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

Liu Rong shouted for a long time and only managed to summon a few people.

Yuan Zhi rubbed his ears and asked the waiter to bring the spare gong to lend to the King of Wu.

"It's lunchtime, everyone's probably busy going home to cook, this might be helpful for you!"

"you!"

The servant reached out halfway, unsure whether to take the money or not, and glanced at the King of Wu.

Li Rui's expression suddenly changed, and he smiled maliciously, "Manager Yuan gave it to you, aren't you going to take it? What are you waiting for?"

The servant took the gong, but found nothing to strike. "Boss, here's a wooden mallet..."

Yuan Zhi said apologetically, "We don't have any extra wooden hammers, but I see you have so many hands. If each of you takes a slap, it should make a sound, right?"

Li Rui and his servant both had dark faces, meaning they were superfluous and deserved to be slapped!

Li Rui's eyes blazed with fury as he lashed out at his servant with a whip, yelling, "What are you standing there for? Crack the whip!"

bang——

The servant, fearing further lashes after being whipped, pounded the gong with all his might, and his fingers swelled up like carrots in no time.

With trembling hands, he passed the gong to the next person, who accepted it with a bitter expression and began a new round of composing.

"Stop just playing music! Start shouting!"

Yuan Zhi crossed his arms and bent down to speak to Liu Rong.

Liu Rong's voice was hoarse, "This slave, Liu Rong, accuses the Commander of the Leopard Guard..."

As more and more people gathered around, Feng Quan went home to pack his things. He wanted to take a shortcut to the city gate to meet the honor guard, but he was blocked on Weiyang Street.

He lifted the sedan curtain and instructed the servant boy, "Go and see what's going on?"

The boy was small, so he quickly squeezed through the crowd to the front, watched for a while, asked the person next to him about what had happened, and then went back to report to Feng Quan.

"His Highness the Prince of Wu, accompanied by a servant named Liu Rong, stood in front of a restaurant, pleading for justice. He claimed that the Commander of the Leopard Guard and his wife had indiscriminately killed innocent people and framed servants. He begged the people and Heaven to uphold justice for them."

Feng Quan remembered that Madam Xiao's restaurant was just ahead. She had a deep grudge against the King of Wu. If this continued, rumors would surely spread throughout Shengjing City.

"Go and inform the government office to send clerks to clear the streets and take away the servants who are crying out for justice."

The young servant obeyed and ran off. Feng Quan then said to the sedan chair bearers, "We're not going this way. Turn around and take Yong'an Street."

Just as he reached the street corner, Feng Quan heard the sound of a cavalry procession approaching like thunder. He stopped the sedan chair bearers, lifted the curtain, and stepped down, coming face to face with Xiao Zong on his tall, fine horse.

"Lord Xiao arrived quickly!"

Xiao Zong held the reins, a hint of arrogance hidden between his bright eyebrows and starry eyes. "I received a report that some thieves were defaming the Leopard Guard in the street. We are upholding the law. Does Lord Feng intend to stop us?"

"I wouldn't dare, but I have already reported this matter to the authorities. It would be best if Lord Xiao discussed with the government about the ownership of the suspect."

Xiao Zong tapped his temple with his riding crop. "Hiss, I'm afraid that won't work. There's no one my Leopard Guard can't get! Rest assured, Lord Feng, I'll hand the case over to the prefectural government after I've finished the interrogation. It's getting late, Lord Feng, you should be on your way. I have urgent business to attend to, so please excuse me for not seeing you off. Giddy up!"

He whipped his horse forward, and his subordinates followed suit. The horses' hooves pounded the long road, raising a plume of smoke.

Feng Quan waved his sleeve, sat back in the sedan chair, and said, "Let's go."

"The Leopard Guard is handling a case; all unauthorized personnel must stand aside!"

The people were terrified and vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

The horse trotted leisurely to the front of the King of Wu's carriage. Xiao Zong clasped his hands in greeting from the horse's back, "Your Highness, King of Wu."

Yuan Zhi's eyes widened. Why was it him?

Li Rui returned the greeting, "At this hour, Commander Xiao should still be on duty, right? You brought your men here to support Madam?"

"How could I, Xiao, be someone who can't distinguish between public and private matters? I simply heard that someone was causing trouble in the street, so I came to arrest them!" Xiao Zong declared, "Take them down!"

Li Rui said, "Lord Xiao, it's not appropriate to arrest someone without distinguishing right from wrong! This person has been wronged, why not let him finish speaking before making a decision!"

"Instead of going to the yamen to seek justice from the common people, are the officials all good-for-nothings under the emperor's nose?"

Those who know him call him ignorant; those who don't think he's dissatisfied with His Majesty's rule and plotting a rebellion! As a prince, it's one thing for Prince Wu not to defend His Majesty, but why is he speaking up for this traitor!

Incite a mass rebellion!

Four words terrified the King of Wu, for this was His Majesty's Achilles' heel, a crime punishable by confiscation of property and execution!

Xiao Zong tied him and Liu Rong together in order to take the opportunity to eliminate him. He had to think of a way to sever ties with Liu Rong!

"Lord Xiao, you must not speak recklessly. When have I ever helped him? I want to hear his grievances first before arresting him!"

Yuan Zhi spat, "Your Highness just now said in front of so many people that this person is your servant, why are you denying it now?"

Li Rui swept his gaze over the kneeling crowd, his voice dark and menacing: "Did I say that?"

These people dared not oppose the prince, so they bowed their heads and replied, "No, no!"

Li Rui said smugly, "As the wife of the Commander, Manager Yuan's crime of slandering the Prince is even more serious. Lord Xiao, what do you think should be done?"

Xiao Zong feigned ignorance, "Really? I didn't hear anything. Did you guys hear anything?"

"no!"

The subordinate of the Leopard Guard answered with a strong voice.

Yuan Zhi glanced gratefully at Xiao Zong, who flashed his riding whip at her, indicating that if she continued to speak recklessly, he couldn't save her!

"Fine! You guys are really something!" Li Rui, having been rebuffed, snorted loudly and roared, "Back to the manor!"

Liu Rong cried out from behind, "Your Highness! Your Highness, you can't leave! If I enter the Leopard Guard, I'll surely die! Please save me, Your Highness!"

Without turning his head, the King of Wu's carriage quickly disappeared at the end of the street. Xiao Zong called for Yuan Zhi to turn around, and with a flick of his hand, he threw something at her.

Yuan Zhi caught it with both hands and looked closely; it was a small brocade box. Opening it, she found a pair of gold earrings inlaid with pink tourmaline, uniquely designed and adorably small.

"This is?"

"A gift."

Yuan Zhi touched it, a smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, I like it very much."

"If you like her, that's good." Xiao Zong ordered his men to take Liu Rong away and said to her, "Let's go."

"Ah."

Yuan Zhi nodded. They had guessed that the King of Wu would not let the matter rest and would definitely come looking for trouble, so they had planned to deal with Li Rui together today.

Fearing she might frighten everyone, she suggested that Dou Zhao come instead. Unexpectedly, he came secretly and even brought a gift.

Although she was secretly pleased, her identity was now exposed to everyone.

After seeing off the two plagues, the men rubbed their sore knees and limped over to Yuan Zhi.

"Master, are you really the Commander's wife?"

She closed the brocade box, her eyes sincere. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hide it from you. I was just afraid that if I told you the truth, you would all run away!"

"The informant" scratched the back of his head. "That's quite possible! Um... Boss, you didn't learn those nonsense I talked about from the Commander, did you?"

Yuan Zhi patted his shoulder, "Of course not! Am I that kind of person?"

"Message Master" wiped his sweat. "That's good!"

"Actually, you don't need to be so afraid. Xiao Zong... isn't that fierce, and he won't be coming again. Relax! I still hope we can get along like before, okay?"