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

A triumphant smile flashed in Chu Wanrou's eyes.

"Rou'er!" Li Yi's voice rang out from behind.

Gu Changfeng looked at Li Yi and said, "Madam, I am already aware of what happened at the flower-viewing banquet. Rest assured, I have already planned to request an official title for Rou'er. At that time, the noble ladies of the capital will naturally not dare to mention today's events again."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, my dear nephew. I'll take Rou'er back now."

Chu Wanrou had already put her veil back on.

She certainly didn't miss the look of disgust in Gu Changfeng's eyes just now.

"Thank you, Brother Changfeng. Rou'er hopes that Brother Changfeng and Sister will not have any more conflicts. You are both the most important people to Rou'er. It will break my heart if either of you is hurt."

Gu Changfeng cursed himself for judging people by their appearance.

His voice was gentle: "My dear, go back home and rest well. We're getting married soon."

Li Yi left with Chu Wanrou.

At this moment, Chu Xunzhen had already personally handed the jade pendant to the Ninth Prince.

"Sister, is this a carving you gave me?"

The adorable little bear carving was incredibly cute. It reminded both of the time they had faced danger while out there.

At that time, they also formed a deep friendship with the little bear.

"Why don't we go see the little bear together now? We can bring it some food while we're at it," Nangong Yue suggested.

"Okay," Chu Xunzhen readily agreed.

The two of them left without hesitation.

After bidding farewell to Liu Xiangning, Chu Xunzhen left the Liu residence.

Liu Xiangning had to entertain the guests and stayed at the table, chatting with the noble ladies.

As for Xiao Qinghan, she had already gone to the male guests' side.

Chu Xunzhen was somewhat worried, so he sent three eunuchs to secretly protect Liu Xiangning.

Xiao Qinghan was even pointed out by Chu Xunzhen as a key person they were paying close attention to.

Chu Xunzhen and the Ninth Prince mounted their fast horses and left the Grand Tutor's mansion.

Soon, they arrived at the dense forest where they had first encountered the big black bear.

"Big black bear! Big black bear!"

Chu Xunzhen took out a whistle and blew it.

A moment later, a colossal creature appeared before them.

"Awoo!"

The once smooth fur was now stained with jet-black blood.

Even the once incredibly handsome black bear now has an extremely withered and listless face.

"Big Black!"

Chu Xunzhen exclaimed in surprise.

The big black bear stretched out its chubby paws and called out to Chu Xunzhen.

"Aww~"

Chu Xunzhen grabbed its bear paw and examined it closely, only then seeing the filth covering its body. Its fur was matted, and its entire body was covered in scars; some pieces of its fur had even been torn off.

The big black bear's gaze fell on Chu Xunzhen, and it tugged at her sleeve.

Nangong Yue looked puzzled.

Chu Xunzhen grabbed his hand and said, "It tells us to follow it."

The two followed the large black bear into a cave, where they discovered the mother bear, who was on the verge of death.

"During this time, Dahei found a companion and even gave birth to three bear cubs."

The mother bear's fur was torn to shreds, and several hunters lay on the ground, their fate unknown.

"Awoo!"

Big Black suddenly started spitting out mouthfuls of blood.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze sharpened as he began to administer acupuncture.

As the saying goes, medicine and poison are from the same family. Although her medical skills are not as good as her poison skills, she can still stop the bleeding of the big black bear.

"You want us to take care of your child?"

Chu Xunzhen looked at the big black bear with tears in its eyes and a pleading expression.

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and said coldly, "Your own treasure, you take care of it yourself. You still need to live."

The big black bear's mouth stretched into a grin, as if it were smiling. But the smile seemed to carry a hint of bitterness.

Nangong Yue said to Chu Xunzhen, "Sister, I'll have someone take Dahei and his baby back to the Prince's residence."

Chu Xunzhen nodded: "Okay. Otherwise, they probably won't survive."

An Shun ordered the eunuchs to come over, load the big black bear and its cubs onto a cart, and take them away.

Chu Xunzhen said to the big black bear, "Big Black, you go to his house first. I'll come see you in a few days, okay? From now on, you can live in the Prince's residence, right?"

Upon hearing this, Dahei's eyes lit up, and he nodded.

Chu Xunzhen thought for a moment, then continued, "But if you're staying at the Prince's residence, you'll have to live in the cage first. Once you've recovered, I'll bring you and your baby back, okay?"

As he spoke, Chu Xunzhen made a gesture that resembled a cage.

Nangong Yue watched the human and the bear communicating and began to question the meaning of life.

Especially Anshun's father-in-law, who was so surprised he couldn't close his mouth.

The big black bear agreed.

Nangong Yue looked at Chu Xunzhen with some reluctance: "Sister, I really wish today was our wedding day."

Chu Xunzhen blushed and glared at Nangong Yue.

Night falls.

Nangong Yue escorted Chu Xunzhen back to the Marquis's residence.

Nangong Yue left to continue preparing for the wedding.

As soon as she entered the Chrysanthemum Courtyard, she saw Chu Mingli sneaking out of her courtyard.

"Why are you here?" Chu Xunzhen asked Chu Mingli with a puzzled look.

This is her yard. What is he doing coming in?

And what about all the maids in her courtyard?

"Rou'er is preparing for her wedding. Mother asked me to have the maids in your courtyard decorate the outer courtyard. I've come today to give you something."

"What is it?" Chu Xunzhen asked, looking puzzled.

Chu Mingli took out a brocade box and handed it to Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen, however, did not accept the answer.

Chunxi, standing behind her, also had no intention of accepting.

"Second brother wishes you a happy marriage. This is a dowry from your second brother."

Chu Xunzhen gave a cold laugh: "A dowry? You and I are no longer related. I don't need your dowry."

"No. This is my dowry. Even if we're no longer related, we still know each other. Just treat me as an ordinary friend and this is my dowry for you."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

How could Chu Mingli even say such a thing?

"We loathe each other and have no more brotherly or sisterly affection left. I don't want to see you now. Take your gift and get out."

Chu Mingli spoke up: "Consider this my apology. I borrowed a lot of money from you before. But didn't Mother pay it all back for me? This time, she sold the Pearl of the South China Sea and has already sent someone to give you the silver notes, right? All our debts are now settled."

Chu Xunzhen was too lazy to talk to him anymore, but Chu Mingli put the gift box on the ground and ran away in a flash.

Chunxi immediately said to Chu Xunzhen, "Miss, the second young master left the dowry on the ground."

Chu Xunzhen was speechless.

"Have someone deliver this box to the Peony Garden. Tell them it's a dowry gift from Second Brother to Chu Wanrou."

"Yes."

Chunxi was about to go over and pick up the box when he thought it was right.

Suddenly, Chu Xunzhen grabbed Chunxi's hand and said, "You must not open this box. There might be something inside that Chu Mingli used to harm me."

Chunxi was startled upon hearing this.

Her face was grim. She patted her chest and said, "I thought the Second Young Master had genuinely come to apologize to you. I never imagined he would try to harm you. How could the Second Young Master do such a thing?"

The girl was so good to him! She cleaned up so many messes for him! How could he be so ungrateful?

Seeing Chunxi's angry look, Chu Xunzhen said nonchalantly, "Don't worry about him. When the dowry is presented, check if Chu Wanrou is injured."