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

After the initial shock, the man in black immediately confessed, admitting that he was sent by the Ninth Prince to rescue the prisoners from the Leopard Guard.

Xiao Zong asked, "Was Consort Liang an accomplice?"

The men in black all shook their heads, saying they didn't know.

Further questioning yielded no results, so Xiao Zong ordered his men to extinguish the fire and, once the smoke had cleared, imprisoned the criminal.

The two leaders had inhaled too much smoke and were already unconscious. Dou Zhao called a doctor to come and treat them.

Su Zhi clutched the smoky hem of her clothes and curled her lips in disgust.

Xiao Zong put his arm around her waist. "It's getting late. I'll have someone take you home. Take a hot bath and get some sleep."

"Alright, but before that, I need to see Pu Hong first."

"With such a big commotion, he must have heard it all. Why bother making the extra trip?"

Su Zhi looked up at him and said, "Why do I feel like... you really don't like me meeting him?"

His hand around her waist paused, his handsome face grew larger, and his voice carried a hint of allure.

"Because he has improper thoughts about you."

Even though that person was plain-looking, and even though Su Zhi had no interest in him, he was still jealous.

There's no way around it; it's just a man's nature.

"What a strange jealousy! Lord Xiao is even more prone to overthinking than I am. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were the one who's pregnant!"

Upon hearing this, the Leopard Guards burst into laughter, nearly collapsing from their knees.

Xiao Zong's cheeks flushed. He glanced around and shouted, "Go away, go away! Everyone go do what you're supposed to do. Don't crowd around here trying to find some peace and quiet!"

The crowd dispersed, and seeing his reluctant expression, Su Zhi simply dragged him to see Pu Hong.

Inside the small prison, the Leopard Guards escorted prisoners to a new location, making the narrow passageway extremely crowded.

Xiao Zong protected Su Zhi as they walked through the crowd, and after a while, they stopped in front of an ordinary prison cell.

"arrive."

Su Zhi nodded, looking through the railing at Pu Hong, who was wearing shackles and resting with his eyes closed.

Hearing the sound, the person inside slowly opened their eyes, grinned, and revealed a row of gleaming white teeth.

"Lord Xiao, Madam Xiao, it's been a long time."

"It hasn't been long, has it? Didn't we just see each other the day before yesterday?"

These past few days have been filled with anxiety, leaving Su Zhi physically and mentally exhausted. At this moment, she leans against Xiao Zong's chest for support, forcing herself to speak with Pu Hong.

"You two have quite the sense of humor. Even in a smoky, polluted prison cell, you can make it feel just like being in the main room. I'm truly impressed!"

Xiao Zong held Su Zhi tightly, looking at the man in the cell with a defiant expression. "Zhi'er and I have bowed to heaven and earth and offered sacrifices to our ancestors. Our love is open and aboveboard. I just want to show those petty people who covet my wife that, regardless of their status or position, they have no chance."

Pu Hong's lips twitched, regretting that he hadn't used more poison to send him to meet the King of Hell.

Su Zhi was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear. She turned around and patted Xiao Zong on the chest, saying, "Don't talk nonsense."

"Am I wrong?"

Xiao Zong lowered his head, staring at her luscious, full cherry lips, getting closer and closer.

Su Zhi's breath hitched. He wouldn't want to kiss her, would he?

But... there were outsiders present.

Moreover, this is a prison!

She regained her composure, reached out and turned Xiao Zong's face to face, ready to get down to business.

"You can't go back to southern Xinjiang."

Pu Hong's eyes darkened. "In the end, you still won't let me live."

"Releasing a tiger back into the mountains will bring endless trouble; I cannot betray Daqi."

So you chose to break your promise and get rich!

"I never promised to let you leave," Su Zhi said slowly. "I gave you the chance to break the prisoner, but the person behind you made a mistake. How can you blame me?"

Pu Hong sneered: "You've always been eloquent, so I won't argue with you. But I have a word of advice for you."

"What?"

"Fish eyes are not pearls, and weeds are not cypress trees; do not be deceived by appearances."

Su Zhi was at a loss for a moment, so she followed Xiao Zong out and lowered her head as if deep in thought.

"This person's words are three parts truth and seven parts falsehood. Perhaps they are just trying to confuse you. If you can't understand it, just let it go," Xiao Zong comforted him.

The woman shook her head slightly, her tone somewhat anxious.

"Although he is cynical, this may be the last time we meet, so he shouldn't be lying to me. Besides, I also have a vague unease in my heart, as if I have overlooked some important clues."

“I have already sent someone to fetch the Ninth Prince. With witnesses and evidence, he will surely speak up.” Xiao Zong put his arm around her shoulder and said affectionately, “It’s almost midnight. You and the child should rest. We can deal with anything after you wake up.”

"Ok."

Su Zhigang had just fallen asleep in the back hall when Dou Zhao escorted the Ninth Prince back to the Leopard Guard.

Everyone's eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, but no one dared to slack off. They splashed cold water on their faces and began the interrogation.

The red flames leaped and struck that weathered face, its wrinkles like mountain ravines, desolate, gloomy, and terrifying.

Because she had been pulled off the bed, her gray hair looked like a bird's nest, and she was only wearing underwear with the neckline wide open, revealing loose and spotted skin underneath.

The old man glanced at Xiao Zong, his shrill voice particularly abrupt.

"Why did Commander Xiao invite us over so late at night?"

Xiao Zong crossed his arms and leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Why pretend to be stupid, Your Highness? Your men broke into the Leopard Guard at night and I have already detained them. What, do you want me to bring them out?"

“Now that the conclusion has been reached,” Ma Shuo said, extending his two fists, “we are willing to surrender.”

Xiao Zong frowned. "Don't you have anything to say? For example, who's behind it all?"

"Torture and forced confessions are the forte of the Leopard Guard. Commander Xiao must have already found out."

"indeed."

"Then there's nothing more to say, our family's testimony is consistent with theirs."

Ma Shuo appeared calm, but Xiao Zong became suspicious at that moment.

Pu Hong's words, the surprisingly consistent testimony, and the overly obvious direction gave him a premonition of an impending storm.

"Take the man away and keep a close watch on him."

Having lived to this age, Ma Shuo had long since become indifferent to worldly affairs. For him, torture was merely a matter of whether he died a painful death or a comfortable one.

Since I can't get an answer from him, I might as well leave him hanging.

Back in the inner hall, Xiao Zong lay down beside Su Zhi and slept until dawn.

The two were having breakfast when Dou Zhao rushed in from outside, his forehead covered in sweat despite the cold weather.

"Master, Madam, something has happened!"

Su Zhi put down her spoon, looked up in surprise, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"The Prince of Jin has been placed under house arrest by His Majesty and has no hope of vying for the throne."

Xiao Zong paused, "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday evening."

Xiao Zong and Su Zhi exchanged a glance. It was true that they had helped Prince Jin fall from his horse, but something seemed off about it.

Yesterday, the entire Leopard Guard was busy catching the thief. However, this matter is of great importance, and it's impossible that not a single word has leaked out. Either there's a traitor among those sent to keep watch, or someone deliberately blocked the news from them.

As an accomplice of Consort Liang, the Ninth Prince must have received the news long ago, but instead of trying to remedy the situation, he was fast asleep in bed. This shows that he was not truly loyal to her.

Xiao Zong exclaimed: We've fallen for their trap!

Who could command the Nine Thousand Years Old and the Eastern Depot to obey orders, even risking execution to protect them when their crimes are exposed?

Queen?

The mother of Prince Yong?

Or is it a prince?