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

Cao Yuan returned to the Xue residence after leaving the palace.

"Your Highness, you've been busy all night! Please go back to your room and rest."

Jinzhu followed behind her.

"I told you to investigate this, so you'd better find out the truth as soon as possible!"

"Don't worry, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Jinzhu nodded vigorously.

"Princess, please wait!" Old Madam Xue called out to Cao Yuan from behind.

"Mother, you're up so early today! Is something the matter?" Cao Yuan turned around.

Madam Xue frowned and complained, "As a married woman, you haven't returned home all night. Do you think our Xue family is an inn? Even if you were a princess, you still have to follow the three obediences and four virtues of a woman."

“Mother, I went out on official business! Unlike you, Mother, who is so idle and only knows how to keep an eye on me.” Cao Yuan answered casually, smoothing her hair and looking up at something else.

Madam Xue was driven to the brink by her actions.

"What official business? I bet you've gone to see the Minister of Justice again! Do you know what people outside are saying about the Xue family, and about Xinian? Now that you've married into the Xue family, you should start producing heirs for the Xue family as soon as possible!"

"Our Xi Nian is a dignified Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. How can he put the Xue family's face here!"

“Mother, although I have married into the Xue family, this Xue family mansion was a gift from Father Emperor to the Imperial Son-in-Law. If Xinian is no longer the Imperial Son-in-Law, these gifts will be lost! If I were you, I should serve my good wife well and not cause myself any trouble!”

"How dare you speak like that!" Old Madam Xue was so angry that she couldn't speak.

"What? I heard that your daughter is still throwing her weight around in the Minister's house. Should I inform the Minister to teach my elder sister the three obediences and four virtues?"

“You! You…”

"I'm tired and need to rest! Mother is getting on in years, she needs to rest well too."

Cao Yuan turned and left.

Old Madam Xue's legs buckled and she almost fell. She grabbed a pillar and gasped for breath, clutching her chest. "What a tragedy, what a tragedy. How could our Xue family have married such a daughter-in-law?"

"Your Highness, you're amazing! You've made Old Madam Xue speechless with anger! Do you think she'll die of anger because of you?!"

How could someone as strong and healthy as her be angered to death! In her previous life, she lived even longer than Cao Yuan.

-

In the depths of winter, the wind howls, and frost blankets the ground, as if draped in a pristine white veil. The branches are laden with glistening icicles, shimmering with a golden light under the sun. The ginkgo trees inside Dali Temple are now bare, with only a few golden leaves remaining, stubbornly standing tall in the wind.

Three days later, Cao Yuan arrived at Dali Temple as agreed.

Cao Yuan got off the carriage, her body trembling involuntarily. Jin Zhu draped a silver brocade cloak with dark patterns over Cao Yuan's shoulders.

"Your Highness, it's unusually cold this year, please put this on."

As Chu Yan sat in the hall, the woman in his gaze seemed different from usual. Her black hair swayed in the cold wind, and the fox fur at the neckline of her shawl swayed lightly in the breeze. The blue hair ornament in her hair and her turquoise dress made her face look even more beautiful than before.

Xuanfeng moved over a chicken-wing wood chair.

"Please have a seat, Princess!"

Cao Yuan nodded to him and sat down in the chair, showing much better judgment than his master.

"Princess, it's cold today. My young master has prepared a hand warmer for you." Xuanfeng handed it to Jinzhu.

Chu Yan frowned. He didn't remember the Dali Temple having such a thing.

Cao Yuan looked at him and said, "No need, give it to Lord Chu. It wouldn't be good if Lord Chu got sick."

Chu Yan chuckled to himself, thinking, "Are you trying to say I'll die young again?"

"My young master is in good health and has no need for these!"

“I don’t think so!” Cao Yuan said.

Xuanfeng stood in front of Chu Yan, "Young Master, here you go!"

"unnecessary!"

"Lord Chu, may we begin?"

With a thud of the gavel, "Bring the criminals to the court!"

Bai Lu was brought into the courtroom in prison clothes stained with blood. She knelt down on the ground, her expression indifferent, but a hint of resentment towards Chu Yan could be seen in her eyes.

"Lord Chu, didn't she sign a confession? Why are you using torture again? Did she insult you again?"

"No way! We didn't torture her at all!" Xuanfeng quickly explained.

"Does the person below confess their guilt?" Chu Yan asked.

"Lord Chu, Princess! This sinful subject has signed the confession and pleads guilty. I beg Lord Chu to show mercy and not to torture this sinful subject any further." Bai Lu kowtowed, cupping her hands in reverence.

“Hey, how can you talk nonsense! When did our Dali Temple ever torture you?” Xuanfeng said.

Chu Yan glanced at him, and Xuan Feng covered his mouth and lowered his head.

"Then please tell me what happened again," Chu Yan said.

“That night, I saw the envoy drag a dancer into a room. The dancer didn’t want to go with him. She was one of the dancers I had chosen from the dance hall, so she kept yelling for help at me. I was furious, so I went into the room and argued with the envoy. The room was in chaos. I took out my sword to defend myself, and the envoy ran into the sword and died.”

"Does the princess have any further questions?"

"Lord Chu, now that the culprit who murdered the envoy has been found, I have no further questions. Why not execute him as soon as possible?"

Bai Lu and Chu Yan both looked at Cao Yuan, their expressions showing a hint of shock.

"The envoy's presence is crucial to peace between the two countries; he should be handed over to the State of Chen for handling," Chu Yan said.

"Lord Chu, the year is about to end. Wouldn't sending him to the State of Chen just cause them trouble? Why not just execute him directly and have the Ministry of Rites send a letter to the State of Chen?"

Chu Yan paused for a moment, then replied, "The princess is right. We will do as the princess wishes."

"Chu Yan! You've all conspired together, haven't you?" Bai Lu finally couldn't help but speak up. "Princess, do you really want him to kill me?!"

Bai Lu had no idea what had happened outside in the past three days, or why Cao Yuan was behaving so strangely.

"I have faith in Lord Chu's ability to solve cases."

"Besides, didn't you admit that you killed someone? According to the laws of the Great Wei, anyone who affects the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries shall be executed by slow slicing. Lord Chu, have I said anything wrong?"

“The princess is right,” Chu Yan said.

"Bai Lu, considering your past service in the Ministry of Rites, I'll ask you one last question: do you have any last words?"

"I have it! Of course I have it!" Bai Lu stood up unwillingly.

"Tell me your story! I will do my best to help you achieve it! So you can travel in peace."

Bai Lu dragged her chains as she approached Cao Yuan, but Jin Zhu blocked her way, shouting, "Don't come any closer!"

He knelt down at Cao Yuan's feet with a thud, "Princess, I have disappointed you! Please accept my bow!"

Cao Yuan patted Jinzhu, signaling her to step back.

Just as Bai Lu was about to take a step forward, Chu Yan threw a dart that landed in front of her.

"Chu Yan, are you afraid I'll expose your identity?"

"Identity?" Cao Yuan looked at Chu Yan with a puzzled expression.

"Princess, I know Chu Yan's true identity! He is..."

Cao Yuan leaned forward, looking at her expectantly.