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

In the dim candlelight, Yuan Zhi stood in the hall, her expression as indifferent as a goddess.

“Your subordinate tried to assault me, and I killed him! You can kill me to avenge him, but that jade pendant must be buried with me in my coffin!”

Su Ziyuan held the warm, smooth jade in his hand. "Is this jade pendant very important to you?"

"Of course, those are the keepsakes my mother left me!"

"What's your mother's name?"

Yuan Zhixiu frowned slightly, “Su Ying, the Su as in tassel, and Ying as in long tassel.”

Su Ziyuan lowered his eyes. They shared the same surname, but had different given names.

My aunt's name is Su Meng.

Could it be that Aunt deliberately concealed her identity to prevent them from finding her?

why?

Did he have a conflict with his grandfather, or a disagreement with his father?

Su Ziyuan felt dizzy and disoriented. He was only six years old when his aunt left home, and many of his memories were already blurry.

He tried his best to recall his aunt's appearance, but it was as if there was a layer of fog in front of him. What other characteristics could he use to verify whether Yuan Niangzi was his aunt's daughter?

correct!

When he was a child, he was playful and knocked over a wine jar. His aunt cut her arm with a shard of pottery while trying to save him, leaving a scar!

"Does your mother have any scars?"

Yuan Zhi was displeased. Why was he, a man, asking her about her mother...?

Suddenly, a thought struck her: Could it be that he recognized the jade pendant and also knew her mother?

She immediately replied, "My mother has a scar on her left arm, about two inches long, which she said was caused by a shard of a wine jar."

"That's it!" Su Ziyuan stepped forward and said excitedly, "You are my sister!"

Yuan Zhi was stunned. They'd already recognized each other as family so quickly?

Fearing she might be mistaken, she asked, "Wait, wait! You called me 'sister,' but what is your relationship with my mother?"

“My surname is Su, and my given name is Ziyuan. Your mother is my aunt! Although she changed her name, that scar was left when she saved me, there’s no mistake!”

Yuan Zhi felt a mix of emotions. She had thought her mother was a lady from a respectable family, but now it seemed she was actually the young lady from a bandit's den!

"This jade pendant...you didn't steal it, did you?"

"Nonsense!" Su Ziyuan said, "This is a certificate that can be used to control the Su family's businesses; only direct descendants of the Su family have it!"

"A trading company?" Yuan Zhi asked in confusion. "Aren't you bandits?"

"Of course not!" Su Ziyuan smiled and pulled her to sit down. "I'll explain it to you slowly."

After listening, Yuan Zhi understood the whole story.

The Su family made their fortune through brewing wine, and their businesses spanned the north and south of China, making them incredibly wealthy.

Such a large sum of money is bound to attract thieves.

Once, the Su family was robbed by bandits. Upon learning the news, Su Ziyuan immediately led his men to storm the mountain. After capturing the bandits, he learned that they were all poor people who had been driven to desperation by corrupt officials, which led them to become outlaws.

He couldn't bear to part with them, so he left the valuables with them. Seeing that he was somewhat loyal, the village chief became sworn brothers with him and led the entire village to serve under the Su family. That's why his men called him "chief."

Yuan Zhi sighed, "So that's how it is!"

"Yes!"

As soon as Su Ziyuan finished speaking, a servant stumbled in.

"Boss, something terrible has happened! Our brothers are no match for the Leopard Guards; nearly half of them have been killed or wounded. Seeing the situation was dire, the *** men abandoned us and secretly slipped away!"

"what?"

Yuan Zhi and Su Ziyuan stood up at the same time, shocked.

"Brother, where are they? Please take me there quickly!"

"No, what if they hurt you? How could I face my aunt? You stay here and wait for my news."

Yuan Zhi grabbed his arm. "The commander of the Leopard Guard is my husband. He won't stop until he sees me. We have to go together to stop the fighting!"

Su Ziyuan nodded emphatically, "Let's go!"

Upon arriving at Qiulu Courtyard, Su Ziyuan ordered his men to retreat. Yuan Zhi stepped forward and looked at his brothers from the Leopard Guard.

"Please stop, everyone. Where is Xiao Zong? Where are your superiors?"

"The master has gone to the backyard to look for you!" The men looked around warily. "Madam, don't be afraid. We'll risk our lives to get you out of here!"

Yuan Zhi quickly explained, "It's all a misunderstanding. I just found out that the head of the Su family is my brother. Release the fire signal and have Xiao Zong come find me. Let's sit down and talk slowly."

The men were skeptical. "Madam, you haven't been tricked by them, have you?"

"Believe me, he really is my brother."

She had just examined Su Ziyuan's jade pendant; the patterns and carvings were done by the same person, and the jade material was also Hetian white jade, so it couldn't be fake.

Xiao Qi lit a signal, and a moment later, Xiao Zong arrived with the rest of the Leopard Guards. Upon seeing the courtyard full of people, they immediately stopped in their tracks.

Yuan Zhi ran to the courtyard gate and patted and hit the stunned person.

"You're not hurt, are you?"

Xiao Zong grabbed her hand, raising his chin slightly, "What's going on?"

Yuan Zhi looked embarrassed. "It's a long story, but to put it simply... Su Ziyuan is my older brother."

It took Xiao Zong a while to react. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

“I only found out about half an hour ago,” she added, fearing Xiao Zong would hold Su Ziyuan accountable, “Oh! My brother too!”

"This is truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple; family members don't recognize each other." Su Ziyuan cupped his hands in apology. "Brother-in-law, and brothers of the Leopard Guard, I, Su, apologize to you all!"

Xiao Zong dusted off his clothes and replied, "Abducting a woman and attacking the Leopard Guards, and an apology is all it takes? Young Master Su, the laws of the Great Qi are not just for show!"

Su Ziyuan knelt down, lifting his robe, "Tomorrow morning, this humble subject will go to the yamen to confess my guilt. Lord Xiao and all of you have had a long journey and have encountered this calamity. I will arrange a banquet to welcome you back and wash away the dust of your journey."

"No need, we're in a hurry to get going, we should go!"

Yuan Zhi shook his arm. "At this hour, where would we find a boat?"

Su Ziyuan said, "I won't stop Lord Xiao and his men from leaving, but Madam Yuan is my sister, she has to stay!"

Xiao Zong laughed angrily, "She is my wife! Do you think I would abandon her and return to Shengjing alone?"

"I need to go to the yamen to plead guilty, and I don't know when I'll be back. The Su family's business is the result of our elders' hard work, and it cannot be ruined in my hands. During this time, Madam Yuan must support the Su family for me. This is her responsibility as a descendant of the Su family, and it is also her mission!"

"You think you can escape punishment by using her as leverage? How ridiculous! You'll have to bear the consequences of your crime; and you can't hold her captive!"

"It's not up to you!" Su Ziyuan looked at Yuan Zhi, "Little sister, what do you think?"

“I…” Yuan Zhi pondered for a moment, “Xiao Zong, I want to stay.”

She had too many unanswered questions in her mind and couldn't just leave like that.

Xiao Zong said coldly, "Say it again!"

Yuan Zhi shrank back, biting her lip, not daring to disobey him any longer.

Su Ziyuan couldn't stand it any longer and stood up.

"Xiao Zong, who gave you permission to be so harsh on my sister! She's only married to you, not your subordinate. Why should she obey you in everything and listen to your orders?"

Xiao Zong glanced at him sideways, "Oh, are you trying to show off your brother-in-law status to me?"

He always felt that this person was not pure of heart. They were fighting to the death just now, and suddenly they became relatives. Who could believe that?

But Yuanzhi kept calling him "brother" so affectionately, I wonder if he was being misled by his appearance!