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

Chu Yan followed the masked woman into the private room.

"Young master, it's not proper for a man and a woman to be alone in a room!" The masked woman raised an eyebrow at him and then threw a dart. At the same time, Chu Yan also threw a dart. The two darts collided and were hit on the ground.

The masked woman recognized him from the two identical darts on the ground.

"Your Highness, it's been a long time! Have you taken on a new identity yet?"

"It's been so long since I've seen you. So you've gone to the State of Chen to do this kind of business."

"We all need to make a living! You know how unreliable you bunch of stinking men are!" The veiled woman removed her face. "Your Highness, I've removed my veil, shouldn't you reciprocate?"

Chu Yan stopped pretending and took off his mask.

The veiled woman ran up to Chu Yan, the bells on her feet jingling crisply. She placed her hand on Chu Yan's shoulder. "Your Highness, you seem to have become much more handsome than before! The land and water of Shu really don't nurture people!"

Chu Yan took a few steps back, keeping his distance from her. "Your golden needles harmed someone, and I need to know who it was. Give me the list. I know you're always cautious; you wouldn't let someone buy your things without thoroughly investigating them."

"I only harm people. Those who don't harm people don't come to me. If I give you the list, who will come to me to buy hidden weapons in the future!"

The masked woman sat down on a wooden table, placing one foot on it.

"This concerns the possibility of war between the two countries. If war breaks out, it's uncertain whether the black market will even exist."

"Your Highness, you are a citizen of Shu! When did you become a peace envoy like Wei? Have you been assimilated by staying in Wei for too long?"

"You've really figured out where I am!"

"Give it to me or not!"

"This isn't how you ask for a favor! But since you saved me before, I'll give it to you, but you have to agree to one condition!"

Bai Lu was waiting anxiously downstairs, "Why isn't he coming down yet!"

Cao Yuan wasn't in a hurry at all. For some reason, she felt inexplicably at ease with Bai Lu's way of doing things, as if she were a long-lost friend.

A moment later, Chu Yan flew down, holding a roster in his hand.

"Wow, you actually got it!" Bai Lu exclaimed in surprise. It seems that Xiao Hanjing made a good decision by sending Chu Yan.

"Let's go! We'll go back and discuss it further."

Back in the tent.

Open the register, and you'll find drawings of every person involved in every transaction.

"This shop owner is really meticulous; they even painted the buyer's face on it," Cao Yuan exclaimed.

“There’s a high chance she’ll be targeted for revenge for doing this kind of dangerous business. If she doesn’t find out the buyer’s background, she might not survive this job,” Chu Yan said.

"Speaking of which, the shop owner was able to provide the list so quickly thanks to Brother Xiao. Did you know her before, Brother Xiao?" Cao Yuan asked.

Chu Yan shook his head, "Princess, you'd better get down to business!"

“I found it. This is the person who bought the golden needles. Do you know him, Princess?” Bai Lu asked.

"It's a woman! It seems we need to find her to break this deadlock."

"Oh, right!" As if remembering something, she took a booklet from the bed.

"This is a list of Wei officials who entered Chen. I had the Sixth Prince make a copy for me."

"We're a pair!"

The two of them spent the entire night searching for no clues.

"Princess, why isn't this woman on your list of documents? Could it be that she used a fake document?" Bai Lu asked Cao Yuan, leaning closer.

"If one can communicate with the State of Chen, it should be easy to forge a document."

"So, we've run out of leads again! What are we going to do with only two days left?!"

As dawn broke, the light of day streamed through the window into the room, illuminating Bailu's weary figure.

She slumped over the table, her body trembling slightly, clearly too exhausted to continue. Meanwhile, Cao Yuan sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, pondering her next move.

She looked around, a hint of anxiety and confusion on her face. Finally, Cao Yuan realized that someone was missing.

It seems they haven't seen him since they came back.

Where have you been?

Inside the Wei Kingdom's imperial palace.

I just finished the morning court session.

The Fourth Prince and Minister Fan left together.

"Your Highness, a scout reports that Princess Huayang entered the Chen Kingdom's military camp. We don't know what they said, but when she came out, she was carrying a corpse. Could she have discovered something?" Minister Fan asked warily.

"Should we just prevent her from coming back?"

“No, our goal is to make her peace negotiations fail. If she dies, who will fight the war? Are you still planning to let the Marquis of Zhenbei interfere?” the Fourth Prince said.

"I understand. Then I'll add fuel to the fire in this peace negotiation."

Minister Fan saw the Prime Minister in the distance.

"Prime Minister Chu!" Minister Fan stepped forward and greeted him politely.

"Your Highness, it's Minister Fan!"

"Your Highness, haven't we seen Chu Xiang's adopted son, the Minister of Justice, for quite some time?" Minister Fan started the conversation.

The prime minister naturally understood his meaning. "Thank you both for your concern, but my son is currently ill at home and it is inconvenient for him to attend court."

"Oh dear, how could you get sick? It's only just after the New Year." Minister Fan said with a worried expression.

"It's nothing serious, just a slight cold. I should be fine in a few days."

"I heard that Princess Huayang went to Chen to negotiate peace a few days ago. Lord Chu even went to great lengths to escort her. Could it be that he went with Huayang? I think the princess is closer to him than to her husband."

The Fourth Prince narrowed his eyes; he had indeed guessed it.

"Yes, everyone's saying that Princess Huayang is going to divorce Lord Xue. Could it be for another man?" Minister Fan chimed in.

"Your Highness, this joke has gone too far. My son and the princess are completely innocent, only colleagues. I don't know which gossip in the palace is slandering the princess like this."

His Majesty is deeply concerned about the war; if this were to reach his ears, I don't know what to do!

"Your Highness, you have always been discerning and insightful. How could you believe such nonsense? His Majesty is already exhausted from managing countless affairs of state. If he were to be troubled by such trivial matters, wouldn't that be adding insult to injury?"

We, your subjects, should naturally share Your Majesty's burdens. Moreover, the princess is currently negotiating peace with Chen; anyone who uses this opportunity to slander her and damage the royal family's reputation is truly harboring ulterior motives.

The Fourth Prince's face grew increasingly grim.

After the prime minister left.

"Why is Prime Minister Chu so agitated today? It was just a joke!" Minister Fan scoffed, noticing the Prime Minister's unusual behavior. Normally, the Prime Minister's words wouldn't be so sharp, and today the topic had drifted so far.

"However, Your Highness, you are overthinking it. How could a cripple like him possibly get there!"

"Send someone to Dali Temple to take a look."

"Yes!"

"Also, inform your dog that if Huayang comes back and really divorces him, then he will have no use to you."

"I will give him some pointers."