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

Dou Zhao raised his knife to strike, but Pu Hong raised his bound hands and, using the blade, cut the hemp rope.

“The couple are equally rude!” He ripped off the rope, clutching his chest, and said, “Let me just tell you, I was sent by the ***!”

"*** wants to kill me?"

"She still wants your husband to help her with her plans, how could she bear to kill you? This is just a small lesson, who told you to ruin her plans before!"

Yuan Zhi frowned. ***, you really hold a grudge!

And this annoying fellow, his ability to make people hate him is just as good as his medical skills. If His Majesty hadn't known of his existence, and if she hadn't been busy dealing with the Prince of Wu, she would have sent him to meet the King of Hell long ago!

"Get out of here before I give my second order!"

"Not yet!" Pu Hong pulled out the silver needle hidden in her hair. "Madam's fever has only subsided temporarily. If we don't give her a needle, she's very likely to have convulsions if her fever spikes again at night."

Yuan Zhi recalled what he had said during the day, and considering the current situation, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

"Even if I burn to death, I won't let you, this heartless quack, treat me!" She looked up at Xiao Zong. "Husband, I won't implicate you. Give me a knife; I want to kill him with my own hands!"

"Don't talk nonsense! Don't be afraid to seek medical help!" Xiao Zong rubbed her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "After he heals you, we'll deal with him."

Yuan Zhi gave a barely audible "hmm," then pretended to be forced and glared angrily at Pu Hong.

After the acupuncturist Pu finished performing the acupuncture, she looked at Xiao Zong, who immediately understood, took the long needle, and inserted it into Pu Hong's body.

Although Xiao Zong did not understand medicine, he had some knowledge of acupoints. The needle he used to stab Pu Hong landed precisely on the acupoint that caused numbness in the hands and feet.

Pu Hong felt numb and itchy all over, like a flaky mooncake that would crumble at the slightest touch. He couldn't even lift his hand, let alone pull out the needle.

Xiao Zongdao said, "Physician Pu's medical skills are superb. A mere silver needle is certainly no challenge for the divine physician! I am deeply grateful for your kindness. This is my reply. Please convey it to your esteemed physician."

"Xiao... Xiao..."

Pu Hong's words were incoherent, so Xiao Zong waved his hand, signaling Dou Zhao to take him out.

Yuan Zhi laughed heartily, and Xiao Zong shook the woman in his arms.

"Are you happy?"

"Yes, I'm really happy!"

Xiao Zong patted her head; she was really easy to coax.

For the next few days, Yuan Zhi was either in the carriage or in the tent, basically only in two positions: sitting or lying down. Every time he touched the ground, he was grateful that his legs could still walk.

The emperor's expression was equally unpleasant. In the past two days, he had even refused to summon Consort Wei and Consort Yuan, who were traveling with him. His temper had grown, and he had made several palace maids and eunuchs cry.

Yuan Zhi felt guilty for a moment. If he hadn't suggested to the supervisor that they go to Daishan, these people probably wouldn't have suffered so much.

However, there was no turning back once the arrow was released. The positions of Consort Dun and Prince Wu destined this struggle to be bloody!

Now that the group is about to leave Tongzhou territory, but King Wu has not yet made a move, Yuan Zhi can't help but feel a little anxious.

The tea in the purple clay teapot was boiling. She picked it up and poured it into a cup.

The carriage stopped abruptly, and the teapot slipped from her hand, smashing onto a small table. She reacted quickly, dodging the spilled tea, but some still landed on her ankles.

The intense burning sensation made her gasp. Without checking her injuries, she lifted the curtain and asked, "What happened?"

The driver shook his head, "I don't know! It suddenly stopped while we were going, and I almost fell..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dou Zhao drew his sword and stood beside the carriage, looking around warily. "Young Madam, are you alright?"

"No."

At this moment, shouts of battle arose from both sides of the valley, and arrows rained down from the sky.

Hearing Xiao Zong shout "Protect the Emperor!" from afar, Yuan Zhi wanted to check on his situation, but Dou Zhao pressed a sword sheath against her shoulder and shoved her back into the carriage.

The coachman, who was experiencing an assassination attempt for the first time, was so frightened that his legs went numb. He asked in a trembling voice, "Madam Xiao, may I go inside and hide for a while?"

"come on in!"

Yuan Zhi lifted the curtain and pulled the coachman inside.

Dou Zhao deflected an arrow and protected the carriage as it moved forward. The Emperor and his concubines' carriages were directly ahead, where the defenses were most heavily fortified; following them might offer a glimmer of hope.

Yuan Zhi risked his life to lift the curtain, turned around and shouted, signaling the Liangyun Bureau men to follow.

The Leopard Guards and Imperial Guards gathered from the perimeter, surrounding and protecting the group. Despite several days of travel, they showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, they were all full of fighting spirit!

After the enemy finished firing their arrows, they began throwing boulders down. Xiao Zong ordered the Leopard Guards to raise their shields and protect the troops as they retreated out of the valley.

"kill!"

As they were about to leave the valley, the enemy came chasing after them with knives. However, their formation was completely chaotic, no different from slaughtering pigs in a market, except that they had the advantage of having more people.

A masked man in black led a group of men in and stormed in. Yuan Zhi recognized the leader as the King of Wu by his eyebrows and eyes.

The emperor sat in his palanquin. He and Li Rui had been father and son for over twenty years, so how could he not recognize his own son?

"Capture the masked man alive, but do not harm him!"

Upon receiving this order, the guards became hesitant and timid, giving the enemy an opportunity. Li Rui led his men in a fierce battle, overcoming all obstacles and fighting their way to the Emperor's side.

Surrounded by bandits, Xiao Zong wanted to return to defend but had no time. He took a moment to shout at the Imperial Guard Commander, "Protect the Emperor!"

The commander was so angry he was cursing. How could he not know to protect the emperor?

The crucial point is that His Majesty ordered that they not only be captured alive, but also that no one be harmed. He's now risking his own and his brothers' lives, sending them to the enemy's jaws—it's incredibly humiliating!

Li Kai held his teacup and drank with a cold expression, exuding an imposing aura without anger, displaying the composure to remain unmoved even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.

Li Rui was stopped by the Imperial Guards, halting him ten paces from the carriage. He drew his bow and arrow from behind him, aimed at his father, who was dressed in a yellow robe, and drew the bowstring taut.

Li Kai suddenly called out "Rui'er". Li Rui saw the words in Li Kai's mouth, his hand trembled, and he shot off course.

He drew his bow and shot again, but Li Kai didn't give him a second chance. His eyes narrowed, and he was filled with murderous intent.

Yuan Zhi had been waiting for this moment. Just before the emperor gave the order, she shouted, "Dou Zhao, make your move!"

Dou Zhao grabbed a wine jug and threw it, hitting Li Rui squarely on the back of his hand. The man winced in pain and immediately dropped his bow and arrow.

Li Rui bent down to pick it up, but Dou Zhao roared, "Commander, order the Imperial Guards to retreat!"

Upon hearing this, the commander led the Imperial Guards back to the vicinity of the palanquin. Dou Zhao and the men from the Liangyun Bureau threw wine jars at Li Rui and the rebels, causing them to fall in front of them.

Before Li Rui could react, Yuan Zhi forcefully tossed the torch in his hand. Li Rui and his men, all stained with wine, were instantly engulfed in flames, their screams echoing through the sky.

A huge flame shot into the sky and spread into the valley with the wind.

The surviving rebels rushed out of the fire, and Xiao Zong led the Leopard Guards to wipe them out one by one.

The supervisor leaned close to Yuan Zhi and scolded him in a low voice: "You came up with a good idea, but now that things have turned out like this, if the Emperor blames us, I will definitely drag you down with me!"

Yuan Zhi chuckled, "My lord, please don't worry, I already have a solution."

"any solution?"

Yuan Zhiwei raised his arm and flicked the hidden clasp of the sleeve arrow. The short arrow flew out and pierced his chest.

Duan Sheng fell straight down, his eyes wide open in death, making a hoarse "hoarse" sound. His fingers clawed wildly in the air, as if trying to tear off a layer of her skin.

Yuan Zhi squatted down and said softly, "Please hold on, my lord. I will go and fetch a physician right away."