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

A few days later, news that Cao Yuan had been ambushed by the Chen Kingdom and fallen off a cliff spread throughout the capital and even reached the palace.

Cao Ji originally came to discuss the ambush of Cao Yuan, but remembering Cao Shang's situation, he went to Cao Shang's place earlier.

As soon as I stepped into the palace, someone inside threw something at my feet.

"I already said I'm not eating it!"

"Your Highness, you should eat something. You need to take care of your health!" Anping couldn't help but say.

The maids inside the room knelt in a row.

Cao Shang leaned against the window frame, his face pale and he looked much thinner.

"My dear sister, how are you?"

"Your Highness!"

Cao Shang glanced at him. "Imperial brother, are you here to laugh at me? You don't need to be so smug for Huayang! I'll get my comeuppance someday!"

"Don't you know Huayang is dead?"

Cao Shang immediately perked up and walked up to him. "What do you mean? Why did she die?"

Cao Ji consciously sat on the Luohan bed.

"Oh, Your Majesty, please tell me quickly." Cao Shang grabbed his arm.

A maid brought over two cups of tea, which Cao Ji calmly accepted and took a sip of.

"You've been in the palace too long; you know nothing. Huayang was ambushed by the Chen Kingdom, and his whereabouts are currently unknown!"

"Is he dead?!"

"Ten days have passed, and Hua Yang's body has not yet been found. I heard that she was already seriously injured before she fell off the cliff."

"Falling off such a high cliff, one is either dead or close to death."

"She's dead! That's wonderful! That's wonderful!"

Cao Shang was initially pleased, but then he thought again and felt something was amiss. "You came all this way just to say this? What are you trying to do? Don't even think about using me!"

"It's not about using you, I just want to help you, my dear sister!"

"Are you really that kind?" Cao Yuan didn't believe it.

"Has anyone come to see you since you've been locked up here?" Cao Ji asked, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"What do you mean?"

"If you want to marry Xue Xinian, you have to listen to me."

Upon hearing Xue Xinian's name, Cao Shang immediately turned hostile. "Hmph! Don't mention him to me. Back then, in front of Father Emperor, he still wanted to be with Huayang and didn't even come to see me. I will never marry him!"

Cao Shang said defiantly.

“Royal sister, this is not me defending him. Xue Xinian has been staying at home for so long, he can’t even get into the palace. You still expect him to come see you?”

"Why?"

"Father Emperor ordered him to reflect on his actions in the palace! He said he would deal with him after Huayang returned! But now Huayang is not coming back!"

After hearing what he said, Cao Shang was no longer angry with Xue Xinian.

"With Hua Yang dead, what she had will naturally be divided up by others."

"Oh, I see. You want the Tiger Tally of Huayang? The Tiger Tally is the greatest military power in the Great Wei. How could a prince who just returned from an inspection and has no military merits possibly have it!"

"It's more suitable for the Fourth Imperial Uncle." Cao Shang twirled a strand of hair with his finger.

"Fourth Imperial Uncle has been imprisoned! I'm determined to get this Tiger Tally!" Cao Ji said confidently, seemingly certain he could obtain it.

"What does all this have to do with me? Or do you have a way to get Father to lift my confinement?"

"Your Highness, you must understand that this is your only chance to marry Xue Xinian. If Huayang really does come back alive, he will be richly rewarded, and you can forget about having a good life."

"Then what do you think I should do?"

Cao Ji smiled and said, "All you need to do is this!"

The two whispered to each other.

-

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, several senior officials were arguing fiercely.

"Your Majesty, the Chen Kingdom's sneak attack on Princess Huayang's army is an utter disgrace to our Great Wei! We should immediately send troops to punish the Chen Kingdom!"

"The ceasefire agreement has already been signed. If we send troops to our Wei Kingdom now, wouldn't that be breaking the treaty?"

"So what? The Chen Kingdom has already ambushed my Great Wei princess who was negotiating peace, what need is there for a ceasefire agreement!"

"My lords, all we've said so far is that Princess Huayang fell off a cliff. Even if we want to hold the Chen Kingdom accountable, we should wait until we find Princess Huayang!" the Prime Minister said.

"Prime Minister Chu, it's been so many days since it fell off the cliff, it might have been carried off by wild animals."

The emperor grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it.

All the ministers knelt down.

"You're all discussing whether or not to go to war! Have you even thought about when my daughter will be able to return?"

"Your Majesty, please accept our condolences. The princess fell off the cliff and is likely beyond repair!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, please accept my condolences!"

"Father, Your Excellencies, may I have something to say?"

Cao Ji stepped out from the crowd.

"Now that Princess Huayang has fallen off the cliff, we should send more people to search for her. We must find her alive or dead!"

"Is it possible to get this back?"

"It must be hard to find!"

All the court officials shook their heads in disapproval.

"Father, why don't I go find it myself!"

"Your Highness, the Marquis of Zhenbei is nearby and we've already found him. By the time you get there, his body will probably have turned to dust."

"Let's wait for news from the Marquis of Zhenbei!"

“The Marquis of Zhenbei is already old and should not be worried. Do you want him to be an old man who dies young? What will happen when he falls ill?” Cao Ji retorted.

"The Marquis of Zhenbei has been stationed on the border for many years. This peace negotiation is being conducted by the Marquis of Zhenbei's grandson. Regardless of whether Princess Huayang is ultimately found, our capital should send someone to the border. Otherwise, people will criticize us..."

"What the Second Prince said makes sense!"

The courtiers' stance suddenly shifted.

"Father, let me go and search for her! However, I have just returned and do not yet hold an official position. I wonder if I can borrow troops to search for my fourth sister?"

Even the emperor, if he were foolish, would understand that he wanted Cao Yuan's tiger tally.

Cao Yuan's tiger tally could mobilize 100,000 troops of the Great Wei, but when she went to her maternal grandfather's territory on the border, she was afraid that the emperor would become suspicious, so she simply did not bring it and handed it over to the emperor for safekeeping.

However, how Cao Ji found out remains unknown.

never mind!

Now, finding Cao Yuan is of even greater importance.

The emperor glanced at Eunuch Wang.

Eunuch Wang handed the tiger tally to Cao Ji.

"Thank you, Father."

"Go and return immediately!"

"Your Majesty, Princess Huayang is currently missing. Is it not appropriate to hand over Princess Huayang's military command and authority to the Second Prince now?"

"I believe we should first find a suitable person to manage the affairs on his behalf! Then we can send troops to His Highness the Second Prince!"

"Who should we hand this over to? The Fourth Prince, who is in charge of the Ministry of War, has already been imprisoned."

Upon hearing the name of the Fourth Prince, the Emperor became enraged.

"Get out! All of you, get out of my sight!"

Several ministers were left feeling humiliated.

Cao Ji stood there, showing no intention of leaving.

"What are you still doing here! Hurry up and get to the border."

"Father, I have another matter to report. It concerns my sixth sister!"