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

On the evening of the first day of the lunar new year, Su Zhi went to the Xiao residence for dinner, following proper etiquette.

Xiao Shen's long absence from home had honed his good temper, and when they met, he would address her as "Sister-in-law".

Qin grabbed her hand and stuffed red envelopes into her and the child's hands. Although the atmosphere of the meal was strange, it was still relatively harmonious.

Before leaving, Qin called her back and said that Xiao Rong and Baili Yi would be coming over tomorrow, and if she was feeling well, the whole family could have a good time together.

The next day, she strolled around Wei Yan Lou. Luo Mei was checking the banquet menus ordered by various families. When she saw her, she dropped everything and came over to help her.

Su Zhi waved her hand, "You go about your business, don't worry about me."

After being urged twice, Luo Mei finally left, turning back every few steps. As she passed the back hall, she didn't forget to call Jiang Bai over to serve her.

Su Zhi smiled, watching the tall, thin man bustling around, and couldn't help but ask, "When are you and Sister Luo Mei getting married?"

Jiang Bai was taken aback, a hint of shyness mixed with surprise. "Master, how did you figure that out?"

Su Zhi pointed to her eyes, "Nothing can escape my discerning eyes!"

Jiang Bai chuckled, gazing affectionately at the slender woman by the window, and whispered, "I'm busy these days. I'll ask her when spring comes."

Su Zhi nodded, "Then I'll be waiting to drink your wedding wine!"

After sitting for a while, she was helped into the carriage by her maid and headed towards the Xiao residence.

After living on the border for several months, Xiao Rong had gotten quite tanned, but he looked stronger and more cheerful than before.

She and her husband had been waiting at the gate of the mansion for a long time. After the carriage came to a stop, the first person ran up and held Su Zhi's wrist, walking very carefully.

Su Zhi chuckled: "I'm not made of glass, I can't be broken."

Xiao Rong disagreed, saying, "I once met a woman at the border who was usually very capable. After she became pregnant, she carried water and cooked every day, just like before. But then she slipped and fell in the rain and lost her baby. So, one shouldn't be too reckless."

Su Zhi was both amused and exasperated; it was a beautiful sunny day.

Baili Yi explained, "When that woman fell, Rong'er was right there. She was probably frightened by the blood, and afterwards she would help any pregnant woman she saw. Sister-in-law, just let her be!"

"I see." Su Zhi smiled and patted Xiao Rong's hand. "Then I'll rely on you today."

The three entered the courtyard and sat down to chat for an hour. Then, a messenger from the Marquis of Qingyang's residence came to tell them that they should all eat there today.

The group set off and found that the third branch of the family was also there. A group of people crowded together in the hall, and the eldest son, Xiao Chi, sighed, "With children and grandchildren around, how happy we are! This is what a family should be like!"

"It's a pity Jianye and Congyun aren't here," Xiao Yu mused. "Speaking of which, they should be in Shuozhou by now!"

"It should be about the same."

……

Xiao Wangjin held Su Zhi's waist, pressed his ear against her belly, and his eyes shone brightly.

Is your aunt carrying a younger brother?

Su Zhi gently rubbed his little face, "Wangjin, do you want a younger brother or a younger sister?"

Xiao Wangjin lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then shook his head. "I don't know."

Su Zhi smiled, "It's my younger sister."

"younger sister?"

The boy looked up in surprise at the target not far away, but his eyes quickly dimmed.

"If it's my sister, then I can't teach her archery."

"Who said that?" Su Zhi laughed. "Have you heard of General Fei Yuan in Wangjin? She was also a woman. She could ride a horse, shoot arrows, and fight on the battlefield. She was very powerful."

Xiao Wangjin's eyes widened. "Really? Aunt, tell me your story, I want to hear it!"

Su Zhi was in a dilemma. She didn't know much about Zhao Xuanguang, and this was all she knew.

Baili Yi came to the rescue, picking up Xiao Wangjin in his arms. "Uncle knows a lot about war. Let Uncle tell you about it, okay?"

"it is good!"

Xiao Rong's gaze softened as she looked at the heartwarming scene before her, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

"So, don't you think I made the right choice in choosing a husband?" Su Zhi teased.

Xiao Rong covered her burning face and scolded, "Sister-in-law, why are you acting so unserious!"

"You're already married, and you're still so shy."

Su Zhi took the walnuts that the maid had peeled and stuffed half of them into her mouth.

The charcoal fire was burning brightly in the flower hall. Lu Hanlin removed the blanket from Xiao Xuan's legs and leaned down to ask her in her ear, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest in the back room for a while?"

Xiao Xuan blushed and glanced sideways. "I'm not tired. But you, don't keep me company. Go and talk to your uncle."

"We say what we need to say in court, but we don't know what to say in private. Just let me stay here, I'm shy."

His wife was newly pregnant, and he was afraid that something might go wrong, so he stayed by her side whenever he could, not daring to leave her side for even a moment.

Xiao Xuan hummed in agreement, lowered his eyelids, and thought, "What shyness? He's just clingy."

In the corner, Zhou scolded Xiao Wei in a low voice, "The elders are all here, and Shao Kang left before he could even get comfortable. What kind of talk is this!"

Xiao Wei secretly wiped away her tears, "Mother, he's so fickle, it's not like you just found out today."

"Can't you do something about him? You are the matriarch of the Li family, the legitimate wife, how can you not even keep an eye on your man and let him be bewitched by that vixen outside!"

Xiao Zong muttered, "You're no different!"

"What did you say?"

Xiao Ling and her husband were sitting close together when she heard her mother's voice rise, so she quickly came over to smooth things over.

"Mother, Uncle is so happy today, please don't scold him here, or you'll spoil everyone's fun."

“Ling’er is right, Mother-in-law, please calm down,” Jia Kuan advised.

Zhou glared at him and said, "Get out of here. Who gave you the right to speak?"

He's over thirty and still just a scholar; his timid and subservient manner infuriates me.

I thought that with Xuan'er marrying into a wealthy family, the other two would also find good husbands, allowing her to hold her head high and have some pride. Who knew that each one would be worse than the last!

Su Zhi rested her chin on her hand, showing no intention of offering advice. Every family has its own troubles; the more one desires, the more worries one experiences.

Seeing all those couples so affectionate and inseparable, she felt a sour and bitter taste in her heart, as if she had been soaked in vinegar.

The noisier the place, the more intensely her longing grew. She blinked and let out a long sigh.

I miss Xiao Congyun a little.

The longing grew stronger and stronger, to the point that she couldn't eat dinner. She kept her head down, trying not to let them see her reddened eyes.

The streets were brightly lit, and the carriage traveled through the bustling city and then through the quiet alleys before finally stopping in front of a mansion.

Beneath the magnificent, splendid hanging flower gate, two exquisite sheep horn lanterns hang, their yellowish-white glow reflecting on the ground like two round moons.

Su Zhi squatted down with difficulty, sat sideways on the steps, and gently stroked them with her fingers.

People and the moon are reunited.

Unfortunately, today is not the fifteenth of the lunar month, and these two shimmering lights are not the moon.

Her nose tingled, and pearl-like tears fell into the bright light, gradually drying and merging until they disappeared.

"Whose pampered young lady is sitting at my doorstep crying?"

The sound she had heard a million times was carried into her ears by the wind. Su Zhi wiped her eyes, and before she could even lift her head, a huge shadow fell down and instantly enveloped her.

A bright red color was reflected in her hazy, broken eyes, and then something heavy was stuffed into her hand.

She paused for a moment and finally saw clearly that it was a candied hawthorn.

Su Zhi let out a sob, and when she looked up again, she saw the person she had been longing for day and night.

She rushed over, wrapped her arms around his neck, and mumbled, "Didn't I tell you not to come back?"

Xiao Zong laughed angrily, pinching the soft flesh on her waist, "You little ingrate, I know you don't miss me, I came back to see my daughter!"

Su Zhi felt incredibly wronged. "Who said I didn't miss you? Humph, as expected, men change their minds once they have a child!"

"I'm innocent!" Xiao Zong heard her rapid breathing and was afraid she would cry again. "I was wrong, I was wrong, shall we go home?"

"Ah."

Su Zhi stepped out of his arms and was about to get up when he suddenly picked her up in his arms. She gasped and nestled obediently into his embrace.

She bit into the rock sugar shell of the hawthorn, not feeling ashamed at the sight of the maids and servants snickering. She calmly instructed them to cook and boil water.

Xiao Zong leaned down and kissed her. "It's been several months since I last saw you. You've made a lot of progress, Madam."

"that is because……"

"Because of what?"

Su Zhi stared at the crescent moon in the sky, her lips curving upwards:

Because he came back, everything she had was made complete by him.