After being reborn with my scumbag ex-husband, I became his sister-in-law.

Song Xizhi then explained everything that had happened the day before to Su Mingli, and also repeated exactly the same answer that Prince Xiu had given to his mother.

Su Mingli's expression grew increasingly serious as he listened, and finally he fell silent.

So Song Xizhi continued, "So, Uncle, Mother's death is related to the palace, and to the late Empress."

“My maternal grandfather must have known about this, which is why he so strictly forbade me from developing incense, to prevent any unforeseen events. And it is because I started developing incense that I encountered so many accidents. Someone is trying to stop me.”

Song Xizhi spoke these words calmly, yet his gaze was firm, filled with an unwavering determination.

"But the more they tried to stop me, the more I wanted to investigate. I couldn't let my mother die in vain."

There are also his maternal grandfather and maternal uncle from his previous life. Perhaps his grandfather jumped into the lake not to commit suicide, but to end this secret.

However, this secret was discovered by the eldest uncle, which led to the tragic ending of his wife and children being separated and his family being destroyed.

If this matter is not resolved at its root, she and the Su family will likely repeat the same mistakes they made in their previous life.

Su Mingli remained silent for a long, long time after listening. When he opened his eyes again and looked at Song Xizhi, his eyes were bloodshot.

"Zhizhi, you look just like your mother, you two are practically identical."

Song Xizhi lowered his eyes: "So I need to go to the Fengshan Ceremony. Uncle, you happen to be in the Ministry of Rites, so please help me make arrangements. Only by going to the Fengshan Ceremony can I see the ladies in the harem."

Without a second thought, Su Mingli shook his head: "In just one day, you've survived three assassination attempts, and now you're telling me you're going to the Fengchan Assembly?"

"Zhizhi, this is impossible."

Song Xizhi felt a buzzing in her ears. She focused her mind and stared at him without moving: "Why?"

"You used to say that my maternal grandfather kept everything from you, but I didn't. Now you're just like my maternal grandfather, trying to stop me?"

Su Mingli simply looked at her calmly: "Your maternal grandfather has been talking about you a lot lately. Go visit him when you have time."

Song Xizhi almost laughed in anger: "If this matter is not resolved, if it is allowed to develop, it will put everyone in the Su family in danger. My maternal grandfather, my maternal uncle, and the person behind the scenes will not be spared. The Su family will be destroyed!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mingli suddenly stood up, placed a hand on Song Xizhi's shoulder, and calmed her down: "I know, Zhizhi, I know everything."

“When my older sister had her accident, I was too young to protect her. I’m sorry to my older sister. But now I can’t just stand by and watch you risk your life and follow in her footsteps.”

Song Xizhi looked up at him, and saw that Su Mingli's usually calm eyes were now filled with tears.

The unspoken sorrow in his eyes instantly dispelled Song Xizhi's anger.

“Let your uncle investigate this matter, okay? My older sister used to be the one who carried the family, and she lost her life for it. Now it’s not your turn.”

"You were surrounded by swords and spears during yesterday's assassination attempts. Your uncle will tell you everything he has found out, and we'll discuss it together. But please stay at the Marquis's residence this time, okay?"

Su Mingli waited for Song Xizhi's answer, but Song Xizhi remained completely silent.

Her feelings were complicated. She seemed to suddenly understand all the choices her maternal grandfather, eldest uncle, and even youngest uncle had made.

But she had no choice but to go against their decision, because she had her own.

“I will definitely continue to investigate, Uncle. I can’t lie to you. Sitting idly by and waiting for death has never been in my nature.”

Su Mingli closed his eyes, and the tears that had been welling up in his eyes finally rolled down his cheeks. He actually smiled.

He had long guessed that, given Song Xizhi's personality, it was impossible for him to obediently listen to him.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be called Song Xizhi.

Su Mingli nodded, resuming his gentle and refined demeanor, but his words were not so pleasant:

"Alright, then let's wait and see, Zhizhi, and see if you have the ability to go to the Fengchan Ceremony. I will definitely stop you."

"Of course, I will tell you every truth I know."

Song Xizhi's lips twitched suddenly. Seeing Su Mingli lift his cloak and turn to leave, he hurriedly followed.

"Don't turn your back on me, little uncle. If you won't let me go, then I'll go and treat Prime Minister Lin's daughter. I'll go and beg Prince Ning or Prince Xiu. I'll go eventually."

"Even if you don't help me, don't stop me... for my mother's sake?"

Su Mingli was tall with long legs and big strides. By the time Song Xizhi caught up with him to the door, she was already panting heavily.

Upon hearing the last sentence, Su Mingli's eye twitched, and he abruptly stopped in his tracks: "You dare mention your mother to me?"

He glanced at Song Xizhi's thin clothes: "It's fine to send him here."

After saying this, Su Mingli turned and left. Song Xizhi stood at the door with some melancholy. For the first time, she felt that telling the truth was also a kind of distress.

She should keep it a secret from her uncle and coax him into taking her to the Fengchan Ceremony.

But the truth must be told eventually. Only by telling the truth can the uncle and everyone in the Su family be prepared and not be easily defeated.

As Song Xizhi was pondering, a sharp, mocking voice interrupted her thoughts: "Sister, why are you standing alone in the cold wind?"

"It looks like you had a fight with Lord Su? I heard before that you had a falling out with the Su family, and now Lord Su dislikes you. Sister, you should change your selfish personality. You can't be disliked everywhere you go, can you?"

Song Xizhi lifted her eyelids and saw Song Ruoan standing in front of her with a smug look on her face.

She glanced at Song Ruoan and found that she was wrapped up tightly from head to toe, like a ball.

Song Xizhi raised an eyebrow slightly, just as he was worrying about where to vent his frustrations, someone came knocking on his door:

"No matter how despicable I am, I won't be whipped by the government. I'm afraid that no woman in the Song family, going back eighteen generations, has ever suffered such treatment?"

"Ruo'an, you were just punished in the Jingzhao Prefecture yesterday, so don't go out casually today. You've already damaged your brain and your heart, you can't let your health suffer too."

Hearing Song Xizhi's personal attacks, each word striking at her sore spots, Song Ruoan's face flushed red and then turned green, so angry she almost fainted.

"I've come today to tell you, sister, that I will be going to the Fengshan Ceremony in a few days. Is there anything you would like me to bring as a gift for the ladies of the harem?"

Song Ruoan raised her chin, her pale face full of smugness: "It's strange, Father is an official of the Ministry of Rites, and so is Lord Su. Why is it that Father is willing to take me, but neither of them is willing to take you?"

"A jinx is a jinx. You grew up without your father's love and your mother's love. You always say your father is biased, but why don't you reflect on this? He only has two daughters, so why does he dislike you the only one?"

"Because you are so repulsive, so utterly repulsive that people want to avoid you at all costs!"

Song Ruoan finished speaking with great pleasure, each word striking a chord deep within Song Xizhi's heart.

Seeing Song Xizhi fall silent, she felt all the unhappiness of the past few days vanish in an instant, and she felt refreshed.

This morning, she received a letter from her mother, informing her that she, He Yunze, and her parents would all be able to attend the Fengchan Ceremony, catch a glimpse of the emperor, and get close to the powerful and influential.

What a proud thing this is!

In her heart, the mother thought to herself, "Song Juncai would never let that lowly maid Song Xizhi go to a place like this in his entire life."

Upon learning this news, Song Ruoan rushed over to embarrass Song Xizhi.

Because she knew that Song Xizhi valued family ties the most, and the saddest thing for her when she was young was her father's favoritism.

Why does Song Juncai treat Song Xizhi like an enemy when they are both daughters?

To her surprise, as soon as she arrived, she overheard Su Mingli and Song Xizhi arguing, which seemed to have originated from the Fengshan ceremony.

Then she could kill him and destroy his spirit even more freely.

Just then, a steady footstep sounded from behind Song Ruoan.

Song Xizhi and Song Ruoan looked up at the same time and saw a familiar figure.

Upon seeing the man's appearance, Song Ruoan was almost stunned.