart.” Cao Yuan said, holding her hand.

"The concubine you fought with before was an illegitimate daughter of the Marquis's family! It's already quite good that you're on equal footing with her."

"It's all your fault! You did it on purpose! You let that cripple hurt my face. You've ruined me like this!" Xue Xiqiong grabbed Cao Yuan's collar and screamed madly.

"Sister, don't get agitated! If you don't like it, why don't we discuss canceling it? You can't regret it now!" Xue Xinian pulled them apart.

"My face has been ruined by her lover, what am I supposed to do!" Xue Xiqiong cried, hugging Old Madam Xue.

Only then did Cao Yuan realize that Chu Yan had caused this mess. It seemed that Xue Xiqiong had also caused a scene at the Dali Temple. It was a pity that she hadn't seen it.

"Qiong'er, don't cry! We'll prepare more dowry so you won't be bullied by your in-laws after you get married." Old Madam Xue comforted Xue Xiqiong by touching her face with heartache.

In her past life, Xue Xiqiong, as the mistress of the Minister's mansion, never treated the other concubines kindly, and in the end, she emerged as the biggest winner. It remains to be seen who will win this time in the Minister's mansion.

"Princess, why don't you prepare a dowry for Qiong'er? Why not use half of your dowry as a dowry for Qiong'er?" said Madam Xue.

She really dares to speak her mind!

"Madam Xue, aren't dowries supposed to be prepared by the bride's family from childhood? Didn't you prepare anything for Miss Xue?" Jinzhu asked.

“The princess has already married into our Xue family, so her dowry naturally belongs to our Xue family as well! What else do we need to prepare?” Old Madam Xue said frankly.

"Does the Prince Consort think so too?"

"Ah Yuan, we're all family. Besides, you're also responsible for your sister's face, so you shouldn't have any objections, right?!"

dowry?

Then she'd better prepare well.

"Are you sure you want to use half of my dowry as a concubine's dowry?"

“My sister is already a concubine. If we don’t give her a bigger dowry, she’ll be bullied by the other concubine and looked down upon by her husband’s family! Let’s settle this matter! What do you say, A-Yuan?” Xue Xinian was quite firm this time.

"You're the head of the household, so we'll listen to you!"

The wedding banquet is scheduled for the first day of next month.

Taking a concubine in the mansion is done in a very simple way, and she has to go through a side door.

Perhaps because of Xue Xinian, Minister Fan allowed Xue Xiqiong to enter through the main gate.

Cao Yuan ordered several boxes of dowry to be brought into the house.

Cao Yuan was quite surprised to run into Chu Yan, as she hadn't seen him in her previous life when Xue Xiqiong got married.

"How dare Lord Chu come to a place like this! Aren't you afraid the Xue family will come after you?"

"I was invited to participate! And I was very gentle; it was just a minor injury! Even if her skin was made of tofu, it would have healed by now!"

Chu Yan spoke in a calm tone.

"I don't believe it! It's been almost a month and her face still doesn't look better!"

"Then that's none of my business!" Chu Yan shrugged.

"Really?" Xue Xiqiong's expression didn't seem to be faking it!

Jinzhu knelt down guiltily, "Your Highness, I was wrong! Please punish me!"

Cao Yuan helped her up. "Did you inflict her injuries?"

Jinzhu nodded, "Her mouth is too foul! She always says that His Highness and Lord Chu have some other relationship, so I added something else to the medicine she usually changes..."

"Jinzhu, you've really gotten impressive now! You can even drug other people! I didn't even notice!" Cao Yuan exclaimed in surprise.

Jinzhu smiled and said, "I'm imitating Miss Xue!"

Cao Yuan gave her a thumbs up, "You've improved so quickly!"

With a loud crash, one of the boxes containing Cao Yuan's dowry overturned, revealing the contents inside.

The guests all gathered around.

Wow! What a grand gesture! All of these are tributes from various countries!

"As expected of Princess Huayang's in-laws!"

Minister Fan also came over upon hearing the noise.

"Minister Fan is really influential; even his concubine has more prestige than his wife!"

"Congratulations, Minister Fan!"

Despite the guests' praise, Minister Fan did not smile at all.

"Ah Yuan, what's going on?!" Xue Xinian ran over.

"It's just that one of the boxes of dowry I prepared spilled! It's alright!"

"I mean, these are all tributes!" Xue Xinian wasn't easily fooled. "How can tributes be used as a dowry! Aren't you slapping the Minister in the face? With such a grand display, who would dare to marry the Minister's son as his principal wife this time!"

Tribute was a royal gift, and generally only meritorious officials were eligible to receive it. To give it directly as a dowry to someone who had not made any contributions was simply a slap in the face to the Minister.

"Huh? But isn't this what you said, that you'd take half of my dowry? My dowry includes many tributes bestowed by the Emperor, Xinian, why are you still not satisfied!" Cao Yuan's eyes reddened, and she covered her mouth with a handkerchief, looking aggrieved and on the verge of tears.

"Huh? The dignified Vice Minister of Rites actually only used the princess's dowry as his own sister's dowry!"

"So, when my own sister got married, I didn't contribute anything!"

"I heard that on the Emperor's birthday, my sister said she wanted to divorce the princess. It seems that even the princess is not having a good time in the Xue family!"

The focus shifted to the Xue family.

"Xi Nian, I was wrong. How about I have Jin Zhu prepare another one?"

Seeing so many people around, Xue Xinian didn't know what to say. "Let it go this time! In the future, you have to discuss this with me beforehand."

After saying that, he went to explain to Minister Fan.

Cao Yuan's eyes sharpened. Xue Xinian, you still dare to put on airs with me? You've got some nerve!

After you finish dealing with your sister, it'll be your turn soon!