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

At night, moonlight streamed through the window into the room, bringing a sense of tranquility and soft light to the entire space.

Cao Yuan, lying in bed, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, her mind troubled by a strong sense of curiosity.

Although she trusted her elder brother, Luo Zhong's unusual attitude made her suspicious of the truth.

Just then, the person lying on the bed suddenly jumped up, thinking, "That's right, since Luo Zhong won't say, I can go and ask the person involved!"

She quietly put on her coat, left the room, and went to the prison cell under the moonlight.

The two jailers at the cell door were somewhat surprised to see her, but they still respectfully opened the cell door and let her in.

It is indeed a bit strange to interrogate a prisoner at this time.

The cell reeked of decay and blood, making one feel nauseous. But she was unaffected by the smell and went straight to the cell where Qin Sima was being held.

When she saw Qin Sima, she found him lying on a haystack with his eyes closed. Although his face was as pale as paper and he looked like he was suffering here, it did not affect his snoring at all.

The jailer opened Qin Sima's cell.

The sound of the door opening didn't disturb his sleep at all.

"Wake up!" Cao Yuan squatted down in front of him and patted his face.

"Wake up!" Cao Yuan pinched his face.

"Ah... huh?"

Qin Sima finally woke up from his dream. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and was so frightened by Cao Yuan in front of him that he jumped up.

"Your Highness! What are you doing here? Are you here to silence me?" Qin Sima huddled up, staring at her in terror.

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, spare me! I've told you everything I need to say, I beg you! Don't kill me!"

Qin Sima was so frightened that he repeatedly kowtowed on the ground.

"I just have something to ask you, you don't need to be so nervous."

Upon hearing that it was just a question, Qin Sima immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ask me? Okay, okay, I'll ask you."

"It's related to the late Crown Prince."

Upon hearing that it was the former Crown Prince, Qin Sima turned ashen-faced, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his eyes darted around nervously.

Seeing this, Cao Yuan drew a dagger from her waist and brandished it at his body, her tone surprisingly gentle, "How about this, you answer whatever I ask. If you dare to lie, I'll make a cut on you, how about that?"

Qin Sima's eyes widened as he followed the movement of Cao Yuan's dagger.

"But I'm used to killing on the battlefield, so I don't know my own strength. I wonder how many blows you can withstand!"

Cao Yuan's tone was mocking, and the cold dagger pressed against Qin Sima's face, making Qin Sima tremble all over.

"Your Highness! No, no, I'll tell you everything," Qin Sima pleaded, grabbing Cao Yuan's wrist.

Why would the Fourth Prince send a woman to the late Crown Prince?

"If I tell you the truth, you have to release me and give me back my money!"

Cao Yuan narrowed her eyes and, without hesitation, stabbed his hand with a knife.

"what!"

Qin Sima's screams echoed throughout the prison.

"You have no right to bargain with me. If you don't tell the truth, I'll torture you little by little!"

"Even if your father were to grant you a pardon, you wouldn't live to see that day."

"Your Highness, spare me! I'll tell you everything!"

Qin Sima revealed everything: "That year there was a famine, and the amount of grain allocated to the Ministry of War by the late Crown Prince was pitifully small. Before that, the late Crown Prince had impeached the Fourth Prince, and the Fourth Prince felt that the late Crown Prince had done it on purpose. Not long after, the Fourth Prince said that he had taken advantage of the late Crown Prince's shortcomings, and the military grain allocated to Anzhou was indeed much more than before."

What are the shortcomings?

"I do not know about this."

"The Fourth Prince is ruthless. If you work for him and know too much, who knows if you'll be silenced one day! How could I dare to know so much?"

Cao Yuan's dagger pierced deeper by another inch.

"Ah! Your Highness, I really don't know, I really don't know." Qin Sima held his hand, his face showing a pained expression, and he cried out in pain, seemingly genuinely unaware.

"Did Fourth Imperial Uncle send the woman because of this matter?"

"Yes! But the Fourth Prince didn't take it in the end, and I don't know what happened after that. However, he seemed to have let it slip when he was drunk once," Qin Sima confessed truthfully.

"What did Fourth Imperial Uncle say?" Cao Yuan looked at him expectantly, her eyes filled with curiosity and eagerness.

"I remember that day the Fourth Prince said while drunk, 'If that thing is done, what gentleman will eventually be seduced by beauty!' I've forgotten what he said after that." Qin Sima tried hard to recall.

"that's it?"

"I was drunk too, and that's all I heard, I swear!"

Cao Yuan fell into deep thought. In the letters she usually exchanged with her elder brother, the emperor, he had never mentioned any woman he admired.

It seems the woman he's talking about isn't Bailu.

"Your Highness, if you want to know about the late Crown Prince, you can ask him..."

Before she could finish speaking, a cold arrow suddenly whistled past Cao Yuan from behind, carrying a chilling aura and a sharp whistling sound, heading straight for Qin Sima.

The arrow was incredibly fast, reaching Qin Sima in the blink of an eye. Even Cao Yuan didn't notice it; it pierced his chest, and blood instantly stained his clothes.

"Qin..."

Cao Yuan glanced at a dark figure flashing past outside the cell. She wanted to chase after it, but Qin Sima grabbed her dress, as if he had something to say.

"Is there something you want to tell me? What do you want to say?"

Blood gushed from Qin Sima's mouth, and he was no longer able to utter a single word.

With his last ounce of strength, he trembled as he extended two fingers, as if trying to express something.

This action left Cao Yuan completely baffled. "What do you mean? Explain yourself!"

Despite Cao Yuan's anxious cries, Qin Sima's hand had already fallen limply to his side.

"Don't die! You haven't finished speaking yet!"

Seeing this, Cao Yuan was filled with regret and self-blame.

Startled, she rushed out, trying to find the man from before.

It was pitch black outside the cell, and she was all alone in the empty, silent corridor.

It seems like nothing happened.

Cao Yuan was deflated, her heart filled with doubt and resentment.

Just as she was about to turn back, she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from afar.

She looked closely and saw Chu Yan pulling a man in black along as they hurried over. The man in black was holding a bow and arrow in his hand.

However, the man in black appeared much shorter than Chu Yan when they stood together.

"Chu Yan!"

Chu Yan dragged the man in black to Cao Yuan, and the man in black knelt on the ground.

"This is……"

"Speak for yourself!" Chu Yan lifted the black cloth from her face, revealing a familiar face.

"Bai Lu!"

"Princess, it's been a long time!" Bai Lu forced a smile.