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

Marquis Changping initially disagreed, but after being persuaded by Chu Xia, he finally agreed.

Chu Lanyin and Su Zhi went for a walk in the garden to digest their food. Chu Lanyin asked, "Sister, if you don't take the surname Chu, it might not sound good when outsiders talk about your background."

Su Zhi brushed past the roses, her expression serene.

"Let them say what they will, whether it's praise or slander. Who will know who a hundred years from now?"

"Sister is very understanding, so don't worry. If anyone dares to gossip, the Marquis of Changping's mansion will not stand idly by!"

"Thank you!" Su Zhi patted her head. "I felt happy when I first met you. I never thought we would become sisters."

Chu Lanyin smiled brightly and threw herself into Su Zhi's arms, rubbing against her fragrant clothes.

"I'm so happy to have an older sister to keep me company, since my family is full of older brothers!"

Su Zhi tilted her head and smiled gently.

Actually, there was another reason why she didn't take the surname Chu.

She hoped that Chu Lanyin would always remain the pampered only daughter of the Marquis's mansion, and that her arrival would not diminish the affection she deserved.

Three days later, the Marquis of Changping held a grand family reunion banquet, and the Xiao family was among the invited guests.

Su Zhi wore a golden sparrow tassel hairpin and a lychee-red floral and butterfly patterned dress, dressed in her finest attire for the ceremony.

She moved gracefully, the tassels of her hair ornaments swaying gently, making her beautiful face even more charming.

Her gaze drifted over Xiao Zong's tall and straight figure. He smiled at her, and she suddenly gripped her fan tightly, shifting slightly to the right.

After being included in the family genealogy, Su Ziyuan brought over a wine cup during the banquet.

"Xiao Zong's eyes are practically glued to you. What exactly are you planning? Tell your brother."

Su Zhi glanced at him sideways, "I'm your sister, why don't you care about me but care about him? Could it be that I changed my surname to Su and you're afraid I'll take a share of the Su family's assets?"

"Am I that kind of person?"

As Su Ziyuan spoke, he began to remove the jade pendant representing the head of the family.

Su Zhi stopped him, "I was just joking, why did you take it seriously?"

"Then tell me, what will you and Xiao Zong do from now on? Remain strangers, or get married again?"

"I noticed you used to dislike him, so why are you siding with him now?"

Su Ziyuan touched his nose guiltily and denied it, saying, "No way!"

Su Zhi stared at him suspiciously, recalling Xiao Zong's unusual behavior that night, and sensed something was amiss.

"Did you two find out about my background a long time ago and deliberately stage this whole thing?"

Su Ziyuan shielded his face with his arm and pleaded for help from Xiao Zong. The other man squinted at him, raised his glass to him from afar, and acted as if it were none of his business.

He gritted his teeth and refused to help; don't blame him for being treacherous!

"It was Xiao Zong who instigated me to do this! He said you're too hasty, and if you tell him beforehand, it'll be easy for him to give you away!"

"is it?"

Su Zhi said with a forced smile.

Su Ziyuan rubbed his arms. "Well, you're all grown up now. Who you marry and what kind of life you lead are all your own decisions. I was just fulfilling my responsibility as an older brother. Just take it as me rambling, haha. If there's nothing else, I'll go back to my seat!"

"Brother, what's the rush? Didn't we come to offer a toast?"

Su Zhi pressed him down and turned to the maid, saying, "Young Master Su is a man of the martial world and is not used to drinking from a cup. Bring me a large bowl."

The maid covered her mouth and chuckled, curtsied, and replied, "Yes."

A moment later, he brought over an enamel bowl used for eating noodles and placed it in front of Su Ziyuan.

Su Zhi opened the lid of the wine pot and poured all the wine into it.

“Today I return to my ancestral home, and my brother will surely be happy for me,” she said, touching her cup to the rim of her bowl. “Your son toasts you!”

She tilted her head back and drank it all, then turned the cup upside down to show that she hadn't left a drop.

Su Ziyuan, concerned with his image, reluctantly picked up a bowl of wine and downed it in a very manly gulp.

Chu Lan was speechless. "Brother Su...you have a really good capacity for alcohol!"

Su Zhi smiled and asked the maid to help her brother back to his room to rest.

Xiao Zong stood up, walked to her, raised his glass in congratulations and said, "Congratulations, Madam Su."

"Your Excellency is very kind."

The two took a sip of their drink, neither of them finished, and then sat down.

The atmosphere at the banquet instantly turned icy cold. Everyone knew that the two were deeply in love.

However, after the Yuan family's misfortune, Commander Xiao stood idly by, showing no concern for his suffering wife, which is truly lamentable.

Husbands and wives are birds of the same forest, and when disaster strikes, they fly separately.

Even such a loving couple could not withstand the test.

Now that we meet again, how are we any different from enemies!

The Marquis of Changping and his son both looked displeased. If Xiao Yin hadn't intervened to smooth things over, they might have smashed their cups as a signal and ordered their servants to throw Xiao Zong out.

After several rounds of drinks, everyone was full and chatting lazily.

Su Zhi got up and left her seat. She said a few words to her grandfather and father, and then went out from the back hall.

As soon as the carriage reached the alley entrance, it was stopped by Xiao Zong.

He shamelessly pleaded, "I've had too much to drink and am not able to walk properly. Miss, could you give me a ride?"

Su Zhi lifted the bamboo curtain. "Lord Xiao, men and women should not ride or sit together. I cannot agree to this."

Xiao Zong knew she was still angry, and with a hint of doting in his calm voice, he coaxed her, "I will sit with the coachman and will not disturb you in the sedan chair."

“My car doesn’t pass by the Xiao residence, it’s not on my way.”

She continued to refuse.

“I have no intention of returning to the manor, and I am certain that Miss Su is going to the same place as me.”

Xiao Zong said leisurely.

"Then tell me, where do I want to go?"

"Ministry of Justice prison."

Su Zhi choked, he really guessed it!

"Get in the car!"

Xiao Zong lifted his robe and jumped onto the carriage. Su Zhi lowered the curtain and leaned against the side wall to rest with her eyes closed.

A moment later, the curtain rustled softly. She opened her eyes and saw Mr. Xiao sitting opposite her. Her face immediately turned cold.

"go out!"

Ignoring her struggles, Xiao Zong grabbed her hand and pressed it against his cheek.

"Child, I am also a mortal being with a temper and a bloodthirst. You lied to me and deceived me before, and even poisoned me. You should at least give me a chance to vent my anger! I am willing to let bygones be bygones from now on. But when will you finally calm down?"

Su Zhi frowned. "Why bother? Since we've broken up, can't we just live our own lives peacefully? Why are you so fixated on whether I'm angry or not? Why do you keep provoking me?"

"Because I love you, I can't bear to part with you, I can't let go. Even if I have to force it, I will still occupy a place in your heart."

What if I were to get married?

"Then I'll snatch you away and we'll get married again. Or, I'll take that forged divorce agreement you made and take it to the authorities to prove that we're still husband and wife!"

Su Zhi kicked him, "You bastard, you want to get me thrown in jail!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xiao Zong grabbed her ankle, placed it on his lap, and gently kneaded it.

"My dear child, I've told you, you can only be mine."

Su Zhi's anger had mostly subsided, but seeing his determined look, a nameless fire ignited again.

"I am not your canary, I belong only to myself."

Xiao Zong grabbed her ankle and, just as she was about to fall, supported her waist and hips, pulling her into his arms.

"Or I can marry into the Marquis's family. That way, you'll still be you, and I'll belong to you, okay?"

Su Zhi clicked her tongue. "You wish!"