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

"This letter was written by Miss in person after I found her and then handed it to me."

The old woman beckoned, and a servant came over with a tray on which was placed a jade crown.

"This item should be familiar to you, young master!"

Chu Xia's hands trembled as he held up the jade crown. "Of course! I wore this crown when I went to Shuozhou. Later, I felt it was too precious, so I gave it to Meng'er to keep."

Marquis Changping's eyes glistened with tears. "This jade crown was commissioned by the Treasure Pavilion for Xia'er's coming-of-age ceremony!"

The old woman's eyes also reddened. "Miss said that Yuanpu has committed many evils. Even if she cannot avenge Young Master Chu, she will bring about her own destruction one day. At that time, she asked me to take these two tokens to the Marquis of Changping's residence, which might be able to save the young lady's life."

To my surprise, after arriving in the capital, Miss disappeared without a trace. After much inquiry, I learned that Yuan Pu already had wives, concubines, and children, meaning Miss would be relegated to a subservient position after entering the manor. I sent my son to infiltrate the Yuan residence to try and smuggle Miss out, but she refused to leave, unaware of her grievances. Later, she found an excuse to drive my son away. I had no choice but to have my son keep watch from the outside while I devised a plan.

A while ago, I heard about the trouble the Yuan family had caused, and I rushed to the capital without stopping. Unfortunately, I'm getting old, and I fell seriously ill as soon as I left Qingzhou. If it weren't for the young master sending someone to find me and arranging a doctor for me, I certainly wouldn't have made it here today! Young master, Miss Zhi'er is your and your daughter's bloodline; you must save her!"

Chu Xia was in tears.

What merit does he possess to have such a virtuous wife!

"Don't worry, Granny, I'll go to the palace right away and plead my case. I'll definitely get my daughter out!"

Marquis Changping straightened his clothes and said, "Xia'er, I'll go with you."

The two left with the evidence. The second wife of the Chu family was the first to recover and called her younger brother and sister-in-law to go to the Ministry of Justice prison to stop Yuan Zhi from leaving the capital.

The younger generation was ordered back to the mansion by the adults. Chu Lan, unable to resist, followed Chu Fengchen dejectedly.

Su Ziyuan and the Chu family arrived at the Ministry of Justice. Upon seeing Yuan Zhi in prison, Su Ziyuan's voice immediately choked with emotion.

"You brat, something this big happened and you didn't even send me a message. Don't you even recognize me as your brother anymore?"

Yuan Zhi lowered her eyes, trying her best to suppress the helplessness and sadness in her heart.

The Chu family is still here. What right does she, the daughter of a perpetrator, have to cry?

"I'm sorry, brother. I've failed Mother and the Chu family. This is my just punishment!"

"nonsense!"

Su Ziyuan raised his voice and said, "Zhi'er, listen to me. You are the daughter of the Chu family and the granddaughter of the Marquis of Changping. You have never wronged anyone. It is the Yuan family that has wronged you and your aunt!"

"What did you say?"

Yuan Zhi opened her eyes wide in disbelief.

“What Young Master Su said is true,” Xiao Yin approached, “You are indeed my elder brother’s daughter.”

The third and fourth wives also stepped forward to comfort them, "Child, don't be afraid. Your grandfather and father have gone to ask His Majesty for permission. Your second uncle is also negotiating with the Ministry of Justice. You'll be able to go home soon."

Yuan Zhi asked in a daze, "What... what exactly happened?"

Su Ziyuan went over the whole story with her from beginning to end and affirmed, "The slipping and premature birth was intentional on your aunt's part, intended to cover up the fact that you were already full-term. Yuan Pu, that old scoundrel, is not your biological father at all, and you don't need to atone for the evil he has done!"

Yuan Zhi's ears were ringing, and he stumbled and fell against the railing.

"How could this be?"

She frowned, her expression a mixture of crying and laughing, and a deep sadness welled up within her.

She had called him "father" for eighteen years, only to find out in the end that he was the culprit who caused her family's ruin!

"Yuan Pu, I'm going to kill you! I'm going to kill you!"

Yuan Zhi was heartbroken, a metallic taste rose in his mouth, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. His grip on the railing gradually weakened, and he began to slide down.

Su Ziyuan hugged her through the bars, startling everyone else, who quickly called for the jailer to open the door.

The Marquis of Changping and his son, along with Eunuch Xu, had just arrived at the Ministry of Justice when they heard the news that Yuan Zhi had fallen into a coma. Xu Dahai instructed the two to take Yuan Zhi back to his residence first, while he went to deliver the imperial decree.

The father and son thanked Eunuch Xu, and Chu Xia carried Yuan Zhi into the carriage, heading directly to the clinic.

After examining the patient, the doctor said it was due to anger affecting the heart, prescribed medication, and instructed the patient to rest quietly.

The group took the medicine and returned to the Marquis of Changping's residence in a grand procession.

Chu Jiuchuan told everyone to go back to their rooms and rest first. As a father, Chu Xia naturally wanted to stay with his daughter. He offered a few words of comfort and left the time for the father and daughter.

In the afternoon, Yuan Zhi woke up, and the two looked at each other in silence, both feeling somewhat awkward.

Chu Xia cleared his throat and asked, "Would you like something to eat?"

Yuan Zhi nodded.

The two were much more natural at the dinner table than before, exchanging questions and answers in a harmonious atmosphere.

After the meal, Yuan Zhi told him about her mother's past. Chu Xia's eyes flickered with joy and sorrow as she spoke.

"I'm so sorry to you and your daughter! My dear child, from now on, you only need to live happily. If anything happens, I'll take care of you!"

Yuan Zhi chuckled, "I've heard that when my father was young, he treated brothels like his home and wouldn't return home for ten days or half a month. It's a pity I wasn't born a man, otherwise, I might have gotten myself into some trouble!"

“That’s not right!” Chu Xia winked at her. “Brothels aren’t just full of beautiful women; there are also handsome young men.”

Yuan Zhi was both amused and exasperated. "I've never heard of a father taking his daughter to a brothel!"

Chu Xia straightened his expression and said, "Lan Yin told me that you married Xiao Zong before, and then divorced him. Was he not good to you? If so, just tell your father, and I will avenge you!"

Yuan Zhi's long eyelashes fluttered as she thought of Xiao Zong's cold words the night before, and she couldn't help but burst into tears.

When Chu Xia saw his daughter looking like this, he knew she had been wronged.

"Outrageous! He dared to betray you, I'll seize him right now and make him kowtow and apologize!"

"No!" Yuan Zhi grabbed her father's sleeve and said coquettishly, "Father, he didn't bully me. Divorce was my idea."

"Why do you want a divorce when everything is going well?"

Xiao Zong and Consort Zheng's relationship was a top secret, and she couldn't reveal it. After thinking for a moment, she said, "He's too cold-hearted. We... aren't a good match."

Chu Xia nodded. "Lan Yin also mentioned this to me. It's alright, there are plenty of fine men in Shengjing. If you take a fancy to someone, I'll find someone to arrange a marriage for you. If you don't want to get married, you can stay in the Marquis's mansion, and I'll support you for the rest of your life!"

Yuan Zhi stopped crying and smiled, "Thank you, Father!"

That evening, all four branches of the Chu family gathered together. Chu Lanyin was especially happy and went to sit down next to Yuanzhi.

Chu Jiuchuan raised his glass to invite everyone to drink together, celebrating the arrival of another granddaughter.

After eating and drinking for a while, he pondered and said, "Now that Zhi'er has returned, she should be included in the family genealogy and take the surname Chu. However, the name Chu Zhi sounds unlucky. How about we give her a new name?"

Chu Xia looked at his daughter, "Zhi'er, what do you think?"

Yuan Zhi pondered for a moment and replied, "Actually, my name was given to me by my mother. The character 'Zhi' is meant to express her hope that I can always maintain a childlike innocence and live a carefree life."

This is the only bond between my mother and me, and I don't want to give it up. However, the name Chu Zhi sounds unlucky, so I beg Grandfather's permission to change my surname to Su Zhi, following my mother's.