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

After the two finished eating their noodles, Granny Zhao arrived.

Yuan Zhi exchanged a few pleasantries with her, and then they went to the main hall together.

A number of people were already seated inside, and they immediately fell silent upon seeing Yuan Zhi and his companions arrive. Madam Xiao, who was seated at the head of the table, straightened up and looked past the young woman, her gaze landing on the elder beside her.

Yuanzhi noticed something amiss in the other person's gaze and tilted her head slightly toward Granny Zhao.

Could this person have a personal grudge against Granny Zhao?

If that's really the case, wouldn't Xiao Zong have ruined her life?

Just as Granny Zhao was about to remind her that the person in front of her was Madam Xiao, Yuan Zhi gracefully bowed and said, "Mother-in-law."

Madam Xiao did not let her get up, but instead gave a wink to the nanny beside her, who understood and quietly withdrew.

The little boy on the lower left, looking like a jade ball, had a rumbling stomach and reached for the pastries on the plate, but his mother slapped his hand away. The boy's eyes welled up with tears, and he was about to wail when his mother quickly covered his mouth.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

Yuan Zhi swayed slightly, and Zhao Mama helped her up, her gaze shifting to Madam Xiao.

“Madam, it’s getting late. I see that the young master and young ladies are hungry. Let’s wait until the new bride finishes serving tea before everyone goes to eat.”

"Ah."

Madam Xiao responded coldly, and then a maid came over with a tray containing teacups.

Yuan Zhi touched the inside of the cup. Was it warm?

I thought they were going to put in boiling water!

She served tea with suspicion, and then, with the introduction of Granny Zhao, greeted her aunt, sister-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

Old Master Xiao was granted the title of Marquis of Qingyang for his meritorious service in supporting the emperor. He had three sons and one daughter. His eldest daughter, Xiao Yin, married into the Changping Marquis's family. After Old Master Xiao passed away, his eldest son, Xiao Chi, inherited the title.

Xiao Chi's wife died early, leaving him with only one son, Xiao Jianye. The woman who was holding the little boy earlier was Xiao Jianye's wife, Madam Gu.

Xiao Zong's father, Xiao Cheng, was the second son in his family. He once served as the Councilor of Jingzhou and married Qin Zhen, the daughter of the Crown Prince's Chamberlain. She is now Lady Xiao. Lady Xiao had two sons and one daughter: Xiao Zong, Xiao Shen, and Xiao Rong.

Xiao Yu, the third son, did not serve as an official in the court. He lived a carefree life, traveling around and not returning home until he had spent all his money. All household affairs were managed by his cousin, Zhou, who was eight years his senior.

Just as Yuan Zhi was about to greet Zhou's three daughters as equals, Madam Xiao stopped him, saying, "They don't need to bow."

The girls looked grim.

Yuan Zhi looked at Granny Zhao with a puzzled expression. Granny Zhao closed her eyes at her, indicating that she should follow Madam Xiao's instructions.

At this moment, the old woman who had just left returned, carrying a tray with a white silk ribbon on it.

Yuanzhi recognized it as the bridal veil on the bed and thought to herself, "What was bound to happen has finally happened."

Qin pointed at the bridal veil and angrily demanded, "What's going on here?"

Yuan Zhi remained calm, saying, "My husband was busy with official duties last night and did not rest in the bedroom."

"If Yun wasn't resting in his room, how did you know he was going on a long trip and had the kitchen prepare things so early in the morning? I bet you lost your virginity before your marriage, plotted to get my son to marry you, and only started trying to please him after the wedding!"

Granny Zhao said softly, "Congyun is the young master's courtesy name."

Yuan Zhi nodded. "My husband left yesterday after lifting his veil, and everyone in Songfeng Courtyard can testify to that. He went out on official business. I went to look for him this morning, only to find that His Majesty had summoned him to the palace, hence my guess."

"Or does the mother-in-law think her son is all bark and no bite, and that he can't even last fifteen minutes with his wife?"

Madam Qin was speechless, choked with shock at the fact that she had so openly discussed the matter of the bed curtains.

Seeing that Yuanzhi was not willing to give up, Gu silently covered her son's ears.

Zhou kept her eyes down, seemingly oblivious to the situation. Her three daughters, like her, were enjoying the spectacle.

Only Xiao Rong and her mother stood together, defending their brother.

"You lowly child born of a concubine, you are indeed ill-mannered. You had an affair before marriage. My brother is truly unlucky to have married you!"

“Rongmei is quite well-mannered. I’ve been standing here for ages and haven’t heard you call me ‘sister-in-law’ even once. But you keep calling me a ‘bastard’ and an adulterer. Do you know what punishment is inflicted on relatives and friends for disrespecting them and making slanderous remarks, according to the laws of Daqi?”

Xiao Rong took a step back. "You...you're talking nonsense. I've never heard of that..."

"Never heard of it?" Yuan Zhi approached step by step. "Then let me tell you, when the government treats someone like you who speaks rudely, they will use a bamboo stick as wide as the palm of your hand to slap your mouth repeatedly. They will beat you until your face is bruised and swollen, your mouth is drooling, and you can't even admit your mistake."

"Since my sister-in-law comes from a military family, she's naturally more resilient than ordinary girls. Fifty strokes shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Xiao Rong's legs went weak and she sat down on the ground with a thud. She wasn't married yet, and if she really suffered this punishment, who would dare to marry her in the future!

"I...I'm not...Mother...Mother, please save me."

Instead of paying attention to her beloved daughter, Madam Qin stared intently at Yuan Zhi.

This type of punishment was created by the late emperor's empress to discipline palace servants and concubines, and it was once popular among the common people. Now that the current emperor has ascended the throne, this type of punishment is rarely used. How could Yuan Zhi, a young lady confined to her chambers, know about this?

Yuan Zhi's gaze was kind as she continued, "Stop shouting. Your mother-in-law can barely take care of herself, how can she save you?"

Madam Qin sneered, "You dare to sue your mother-in-law?"

“Why wouldn’t I dare? Even the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners, let alone a mother-in-law? You say I schemed against my husband, which not only insults me but also disgraces your son. My husband is a third-rank official, in charge of arrests and criminal matters. If I really did this, would he spare my life?”

Yuan Zhi smiled meaningfully, "I've long heard that my mother-in-law dotes on her youngest son and mistreats her eldest. Is she taking her anger out on me today because she doesn't dare to show disrespect to her husband?"

Enraged, Madam Qin shouted, "Outrageous! This is outrageous! Guards, bring out the family discipline! Today I will teach this disrespectful daughter-in-law a lesson!"

Luo Mei couldn't stop Yuan Zhi. Seeing that Madam Qin was about to get serious, she quickly knelt down and begged, "Madam, my young lady is young and hot-tempered and spoke rudely. Please forgive her this time!"

Yuan Zhi helped Luo Mei up, "There's no need to kneel, she wouldn't dare do anything to me."

Qin slammed her hand on the table in anger, "I can teach you a lesson!"

"According to the Great Law, among the crimes of women, adultery is the most serious. It is permissible to punish a woman without reporting it to the authorities. All other crimes must be reported to the government. Anyone who punishes a woman without reporting it will be treated as if he or she committed intentional violence. The punishment will range from caning to exile."

"you you--"

Qin was so angry that her eyes rolled back.

The maids and servants rushed over to help her catch her breath.

After a while, Qin Shi calmed down, her fingers trembling, "Lock her in the ancestral hall and don't let her eat for a day!"

Granny Zhao stepped in front of Yuan Zhi, saying, "If Madam wants to discipline her daughter-in-law, this old woman shouldn't say anything. However, before the eldest young master left, he instructed me to protect the young mistress. The ancestral hall is cold and damp. If the young mistress gets sick from the cold, Madam will have a hard time explaining it when the eldest young master returns!"

Qin clutched her chest, breathing heavily.

He couldn't hit her, he couldn't out-argue her, and Zhao Mama stopped him from putting her in solitary confinement. The anger that had just subsided rushed to the top of his head, and he couldn't even speak properly.

"Get out of Seven! All of you, get out of Seven!"