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

The mere mention of seeing the officials made Qin Shi cower in fear.

"How can trivial matters in the inner quarters be taken to the authorities?"

Yuan Zhi looked listless. "In that case, Mother-in-law, please step aside! Be careful that your servants are clumsy and might hurt you!"

She gestured with her chin toward the servants, "Keep moving!"

Qin Shi, having made a fool of herself, returned in defeat and smashed a pile of vases and porcelain in the main courtyard.

Zhang Hui rushed over upon hearing the news and offered her advice, "Madam, don't be upset. If your eldest daughter-in-law isn't well-liked, there's still your second daughter-in-law, isn't there?"

Qin lifted her eyelids slightly, "You?"

A concubine, how dare she call herself her daughter-in-law?!

"I am of lowly status and know I am not fortunate enough to have such an opportunity. However, the Second Young Master is getting on in years and it is time for him to marry. There is an order of seniority, and if he does not marry, the Third Miss cannot be legally engaged. Don't you agree?"

Qin changed her expression and patted her hand, "Good child, it's kind of you to think of me like this, unlike the eldest daughter-in-law, who is always running around outside and doesn't care about anything at home!"

She paused, then asked cautiously, "But, I have to ask you something honestly: when Shen'er punched and kicked you before, didn't you hold a grudge against him?"

Zhang Hui shook her head. "Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Although I couldn't become husband and wife with the second young master, I still regard him as my husband. He is my everything, the support for my child's future. If I don't rely on him, who else can I rely on?"

These days, I often bring meals to the second young master, and he told me that with my big belly, I shouldn't run back and forth. The second young master truly knows he's repented, Madam, please choose an opportunity and release him!

Qin's expression brightened, with tears glistening in her eyes. "It's good that he knows he has repented. I was just afraid he would go astray and spend his days idly, not doing anything productive!"

"Hui'er, I've remembered everything you said. You should go back and focus on your pregnancy. In a few days, I'll find a reason to forgive him."

"Ah."

Zhang Hui went out, walked to the door, placed her hand on her stomach, and smiled victoriously.

That idiot Xiao Shen, in order to escape confinement, actually offered her a deal. He promised her half of his family business if she rescued him.

She initially thought he was lying to her, but after hearing that the young mistress had almost emptied the eldest young master's storeroom, she realized that the young mistress's heart was not with the Xiao family at all.

If we don't want the existing family fortune, then we can only let her have it!

She was determined to secure as much money as possible for her child before the second young mistress married into the family.

Zhang Hui thought about it more and more and felt that this idea was brilliant. It could not only resolve the estrangement between her and the second young master, but also give her more private time. It was a win-win situation!

Yuan Zhi led his servants out of the mansion, selected some items, and had Luo Mei send them to Yue Ding Lou for auction. He took the rest directly to the pawnshop to exchange them for money.

After a long battle of wits with the pawnshop owner, she left with a thick wad of silver notes.

She sent the servants back and headed alone to Weiyang Street. Just as she reached the alley, a group of masked thugs rushed out from around the corner and surrounded her.

Yuan Zhi was filled with regret. How could she send all the servants back when she was carrying such a large sum of money?

She took out a silver note and placed it on the ground.

"Heroes and valiant men, it is fate that we meet. I have left the toll here, please do me a favor!"

The leader took a step forward, and she took a step back, but behind her were enemies, and she had no way to escape.

The man, carrying a knife, squatted down and picked up the silver note. "One hundred taels. Madam is very generous. You must have more on you!"

The henchmen cheered from behind, "Boss, this woman is fucking beautiful! I've never seen anyone so beautiful before! After we rob her of her money, can you wait a bit so I can have some fun?"

Another henchman slapped him on the head with a scabbard, saying, "If anyone's going to have fun, the boss should have fun first. You have no manners, get out of here!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha--"

Some of the group laughed loudly, while others whistled, their language vulgar and utterly obscene!

Yuan Zhi's face was pale. Damn Xiao Zong, if he hadn't tormented her so badly, she wouldn't have even had the strength to run away!

Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to outsmart them.

Suppressing her panic, she calmly said, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky, I had no idea there were bandits in Shengjing!"

"I didn't know before, but I'll show you today!"

Yuan Zhi mustered her courage and walked over, taking the silver notes back from the leader's hand. "So arrogant? You dare to rob the silver of the wife of the Leopard Guard Commander? Are you tired of living?"

The bandits exchanged smiles. "Stop trying to scare us! Commander Xiao is heartless and ruthless. Do you think he would allow a spendthrift woman like you to empty his pockets?"

Yuan Zhi's eyes suddenly lit up. "How do you know I've emptied my pockets, and how do you know I have more than a hundred taels of silver on me? You're from the pawnshop!"

When their identities were exposed, the group turned pale and tense.

"Boss, should we silence them?"

Just as the leader was about to nod, Yuan Zhi immediately said, "This place isn't far from the pawnshop. If you kill me here, my husband will definitely find you and tear you to pieces!"

"Okay, I'll do as you say, let's go somewhere else!"

The leader brandished the back of his sword, intending to knock him unconscious, when Yuan Zhi suddenly raised his voice, "Listen to me again!"

The leader clutched his chest, gritting his teeth as he said, "Say another word, and I'll chop you down!"

"You've all seen what I pawned today—those gold and silver treasures. How could a third-rank official possibly possess them? Everyone who's an official is a little greedy, just like you managers doing business!"

"If you kill me, all you'll get is twenty thousand taels of silver. Why don't we cooperate? I'll act as your go-between. With the Leopard Guard as your protector, you'll have someone to shield you if you get into trouble in the future. What do you say?"

The leader thought her idea was good and sent his underlings to ask the shopkeeper for his opinion.

Yuan Zhi's palms were sweaty, and she secretly wiped them on her skirt.

After a while, the younger brother came running over, covered in sweat, "Shopkeeper...the shopkeeper agreed!"

The leader nodded and gestured for her to go first, saying, "Madam, please go first."

Having regained some strength, Yuan Zhi took two steps forward, his eyes darting around, trying to find a suitable place to escape.

She absolutely could not go back to that shady shop. If it fell into their hands, the thieves would definitely use her to threaten Xiao Zong into submission, and she didn't want to owe them a favor!

There was a fork in the road ahead leading to the bustling main street. She spotted it and took off running.

A fierce wind howled behind her, its sound like raging waves, drawing ever closer.

She dared not look back, and ran forward desperately, the hairpin slipping from her hair bun, a strand of long black hair scattering in the wind.

The sounds of vendors hawking their wares were clearly audible on the street. She smiled, relieved that she was about to escape.

suddenly!

A large hand reached out from behind, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and dragged her back into the dark, narrow alley.

Yuan Zhi was filled with fear and dread. Her throat tightened, and she coughed violently, clutching her collar. Her legs went limp on the ground like noodles. She trembled like the last leaf on an autumn branch in the fierce, cold wind.

She felt that large hand slowly caress the back of her neck, like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, gradually spreading forward...