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

Chu Xunzhen scoffed, "Father, by what status do you not blame Rou'er? Although I am the eldest daughter of a marquis, I am also a county princess. How can Father easily condone the theft of a county princess's seal? Wouldn't this be a betrayal of the Emperor's grace?"

Chu Zhanpeng's expression was grim.

Chu Tianxiong finally understood the whole story.

He looked at Chu Wanrou in disbelief, his eyes filled with doubt.

My son used to say she was a lucky star.

But in all the years the old man has lived, he has never heard of any lucky person living like this, even having to live in debt.

Chu Wanrou looked panicked and suddenly knelt down in front of Chu Xunzhen, saying, "Sister, I was wrong, please don't report it to the authorities."

She's getting married soon, so we can't make a big fuss about it.

Although Brother Changfeng didn't say it, she was always afraid that those beggars would become a thorn in his side.

Now, here is her identity.

Since Old Master Chu wouldn't allow her to become the legitimate daughter, she couldn't do much.

Chu Xunzhen smiled leisurely and said coldly, "I'll consider it. Rou'er, your second brother still owes the gambling den 50,000 taels of silver. Since you withdrew 100,000 taels from the public funds, do you still have the money?"

Chu Wanrou steeled herself and said to everyone, "He's not here."

Li Yi grabbed her sleeve, holding on tightly, and said, "Tell me quickly. Where did the money go?"

Chu Xunzhen glanced at her, then turned to Zixia kneeling not far away and said, "Zixia, do you know where the Second Miss spent the 100,000 taels of public funds? If you can tell me, I guarantee the safety of your entire family, and I'll also give you a contract of indenture so you can leave the Marquis's mansion."

Upon hearing this, Zixia's eyes lit up, and she looked at Chu Xunzhen excitedly, saying, "Eldest Miss, I know. Second Miss gave all 100,000 taels of silver she took from the public funds to Marquis Gu."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone stared intently at Chu Wanrou.

Chu Wanrou's expression changed.

Has Zixia gone mad?

You actually said that?

Did he even consider her a threat?

"Rou'er, is what Zixia said true? Did Lord Gu ask for that 100,000 taels? Did he write an IOU?"

After Li Yi asked this question, a tear rolled down Chu Wanrou's cheek, making her look extremely pitiful. She said, "Mother, Brother Changfeng is my fiancé. How could I possibly make him write an IOU? Brother Changfeng said that he would borrow it for a while and would repay it tenfold in the future."

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianxiong's face turned ashen, and he looked at Chu Wanrou as if she were a fool.

At that moment, he felt a pang of regret.

Why did you break Zhenzhen's heart for this rebellious daughter?

They're both granddaughters, so why is there such a big difference?

Chu Xunzhen handled matters with ease, and even when he was called a jinx, he never lost his composure. He even argued with people on the basis of reason.

But Chu Wanrou's delicate appearance, as if a gust of wind could blow her away, really displeased him.

"Isn't Gu Changfeng in the manor right now? He seems to have gone to Rou'er's courtyard, right? He shouldn't have left yet, should he? Let's call him over and ask."

Chu Xunzhen suggested.

Chu Zhanpeng immediately ordered someone to go to the Peony Garden to invite Gu Changfeng.

One hundred thousand taels of silver, not ten taels, not one hundred taels, but one thousand taels of silver.

Ten thousand taels of silver, if donated entirely to the national treasury, could bring the emperor great joy, just as Chu Xunzhen did. If one had the ability, like Chu Xunzhen, to gain the emperor's favor, one could even become a county princess.

Now, it has fallen into Gu Changfeng's hands.

When Gu Changfeng arrived, he saw Chu Wanrou squatting on the ground, looking aggrieved and helpless.

"Rou'er, what's wrong? Did Chu Xunzhen bully you again?"

Gu Changfeng's face was cold and stern as he stared intently at Chu Xunzhen, already planning which Gu worm to use to deal with her.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen sighed and asked, "Lord Gu, my sister Rou'er lent you 100,000 taels of silver, didn't she?"

As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, everyone in the Chu family looked at him.

Gu Changfeng finally understood that it was all because of the money.

"No, it's not a loan, it's a gift. This 100,000 taels of silver is a gift from you, Miss Chu."

Chunxi's eyes widened.

The Chu family members also stared wide-eyed.

Does this person have no shame?

Chu Xunzhen had already gotten used to his arrogant thoughts.

She chuckled softly, "Lord Gu, this silver has nothing to do with me. It was all lent to you by my sister Rou'er. Now, my second brother is being chased by the gambling den for a debt of 50,000 taels. I beg you, Lord Gu, to repay the 50,000 taels first and help my second brother get through this ordeal."

Chu Tianxiong watched Chu Xunzhen speak eloquently, then looked at Chu Wanrou who could only cry and sob beside him, and his head ached.

He truly regretted it. If he had known, he shouldn't have sided with Chu Wanrou. Instead, he should have remained fair and just and stood by Zhenzhen's side.

I remembered what Ah Lin once said: he would definitely regret it.

At the time, he scoffed at it, but now he's starting to regret it.

"That's your personal seal, how can it have nothing to do with you?" Gu Changfeng glanced at Chu Xunzhen and said.

In her past life, Chu Xunzhen often gave him money in the same way, and she would always make up for the deficit in the Marquis's mansion.

Now, she doesn't know what to do.

It's really not presentable.

"The seal is fake. And the money was lent to you by Rou'er, not me. Does Lord Gu not want to admit it? Do you want Rou'er to be punished?"

Chu Xunzhen stared wide-eyed at the two of them.

Gu Changfeng's face was grim. He didn't even look at Chu Xunzhen, but instead walked up to Chu Zhanpeng and said.

"Uncle, you know my character. I used that money for business. I will repay you a hundredfold by the end of this year at the latest."

Chu Mingyuan has arrived.

He leaned on his cane and limped toward the seats in the front hall.

Beneath the black face mask, several scars were visible that were not completely covered.

"So, Lord Gu can't help my second brother right now?"

As Chu Mingyuan finished speaking, everyone's expressions turned solemn.

Gu Changfeng coldly looked at Chu Xunzhen and said, "Chu Xunzhen, that's your second brother. Don't be so stingy. Just pay 50,000 taels for him first. I'll pay you back later."

"Return it?" Chu Xunzhen smiled, "What will you use to return it?"

In his past life, even as a top-ranking general, he still couldn't repay all the things he had promised her.

In this life, I borrowed 100,000 taels of silver and boasted that I would repay it tenfold.

Gu Changfeng's face was ashen.

He never expected that Chu Xunzhen would treat his face so disrespectfully.

That's truly hateful.

Chu Zhanpeng looked at Chu Xunzhen, his lips moved, but he gave up.

Remembering Nangong Yue's instructions before she left, he dared not force Chu Xunzhen.

"Li Yi, this is your dereliction of duty. Now that Zhenzhen has severed ties with you, you should be in charge of the treasury. Now that 90,000 taels of silver have been lost from the public funds, you must make up the shortfall yourself."

After Chu Zhanpeng finished speaking, Li Yi's face turned pale.

Being publicly insulted is practically the ultimate punishment for someone as concerned about saving face as she is.

"By the way, you should first gather up 50,000 to pay back the gambling den," Chu Tianxiong said.

Li Yi's face turned deathly pale.

"My lord, I am not the same as before, and I cannot afford to come up with fifty thousand taels. Perhaps we could borrow it from the county princess?"

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone instinctively looked at Chu Xunzhen.