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

In the evening, the lights shone brightly under the crescent moon.

Unlike the capital, meals at the border are not so refined and beautiful. Whole roasted lamb and roasted suckling pig are served whole, paired with strong liquor brewed by the locals, making for a feast.

Zhao Xuanguang raised his cup, "This first cup is to Commander Xiao and Physician Pu. Thank you both for saving my father's life."

Xiao Zong raised his lips, "General Zhao, offering a cup of wine to two people isn't very sincere!"

The woman laughed heartily, "Alright, I'll toast you first, and then I'll raise another glass to the doctor!"

Xiao Zong drank the wine, and a servant refilled his cup. Zhao Xuanguang, carrying her wine cup, went to the last seat to toast Pu Hong. A servant followed behind her, standing to the side, completely blocking her view.

Zhao Xuanguang said, "Thank you, Doctor Pu."

The other person stood up and said, "General, there's no need for you to be so polite."

The two drank it all in one gulp, and in such a short time that no one else present noticed anything amiss.

Zhao Xuanguang toasted the officials of the Court of State Ceremonial in turn according to their official ranks, and his face did not turn red after going around the circle.

She gave her subordinates a wink, and the soldiers rose from their seats to toast the officials. Xiao Zong drank the most.

As the wine flowed freely and people became more animated, bonfires were lit in the city, and the border people sang and danced around them.

The civil officials were led by soldiers to experience the local customs and culture. Xiao Zong was a little drunk, so Zhao Xuanguang had his attendants help him to his guest room to rest.

As soon as the door closed, the haze in the man's eyes disappeared, replaced by clarity.

He knew Zhao Xuanguang wanted to get him drunk, so he took an antidote beforehand and pretended to be extremely drunk to lower her guard.

Now, let's see what she's going to do.

He heard a rustling sound coming from the bed behind him. His pupils contracted, and he quickly turned around, pressing the person who had sprung up back down with a palm strike.

"Well."

The woman cried out in pain, then cleared her throat and called out, "Lord Xiao."

The voice was exactly the same as Zhao Xuanguang's.

Xiao Zong frowned, lifted a corner of the blanket, and saw an unfamiliar face. He instantly understood.

He tore off the ribbon binding the curtain and tied the person and the quilt together tightly.

The woman's eyes widened. What kind of game is this?

"grown ups?"

"Have you ever experienced human affairs?"

The woman nodded blankly.

Xiao Zong nodded and casually asked, "How old are you?"

"Twenty...cough cough cough...uh..."

Before she could finish speaking, a pill slipped into her mouth. The woman felt like vomiting but couldn't turn over, so she swallowed it with a gulp.

The woman exclaimed in horror, "What is this?"

"If the antidote for the Hundred Poisons Pill is not taken within two hours, the patient will die from intestinal perforation and abdominal rot."

The woman gasped, about to scream, when a short knife was pressed against her neck.

Xiao Zong's eyes were as cold as frost. "Only the Leopard Guard can cure this poison. Your master can't save you. Do as I say, and I will give you the antidote."

The woman, her eyes brimming with tears, asked, "What does the master want me to do?"

Xiao Zong sheathed his sword, stood up, and said, "You're experienced in worldly affairs, I don't need to teach you. Make a commotion, and don't stop until I get back!"

After saying that, he quickly walked to the window and jumped out to leave.

Under the moonlight, the plants and trees in the garden were shrouded in a layer of clear light, white and bright, as if coated with frost, and the air was chilling.

Zhao Xuanguang propped one leg up on the trunk of the osmanthus tree, while the other leg dangled casually, swaying gently with the butterfly knife that danced between her fingertips.

Pu Hong circled around under the tree, but finding no one, he started to walk away.

The butterfly knife grazed the toe of his shoe, then with a whoosh, it embedded itself in the ground, blocking his path.

The woman jumped down from the tree with light steps and bent down to pick up the knife.

"You're late."

"It took some effort to deal with your uncompromising henchmen."

After toasting, Zhao Xuanguang lightly touched the rim of his cup and deliberately revealed the osmanthus embroidery pattern on his robe, indicating that he would meet him under the osmanthus tree in the garden after the banquet.

He thought Zhao Xuanguang had already informed his men, but to his surprise, he was stopped by the guards as soon as he stepped out. Left with no other option, he had to carry the bag of sleeping pills and scatter them along the way, enduring countless hardships to finally reach this place.

Zhao Xuanguang offered a half-hearted apology, "It's my fault. I'll definitely let you know in advance next time."

"And next time?"

Pu Hong scoffed, looked around, found a tortoise-shell patterned stone, swept it with his sleeve, and sat down.

"Tell me, what do you want from me?"

Zhao Xuanguang said solemnly, "Father has found Prince Qujian and led his men to impersonate his confidants. They have captured several cities in the southern border region and will soon reach the capital. I know your identity and that the Regent is your uncle. As long as you agree to cooperate, your agreement with your aunt will still stand."

Pu Hong raised his eyes. "You mean, you can kill Qu Jian and make me king?"

"Yes, but there are conditions. After you become king, you must pretend to send troops to Daqi, force His Majesty to make good use of the Zhao family army, and ensure that the eldest grandson of the emperor can smoothly ascend the throne."

"That sounds nice, but all you're really worried about is that the eldest grandson of the emperor relying on the power of an enemy state to become emperor, which would draw criticism and prevent you from launching a large-scale military campaign. Otherwise, how could the small Southern Border Kingdom have been unable to be conquered for so long?"

Pu Hong stretched his neck and continued, "If Xiao Zong and I join forces, we can also persuade my uncle to open the city gates and return to the throne of Southern Xinjiang. Why should we cooperate with someone who went back on his word and betrayed me again?"

While he was imprisoned in the capital, the Empress ignored his plight and instead formed a partnership with Jiang Xin. Now that they couldn't conquer the Southern Border Kingdom, if they wanted to make peace with him again, they'd better change their bargaining chips!

Zhao Xuanguang gritted his teeth, "Just tell me what you want!"

Pu Hong made an outrageous demand: "Five cities of Fuzhou."

"impossible!"

If she agrees, she will truly become a traitor. Other countries, seeing that Daqi has been defeated by Nanjiang, will pounce on her like tigers, all wanting a share of the spoils.

By then, the territory of Daqi will have been almost completely divided up. How could Xin'er, a mere child, possibly reclaim the lost land?

"Then there's nothing to talk about."

Pu Hong got up to leave, but Zhao Xuanguang's mind raced. "Wait!"

"Is there anything else, young general?"

"Thank you, Your Highness. I now understand why Your Highness is demanding the five cities."

"What do you mean?"

"At that time, the prince had already stormed the royal court. Why didn't he directly inherit the throne? Instead, he traveled thousands of miles to Daqi under the pretext of searching for the prince. I guess it was because your uncle wanted to seize power, and you were unwilling to be a puppet, so you went to Daqi to make new plans."

Now, demanding five cities is an attempt to prove to your uncle that you have the support of the royal family and the Zhao family army. The Regent, fearing the Great Qi, has no choice but to submit and welcome you back. Am I correct?"

Pu Hong's gaze turned sinister. "What you said is absolutely right. I can relax the conditions, but I wonder if the young general is willing to give me another chance?"

"I'm afraid not."

Qu Jian is in their hands. Doesn't the Regent want a puppet? Then they'll offer it up without hesitation.

Zhao Xuanguang flipped the blade, "Because I already have a better candidate."

The back of the blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight, like a slingshot of ice flowers, and hurtled straight toward Pu Hong's face.

The other party took a step back, raised his hand and flicked it, the remaining sleeping potion turned into dust and rushed towards Zhao Xuanguang. The woman's body suddenly went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

Pu Hong's violent temper surged, and he took out poison, about to force it down her throat, when suddenly a firework exploded in the sky, and the sounds of commotion grew closer and closer...