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

"Consort, His Highness said that no marks should be left on her body!"

The maidservant gently pulled Yuan Zhi's chin and spoke briefly.

Yuan Zhi frowned, a hint of surprise flashing across her face.

The King of Wu wants to kill her!

Could it be that he discovered she was the one who started the fire that day?

wrong!

The county magistrate wouldn't betray her!

After the affair was exposed, the King of Wu was reprimanded by the Emperor, and his supporters questioned his character. To protect his reputation, he still wanted to elevate Yuan Ying, taking her as a concubine. It seems he was simply seeking an outlet for his pent-up frustration!

Yuan Ying knew that once she entered the Prince's residence, the Prince of Wu would not treat her well. Therefore, she confessed to the Prince that her younger sister had spread the rumors. By shifting the blame, Yuan Zhi became the target of the Prince's anger!

Yuan Zhi's cheeks were sore and weak from being pinched and bitten for so long. The maids seized the opportunity and freed the man's hand.

"save--"

She only managed to utter one word in her cry for help before the servants forced a cup of tea down her throat. She choked and coughed repeatedly, spitting out a mixture of blood and tea.

After checking that there was no residue, the servant stuffed a rag into her mouth, tied her limbs with ribbons, and put her into a large wooden box.

Yuan Zhi whimpered, and then heard a "click" sound as the box shook before being lifted up.

Yuan Ying tapped the lid of the box. "Good sister, I'm going to have my wedding night, so I won't see you off. In the afterlife, remember to be careful with your words and actions. I hope you'll be reincarnated soon!"

“Woo—woo—”

Yuan Ying ignored her desperate struggle, picked up the veil, and waved her hand as if shooing away flies, "Let's go."

Yuan Zhi's eyes widened suddenly. Where were they taking her?!

Meanwhile, the noble ladies and gentlemen came to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber. When they saw the servants carrying out a large chest from afar, they joked that the dowry had all been put in the bridal chamber. Yuan's father was afraid that his daughter would be mistreated!

Everyone entered the house, and Chu Lanyin looked around but didn't see her cousin-in-law.

She squeezed to the front and asked, "Consort, where did Cousin Yuanzhi go?"

Yuan Ying was covered by a veil, so you couldn't see her, but you could guess her identity from her address.

Since Your Highness values ​​the Marquis of Changping's residence, she couldn't be negligent. She said in a gentle tone, "Fifth Sister talked with me for a while and then left. Didn't she go back to the main hall?"

Chu Lan's eyes flickered slightly, and she realized something was wrong.

She stepped back, intending to find her cousin. Just then, the male guests ushered Li Rui in. She stood on tiptoe, peering around, but couldn't see Xiao Zong anywhere.

"Your Highness, where is my cousin?"

King Wu reeked of alcohol and could barely walk straight, so how could he possibly care about Xiao Zong's whereabouts? However, one of the princes supporting King Wu kindly replied that Xiao Zong had been forced to drink several cups and was probably off somewhere to sober up.

Chu Lan thanked him and ran out to look for the person.

The Wu Prince's mansion was too big; she had to ask five people before she could find out where Xiao Zong was.

In the pavilion, Xiao Zong propped his head up and sat diagonally on a stone bench.

His dark green robe was slightly open, revealing white-soled, black-faced boots and a corner of snow-white silk trousers underneath. He was tall with long, slightly bent legs, one hand resting on the table, his fingers long and slender, white, complementing the embroidered bamboo on his chest—a truly beautiful sight!

Wei Xueyao knelt on the ground, looking at his imposing figure, and couldn't help but blush and feel her heart pound.

When she was young, she read the line "The puppet is like a jade mountain about to collapse." She didn't understand its meaning. But now, having met the commander up close, the refined and elegant Ji Shuye has a concrete image in her mind.

"Lord Xiao, if you spare the Marquis of Yingchuan's mansion and my father, Xueyao will repay your great kindness with all her heart!"

"Really? How do you plan to thank me?"

Wei Xueyao crawled two steps on her knees, placed her hands on Xiao Zong's knees, and gazed up at him with adoration.

"Xueyao is willing to serve you, my lord, for the rest of her life, never to leave you."

Xiao Zong said casually, "Miss Wei, have you forgotten? I am already married."

"In Shengjing City, which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines? Even if she were to remain by Xiao Lang's side as a concubine, Xueyao would be perfectly content!"

Xiao Zong pinched her chin, "The legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Yingchuan, is of noble birth and possesses unparalleled beauty. How could I bear to let you become my concubine?"

Wei Xueyao's eyes flickered as she leaned closer to him. "Whatever you ask me to do, I will do. Everything is up to you!"

Xiao Zong raised the corners of his mouth, his eyes flashing with a cruel and bloodthirsty light. "What if I become a prisoner?"

Wei Xueyao seemed to have been doused with cold water, and asked in a panic, "What?"

Xiao Zong shook off her hand, stood up straight, and looked down at Wei Xueyao as if she were an ant.

"Although Wang Dun is dead, his accomplices remain. Do you think you can rest easy just by destroying the account books? How many people handled that money? Who knows if they didn't deliberately keep some for themselves to save their own lives?"

"The Leopard Guard followed the clues and found the Marquis of Yingchuan's residence. It's laughable how foolish the Wei family was to send you to seduce someone. If the memorial hadn't already been submitted to the Emperor, I would have added another clause to it. But it doesn't matter, since you'll be spending the rest of your life in prison anyway!"

Wei Xueyao was completely disoriented and collapsed to the ground.

Do not!

She's so young, she can't go to jail!

She groveled at his feet, pleading desperately, "Lord Xiao, please save me! My father and grandfather did all those things, I knew nothing about it! If you spare my life, Xueyao is willing to be your slave and serve you for the rest of my life!"

“I would never want a servant who would abandon her parents and brothers just to survive.”

Xiao Zong lifted his foot to leave, but Wei Xueyao grabbed his leg. This was her last lifeline, and she couldn't let it slip away!

"What are you doing!"

Chu Lan, having run wildly, was out of breath. She clutched her stomach with one hand and pointed at the two of them with the other.

Xiao Zong kicked Wei Xueyao aside and helped Chu Lanyin, who was running over, "What are you doing? You're all sweaty!"

Chu Lan said breathlessly, "My...my cousin's wife is missing. I suspect she's in danger!"

Xiao Zong's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he dragged her back the way they came, saying, "Let's talk as we walk!"

Chu Lan scrutinized every detail, and when Xiao Zong heard the word "box," his pupils constricted sharply. Had Yuan Zhi been drowned?!

The two approached the steward of the Prince's mansion and asked him to gather people to help them search.

The steward said arrogantly, "Lord Xiao, this is the Wu Prince's residence. Who would dare to kill someone here? I think it was Madam Xiao who had drunk too much and went to rest somewhere. There's no need for you to be nervous, sir."

Xiao Zong's body was filled with violent blood energy, and the steward's attitude was tough. He clearly knew the inside story. Without some tricks, he probably wouldn't be able to find out Yuan Zhi's whereabouts.

He tore off the token from his waist and tossed it to Chu Lanyin.

"Go to the Leopard Guard and mobilize troops to surround the Wu Prince's residence!"

"it is good!"

Chu Lan took a deep breath. Her cousin-in-law's life was in danger, and it was extremely urgent. Even if she had a broken leg, let alone a stomachache, she would still go and get help.

As soon as his cousin left, Xiao Zong grabbed the butler by the neck and demanded, "Tell me, where is my wife?"

"I...I...don't know!"

"court death!"

Xiao Zong tightened his grip, and the steward's face turned purple, his eyes rolled back, and he was only one step away from death.

"Don't tell me!"

Even if you kill me... I... I still won't know!

Xiao Zong threw him to the ground. The only person who could make the steward obey orders was definitely not Yuan Ying, so it could only be the Prince of Wu!

The steward's entire family's lives were in the hands of the King of Wu, and he dared not betray his master, so he refused to reveal Yuanzhi's location.