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

With the war over, Xiao Zong wiped the blood from his face and walked into the stark white funeral banners.

Members of the royal family, ministers, noblewomen, eunuchs, and palace maids knelt on the ground, stretching from one end of the palace to the other, like a long, weeping river.

He looked into the distance but didn't see any familiar figures. His brow furrowed, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Upon finding Gu Shuang, he asked in a panic, "Sister-in-law, didn't Zhi'er come with you?"

"No."

Gu Shuang shook her head, paused, and then asked, "What's wrong with your sister-in-law?"

"It's nothing, I'll go back and check."

If the entire Xiao family is absent during the late emperor's funeral, the royal family will surely hold them accountable. He just helped the new emperor quell the rebellion; his merits and demerits cancel each other out, so he shouldn't face any major trouble.

As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, Jiang Bai immediately went to greet him, "Lord Xiao, you've finally come out! The master is having a difficult childbirth, you should go back and take a look!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zong felt a sudden pain in his heart. He breathed heavily, his face pale, and grabbed Jiang Bai: "I'll go fetch the imperial physician. You unload the carriage, and I'll ride back on horseback!"

He turned swiftly and ran into the palace at the fastest speed he had ever run. A quarter of an hour later, he threw the breathless Pu Hong onto his horse, spurred the horse, and galloped wildly towards the residence.

*

Su Zhi almost fainted just now, but was woken up by the midwife and gave birth to her eldest daughter with all her might.

By the time she had her second child, she was in a dazed state, unable to feel pain, only feeling her body getting colder and colder.

After a long while, she heard the midwife excitedly say, "It's out! It's out!"

"Too small, like a kitten."

"Why aren't you crying? Maybe you've been holding it in for too long and are out of breath—"

The midwife quickly covered the little maid's mouth and whispered, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

She patted the baby's bottom while sneaking peeks at the bed.

The woman's face was bloodless, and her beautiful features looked like a flower that had been struck by frost, withered and faded.

She was already on her last legs, and if she were to suffer any further shock, she might not even be able to see her husband one last time.

Su Zhi did hear it, but she didn't even have the strength to speak. When the medicine was brought to her mouth, she turned her head away and spat it out. With her mouth open, she silently uttered two words.

child.

The maid wiped away her tears and asked the midwife to bring the two little girls over.

Hearing her eldest daughter's loud cries, Su Zhi shed a tear. She lifted her heavy eyelids, and with her head supported by a maid, she rubbed her face against her younger daughter's bluish-purple face.

Crystalline tears fell, landing on the baby's tightly closed eyelids. The wrinkled little face felt ticklish, and suddenly the baby burst into loud cries that echoed through the sky.

Su Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes without regret.

*

Three years later.

The people are prosperous and the land is at peace.

A sign reading "Closed" hung on the door of Wei Yan Lou, but inside it was bustling with activity. People were clinking glasses, laughing and joking, almost lifting the roof off.

Luo Mei tapped Jiang Bai's hand with her chopsticks, "Manager Li is getting old. The way you're feeding him is going to kill him!"

Jiang Bai hissed and blew on his reddened hand. "I was wrong, Madam! I'll drink it, I won't force him to drink it anymore, okay?"

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and downed the contents of his mouth in one gulp.

Luo Mei smacked them again with her chopsticks, saying fiercely, "You're not allowed to drink either!"

The maids and servants burst into laughter, watching Jiang Bai make a fool of himself.

At another table, Xiao Rong was drooling over her husband's fruit wine, reaching out her finger to dip it in and taste it. Baili Yi was talking to Dou Zhao about the war in the Northwest. He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, moved his wine glass away without making a sound, and turned back to give his wife a warning look.

Xiao Rong was caught red-handed, stuck out her tongue, and sat up obediently.

Xiao Wangjin, acting like a little adult, scolded, "Auntie is naughty!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jianye, Gu Shuang, and the others burst into laughter. Xiao Rong's cheeks flushed red instantly. Qin Shi, with an expression that said, "Finally, someone can handle you," served her daughter a bowl of Chinese yam and pork rib soup.

"For someone with twins who still drinks so much, this is good for your health."

Xiao Xuan held her son and told her about precautions during pregnancy.

Xiao Ling and her husband had been unable to conceive for three years, despite taking medicine and recuperating, which led to much criticism from her mother-in-law. Later, Pu Hong examined them and diagnosed the problem as the man's. Only then did the old woman calm down, providing them with the best food and drink, fearing that Xiao Ling would divorce her son.

It was Xiao Wei who truly divorced.

She and Li Shaokang could be described as a mismatched couple, even to the point of fighting. If it weren't for Xiao Zong's mediation, the Li family might have divorced Xiao Wei.

Under the rigid rules and regulations, life is already difficult for women. If their reputation is tarnished by such scoundrels, they will find it hard to be happy for the rest of their lives.

Therefore, Xiao Wei was very grateful to her cousin Xiao Zong.

Xiao Shen declined the wine offered by Xiao Jianye and chatted with his uncle and younger uncle about the prices in the north and south.

He had long since reformed and followed Su Ziyuan's caravan up mountains and down to the sea. Later, he married a boatman's daughter and they lived a sweet and happy life together.

A short while later, Chu Xia arrived with Chu Fengchen and Liang Que. After the two sat down, Xiao Chi asked why the others hadn't come.

Chu Xia sighed, "The old man is too old to walk. The second son is investigating the Yuzhou tax silver case and can't leave. The other two brothers and nephews are all out of town and can't come back."

Just as Chu Fengchen was about to mention Chu Lanyin, Xiao Jianye interrupted him, stroking his chin and smiling knowingly: "Three years ago, the little girl was half a year short of her coming-of-age ceremony and avoided the imperial concubine selection. This year she is of marriageable age, and His Majesty is also interested in arranging a marriage between the Chu family and the Chu family. Lanyin probably ran away as soon as she heard the news!"

"That's right!" Chu Xia frowned. "My second brother was so worried, afraid that she might encounter danger outside."

Xiao Jianye waved his hand, "Don't worry, she's fine! Yesterday, the Court of State Ceremonial received news that Fang Shaoqing saw her in Yuecheng and has detained her. Once the delegation from Beiya arrives, they will bring her back."

Chu Fengchen and Liang Que exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with helplessness.

Who would have thought that even after they had sent Chu Lanyin to the border, she could still be caught? This Fang Shaoqing is such a busybody!

The air in the room was not circulating, and Xiao Wei got a headache from sitting for too long. She pushed open the window, intending to let the smell of alcohol dissipate.

Looking out, a misty rain falls like a tapestry, covering the long, dark-tiled streets and the hurried pedestrians and vehicles passing by.

Amid the crowd, a carriage stopped, the curtain was lifted, and a tall, upright man stepped out.

The man alighted from the carriage, opened an oil-paper umbrella, and held it over the eaves of the carriage. The drizzle soaked his long robe, but he seemed unaware.

A moment later, two innocent little children peeked out from behind the curtain, stretching out their arms for a hug.

The man spread his arms, picked up the two little girls with one hand, and handed them to the coachman. Then, he put the umbrella back in place, said something to someone inside the curtain, and reached out his hand.

The carriage curtain opened from one side, revealing a slender, fair hand as smooth as mutton fat. The jade bracelet on her wrist complemented the smooth skin perfectly, making one wonder if this person was carved from fine jade.

A large hand enveloped a small hand, and wisps of misty silk draped over the fabric, revealing a beautiful woman with ethereal grace.

It was Su Zhi.

Three years ago, she nearly died, but was rescued by Pu Hong, who snatched her back from the jaws of death. After recuperating, not only has her health fully recovered, but her appearance is even more radiant than before.

Xiao Zong suspected that Pu Hong had developed some kind of elixir that could reverse aging and secretly fed it to Su Zhi so that he could take his wife away from him when he grew old and lost his beauty.

Su Zhi scolded him for being obsessed, and Pu Hong, upon hearing this, teased him about the vow he made when Su Zhi was on the verge of death:

"You traded your entire lifespan for her life, and now you're just an empty shell. If you don't get old, who will? I don't even know who it was back then, kneeling before me with snot and tears streaming down their face, begging me to save her. I saved her, and now you're starting to kick me while I'm down?"

At this point, Xiao Zong would put on a stern face and say to Su Zhi, "It's not as exaggerated as he said."

Su Zhi nodded slowly, and said meaningfully, "Yes, I know my place. How could a gentleman of your stature lose his composure for a mere woman like me!"

"No, I'm lying to you. I'm really sad. If you don't believe me... ask him!" Xiao Zong explained hurriedly.

Su Zhi chuckled, stood on tiptoe, and cupped his face in her hands. "Just kidding!"

She stared at his face for a long time; although it was a bit darker than before, it made him look more rugged.

With a face as smooth as ice and eyes as bright as cold stars, time has left no trace on him; he remains the young man she admires.

"Father! Mother! Hurry up!"

The two adorable little girls complained.

Su Zhi and Xiao Zong snapped out of their daze, looked at each other and smiled, saying, "Coming!"

Flowers bloom in profusion along the nine streets, a light rain falls, and the laughter and singing continue unabated.

The long embankment is shrouded in mist and willows, the frost-covered stream is just beginning to thaw, and fish carry messages that express our constant longing for each other.

Look at the paths along the beach, who will dance with us?

As spring continues, amidst the sound of flying catkins, two people return home.

—End of main text—