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

Cao Yuan opened her eyes groggily, her head throbbing terribly. The memory of the wine she had just drunk from Xue Xinian flashed through her mind, and suddenly she became clear-headed.

It was dark all around, with only light coming in from the windows in the distance.

At that moment, she felt as if someone was next to her bed.

A hand is slowly reaching towards her. Xue Xinian, you're asking for it again!

Cao Yuan grabbed his wrist, but the man twisted it back. Both of their hands were firmly held by the other.

No, this isn't Xue Xinian!

"it's me!"

This sound?

Chu Yan?

Chu Yan released his grip first, and Cao Yuan followed suit.

He took a tinderbox from his sleeve and lit the candle in the room.

Cao Yuan sat up from the couch. "Lord Chu, what brings you here? Did you come looking for me?"

"It seems the princess is alright, so I won't disturb her rest any longer."

Chu Yan prepared to leave.

"Stop right there!" Cao Yuan got up from the bed, her legs still a little weak.

Chu Yan turned his head. "Does the princess have anything else to say?"

Why are you in such a hurry?

Chu Yan countered, "Princess, you don't naively think you're just sleeping here, do you? If someone sees us, we'll really have trouble explaining ourselves."

"So what? I don't care, so why are you making a fuss about it!"

“The princess is of noble birth and has everything she could want. Why must she use me to achieve her goals?”

"What are you thinking about! I wanted to ask you if you have something to say to me this afternoon?" Cao Yuan didn't want to tease him anymore when she saw how serious he was.

Chu Yan remained silent.

"You don't like the Sixth Princess's hunting game?" Cao Yuan asked.

"What happened to those prisoners in the end?" Chu Yan changed the subject.

"What can we do with them now that they're all dead?" Cao Yuan said casually.

Chu Yan's heart skipped a beat. "Does the princess really think it's right to treat prisoners so casually? Every country has its laws, and even if someone commits a crime, they should be dealt with according to the law. Besides, those who were just loyal to their country are the ones who end up like this!"

"Chu Yan!"

"Why are you throwing a tantrum at me? If I hadn't shot down Cao Shang's arrow today, would you really think you could have saved those death row inmates?"

"The fact that Cao Shang can bring out death row inmates to play with means that it's with the Emperor's permission. You need to recognize your place; you're just a subject. Even if the Prime Minister were here, he wouldn't dare stop the princes from doing anything!"

"Your Highness is right! I shall take my leave now!"

Cao Yuan was furious. How dare this short-lived man give her the attitude he deserved!

Cao Yuan came out of the room and happened to meet Consort Xian and several other concubines.

"What a coincidence that Consort Xian is here too?"

"Oh, it's Princess Huayang! We were just strolling around!" Consort Xian looked at the room behind Cao Yuan. "Princess Huayang, did you come out of that room too? We think we saw the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review come out of that room as well."

"I had a headache earlier, and Xi Nian brought me here to rest. We happened to run into Lord Chu, and we remembered we had some official business to discuss, so we chatted for a while! Is there anything wrong with that?"

Cao Yuan spoke frankly, leaving Consort Xian and the others unsure how to respond.

"Oh, that's how it is!"

"Oh dear, I was brought here by Xinian, but I can't find Xinian anywhere. Your Highness, why don't I join you for a stroll?"

Consort Xian felt embarrassed to refuse, "Alright, alright!"

"Let's go for a walk in the Imperial Garden!" Cao Yuan took the Empress's arm.

If I'm not mistaken, that adulterous couple must be having an affair here.

Cao Yuan and the others walked to the Imperial Garden.

Two figures overlapped behind the artificial hill.

"Xue Lang, it's been so long since we last met. Look, the scars on my leg from that cripple injury haven't healed yet."

"Our Shang'er has truly suffered." Xue Xinian tenderly touched Cao Shang's face. "When the time is right, I will definitely take that cripple for our Shang'er..."

With a loud bang.

Hearing the noise, the dog-like boyfriend behind the artificial hill turned his head alertly.

A group of people were staring at them.

Xue Xinian released Cao Shang from his arms and pushed her away.

"Ah, Ah Yuan!"

"How come the Fourth Princess's husband is with the Sixth Princess...?"

"My God!"

"This...this...this is outrageous!"

The Empress Dowager and her entourage whispered among themselves.

Cao Yuan, holding back tears, stepped forward and slapped him across the face. "Xue Xinian! I've been so devoted to you, and you actually seduced my imperial sister!"

"Royal sister, why are you hitting people?!" Cao Shang was furious when she saw Xue Xinian being hit.

"You're actually feeling sorry for him? What business is it of yours if I beat my husband! You're actually having an affair with your brother-in-law. Come with me to Father Emperor and let him judge this for me." Cao Yuan grabbed Cao Shang's arm and started to walk towards the Emperor's palace.

Cao Shang shook off her hand and hugged Xue Xinian tightly.

"Father, Father, all you do is tattle!"

"Since you already know, we might as well tell you that we are truly in love, and it was you, my elder sister, who stole him away."

Cao Yuan tugged at Xue Xinian's sleeve and asked, "Xue Xinian, is what she said true?"

"Ah Yuan, let me explain!"

"Explain! I don't want to hear it!" Cao Yuan slapped Xue Xinian again.

"Are you sick in the head?! Why are you so rude, always hitting people! No wonder Xinian doesn't like you! Someone as rude as you deserves to be disliked by everyone!"

Cao Shang forcefully shoved Cao Yuan, causing Cao Yuan to knock down the Consort Xian who was trying to break up the fight behind her.

"How are you, Your Highness?"

Consort Xian lay on the ground clutching her stomach, crying out, "My stomach, my stomach hurts so much!"

"Oh, Your Majesty, you're plotting to murder the imperial heir!" Cao Shang said, pointing at Cao Yuan.

"You pushed me first."

"You deliberately lost your balance. How could someone who practices martial arts be so fragile? You are deliberately plotting to harm the imperial heir."

Xue Xinian finally spoke up, "Princess, let's send Consort Xian back to the palace first."

"Shut up! I'm going to divorce you, you unfaithful husband!" Cao Yuan scolded.

"You're not allowed to insult my Xue Lang!" Cao Shang and Cao Yuan started fighting.

Cao Shang was no match for Cao Yuan. Cao Yuan caught sight of a pond nearby, wrestled with her until they reached the pond, and then threw her in!

"Ah!" The icy pool water soaked through their clothes, the chill penetrating the fabric and reaching their skin, bringing a bone-chilling cold. She stood in the pool, seemingly numb, her body trembling uncontrollably.

This spectacle attracted the families and officials who came to the palace for the New Year's Eve banquet, including Chu Yan.

"what happened?"

"Isn't that the Sixth Princess? Are they arguing?"

“Shang…” Xue Xinian ran over nervously.

Cao Yuan glared at him fiercely.

“Ah Yuan, you…”

"I almost forgot about you! Get down here too!" Cao Yuan grabbed his sleeve and threw him off.

"Ah! Xue Lang, save me!" Cao Shang hugged Xue Xinian, and the two really looked like a pair of mandarin ducks who had fallen into the water.

Cao Yuan was still not satisfied, so she picked up a bamboo stick next to her and said, "Aren't you two truly in love? Then I'll grant your wish and let everyone see how you two take a bath together every day!"

"Wow! Could it be that the Sixth Princess and the Fourth Princess's husband had an affair and the Fourth Princess caught them in the act?"

"Lord Xue is truly blessed with good fortune!"

"The deeper the love, the deeper the hate; it seems this has truly broken the Fourth Princess's heart."

Chu Yan listened from the side, his expression indifferent.

"Cao Yuan, you have humiliated us like this! I will tell Father Emperor!"