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

At night, Yuan Zhi, along with Xiao Zong and several servants, guarded the back door and caught Xiao Shen, who was returning late.

She walked over to him and joked, "Why are you acting so suspiciously when you come back to your own home, Uncle? I thought a thief had broken in!"

Xiao Shen glared fiercely at Yuan Zhi. Catching a thief? This commotion clearly indicates they're after him!

Because his elder brother was present, he couldn't make a scene, so he stubbornly said, "It's too late, I'm afraid it will disturb the people in the mansion to sleep."

Xiao Zong's face was stern, and a hint of coldness shone in his deep eyes as he lowered his gaze and stared at him.

"Where did you go?"

Xiao Shen stammered, "I'm going...I'm going to a friend's house for tea."

"You've gotten so greedy from drinking tea, do you have a silver tongue?" Xiao Zong didn't waste any more words with him and gestured to the men on either side, "Search him!"

Two servants stepped forward, searched the man from head to toe, and pulled out two gold-inlaid dice from his pocket.

The servant presented the item to Xiao Zong, who took it, aimed at Xiao Shen's eyes, and then smashed it hard.

"You were just released and you're already gambling again! How did the Xiao family produce such a stubborn scoundrel like you! So many people outside want to find fault with me and use it to bring down the Xiao family, and you, on the contrary, are eager to give them leverage!"

"I can't control you anyway. If you're ever hunted down, don't come begging for my help. Our brotherhood is severed. The Xiao family has no place like you, an unfilial descendant! Guards, open the back door and throw the Second Young Master out of the manor!"

The servants received the order and dragged Xiao Shen out.

"Big brother! Brother, I'm your own brother, you can't treat me like this!"

Xiao Shen stretched out his feet, gripping the ground tightly, and cried out in tears.

"Young Master! Young...Young Master, please wait!"

Zhang Hui, supporting her pregnant belly, jogged over, with maids and servants flanking her on both sides, fearing something might happen to her.

Zhang Hui's eyes were red and swollen, her hair was disheveled, and she knelt down in front of Xiao Zong with a thud.

"Young Master, please have mercy and spare him this time. Consider it as doing good for the child in my womb. You wouldn't want it to be born without a father, would you?"

She wiped away her tears and pleaded desperately.

Yuan Zhi said, "Even without a father, the child in your womb is still of the Xiao family bloodline. Who would mistreat it?"

Zhang Hui, eyeing her half of the family fortune, was unwilling to back down. She put on a pained expression, clutched her stomach, and began to groan.

"Ouch! It hurts! Second Master, my stomach hurts so much!"

Xiao Shen broke free from the servants and ran over, "Hui'er, how are you?"

"Second Master, I can't go on like this! Please take me back quickly, it's so cold here!"

Yuan Zhi was furious. How could someone in so much pain still be able to yell so loudly? It was obviously an act!

Xiao Shen picked up Zhang Hui to leave, but she stretched out her arm to stop him, saying, "You can't move her so easily when the pregnancy is in danger. Someone, go and fetch a doctor!"

The maid who took care of Zhang Hui had previously served Qin Shi and was more respected than others, so she dared to stand up and talk back to Yuan Zhi.

"Young Madam, Aunt Zhang is carrying the eldest son of the family. If something were to happen to her, could you bear the responsibility?"

Yuan Zhi scoffed, "You know it's a son before the child is even born?"

"Whether it's a boy or a girl, they are the first child of the Xiao family. I don't need to elaborate on their significance, do I?"

Yuan Zhi's gaze darkened slightly, and Xiao Zong, holding her arm, shook his head at her.

If Zhang Huiruo were to have an accident, her mother would definitely take her anger out on Yuanzhi, and he didn't want to see her get hurt again.

Yuan Zhi placed his other hand on the back of his hand and looked up at him.

Xiao Zong's eyes were filled with heartache and pity, and Yuan Zhi's heart fluttered. She smiled faintly at him.

She originally intended to give him a minor punishment as a warning, not expecting to actually kick Xiao Shen out of the house. However, seeing Xiao Zong's resolute attitude just now, she thought she could solve the problem once and for all. Who knew that another unexpected obstacle would appear out of nowhere!

Fine, let Rong Xiaoshen run wild for a few more days. On the day of the banquet, she will definitely make him regret staying!

"Granny is right. It's just that I'm useless and haven't been able to give birth to a son or daughter for the Xiao family. Quickly take Aunt Zhang back; after all, she's carrying the Xiao family's own flesh and blood!"

The old woman bowed, "Thank you, young mistress."

Xiao Shen felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He carried Zhang Hui and walked away as fast as he could, quickly disappearing through the side gate.

Xiao Zong addressed the crowd, saying, "From now on, no one is allowed to lend money to the Second Young Master. Anyone who dares to disobey will be punished according to the family rules!"

Everyone responded in unison, "Yes."

Xiao Zong took Yuan Zhi back to Songfeng Courtyard. Luo Mei was not there, so he personally helped Yuan Zhi with her grooming, which aroused her allure and stirred her emotions.

Yuan Zhi stretched out her wet, jade-like arms, trying to pull him into the bathtub, but to her surprise, he simply carried her out, dried her off, and took her back to the bedroom.

Xiao Zong covered her with a blanket, placed a hot water bottle by her feet, took off his damp clothes, and prepared to take a bath.

Yuan Zhi, caught in a dilemma, asked, "Are you really leaving?"

"Your body has not yet recovered."

"The imperial physicians all say there's nothing wrong!"

Xiao Zong raised an eyebrow. "Just in case."

Yuan Zhi gritted her teeth and threw a pillow at him, "If you can endure this so well, go take a cold shower!"

"it is good."

After Xiao Zong left, Yuan Zhi was sulking and soon fell asleep in anger.

The next morning, a thick fog rolled in. Before the court assembly even began, the officials went to a side hall to warm up.

The Vice Minister of Justice switched seats with the military officer and sat down next to Xiao Zong with a cup of hot tea.

"Yesterday, my men discovered that Hu San'er's family members had mysteriously disappeared, and with Wei Yanlou's testimony as evidence, he must be the one who poisoned them!"

Xiao Zong blew away the foam on the surface of the tea, took a sip of fragrant tea, and asked, "Have the murderer's family members been found?"

"Easy to say!" The Vice Minister of Justice sighed. "The neighbors said that the Hu family was taken away by a wealthy family. There are so many rich and powerful families in Shengjing. Where are we going to find them?"

Xiao Zong closed the covered bowl. "Then let's think of a way to make the prisoner give up."

The Vice Minister of Justice humbly sought his advice, asking, "How do I do it?"

“It’s very simple! Just pick a few commonly used items from the Hu family, throw them at Hu San’er, and tell him that his parents were murdered. I guarantee he’ll confess immediately.”

The Vice Minister was utterly impressed. "It has to be Lord Xiao! I will remember your kindness. If you ever need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask!"

Xiao Zong humbly replied, "We are all serving His Majesty, so there's no need for you to be so polite, Vice Minister."

After the court session, the Vice Minister of Justice, following Xiao Zong's instructions, ordered his subordinates to carry out the task immediately. Before noon, he received the confession.

However, the contents of the confession were quite shocking. He repeatedly confirmed with his subordinates, who swore on their lives that the confession was absolutely not forged or altered.

The Vice Minister presented the confession to his superior, and the Minister wrote a memorial, which was presented to the Ministry of Justice along with the confession.

Upon receiving the news, Xiao Zong instructed his subordinates to deliver his memorial to the eunuch on duty at the gate.

After reading Xiao Zong's memorial, Li Kai asked Eunuch Xu, "Didn't the Three Judicial Offices also arrest a prisoner? How's the interrogation going?"

Eunuch Xu said, "This servant will go and ask."

After leaving the Vermilion Bird Hall, he asked a eunuch to inquire and learned that the Ministry of Justice had already submitted a memorial, but it had been sent to the Grand Secretariat by the Office of Transmission.

It seems that the Office of Transmission dared not offend the King of Wu, so it passed the hot potato to the Cabinet. And since several ministers in the Cabinet supported His Highness the King of Wu, they naturally withheld the memorial.

Eunuch Xu did not reveal his own guess, but only informed His Majesty of the location of the memorial.

Li Kai's expression shifted between light and shadow. "He hasn't even ascended to the throne yet, and he already has subordinates. My son certainly knows how to scheme. Go and tell the cabinet to submit their memorial as soon as possible!"