Help! The cunning and treacherous minister and I were reborn together!

The hall was warm with a gentle breeze, and the red candles flickered.

The veil was gently lifted, and Yuan Zhi shyly raised her eyes, her smile as beautiful as a flower.

The man was momentarily dazed, but quickly his face turned cold, and he threw the scale rod onto the bed.

"I still have official business to attend to, you should rest first."

"Xiao Zong!"

When Yuan Zhi saw him turn around, she called his name in a moment of panic.

"What's the matter?"

“…Husband.” Yuan Zhi held her breath briefly, her voice hoarse: “Today…is our wedding night.”

"Official business concerns the people's livelihood and the nation's well-being. Compared to our wedding night, which do you, my lady, consider more important?"

Yuan Zhi: "..."

"Go, my husband. It's cold these days. Although official business is important, please take care of yourself."

Her voice was plaintive, yet it carried a hint of understanding.

Xiao Zong grunted in agreement and walked away.

Yuan Zhi rubbed her sore neck and called in her dowry maid.

Luo Mei helped her remove the heavy hair crown, while her mouth was also busy.

"What does this mean, young master? You're leaving Miss alone on your wedding night? If you don't like her, why did you come to propose in the first place?"

Yuan Zhi took the hot towel from her hand, put it on her face, and said in a muffled voice, "Perhaps he really is busy."

These words were merely meant to comfort Luo Mei. Yuan Zhi knew that the reason Xiao Zong was giving her a hard time was because, like her, he had been reborn with his memories intact.

In her previous life, Yuan Zhi was the emperor's favorite concubine, but she never had a child.

Seeing that His Majesty was nearing his end, she offered to raise Consort Zheng's child in order to avoid being forced to commit suicide.

Unexpectedly, Zheng Meiren died after giving birth. Her childhood sweetheart, Xiao Zong, believed that she had killed her mother and taken her child, and tried to kill her at every turn.

Of course, Yuan Zhi was no pushover either, and each counterattack precisely targeted his weaknesses. The two fought for over a year, ending in mutual death, with neither gaining the upper hand.

On the first day Yuan Zhi returned, Xiao Zong brought betrothal gifts to her door, and she immediately realized that this guy had also been reborn!

Xiao Zong's actions undoubtedly stemmed from his view of her as the root of all evil, believing that by eliminating her, he could set things right and allow his beloved Zheng Meiren to live on.

Simply sick!

However, she was only the daughter of a concubine, while Xiao Zong was the commander of the Leopard Guard and a favorite of the emperor. If she refused his marriage proposal and he discovered her identity as a reincarnated person, she would probably die before she could even marry him.

So, in order to live a few more days, she had to keep this secret.

After washing up, Yuan Zhi urged Luo Mei to go and rest, explaining that there was still a tough battle to fight tomorrow.

The next day, before dawn.

Yuan Zhi hugged Luo Mei's arm, rested his head on her shoulder, and yawned as he walked toward the study.

"Young lady!"

The man's voice was rough and loud, and Yuan Zhi was jolted awake.

"you are?"

The man bowed with his sword in hand, but before he could reply, a voice came from inside: "Dou Zhao, who's outside?"

"Master, it's the young mistress."

After a while, the door creaked open, and Xiao Zong's tall figure appeared behind it, his face showing a hint of impatience.

What are you doing here so early in the morning?

Yuan Zhi ignored his sour face and smiled, “The new bride is to serve tea to her mother-in-law and elders. I’m new here and don’t know anyone. I’m afraid of making a fool of myself, so I came to ask my husband.”

Xiao Zong frowned. "Is this little thing worth getting up so early for? I'll go with you later."

Yuan Zhi muttered softly, "I was also afraid that my husband would be too busy with official duties to take care of me."

Xiao Zong thought to himself, she still remembers what happened last night. Although she wasn't reborn, her mind was just as narrow as it had been in her previous life, as small as a needlepoint, and she was always quick to hold grudges.

"Alright, it's still early. You can go back now. I'll send someone to fetch you in a bit."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the gatekeeper came to report that His Majesty had urgently summoned him to the palace.

Xiao Zong left with his guards. Luo Mei asked her mistress if she wanted to go back for a nap, but Yuan Zhi waved her hand and said, "I can sleep anytime, but if I miss this opportunity, it will be gone forever."

She instructed the kitchen staff to prepare some easily portable dry food and snacks, and to cook two bowls of hot noodle soup and send them to the bedroom in half an hour.

Luo Mei was puzzled. "His Majesty only summoned the young master to the palace. How can you be so sure that the young master is going on a long trip?"

"Guess."

Yuan Zhihui smiled slyly. In her previous life, she was a favored concubine, so how could she not understand what the old emperor was thinking?

That person governed the country with "rites," and would never summon a subject on the second day after their wedding unless there was an important matter.

As a close advisor to the emperor, Xiao Zong was the emperor's best weapon, his blade aimed at both the court and the countryside.

He had just gotten married, and yet his subordinates were able to arrest court officials. It must be that something major had happened in the countryside for His Majesty to overstep his bounds.

The area around the capital is heavily guarded, so it's unlikely there will be any trouble. The nearest cities, Yanzhou and Qingzhou, are three or four days away by land, so it's always good to prepare some supplies.

Xiao Zong returned to his residence upon receiving the imperial decree. As usual, he asked his maid to pack his things, only to be told that the young mistress had already packed them for him.

Xiao Zong was surprised. When he returned to his room, he saw the dry food and bundle on the table, as well as two bowls of steaming soup noodles.

He looked wary. "How did you know...?"

Yuan Zhi curtsied. “Father often has similar situations. He just followed Mother’s example after seeing how she handled it before.”

As she spoke, her voice trailed off, sounding guilty. "Actually, I was also a little nervous, otherwise I wouldn't have had them bring the food to my bedroom."

Xiao Zong dismissed his doubts and said stiffly, "Thank you."

“We are husband and wife, there’s no need for thanks.” Yuan Zhi thought for a moment and asked, “By the way, where are you going, husband? I only packed a few autumn clothes. I’m afraid it will be cold if we go north.”

Xiao Zong didn't say where he was going, but rummaged through his bundle and said, "This is enough."

Yuan Zhi nodded and pushed the bowl over, "Eat before you go. Also, where is your guard? I'll have Luo Mei deliver it to him."

Xiao Zong hadn't expected that she would even consider Dou Zhao. The warmth that had just risen in his heart immediately cooled down. He glanced at the rising steam and his throat bobbed: "Business is important, I won't eat."

After saying that, he picked up his things and left.

Yuan Zhi followed, saying, "I'll see my husband off."

Xiao Zong frowned. Could it be that she won favor in her past life by being clingy? Unfortunately, this act didn't work on him.

"No need to see it off."

Yuan Zhi said meaningfully, "Let's still send it over, just in case my husband forgets something, I can send someone back to get it."

She emphasized the word "forgot".

Xiao Zong stared into her eyes, and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He instructed the maid, "Go and invite Granny Zhao."

“Granny Zhao is my wet nurse. If you don’t recognize anyone, just ask her.”

Yuan Zhi smiled broadly, "Thank you, my husband."

Seeing how happy she was, Xiao Zong felt uncomfortable, but he didn't say anything.

Having achieved his goal, Yuan Zhi still sent the person out and then called Luo Mei to eat soup noodles.

Luo Mei blew on the steam and asked, "Why did you have the kitchen cook the noodles last, Miss? The young master is in a hurry to leave, how can he eat them when they're so hot?"

Yuan Zhi picked at the noodles, her eyes sparkling, "I wasn't planning on giving him any anyway."