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

Despite ***'s repeated denials that the items were not hers, the witnesses and physical evidence were conclusive, leaving her no room for denial.

Xiao Zong presented the list to His Majesty, and Li Kai immediately issued an edict to place Xiao Zong under house arrest. Further action would be taken only after the case of the murder of the Marquis of Changping's eldest son was thoroughly investigated.

***In a fit of anger, she lay in bed. Xu Muxin scooped up a spoonful of bitter medicine, blew on it, and brought it to her lips.

"Mother."

Li Min looked at her with suspicion, seeing her calm and unhurried demeanor.

"No one except my personal maids and matrons is allowed into my bedroom. They don't have the guts. You did it, didn't you!"

Xu Muxin put the spoon back into the bowl and said indifferently, "So what if it is?"

"You think you can escape from me? You're too naive!" Li Min's deep-set eyes were filled with a dark mist as she said viciously, "I'm going to plead with His Majesty that you did all of this!"

Xu Muxin stirred the herbal medicine. "Yuan Pu's entire family has been imprisoned. Xiao Zong is extremely anxious to save his wife. Do you think he will give you a chance to defend yourself?"

She has no choice but to bear this crime!

"I am innocent!"

"Innocent? How dare Mother associate herself with those two words? Because of your embezzlement of disaster relief funds, countless people have been displaced and countless officials have been lost without a trace. Now, it's time for you to suffer retribution!"

Li Min was so angry that she trembled all over. She slammed the medicine bowl down and started pounding the bed like a madwoman.

"No! I will not lose! How could I possibly lose!"

Xu Muxin wiped the medicine off the back of her hand, curtsied, and said, "Since Mother doesn't want to take the medicine, I'll take my leave now. Please get some rest."

She walked out with her head held high, feeling incredibly happy.

The prison is perpetually dark and damp, devoid of sunlight, and even as summer approaches, a slight chill can still be felt.

Yuan Zhi sat on the pile of straw, his arms pressing down on his knees, his head buried in it.

Knowing he was doomed, the father would desperately try to pin the blame on his third brother. After all, the sentences for the principal offender and the accomplice are different.

Since the Changping Marquis's residence is involved, His Majesty, under pressure, will not let the culprit off easily. As for the Yuan family, they will most likely be exiled.

The winery will definitely be taken back by His Majesty. Fortunately, Wei Yan Lou is still there. Now she only hopes that the Yuan family's affairs will not involve the winery, otherwise how can she face those employees!

Feeling troubled, she decided to stop thinking about it and lay down to go to sleep.

Just as he closed his eyes, the jailer shouted, "Cell number twelve, someone is visiting!"

Yuan Zhi jolted awake, sat up abruptly, and saw Luo Mei outside the railing with red, tear-filled eyes, and Xiao Zong exuding a chilling aura.

The jailer opened the door, and Luo Mei rushed in immediately, put down the quilt, and hugged her, weeping bitterly.

"Miss!"

Yuan Zhi patted her on the back, "I'm fine, nothing's wrong, don't cry."

She raised her head slightly and met Xiao Zong's sinister gaze, her heart suddenly tightening.

Why doesn't he come in?

And why are you looking at her like that?

Luo Mei, hiccuping as she cried, took out the contract from her bosom and stuffed it into Yuan Zhi's arms.

"This, this servant cannot accept, and will not accept!"

Yuan Zhi advised, "If Your Majesty intends to confiscate the Yuan family's property, not a single penny will be confiscated. Wei Yan Lou is my only property; please manage it well for my sake, okay?"

Luo Mei hadn't expected this, and only put the things away after hearing what her mistress had said.

She solemnly promised, "Don't worry, Miss, I will do my best!"

With tears welling in her eyes, Yuan Zhi whispered, "Thank you."

"We grew up together, Miss, why are you being so polite with me!"

Luo Mei wiped away her tears, got up and went out, leaving the two lovers some alone time.

For a moment, only Yuan Zhi and Xiao Zong remained.

Yuan Zhi blinked at him, "You...do you have something to tell me?"

Xiao Zong's voice was calm and even. "And you? Do you have something to say to me?"

The woman thought for a moment and said, "My father harmed Uncle Chu, and Marquis Changping will not let the Yuan family off the hook. I don't want you to be caught in the middle, so... there's no need for you to go through all this trouble for me."

"that's it?"

The man's face was grim and terrifying, like the calm before an impending storm.

Yuan Zhi pinched a straw between her fingers and murmured, "What else do you want to hear?"

Xiao Zong strode in, close to the railing, and grabbed her shoulder with his large hand, lifting her up from the ground.

"You gave Lan Yin the jade pendant, transferred the restaurant to Luo Mei, and appeased the staff and maids. You considered so many people around you, why did you forget me? Doesn't our relationship deserve an explanation from you?"

Yuan Zhi was in pain from his pinching and frowned, wanting him to let go, but when she caught a glimpse of his reddened eyes, she held back.

"You come from a prestigious family and are a favorite of the emperor, so I have nothing to worry about. As for our brief affair, please forget about it after tonight!"

"I am but a passerby, sir. Your future is bright, and there are plenty of women in Shengjing who would love to marry you. A mere Yuan Zhi is not worth your attention!"

Xiao Zong was filled with hatred. He pushed the person against the wall and kissed him without saying a word.

It was called a kiss, but it was really just two trapped animals tearing at each other, chasing each other and neither giving an inch.

The taste of rust lingered between his lips and teeth. The person in front of him still refused to back away. Yuan Zhi pushed him away with all his might and slapped him.

"Xiao Zong, haven't you gone crazy enough?!"

"And you? In order to get your father to confess and to bring down ***, you didn't hesitate to lie to me, deceive me, and scheme against me. Now you've gotten yourself involved too. Aren't you just as crazy!"

He truly hadn't expected that she would be so heartless not only to him, but also to herself!

"You knew everything." Yuan Zhi leaned against the wall, panting. "So, you've come to settle scores with me?"

How could someone as proud as him accept being deceived by a woman? He would either cut all ties with her or seek revenge to the death.

Xiao Zong stretched out his arms and pulled her in front of him, his fingers stroking the back of her neck.

"We do need to settle accounts, but not now." He said, emphasizing each word, "I have already written to Xiao Ziyuan, asking him to take some men, disguise them as mountain bandits, and abduct you on your way to exile."

Although Yuanzhi longed for freedom, she didn't want her brother to get involved. Besides, breaking into a prisoner's home was a serious crime punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan!

"I won't go with him!"

"What, are you worried your dear brother will get hurt? How about I come pick you up myself?"

Yuan Zhi sneered, grabbed his hand, and placed it in front of her.

"Before, I thought you only liked this appearance, but I didn't expect you to be so innocent, actually wanting to go through with the whole 'one love for life' thing! Lord Xiao, you've been reborn, how come you haven't improved at all?"

She breathed into his ear, "Just like in my past life, boring and dull. You play by yourself, I'm not playing along!"

Xiao Zong was stunned, as if struck on the head, his whole body frozen in place, unable to move even his eyes.

Yuan Zhi has also been reborn!

She watched coldly as her former nemesis, like a fool, became deeply entangled with her, unable to extricate himself. She must have been extremely happy!

Xiao Zong felt like a clown, filled with shame and indignation, wishing he could kill her with a single blow and then end his own life.

His eyes swirled with darkness as he grabbed her by the neck, his voice hoarse as he said, "You deserve to die!"