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

Xiao Zong stood with his hands behind his back on the city wall, his amber pupils flashing with a fierce light, like a lone wolf on the northern grasslands, sinister and indifferent.

The beauty of a gentleman will be cut down in five lifetimes.

It's understandable that Zhao You wanted to save the Zhao family, but he shouldn't have dragged millions of people into the war.

"General Zhao, leaving your post without imperial order is tantamount to treason. I hereby order you to immediately remove your armor and surrender!"

Zhao You waved his hand, and his men immediately handed him a torch. By the light of the torch, he could see the face above him.

"Oh, Xiao Congyun, what a rare guest!"

He pretended to be stupid, "Isn't the capital city good enough? Why come to this poor, remote place to suffer? Xuan Guang has been talking about you. When old friends meet, the little girl must have stolen my wine to treat you!"

“Uncle, let’s not reminisce now.” Xiao Zong raised his voice: “Think about what I just said. It’s only for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you miss it, you won’t be able to wait.”

He told the soldiers to keep track of the time, then sat down in a chair and closed his eyes to rest.

Zhao You gripped the torch tightly, his lips pressed into a straight line.

How dare they put on airs with him? They're asking for trouble!

He spat and shouted at the soldiers, "Don't you recognize your master? Open the city gates and let me in!"

The soldiers looked at him, then at Xiao Zong, and hesitated for a moment.

Xiao Zong didn't open his eyes, and warned again, "I've said it before, anyone who disobeys will be executed immediately!"

The soldiers were too frightened to move.

The incense was almost burned out when the lieutenant rode back, looking flustered, and said, "General, the guards of the east city have also been replaced."

Zhao You roared in fury, "Where is Xuan Guang? We left her to guard Xunyong Pass, how could Xiao Zong have slipped through our defenses!"

Deputy General: "Given the current situation, the young general's condition is probably worse than ours."

Zhao You was extremely agitated. He scratched his almost completely white hair and cursed.

The Regent of Southern Xinjiang is a coward who only talks about ambitions but never dares to send troops to Daqi. After all these days of negotiations, the other side still doesn't dare to send troops to Daqi.

Finally, he had no choice but to back down, saying he was willing to feign defeat and give away two cities in the southern border. Only then was the regent moved and welcomed back Prince Qujian, forming an alliance with him.

To his surprise, he rushed back overnight, only to be stopped at his own door. He had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead!

Zhao You's face twisted in a grimace, "Retreat first!"

"Yes!"

The group turned their horses around and headed back the way they had come.

The lieutenant said, "General, Xiao Zong has just incorporated the Zhao family army, and their morale is low. This is the perfect time to attack the city!"

Zhao You pondered, "Xuan Guang is still in his hands, and attacking the city now would only confirm our identity as rebels. Send a message to the Southern Frontier, saying that everything is ready and we can send troops."

If the Southern Frontier gains the upper hand in the battle, he will join forces with them to attack the city and silence Xiao Zong and his ilk; if Xiao Zong gains the upper hand, he will launch a pincer attack on the Southern Frontier. With so many witnesses, the Zhao family's accusation of treason and collusion with the enemy can be cleared.

Having served under him for many years, the lieutenant immediately grasped the profound meaning and praised with a smile, "General, your wisdom and foresight are truly admirable!"

*

As the carriage passed through the city gate, a sudden burst of prosperity appeared.

Zhao Xuanguang lifted the curtain, glancing over the shops and figures in the snow, his gaze gradually softening.

Long time no see, Shengjing.

Dou Zhao had been on edge the whole way, and finally he could catch his breath. The lively shouts from both sides sounded especially pleasant to him.

Yan Qiao had something to do, so he said goodbye and the carriage headed to another street.

Dou Zhao stroked his beloved horse's mane and instructed his men to report their return to the capital to the young mistress.

The tire tracks led north, and a blue handkerchief fell onto the snow. The person who had been waiting bent down to pick it up and then left as if nothing had happened.

After hearing the report, Su Zhi asked his maid to bring him a bowl of ginger soup to warm him up.

For some reason, even though Mingming had returned, she felt uneasy and restless.

Sure enough, something bad happened by evening.

Grand Tutor Mu is dead!

He didn't die of illness, nor was he poisoned; he was killed by a single sword to the throat.

At that time, the Mu family's daughter-in-law directed a servant to the study to call her father-in-law for dinner. Upon opening the door, she caught the murderer committing the crime. She screamed for help, and her family members rushed to her aid, but he too was silenced.

Su Zhi sent men to protect Grand Tutor Mu to capture the murderer and hand him over to the yamen for trial. He quickly confessed to the involvement of Consort Liang and Prince Jin and his mother.

Now, Grand Tutor Mu's disciples, friends, and students from the Imperial Academy have all gathered outside the palace, demanding that His Majesty severely punish Consort Liang.

His Majesty's illness had just improved slightly when this blow struck, causing him to faint due to a sudden rush of blood and qi to his heart.

The Empress Dowager had no evidence to punish the Empress, but then Consort Liang arrived. After discussing with the Cabinet, she first confined Consort Liang to her palace, and then handed Prince Jin over to the Imperial Clan Court for custody. She also ordered the Three Departments to handle the case.

Just as one crisis subsided, another arose. A concubine in the Cold Palace discovered a male corpse in an abandoned well, with a gold hairpin worn by Consort Zheng during her lifetime still on his body.

When the Empress Dowager heard the news, she also fell ill. Despite her strict order to keep the news under wraps, the rumor that Crown Prince Li Ji was not of royal blood spread like wildfire and became uncontrollable.

Dou Zhao analyzed, "Was it done by the Empress or Zhao Xuanguang?"

Su Zhi shook her head.

The aunt and niece wished they could throw mud at the Xiao family and implicate the Marquis of Changping's mansion, so as to remove the stumbling block to the emperor's grandson's ascension to the throne. How could they let people see the adulterer's corpse and clear Xiao Zong's name?

The only murderer who was both an enemy of the Empress and a protector of the Xiao family could be that person.

She sighed: "Get the carriage ready and come with me to the Prince Kang's residence."

Dou Zhao hurriedly said, "You're in poor health. If you have anything to say, just tell me, and I'll go tell them."

"I have to go."

Su Zhi looked up and gazed at him solemnly.

She had to make this trip for Xiao Zong's sake.

Dou Zhao acted as the coachman, slowly making his way to the gate of the mansion. He wiped his sweat and helped the young mistress out of the carriage.

The gatekeeper's boy had a good memory and recognized the people coming out, so he diligently led the way.

In the courtyard, a man and a woman stood in front of two snowmen. The boy mocked the woman for her snowman being ugly, and the woman punched the other snowman in the face, pulling his ear and asking:

"Whose is uglier?"

"Ouch, ouch, ouch—my ugliness, my ugliness, okay?!"

The woman released her grip. "That's more like it!"

As she turned around, she came face to face with Su Zhi and the other person, and she smiled and said, "Commander Dou, what a coincidence!"

Pointing at Su Zhi, he said, "Your wife? She's so beautiful, it's a shame she's not good enough for you!"

Dou Zhao hurriedly denied it, "Don't talk nonsense, this is my young mistress!"

"Xiao Congyun is so lucky!"

After listening to a few words, Su Zhi guessed her identity and performed a woman's curtsy.

"General Fei Yuan, I have long admired your name."

Zhao Xuanguang smiled deeply, "A kite with broken wings, a hunting dog on a leash, a fighting rooster confined to a pen—how can they be worthy of the title 'General'? Call me Xuanguang."

She paused, then said, "You don't look much older than Huai'er, so why don't you call me Sister Zhao, just like him?"

The boy slapped the snowman on the head. "I didn't call her Sister Zhao."

Su Zhi raised an eyebrow, sensing a different meaning in their conversation.

"Sister Zhao."

His gaze briefly shifted, landing on a handsome yet menacing face.

Zhao Xuanguang concealed her unease, reached out and pulled the boy over to introduce him to her.

“Li Huai, son of King Kang, is my apprentice.”

Su Zhi greeted him, "Your Highness."

Li Huai slapped Zhao Xuanguang's hand away and muttered, "You only taught me a couple of moves when I was a kid, and now you expect people to call you master? Humph, I'm not going to be your disciple!"

Zhao Xuanguang extended his claws at the opportune moment, his eyes like knives. Su Zhi immediately cowered, straightened his clothes, and obediently clasped his hands in a fist salute to Su Zhi.

"Mrs. Xiao."