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

The maidservant walked up timidly.

"Young Madam... Mother's health has been poor lately, I'm afraid I... cannot stay and serve her."

Yuan Zhi's eyes remained calm and indifferent. "Give my regards to your mother. Steward, give her two taels of silver."

The maid took the money and left, while another maid stepped forward.

"Young mistress, this servant is willing to stay."

"I'm willing to stay too!"

……

Most of the hundred or so people stayed behind, and Yuan Zhi rearranged the shifts according to the areas and number of people they were responsible for, so busy that he didn't even have time to eat dinner.

Just as he took a sip of water, someone from the Qingyang Marquis's residence came to report that Xiao Zong had arrived in Yanzhou and would reach the capital within two days.

The memorial submitted by the Censorate was suppressed by His Majesty. The Empress Dowager threatened to go on a hunger strike, but His Majesty values ​​filial piety above all else and may not be able to hold out for long.

Yuanzhi rewarded the visitor with five taels of silver, saying, "Please tell my uncle that when my husband returns, my husband and I will definitely come to express our gratitude."

Granny Li left with that person, while Yuan Zhi lay slumped on the couch, her thoughts in disarray.

What was Xiao Zong thinking? Why didn't he plead his case at this critical moment of life and death?

She thought marrying him would bring her a peaceful life, but who knew that there wasn't a single normal person in the Xiao family!

A husband who's asking for trouble, a mother-in-law who's always finding fault, a brother who's like a venomous snake, and a sister who's spoiled and willful—they've all ended up together.

Yuan Zhi cursed inwardly, this family is even more difficult to serve than the old emperor!

Feeling much better after venting her anger, Yuan Zhi fell asleep very quickly.

Luo Mei picked up a thin blanket and covered her with it. Today had been truly dangerous, but fortunately, the young lady remained calm in the face of danger and managed to take over the management of the household.

I only hope that the son-in-law can get through this ordeal safely and become a loving couple with the young lady, living a good life together.

The next day.

Qin Shi was in much better spirits and sent someone to summon Yuan Zhi for questioning. Yuan Zhi answered clearly and logically, leaving no room for error.

Unable to find fault, Madam Qin couldn't help but reprimand her, "If there's any mistake, you'll be punished according to family rules!"

Yuan Zhi was not to be outdone. "The Great Prayer Law, Mother-in-law, have you forgotten it again? It's alright, there happens to be a copy in my husband's study. I'll have someone bring it to you later. You're bedridden, so you can flip through it when you have nothing to do, just for a bit of amusement."

"you!"

"Mother-in-law, please don't be angry. You'll hurt yourself if you get upset. Your daughter-in-law will take her leave now."

As soon as Yuanzhi came out, she saw Granny Li pulling Luomei towards the back garden. She called out twice, but the two didn't hear her, so she had no choice but to follow.

The garden is filled with artificial hills and crisscrossing paths, resembling a maze.

The two disappeared in the blink of an eye, and being a first-time visitor, she quickly lost her way.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him, and Yuan Zhi turned around abruptly.

"Uncle?"

"Sister-in-law."

Yuan Zhi looked wary. She had just gotten lost, and Xiao Shen had come looking for her. What a coincidence!

Xiao Shen stepped forward, "Sister-in-law, are you lost?"

"Yes, please lead the way, Uncle. I need to go back to Songfeng Courtyard."

"my pleasure."

Xiao Shen continued to approach, but the narrow, winding path was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

"Sister-in-law, move aside, the exit is behind you."

Yuan Zhi turned to the side, leaning against the artificial hill, his gaze intense.

"Uncle, you go first."

Xiao Shen brushed past Yuan Zhi's clothes. Just as Yuan Zhi was about to follow, he suddenly turned around, grabbed her neck with his large hand, and pressed her against the artificial hill.

Yuan Zhi cried out in pain as her back slammed against a protruding rock, the hand lodged in her throat. Xiao Shen's other hand roamed over her body, seemingly searching for something.

In a flash, she drew her dagger and plunged it into his lower abdomen.

Xiao Shen loosened his grip and stepped back, clutching his stomach.

"You bitch, how dare you plot against me!"

"If my uncle dares to lay a hand on me again, I can't guarantee where I'll stab him next."

Yuan Zhi clutched the bloodstained dagger and backed away. After walking a short distance, seeing that Xiao Shen wasn't chasing her, she turned and ran.

At the end of the artificial hill was a flower garden. Yuan Zhi hurried through it, walked along the long corridor, and ran to a pavilion surrounded by water on three sides.

Luo Mei and Granny Li were talking inside when they heard the door open and got up to check.

"Miss."

"Young lady."

Yuan Zhi nodded in acknowledgment, "I saw you two talking so enthusiastically just now, I called out to you several times from behind, but you didn't hear me."

Granny Li quickly apologized, "Please forgive me, young mistress. I thought you would stay inside for a while, so I brought Miss Luomei to check out the place."

"Depending on the location?"

Luo Mei explained to Yuan Zhi, "The Double Ninth Festival is in five days. People will inevitably climb mountains to worship their ancestors and hold banquets for relatives and friends. The Xiao family is currently in the eye of the storm, so it is not advisable to make a fuss."

"What Granny Li means is that the waterside pavilion is on high ground, so climbing to the top is like climbing to a high place. It would be nice to hold a banquet upstairs and have the whole family celebrate the festival together."

Yuan Zhi slapped her forehead. "I completely forgot. Thank you for thinking of me, Granny."

"Young Madam, you don't need to be so polite," said Granny Li. "If you think it's feasible, I'll have my servants do it."

Yuan Zhi glanced around and nodded in satisfaction. "Alright, then I'll leave this to Granny. Tell them to light several lamps by the water and have a few servants who are good swimmers stand guard nearby in case anyone falls in."

Granny Li accepted the order and withdrew.

Yuan Zhi's tense body suddenly relaxed, her palms pressed on the table, and she exhaled a heavy breath.

"Miss?"

Luo Mei reached out to help, her fingertips brushing against Yuan Zhi's sleeve. She exclaimed, "Huh? Why is your sleeve wet?"

"This is not the place to talk, let's go back first."

The two returned to Songfeng Courtyard, where Yuanzhi told Luomei the whole story.

"I got my sleeves wet while washing the knife in the pond, but luckily the dress I was wearing today was a dark color, so it wasn't very noticeable when it got wet."

Luo Mei was furious. "The Second Young Master is a real scoundrel. He even dares to flirt with his own sister-in-law!"

Yuan Zhi took out the seal and the accounting key from his sleeve pocket. "His purpose should be this."

"That's not right! If the second young master wants money, he can just ask the madam directly. Why would he need to steal the seal and key?"

"What if the amount of money is large, and its purpose cannot be known to the mother-in-law?"

Luo Mei said, "Does Miss think that the Second Young Master has developed bad habits and wants to keep it from Madam?"

"It's just a guess." Yuan Zhi pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you still have the dagger I gave you before?"

"Oh, I put it back, it's in the cabinet."

Yuan Zhi got up, took out the dagger, and threw it, along with his own, into the lotus pond outside the door.

Luo Mei didn't understand, so Yuan Zhi explained, "Xiao Shen will probably complain to my mother-in-law about me, so it's best to destroy the evidence as soon as possible."

Luo Mei stamped her foot in frustration, "Miss, you should have said so earlier! You could have just handed it over to me, and I would have thrown it out of the manor!"

Yuan Zhi smiled calmly, "Don't panic. Go find Chen Qing now and go out of the manor to inquire about the Second Young Master."

"okay."

In case the second young master makes a false accusation, finding evidence might save the young lady's life. Luo Mei dared not delay and hurried to the backyard.

As night fell, Granny Li led her men into Songfeng Courtyard.

"The second young master has accused the young mistress of assaulting someone. The mistress has summoned you to the main hall for questioning. Please come with us."

The servants stepped forward with ropes, but Yuan Zhi shouted, "Get out of the way!"

Granny Li said, "Young Madam, please don't make things difficult for us."

"The truth is still unclear, and I am still the Commander's wife. How dare they get close to me? Lead the way, I'll go with you!"