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

When Chu Yan woke up, he was already in his bedroom in the Prime Minister's residence.

"Why am I here?"

He recalled what had happened that day and anxiously called out, "Ah Feng! Ah Feng!"

Xuanfeng rushed in from outside, "Young Master, you're finally awake!"

"How did I get here? Where is the princess?"

"The princess sent you here and then left. I don't know if she went to the palace or returned to the Xue residence."

Xuanfeng looked Chu Yan up and down and muttered, "The princess is too ruthless. She gave you a whole packet of medicine and let you sleep for so long!"

Chu Yan frowned, grabbed his collar, and questioned, "What do you mean? Did you give me this medicine? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Young master, spare my life! A few days ago, the princess sent someone to ask me for medicine, saying that you had been kidnapped by bandits and that she wanted me to get some colorless and odorless sleeping potion. That's why I gave it to you. I never thought she was going to give it to you..." Xuanfeng's voice grew softer and softer as he spoke.

Chu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"What about him? Was he captured by the princess?"

Chu Yan was eager to know news about Xiao Hanjing.

"Protons? What happened to the protons?"

Xuanfeng recalled what the princess had said when she came to see the person off, "Could it be that the people who hijacked the prison cart were hostages? The princess said that the people who hijacked the prison cart were a group of assassins, so you can rest assured!"

Hearing this, Chu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Young master, let's stop worrying about the hostage. He almost killed you! Why should we care about him!"

"Get me dressed!"

"Young master, are you going to the bamboo house? The princess came back once before and said she would ask me to pass on a message to you when you wake up."

Chu Yan raised his eyelids with an expectant look on his face.

"She told you to stay home and behave yourself. If she sees you associating with that person again, she will impeach Prime Minister Chu for concealing your identity." Xuanfeng spoke quickly.

Ha, a threat?

Chu Yan lowered his head and let out a cold laugh.

"Young master, has the princess discovered your identity since you went on this trip?"

Chu Yan raised his eyelids slightly. "Why do you say that?"

“I see there are many more guards outside the Prime Minister’s residence. When are we going back to Shu? If we don’t leave soon and our secret is exposed, the Prime Minister’s residence will definitely become the target of everyone’s criticism.”

Xuanfeng's voice carried a hint of worry.

After a moment of silence, Chu Yan replied, "The one-month deadline hasn't passed yet. I'll leave when it does."

Hearing this, Xuanfeng's worries eased slightly. He knew that Chu Yan was always far-sighted, and if he said he would leave, he would definitely leave.

It was the dead of night.

Chu Yan shook off the guards at the door and went alone to the bamboo courtyard where Xiao Hanjing was.

Unfortunately, he was too late; when he arrived, the place was full of soldiers and officers.

It seems Cao Yuan has arrived.

Cao Yuan and Fan Qingli came out from inside.

“Your Highness, we have searched inside and out, even the secret rooms, and there is indeed no one there,” Fan Qingli said.

Hearing that no one was around, Chu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"If there's no one here, let's just burn it down! They're not coming back anyway!"

Cao Yuan didn't actually have high hopes for this place. Anyway, Bai Lu was in her hands, and she could lure that person out no matter what.

Chu Yan could only watch helplessly as Cao Yuan burned down the bamboo courtyard from the shadows.

Now, he has truly lost contact with Xiao Hanjing.

"Lord Fan, we only have these two officials left to handle. We owe you a lot this time, Lord Fan, because you almost got yourself into jail. I apologize to you!"

"Having been through my trip to Anzhou, I retract any disrespectful words I previously uttered to Your Highness." Fan Qingli's face was full of sincerity, and his tone was brimming with admiration.

"After all, Lord Fan is my brother-in-law, and we're practically family, so there's no need for formalities."

"Actually, I had other opinions about you before coming to Anzhou, but this trip to Anzhou has made me realize that you are different from the Fan Qingli I knew."

After a brief pause, Cao Yuan added, "But there's something I'm very curious about."

"Your Highness, please speak."

"Why would someone as upright and righteous as Lord Fan admire my elder sister? To tell you the truth, ever since I married into the Xue family, my elder sister has..."

Cao Yuan didn't continue.

Fan Qingli smiled and said, "I first met Qiong'er at the Emperor's birthday celebration. I thought she was innocent, straightforward, and cute. There are not many women like her in the court anymore. Later, I met her on the street arguing with other merchants. It is not easy for a woman to be like her."

"???"

Is being naive and straightforward cute?

How are these three words associated with Xue Xiqiong?

"If Your Highness has nothing else, then I'll head back now."

Cao Yuan forced a smile as she watched Fan Qingli's retreating figure, thinking to herself, "This Lord Fan really can't stand even the slightest bit of fine food!"

Fan Qingli had just stepped into the mansion.

Xue Xiqiong quickly ran over and hugged and kissed him, dressed in bright and colorful clothes.

"Qingli, you're finally back. I was so sad to leave you all alone at home..."

Did Qingli bring me a gift?

Fan Qingli pried her hands away, "What are you wearing! This is indecent!"

After this experience, he felt even more that Xue Xiqiong's words were unreliable.

"I'm tired! You should go back and rest."

"You're tired, let me massage your shoulders. It's all the princess's fault for letting you go out in the middle of the night so soon after returning! There are so many ministers around, she must be deliberately getting back at me."

"We're on official business! Don't talk nonsense!"

Xue Xiqiong massaged his shoulders while cursing Cao Yuan.

"I'm not talking nonsense, look at the princess..."

"Alright! Why do you always criticize the Prince? He has never said a bad word about you. After all, she is my superior. You need to watch your words in the future! You can go and visit the Prince more often!"

Fan Qingli impatiently shook off her hand, "Alright, alright, I'm tired, I'm going back to my room to rest, don't bother me."

Fan Qingli had only taken a few steps when Luo Xuemei, another concubine standing at the entrance of the hall, bowed and said softly, "Husband, the bathwater is ready. You've been gone for so long, why don't you take a bath before you rest?"

Fan Qingli nodded in satisfaction. Luo Xuemei followed behind Fan Qingli, and didn't forget to raise an eyebrow at Xue Xiqiong with a smug look.

"Humph!"

Xue Xiqiong angrily went back to her room.

-

With nothing to do, Cao Yuan invited Jinzhu to stroll around the street. There were more people on the street than usual, especially women.

"Is there some special occasion lately? Why are the streets so lively?"

"Your Highness, don't you know? The Qixi Festival is just around the corner."

Cao Yuan gave a curt "oh".

"Your Highness, would you like to invite Lord Chu to join us?" Jinzhu asked with a smile.

"Why would I ask him out? Isn't it just about expressing our feelings for each other..."

Cao Yuan then realized what Jinzhu meant, "Oh, you're teasing me again!"

"Your Highness, please spare me! I was just worried you'd be bored by yourself. The Prince Consort will definitely be with Princess Huafeng, leaving you all alone at home then."

"What you said makes some sense."

Cao Yuan recalled that in her previous life, Xue Xinian said he was too busy with official business to spend the festival with her, which might mean he was having a secret rendezvous with Cao Shang.

But in this life, since they are already married, it doesn't matter anymore.

"What is Your Highness thinking about?"

"It's nothing, let's go back to the manor."

"Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan!"