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

Minghu Teahouse.

Chen Qing rubbed his hands anxiously, about to rush inside, when Luo Mei pulled him back.

"Miss and Lord Feng have important matters to discuss, don't cause trouble!"

"Sister Luomei, they're alone in a room, a man and a woman. What if something happens? How am I supposed to explain this to the young master?"

Luo Mei smacked him on the forehead. "What do you take this lady for! Besides, teahouses are always bustling with people. Who would choose a place like this for an affair? Just stay put!"

Chen Qing rubbed his head and gave a dejected "Oh".

Feng Quan poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Yuan Zhi.

"Madam Xiao, have you come here to demand an explanation, or to plead for your husband's innocence?"

Yuan Zhi took a sip of tea, but the taste was too bland. She pouted and put the cup back on the table.

"Your Excellency is unafraid of powerful figures and speaks frankly and openly. It is a blessing for His Majesty and the people to have a minister like you. I am indeed a woman confined to the inner quarters, but I am not someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong. How could I blame Your Excellency for this matter?"

Feng Quan asked in confusion, "Then what brings Madam Xiao to see me?"

Yuan Zhi pinched her thigh, forcing out some tears. "You and your husband serve in the same court, so you should know him well. He is a capricious man. When he is kind to someone, he is devoted and protective; but once he gets tired of someone, he will discard them like trash. I can't bear this torment and would like to ask you for a favor."

Feng Quan looked troubled. "Madam, it's not appropriate for me to interfere in your marital affairs."

Yuan Zhi wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and said sadly, "Your Excellency, as an imperial censor, you should uphold justice for the people. Just because I am married, does that mean I am no longer one of the people?"

Feng Quan had witnessed Madam Xiao's eloquence at the banquet last time, and today he experienced it firsthand, finding it truly extraordinary.

"Since you two are not getting along, why don't you get a divorce?"

Yuan Zhi sighed: "My husband disagrees. I am just the daughter of a minor official of the sixth rank. I can't fight city hall."

"You want me to help you get a divorce from Lord Xiao?"

Yuan Zhi shook her head. "Your Excellency is a man of integrity and upright character. Your involvement in my marital affairs would only tarnish your reputation. I wish to save myself and plan to open a restaurant on Weiyang Street. Once I have earned enough money, I will flee Shengjing."

“But my husband has been restricting me from leaving the manor lately. This time I ran away, and he even sent the Leopard Guards to look for me. I dare not anger him again, and I must return to the manor tonight. I would be grateful if you could go to the restaurant tomorrow and see if I am not there. If I am not there, I must have been detained by my husband. At that time, please save me.”

It was nothing more than a small favor, not even worth helping, so Feng Quan readily agreed.

As the orange sun sets in the west, wisps of smoke begin to rise from the chimneys.

Dou Zhao stood in front of the mansion gate and, seeing Yuan Zhi and the others return, invited them to the study.

As soon as he entered, Chen Qing was held down by the servants and forced to sit on a bench to be beaten with a board.

Yuan Zhi rushed forward, shielding him from the blow, and demanded with bloodshot eyes, "Xiao Zong, what are you doing? Why did you hit him!"

Behind the desk, in the armchair, Xiao Zong sat upright, holding a military book, without even raising his head.

"I ordered him to keep a close eye on you to prevent you from overstepping the rules and causing serious trouble. But instead, he followed you in your foolish ways and even went to Qingzhou. Shouldn't he be punished?"

Chen Qing, holding the stool, said, "I know I was wrong and am willing to accept punishment! Young Madam, please move aside. Sticks have no eyes; don't hurt yourself!"

Yuan Zhi had been treating him like a younger brother for the past few days, so she couldn't bear to see him get hurt. She straightened up, pushed away the servants who were hitting him, and glared at Xiao Zong with hostility.

"Going to Qingzhou was my idea, it has nothing to do with Chen Qing, if you want to punish someone, punish me!"

Xiao Zong was furious and slammed the book heavily on the table. "Of course you should be punished! As the mistress of the Xiao family, you neglected all the affairs of the household and went out on your own. The servants were unrestrained, gathering to drink and gamble, and in the end, I had to clean up the mess for you. Is this how you run a household?"

Yuan Zhi seemed to understand. Her eyes were clear and open as she admitted her mistake.

“It was my dereliction of duty. You may punish me as you see fit. But Luo Mei and Chen Qing are innocent. Please release them.”

Luo Mei knelt down and pleaded, "Young Master, everyone has witnessed how well Miss has managed the household. You can't erase all her previous efforts because of one small mistake!"

Xiao Zong's expression was as cold as ice. "Take Chen Qing and Luo Mei away!"

The servants escorted the two men out, leaving only Xiao Zong and Yuan Zhi in the room, along with two servants carrying sticks.

Yuan Zhi glanced at the bench, then quickly looked away, her fingers clutching her skirt, her long eyelashes trembling.

"Scared?"

Xiao Zong's voice was ethereal, like that of a demon or Yama.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Yuan Zhixin hardened her heart. “Let’s fight if you want!”

"You are, after all, the matriarch of the Xiao family, so I'll give you some face." Xiao Zong moved his fingers. "You two, get out too."

The two servants exchanged a glance, left their sticks behind, and then closed the door behind them.

Yuan Zhi took a step back, "You have to do it yourself..."

Xiao Zong approached and said, "What are you afraid of? When it comes to interrogation and torture, I have more experience than them."

Yuan Zhi was afraid he would beat her to death, so she turned to run away, but he grabbed her and pulled her back, pressing her down on the desk.

The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were swept off the table as Yuan Zhi struggled, clattering and crashing to the ground. Even Dou Zhao, standing outside the door, couldn't help but feel a chill.

That young master is so heartless!

The ruler that Yuan Zhi used to apologize with thorns on his back that day was taken to the study by Xiao Zong and placed on a sheet of Xuan paper. He caught it just as it was about to fall, and with a flick of his wrist, he beckoned to Yuan Zhi.

"what--"

Fear overwhelmed the pain, and even though the force wasn't strong, Yuan Zhi still cried out.

She didn't know why, but she just wanted to cry and scream, as if that would win Xiao Zong's sympathy.

In her past life, the thirty strokes of the cane nearly killed her, yet she didn't utter a sound. Why couldn't she hold back now?

Xiao Zong originally intended to punish her severely to teach her a lesson, but after hearing her cry so desperately, he softened in the end. He threw down the ruler, grabbed her waist, lifted her up, and made her sit on the table.

"Starting tomorrow, you are not allowed to leave the house without my permission."

Yuan Zhi escaped a beating, but her rebellious spirit grew unchecked. She brushed aside the strands of hair that were smeared on her face with tears and stubbornly said, "You can't hold me back!"

"Don't even think about getting Luo Mei and Chen Qing to help you escape, or I won't show any mercy!"

"Who said only people from the manor can help me?"

A hint of vengeful pleasure flickered in Yuan Zhi's tear-filled eyes. "Before I came back, I went to see Lord Feng. If he can't find me at the restaurant tomorrow, his memorial impeaching you will be submitted to the Emperor. Lord Xiao is not favored by the Emperor; it's not worth losing favor over such a trivial matter, don't you think?"

Xiao Zong suddenly grabbed her by the neck, "You conspired with outsiders to scheme against me!"

Yuan Zhi grabbed his wrist, her nails digging deep into his flesh. She was smiling, but her expression was filled with hatred.

"My husband has forgotten that I am also...an outsider!"

Xiao Zong's chest heaved violently, his mind filled with the word "outsider." He ripped off her waist belt with his large hand, her clothes slipped down, and he bit her shoulder, pressing her down.

He disregarded everything—the emperor, the fate of his family—wanting only to force her to submit, to hear her beg for mercy, and to make her completely his.

"After tonight, you are mine!"