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

What was once unattainable is now readily available.

Yuan Zhi burst out laughing, feeling desolate in his heart.

When she wanted it, he wouldn't give it to her; now that he wants it, she doesn't want it anymore!

She pulled out the hairpin and, taking him by surprise, forcefully stabbed it into his shoulder.

Xiao Zong looked up, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Does it hurt?" Yuan Zhi smiled sadly, threw away the hairpin, and touched the wound on her shoulder. "I told you, this is fair!"

Xiao Zong cupped her face in his hands, "Isn't this what you've always wanted? Why did you refuse?"

"I don't care anymore! Xiao Congyun, listen to me, our marriage ends here. It's just a divorce agreement; whether you write it or not, it won't affect me. The Xiao family can't hold me back, and you certainly can't!"

A faint, cool fragrance wafted over, and Xiao Zong, without drinking any alcohol, felt three-tenths drunk. He only saw her lips move, but he didn't hear a single word she said.

He stared blankly at her, and when he looked down, he saw the red plum blossom on her snowy shoulder, and belatedly realized how deeply he had hurt her.

He pulled up her clothes, turned slightly to the side, and said in a clear voice, "You can go now."

Yuan Zhi looked dejected, pulled her clothes together, jumped off the table, and ran out.

Xiao Zong squatted down to pick up the fallen items and found the ribbon she had left behind, which he picked up as he went.

Luo Mei paced anxiously inside the room. Suddenly, the door slammed open, startling her. Seeing that it was Yuan Zhi, she hurriedly went to greet him.

Yuan Zhi's hair was disheveled and her clothes were in disarray, clearly showing that she had been bullied terribly.

Luo Mei was first surprised, then delighted, "You and your son-in-law have consummated your marriage?"

Yuan Zhi shook her head. "Don't mention him again. I'm a little hungry. Is there any food?"

Luo Mei was somewhat disappointed, but her mistress seemed even more distressed than she was, so she decided not to rub salt into her wounds.

"This servant will go check on the small kitchen."

She carried the food box over, but Gu Yu saw her and wouldn't let her go inside.

"The young master has instructed that the young mistress's meals will henceforth be collected from the main kitchen. They will no longer be prepared separately here."

Huluo Pingyang was bullied by dogs.

Luo Mei cursed, "Bullshit! The young master doesn't care about these things. It's clearly you, you little whore, who gave false orders!"

"Go ask him yourself if you don't believe me!"

Gu Yu adjusted her hair, her face showing a smug, petty expression.

Not daring to anger Xiao Zong at this critical juncture, Luo Mei carried the food box and ran to the main kitchen.

The news that the young mistress had been punished by the eldest young master had already spread, but she still held the power of housekeeping. The kitchen staff dared not treat her poorly and prepared a few dishes for Luo Mei to take back.

The moon shines over two villages.

In the Xiao residence, Luo Mei set out food on the table. In a separate courtyard outside Shengjing City, the two sat facing each other, a cool breeze blowing through the hall.

The man had a handsome face and wore red robes, the sleeves of which billowed slightly in the wind, as if he were about to take flight at any moment. His expression was the complete opposite of his dashing figure, arrogant and dismissive, yet tinged with a hint of helplessness.

"What is the county magistrate's intention in forcibly bringing me here?"

Xu Muxin's red lips curled up, "It's been so long since we last met. I've missed you. Don't you miss me?"

"I don't want to," the man said coldly.

Undeterred, Xu Muxin brought her wine glass closer, but the man turned his face away, spilling the wine from his glass onto Xu Muxin's hand.

She smiled, lowered her head and gently sucked, her movements slow yet filled with murderous intent, like a beautiful snake teasing its dying prey.

"Is it that you don't want me, or that no woman wants me?"

The man clenched his fists. "Princess, that's enough!"

Her delicate, nail-painted hands turned his face, forcing him to look at her, her breath sweet as orchids: "Lord Feng, between me and the Commander's wife, who is more beautiful?"

That cold, beautiful face was so close, Feng Quan couldn't see it clearly, but he already knew the answer in his heart.

"The county princess is superior."

Xu Muxin glanced at him, then suddenly smiled and said angrily, "Lying."

She let go of his hand, poured him another glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

Feng Quan asked, "When will the county magistrate let me go back?"

"The city gates are closed. Even if I wanted to let you go, you can't go back."

"In that case, please have someone prepare a bedroom for me, Your Highness. I would like to rest now."

Xu Muxin casually pointed, "That room will do! It's all cleaned up."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Feng Quan bowed in thanks and strode into the room. Xu Muxin followed quietly behind, her steps light. As Feng Quan closed the door, she leaped and slipped into the room.

"Your Highness, you—"

"how do I?"

"This is my room, please leave!"

"The entire villa belongs to me, and this place naturally belongs to me as well. I will be staying here tonight. Does Lord Feng have any objections?"

Feng Quan ignored her unreasonable demands and said, "I will go to another room."

Xu Muxin kicked the door shut, "No!"

"The county princess is of noble birth and of high status, why is she specifically targeting me, a lowly official?"

"Feng Lang's heart is as firm as a rock, he doesn't understand human love. I'm doing this because I like you! Once you become my lover, you'll naturally understand the wonder of it all."

Feng Quan's expression was stern. "Princess, please have some self-respect! If you utter any more arrogant words, I, your humble servant..."

"What, you want to impeach me?"

Xu Muxin leaned against the door, her eyes alluring, "Your Excellency's wolf-hair brush is still in my hands. If you submit this memorial, it will confirm that you and I have been secretly exchanging gifts. Do you think His Majesty will issue an imperial decree to grant us a marriage?"

"It's clear that the county princess borrowed the pen and didn't return it, yet you're falsely accusing me of having an affair with her?"

"I told Lord Feng that the pen fell into my sleeve, but instead of looking for it, you're blaming me?"

Unable to win the argument, Feng Quan sat sullenly in his chair.

Xu Muxin asked with a smile, "Does Your Excellency intend to sit here all night? If Your Excellency agrees to do me a favor, I will give you this room."

"what's up?"

"His Majesty intends to send imperial censors to inspect various places. I would like to ask you, sir, to volunteer to go to Shuozhou."

Feng Quan frowned. "I remember, ***'s fiefdom was in Shuozhou."

“That’s right.” Xu Muxin blinked. “That’s why I wanted Lord Feng to go! With our friendship, I believe you can handle it properly.”

Feng Quan's eyes were dark; something was fishy in Shuozhou, and she wanted him to clean up the mess for ***!

To avoid alerting the enemy, he pretended to be conflicted and said after a long while, "If the mistake is not serious, I can try to cover it up."

Xu Muxin's eyes were intriguing. "In that case, I thank you in advance, sir. It's getting late, I wish you a good night's sleep."

...

Yesterday, Yuanzhi listened to Luomei's complaints, and every word touched his heart.

In the deep courtyard of a mansion, there are people everywhere who fawn over the powerful and bully the weak. Without her husband's favor, her food, clothing, and housing will only get worse and worse.

Therefore, the power of the steward must be preserved!

She found out what had happened in the manor and warned several stewards, instructing Luo Mei to stay in the manor and learn household management from Granny Li. If she encountered any problems she couldn't solve, she could send Chen Qing to the restaurant to find her.

The restaurant is almost finished with renovations and the chef has been hired. All that's left is for the wine to be delivered tomorrow, and then we can choose an auspicious day to open for business.

Chen Qing came looking for her in the afternoon, and Yuan Zhi thought something had happened at home and was anxious to go back.

Chen Qing comforted her, saying that everything was fine at home and that someone from the Wu Prince's Mansion had come to say that they would be taking Yuan Ying as a concubine in three days and invited the young mistress and the eldest young master to attend the banquet.