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

Like a bolt of lightning striking, Su Zhi froze on the spot.

"I did not do that."

She slightly raised her chin, her misty eyes looking over, her surprise mixed with deep grievance and sadness.

Xiao Zong walked over, pulled her into his arms, and placed his large hand on the back of her head to gently comfort her.

"Of course I know it wasn't you, it's just... I'm a little sad."

In his past life, he took his anger out on Zheng Xiangxiang because of her death, making things difficult for her to vent his resentment. Now, everything has proven that Xiangxiang's death had nothing to do with her.

The palace, a place that devours people without spitting out the bones, is already extremely difficult to survive in, and he became an accomplice in taking Su Zhi's life!

She harmed him, and he harmed her; their love and hate, entangled across two lifetimes, could no longer be explained by the word "owe" alone!

"It will pass, everything will pass."

Su Zhi hugged his lean waist and rubbed her cheek against his chest.

She disliked Zheng Xiangxiang and was deeply shocked to hear of her death. How heartbroken Xiao Zong, Zheng Xiangxiang's childhood sweetheart, must have been to learn of his old friend's passing!

Xiao Zong's throat tightened, "Child, we can no longer sit idly by and wait for death, otherwise, we will repeat the same mistakes!"

Su Zhi thought so too.

"We must find out who killed Zheng Xiangxiang, and who pushed me into the water in my past life. Let's find out who the mastermind is!"

After embracing for a moment, Xiao Zong changed into his official robes and rode his horse toward the palace gate.

The appointment of a crown prince shocked the court and the public. Ministers submitted memorials one after another, saying that the position of crown prince was related to the fate of the country, and how could it be handed over to a newborn baby?!

However, Li Kai insisted on his own way, saying that he was at the peak of his career and had plenty of time to teach the crown prince.

The officials kowtowed, begging His Majesty to rescind the decree. Li Kai was furious, declaring that imperial decrees could not be changed overnight, and anyone who submitted another memorial would be punished for "great disrespect"!

Grand Tutor Mu, seventy-five years old, knelt tremblingly, saying, "Your Majesty insists on making an infant the Crown Prince, so he should be entrusted to the Empress for upbringing. Now that the Empress is still alive, how can the Crown Prince of the country recognize a concubine as his mother?"

Li Kai downplayed the issue, saying, "The Empress is plagued by old ailments and has long since ceased to concern herself with worldly affairs. How can we trouble her with such trivial matters? It is enough that the eldest grandson of the Emperor is by her side to fulfill his filial duties! The Imperial Noble Consort Wei holds a position equivalent to that of a secondary Empress, and is gentle and humble. Only with her raising the Crown Prince can I feel at ease!"

After hearing this, Grand Tutor Mu sneered. He was clearly bewitched by Consort Wei, yet he spoke so eloquently!

He looked at the Left and Right Prime Ministers, but saw that both of them had their heads down, as if they knew he was about to look at them and were deliberately avoiding him.

His colleagues below remained silent, even the usually lively Xiao Zong and Feng Quan kept quiet. He shook his head, ashamed to be associated with the crowd!

"This old minister is unwell and begs Your Majesty's understanding. Please allow me to take my leave!"

Li Kai had been waiting for these words, and said calmly, "Go!"

Grand Tutor Mu turned and left, walking to the steps of the palace, where he looked up at the gray sky.

The reason Your Majesty treats the Empress Dowager with such contempt is simply because General Zhao is stationed on the frontier. When he reports for duty at the end of the year, that will be the time for the Empress to rise to power.

"Your Highness, even if it costs me my life, I will protect the Empress and the Crown Prince. You can watch from heaven as I personally send those who have wronged you to hell, one by one!"

After the court session ended, Dou Zhao told Xiao Zong that Consort Yuan had agreed to return Xing'er.

Xiao Zong tapped his knee with his fingers and asked, "What are the conditions?"

"Let the young mistress enter the palace!"

"Child?"

The two are no longer sisters in name. What is Jiang Rou's intention in sending Zhi'er into the palace at this time?

He paused for a moment and then said, "Reply to Consort Yuan that in two days, Imperial Noble Consort Wei will summon Zhi'er to the palace, and she can meet with her when she has time."

Dou Zhao pondered, "I'm afraid it's inappropriate to appoint the Imperial Noble Consort of Wei as her consort."

"what happened?"

Dou Zhao took a paper package out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Since the brothers in the guild couldn't easily enter the Leopard Guard, they gave me the ginseng soup residue. I had someone check it, and it's the same medicine that the Imperial Noble Consort gave us last time!"

Xiao Zong's pupils shrank sharply. "So, Wei Xueyao not only kept the medicine, but also used it to kill Xiangxiang!"

"This is just my guess, but the young mistress's safety is paramount, and we cannot take any risks!"

"Heh~"

Xiao Zong smiled sinisterly; the prey he controlled had actually learned to resist.

It seems that she has been given too many sweet treats recently, making her forget how humble and weak she was when she was in purgatory!

It's time to let her know who's really in control!

"I've heard that Wei Xiong has been frequenting brothels lately, his eyes, heart, and audacity filled with lust. Despite his advanced age, he still hasn't learned his lesson. Gouge out one of his eyes and send it to the Brocade Palace, saying that Father misses the Empress and wants to see her in person!"

Dou Zhao clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Yes!"

Xiao Zong continued, "Have someone from the Imperial Household Department send a pot of green chrysanthemums to the Empress Dowager's palace. Even if the Empress Dowager can't see her daughter, she can still summon her granddaughter."

Dou Zhao suddenly realized, "That's right! It would be more logical for the young mistress to accompany Princess Pingyi to the palace than for the Imperial Noble Consort Wei to summon her!"

"That makes sense," Xiao Zong sighed. "Go and do it!"

Dou Zhao accepted the order and then left the Leopard Guard.

Jiang Rou received Xiao Zong's reply and, fearing things might get complicated, was eager to get rid of the hot potato, saying that they could take Xing'er away that night.

However, while passing objects is easy, passing a living person is much more difficult.

Currently, Consort Liang is in charge of the palace. Her son, Prince Jin, had competed with Xiao Zong for Su Zhi. Xiao Zong couldn't bring himself to do it, so he went to Consort Liang for help.

Moreover, Liang Fei was among the masterminds he suspected. If he were to fall into the lion's den, there would be no turning back!

After much thought, I still couldn't find a perfect solution.

He told Jiang Rou to be patient and wait until the day of Xiangxiang's burial before taking the opportunity to bring Xing'er out.

When he returned home that evening, he told Su Zhi the whole story. She laughed and said, "Look how worried you are. You're just worried that Xing'er will be harmed, aren't you? Leave it to me!"

Xiao Zong held her on his lap and humbly asked, "The palace is surrounded by enemies. How can you hide her without being discovered?"

"No need to hide it."

"No need to hide it?"

Su Zhi wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes filled with a deep, mysterious light.

"The mastermind is hiding Xing'er to prove that the Crown Prince is not His Majesty's biological son. Since you and Zheng Xiangxiang are both from Liangzhou, this mess will most likely be pinned on you."

The only ones who could come up with such a scheme are those few concubines who have children. They certainly wouldn't openly discuss their desire for their sons to become the Crown Prince, which would damage His Majesty's reputation.

When Consort Zheng gave birth, the murderer had already missed a crucial opportunity. Now, searching for Xing'er meant either eliminating her or continuing to hide. After all, with her detained by Jiang Rou, no information could be passed through. If Xing'er revealed the Crown Prince's true parentage at the funeral, His Majesty would lose face and undoubtedly order a thorough investigation. At that point, the murderer would have no chance of supporting his son's ascension to the throne!