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

Inside the Xue residence.

Since Xue Xinian was confined to the mansion, he has locked himself in his study every day.

Madam Xue pushed open the door, and the strong smell of alcohol filled the room, hitting her head. "Xi Nian, look at you, how did you get so drunk again?"

"Mother, don't worry about me!" His tone was resolute and impatient.

The room was in complete disarray, with tables and chairs overturned and broken bottles scattered everywhere.

Xue Xinian leaned against the corner of the wall, his hair disheveled, his once neat face now covered by a beard, making him look extremely haggard and dejected.

"My child, how can I abandon you like this?" Old Madam Xue said, her face full of worry and heartache, her voice trembling slightly.

How could Madam Xue not know the pain in his heart? But what's done is done, and there's nothing that can be done.

"Imperial edict has arrived! Vice Minister of Rites, receive the edict!"

Upon hearing the words "imperial edict," Xue Xinian's hope was rekindled.

Upon hearing the noise, Xue Xinian and Madam Xue quickly came out.

The visitor was Cao Ji.

"Your Highness!"

Xue Xinian knelt in front of him.

"Lord Xue, I've come to deliver the imperial decree!"

Cao Ji opened the imperial edict, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I rule the world and care for all the people. My beloved daughter, Princess Huafeng, is gentle and virtuous, possessing both beauty and talent. She has now reached marriageable age. Xue Xinian, the Vice Minister of Rites, is exceptionally talented and of upright character, truly a promising young man. I observe that the two are a perfect match, a match made in heaven. Therefore, I hereby bestow this marriage upon them, ordering them to choose an auspicious day to marry and begin their family life. This is my decree!"

Xue Xinian was stunned and remained silent for a long time.

Princess Huafeng?

"Lord Xue, are you not going to accept the imperial decree?" Cao Ji asked.

"May I ask, sir, who is Princess Huafeng?" Old Madam Xue had never heard of this person before.

"Your Highness, may I ask who Princess Huafeng is?"

Cao Ji smiled and said, "Look, I almost forgot to tell you, Princess Huafeng is the Sixth Princess! His Majesty cherishes the Sixth Princess and you, so he bestowed upon you a title and issued an edict to grant you both this honor."

“接旨吧！”

When Madam Xue saw that he did not accept the imperial decree, she nudged him with her elbow.

"Your Highness, Princess Huayang and I are not yet divorced, how can I marry someone else? Wouldn't that be a bit unfair to Princess Huafeng?"

"Alas! Doesn't Lord Xue know yet? Princess Huayang was ambushed by enemy troops on her way back and unfortunately fell off a cliff!"

"It seems the chances of survival are slim!"

Upon hearing his words, Xue Xinian felt a tremor in her heart, as if struck by lightning. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, as if trying to break free of its restraints.

His eyes widened, his face filled with astonishment. "No, impossible! How could she be dead! No, I don't believe it!"

"Xi Nian, calm down!" Old Madam Xue pulled Xue Xi Nian back. "The Second Prince is still here, don't lose your composure!"

"The minister accepts the order!"

"Lord Xue is truly blessed to marry two princesses of the current dynasty! However, you must treat Princess Huafeng well, as she is pregnant!"

After Cao Ji left, Madam Xue hurriedly went to the door.

"So it's true! I heard people on the street a few days ago saying that Princess Huayang is dead! This saves us a lot of trouble!" Old Madam Xue was quite happy.

"No, it's impossible!"

"Princess Huayang is dead? How could A-Yuan be dead? A-Yuan only went to negotiate peace, how could she die!" Xue Xinian's eyes widened, and he grabbed Old Madam Xue's arm. He couldn't believe it was true.

"It's been circulating outside for days that Princess Huayang was ambushed by the Chen Kingdom and her body was never found."

"Dead!" Xue Xinian trembled, looking at Old Madam Xue in disbelief.

"That's wonderful! With Princess Huafeng as our wife, our Xue family will have an heir!" Upon hearing that Cao Shang was pregnant, Old Madam Xue was naturally overjoyed.

"No, don't marry her! What use is she! How can she compare to A Yuan!" Xue Xinian stood up, swaying precariously.

"Ah Yuan can make my career soar, but Cao Shang can do nothing but ruin me! She's only fit to be my concubine!" Xue Xinian roared, as if he had lost his soul.

"But she is a princess after all. If you don't marry her, it will be considered defying the imperial decree, and our Xue family will be completely finished!"

“Your sister is just a concubine in the Minister’s mansion! If you don’t strive to improve yourself, you won’t be able to keep your position as Vice Minister either, and your sister’s life will be even more difficult. Xinian, you need to think about your own future.”

"No, there must be other ways! How could I, Xue Xinian, have fallen to such a state!"

-

In the cave.

Chu Yan started a fire to dry Cao Yuan's clothes, and also roasted a fish.

"Can we eat now?" Cao Yuan stared at the grilled fish, her mouth practically watering. She hadn't eaten anything since she arrived!

"Almost done! Are you hungry? Eat some fruit from the ground first."

Cao Yuan picked one up and took a bite, her brows furrowing deeply. "Cough cough...it's so sour!"

"Princess Huayang, didn't you grow up in a military camp? You shouldn't be so picky about your environment!"

“I grew up in a military camp, not in the wild. Do you think I’m a savage?” Cao Yuan retorted.

Chu Yan smiled and said, "I misunderstood the princess!"

"But how do you know my name is Hua Yang? I don't think I mentioned it."

Chu Yan's hand suddenly paused. "It was Lord Chu who said it."

"Is that so? Has Lord Chu said anything else about me?" Cao Yuan looked at him expectantly.

Chu Yan didn't speak, so Cao Yuan could only try to find something else to talk about.

"Are you actually from the Shu Kingdom?"

Chu Yan suddenly stopped moving, and Cao Yuan, seeing this, was certain.

"I was saying you were so generous, giving a beggar a piece of gold. I've heard that Shu has gold mines, and it certainly lives up to its reputation."

"Huh? Has the Shu Kingdom been fighting and seizing land from neighboring countries all these years? I wonder how many more ordinary people have suffered."

Cao Yuan's tone was somewhat nonchalant, and he assumed she was mocking the Shu Kingdom.

"Ok!"

Cao Yuan, oblivious to his odd behavior, continued, "With your skills, you should at least be a general, right? Why don't you go back and serve your country?"

"I never kill anyone!" Chu Yan said resolutely.

"But if you go back to fight, our Great Wei might not be your match!"

"You live in a country without war, while I live in a country that loves to fight and invade other countries' territories. I have no choice in these things, so you don't need to mock me!"

"The fish is ready, you can eat it! Don't run around!"

Chu Yan handed it to Cao Yuan and then left.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Chu Yan walked away without looking back.

What's wrong with him?

Angry?

If you're leaving, at least put on some clothes, right? You just left wearing an undershirt?

Never mind, let's eat first!

Cao Yuan ate heartily, finally relieved of her hunger.

After Cao Yuan finished eating, she thought about going out to look for him when she suddenly sensed a dark shadow in the bushes behind her. "Hey, where did you go! Why didn't you say anything!"

Parting the grass, several pairs of eyes stared intently at her, their eyes gleaming.

"By order of the Sixth Prince, I will take your life!"