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

Jiang Xin was near the Marquis of Qingyang's residence. After much deliberation, Su Zhi decided to send Xiao Zong back to the Xiao residence to recuperate.

Upon reaching her destination, she disembarked from the carriage and told Dou Zhao and the physician to return to their residence first.

Jiang Xin was quite surprised to see her. Su Zhi didn't have much time, so she didn't exchange pleasantries and handed over the drawings directly.

Tell me, where is this?

Jiang Xin's eyes dimmed. Holding this picture meant that her sister was no longer alive.

"Southern Xinjiang, Worry-Free Valley".

Su Zhi frowned slightly. "What's here? Wait, you and Jiang Rou are from Yanzhou, how would you know about things in the Southern Frontier?"

"Their identities are fake; my sister and I are both from southern Xinjiang."

"But you don't seem like..."

"Don't seem like people from Southern Xinjiang?" Jiang Xin smiled and poured her a cup of tea. "Speaking solely of bloodline, we are indeed from Daqi, but our household registration is in Southern Xinjiang. Has Madam ever heard of Emperor Taizong's youngest daughter, who was married off to Southern Xinjiang for a political marriage?"

After all, it was a long time ago. Su Zhi thought for a moment before remembering the princess's title.

"Princess Fengyang?"

Jiang Xin nodded, "Our ancestors, as part of the dowry, followed the princess to the Southern Frontier, where they settled and multiplied. My sister's adoptive mother was the high priestess of the Southern Frontier. She foresaw the impending internal strife and therefore transferred the nation's treasures to the Valley of No Worries. Later, Prince Pu Hong..."

Su Zhi froze, "Wait a minute, the Pu Hong you're talking about is..."

"It's the Physician Pu you know."

"He's actually a prince!"

Jiang Xin glanced at her expression and continued, "Pu Hong broke into the royal court, killed the lord and the high priest, and then pinned the blame on the descendants of Princess Fengyang."

To obtain the treasure, he relentlessly pursued my sister and me until we fled to the capital, temporarily escaping his clutches. However, to our surprise, Pu Hong collaborated with Yuan Pu and even located our hiding place.

Su Zhi took a sip of tea. "Yuan Pu sent Jiang Rou to the palace because your sister looks like Consort Yin. He wanted to sell his daughter for personal gain and wealth. But this is not worthwhile for Pu Hong. If he wants to know where the treasure is, wouldn't it be much easier to interrogate her outside the palace than inside?"

Jiang Xin's eyes flashed. "Although my sister is a woman, her spirit and courage are unmatched by others. No matter how much Pu Hong tortures her, she will not yield. I think Pu Hong probably had no other choice but to keep my sister in the palace to wear down her fighting spirit until she reveals her secret."

"is it?"

Su Zhi raised her voice, her clear almond-shaped eyes staring intently at the other person, causing all pretense to crumble and collapse.

"Yes."

Jiang Xin looked away and said guiltily.

Su Zhi curled her lips and said a lot, even using Pu Hong to divert her attention, just to blur out someone else!

She poured tea onto the drawing and watched the ink spread little by little until the outlines were no longer visible.

"Pu Hong murdered his father and rebelled, seizing the throne but not ascending to the throne. Instead, he chased us all the way here for some treasure. Tsk tsk, I feel sorry for him!"

Jiang Xin forced a smile. "The wealth of the entire nation would tempt anyone!"

"Then let me ask you, where are the descendants of Princess Fengyang now?"

"he……"

Su Zhi put down her teacup, her tone cold, "One last reminder: Pu Hong has already seen this picture."

Jiang Xin's hand trembled, and the teacup suddenly fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

She grabbed Su Zhi's hand and pleaded, "Please, Madam, send someone to rescue Prince Qu Jian!"

"I can't help you unless you explain clearly."

"I said it, I said it all!"

Jiang Xin said anxiously, "Not only are there treasures from the Southern Frontier in Wuyou Valley, but Prince Qujian is also there! Although Pu Hong has obtained the throne, Prince Qujian is nowhere to be found, so the charge cannot stand. My sister is Prince Qujian's fiancée and also the adopted daughter of the High Priest. Pu Hong is certain that she knows where Prince Qujian is, which is why he is so fixated on her!"

Su Zhi was shocked. "So that's how it is."

She stood up and instructed, "Xin'er, if His Majesty wants to send troops to welcome back Prince Qujian, he will need you as a witness. Stay here and don't go anywhere during this time, understand?"

Jiang Xin nodded, "Okay!"

With a heavy heart, Su Zhi left the courtyard and strolled back to the Xiao residence.

Through the window, I could hear Madam Qin grumbling, "It's almost dark, and she's still not back. Does she think my son is hopeless? Do you think she can remarry?"

"She's a jinx! If it weren't for her, would my two sons be like this today? Husband, you must protect our sons and keep them safe, or I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

Dou Zhao stood awkwardly to the side and whispered, "Madam, the antidote has been administered, and the imperial physician said she should wake up in an hour or so. If it weren't for the young mistress's request for His Majesty to bestow the medicine, the antidote wouldn't have been prepared so quickly. I'm going out now because I have important business to attend to, nothing else."

Qin Zhen turned her head with a fierce look in her eyes. "So you mean I wronged her? I asked three times where she went, and you remained silent. Now you're standing up for her? Could it be that you're the lover she found?"

Dou Zhao's eyelids twitched wildly, and he knelt down with a thud, raising three fingers to swear a solemn oath.

"Heaven above, if Dou Zhao has such intentions, let me die young, my bones exposed in the wilderness, to be gnawed on by vultures..."

He was speaking enthusiastically when the door suddenly slammed open, and Su Zhi stepped over the threshold and walked over step by step.

"Dou Zhao, get up!"

The man glanced at Madam Qin and chose to obey his young mistress's orders.

Qin's lips moved, but she refused to lower her head.

"Looking around the capital, every wife who has a husband seriously ill in bed is busy preparing medicine, bringing water, and taking care of him personally. And you? You're just leaving this mess unattended and going out to enjoy yourself. Even if this goes all the way to the Marquis of Changping's residence, my Xiao family will still be in the right!"

With a mountain of things weighing on her mind, Su Zhi was exhausted and had no time to argue with her.

She waved her hand, "Dou Zhao, please ask the madam to leave!"

Dou Zhao was in a difficult position. If he didn't stop them, he was afraid the two would start arguing and disturb his master's rest. So, he steeled himself, took Qin's arm, and walked out.

"Madam, you've been watching over our master all day; you should rest. Leave things here to the young mistress!"

Qin shouted, "Let me go! You've gone too far! Don't forget who adopted you! Now you dare to betray your master for an outsider!"

While apologizing, Dou Zhao dragged the man out, praying in his heart that his master would wake up quickly and save his life!

Su Zhi told the two maids to go and rest as well, wrung out the towels in the basin, and helped Xiao Zong wipe his sweat.

As the moon disappeared behind the stars, Xiao Zong finally awoke. Having not returned to the Xiao residence for a long time, he looked at the unfamiliar furnishings and almost thought he had entered the underworld.

His arm felt slightly heavy, as if something was pressing down on it. He turned his head and saw a fluffy little head.

Familiar breathing, familiar incense, familiar people.

He stroked her long hair and said softly, "You've worked hard."

Su Zhi was a light sleeper. Hearing the noise, she jumped up and exclaimed in surprise, "You're awake!"

"Ah."

"Are you hungry? I'll have them get you something to eat."

"I'm not hungry, have you eaten?"

"Ate."

Xiao Zong nodded, his gaze falling on her swollen belly. She and the baby must have been uncomfortable in that position, which was why they hadn't fallen into a deep sleep.

He patted the bed and said, "Come up and sleep. It's late."