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

The words, once spoken, were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, exploding among the noblewomen and ladies.

Everyone carefully recalled the color of Yuan Ying's dress and her hairstyle, and found that they matched.

Even the daughter of a sixth-rank official, if born of the principal wife, would find it difficult to enter the Wu Prince's household. Could it be that this Fourth Miss Yuan is jealous of her younger sister's marriage to a third-rank official and is intentionally seducing His Highness the Wu Prince, hoping to become his wife?

The crowd looked at him with disdain. The King of Wu's illustrious reputation had been ruined by a woman from the inner quarters. How pathetic!

Madam Gu was having tea with her three sisters in a side hall when she heard people talking about "Miss Yuan". Thinking that something had happened to Yuan Zhi, she hurriedly ran to the back garden.

Midway through her journey, she encountered a servant carrying a wooden bucket. Upon inquiring, she learned that the pleasure boat had caught fire. The servant told Madam Gu that there were no casualties, at which point she slowed her pace to avoid appearing undignified.

When they arrived at the pavilion, Madam Gu saw Yuan Zhi and Xiao Rong sitting there peacefully, and her heart finally settled down.

"You scared me to death! I thought something had happened to you!"

Yuan Zhi helped her sit down. "It wasn't me, it was Yuan Ying."

"Your fourth sister? What happened to her?"

“Yuan Ying’s secret rendezvous with the King of Wu was witnessed by everyone.”

Wei Xueyao glanced at her with a complicated expression, "Your Yuan family daughter is so shameless. Others are trying to keep it from you, why do you keep telling everyone!"

Yuan Zhi crossed his arms and said, "If she dares to do it, why shouldn't I dare to say it? Just now you were acting all affectionate like uncle and niece, but as soon as Yuan Ying got into trouble, you labeled her as a daughter of the Yuan family. Do you think the Wei family is clean?"

Wei Xueyao's eyes reddened with anger, "What good will doing this do you?"

"No benefit, but no harm either." Yuan Zhi's beautiful eyes flickered. "Anyway, I'm married now, so what does it matter to me whether her reputation is good or bad?"

"Miss Wei, instead of getting entangled with me here, you should think about how to sever all ties. Once you're implicated by her, even if you're the legitimate daughter of a marquis, you won't be able to find a wealthy husband!"

Wei Xueyao wasn't stupid. Even though she disliked Yuan Zhi, she understood that what she said made sense. So she turned around and left to discuss a solution with her father.

The women were stunned, thinking to themselves that Yuan Zhi was too ruthless!

In aristocratic families, the prosperity and decline of one are intertwined, and everyone in the family strives to maintain its reputation. But Yuan Zhi is different. Instead of maintaining it, she directly tears off the fig leaf, smashes the wall, and lets everyone watch!

We can't afford to mess with them! We can't afford to mess with them!

The ladies were relieved that Yuan Zhi wasn't their daughter-in-law.

The maid came over, bowed to everyone, and then walked up to Yuan Zhi.

"Madam Xiao, the county princess requests your presence."

Yuan Zhi followed the maid into the lakeside pavilion, climbed five steps, and met Princess Pingyi.

In his previous life, Yuan Zhi had met the county princess once at a palace banquet. He knew that her surname was Xu, her given name was Muxin, and she was the daughter of the Lady of Xingning and General Mingwei.

It is said that this county princess was extremely amorous, and whenever there were handsome men in the court or among the common people, she would summon them to her residence to admire them.

The Censorate impeached her many times for this matter. But the county princess remained defiant, claiming that she was just looking around and hadn't forcibly taken any men, so it didn't warrant any criminal charges.

His Majesty was in a terrible predicament. He picked a beautiful woman from among the officials and married her off to her.

What happened afterward, Yuanzhi had no idea.

Xu Muxin stood by the railing, holding a wolf-hair brush, scribbling on the railing.

Seeing her arrive, he waved, "Come here, the scenery is beautiful here."

Yuanzhi walked over, and the scenery of the back garden was laid out before him.

Xu Muxin sipped the ink, her voice tinged with a hint of mockery.

"What did you see?"

"I saw a woman set fire to the county magistrate's house."

"What crime do you think she should be charged with?"

"Deserves to be killed!"

Xu Muxin shook her head, "It would be such a waste to kill such an interesting person!"

Yuan Zhi took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the ink stain from her lips. "How does the county princess intend to deal with this?"

"I want to be friends with her. Do you think she'll agree?"

"will not."

"why?"

"Because the county princess doesn't need friends, if she agrees, she'll be close to death."

"Do you know what the county princess needs?"

"An ally, an ally with whom you can exploit each other."

Xu Muxin sat by the railing, "I am of noble birth and wealth, what can't I get that I need to form an alliance with you?"

"free."

A county princess's birthday banquet, attended by princes and numerous ministers, was comparable in scale to that of the Crown Prince's palace. ***This was a veiled attempt to win over court officials, revealing her blatant ambition.

The imperial court is ruthless. As a pawn in the hands of the emperor, Xu Muxin is fine if she obeys, but if she harbors any rebellious thoughts, she will face utter ruin.

Even if Xu Muxin is clever, she will ultimately fail if she lacks real power. Xiao Zong understood this, which is why he earnestly advised Yuan Zhi to stay away from her to avoid getting into trouble!

Yuan Zhi didn't want to get involved in this mess, but Xiao Zong refused to grant her wish, so she had no choice but to take the risk and switch sides to the county princess's camp.

After all, sticking to one person isn't her style. As long as she can survive, it doesn't matter whose leg she clings to!

Xu Muxin gripped the calligraphy brush tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly. "Where does freedom come from?"

"Power, supreme power."

Yuan Zhi grasped the end of the brush, making it stand upright like a pillar stabilizing the sea.

She was once the most favored concubine in the harem, wielding immense power, but what did it matter? The emperor's heart was as unfathomable as the sea; a single cup of poison could take her life.

If you always rely on others, you will only be at their mercy. Only by rising to a high position can you have absolute freedom and a voice.

"What *** can do, the county magistrate can do too, can't she?"

Xu Muxin curled her lips. She thought she was crazy enough, but she didn't expect to meet someone even crazier than her!

*

The setting sun melts gold, and the dusk clouds merge together.

Apart from the Xiao family members, everyone else has returned home.

When Madam Gu saw that Yuan Zhi had come out unharmed, she exchanged a few pleasantries and led the three sisters into the carriage. Xiao Rong followed behind Yuan Zhi, asking what the county princess wanted with her.

Yuan Zhi mumbled, "You're inviting me to enjoy the scenery."

"Who are you kidding? Taking this long to look at the scenery?"

"Forget it if you don't believe it."

Yuan Zhi was talking to Xiao Rong when she didn't notice the person rushing towards her from the side. The palm wind was right in front of her, and she couldn't dodge in time, so she took a slap.

With blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Yuan Zhi licked it and swung his arm in retaliation.

Having learned from her previous experience, Yuan Ying stepped back in advance, but she was still a step too late. Her nose was struck hard, and before the pain even came, blood gushed out of her nostrils.

She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and gritted her teeth, saying, "How dare you spread rumors about me and His Highness! Once I enter the Prince's mansion, I will tear you to pieces!"

Yuan Zhi smiled sinisterly and, together with Xiao Rong, dragged her into a deep alley.

"Does Sister really think those noble ladies are fools who can't see that you're the one having an affair? They don't say anything because the King of Wu is a potential heir, and they're doing him a favor so they can reserve a place for their daughter in the Eastern Palace."

"Only a fool like you would still be thinking about your reputation! If I don't expose this today, and the King of Wu turns his back on us tomorrow, and the noble ladies keep their mouths shut, how will you prove that the King of Wu took your body? In the end, if you can't get a title, a person who has lost their chastity will only be able to hang themselves with a white silk ribbon!"