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

Yuan Zhi found a comfortable position on his lap. "Seriously, I have already formed an alliance with the county princess, and you have also offended the Wu Prince's Mansion today. It is no longer possible for the Xiao family to remain uninvolved."

Xiao Zong's expression was serious. "His Majesty is nearly fifty years old. How many more years can he remain at his peak? A new emperor brings a new court. Once His Majesty passes away, what good will come of a henchman like me?"

“Ah Zhi, I must thank you. You’ve helped me understand many things. Self-preservation has never suited me, nor the Xiao family. Now that we’re already in this situation, we must strive to be in control. Would you, Madam, be willing to join hands with me and see what the future holds?”

Yuan Zhi intertwined her fingers with his and shook them, "It's barely passable."

The two exchanged heartfelt words, and Xiao Zong held her close as they spoke softly. Luo Mei stumbled in, her expression terrified.

"Young master, young lady, Gu Yu... she's dead!"

The two people on the bed were startled and immediately went over, but Xiao Zong stopped Yuan Zhi, saying, "You are not fully recovered, so rest well. I will go and take a look."

Yuan Zhi was extremely anxious. "How can I rest in peace after something like this? Stop talking and let's go together!"

Xiao Zong helped her up, and Luo Mei led the way. The three of them arrived at the backyard.

Gu Yu's body was tied with a hemp rope and hung on the osmanthus tree. A gentle breeze rustled through the treetops, causing her skirt to sway slightly, making her appear almost alive from a distance.

Luo Mei covered her eyes, unable to look any longer. Two servants, who had been guarding the corpse, rubbed their arms and stepped forward when they saw their master approaching.

"Young Master!"

Xiao Zong nodded and scratched Yuan Zhi's palm. "Are you scared?"

In her previous life, Yuan Zhi had seen many dead people in the palace—those beaten to death, poisoned, or hanged—even the most timid person would be terrified. However, to avoid being exposed, she would still pretend a little!

She buried her head in his arms and murmured a trembling "Mmm".

"I'm afraid they'll just wait here."

"..."

“Gu Yu’s spirit must be nearby. What if she comes looking for me?” Yuan Zhi pointed at Luo Mei and the servants. “Look at the three of them. Who can protect me? I’d better stay with my husband!”

Luo Mei and the servants exchanged glances. "Young Master/Young Master, we'll follow you too!"

Xiao Zong laughed loudly, "Come on over!"

The group immediately hid behind him. Xiao Zong looked around the tree trunk, put the body down, and squatted down to examine it.

Yuan Zhi stared at the swollen face for a while, wondering if Gu Yu knew that things had been exposed and was trying to atone for her sins with her death.

This little mistake isn't punishable by death!

Was it suicide?

Xiao Zong noticed two red marks on the corpse's neck and examined its speech before concluding, "No, it was strangled."

"Could it be that man who killed him?"

"possible."

"Ah!"

Yuan Zhi's shoulders twitched, and she looked at Luo Mei, "Did you catch a cold?"

Luo Mei rubbed her nose, "No... Achoo..."

She sneezed several times in a row, and her eyes and mouth were a little swollen. Yuan Zhi looked at her and felt that she looked familiar.

"I forgot, there's a servant in the backyard who keeps a kitten. It might be wandering around nearby. You can't touch cat hair. Go back and take a shower, and get some rest."

"Miss Xie is very considerate."

Luo Mei left with tears in her eyes.

"Child, look at this."

Xiao Zong moved the lantern closer, and on his illuminated fingertips, he could clearly see a few gray hairs lying there.

"Judging by the color, it should be that tabby cat." She asked, "Was it found on Gu Yu?"

"Hmm, the fur on the chest means either Gu Yu held the kitten, or it was left by the murderer. Zhi'er, do you remember what the servant who held the kitten for you looked like?"

Yuan Zhi rubbed the bridge of her nose. "...I drank too much that day."

Xiao Zong patted her head and said, "It's okay, it's not your fault."

A servant behind him said, "Young master, I know that the cat belongs to Liu Rong."

Xiao Zong's gaze hardened, and he said, "Bring the person here."

"Yes."

A quarter of an hour later, a servant brought Liu Rong over. Qin Shi, who had been talking to her daughter and Zhang Hui in the main courtyard, heard that someone had died in Songfeng Courtyard, so she brought a group of people over as well.

Xiao Zong led his mother to sit down on a stone bench and scrutinized Liu Rong.

Ever since the man saw Gu Yu's body, he has been in a daze, as if he has gone mad.

"Liu Rong, where were you half an hour ago?"

"Little one was chopping wood behind the small kitchen."

"Who can prove it?"

"No...no one can prove that the younger one is stronger. Usually, the younger one does all the chopping of firewood by himself."

"Hmm." Xiao Zong's interrogation style took an unexpected turn, suddenly asking, "Where's your cat?"

"It always goes to the kitchen to steal food, so I locked it inside."

Liu Rong blurted out the words without thinking, and then, upon seeing the cat hair stuck to his clothes, his eyes widened in shock.

Xiao Zong's words contained a hint of amusement, "You locked the cat in the house, so Gu Yu couldn't possibly hold the cat. Where did the cat hair on her come from?"

Liu Rong kowtowed, crying, "Young Master! I did see Gu Yu tonight, but I really didn't kill her! Please, Young Master, see the truth!"

"What is your relationship with her? When did you meet her tonight? What did you do? Tell me in detail."

Liu Rong said, "I have always admired Miss Guyu, but she has always ignored me. Yesterday afternoon, she suddenly found me and said that if I dared to act in a play for her, she would agree to be with me."

"I followed her to your bedroom, only to find out that she wanted me to impersonate you and have sex with her, hoping to alienate the young mistress from you. I was initially hesitant, but she took off her clothes in front of me, and I, blinded by lust,..."

Qin interrupted him, slamming her hand on the table and rising to her feet. "You filthy, insolent servant! To commit such a vile act in your master's room, you deserve to die! Guards, beat this dog to death with sticks and send him to the underworld to be a pair of illicit lovers!"

"Wait!"

Yuan Zhi curtsied with a smile, "Mother-in-law, now that your daughter-in-law is in charge, you should leave the decision of how to handle things to her!"

"You want to keep him?"

"How could that be? Once the murderer is found, my daughter-in-law will expel him from the mansion; there's no need to take his life."

Madam Qin glanced at her sideways and smiled coldly: "How come I didn't notice before that you have the heart of a bodhisattva?"

Yuan Zhi ignored her cold words and said gently, "How could your daughter-in-law compare with a Bodhisattva? It's just that I'm naturally timid. If my hands are stained with blood, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep at night."

Qin Shi looked at him as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, "You're a coward?"

Xiao Zong turned to look at his wife. She lowered her head and obediently listened to his scolding, looking like a wronged little wife.

He's just a paper tiger; he's only brave in front of him.

He stood up for her, saying, "Mother, let's do as Zhi'er says!"

Qin was so angry that her mind went blank. "Congyun, she's just putting on an act! Don't be fooled by her! She's always been arrogant and disrespectful to her elders. I've tolerated her time and time again for your sake. But now that things have happened one after another in the manor, it proves that she's not suitable to manage the household. I'll give the power of managing the household back to you!"