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

A series of hurried footsteps broke the brief silence. A palace maid rushed in, knelt before Su Jinxin, and gasped, "Madam Su...it's terrible! Master Craftsman Li...he...he's escaped!"

Su Jinxin frowned. This craftsman Li was a key figure in the production of special materials. Now that he had run away, wouldn't he ruin her big plans?

Just as she was about to lash out, Yan Cheng'an gently pressed her hand, signaling her to calm down.

He stepped forward and asked gently, "What happened? Tell me slowly."

The palace maid answered tremblingly, "This servant doesn't know either. Master craftsman Li said... said someone threatened him, that if he didn't run away... they would... take his life!"

"A threat?" Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, understanding dawning on them. It seemed someone was deliberately causing trouble.

Su Jinxin sneered, "Ha, a petty trick! Trying to ruin my plans? No way!" Her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing in them. "Cheng'an, it seems we have to go and meet this mastermind."

Yan Cheng'an nodded slightly, "Don't worry, Madam, I'll take care of everything."

On one side, Su Jinxin and her husband calmly handled the unexpected incident, while on the other side, the palace banquet officially began.

The air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the rustling of hair, as glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Su Jinxin, dressed in a gorgeous gown, was radiant and elegant in every gesture, exuding grace and poise, as if she were truly a queen descending to earth, outshining all others.

But the atmosphere at the banquet was strangely eerie.

Some minor officials who had been "bribed" by Eunuch Zhao in advance were like sharks smelling blood, eager to find fault with Su Jinxin.

"Madam Su, I've heard that your special supplies are based on a unique secret formula. Could you perhaps reveal a little about it?" a weasel-faced official asked in a sarcastic tone.

Su Jinxin chuckled, picked up her wine glass, took a small sip, and said unhurriedly, "You jest, sir. This recipe is a trade secret; how could I reveal it so easily? If everyone knew, wouldn't I be losing money?"

“Madam Su, you are mistaken,” another official chimed in. “You are now the Emperor’s favorite and the organizer of this palace banquet. You should share the Emperor’s burdens and serve the court.”

Su Jinxin's eyes flickered, and she looked at him with a half-smile, "Oh? Then may I ask what this gentleman has done for the court?"

The official, feeling somewhat guilty under Su Jinxin's sharp gaze, stammered, "This humble official...this humble official naturally..."

"Of course he's just a useless person holding a position, only good at empty talk, right?" A cold voice suddenly rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Yan Cheng'an had already stood next to Su Jinxin. His face was gloomy and his eyes were cold, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, pointing directly at the official.

The official trembled with fear and dared not say another word.

However, this was just the beginning... A seemingly honest and unassuming official suddenly stood up, pointed at Su Jinxin, and said, "Madam Su! I have heard that your specially made materials are not some unique secret formula at all, but... but..." He deliberately paused, raised his voice, and said, "...but rather, they are plagiarized technology from the previous dynasty!"

Su Jinxin sneered, "Oh? Is that so? Does this gentleman have any evidence?"

The official straightened his back and said righteously, "This humble official...this humble official..." Before he could finish speaking, another voice rang out...

"Lord Liu, are you sure... you want to say this?" A woman dressed in fine clothes slowly walked over; it was Consort Zhou, who had been banished to the Cold Palace.

She walked up to Minister Liu, looking at him with a half-smile, but with a hint of coldness in her eyes.

“I… remember certain things, I remember them very clearly…” She leaned closer to Minister Liu and said softly, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

Minister Liu's face turned deathly pale instantly, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word...

Consort Zhou's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the banquet hall.

Minister Liu's face turned deathly pale, and he was drenched in sweat. Trembling, he pointed at Consort Zhou and cried out, "You...you...you're spouting nonsense!"

Consort Zhou sneered, "Slander? Lord Liu, how much bribe did you take from Eunuch Zhao to dare to slander Madam Su? Should I show everyone the account books?"

Watching from the side, Eunuch Zhao was terrified. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, "Your Majesty! I'm innocent! This servant knows nothing!" He stole a glance at Su Jinxin, only to see her calm expression, as if she had everything under control.

Su Jinxin gracefully put down her wine glass, looked around, and everyone held their breath, waiting for her to speak.

She smiled slightly, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable power, "Gentlemen, did you enjoy the play?"

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak.

Su Jinxin continued, "Someone is trying to take this opportunity to cause trouble and frame me, but I'm not one to be trifled with. Craftsman Li has been found, and he has personally identified the masterminds as Eunuch Zhao and Lord Liu."

Yan Cheng'an brought the craftsman Li up at the opportune moment. The craftsman Li, trembling, recounted in detail how Eunuch Zhao had threatened him and made him slander Madam Su.

With witnesses and physical evidence present, Eunuch Zhao and Minister Liu were unable to defend themselves.

The emperor was furious and immediately ordered that Eunuch Zhao and Minister Liu be dragged away and severely punished.

A farce will end here.

Su Jinxin cleverly defused the crisis and instead used the opportunity to consolidate her position.

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere became even more lively than before.

The Emperor personally approached Su Jinxin, raised his cup in a toast, and said, "Madam Su, I toast you! I have witnessed all your contributions to the court. Today, I will reward you handsomely!"

Su Jinxin gracefully bowed, accepted the wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp. "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty!"

The emperor was overjoyed and immediately announced that Su Jinxin would be granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady, and bestowed upon her ten thousand taels of gold and countless silks and satins.

Su Jinxin's prestige in the palace reached its peak.

The banquet ended and the guests departed.

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan walked side by side, the moonlight shining on them, gilding them with a golden glow.

Yan Cheng'an looked at Su Jinxin, his eyes filled with tenderness and admiration, "Madam, you are truly... amazing!"

Su Jinxin smiled sweetly, "Likewise, my husband is quite dashing too!" She paused, gazing into the distance, and said meaningfully, "However, this is just the beginning..."

Yan Cheng'an watched Su Jinxin's retreating figure, a strange premonition rising in his heart... He said in a low voice, "Madam, what do you want to do next?" Su Jinxin was conferred the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady, and the golden imperial edict shone brightly under the palace lanterns, practically blinding the titanium alloy eyes of the noble ladies around her.

Yan Cheng'an stood beside her, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes brimming with the pride of "my wife is the best in the world."

He quietly took Su Jinxin's hand and squeezed it gently, as if to say, "Well done."

Su Jinxin grasped his hand in return, and the two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

This wave of operations is simply awesome!

As for Eunuch Zhao, the more arrogant he was before, the more pathetic he is now.

After being ordered by the emperor to be "packed up and taken away, never to be employed again," he was dragged out by several burly guards, howling and screaming all the way, just like a pig being slaughtered.

I heard that he later ended up on the streets as a beggar, and all his former wealth and glory vanished like smoke. It's truly heartbreaking... no, it's more like a great relief!

After the banquet, the two walked out of the palace gate side by side. A gentle night breeze blew, causing Su Jinxin's skirt to flutter.

Yan Chengan looked at Su Jinxin, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her face, making her even more stunningly beautiful.

"Madam, you really went on a killing spree tonight!" he exclaimed.

Su Jinxin chuckled lightly, "This is just the beginning. The real show is just starting." She paused, her gaze deep, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible coldness, "I will take back everything that was owed to me." Yan Cheng'an's heart skipped a beat, and he tightened his grip on Su Jinxin's hand.

He knew this was just the beginning... Su Jinxin suddenly stopped, turned to look at the brightly lit palace, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips.

The magnificent palace shimmered in the night, like a ribbon adorned with stars, swaying gently in the breeze.

After the banquet ended, the palace maids and eunuchs were busy cleaning up the mess, and the air was still filled with the aroma of fine wine and delicacies.

Those who once mocked and ridiculed Su Jinxin, and even kicked her when she was down, are now wilted like frostbitten eggplants.

They watched helplessly as Su Jinxin outshone all the other beauties and received all the favor; the flames of jealousy almost consumed them.

Especially Consort Zhou, who was banished to the Cold Palace, smashed everything she could in the palace after hearing the news. The wailing was so loud that anyone who didn't know better would think the Cold Palace was haunted!

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan walked side by side on the palace road, the moonlight casting long shadows of them.

Yan Chengan turned his head to look at Su Jinxin, his smile barely concealed: "Madam, your performance tonight was absolutely top-notch, you carried the whole place like a king!"

Su Jinxin chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling with a hint of slyness: "This is nothing! My goal is a bright future!"

Yan Cheng'an couldn't help but smile. Tonight's banquet was just the tip of the iceberg of her grand plan.

Suddenly, a shrill voice broke the silence of the night: "Madam Su, wait!" Although Eunuch Zhao had been "taken away," his "disciples and followers" were still in the palace.

The young eunuch before us is none other than Eunuch Zhao's prized student – ​​Little Zhao.

Xiao Zhaozi came running up, panting, and handed over a gold-embossed invitation: "His Majesty's decree requests that Madam Su come to the Imperial Study for a meeting tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM)."

Su Jinxin took the invitation, opened it, and frowned slightly.

Yan Cheng'an also came over to take a look, and his expression also became somewhat serious.

"It seems this is the real 'follow-up'..." Su Jinxin said meaningfully, putting the post away.

Yan Chengan gripped Su Jinxin's hand tightly and said in a deep voice, "Madam, no matter what happens, I will be by your side."

Su Jinxin squeezed his hand back, a confident smile playing on her lips: "Don't worry, we'll deal with whatever comes our way. I want to see what other tricks this palace has up its sleeve!"

The two exchanged a smile, turned and left, leaving Xiao Zhao standing there alone, watching their retreating figures, a barely perceptible hint of coldness flashing in his eyes...