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

The moonlight ripples on the curtains, and the night is cool and refreshing.

Inside the Vermilion Bird Palace.

Li Rui knelt before the imperial desk, trembling.

Emperor Li Kai grabbed the memorial at hand and slammed it down.

"How majestic is the King of Wu! Instructing his servants to sue a court official in the street. What, is the Shengjing government office not a place for reason? Have I been supporting a bunch of useless people?"

"Your subject has never had such a thought!"

Li Kai scoffed, "Of course your thoughts aren't there, but on this dragon throne. Rui'er, rein in your ambitions. You'll have to wait a few more years for your father to take the throne!"

"I don't dare!"

Li Rui bowed, burying his head between his arms, his eyes darting around.

Does this mean the throne is to be passed to him?

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Eunuch Xu gripped the handle of his whisk tightly, lowered his brows, and slowed his breathing, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. A young eunuch outside lifted the curtain; Xu's eyes flickered slightly, and he slowly retreated outside.

Zheng Xiangxiang stood outside the Vermilion Bird Palace, stamped her foot, and pulled her cloak tighter around herself.

The palace maid placed her hand on the porcelain bowl to test the temperature of the pigeon soup. She looked up and saw Eunuch Xu coming out, and quietly gestured to her master.

Zheng Xiangxiang hurriedly stepped forward, "Is Your Majesty still not finished?"

Eunuch Xu said, "His Highness Prince Wu has acted immorally, and His Majesty is furious. If the beauty goes in now, she might be implicated. It would be better if she went back first!"

Zheng Xiangxiang bit her red lips. This King Wu, why did he have to make a mistake now of all times?

She took out a few gold leaves and stuffed them into Eunuch Xu's hand, saying, "When His Majesty is in a better mood, please don't forget to inform me."

"must."

Zheng Xiangxiang turned back, twisting the handkerchief in her hand, wishing she could tear it to shreds.

"Your Majesty is already so old, yet you still want to choose concubines! If I don't hurry up and have a child, once those young and beautiful women enter the palace, how will Your Majesty be willing to give me even a little bit of favor?"

"A beautiful woman should be careful with her words, for walls have ears."

Zheng Xiangxiang looked agitated. "At a time like this, do I still care about this?"

The palace maid reached out and grabbed her wrist. "My lady, don't worry. If it really comes to a last resort, I will find a way to help you!"

Zheng Xiangxiang grasped her hand, "Xing'er, you're all I have left, you must help me!"

Xing'er nodded emphatically, and the two of them, mistress and servant, returned to the palace hand in hand.

*

Yuan Zhi leaned against the carved wooden railing by the bed, her head drooping repeatedly.

Luo Mei supported her and said helplessly, "Miss, you've been busy all day, go to sleep first. I'll wake you when the young master comes back."

Yuan Zhi slapped his face twice, forcing himself to wake up.

"No, I have something to discuss with him, and I need to be sincere."

Luo Mei lost count of how many times she had looked towards the door. It was so late, why hadn't the young master returned home yet?

"Luomei, you go to sleep first. I'm going to get out of bed and walk around to clear my head."

"I'm not sleepy, I'll stay with you, Miss."

Yuanzhi put on her shoes and pushed her towards the door, saying, "You've been helping Granny Li manage the household every day lately, and then you have to serve me when you get back. How could you not be tired? Go on, I can manage on my own!"

Luo Mei walked away, turning back every few steps. Yuan Zhi poured himself a cup of cold tea and downed it in one gulp.

The ice-cold tea rolled between her teeth, instantly reviving her.

She covered her cheek, thinking to herself that if she didn't get anything tonight, she would have let herself down after working so hard!

Xiao Zong returned home around 9 PM. He pushed open the door and saw her sitting upright on a stool. He asked in surprise, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

“I’m not sleepy.” Yuan Zhi went behind him and helped him untie his belt. “Have you eaten, husband? If not, I’ll have the kitchen make you a bowl of noodles.”

Xiao Zong grabbed her hand. "You've had enough to do today, and you have time to try and use your charms on me?"

"But you have to take the bait first!"

"Still not giving up? Are you determined to save the Wei family father and son?"

Yuan Zhi pressed close to him, "From what you're saying, there's hope?"

"no way!"

Xiao Zong loosened his belt, walked forward on his own, hung his outer robe on the clothes rack, and turned to go to the next room to bathe.

Yuan Zhi gritted her teeth and followed him inside.

Xiao Zong caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye, a slight smile playing on his lips. He untied the ribbon with his long fingers and slowly removed his inner garment.

"Still not leaving?"

Yuan Zhi's cheeks puffed up in anger, "I'm not leaving!"

She's seen men before; if he dares to take his clothes off, she dares to look!

Xiao Zong exhaled lightly, quickened his pace, and began to remove his undergarments by pulling open the collar.

The man has broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with a thick and strong back, and clear and powerful muscle lines, like a majestic mountain that envelops everything.

Yuan Zhi was thoroughly humiliated; she had never seen a man like this before!

Seeing the man's fingers move to his pants, she quickly stepped forward to stop him. He couldn't take them off any further; the impact was too strong, and she needed to calm down.

"Husband...husband, can't you really make an exception?"

Xiao Zong glanced at her, "You really want to save the Wei family?"

Yuan Zhi nodded.

"Kiss me, and I'll help you."

Yuan Zhi narrowed his eyes. That simple?

She tiptoed and kissed him on the lips. "Is it okay?"

"not enough."

Xiao Zong wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to his chest, his lips possessive and forceful, falling on her like a storm.

Yuan Zhi's breath was stolen, her waist was tightly held by him, and she could hardly breathe. She wanted to find a foothold, but in front of her was his bare chest, and she had nowhere to put her hands. She was like a swaying kite, completely under his control.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally released her. "Alright, I agree. Now you can go."

Yuan Zhi's mind went blank. She forgot how she got back to her room. When she regained consciousness, she was already sitting on the bed.

She touched her slightly swollen lips, the heat from her mouth burning all the way to her heart.

My body trembled slightly, my hands and feet felt weak, as if I were walking on clouds.

She had never felt this way before and didn't know how to deal with it, so she could only cover herself with the blanket to hide her unease.

When Xiao Zong came out, he saw that she was bundled up tightly and asked, "Are you cold?"

"Kind of."

When he touched her, Xiao Zong could clearly feel that she was trembling. He took his blanket from the floor and covered her with it, then hugged her and the blanket in his arms.

His forehead touched hers, and he found it wasn't hot.

After kissing her, he looked almost exactly like her. If it weren't for the warm water, the two of them would be wrapped in the blanket right now.

Could it be that she, too, was so excited that she couldn't control herself, just like I had been?

Beneath this sophisticated exterior, does his all-encompassing heart also rejoice for him?

Yuan Zhi nestled against his chest, unaware of his thoughts, only feeling his heart pounding faster and faster. With each pounding heartbeat, she slowly calmed down, remembering the important matter she had almost forgotten.

"Which one of the Wei family, father and son, do you intend to release?"

Xiao Zong was taken aback by her quick return to the main topic and thought to himself: As expected of the Imperial Concubine who prioritizes interests above all else, she never indulges in love!

"When did I say I was going to release them?"

"You're going back on your word?" Yuan Zhi sat up abruptly, pointing at her red lips. "You've gone this far, and you still dare to go back on your word?"

"I meant to release the Wei family, but not them."

"No, I want them!"

Xiao Zong rested his head on his arm and said, "I'll give you Wei Xueyao, but don't even think about anything else!"