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

Night is approaching.

Xue Xinian returned from the Ministry of Rites just in time for dinner.

"Little brother, you're finally back! We were starving!" Xue Xiqiong cried out, clutching her stomach.

"The Emperor's birthday is approaching, so I might be a bit busy! Don't worry about me, I'll eat first." Xue Xinian drank a cup of tea.

"Now that you're the imperial son-in-law, you should delegate the tasks to your subordinates!"

Xue Xiqiong's thinking is so naive; she really thought her younger brother was a high-ranking official.

"Xi Nian has worked so hard. If the Emperor's birthday celebration goes well this time, the position of Vice Minister will surely be his," Cao Yuan coaxed.

"A mere word from the princess is all it takes to obtain an official position! Why go through all this trouble!"

"Sister, be careful what you say!" Xue Xinian said righteously. "Although I am the prince consort, I should still rely on my real abilities to get promoted. Otherwise, A Yuan will also be criticized by others."

Xue Xinian held Cao Yuan's hand and said, "My feelings for A Yuan have never been mixed with these interests."

Cao Yuan smiled at him, still as hypocritical and aloof as before. Without Cao Yuan, no one knows how many more years he would have remained a minor official.

"How can that be? It's good that you think that way, Xinian, but you are my husband, how can you just be a minor official?"

"Don't worry, with me here, your career will be smooth sailing."

Xue Xinian was overjoyed, and his expression was much more relaxed than in the previous few days.

It seems he was overthinking things; Cao Yuan is still as naive as ever. Xue Xinian thought to himself.

“Mother and elder sister are going! This time, officials can bring their families!” Cao Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"They don't need to go; they don't know any manners," Xue Xinian waved his hand.

"I'm going! We're all in-laws, how can I not go! I've never been to the palace before!" Xue Xiqiong remembered something, a sinister glint in her eyes.

How could Xue Xiqiong not go!

She's the main character!

"Sister is so happy!" Cao Yuan's words had a hidden meaning.

"Of course!" Xue Xiqiong stared at her with undisguised malice.

-

On the day of Emperor's birthday.

Xue Xinian had already entered the palace ahead of schedule to prepare for the Emperor's birthday celebration.

Cao Yuan dressed herself up and sat in the carriage waiting for Xue's mother and daughter.

Xue Xiqiong was dressed in red silk robes, her hair was piled up at the back of her head, and colorful ornaments were pinned to her head and waist.

"Sister, are you sure you want to keep dressing like this?"

"Of course! We can't let others think that the sister of the future Vice Minister of Rites is so low-class!" Xue Xiqiong touched the decoration on her head, quite confident in her appearance today.

"Isn't Mother coming?"

"Mother doesn't like crowds! Let's go quickly."

The carriage arrived at the palace gate, and court officials and their families began to enter one after another.

Xue Xiqiong looked up at the palace gate and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! The palace is much more magnificent than other places."

The palace before us is tall, magnificent, and imposing, giving people a solemn and dignified feeling.

The red city walls soared into the clouds, and the guards at the gate stood there majestically, clad in magnificent armor and holding long spears.

Xue Xiqiong was captivated by the magnificent sight, her eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. She imagined the luxury and mystery within the palace, and a strong longing welled up within her.

As soon as Cao Yuan got out of the car, Xue Xiqiong's eyes were drawn to the phoenix hairpin on her head.

"Sister, what's wrong?"

“I think the hairpin in your hair is quite pretty, it’s pure gold too, why don’t you let me wear it?” Xue Xiqiong said, reaching out to remove the phoenix hairpin from Cao Yuan’s hair.

Jinzhu slapped her hand away, "No, this phoenix hairpin is..."

"Jinzhu!" Cao Yuan glanced at her, and Jinzhu stepped back without saying anything more.

“Sister, take it if you like, I have plenty. But sister, do you still want to wear all those ornaments on your head?” Cao Yuan took off the gold hairpin.

"Mind your own business! You're married to my brother now, so he gets a share of everything that's yours."

"It really is gold! I'm rich! I'm rich!" Xue Xiqiong held it in her hand, weighing it in her hand, and then took a bite out of the gold hairpin, her eyes sparkling.

"Your Highness, this hairpin was a gift from the late Empress. How can you just give it to her like that?" Jinzhu muttered softly.

"You'll find out soon."

Jinzhu was completely confused by Cao Yuan, but she was also looking forward to what would happen next.

Xue Xiqiong followed the crowd in, but instead of going to her seat, she was led by a palace maid to a pavilion.

There was a familiar figure in the pavilion. Cao Yuan followed behind. The person was none other than Cao Shang, the imperial sister who had cheated on Xue Xinian with her in her previous life and caused her death.

"Your Highness! You were looking for me!"

"Sister Qiong, do you remember what I told you before?" Cao Shang's tone was gentle, just like Xue Xinian's, she was a person who was good at pretending.

It seems like this couple is actually a perfect match.

"I remember, I remember, but won't that affect Xinian? This is the palace after all!"

Xue Xiqiong asked fearfully, "Will they chop off my head?!"

"Don't worry, if anyone criticizes you, just blame it all on your elder sister."

Seeing Xue Xiqiong hesitate, Cao Shang continued, "My elder sister has always been arrogant because she has the Tiger Tally! She has already offended many people, and people will definitely follow suit."

Cao Yuan sneered. So this was also their doing.

Just wait, I'll return it to you myself!

On her way back, Cao Yuan happened to meet a eunuch who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old walking towards the palace. However, he walked with his head held high and chest out, unlike any other eunuch in the palace. The Emperor's birthday celebration was the most relaxed time in the palace, and it was also the most chaotic time.

"stop!"

Hearing the commotion, Xiao Tai thought he had been exposed and immediately threw a hidden weapon at her, which Cao Yuan dodged by throwing it backward.

Looking back, the young guard was gone. A series of hurried footsteps approached from afar; it was the Imperial Guard.

"Your subordinate greets Princess Huayang! I have caused Your Highness great distress; please forgive me."

"It's alright, it's probably just a prank. You can continue your patrol."

"Yes!" The Imperial Guards exchanged glances. Since Cao Yuan wouldn't pursue the matter after such an incident in the palace, they could also be spared punishment.

Cao Yuan looked around for a while before returning to the banquet.

The man in the artificial hill not far away left after seeing Cao Yuan leave.

Xue Xiqiong sat with the other female relatives of the court officials. As soon as she sat down, the female relatives of the court officials stared at the phoenix hairpin on her head and pointed at it.

"What are you looking at! I'm related to Princess Huayang by marriage. My family has plenty of these kinds of things. You can't wear things like this!" Xue Xiqiong touched the phoenix hairpin in her hair, looking extremely proud.

"A pheasant dressed up like a phoenix and actually thinks it's a phoenix!" a woman in the crowd mocked.

"Who are you! Speaking of me like that, do you believe I'll tell Princess Huayang and have her punish you!" Xue Xiqiong was truly fearless, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger.

"You troublemaker, you think you can punish me? What a joke!"

"Who are you calling a troublemaker! My brother is the imperial son-in-law, the future vice minister! How dare you speak ill of me like this!"

"It's still uncertain who will get the position of Vice Minister! Don't be too confident, or you'll become a laughing stock!"

People around her were also laughing at Xue Xiqiong.

"The princess said that the position of Vice Minister of Rites is my brother's!" Xue Xiqiong said with a smug look on her face.

"Sister, what happened?" Cao Yuan rushed over.