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

Spring thunder ripped through the sky, and purple lightning flashed. The silken spring rain wove a vast net over the city of Shengjing.

Dou Zhao hurried along, handed the umbrella to the guard, and stepped into the main hall.

"Master, there is news!"

Xiao Zong looked up, "Have you found Xing'er?"

Dou Zhao nodded, "In the Eastern Depot!"

Xiao Zong twirled the arrow sheath in his hand. On the day Xing'er was flogged, someone saw her body being carried out of Kunning Palace. Was it a deliberate ruse by the Empress, or had other concubines rescued her and hidden her in the Eastern Depot?

The eunuch, known as the Ninth Prince, is blinded by greed and will never do anything that doesn't bring him benefits. Therefore, the concubines who cooperate with him will surely have offspring who are candidates for the crown prince.

Consort Zheng wouldn't dig her own grave, so there's no need to consider her. Since the Prince of Chu lost his eligibility to compete for the throne during the spring hunt, his mother, Consort An, can also be excluded.

That leaves only three people.

The first was the grandmother of the eldest grandson of the emperor, Empress Daqi; the second was the mother of Prince Jin, Consort Liang; and the third was the mother of Prince Yong, Consort An.

After analyzing the situation with Dou Zhao, he said, "Order our men to closely monitor the Empress, Consort Liang, and Consort An. Report any unusual activity immediately!"

Dou Zhao asked, "What about Xing'er?"

Xiao Zong pondered for a moment: "Keep an eye on them. If the Eastern Depot wants to interrogate them, do everything in our power to silence them!"

"Yes!"

Dou Zhao left, and Xiao Zong leaned on his head in deep thought.

When Xiangxiang entered the palace, he had just joined the Leopard Guard and had no power to influence palace affairs. Xing'er was transferred from the Inner Court to Huanhua Pavilion.

He had sent people to investigate a while ago, and Xing'er's life from entering the palace to becoming a head palace maid was flawless. But it was precisely because she was too perfect that he became suspicious.

A lowly palace maid, from the very beginning of her service, never made a single mistake. With such cunning, becoming a concubine wouldn't be a problem; why would she willingly serve others?

If she was a spy sent by one of the imperial concubines, then the man who was not castrated was likely also their doing.

The mastermind behind the scenes got Xiangxiang pregnant, probably to make the other two shift their focus to Xiangxiang.

Once the group has fought to the point of exhaustion, she will then jump out and claim that Xiangxiang's child is not of royal blood, thus reaping the benefits!

Thinking about it this way, everything makes sense!

*

It's raining today, so there are fewer customers in the building. After a while, things calmed down.

The kitchen staff were busy making dumplings, and Yuanzhi wanted to try it too, so she asked them to bring the filling and flour to the main hall. The group put the tables together, some rolling out the dough, others filling the dumplings, creating a lively atmosphere, just like during the New Year.

"Oh my! Better late than never, sir, we're in for a treat!"

Yuan Zhi looked up at the sound and asked in surprise, "Third...Why are Master Xiao and Madam here?"

Xiao Yu and Madam Zhou exchanged a glance and said with beaming smiles, "Xuan'er is getting engaged to the young master of the Lu family. We've come to buy some good wine for the engagement banquet."

"That's great, congratulations!"

Yuan Zhi congratulated them, patted the flour off his hands, and led the two to the backyard to choose drinks.

After paying the deposit, the dumplings were ready, and the two of them stayed and ate a bowl.

Zhou revealed that Xiao Ling and Xiao Wei were also looking for a partner, and when they were discussing marriage, the drinks were never ordered from the Yanlou restaurant.

Yuan Zhi saw them to the door, and Xiao Yu handed her an invitation. "Xuan'er asked me to give this to you. She hopes you can come on the day of the engagement."

"But I am no longer a daughter-in-law of the Xiao family, how can I..."

Xiao Yu said, "Let's just consider each other friends! You helped our Third Branch, so you are our benefactor. Whether you and Congyun can reconcile or not, it won't affect our relationship!"

Madam Zhou smiled gently: "Master is right, Mr. Yuan, please accept it!"

Yuan Zhi could no longer refuse, so he accepted the invitation and watched the two leave.

That evening, Yuanzhi took some of the leftover dumplings back with her, intending to fry them and eat them with the maids, but she discovered that Xiao Zong was actually at home.

She handed the dumplings to the maid, walked to the desk, and lay down on it.

"Commander, you promised to return to the Xiao residence, why have you changed your mind again?"

Xiao Zong moved the book aside, glanced at her, and said, "Living in my house, kicking the owner out every day, are you planning to take over my place?"

"No way, I was just thinking of you!"

"Did not see it!"

Yuan Zhi grabbed his wrist, placed her fingertips on his pulse, and smiled mischievously.

"Seeing it all day but not being able to eat it is bad for your health, sir!"

Xiao Zong's pupils contracted slightly as he recalled her tender and submissive movements beneath him, causing his breathing to quicken and his heart to race.

"Wow! Why are you jumping even faster?" Yuan Zhi exclaimed in surprise.

The man's deep eyes gazed at her, and he said, word by word, "Child, don't seduce me!"

"Then are you leaving?"

Yuan Zhi just let go of his hand when he grabbed it and lifted her up. He led her around the table and onto his lap.

Xiao Zong held her in his arms. "You want me to go back so badly because you're afraid your mother will find out about our lingering relationship?"

"Who has any lingering connection with you? I'm just staying here!"

He pinched her chin, "A divorced couple who shared the same bed, would anyone believe it if I told them?"

Yuan Zhi broke free, "Wherever I move, you'll follow. Even the best reputation will be ruined by you!"

Xiao Zong said shamelessly, "The whole house is mine. I can sleep in whichever room I like!"

Yuan Zhi was at a loss with him. "I was talking to you seriously, why do you keep changing the subject? You made me forget what I was talking about!"

Xiao Zong buried his head in her neck. "I understand your concerns. Stay with me for a while. I'll leave when it gets dark, okay?"

Because of the rain, it was already dark outside. Yuan Zhi's lips moved, but she didn't say anything, and slowly wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Master, Madam, the dumplings are ready!"

The maidservant came in carrying a tray, glanced at the two embracing, and blushed instantly. She put down the tray and ran out quickly.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir and madam!"

Yuan Zhi sighed; now it was even harder to explain!

She patted Xiao Zong on the shoulder. "Get up, let's go eat."

"Hold me a little longer."

"Dumplings don't taste good when they're cold!"

Yuan Zhi pulled him up and led him to the table. Xiao Zong walked very slowly, deliberately leaning back to apply weight to her hands.

"Dumplings are more important than me?"

"Of course! I wrapped these myself!"

"You made this?" Xiao Zong straightened up, strode to the table, picked up his chopsticks and tasted one. "The filling is fresh and delicious. I didn't know you had this skill!"

Yuan Zhi said helplessly, "The filling was prepared by the chef."

His attempt to flatter backfired spectacularly, and Xiao Zong quickly tried to salvage the situation: "The wrapping is also excellent, not a single leak!"

The woman smiled, picked up a dumpling, and stuffed it into his mouth. "Eat up, and don't talk anymore!"

After finishing their meal, Yuan Zhi waited for the man to change his clothes before kicking him out of the house.

"You are not allowed to return within seven days!"

Xiao Zong leaned against the door, a broad smile on his face.

Just now, he changed his clothes in front of Yuan Zhi, making her blush. Anyway, he's not the only one who can look but not touch; if it's going to hurt, we'll all get hurt together!

The maids and servants couldn't understand why their master was so cheerful even though his wife had locked him out. However, matters of love are always a matter of mutual consent, so they couldn't interfere.