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

Business at Wei Yan Lou was slow; apart from a few regulars, almost no new customers came in.

Yuan Zhi took stock of the inventory, delivered the wine he had promised to Prince Kang to the Prince's residence, and also gave him a pot of osmanthus wine as a gift.

When it came time for the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Dai, Xiao Zong couldn't possibly take her with him. After much thought, she decided that she could only try to win over Prince Kang.

She picked up her pen and made a list of the ingredients for brewing the wine. Then she rested her chin on her hand and pondered what name to give it.

Princess Pingyi entered looking dejected and sat down opposite Yuan Zhi. Yuan Zhi glanced at her sparingly, and seemed a little unaccustomed to the princess not having brought a fan.

She ordered the waiter, "Bring me the strongest liquor in the shop!"

Xu Muxin snatched her pen and paper. "Who said I came here to drink! Can't I come to you for serious business?"

"Oh?" Yuan Zhi's tone rose. "Please speak, Your Highness. I am all ears."

Xu Muxin's red lips parted slightly; she simply couldn't come up with anything, and slammed her fist on the table in frustration. She returned the paper and pen to Yuan Zhi, then turned to the waiter and said, "Two jars!"

Yuan Zhi smiled with pursed lips, while Xu Muxin rolled her eyes.

"You're still laughing! It's one thing that I'm confined to the princess's residence and can't attend the banquet, but you did attend. His Majesty bestowed beautiful maids upon Lord Feng, and you didn't even try to stop him!"

"What are you saying! I have no relation to Lord Feng, so what right do I have to stop him? If I say even a word, those censors will accuse me of being promiscuous, and my husband won't forgive me either!"

Xu Muxin finally found someone to scold, "Speaking of Xiao Zong, this beautiful maid was clearly given to him. If he had taken her, what would have become of Feng Quan?"

Yuan Zhi looked embarrassed. "Princess, I am Xiao Zong's wife, after all. Is it appropriate for you to say such things to me?"

After downing a bowl of strong liquor, Xu Muxin's eyes reddened. "Men are all bastards! They dress impeccably and act like upright gentlemen, but when they meet a beautiful woman, not one of them can resist!"

The speaker has no intention, the listener has the heart.

The memory of Xiao Zong's fragrance made Yuan Zhi feel nauseous. She picked up her wine cup, but then, remembering the torn piece of cloth, she slowly put it down again.

I can't have anything to do with him anymore. Last night's mistake was enough.

Consort Zheng was only one month pregnant, which coincided with the time Xiao Zong entered the palace. Could this child be Xiao Zong's?

Her mind was in turmoil. If the child's father was Xiao Zong, then was Zheng Xiangxiang's child from her previous life also his? Or perhaps, the Emperor's?

Unfortunately, her identity has not yet been revealed, so we cannot ask her directly.

Xu Muxin snapped her fingers. "What are you daydreaming about?"

Yuan Zhi snapped out of her reverie. "No, I'm just a little sleepy. By the way, is there any progress on the Shuozhou case?"

Xu Muxin shook her head. "It is true that the disaster relief funds were embezzled, but it happened too long ago, and His Majesty is unwilling to bring it up again. My mother made arrangements with all parties and quickly suppressed the matter."

At the request of the officials' families, His Majesty dispatched troops to Shuozhou to search for other survivors. However, I feel the hope is slim. How many people in this world are as destined for greatness as Lord Chu?

Yuan Zhi pondered for a moment: "That makes sense."

In the evening, Feng Quan arrived at the restaurant, looked around, but did not see Xu Muxin.

He asked, puzzled, "The county princess didn't come?"

Yuan Zhi pointed upstairs, "She was drunk and yelling that she wanted to take a knife and kill the unfaithful man. I was afraid it would affect business, so I had a maid help her to rest."

Feng Quan started walking upstairs, but Yuan Zhi blocked the entrance to the stairs, raising an eyebrow at him.

"This is Lord Feng's first visit, won't you have a drink?"

"I'm so poor I'm practically bankrupt. I have no money for drinking and having fun, so please don't make things difficult for me, Mr. Yuan."

Yuan Zhi sighed and made way for her. "Take her away quickly! If she stays any longer, I'm afraid she'll tear down the roof of Wei Yan Tower!"

Feng Quan hurriedly denied it, "Boss Yuan has misunderstood. I am only acquaintances with the county princess."

Yuan Zhi waved his hand with his back to him, "No matter what your relationship is, since you have come to see the county princess, please escort her home safely."

Feng Quan coughed lightly, "Alright."

*

As the year draws to a close and the weather gets colder, people begin to buy New Year's goods, and the streets gradually become more crowded.

As the restaurant business improved, Yuanzhi sensed a business opportunity and took out the wine he had brewed before to sell, making a small profit.

After drinking most of the wine, King Kang finally remembered the beauty at Weiyan Tower and came to express his gratitude with gifts.

Yuan Zhi returned all the gifts, saying, "I don't need these. If Your Highness really wants to help me, why not help promote my wine?"

"Has Madam Xiao researched a new wine?"

"Hmm, Your Highness, would you like to try some?"

"I must try it!" Li Ji rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to make a big splash. "It's true that timing is everything; I never expected to be able to drink such fine wine today!"

Yuanzhi poured him a cup for each of them. "There are plum wine, yellow wine, rice wine, sake, and so on. There are ten kinds in total, which means perfection."

Li Ji drank it, savored the taste, and concluded: "Madam wants to create a gimmick to sell more wine and make a fortune. Merchants are profit-driven, which is understandable."

However, each of these wines has its own merits, and forcibly bundling them together for sale not only fails to achieve the effect Boss Yuan desires, but is also an insult to fine wines!

Yuan Zhi smiled, got up and went to the cellar, bringing out her most treasured possessions.

"Try this one too."

Li Ji drank it down, and excitedly stammered, "What... what kind of wine is this? It's refreshing on the palate, with a sweet aftertaste, like fruit juice, but its color is as pure as ice and snow, without a trace of impurity."

Yuan Zhi smiled slyly, "I haven't decided yet, how about Your Highness bestows a name upon me?"

Li Ji said mysteriously, "Your Majesty and I are both addicted to wine. You seal the wine properly, and I'll take a jar for my elder brother to try. Isn't the name he gave you more effective than mine?"

Yuan Zhi curtsied, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will go and make the preparations immediately!"

The Vermilion Bird Hall, the rear hall.

Li Kai took a sip, feeling as if he were enveloped in a grand sweetness and fragrance, and was still savoring the taste.

"You're saying this was brewed by Xiao Zong's wife?"

Li Ji nodded, "Yes, this girl also opened a restaurant on Weiyang Street, the one where Li Rui poisoned her a while ago!"

Li Kai thought to himself: Is this a ploy to target me?

"Ninth Brother, Rui'er is still my son, and I really can't bring myself to do it. How about I hand him over to you, and you can do whatever you want with him!"

Li Ji said, "Rui'er is my nephew. How could I, as his uncle, really kill him? Hatred is hatred, but we are still family. It's just that Boss Yuan is innocent. My brother came to the Emperor to ask for a favor on her behalf!"

"Of course!" Li Kai added another cup, his voice hoarse: "This wine is no ordinary wine. It is the will of Heaven that I am fortunate enough to taste it."

Guards, deliver the imperial decree!

This wine was named 'Chao Jin Que' and was used as the imperial wine for the Fengshan ceremony, purchased at a price of one hundred gold coins per liter. Furthermore, during the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Dai, the wife of the commander of the Leopard Guard was ordered to accompany the emperor and be in charge of the wine arrangements.

Li Ji thanked the emperor on behalf of Yuan Zhi, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. Boss Yuan will be overjoyed when he receives the imperial decree!"