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

Su Zhi studied the map for an entire afternoon, but still couldn't figure out where it was pointing.

"What are you looking at, so absorbed in thought?"

Xiao Zong stepped over the threshold and asked curiously.

Su Zhi looked up at the sound, her eyes lighting up. "You're back! Quick, help me see where this map is drawn?"

Xiao Zong took it and examined it carefully three times, but still couldn't figure it out.

Where did the things come from?

Su Zhi's eyes suddenly dimmed, and her voice carried a hint of sorrow, "Jiang Rou made me memorize this picture, and I drew it from memory."

The man's eyes flickered. "When did this happen?"

"The last time I entered the palace."

Xiao Zong was somewhat displeased. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Su Zhi grasped his arm through his clothes and explained, "When Consort Zheng passed away, you were in a bad mood, and you were also threatened by Consort Liang and Xing'er. I really didn't want to see you troubled. Besides, even if I told you, it wouldn't help. Jiang Rou said that unless she dies, this map will always be a piece of waste paper."

"So, this image will only take effect if she dies?"

"I think Jiang Rou had already guessed that she would die, so she left clues in advance."

Xiao Zong folded the map up. "There's a secret hidden in this. Jiang Xin is Jiang Rou's only relative. I'll have Dou Zhao bring her over tomorrow, and you can ask her."

Su Zhi felt uneasy. "Jiang Rou's death was not an accident. If the murderer wants to get the secret in this picture, he will definitely target Jiang Xin. Dou Zhao has been by your side for many years and will be easily recognized. Tell me where Jiang Xin is, and I will go to see her myself."

“You’ve been to the palace and met with Consort Yuan. The murderer must know that. He might be targeting you too. How can I let you go alone?”

"You should have a lot of people watching Jiang Xin. If all else fails, just send more people to protect me, and there shouldn't be any problems."

Xiao Zong clenched the paper in his hand. "No, I can't watch you take such a risk! I'll leave early tomorrow morning to see Jiang Xin first!"

Su Zhi smiled gently, "You don't want to see me in danger, and I feel the same way about you. As husband and wife, we should share joys and sorrows and go through thick and thin together. How can I always hide behind you and wait for your protection?"

She took the map from Xiao Zong's hand and lit it under the candlelight.

"Child!"

Xiao Zong reached out to stop her, but Su Zhi blocked him.

“My mind is made up, my husband. Tell me where Jiang Xin is.”

Xiao Zong watched helplessly as the paper turned to ashes, his anger seething with resentment, and glared at her with a bitter look.

"The villa where you were previously imprisoned is only separated from the Marquis of Qingyang's residence by a wall."

Su Zhi was shocked. It was bad enough that he blatantly placed people in the capital, but he actually placed them right under his nose!

"It's right next to the Marquis of Qingyang's residence, what are you worried about?"

Xiao Zong sighed and pulled her into his arms. "You're pregnant and have difficulty moving around. Even if you're just standing outside the gate, I can't rest easy."

The woman joked, "Oh dear, is this still the decisive and efficient Commander Xiao? So timid, it's not like you at all!"

The man gently rubbed her face. "You're acting all innocent after getting the benefit, aren't you? You need a good beating?"

Su Zhi muttered something, brushed his hand away, and said seriously, "Stop fooling around, I have some good news to tell you."

Xiao Zong lowered his eyes. "What happy event?"

"The doctor said I'm carrying twins!"

"Really?"

Why would I lie to you?

"no no……"

Xiao Zong was so happy he didn't know what to do. He picked the woman up in his arms and carefully placed her on the bed as if she were a fragile treasure.

His eyes welled up with tears, and after hesitating for a long time, he carefully chose a few words.

"Child, thank you!"

Su Zhi's eyes sparkled, her arms wrapped around his neck, her smile tinged with tears.

This is the best news we've had in a while.

I hope everything will go smoothly in the future.

The next morning, Su Zhi and Xiao Zong got up at the same time, which was rare. After having breakfast, the two went out together.

The man rode a horse, and the woman rode in a carriage, heading in opposite directions.

Before dawn, Su Zhi lifted the carriage curtain and occasionally saw officials' carriages passing by. Turning into a deep alley, the crowd suddenly thinned out, and the surroundings became eerily quiet.

Su Zhi urged the driver, "Uncle Qian, hurry up a bit."

Uncle Qian gripped the bamboo whip and snapped it, then instructed, "Madam, sit tight!"

The carriage was going a bit faster than before, but because the alley was narrow and had many intersections, Uncle Qian was worried about hitting people, so it wasn't as fast as on the main road.

Suddenly a whistle was heard, and several men in black jumped out from the shadows and surrounded the carriage.

"How dare you! You even dare to bring the Commander's wife's carriage... Ah..."

Before Uncle Qian could finish speaking, he was grabbed by the collar and dragged off the carriage by the man in black. Su Zhi lifted the curtain to check, and a knife was instantly swung at her. She leaned back, barely dodging the blade, clutching her stomach, her sharp eyes sweeping over the thief.

The man in black chuckled sinisterly, "Swords have no eyes; I almost injured you, madam. I hope you will forgive me."

Su Zhi's face was ashen. "You all treat my old servant this way, and you still expect my forgiveness?"

"It was all a misunderstanding, madam, please don't be angry." The leader beckoned with his finger, "Hurry up and help the old man up!"

Two masked men grabbed Qian Bo's arms and lifted him up. The leader squinted and asked, "Is Madam satisfied?"

Su Zhi reached out and pushed the leader aside, pulled Qian Bo back to sit down, and said to the others, "Get out of here immediately, or you will never leave alive!"

"I'm afraid not."

With a flick of his wrist, the blade pierced through Qian Bo's clothes and embedded itself in the wooden board with a "bang".

"My wife and I are traveling together; please give her a ride on the next leg of the journey."

Su Zhi's eyes grew increasingly intense. "You have too many people, and your clothes are too conspicuous. I can give you a ride, but not anyone else."

The leader smiled and said, "I am enough on my own."

He waved his hand, signaling the others to step back, and then leaped onto the carriage.

Unable to pull the knife out, Uncle Qian cautiously waved his whip and continued on his way.

Inside the sedan chair, the man's gaze fell on the woman's rounded belly, and he reached out his hand as if possessed. Su Zhi immediately noticed, slapped his mischievous hand away, and glared at him with an unfriendly expression.

"What do you want to do?"

"Just out of curiosity, don't overthink it."

"Curious? Or do you want to be a woman and experience the pain of ten months of pregnancy?"

"Couldn't it be that I'm unmarried and interested in women's ailments?"

Su Zhi curled her lips into a smile, "Young Master looks a lot like someone I know."

The man raised an eyebrow and changed the subject.

"I thought Lord Xiao would send a large number of troops to protect you, but it seems that he doesn't value you very much."

The woman took out a handkerchief and wiped her fingers gently, saying without looking up, "If we don't do this, how can we lure the snake out of its hole? Don't you think so, Pu Hong?"

The man's pupils dilated suddenly, but in a moment, he returned to his nonchalant demeanor. He ripped off his face mask and headscarf, revealing his true face to her.

"They say pregnant women are dumber than before, but you're as smart as ever, which makes me look at you in a new light!"

Su Zhi threw down the handkerchief, looked up at him, and said, "You call yourself a doctor, yet you believe such nonsense! Those words are nothing but stupid things that men use to make women obey them."

A foolish woman who loves a man more than herself believes this, and she becomes a "foolish woman" in the eyes of men; those who don't believe are called outcasts who disregard propriety. How ridiculous!

Pu Hong's eyes gleamed, and he said with a playful tone, "Your way of putting it is quite unusual!"