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

Su Ziyuan said jokingly, "What, is that not allowed? If Lord Xiao can't stand it, he can simply write a divorce agreement and let my sister go home!"

Yuan Zhi pouted, "We're already divorced, brother!"

Xiao Zong's sore spot was hit, and his face grew even more unpleasant.

Yuan Zhi leaned closer in a fawning manner and persuaded, "I finally found my family, aren't you happy for me? It's so late, let's rest here tonight and continue our journey tomorrow, okay?"

Xiao Zong sighed. His wife seemed easy to talk to, but she was actually incredibly stubborn. Once she made a decision, nothing could change it; it was truly a headache.

"Just listen to you."

Yuan Zhi smiled at Su Ziyuan, "Brother, please lead the way!"

The group left Qiulu Courtyard and followed Su Ziyuan toward the flower hall. The steward was about to follow, but seeing the look his master gave him, he immediately stopped and stayed behind to clean up the mess.

A sumptuous feast was served, and everyone enjoyed a hearty meal before returning to their rooms to rest. Yuanzhi, wanting to inquire about her mother, stayed behind to talk with her brother throughout the night.

Xiao Zong was worried, so he stood guard outside the flower hall, listening to the sounds inside.

As dawn approached, Yuan Zhi yawned as she came out and saw Xiao Zong sitting on the steps, quietly gazing at the dark blue sky.

She suddenly threw herself onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her fair and soft face against his cheek.

"Fool! It's so cold at night, why don't you go inside?"

The man said sourly, "Of course I'm afraid of disturbing your reunion with your good brother!"

"Are you jealous? That's my brother!"

"It's not uncommon for a cousin to marry his sister!"

Yuan Zhi bit his neck. "Don't you know who I like? As punishment, you have to carry me back!"

"I carried you all the way here, and now you're still giving me trouble. Anyone who didn't know better would think I married a queen!"

Even so, he still carried her on his back and walked towards the backyard.

Yuan Zhi lay on the broad back, thinking to himself: You did marry a concubine!

Back in the house, the two slept for less than an hour before getting up to pack their luggage.

Last night, Yuan Zhi told Su Ziyuan that he could not stay and wanted to return to the capital with Xiao Zong.

Su Ziyuan made a promise with her that he would go to Shengjing to find her after he finished dealing with his current affairs. At that time, he would definitely hold a grand family reunion banquet for her.

When Yuan Zhi and the others came to say goodbye, Su Ziyuan pulled her aside, took out a thick wad of silver notes from his pocket, and stuffed them into her bundle.

"Keep this money for yourself. Don't let the Xiao family know, and don't tell your husband either. If they dare to bully you, write to your brother, and I'll stand up for you!"

"Thank you brother!"

Yuan Zhi felt a lump in her throat; it felt so good to have family.

What's more, they are relatives who are incredibly wealthy!

She had just seen that the banknotes were worth one thousand taels each, and that stack of them probably amounted to one hundred thousand taels. Her brother, who had been in business for many years, knew that large denominations of money were too conspicuous and inconvenient to spend, which was why he arranged it this way.

He really cared about his younger sister!

Yuan Zhi hugged him and said reluctantly, "Brother, I'm leaving!"

Su Ziyuan responded with a deep "hmm".

Seeing the two embracing and reluctantly parting, Xiao Zong was consumed by jealousy and stepped forward to separate them.

He grabbed Yuan Zhi with one hand and said coldly, "Let's go!"

As soon as he stepped out of the Su residence, Xiao Zong let go of her hand and didn't say another word to her until he boarded the boat.

Yuan Zhi clung to him, saying, "***'s people tricked my brother into kidnapping me and then forced him to kill you. I bet it was to destroy the evidence you had."

Xiao Zong sneered: "Does that even need to be guessed?"

"Not everyone is as smart as you. I don't understand politics, so it's already quite impressive that I could think of this!"

"Is that so? Then who was the mastermind behind deceiving His Majesty, the Prince of Wu, and the Supervisor with just one scheme?"

"So you're determined not to make up, aren't you? All that coaxing and sweet talk has been wasted! I only hugged my brother, and you and Zheng Xiangxiang were having an affair, and I never said a word about it. It's a double standard. Stay out of here!"

Xiao Zong grabbed her, his narrow phoenix eyes filled with a stormy atmosphere, his anger like gunpowder hidden beneath a veil of malice, ready to erupt at any moment.

"There's nothing between her and me! How many times do I have to explain before you'll believe me?"

Yuan Zhi stared at the cabin window, her voice cold: "Cut off contact with her and stop caring about her affairs, then I will believe you."

Xiao Zong lowered his eyelids slightly, "You know this is impossible!"

Yuan Zhi gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Fine, then I'll compromise again. After she safely gives birth to the prince, you can then sever ties with her, how about that?"

Xiao Zong frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "What exactly are you jealous of?"

"Jealous of Zheng Xiangxiang? You're overthinking it. She's not worthy! I'm laughing at your foolishness. You know she's using you, yet you still eagerly try to get close to her. You say you're repaying a debt of gratitude, but when will you ever repay that debt? Do you really want to make her child the crown prince?"

Xiao Zong remained silent. In his previous life, he had failed to save Xiangxiang, a regret that lingered until his death.

The accumulated debts of gratitude and guilt from two lifetimes tormented him constantly.

From that rainy night onward, he blamed all of Zheng Xiangxiang's misfortunes on himself. She was unfavored in the palace, bullied, and lived in constant fear; he considered it all his fault.

Every time he saw Zheng Xiangxiang, he felt like a hypocrite who climbed to the top by stepping on his peers. Peel back the skin, and his bloody flesh was covered with selfishness and self-interest.

With his eyes closed, he said wearily, "Perhaps you are right."

When Yuan Zhi heard his words, she knew that he had made a great decision. She moved her lips, but then swallowed her words.

Rather than constantly arguing, it's more important to calm down and think carefully about what to do next.

The boat drifted on the spring water, carried by the long wind, heading east.

The group quickly arrived in Shengjing. Xiao Zong changed his clothes and went to the palace to meet the emperor. Yuan Zhi, preoccupied with business, first visited the winery and then went to Weiyan Tower.

Manager Li happily reported the accounts to her, saying that the restaurant was packed every day and they no longer had to worry about running out of money. Yuan Zhi was especially happy and gave everyone a raise.

Anything new happening lately?

Yuan Zhi had been away from the capital for over a month and couldn't wait to get some gossip.

"There really is!" Jiang Bai said, "At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Consort Wei performed a dance to celebrate, and I heard that His Majesty was completely captivated. That night, His Majesty summoned her to his bedchamber, and the next morning, she was directly promoted to Imperial Noble Consort!"

Yuan Zhi praised, "The first Imperial Noble Consort after Dun Su. Wei Xueyao, you've got some skills!"

The maid said, "Besides that, there are two other things, but they can be combined into one."

Yuan Zhi asked, "What is it?"

The maid looked at Jiang Bai, who said awkwardly, "Don't look at me. If the master asks, just answer him."

The maid nodded and honestly replied, "It is said that several young ministers in the court frequently visit the ***'s residence, ostensibly to pay their respects, but in reality..."

"What is it actually?"

"In reality, it was a secret rendezvous with the Princess of Pingyi County. Vice Censor-in-Chief Feng submitted memorials every day, claiming that the Princess was licentious and disrespectful, and demanding that His Majesty punish her. The Princess of Pingyi County was not one to be bullied, and she retaliated by accusing him of slandering a member of the imperial family. His Majesty was enraged and ordered Feng to be flogged in court."

Yuan Zhi found it hard to accept. Before she went to Shuozhou, the two of them were still very much in love. How could everything have changed in just a few days?!