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

As Xu Muxin approached, her stunningly beautiful face was like a peach blossom in full bloom, captivating and enchanting.

"Don't be nervous, it's just a little aphrodisiac."

Feng Quan's face was flushed, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His fists clenched tightly. He was both angry and frustrated, with veins bulging on his neck and his jawline taut as he desperately suppressed his anger.

How could you have fallen so low!

He said with heartache.

"How can the pleasure between a man and a woman be called depravity?" She hooked her finger around his. "I like adults and want to be with adults, is that wrong?"

"We are not husband and wife, how can we perform the conjugal rituals?" Feng Quan shook off her hand, stumbled, and fell onto the bed. "Please, Your Highness, grant me the antidote and let me leave!"

Xu Muxin sat down next to him, put her jade-like arm on his shoulder, and whispered in his ear, "I am the antidote."

Feng Quan felt dizzy and disoriented, as if he were submerged in lava, his bones burning to dust. The woman beside him was the only cool respite in the surroundings, and he instinctively moved closer, only to be pulled back by his remaining rationality.

Feng Quan, what exactly are you doing!

Have we forgotten all of Confucius's teachings on propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame?

He pushed her away, gritted his teeth, crawled to the table, picked up a teacup, smashed it against the corner of the table, and pointed the broken porcelain shards at his neck.

"do not want!"

Xu Muxin was terrified. She rushed over and grabbed his hand, choking back tears, "Don't hurt yourself, I'll give you the antidote!"

She snatched the porcelain shard from his hand, threw it on the ground, and kicked it far away along with the other broken pieces. The sharp shards tore her shoes and socks, instantly staining her embroidered shoes red with blood. She seemed oblivious to the pain, murmuring as she went to the inner room to fetch the antidote.

In just a few breaths, she returned with the medicine and fed him a small pill. Then, she sat on the ground, hugging her knees, waiting for the medicine to take effect.

As the burning sensation subsided, Feng Quan's eyes regained their clarity, and he shakily rose to his feet. He was only halfway up when his robe suddenly tightened. Looking down, he saw that she had stepped on the hem of his garment.

He thought she was still up to no good, so he yanked hard and pulled off her robe. Suddenly, a red spot on the hem caught his attention. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was blood.

"You are hurt?"

Feng Quan squatted down to examine it and indeed saw a dark mark on the red embroidered shoe.

He reached out to take off her shoes and socks, but Xu Muxin pulled her foot back and said coldly, "Aren't you leaving, sir? Aren't you afraid I'll give you another strong dose of medicine?"

Feng Quan's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and he reached out with his large hand to grab her ankle.

"Princess, there's a limit to being willful. Didn't your father teach you to thank others when they help you?"

Snapped--

Xu Muxin slapped him across the face. "How my mother taught me is none of your business! If it weren't for your face that I liked, with your stinky temper, how could you possibly be worthy of my attention! You ungrateful wretch, get out of here!"

Feng Quan's cheek stung, and he couldn't retaliate, making him incredibly frustrated. He let out a long sigh, jumped up, and stormed out the door.

A dog bites Lu Dongbin and does not recognize a good heart.

Repay kindness with hatred!

Shameless!

Feng Quan walked and cursed all the way until he left the courtyard and his anger subsided.

Xu Muxin burst into tears, feeling utterly desolate.

Lately, her mother has been controlling her more tightly, hinting more than once that she should try to win over court officials. It's laughable that a county princess like her is being used as a tool for her mother's power grab, being offered up as a bed warmer for men!

She tried to escape and resist, but was repeatedly caught and beaten.

In the end, she gave in.

She brought Feng Quan here today not to use him to escape her predicament, but simply to find peace for herself. Even a little tenderness would be enough to sustain her through the darkness!

But he didn't give her that chance.

She should have realized it sooner; how could someone as upright as Feng Quan play along with her nonsense?

Perhaps in his eyes, her falling for him was the greatest tribulation of his life!

"That's it!"

She wiped away her tears and said to herself.

Everyone can live without anyone else, it's not a big deal!

The third day of the third lunar month is the Shangsi Festival.

Ordinary people, officials, merchants, and wealthy families from Shengjing gathered along the banks of the Shaling River for banquets, entertainment, and purification rituals to ward off misfortune.

Xiao Zong was too busy with official duties to accompany Yuan Zhi out. Before going to court, he dipped a willow branch in water and touched her forehead and body, as if to say that he had celebrated the festival with her.

Yuan Zhi was woken up by him. She wiped the water off her face and sat up with a frown.

"When I saw you come back with willow branches yesterday, I knew you were up to no good! I thought you were going to make your move at midnight, so I stayed up all night and only managed to get a little less than an hour of sleep!"

Xiao Zong touched her face and handed her the willow branch.

"Now that you're awake, could you please do me a favor?"

Yuan Zhi glanced at him, tapped the willow branch a few times, and said in a drawn-out voice, "May Lord Xiao be free from disasters and illnesses, and live a peaceful and happy life."

Xiao Zong suddenly leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.

"Accept your lady's good words."

Yuan Zhi covered her forehead, "You're touching me again! Who's your wife? I've told you so many times, call me Madam Yuan!"

Xiao Zong snorted, tightened his belt, and turned to walk out.

When they reached the door, he stopped, leaned on the doorframe, and turned back to say, "We've bowed to heaven and earth, we've entered the bridal chamber, and you're still not my wife? Wait until our child is following you around calling you 'Mother,' then let's see if you can still be so stubborn!"

Two red clouds rose on Yuan Zhi's face. She threw the willow branch at him and got out of bed to hit him.

"You, the commander of the Leopard Guard, spout such nonsense! Stop right there, or I'll tear your mouth apart today!"

"My wife, please calm down!" the man said loudly. "I'm leaving now!"

Xiao Zong disappeared in a flash. Yuan Zhi kicked the threshold and walked back angrily.

After catching up on her sleep, she felt better. Once she had finished dressing and grooming, she took a carriage to the Marquis of Changping's residence.

Knowing that she was all alone, Chu Lan specially invited her to go out with the Chu family.

Yuan Zhi bowed to the old man, who said kindly, "Since drinking your wine, Xia'er has been able to recall the poems he used to recite. Thank you so much! Please accept this small gift!"

The maid presented a brocade box, inside which was a pearl the size of a pigeon's egg.

"My lord, this item is too valuable; I cannot accept it!" Yuan Zhi quickly refused.

"Your ability to help my son regain his memory is a great favor to the Chu family. This mere inanimate object is far from enough to express my gratitude. Madam Yuan, please do not refuse!"

Chu Lanyin also tried to persuade her, and Yuan Zhi thanked her and accepted the gift.

When they arrived at the Second Master's place, Xiao Yin's expression was unfriendly. Yuan Zhi understood that she was standing up for her nephew, so she quickly finished her greetings and went to greet the others.

The procession of carriages and people passed through the long street and arrived at the banks of the Shaling River, where grass grew tall and birds sang.

Everyone laughed and joked around until the afternoon. The old man, feeling tired, went home first, and the other elders also left one after another.

Chu Xia drank several cups of fruit wine and then said he needed to relieve himself. Chu Fengchen's face flushed, and he led his uncle to find the outhouse.

To everyone's surprise, the two never returned, and they did not come back even as the sun began to set.

Yuan Zhi felt a growing unease and told Chu Lanyin to return to the manor immediately to see if they had gone back. She took two servants and searched the area.

The two parted ways, and Yuanzhi led his men along the riverbank, calling out as they went.

Suddenly, a faint cry for help came from the woods ahead.

Yuan Zhi and his servants rushed over and saw Chu Fengchen covered in blood, leaning against a rock.

He clutched his bleeding abdomen with one hand, while the other gripped the muttering Chu Xia tightly, his face ashen. Around him lay several masked men in black, all lifeless.

Yuan Zhi was shocked. This was... an assassination attempt?!