Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Zhao Lanzhi's legs had completely given way. If Xiao Fang hadn't been holding her by the back of her collar, she probably would have collapsed to the ground long ago.

Xiao Fang looked at her like this, without a trace of pity in his eyes.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, as if he were looking at something low-class.

In fact, in his eyes, the Zhao family was indeed low-class.

The Zhao family did not hold any noble titles, nor were they any important officials in the imperial court.

It was only through the favor of Consort Zhao that he and his entire family rose to prominence and squeezed into the circle of aristocratic families.

Compared to someone like Xiao Fang, a true top-tier figure of power and influence, they were nothing more than a bunch of lowlifes.

With a "plop".

Xiao Fang casually tossed her aside, as if she were a piece of trash, and threw her into the lotus pond next to him.

The water splashed everywhere, eliciting screams from the crowd.

Zhao Lanzhi was thrashing about in the water, her hair covered in seaweed, and her makeup was a mess. There was no trace of her previous arrogant demeanor.

Several palace maids rushed over to rescue the person, but Xiao Fang stopped them with a single glance.

The room was completely silent; not even daring to breathe.

Seeing how much the young master protected his daughter, Chun Tao's eyes reddened even more.

Even when I feel happy, I can't help but feel a little worried.

Consort Zhao enjoys the highest favor in the palace, and Prince Yi is showing signs of vying for the throne.

She feared that the young lady and the prince would suffer if they were to face such noblemen.

Xiao Fang turned around, wiping his hands with a handkerchief as he walked back, and said to Yun Shuyao:

"I've never actually killed a woman."

He tossed the handkerchief aside casually, his tone very nonchalant.

"How about this, Yao Yao? Another day, we'll pick a few of that gossipy woman's family members and kill them. That'll definitely give you some satisfaction."

Consort Zhao finally recovered from her shock and anger.

"Xiao Fang—how dare you!"

She laughed in anger, her hand trembling as she pointed at Xiao Fang.

"This is Kyoto! Don't you have any regard for the law?"

You think you can just kill someone like that? Do you think all these laws are just for show?!

Xiao Fang slowly turned around and looked directly at Consort Zhao for the first time since entering the courtyard.

He looked at the woman with a ferocious expression as if she were a fool who had asked a stupid question, and a slow smile crept onto his lips.

That smile contained contempt, impatience, and an undisguised, condescending indifference.

"Do I hold this high position to reason with you?"

He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, yet everyone in the room could hear him clearly.

Consort Zhao was so choked by those words that her face turned ashen.

She wanted to argue, but she couldn't.

Before Xiao Fang became an official, he had killed her own younger brother in the street.

What kind of logic was he spouting back then?

Xiao Fang withdrew his gaze and continued:

"Law? You don't need to mention it to me."

From this day forward—

He paused, put his arm around Yun Shuyao's shoulder, and coldly swept his gaze across Consort Zhao's face.

"I represent the law."

Consort Zhao's face was extremely ugly, and her clenched fists trembled slightly inside her sleeves.

No one dared to utter a sound, except for Zhao Lanzhi's intermittent sobs coming from the lotus pond, and the palace maids' hushed words of comfort.

Xiao Fang put his arm around Yun Shuyao and turned to leave, but after taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

He didn't turn around, but just turned his head slightly. His voice was lazy, yet it carried a chilling certainty.

"The Zhao family, is it? The day I officially open my Censorate, your Zhao family will be the first one I deal with!"

He gave Consort Zhao a flamboyant and unrestrained smile, full of youthful arrogance, yet hiding a hint of ruthlessness.

After saying that, he put his arm around Yun Shuyao and strode out of the Hibiscus Pavilion.

All that remained were a courtyard of stunned noble ladies and Consort Zhao, who was trembling with anger but unable to retaliate.

Behind them, the flowers in the garden were still in full bloom, but no one had the heart to appreciate them anymore.

The carriage rumbled out of the palace gates, leaving the magnificent yet turbulent imperial palace far behind.

in the carriage.

Xiao Fang pulled Yun Shuyao's hand over and examined it carefully, then looked up to see her expression.

Seeing that the gloom that had gathered between her brows had mostly dissipated, and confirming that she was not injured, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Shuyao smiled, amused by his meticulous examination.

"I wasn't hurt, it was just a few harsh words."

Why are you putting up with them?

Upon hearing her words, Xiao Fang frowned instead, his tone filled with disappointment and frustration.

"From now on, if you don't like someone, just yell at them! Hit them back!"

"With me around, you can turn the sky upside down and it won't matter."

Chun Tao sat on the carriage shaft outside, her heart filled with overwhelming shock.

She always knew that the young master treated the young lady very well, but she never expected it to be to such an unreasonable degree.

This extreme favoritism has never been seen in any other man.

Yun Shuyao lowered her eyes and spoke softly.

"I was thinking that since you've just entered officialdom and your position isn't stable yet, I didn't want to cause you too much trouble..."

Before she could finish speaking, he pinched the tip of her nose.

Xiao Fang pinched her nose, his eyes full of heartache, yet he couldn't help but want to laugh.

He released her hand, looked at her, and said earnestly:

"Yaoyao, do you even know what power is?"

Yun Shuyao was slightly taken aback.

Xiao Fang leaned back against the carriage wall, a faint smile playing on his lips, his voice carrying the clarity of someone who had been through it all.

"Power is—"

Xiao Fang thought for a moment and then offered a metaphor.

"Last night I had a dream, and when the people below found out, someone immediately stepped in to help me make it a reality."

That's what power is.

He lowered his head, held his breath, looked into Yun Shuyao's eyes, and said, word by word:

"So, you don't need to think about that much at all."

When I had no power or influence, I roamed freely in Kyoto.

Now that I hold the imperial sword, my Crown Princess, am I supposed to go out and suffer humiliation instead?

He chuckled and shook his head.

"Then I'd rather not be an official."

Yun Shuyao didn't speak, she just looked at him quietly.

Xiao Fang suppressed his smile and became serious.

"The reason I requested this decree from the Emperor to become the head of this Inspectorate is so that I can better protect you."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.

"The Wing King is a hidden danger."

We've engaged in several indirect battles with him, and we've thoroughly offended him.

Moreover, his attack on my father is absolutely unforgivable.

Furthermore, if you want to deal with the Yong'an Marquis's mansion and make them pay the price, then I must have sufficient power.

Otherwise, these minor skirmishes wouldn't be enough to seriously injure them.

Yun Shuyao's eyes suddenly stung.

She never knew that the root of all Xiao Fang's actions was her.

In her past life, she gave everything to support a man, only to be betrayed and poisoned in return.

In this life, the man before her hid all his thoughts beneath his seemingly carefree and unruly exterior, quietly paving the way for her.

She slowly leaned closer and buried her face in his chest.

Chun Tao, who was outside the car, was already in tears when a handkerchief was handed to her.

Chun Tao turned her head and saw Ming Rui, who was driving the carriage.

This man was a close attendant of the crown prince, holding a position equivalent to half a master in the prince's mansion.

However, he was aloof and never chatted with anyone. He was also often expressionless, and no one could guess what he was thinking.

Chun Tao was usually somewhat afraid of him and had never dared to speak to him on her own initiative.

Looking at the plain brocade handkerchief in front of her, Chun Tao hesitated for a moment, but still accepted it and nodded slightly as a way of thanking her.

When Mingrui saw that he had accepted the call, he turned his head back to concentrate on driving the train with a blank expression, as if nothing had happened.

Inside the car, Xiao Fang looked down at the person in his arms, raised his hand and gently stroked the top of her head, his voice very soft.

"The Supervisory Department will be inaugurating its plaque in a few days. The Zhao family's affairs need to be handled, and we'll be quite busy."

Since we have some free time these next couple of days, why don't we go and stay at your mother's estate for a few days?

Take a soak in the hot springs and relax.

Yun Shuyao nodded in his arms and responded with a muffled sound.

Xiao Fang smiled, then suddenly leaned down and kissed him.

Yun Shuyao sensed his change and secretly thought to herself that something was wrong!