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

"Your Majesty, I have never heard Princess Huayang say anything like that! My sister must have misheard." Xue Xinian straightened up.

Cao Yuan revealed a smug smile. She knew that someone as selfish as Xue Xinian would never help her sister who only caused trouble!

"Xi Nian! You won't help me!"

"Shut up! This is all your doing! I shouldn't have let you come in the first place!" His brows furrowed as he suppressed his anger and whispered to Xue Xiqiong.

Just as the emperor was about to have Eunuch Wang announce the punishment, Cao Shang stood up and said, "Father, I think the eldest sister of the Xue family is just a commoner. How would she know what she should and shouldn't say?"

"If word gets out, people will think that our royal family is bullying a commoner who doesn't know the palace rules! Today is the Emperor's birthday, so why don't we let this go this time?"

Cao Shang glanced at Cao Yuan, confident that her father would listen to her.

The emperor exchanged a glance with the eunuch beside him, "Forget it, let her go back to the Xue family and reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Two eunuchs came up and pulled her up.

"and many more!"

What's that on your head?!

The eunuch Wang, who was standing nearby, said, "Bring him forward."

Eunuch Wang whispered to the emperor, "Your Majesty, this looks like the late Empress's phoenix hairpin!"

After the late empress passed away, the emperor never appointed a new empress. All her belongings were carefully preserved, which shows the late empress's status. Now, for a commoner to wear these things is simply an insult to the imperial dignity.

“I didn’t know this was something the late Empress had given me. The princess said it was something she didn’t wear, so I took it and started wearing it.”

“How can you say that, elder sister? This phoenix hairpin was left to me by the Empress Dowager before she passed away. Jinzhu has been keeping it in her room. I was going to wear it to this palace banquet, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I saw it on your head today, and I asked you to return it to me, but you said…” Cao Yuan’s hesitant manner aroused the emperor’s suspicion.

"say what?"

"She said... she wanted Xi Nian to divorce me!" Cao Yuan's eyes were slightly red, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Everyone was in an uproar.

Lord Xue's family traditions are truly astounding!

Princess Huayang had to endure such humiliation after her marriage.

"Insolence! When did it become your Xue family's place to decide the fate of my daughter, a woman of noble birth?! Is this how your Xue family treats my daughter?"

"No, that's not true! She's talking nonsense! Princess..." Xue Xiqiong looked up, searching for Cao Shang.

Look at the jade pendant on her waist; it seems to be a tribute that the Shu Kingdom gave to the princess before!

Lord Xue is an upright man; how could my elder sister be of such a character!

Exactly, having relatives like that makes it hard to get promoted in your career!

The other officials were discussing it.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It was my fault for not disciplining him properly. I will certainly reprimand him when I return!"

Eunuch Wang announced in public, "The eldest daughter of the Xue family has disrupted the order of the palace by disregarding social hierarchy. She shall be given thirty strokes of the cane as a warning to others."

"Ah! Your Majesty, spare me! I dare not do it again!"

The emperor waved his hand and led Xue Xiqiong away.

"Xi Nian, save me! Xi Nian!"

Cao Yuan raised an eyebrow at Cao Shang, adopting a victorious posture. Cao Shang was astonished, never expecting to be outmaneuvered by Cao Yuan. How could this be? His elder sister had never been so cunning.

"Father, there have been unfair practices in the selection process for the Vice Minister of Rites, which is truly disheartening for all the students. I propose that we re-examine the candidates for the Vice Minister through the imperial examination system."

"You mean, an internal examination?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the emperor's eyes. "That's quite rare! Can the prince consort participate?"

Cao Yuan looked at Xue Xinian, who solemnly replied, "This humble subject is naturally willing to participate!"

If Xue Xinian withdraws from the selection process, she will have even less chance to catch him red-handed.

Based on his past life experiences, Xue Xinian had another force behind him, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to lie in wait by his side for ten years.

This person must be identified from the imperial court as soon as possible.

"We cannot deprive Xinian of this opportunity for promotion just because he is the emperor's son-in-law! Instead, we should let all those who want to run for the position of vice minister choose a candidate fairly, justly and openly."

Another internal examination?

Is this feasible?

Several ministers whispered among themselves.

"Please take your seats, everyone! The show is about to begin," said Eunuch Wang.

Cao Yuan pulled Xue Xinian to sit down next to her.

Before the palace banquet was over, Xue Xinian helped Xue Xiqiong into the carriage and spoke with Cao Shang in front of the carriage.

"Xue Lang, I'm so sorry. I never expected my elder sister to be so heartless, causing her to be punished!" Cao Shang said, his eyes red. "You must be careful in the future. I'm so afraid that my elder sister will hurt you to protect herself!"

Xue Xinian forced a smile. "It's alright! You don't need to worry about it. But next time Shang'er wants to deal with her, she should let me know first so I can think of a way to deal with her."

Since they're not of one mind, things are even easier to handle.

"I understand, Xue Lang. I haven't seen you all this time. Have you missed me? You promised me you wouldn't touch my elder sister. Don't lie to me."

"Of course! You'd better hurry up and leave, or A-Yuan will see you!" Xue Xinian coaxed.

Hearing Xue Xinian call him so intimately, Cao Shang was immediately filled with jealousy. "Calling each other so intimately!"

Cao Yuan had been watching the adulterous couple having their affair from a distance and interrupted them.

"Of course, husband and wife call each other affectionately!"

The two were startled, and Xue Xinian took a few steps back to keep her distance.

"Who was it that I was wondering? It's the Sixth Princess! Are you here to see the Princess's husband?" Cao Yuan deliberately took Xue Xinian's hand and leaned against him.

"I...I just happened to be passing by and delivered the medicine! It's all my fault for not persuading Father to change his decree." Veins bulged on Cao Shang's forehead, her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly, and the hatred in her eyes was almost overflowing.

"My dear sister doesn't even have her own residence yet, and she went to such lengths to travel all the way to the Imperial Physician's Office to get medicine for my sister's husband! Thank you so much!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Shang, who had neither a title nor a fief, was consumed with jealousy and wanted to stomp on her heart.

"It's getting late, A-Yuan, let's go back and rest!" Xue Xinian changed the subject.

"Sister, Princess Cao Shang has brought you medicine. Remember to apply it."

"Understood, thank you, Princess! Thank you, Princess!"

“Princess Cao Shang, then we’ll get in the carriage first.” Xue Xinian said goodbye.

Cao Shang flicked his sleeves and quickly left.

"Xi Nian, your younger sister is so good to you! She explained things for your older sister and brought you medicine! I never have that chance."

"Of course I came because of A-Yuan." Xue Xinian forced a smile, his eyes lowered, avoiding Cao Yuan's gaze.

Xue Xinian got into the car first, and Cao Yuan was about to get in when Xuan Feng pushed Chu Yan in his wheelchair. Chu Yan unconsciously glanced at them sideways.

"The princess and the prince consort seem so loving, how could the prince consort's sister be so wicked!"

"You're talking about the love between the prince consort and which princess?" Chu Yan turned his head away; he couldn't be bothered to look at such a fabricated scene.