Demoting my wife to a concubine? After being reborn, I turned around and married into the imperial f

"Father, it was Rou'er, it was that bitch and my second brother who ruined me."

Chu Mingxuan roared.

Chu Mingli's face was contorted with rage as he said, "Third brother is confused. He's blind and has no idea who harmed him."

Chu Mingxuan was so angry that he couldn't speak for a long time.

He was not good with words to begin with, and now he was so angry that he was practically fuming.

Li Yi's face was grim. After a long while, he glanced around and said, "Men, arrest all the maids and servants who are watching and kill them."

Chu Zhanpeng nodded immediately.

The next moment, the courtyard was surrounded.

Cries for help, screams for help, and sounds of fighting mingled together.

A long knife was slashed towards Chunxi's neck.

Chu Xunzhen instinctively pulled Chunxi over and said, "Stop!"

"Young lady, even your personal maid knows the inside story. I apologize for the inconvenience."

After saying that, the other party swung his long sword at Chunxi again, but Chu Xunzhen grabbed his wrist. In the next instant, she snatched the sword from him and slit his throat.

"Ah! The young lady has killed someone!" the servant's shrill voice rang out.

The crowd immediately surrounded them.

Chunxi trembled with fear, her face pale, and her lips moved.

Chu Xunzhen coldly replied, "I am the Princess of Huai Ren County, and this is my maid. Who gave you the audacity to harm my people?"

Chu Zhanpeng pointed at the crowd and roared, "Are you all blind? You dare touch the maid of the Princess Huai Ren? Get out of here!"

"Yes." The guards of the Marquis's residence dispersed.

Suddenly, a person walked in from outside.

This person was none other than Gu Changfeng.

Li Yi's face was pale.

"Quick! Rou'er! Get into the room!"

Li Yi anxiously pushed Chu Wanrou into the side room.

Chu Xunzhen, who was standing to the side, sneered.

She is truly a good mother to Chu Wanrou.

Even though she had done such a shameless thing, she still covered for her.

"Changfeng greets his aunt and uncle."

Although Gu Changfeng was a loyal and righteous marquis, he always treated Chu Zhanpeng and Li Yi with great respect and courtesy.

His gaze fell upon the corpses scattered on the ground, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes. But remembering this was a matter within the Marquis's household, he still addressed the Marquis's wife, saying, "Madam, in seven days, it will be the day I marry Rou'er. I wish to come and see her, to ask if she needs anything else?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yi smiled and said, "Changfeng, you are a good child. Rou'er is not feeling well and has caught a cold. It is not appropriate for her to see anyone right now."

"Madam is joking. Changfeng had intended to see the Emperor again today to plead for Madam's release, but he never expected her to actually come out."

Gu Changfeng's expression became complicated as he spoke.

He has already sent people to inquire and obtained definite information that it was Chu Xunzhen who used her merit in solving the case to rescue the Lady Hou.

He already knew who the killer was in those cases, but he wanted the killer to commit more murders and kill five or six more young girls. That's why he told Zhou Qing about the killer when Zhou Qing and the others were most helpless and eager to solve the case.

In this way, he can maximize his profits.

But who knew that Chu Xunzhen also knew the murderer and even told Zhou Qing about the method of the crime.

In her previous life, Chu Xunzhen was already his wife at this time, trapped in the backyard, and should be unaware of this matter.

So, did Chu Xun truly solve the case on her own, or was she reborn like him?

Li Yi looked slightly uncomfortable, but then she remembered that she was Chu Xunzhen's biological mother, so it was only natural for her to save her.

Li Yi said to Gu Changfeng, "Nephew, you are very kind. I have a thousand-year-old ginseng in the storeroom of the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion, which I would like to give to you. Thank you for rescuing Rou'er."

"Madam, you flatter me. Changfeng has come here because he wants to see the eldest young lady."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi frowned deeply.

She gave Chu Xunzhen a warning look, as if to say, "Don't ruin Gu Changfeng and Chu Wanrou's marriage."

A hint of mockery flashed across Chu Xunzhen's eyes.

She deliberately sabotaged Chu Wanrou and Gu Changfeng's wedding to prolong their time together and make them uncomfortable.

Now that Chu Wanrou has already had relationships with so many people, it's only natural to quickly lock her up with Gu Changfeng. When Gu Changfeng finds out the truth, he'll be so happy he'll vomit blood.

Gu Changfeng approached Chu Xunzhen, his gaze falling on her.

Her purple embroidered long dress accentuated her noble beauty; she possessed an elegant demeanor and was as beautiful as a rare orchid in a secluded valley.

Gu Changfeng's Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze towards Chu Xunzhen was tinged with emotion.

As expected of a legitimate daughter, even though she wasn't raised by the Marquis, her innate knowledge and refinement, and the temperament of a legitimate daughter, are qualities that Chu Wanrou lacks.

Gu Changfeng said to Chu Xunzhen, "Young lady, please let me speak to you in private."

"There's nothing you can't tell others." Chu Xunzhen chuckled and said, "Loyal Marquis, just speak your mind."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng's expression turned ugly.

How can you ask about past lives in front of so many people?

"No! I have very important private matters to attend to. Please come with me to the pavilion over there. Standing there, with everyone watching, it won't be considered impolite."

Chu Xunzhen nodded and followed him to the pavilion.

Chu Zhanpeng had the courtyard cleaned up, then pulled Chu Mingli away.

Li Yi kept a close eye on Chu Xunzhen from a distance, fearing that she might seduce Gu Changfeng again.

"I know everything. Lord Zhou said you solved three major cases," Gu Changfeng said. "You, a young lady from a humble background, didn't even go to the crime scene to investigate, nor did you examine the bodies, yet you were able to solve the cases and catch the murderers. Miss Chu, tell me, how can such strange things happen in this world?"

Chu Xunzhen understood.

Gu Changfeng guessed that she had been reborn?

"Who told you I didn't examine the body or investigate the scene? Did Lord Gu send people to follow me? Or did he personally follow me every day?"

"Xunzhen, I know you're angry that I want to marry Rou'er. I also have feelings for you. But your mother doesn't like you, and you don't know anything. You're not proficient in any of the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, painting, strategy, riding, or archery. The mistress of my Marquis of Zhongyi's mansion must be able to uphold the family's reputation. You can't do that, and you even caused such a mess for my Marquis of Chongding's mansion before. If you want to become my son's person now, you can only be a concubine. Don't worry, I will treat you and Rou'er equally."

Chu Xunzhen smiled and said, "But I don't want to marry you along with Chu Wanrou. She just had sex with my second brother, and my mother and father killed all the servants in the courtyard to cover up this scandal."

"Impossible." Gu Changfeng said in disbelief, "Rou'er is pure and innocent. Even those beggars from that day were just an accident."

Chu Xunzhen nodded thoughtfully and said, "Perhaps I saw it wrong? Maybe Second Brother is fooling around with another woman."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng's face turned ashen.

Just now, the ground was covered in blood. It was indeed the Marquis and his wife silencing him.

But did that really happen?

Gu Changfeng spoke coldly: "Chu Xunzhen, don't even think about sowing discord. I know you've always wanted the position of mistress. But to say such things about Rou'er, if you want to become my concubine, kneel down. Otherwise, don't even think about entering my harem."

Suddenly, the gatekeeper came to report that the Ninth Prince had come to read the imperial edict.

The crowd rushed to the front yard and knelt on the ground to respectfully receive the imperial edict.

As Chu Xunzhen approached, he saw Nangong Yue wearing a dark blue robe.

Nangong Yue saw her kneel down, smiled and nodded at her, and then began to read the imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chu Xunzhen, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Ping'an, is of virtuous character and gentle nature, with a heart for the world. She is hereby betrothed to the Ninth Prince, Nangong Yue, as his principal wife. The marriage shall take place on the first day of the twelfth lunar month. This decree is hereby issued."

Nangong Yue looked at Chu Xunzhen in front of her with joy in her eyes.

This time, he absolutely would not allow any mishaps to occur with the imperial decree of marriage.

Gu Changfeng stood up and stared intently at the imperial edict.

"No! Impossible!" he muttered to himself.

"Your Highness, Chu Xun is truly a jinx! How could you possibly marry him as the Ninth Prince's consort?" Gu Changfeng's voice trembled as he stared intently at Nangong Yue.

At that moment, he felt an invisible slap on his face.

His earlier suggestion that Chu Xunzhen become a concubine was like a joke.

"Lord Gu, do you know how many border soldiers have been saved each year by the medicine that Princess Huai Ren voluntarily donates? Do you know how many young women have been saved by the major cases she solved? Do you know how much she has donated to the national treasury? Princess Huai Ren, who benefits the people so much and whose heart is full of concern for them, is actually called a jinx by you. Don't you feel ashamed?"

Gu Changfeng's face turned pale and then flushed.

How dare a mentally challenged prince who suffers from relapses and mental illness question him? Who gave him the audacity?

Chu Xunzhen smiled and accepted the imperial edict.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

So this is what it feels like to be protected?

Nangong Yue took out a bracelet from her bosom.

"This is a love token bracelet that my father gave to my mother. Today, I, Your Highness, present it to you."

Chu Xunzhen extended her left hand, and the next moment, a round, emerald-green bracelet was slipped onto Nangong Yue's fair wrist.

Gu Changfeng clenched his right fist so tightly that his nails dug into his palm without him realizing it, and blood trickled down his palm.

He wanted to step forward and stop them, but his reason and his emotions were in a fierce struggle.

Chu Wanrou sat at the back, and seeing Gu Changfeng's angry expression, she felt a surge of anger.

Brother Changfeng actually likes that bitch Chu Xunzhen.

Thinking about how her luck had backfired and she had been forced to have that kind of thing with the stable boy, she felt like she was completely unclean.

Chu Zhanpeng walked over, his old face beaming like a chrysanthemum, and bowed to Nangong Yue: "Your Highness, why don't you go inside and rest for a while?"

"No need." Nangong Yue suddenly looked at Chu Xunzhen, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and said, "Sister, Yue has come to deliver the betrothal gifts today."

When Chu Xunzhen heard this, he was stunned.

Then, two servants carried the betrothal gifts in.

The people carrying the betrothal gifts put down what they were carrying and went out to bring in the betrothal gifts from outside.

A full hour had passed, and they still hadn't finished carrying it.

"Sister, the betrothal gifts are 199 loads, symbolizing our long and lasting relationship."

The betrothal gifts, piled high, were placed in the courtyard.

Gu Changfeng was stunned.

Why should a foolish prince hold Chu Xunzhen in such high regard?

Where did he get so much money?

How could Chu Xunzhen possibly be worth 199 betrothal gifts?

Chu Wanrou, standing at the back of the crowd, looked grim.

She was so angry that her whole body trembled, and her chest heaved with rage.

Gu Changfeng's initial betrothal gifts to her were only sixty loads.

Now, Chu Xunzhen actually has 199 loads of betrothal gifts?

Chu Zhanpeng was stunned. Li Yi's expression was even more complicated.

"Haha!" Chu Zhanpeng laughed excitedly, grabbing Nangong Yue's sleeve and speaking with a flushed face, "This... what virtue or ability does my daughter possess to deserve such high regard from Your Highness?"