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

The speaker was Chu Mingli.

Chu Wanrou looked at her second brother, her eyes flickered slightly, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

She recalled her second brother's gentleness, and then she thought of how heartless Gu Changfeng had been on their wedding night.

"Nephew Changfeng, shall we go to the study first and talk? We can have dinner at the mansion later, shall we?"

"Alright. Thank you for your time, Uncle."

Gu Changfeng nodded and said.

Granny Li approached and said to Chu Wanrou, "Second Miss, Madam is waiting for you in the side room."

"Yes."

Chu Wanrou gave Chu Mingli an apologetic look and walked towards the backyard.

At this moment, Chu Xunzhen and Nangong Yue were almost at Chrysanthemum Courtyard.

Before even reaching the Chrysanthemum Garden, we saw Chen Kangnian and his wife, along with Chen Yunqi, standing in front of the garden, looking around.

"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother."

Chu Xun was so excited that he ran over to his adoptive parents the moment he saw them.

"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Eldest Brother," Nangong Yue greeted them with clasped hands.

"Great!" The chubby Chen Kangnian looked at Chu Xunzhen excitedly.

My daughter is in good spirits, with rosy cheeks, and she looks like she's doing very well.

Chu Xunzhen ordered his men to bring in ten boxes of gifts for the bride's return visit.

Chen Kangnian and Zhang Minlan were stunned when they saw so many gifts for returning to their parents' home.

"Zhenzhen, why did you bring back so many gifts?" Zhang Minlan asked Chu Xunzhen cautiously.

She was afraid that Nangong Yue would have a problem with her daughter.

"Father-in-law and mother-in-law, you are the most important people to Zhenzhen, and therefore the most important people to me, Nangong Yue. This small gift is nothing to mention."

"Oh, by the way, I have a gift here, especially for my older brother."

Nangong Yue gave Anshun behind her a look, and Anshun immediately took out a brocade box from his bosom. Inside the box was a breastplate and a dagger.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Chen Yunqi picked up the dagger.

In the sunlight, the dagger emitted a sharp, cold glint.

Chen Yunqi was holding a leaf.

The dagger lightly sliced ​​through the center of the leaf, and the leaf split in two in the next instant.

As for this heart-protecting mirror, it is an extremely rare and precious item.

Chu Xun was completely dumbfounded.

She had no idea that Nangong Yue had prepared such a wonderful gift for her brother.

Nangong Yue was pulled away by Chen Kangnian and Chen Yunqi, who said they were going to play chess.

Chu Xunzhen was pulled aside by Zhang Minlan.

Zhang Minlan looked at Chu Xunzhen and immediately asked quietly, "Zhenzhen, is His Highness treating you well? Is there anything wrong with him?"

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and said, "Your Highness treats me very well and is also very thorough in his work."

"Good, that's good." Zhang Minlan smiled, then tears welled up in her eyes. "This is the jade pendant that your mother wore when she was little. You should wear it close to your body, and then pass it on to her after you give birth to your child."

Zhang Minlan took off the jade pendant from her neck and put it on Chu Xunzhen.

This jade pendant is in the shape of a dragon. The jade is translucent, with good color and texture, making it a rare and precious item.

No wonder Zhang Minlan treasured it as a family heirloom.

Chu Xunzhen and Chen Minlan chatted for a while, then strolled around the courtyard admiring the flowers.

"Zhenzhen, your father and I will leave the Marquis's residence this afternoon," Zhang Minlan said.

Chu Xunzhen asked worriedly, "Mother, are you going back?"

"It's already deep winter, and your father and I plan to buy a house in the capital. You and His Highness can come anytime then."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen nodded vigorously.

"Father, Mother, my county lord's mansion is already decorated. Why don't we settle down here first, then we won't need to buy another large house?"

"We can't stay in the county magistrate's mansion. We'll find a good house, and then see if your elder brother can find a suitable woman in the capital to marry."

Chu Xunzhen suddenly realized.

My elder brother is getting married, so he definitely needs his own residence.

"Brother, you'll definitely find a gentle and kind woman. I'll keep an eye out for you too."

As they talked, they asked the small kitchen to bring out some pastries.

Chen Kangnian and Nangong Yue have returned.

When he left, Chen Kangnian was scrutinizing Nangong Yue, but when he returned, the two were arm in arm.

Over here, Chu Xunzhen and his companions were enjoying a peaceful and happy time.

In the Peony Garden.

Li Yi looked at Chu Wanrou, his face expressionless.

Chu Wanrou's heart skipped a beat, her voice trembling with tears: "Mother, why are you looking at Rou'er like that?"

As she spoke, she walked up to Li Yi and tugged at her sleeve.

Unlike before, Li Yi flicked his sleeves and patted them a few times.

Seeing this almost disgusted gesture, Chu Wanrou's face turned pale.

Li Yi's gaze was icy as he asked, "Rou'er, do you know your true identity?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou's expression stiffened.

"Rou'er is my daughter, she was before, and she will be in the future."

Li Yi scoffed, stood up, and said coldly, "Chu Wanrou, I'm asking you this: do you know who your biological father is?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou shook her head violently.

"I don't know, Mother, I don't know anything."

Chu Wanrou instinctively knew she couldn't reveal the truth, otherwise Li Yi would ignore her.

Upon hearing this, Li Yi, though still feeling uneasy, didn't say anything, only saying, "You should rest well."

With that, Li Yi walked out.

Chu Wanrou watched Li Yi's retreating figure, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.

He said he would always be good to her and love her, but now that he knows she is Chu Zhanpeng's biological daughter, he ignores her.

Li Yi walked through the vast Marquis's mansion, with Granny Li following behind.

"Granny, why is this happening?"

Li Yi asked painfully.

She treated Chu Wanrou so well, only to find out that Chu Wanrou was actually a bastard child born from a vixen who seduced her husband.

She felt like a fool, having given so much over the years, including her dowry, to the enemy's daughter.

Even if Chu Xunzhen is a jinx, even if he has harmed her like this, he is still her bloodline.

Now, the mere thought of Chu Wanrou's birth makes her feel like she's about to vomit blood.

Granny Li followed behind Li Yi, somewhat helplessly.

"Madam, what's done is done. Now, the only thing we can do is compensate the eldest daughter and see if that can mend the relationship between you."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi laughed so hard he bent over backwards.

"I have already signed a divorce agreement with Chu Xunzhen. Are you suggesting I go and beg for forgiveness from a junior like her?"

"Madam, even if a marriage is severed, it can be remarried."

Li Yi's expression was fascinating.

"But she's a jinx. She's the one who ruined me. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have lost the Marquis's favor, and I wouldn't have kept that slut Chu Wanrou."

Li Yi has somewhat sealed away the demons.

In a daze, she actually saw Chu Xunzhen.

She saw Chu Xunzhen and helped Zhang Minlan up.

They were arranging flowers and chatting.

Chu Xunzhen's smile was so sincere, and Zhang Minlan's gaze towards Chu Xunzhen was so doting.

Zhang Minlan was walking back and forth in the yard, picking flowers, when she suddenly fell backward, perhaps stepping on the wet soil.

"Mother, be careful!"

As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, he rushed forward, hugged Zhang Minlan, and helped her steady herself.

"Zhenzhen, Mom's feet hurt so much."

As soon as Zhang Minlan finished speaking, Li Yi saw that Chu Xunzhen, who was usually aloof and superior, actually squatted down and examined Zhang Minlan's feet.

Li Yi suddenly looked at Granny Li and asked, "Is this Chu Xunzhen? Isn't she arrogant and disdainful of everyone?"

Granny Li lowered her head and said, "Madam, have you forgotten? When the eldest young lady first returned, you fell and hurt your back. Chu Xunzhen applied medicine to you then, and she looked at you with the same expression."

Li Yi remembered.

At that time, Chu Xunzhen was full of curiosity about her, but her birth mother pushed her away time and time again, and even yelled at her to stay away from her.

Zhang Minlan, with her sharp eyes, spotted Lady Hou from afar.

She staggered over and said, "Greetings, Madam Hou."

"No need for such formalities."

Li Yi's expression was complicated as she was about to leave when she suddenly noticed the agate bracelet on Zhang Minlan's hand.

She exclaimed in surprise, "How come your bracelet is exactly the same as the agate bracelet I'm wearing?"

Chu Xunzhen was startled and looked over.

After a moment, she smiled and said, "Madam, they are only similar. Your bracelet is more orange, while my mother's agate bracelet is a true imperial red."

Li Yi was somewhat at a loss for words after hearing Chu Xunzhen's words.

She did dislike Chu Xunzhen, but now that she was calling her adoptive mother "mother," she felt a momentary displeasure.

Li Yi chuckled: "This agate bracelet of mine was personally selected by Rou'er. Where did Madam Chen get this agate bracelet?"

Zhang Minlan said, "This is really for me."

"Oh? Is that so? May I borrow it to take a look?"

Li Yi suddenly spoke.

Granny Li looked puzzled, wondering what her mistress was planning.

Ever since he learned the truth about Chu Wanrou's background that day, Li Yi has become somewhat obsessed.

Zhang Minlan took off her agate bracelet and handed it to Madam Hou.

Chu Xunzhen was about to stop her, but before she could even open her mouth, Zhang Minlan tugged at her sleeve and gestured to her with her eyes for her not to.

"This mere agate bracelet can't compare to the one Rou'er gave me."

After saying that, Li Yi handed the agate bracelet back to Zhang Minlan.

Zhang Minlan missed it, and the agate bracelet fell to the ground with a thud.

Chu Xunzhen's expression turned grim. He suddenly grabbed Li Yi's hand and asked.

"Madam Hou, why did you deliberately smash my mother's agate bracelet?"

At such close range, Li Yi clearly saw the coldness in Chu Xunzhen's eyes.

Li Yi was furious.

Is Chu Xun really going to take this so seriously, this mere merchant?

"It was an accident. If it's broken, I'll pay for it."

Chu Xunzhen said angrily, "What will you use to compensate, Madam? This is Southern Red Agate, extremely precious. Are you suggesting I compensate with this faded agate bracelet you're wearing?"

As he spoke, Chu Xunzhen raised Li Yi's left hand, which was adorned with an agate bracelet.

Suddenly, a pungent smell hit me.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze suddenly fell on the bracelet on Li Yi's wrist.

Li Yi was furious: "You wish! This is a gift from Rou'er to me."

Chu Xunzhen suddenly laughed, her eyes chilling: "Only you wear a string of trash as if it were a treasure. I advise you to go back and take off this bracelet, otherwise you will die within a year."

Li Yi burst into laughter, finding the rumors alarmist.

She flicked her long sleeves and abruptly turned and left.

Zhang Minlan was startled and grabbed Chu Xunzhen, saying to her.

"Zhenzhen, the bracelet isn't broken or rotten, it's just scratched a little, it's fine. Madam Hou didn't do it on purpose. I think she's not in a good mood."