Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

The shrill sound rang out again, like a cat's claws scratching glass, sending chills down one's spine.

"Young Master Yan, Miss Su, we have been waiting for you for a long time..." Eunuch Zhao, with his protruding belly, had a smile on his face that was so sweet it was almost cloying.

Su Jinxin calmly observed this "important figure" from the Imperial Household Department, thinking to herself: Here he comes, old fox!

Upon entering the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Zhao first served tea and snacks, inquired about their well-being, and then slowly took out the imperial edict, explaining in detail the specific requirements for the specially made supplies.

As Su Jinxin listened, she secretly gasped: This request was harder than climbing to heaven!

What's even more baffling is that Eunuch Zhao's words implied that this job was difficult and required "bribing officials at all levels."

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

This isn't even the beginning, and they're already giving us a taste of our power!

Upon leaving the Imperial Household Department, Su Jinxin immediately sent people to contact material suppliers, only to discover that these suppliers had been controlled by the palace forces at some point, and they could not even obtain a few scraps of materials, let alone sufficient quantities.

Su Jinxin couldn't help but sneer: "Trying to strangle me? Dream on!"

Immediately afterwards, they rushed to Master Craftsman Li's workshop.

Master Li was the only craftsman capable of making such special materials, but when he met Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan, he stammered and looked very embarrassed.

“Miss Su, Young Master Yan, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help, it’s just that… alas, someone warned me not to fully cooperate…” Master Li wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his eyes darting around, clearly feeling threatened.

Su Jinxin frowned slightly; the situation was more complicated than she had anticipated.

The materials were being controlled, and the craftsmen were being threatened. It was clear that someone was sabotaging her behind the scenes and didn't want her to complete the mission!

It seems the waters of the palace run deeper than she imagined!

Yan Chengan held Su Jinxin's hand and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, there's always a way out."

Su Jinxin took a deep breath, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.

She's not one to give up easily!

"Cheng'an, come with me to the warehouse..." Her tone was meaningful, and a mysterious smile appeared on her lips.

The warehouse was filled with a dazzling array of rare and precious items that Su Jinxin had accumulated over the years through her business dealings.

She walked straight to an inconspicuous corner, brushed away the dust, and revealed several large boxes.

"This is it!" A hint of excitement flashed in Su Jinxin's eyes.

Yan Cheng'an looked at the boxes and asked in confusion, "What are these? Can they solve the material problem?"

“Of course!” Su Jinxin raised her eyebrows proudly. “In my past life, when I was traveling around, I accidentally discovered a kind of ore. Although its quality is not as rare as the materials required by the court, it can achieve a similar effect after special treatment, and the cost is even lower!” She patted the box. “Luckily, I stocked up on a lot back then. I didn’t expect it to come in handy now!” Yan Cheng’an looked at Su Jinxin’s confident appearance with admiration in his eyes.

As expected of his wife, she always manages to turn the impossible into the possible!

Having solved the material problem, the next step was to win over Master Craftsman Li.

Su Jinxin is not one to sit idly by and wait for her fate.

She brought Yan Cheng'an to Li's workshop again. This time, she didn't directly try to persuade Master Li, but instead casually mentioned, "A few days ago, Consort Zhou praised Master Li's exquisite craftsmanship, saying that she wanted you to make a set of jewelry for her..."

Upon hearing this, Master Li's eyes lit up.

Consort Zhou is the Emperor's most favored concubine. To gain her favor is an immense honor!

His initial concerns vanished almost entirely, and he quickly inquired about more details from Su Jinxin.

Su Jinxin smiled slightly and said mysteriously, "This matter depends on Master Li's performance..." Her words were neither explicit nor denial, but they made Master Li think that she could really get in touch with Consort Zhou.

Sure enough, Master Li's attitude made a complete 180-degree turn, patting his chest and guaranteeing that he would fully cooperate and ensure the mission was completed.

Su Jinxin nodded in satisfaction, secretly chuckling to herself: "Let's see who's more cunning between the old fox and the young fox!"

After dealing with Master Li's matter, Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan went to the Imperial Household Department again.

Eunuch Zhao maintained his treacherous smile, subtly implying that this task was difficult and required "a little something extra."

Su Jinxin wasn't annoyed. She smiled and took out a jade pendant from her sleeve, placing it on the table.

"Thank you for your hard work, Eunuch Zhao. This is just a small token of my appreciation."

Eunuch Zhao's eyes lit up, and he reached out to take it, but Su Jinxin stopped him.

“Eunuch Zhao, this jade pendant is no ordinary jade pendant; it was bestowed upon us by the current Empress.” Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

Zhao Gonggong's hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face became somewhat awkward.

Queen?

That's someone he can't afford to offend!

He awkwardly withdrew his hand, coughed twice, and said, "Miss Su is too kind. My family was just doing our duty..."

Su Jinxin put away the jade pendant and looked at him with a half-smile: "It's good that Eunuch Zhao understands." She stood up, took Yan Cheng'an's arm, and prepared to leave.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and turned back, saying, "By the way, Eunuch Zhao, Minister Liu will be coming to inspect tomorrow. You must treat him well..." Her tone was meaningful, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.

Eunuch Zhao was taken aback. Minister Liu? Why...why did he suddenly decide to come for an inspection?

Yan Chengan held Su Jinxin's hand tightly, and a warm current flowed from his palm to her heart.

Su Jinxin held his hand back, feeling her husband's firm support, and a strange strength welled up in her heart.

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. What's there to be afraid of!" Su Jinxin cheered herself up, a confident smile playing on her lips.

The next day, Minister Liu arrived as scheduled.

He swaggered around the workshop, shaking his head and muttering to himself, "Tsk tsk tsk, this won't do, this isn't up to standard..." He looked just like a picky old scholar.

He complained that the workshop's layout had "bad feng shui" one minute and that the tool placement was "not conducive to the craftsmen's performance" the next, nitpicking like an egg.

Su Jinxin wasn't annoyed; she just followed behind him with a smile, like a well-behaved elementary school student.

Yan Cheng'an stood silently to the side, his sharp eyes observing Liu Dachen's every move, trying to find out what was going on behind his back.

“Miss Su, I think your workshop needs a complete overhaul!” Minister Liu finally found the “fatal” problem, looking utterly distressed. “This is a matter of great importance concerning the royal family’s reputation; we can’t afford to be careless!” He paused, giving Su Jinxin a meaningful look. “As for the construction schedule, I’m afraid it will have to be postponed…”

Su Jinxin maintained her smile, but a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed in her eyes.

"Lord Liu, are you sure you want to make the changes?" She slowly took out a roll of blueprints from her sleeve and unfolded it in front of Minister Liu...

“This…” Minister Liu looked at the blueprints, his face turned deathly pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Yan Cheng'an's lips curled up slightly as he gently patted Su Jinxin's hand and whispered in her ear, "The show is about to begin..."

The blueprints that Su Jinxin unfolded were copies of the workshop layout plans archived by the Imperial Household Department, stamped with the bright red seal of the Imperial Household Department.

Minister Liu stared at the seal as if he had seen a ghost; his face turned deathly pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

He originally thought that Su Jinxin was new to palace affairs and would not be familiar with these rules, so he could just find an excuse to get by. He did not expect that she was prepared!

"Lord Liu, do these blueprints meet your requirements?" Su Jinxin asked with a smile, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Minister Liu opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

He stammered for a long time before finally managing to say, "...qualified..." He slunk away from the workshop, his back looking quite disheveled.

When the news reached Consort Zhou's ears, she smashed a teacup in anger.

"This Su Jinxin is really something!" She originally thought Su Jinxin was just a clever little businesswoman, but she didn't expect her to be so difficult to deal with.

"Your Majesty, please calm down," a palace maid quickly advised. "This Su Jinxin is just relying on the power of the Yan family. We'll deal with her slowly."

Consort Zhou sneered, "How could I let her be so smug?" A vicious glint flashed in her eyes. "Go, summon Eunuch Zhao."

Meanwhile, Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan were discussing countermeasures.

"It seems things aren't peaceful in the palace," Su Jinxin sighed. "It's only just begun, and some people are already trying to trip us up."

Yan Cheng'an gently stroked her hair and said softly, "Don't worry, I've got everything covered." He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, "Next, let's have some fun with them..."

As night fell, the palace fell silent.

A dark figure silently crept into Su Jinxin's workshop... "Remember, the bigger the commotion, the better..." a cold voice echoed in the darkness.