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

Chunxi looked unwell.

How could the Third Prince call His Highness "Your Highness" so intimately?

People in the mansion would probably think that the Empress and the Third Prince had a very good personal relationship.

As Chu Xunzhen watched the Third Prince stride towards her, her eyes were filled with coldness.

This guy is clearly doing it on purpose, speaking so loudly and calling her that, to ruin her reputation.

Chu Xunzhen simply couldn't understand.

What benefit would this bring to the Third Prince?

"Greetings, Third Prince."

Chu Xunzhen bowed respectfully to the Third Prince.

"Zhenzhen, why have you become so distant from me after not seeing you for so long?" The Third Prince said with a smile, taking a few steps closer to Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell indifferently on the Third Prince. She took a few steps back and said, "Third Prince, I am now your ninth sister-in-law. I hope you will not address me as such."

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince gave Chu Xunzhen a deep look.

She was full of energy, with skin as smooth as jade and a rosy face, clearly well-nourished by the Ninth Prince.

"Ninth Princess Consort, I have come today on behalf of my Second Princess to invite you. She has invited you to the palace the day after tomorrow to attend a poetry banquet she is hosting. I hope you will not refuse?"

Chunxi looked at her Ninth Princess with concern.

She remembered that the princess knew nothing about poetry and literature.

If the test were about medicinal herbs and their trade, the Princess Consort would undoubtedly excel. However, this kind of refined poetry gathering is where mistakes are most likely to occur. If the Princess Consort cannot compose a poem, she will certainly be ridiculed.

"Of course not. The Second Princess has extended a warm invitation. This Princess Consort will go herself."

A gust of cold wind swept by, and white gardenias fell from the tree, landing on Chu Xunzhen's temples, adding a touch of charm to her.

The Third Prince's gaze lingered on Chu Xunzhen before he turned and left.

Watching his retreating figure, Chu Xunzhen frowned and clenched her handkerchief tightly.

In her past life, the Third Prince ascended the throne. Back then, she and Gu Changfeng were part of the Third Prince's faction. Now, the Chongding Marquis's Mansion and the Zhongyi Marquis's Mansion are in dire need of money.

She guessed that Gu Changfeng had sided with the Third Prince from the very beginning.

The third prince left.

Chunxi looked at her mistress with concern and asked, "Your Highness, you are not good at poetry and prose. If you go to the poetry gathering, you might be ridiculed. Perhaps you should decline?"

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and smiled.

In her past life, she truly didn't understand poetry and literature. But later, for Gu Changfeng's sake, she studied diligently. Therefore, she wasn't afraid.

She even thought this might be a chance to gain exposure.

At that time, it will be a good opportunity to introduce her new products to the people in the palace.

It was lunchtime, and Chu Xun really had to go back.

Suddenly, a thin little boy, pulling a chubby little boy along, jogged towards her yard from a distance.

"Nangong Xingchen and Nangong Xinghe greet Mother."

Chu Xunzhen looked at the two of them with surprise, nodded, and asked, "What do you want?"

"Xingchen greets Mother and asks Mother to check her homework."

As he spoke, Nangong Xingchen presented the Xuan paper in his hand.

Chunxi took the Xuan paper and respectfully handed it to Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen glanced at it a few times, then his gaze sharpened: "Xingchen, is this your handwriting?"

Nangong Xingchen nodded, a hint of unease in his eyes.

Chu Xunzhen was deeply shocked.

This little guy is only six years old, right? To be able to write with such spirit, he must have worked extremely hard.

"Xingchen's handwriting is so beautiful. It's even better than mine."

Nangong Xingchen's lips curled up slightly.

Nangong Xinghe then looked at Chu Xunzhen and said somewhat awkwardly, "I'm sorry, Mother. I was concerned about my sister that day and was disrespectful to you. Please forgive me."

As he spoke, Nangong Xinghe knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Nangong Xingchen also knelt on the ground and said, "My younger brother is young and ignorant, and it is I, as the elder brother, who has failed to set a good example. If Mother wants to punish someone, punish me."

Chu Xunzhen then remembered the day when those little ones had talked back to her.

"I have not taken what happened that day to heart. You may rise."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Xinghe stood up, looking somewhat bewildered.

Nangong Xingchen knelt on the ground, motionless.

Chu Xunzhen sighed helplessly and personally helped him up: "Is Xingyuan feeling any better now?"

"Replying to Mother, my sister's condition is unknown. We were just about to call Mother so we could go see her together."

Chu Xunzhen was puzzled, but nodded nonetheless: "Someone, have the cook make Xingyuan a bowl of porridge with some side dishes and send it over."

After saying that, Chu Xunzhen stood up and said to the two of them, "Let's go see Star Wish."

Nangong Xingchen and Nangong Xinghe were very excited and followed behind Chu Xunzhen.

Although they are the older brothers, Aunt Lianxin had previously said that they couldn't keep bothering their younger sister.

Since that day, they have not been allowed to enter the side room to see their sister.

Chu Xunzhen arrived at Xingxingju.

As soon as I stepped into Xingxingju, I saw two pale-faced, flustered maids standing outside the door of the side room.

A bad feeling immediately arose in Chu Xunzhen's heart, and he asked in a cold voice, "What are you doing guarding the door?"

The two maids were so frightened that they knelt on the ground: "It was Miss Lianxin who told us to guard this place."

Chu Xunzhen said, "This princess has come to see Xingyuan."

After she finished speaking, the two maids remained kneeling on the ground, motionless.

Little chubby Nangong Xinghe came up and complained to Chu Xunzhen, "It's them! They won't let us in. Mother, we've come so many times, but they just won't let us in."

Upon hearing this, the two maids looked flustered and said, "No, no, Miss Lianxin said that the two young masters cannot be allowed to go in and disturb Miss Xingyuan."

Chu Xunzhen asked in confusion, "Why is that?"

"Star Wish Girl was playful and greedy, and developed a rash. We've locked her up to reflect on her actions."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen's expression changed drastically.

Her brows furrowed, she clutched her dress tightly, and asked anxiously, "You mean, since we left that day, Xingyuan hasn't seen a single outsider, and hasn't even had any food?"

"Food was brought in through the window."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen stared intently at the two maids in front of her.

"Get out of the way!"

The two maids gritted their teeth and refused to back down an inch.

One of the maids even said, "Even if you are a princess, Aunt Lianxin is the mistress of this Ninth Prince's mansion. Who do you think you are? Just because someone calls you 'princess,' do you really think you're a princess?"

"How dare you!" Chunxi shouted angrily, stepped forward, raised her hand, and slapped the maid hard across the face.

The maid was beaten and fell to the ground.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on another maid.

The maid gritted her teeth, raised her hands, and blocked Chu Xunzhen's path, saying, "Miss Lianxin's meaning is the Ninth Prince's meaning. If the Ninth Princess wants to see Miss Xingyuan, she should go to Miss Lianxin first. Only if there are clear instructions will this servant allow you to enter."

Chunxi's face was flushed.

This is because she was angry.

Chu Xunzhen gave a mocking smile, clapped his hands, and said in an icy voice, "Guards, seize these two lowly maids."

Upon hearing this, Shou Er and Shou San jumped down from the tree in the courtyard, grabbed the two lowly maids, and threw them aside.

Chu Xunzhen looked at the lock in front of her, raised her foot, and kicked it.

With a crash, the brass lock was kicked to pieces.

Chu Xunzhen pushed open the door, followed closely by Nangong Xinghe and Nangong Xingchen.

"Wish Upon a Star!"

Chu Xunzhen called out and looked at the couch on the left.

The left couch was empty. Chu Xunzhen looked to the right.

On the ground, a little girl lay, her chest rising and falling slightly.

"Wish Upon a Star!"

Nangong Xingchen and Nangong Xinghe rushed over and exclaimed in surprise.

Chu Xunzhen reached out and examined Nangong Xingyuan's pupils and throat.

"Quickly summon the royal physician. She is extremely weak."

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on the spilled food and water on the ground, and a fierce anger ignited in his eyes.

The desk was a full head taller than Nangong Xingyuan.

In a state of extreme thirst and hunger, Nangong Xingyuan could only stand on tiptoe and reach out to grab the food on the table.

But she couldn't hook it, and even spilled all the food and water on the table.

"Chunxi, go outside and fetch a bucket of hot water."

"Yes."

Chunxi's eyes were red as she rushed out.

Chu Xunzhen's heart clenched, and he said to Shouyi, "Go and summon His Highness."

"Yes." Shouyi hurriedly left.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on the two maids outside the door. Seeing that they were about to escape, she said in a cold voice, "Shou Er, tie these two maids up for me."

Upon hearing this, Shou Er leaped out and stood in front of the two maids, delivering a swift chop to their necks.

The next moment, they collapsed unconscious on the ground.

On the bed, Nangong Xingyuan's small face was sunken, and she seemed to vaguely see Chu Xunzhen.

"Ouch, Your Majesty, it hurts so much!" Nangong Xingyuan raised her dirty little hand.

"Little sister!"

Nangong Xinghe's eyes turned red, and he suddenly reached out and grabbed Nangong Xingyuan's small hands.

Seeing her chubby little sister become skin and bones in just two nights, tears welled up in her eyes.

Nangong Xingchen gazed at Nangong Xingyuan on the couch.

That little face was so pale it was devoid of any color, her hair was filthy, and her body was filthy, as if she had been thrown into a slum.

A deep hatred flickered in the depths of his eyes.

Chu Xunzhen saw that although he didn't show it on his face, his violently trembling fingers still revealed his inner turmoil.

The imperial physician has arrived.

After examining Nangong Xingyuan's body, his expression turned grim.

The physician administered acupuncture to her and prescribed a medicine.

Chu Xunzhen's heart clenched, and she asked, "Physician, how is Xingyuan?"

"Xingyuan already had a rash, and after I prescribed medicine that day, she didn't get proper rest, and now she has a fever. If she can get through tonight, she can survive. She'll need to be nourished with herbal medicine afterward, and her health will be poor, making it difficult for her to conceive. If she doesn't make it through tonight, I'm afraid the Prince's mansion will have to prepare for a funeral."

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone was terrified.

In particular, Nangong Xinghe threw himself beside Nangong Xingyuan and burst into tears.

Nangong Xingchen stared intently at Nangong Xingyuan, her eyes reddening.

"Chunxi, go out and see why His Highness hasn't returned yet?"

Before Chu Xunzhen could finish speaking, Chen Lianxin walked in.

She scoffed, "Oh, isn't this the Princess Consort? What are you doing here?"

Chu Xunzhen's gaze turned cold as he said, "Chen Lianxin, Nangong Xingyuan is a young princess. How dare you confine her to her quarters?"

Chen Lianxin frowned and said coldly, "Your Highness, what are you saying? You were the one who issued the confinement order, not me! How dare I, a mere cousin, confine the young princess?"