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

The door to the west wing was tightly closed, from which faint, suppressed groans could be heard.

Chu Xia paced back and forth, large beads of sweat rolling down his fair face. He would pray to the heavens one moment and curse Xiao Zong the next.

If I had known that childbirth was so painful for women, I shouldn't have let my daughter get married.

He suddenly thought of Su Ying, and his guilt was evident in his expression. He thought to himself: Back then, did you also feel the same pain as Zhi'er?

Inside the room, Su Zhi was drenched in sweat, the excruciating pain spreading from her lower abdomen throughout her body, almost tearing her body apart and causing her soul to break free. The doctor's needles seemed to have a calming effect; each time they pierced her flesh, her consciousness would return somewhat.

And so it went, torn apart, pieced back together, torn apart again, pieced back together again, over and over, torturing her to the point of near collapse.

One midwife touched her belly to check the baby's position, while another knelt beside her bed, shouting back and forth, "Push! Push!"

Su Zhi felt completely drained. She was thankful that Xiao Zong wasn't there; otherwise, she probably would have cried if she had seen him. The midwife would have certainly given her a cold shoulder, scolding her for wasting her energy and questioning whether she wanted to kill three lives.

Thinking of this, she actually smiled, turned her dizzy head, and grabbed the little maid who was wiping her sweat.

"Is my father still outside?"

The young maid had never been married before and had never seen anything like this before. She was actually terrified.

She paused for a moment before nodding, "Yes, I am."

Su Zhi closed her eyes briefly. "I'm worried. Find someone to tie him up with a rope, throw him in the woodshed, and release him when Xiao Zong comes back."

The maidservant stared in disbelief, while Su Zhi urged weakly, "Go quickly!"

"Good, good."

An hour ago, Su Zhi was in excruciating stomach pain, but her mind was still relatively clear.

Memories flashed through my mind like a revolving lantern.

That year, on a snowy day, Prince Kang was poisoned at Weiyan Tower. He invited people from the Military Affairs Bureau, who addressed Prince Kang as "Commander." Later, after asking Xiao Zong, he learned that Prince Kang was the Commander of the Military Affairs Bureau of the Northern City.

Mobilizing troops from five cities as a member of the royal family was not difficult; she was simply shocked by how deeply the Prince of Kang had concealed his true intentions and how long he had planned.

However, the late emperor was no ordinary man.

Xiao Zong's imperial sword was the weapon to slay the ambitions of the Prince of Kang.

Perhaps he didn't guess that the mastermind behind it all was Prince Kang, but he anticipated that someone would interfere with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, so he gave Xiao Zong unimpeded power.

Use the Leopard Guard to deal with the rebels and eliminate any possibility of overthrowing the dynasty!

Su Zhi knew who was named on that imperial edict, and even if the Prince of Kang wanted to entrust the operation of mobilizing the Five Cities Garrison to Li Huai, the other party would not agree.

So the only remaining candidate is her father, Chu Xia.

Once she understood the situation, she immediately sent someone to intercept him. Knowing that Chu Xia wouldn't give up easily, she sent someone to deliver a message to him.

"The lady said that she lost her mother at a young age and had been mistaking a thief for her father for many years before finally finding her closest relatives, but she often felt that they were not very close. Now she has suffered a difficult childbirth and is afraid that she will be reborn early. If you think of the bond between father and daughter, please come to the mansion to see her one last time. In the future, when you are reunited in the afterlife, you will have an explanation to give to the lady's mother."

His words were piercing to the heart. Chu Xia was not so heartless as to abandon his daughter for the sake of his great cause. He handed the token to the people of the Kang Prince's Mansion and left with the servant of the Xiao residence on the spot.

Before the Prince of Kang's men even reached the military headquarters, they were captured by the secret guards arranged by Su Zhi, and the dramatic scene came to a silent end.

Su Zhi smiled as she gazed at the crimson curtains, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

My husband, I have cleared some obstacles for you; the rest is up to you.

*

Thunder rumbled across the sky, roaring like a tiger's howl and a dragon's cry, causing the mountains and rivers to lose their color and the earth to tremble.

The Empress Dowager flung her sleeves and flew into a rage: "Xu Dahai is dead, and Prince Kang and Li Huai are father and son. How can their words be trusted?"

Li Ji stared at the Empress Dowager in disbelief. She had raised him for decades, and he had called her "Mother" for just as long. Now, they had turned against each other because of power. This showed how ruthless the imperial family could be!

"what about me?"

Pu Hong walked in from outside the hall, bowed to the Empress Dowager, and said, "I am not a member of the Great Qi, so can my words be considered fair?"

The Empress Dowager was unsure of whose side he favored more, but he had always served by her side before her son's death. If her son had told him anything, he would report it truthfully, which would put her and the eldest grandson in a passive position.

"Foreigners who presume to discuss the affairs of our dynasty are surely harboring malicious intentions!"

"Okay, then I won't say anything more."

Pu Hong shrugged and obediently stepped aside.

Xiao Zong's gaze grew cold; continuing this stalemate was not a solution.

Just then, Commander Shao returned with a heavy expression: "Your Majesty, please forgive my incompetence. When I arrived, Xu Dahai was already dead."

The Empress Dowager lowered her eyes. "I know. Now that we are dead, there is no way to verify the facts. Commander Shao, which side do you intend to side with?"

Commander Shao bowed his head, paused, and said, "Beside Xu Dahai's body, there are two soldiers wearing armor, the same style as the Empress Dowager's personal guards."

"You suspect me?" The Empress Dowager sneered. "Prince Kang and his son knew about Xu Dahai's death before you did. How do you know that they didn't kill him to cover their tracks and frame me?"

Commander Shao pleaded earnestly, "Your Majesty, these people were all registered when they entered the palace. Their names, hometowns, ages, and appearances are all recorded in detail. If you wish to compare them, I can find the register now. However, things have escalated to such an embarrassing state, causing unrest for both the country and the family!"

The Empress Dowager looked at the assembled civil and military officials below her, her figure swaying slightly. Yes, no matter what, could she possibly kill them all?

Seeing that the Empress Dowager had been persuaded, Zhao Xuanguang knew he had no way out. He drew his sword and held it to the Empress Dowager's neck, forcing everyone to compromise.

"The eldest grandson's ascension to the throne is in accordance with Heaven's will and the times, and there is an imperial edict from the late emperor as proof. How dare you turn a blind eye to this? Using a forged document to commit treasonous acts is a crime punishable by death! Guards, kill them all!"

The Empress Dowager's personal guards were all Zhao Xuanguang's private soldiers. Upon hearing this, they grabbed their weapons and slashed at the Leopard Guards.

Xiao Zong, clad in black armor, drew his imperial sword and roared, "Protect His Majesty and the officials! Capture the rebels!"

The Leopard Guards resumed their formation, protecting King Kang, his son, and the ministers within them, defending against the enemy while retreating out of the palace.

The new emperor was in danger, which was a good opportunity to show loyalty. Just as Commander Shao was about to give orders to the Imperial Guards, Zhao Xuanguang's blade slashed a bloody mark on the Empress Dowager's neck.

The Empress Dowager trembled like a leaf and cried out, "Commander Shao, save me!"

Zhao Xuanguang raised his lips, "If Commander Shao makes any more rash moves, the next time it will be his throat that gets slit."

Commander Shao was caught in a dilemma and looked helplessly at his friend.

The Shangfang sword, with its tassel, was not suitable for wide-ranging combat. While parrying attacks from the side, Xiao Zong grabbed the spear of the enemy in front of him with his other hand. He ducked, bent down, and kicked back, clearing the area behind him. Then, he snatched the weapon from the front and swung it horizontally. The two enemies collided, one with a broken neck and the other with a dented skull, both dying instantly.

He wielded his sword and spear with ferocious skill, the cold wind blowing through the hall brushing against his deep-set eyes, spreading the murderous intent in his pupils to every corner of the hall.

His tall and slender figure transformed into an indestructible barrier, his imposing presence striking fear into the hearts of half the rebels on the other side.

Xiao Zong took a breath, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Commander Shao watching the show. He cursed, "You brute, can't you use your brain?"

He tilted his head to the right, indicating that the other party should start by attacking the eldest grandson of the emperor.

Commander Shao suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and flew up an orange to wake the frightened little child.

Li Xin covered her head where she had been hit, burst into tears, and cried out, "Great-grandmother!"

A glint of light flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. "Xin'er, come quickly to your great-grandmother!"

Zhao Xuanguang frowned and warned her to behave herself. Upon seeing this, Li Xin jumped off the dragon throne and started punching the strange woman with her small fists.

"Bad people! Bad people! Let go of my great-grandmother!"

Zhao Xuanguang felt a pang of sadness in his heart. "Xin'er, I'm your aunt!"

Li Xin cried and said, "You're not! You're not!"

Zhao Xuanguang's eyes were filled with tears. She had been away from home for many years and hadn't returned to the capital often, so it was understandable that Li Xin felt unfamiliar with her. However, the scene still made her feel a little disheartened and dazed, wondering if everything she had done was worth it.

Taking advantage of her distraction, Xiao Zong strode up the steps, kicked the blade out of her hand, tossed the Empress Dowager to Commander Shao who was there to catch her, and began to fight her.

Commander Shao protected the Empress Dowager and the eldest grandson of the Emperor, and ordered the Imperial Guards to capture the traitors.

In an instant, swords clashed and arrows flew in a hazy, bloody light, staining the usually solemn and dignified Deguang Hall.