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

The moonlight is soft and gentle, the long night is deep and dark.

A gentle breeze rustled through the flowers and grass, carrying a faint fragrance that seeped into the window.

Yuan Zhi lay on the table, enjoying the comforting fragrance, and slept soundly.

Xiao Zong stepped across the threshold, caught sight of her, and gently closed the door. He placed the cloth bag on the table, walked over, took off his cloak, and draped it over her.

The woman's brow twitched slightly, and she quickly opened her eyes, straightening up as she said, "You're back."

Her cloak slipped down, and she hurriedly reached out to grab it. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with panic.

Xiao Zong patted her head. "Why are you so scared? I won't blame you for this."

Yuan Zhi pouted and muttered under her breath, "Lord Xiao has been so unpredictable lately, how could I dare to provoke him!"

Xiao Zong chuckled, then asked, "Did you sleep well last night while I was away?"

Yuan Zhi gripped the edge of her clothes and pulled back slightly, "You don't still want to..."

"Scared?"

The man lifted her up, sat down in a chair, and held her at an angle.

The cloak fell to the ground, and Yuan Zhi leaned against his shoulder, carefully choosing her words.

"Too much of a good thing can be bad for your health. You should be more moderate."

"What are you thinking about? I'm here tonight to talk to you about something important."

Yuan Zhi blushed deeply; he must have done it on purpose!

"What's the matter?"

Xiao Zong pulled off the silk sash around her waist and began to peel off her brocade robe with his large hands, revealing his intentions through his actions.

Yuan Zhi pressed down on his hand, puffing out her cheeks in anger, and said, "Is this the serious business you were talking about?"

"Yes!"

He spoke with a playful tone and stripped her naked without saying a word.

Yuan Zhi closed her eyes, waiting for his next move, but the man helped her up, as if he had lost interest, his voice extremely cold.

"There are clothes and shoes on the table outside. Once you've changed, I'll have Dou Zhao escort you out of the city."

Yuan Zhi had a series of questions, but he looked too disheveled to ask them.

She walked to the outer room with her arms crossed, saw the cloth bundle on the table, untied it, and found a set of linen clothes and a pair of cloth shoes inside.

After dressing properly, she stood next to the screen, her feet awkwardly pressed together.

Are you going to send me away?

As a fugitive, without his protection, she would ultimately face a near-death experience.

Xiao Zong strolled over and removed the jewelry from her head one by one. The pearl hairpins and gold ornaments fell silently onto the floral carpet, yet their impact was undeniable.

"Hate me?"

Yuan Zhi shook his head. "A life for a life, a debt for a debt, that's only right and proper. You didn't kill me right away, and you even let me live a comfortable and peaceful life for a while. I'm already content."

The man's face darkened. He gripped her chin, lowered his head, and fiercely captured her cherry lips. His tongue pried open her teeth, plunging deep inside, forcing her to confront his anger.

After a long while, he released her from his grasp and said breathlessly, "But I am not satisfied."

He could forgive the hatred from their past life, but in this life, she must belong to him!

Regardless of one's status.

Knock, knock, knock

Dou Zhao knocked on the door from the outside. "Master, the time has come."

Xiao Zong sighed and said to Yuan Zhi, "Go."

The door was only a few steps away, but Yuan Zhi walked very slowly. However, when he reached the door, he did not say anything to stop him.

Her hand landed on the latch, and she glanced back. He may have noticed, but he didn't spare her a single look. Finally, she gave up, opened the door, and walked out.

The carriage rumbled out of the city, and stopped after traveling a short distance.

Yuan Zhi lifted the bamboo curtain and asked Dou Zhao, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"Wait till dawn."

The other party answered concisely.

Isn't it safer to travel at night?

"Didn't your master tell you that you have to go into the city after dawn?"

Yuan Zhi was terrified. Entering the city in broad daylight was tantamount to walking into a trap.

Xiao Zong hadn't changed at all; he was still the same ruthless Commander Xiao.

For him, love was nothing more than a momentary pleasure. Once he was tired of her, he would send her to the executioner's blade without any mercy.

"He wants me dead!"

"The master wants you to turn yourself in."

"Is there a difference?"

Dou Zhao's lips moved, but he didn't speak.

Yuan Zhi was not one to sit idly by and wait for death. Even if she were to die, it had to be of her own free will, not arranged by others.

She lifted the curtain, ready to jump out of the car.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared, and a knife was brought horizontally.

"Young Madam, please don't make things difficult for me."

Yuan Zhi sneered: "You have a long sword, while I don't even have a sharp weapon. Who's in a more difficult position?"

Dou Zhao remained silent, while Yuan Zhi retreated into the carriage and pulled down the curtain.

As dawn broke, Yuan Zhi alighted from the carriage and slowly made her way towards the city gate. Dou Zhao drove the carriage, following behind her at a leisurely pace, and whenever they were almost neck and neck, he would pull on the reins.

Yuan Zhi tried to escape, but was caught and brought back.

Dou Zhao warned, "The city gate is not far away. If the young mistress goes to surrender herself, she still has a sliver of hope. If she tries anything else, I'll have to shout here, 'Catch the fugitive!'"

"you!"

Yuan Zhi was furious. She shook him off and strode to the city gate.

She curtsied to the guard and said, "Officer, my daughter Yuanzhi is a prisoner who was exiled a few days ago. She got separated from the others after encountering bandits, so she came back to Shengjing to turn herself in."

The guards were shocked and immediately reported to their superiors. Afterwards, Yuan Zhi was taken back to the Ministry of Justice prison.

Li Kai was delighted to hear this and praised her a couple of times.

"Have all the Yuan family members who fled been found?"

The Minister replied, "Only Yuanpu's three sons and concubines remain to be captured."

The two missing people were most likely killed by the Marquis of Changping's men; searching for them would be futile. This case cannot be delayed any longer.

"No need to wait any longer. We'll set off again at noon tomorrow and send these people to Lingzhou!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The Minister of Justice received the imperial decree and took his leave.

Li Kai looked at Eunuch Xu, "I originally thought that Xiao Zong couldn't bear to part with Lady Yuan, which is why he orchestrated the bandit breakout. Now it seems I wronged him. Xu Dahai, do you think he'll blame me?"

Eunuch Xu said, "All the people under heaven are His Majesty's subjects. You are essentially Lord Xiao's father. How can there be any grudge between father and son? Lord Xiao will surely understand His Majesty's situation!"

"You've got a silver tongue; you always know how to say nice things!"

“What this old servant is saying is the truth.”

Li Kai smiled and said, "Alright, go to the Xiao residence and deliver a message to Xiao Zong, telling him to stop lounging at home and go back to work at the Leopard Guard!"

"Yes!"

Xu Dahai bowed and stepped back.

After conveying the imperial decree, he picked up a bag of silver and left the Xiao residence. Just as he turned onto the main street, the carriage of the Marquis of Changping's mansion brushed past his carriage and sped forward.

He ordered the coachman to follow, and then saw the carriage stop in front of a luxurious restaurant.

He glanced at the signboard, which read "Su Family Restaurant".

Marquis Changping helped his eldest son out of the carriage. Xu Dahai's eyes narrowed. Chu Xia's expression and demeanor were completely different from before.

Could it be that his madness has been cured?

Upon returning to the palace, Xu Dahai informed His Majesty of the news. Li Kai, holding a vermilion imperial brush, wrote a few lines on the memorial.

"The Marquis of Changping has been concerned about his eldest son for half his life. Now that he has regained him, he is bound to feel anxious and uncertain. There is no need to rush to ask him. When he is ready to speak, he will naturally make it public."