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

When Yuanzhi saw Qin Shi collapse, he grabbed Chu Lanyin and ran to the main seat. He couldn't let his mother-in-law miss the exciting scene.

"Mother-in-law, mother-in-law, wake up!"

Yuan Zhi pinched Qin Shi's philtrum hard with her other hand, while gently patting Qin Shi's face with her other hand.

"Uh--"

Qin collapsed in one breath, her eyelids lifted, and a face she had always loathed was reflected in her cloudy eyes.

Her philtrum was burning with pain. She frowned and tried to knock away the hand that was gripping her so tightly, but her daughter-in-law grabbed her and pulled her outside.

"Mother-in-law, you're finally awake! Quick, quick, go save my brother-in-law!" Yuan Zhi said as she ran.

Qin almost tripped several times, and pried Yuanzhi's hand, saying, "The servants have gone to find Congyun. With him there, Shen'er will definitely be fine!"

"Oh dear! Didn't you hear what the servants said? My uncle went to the gambling den again a few days ago, and my husband publicly said he's not going to care about him anymore!"

"What?!" Qin exclaimed, "Hurry up and take me there!"

When the two arrived at the front yard, Chu Lanyin followed and saw Xiao Shen lying on the ground, covered in blood.

The swordsman stepped on Xiao Shen's back, his voice rough: "Paying back debts is a matter of course! Today I'll cripple one of your legs, and the debt from the gambling den will be settled!"

As he spoke, he raised his broadsword and slashed down suddenly.

"No!" Qin shouted and rushed over, shielding her son behind her.

"Have mercy, brave sir! I'll pay off whatever he owes!"

The man quickly sheathed his knife, his eyes cold and menacing. "I'm not part of the gambling den. Talking to me won't help. I'm paid to do what I'm owed. I'm taking your son's leg!"

Qin knelt on the ground, holding the man's arm, her expression anxious.

"I... I'll pay for my son's leg, is that alright?"

The swordsman remained unmoved. "How can one break a promise while traveling the martial world? Get out of the way, or I'll cut you down too!"

Concerned and confused, Qin blurted out, "My eldest son is the commander of the Leopard Guard. You injured his brother. Even if you run to the ends of the earth, he will not let you go!"

"Really? Then let him come!"

The swordsman kicked her aside, caught up with Xiao Shen who was crawling forward, and slashed down with his sword.

……

In the study, the servants tried everything to persuade the young master, but to no avail.

It wasn't until another servant burst in and said that the young mistress had taken the madam away that Xiao Zong suddenly stood up and strode out the door.

Just as he arrived at the covered walkway, a shrill wail rang out, and he quickened his pace to the scene of the crime.

The mother hugged Xiao Shen and cried uncontrollably. Yuan Zhi and Lan Yin stood to the side, covering half their faces with handkerchiefs, their eyes red.

When Qin saw Xiao Zong, her eyes were filled with resentment. "Why didn't you wait until your brother was dead before coming? Shen'er has lost a leg, and you're happy and smug now, but he'll never outshine you, Lord Xiao, right?"

Xiao Zong didn't argue at all, and comforted himself: Mother was too sad, these were just unintentional words, please don't take them seriously!

Yuan Zhi couldn't stand it anymore, so she walked to Xiao Zong's side and retorted, "My brother-in-law suffered a sudden misfortune, which is his own fault. It's unfair for my mother-in-law to blame my husband for this!"

Xiao Zong pulled her back, "Stay put and don't say anything out of line."

Yuan Zhi protested, "I'm telling the truth!"

"I didn't even bother to settle accounts with you, and you just showed up yourself!" Madam Qin's eyes blazed with anger. "I was wondering how the Xiao family, with no fewer than forty servants and guards, could let thieves in. So it was you, you vile woman, who did this!"

“My mother-in-law just says it was me with a few words. If she has the guts to produce evidence, I’ll immediately confess!”

"Heh, evidence? You made a pledge when you held the banquet, so even without evidence, it can still be blamed on you!" Madam Qin roared, "Guards, tie up the young mistress and throw her into the ancestral hall!"

Xiao Zong stood protectively in front of Yuan Zhi, saying, "Mother, the noble ladies and gentlemen of Shengjing are still in the manor. The banquet still needs me to take charge. You can't touch her!"

Qin had lost her mind. "Shen'er is injured like this, why should I care about them? Attack!"

Xiao Zong exuded a chilling aura, like a cold-faced demon emerging from hell, frightening the servants so much that they dared not approach.

"Does that mean only Xiao Shen is your child, while Rong'er and I were adopted? Mother, have you considered that Rong'er is also part of this banquet today? If you insist on making this a big deal, what will she do?"

Qin laughed through her tears, "To kill someone is to destroy their spirit! Look at my good son, using those scheming interrogation tricks on his own family! You don't need to worry, I'll end my own life now, so as not to cause you any trouble!"

She pulled out her hairpin to commit suicide, but Yuan Zhi rushed forward, snatched the weapon from her, and threw it aside.

"My mother-in-law is nearly fifty years old. Doesn't she think it's beneath her dignity to put on this kind of dramatic show of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide?"

She ordered the servants and maids, "What are you all standing there for? Help the madam and the second young master back!"

Upon hearing this, the group split into pairs, helped the lady and the second young master up, and left.

The butler arrived with the doctor, nodded to the young master and mistress, and quickly followed.

Xiao Zong put his arm around Yuan Zhi and said, "The master cannot leave his seat for too long. Let's go to the backyard."

"Ah."

Yuan Zhi turned her head and responded.

"Wait a minute, how did you get hurt near your eye?"

Yuan Zhi said, "I probably got cut when I was grabbing the hairpin. It's nothing, it doesn't hurt... Ah!"

Xiao Zong had somehow snatched the handkerchief from her hand and pressed it against her wound. She was stung by the sting, and tears streamed down her face as if a floodgate had been opened.

Xiao Zong became suspicious, picked up the handkerchief, and sniffed it.

Paprika.

His lips drooped. "You really did it!"

Yuan Zhi thought to himself: Oh no, I've messed up!

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Chu Lan hurriedly said, "Um... I'll go to the backyard to watch the match. You guys... can chat slowly."

Neither of them replied to her, so Chu Lanyin lowered her head and quickly slipped away.

Yuan Zhi pursed her lips, feeling guilty, and said, "Don't be angry. I didn't mean to kill my uncle. I just did the assassin a favor by letting him in."

Xiao Zong grabbed her chin tightly. "How can you be sure the assassin was sent by the gambling den? And how can you be sure the assassin didn't have ulterior motives? What if the gambling den is colluding with the King of Wu? By doing this, you're inviting a wolf into the house!"

Not content with being clever, you also have to get closer to take a look. Aren't you afraid the assassin will turn around and stab you, sending you to meet the King of Hell?

Yuan Zhi was frightened by his sinister expression and stammered, "Husband, I..."

"Shut up!"

Xiao Zong flung his hand away, threw the handkerchief at her, and turned away without a second thought.

"Husband!"

Yuan Zhi followed closely behind, but the man was tall and had long legs, and the two quickly grew apart.

She ran back to the horse farm, panting, and sat down next to Xiao Zong. "Let me explain."

The opposing team stood up, vaulted over the railing, and jumped into the arena, where one person fought against two teams.

Xu Muxin walked over, fanning herself. "Is Lord Xiao issuing a wife-selection order? Once he steps onto the stage, who in Shengjing will even look at anyone else?"

Yuan Zhi borrowed her fan and fanned herself vigorously to cool off. "That's perfect. Anyway, she's already tired of me. If she finds someone she likes, I can step down and make way for her!"