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

"Among the court officials, there were quite a few whose ancestral homes were in the south. News was kept in family letters and spread faster than imperial edicts. Before long, a large-scale rebellion broke out in the south. The local officials did not stop it and even conspired with it."

Su Zhi lowered her eyes in deep thought. With frequent disasters and people suffering, who would be willing to become a sacrifice for the regime?

"You can't blame them for that."

“Yes!” Xu Dahai sighed. “That rebellion swept through several prefectures in the south and was about to attack Xuzhou. The former crown prince and the Directorate of Astronomy came up with a plan—His Majesty abdicated, but still actually controlled the affairs of the state. He issued an edict of self-reproach in the name of the new emperor.”

In this way, His Majesty's face is preserved, and a general amnesty can be granted on the occasion of his ascension to the throne. All prisoners in the jail, except those sentenced to death, can be redeemed with money. The silver saved from the palace, plus the congratulatory gifts from various small countries, will be sufficient to cover the costs of the southern floods.

Su Zhi thought this method was good, but subsequent developments clearly went against it.

"His Majesty disagrees?"

Although it was a question, it was in an affirmative tone.

"His Majesty believed that the Crown Prince wanted to usurp the throne, so he summoned him to the palace and reprimanded him for being too superstitious and fearing that he might be involved in witchcraft. Perhaps the Crown Prince was inspired by this, or perhaps he wanted to prove his innocence. I don't know the specific reason. Anyway, when I saw him again, he was already a corpse."

Su Zhi and Xu Dahai exchanged a glance, but neither of them made anything clear.

It is obvious that His Majesty wants the Crown Prince to die.

The nobles of the imperial family sacrificed their blood to the heavens, thus appeasing the people's grievances and earning themselves a reputation for virtue.

The late Crown Prince's funeral was extremely simple. His Majesty claimed that the national treasury was empty, but there was undoubtedly some resentment behind it.

Instead of adopting the late Crown Prince's method, he acted on a secret report from the Leopard Guard, beheading dozens of corrupt officials and wealthy but uncharitable gentry. All the money obtained was turned over to the national treasury, and there was still more than enough left after deducting the funds for disaster relief.

The execution of dozens of corrupt officials was truly gratifying. Although the people dared not celebrate due to the funeral arrangements, they still wished His Majesty a long and prosperous reign.

The imperial edict to maintain peace in the north was quickly forgotten, and the rebellion in the south was quelled after relief funds were distributed. Later, General Baili captured Su Tuo's general Moshuo, and the two sides made peace, ending the war.

Later, apart from the Empress and Grand Tutor Mu, few people mentioned the former Crown Prince.

Even when I think about it, I only praise him for his courage in sacrificing himself, rather than for the lasting legacy of his father's civil and military achievements.

Su Zhi sighed inwardly: If the former Crown Prince could live again, she wondered if he would make the same choice as he did back then.

Heavy work.

Two words instantly struck a chord with her. If she and Xiao Zong could be reborn, why couldn't the Empress?

The thought exploded like a thunderclap in a clear sky, sending cold sweat down her back. The heat from the charcoal fire caused another layer of cold to rise. She was tormented by alternating sensations of cold and heat, almost to the point of collapse.

No wonder His Majesty ordered the newlywed Xiao Zong to investigate the royal uncle. The Empress must have been involved, because she had personally witnessed how His Majesty's momentary mercy in his previous life had brought such a great disaster to Daqi.

The Empress used Xiao Zong to get rid of the Prince's uncle, with the aim of giving her beloved grandson a peaceful world!

Su Zhi sneered: What a clever tactic!

Seeing that her face was growing paler, Xu Dahai casually asked with concern, "Is Madam Xiao feeling unwell?"

Su Zhi gripped the armrest of the seat and forced a smile. "It's alright."

Xu Dahai glanced at her stomach and said in a deep voice, "It's getting late, we should go home."

Su Zhi stood up and bowed, "Take care, Father-in-law."

The candles hung long tears, seeing off one watch after another.

Su Zhi sat in the narrow armchair, not closing her eyes all night.

She finally understood why, despite Consort An's illustrious family background, His Majesty had been slow to promote her rank.

The plan to maintain stability in the north was proposed by Consort An's younger brother, and this plan indirectly led to the death of the Crown Prince. If Consort An were made a concubine, the Emperor would likely be unable to bear seeing her every day and thinking of her. Therefore, he promoted Consort An's younger brother to the position of Prime Minister, thus bringing honor to her family and also fulfilling his own wishes.

The An family indirectly caused the death of the late Crown Prince, while the Leopard Guard erased the late Crown Prince's achievements, making his death a joke.

How could the Empress easily let go of a blood feud between her own family and her loved ones?

Like a hidden thread in the grass, its influence extends for miles.

She quietly eliminated the former commander of the Leopard Guard, and then used the couple to get rid of several princes who were blocking her way. Now, her only opponent should be the An family!

*

Su Zhi had just finished visiting the Left Prime Minister when she received a message from Xu Muxin saying that Xing'er had attempted to assassinate Prince Yong and had been ordered to be strangled by His Majesty.

The messenger repeatedly shook his head, saying he didn't know the extent of Prince Yong's injuries, how the Empress had treated him, or His Majesty's attitude. Su Zhi sighed wearily, preparing to personally seek out Xu Muxin to find out the truth.

Just as they boarded the carriage, the servant who delivered the letter stammered, "Miss is at the Feng residence."

Su Zhi blinked slowly, told the driver the destination, and arrived by carriage.

Xu Muxin was angry because Feng Quan wouldn't let her go out. She was holding a cheap porcelain bottle, unsure whether to smash it or not.

If she smashed it, Feng Quan would have to pay to buy it again. He was an incorruptible official, barely making ends meet, and she really didn't want to cause him any trouble. If she didn't smash it, this man was really infuriating; what was he doing, holding her captive and not letting her leave?

"In the end what you want?"

"The struggle for the succession is fraught with unseen bloodshed. Why should you, the daughter of a princess, get involved? Don't you understand the importance of minding your own business?"

Feng Quan refused to budge an inch, his fair face turning bright red with anger at the woman before him.

Xu Muxin sneered, "Oh, Lord Feng is as hard as iron and as cold as ice when he speaks frankly, but I didn't know you knew how to know when to stop and be tactful!"

The man said dejectedly, "How can these two be compared? This concerns the Emperor and Empress, and also involves Crown Prince Li Heng, you..."

"My lord, you might as well speak louder, so that the beauty bestowed by His Majesty can hear you too. Then she can go to the palace and say a few good words for you, and your promotion will be just around the corner."

The woman, not to be outdone, interrupted him and retorted.

"Why do you have to..."

Feng Quan had no choice but to shut up, unable to express his grievances.

Su Zhi stepped over the threshold and saw the two people sitting with their backs to each other. She smiled and said, "Even in this cold weather, you two can't extinguish your tempers?"

She beckoned to the servants and spoke like a mistress: "Bring two cups of iced tea."

Hearing her voice, Xu Muxin got up early and came over. Upon hearing this, she stopped her and said, "Don't listen to her. Make three cups of hot tea."

Feng Quan nodded to Su Zhi from a distance behind her, "Madam Xiao, please come in and sit down."

Xu Muxin didn't want to talk to him and turned to leave, but Su Zhi grabbed her back.

"I have something to ask you, but you've left. Where am I supposed to find you now?"

"You can come with me."

Su Zhi objected, "It would be improper for me to leave without even having tea on my first visit to the Feng residence. Lord Feng understands the ways of officialdom. If he asks you in front of him what to do next, we'll have someone to discuss it with."

"Him? He won't help us!"

Xu Muxin crossed her arms and said some sullen words, but still sat back down with Su Zhi.

Feng Quan pursed his lips uncomfortably. "Brother Xiao is not in the capital. If Madam needs my help, I will do my best."