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

Behind Chu Xunzhen, Chun Xiqi's chest heaved with joy.

Chu Xunzhen said, "Since it is the Empress's invitation, we should naturally comply. Lianxin is Your Highness's cousin. Since she has made a mistake, she should set an example and continue to obey Your Highness's orders upon returning. She should remain in the woodshed under house arrest. I suppose my cousin wouldn't deliberately disobey Your Highness?"

With a casual remark, Chu Xunzhen pushed the question back to Chen Lianxin.

Nangong Qing looked at Chu Xunzhen with icy eyes.

Chu Xunzhen met her gaze without fear.

If looks could kill, the people of the Ping'an Marquis's Mansion and the Chongding Marquis's Mansion would have died a thousand times over.

A mere cold indifference is of no consequence.

Nangong Qing was the first to look away.

Her face looked pale.

Surprisingly, she was the first to succumb to the pressure.

How could Chu Xunzhen, an ordinary merchant's adopted daughter, possess such a fierce aura?

Even though she is the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ping'an, she grew up in the countryside. Where did she get such poise and presence? This poise and presence are unmatched even by noble ladies in the capital.

"Chunxi, let's go."

Chu Xunzhen walked out of the mansion and went straight to her private carriage.

Chu Xunzhen closed his eyes tightly and said with focused concentration, "Let's go to the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion first."

Chunxi was stunned.

"Young lady, the flower-viewing and poetry banquet is about to begin. If we take a detour now, will we make it in time?"

"nature."

As soon as Chu Xunzhen got off the carriage, she saw Granny Hua rushing over and handing Chunxi a package.

Granny Hua said to Chu Xunzhen, "Your Highness, everything is inside."

"Thank you for your hard work, Granny."

Granny Hua smiled and said, "It is my honor to serve Your Highness."

Chu Xunzhen and Chunxi boarded the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Chunxi clutched the bundle tightly.

Seeing her nervous expression, Chu Xunzhen laughed: "Chunxi, don't be nervous, there's no gold or silver treasure inside."

Upon hearing this, Chunxi breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew this must be something important, otherwise her master wouldn't have gone to fetch it so soon before entering the palace.

"Yes, young lady."

Soon the carriage entered the palace road. Chu Xunzhen and Chunxi got off the carriage and, guided by the palace servants, arrived at the Imperial Garden.

Princess Nangong Moli sat amidst the peonies.

She wore a crimson gauze dress and a peony hairpin in her hair, exuding an air of elegance and grace.

The noble ladies were in twos and threes; some were admiring the flowers, some were watching the koi swimming in the sunlight by the lotus pond, and others were sitting at the banquet, munching on snacks and exchanging their thoughts.

Today, Chu Xunzhen was wearing a tea-green silk skirt with begonia patterns. It was an unassuming color, but as soon as she entered the Imperial Garden, she attracted everyone's attention because of the pea-green sachet with gold thread hanging from her waist, which sparkled in the sunlight.

"The Ninth Prince's Consort has arrived?"

Nangong Moli looked at Chu Xunzhen with excitement and stood up.

Chu Xunzhen bowed and said, "Greetings, Princess."

Nangong Moli walked up to Chu Xunzhen and helped her up with both hands.

"Your Highness, there's no need for such formality. If it weren't for Your Highness that day, I'm afraid I would still be suffering outside."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xun was somewhat surprised.

Despite being a royal princess, the second princess showed no remorse whatsoever for what happened that day.

If it were any other person in a position of power, they certainly wouldn't want anyone to bring up their disgraceful deeds.

Chu Xunzhen smiled slightly, looking at the Second Princess with great favor, and said, "Your Highness is blessed with boundless good fortune; you are a true dragon maiden, destined to turn misfortune into good fortune and enjoy endless blessings."

Chu Xunzhen's words made the Second Princess beam with joy.

"Princess Ninth Prince, please try this pastry. It is a new dessert developed by the imperial chefs and is called Joy Cake."

Chu Xunzhen looked at the pastries. The pastries were pinkish-purple, crystal clear, and translucent white, with a few flower petals sprinkled on top, like a smiling face.

She was truly stunningly beautiful and fragrant.

Chu Xunzhen raised her hand, picked up a piece of pastry, and a rich, sweet rose fragrance wafted into her nostrils.

She took a small sip, and a rich, sweet aroma exploded on her lips and tongue.

Not far away, a woman dressed in a bright yellow palace dress and wearing a peony and gold-threaded vermilion bird hairpin slowly walked over.

She is none other than Empress Ma, the current empress of the Great Ning Dynasty.

Empress Ma appeared elegant and poised, yet her face was unnaturally pale.

Everyone was shocked and no longer cared about admiring the flowers and fish, so they all bowed to the Empress.

The Empress sat at the head of the table, glanced at the noble ladies, and said with a smile, "Today is a flower appreciation and poetry banquet, so you don't need to be too reserved."

She waved her hand, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities.

Chu Xunzhen saw that Nangong Qing was also in the Empress's procession.

Nangong Qing maneuvered the wheelchair and whispered a few words in the Empress's ear. Immediately, the Empress looked in the direction where Chu Xunzhen was.

Her eyes were sharp, and her previous amiable demeanor had vanished, replaced by a chilling aura.

Chu Xunzhen understood. They were probably coming to cause her trouble.

"Ninth Prince's Consort, you married the Ninth Prince, yet you failed to fulfill your responsibilities as a princess consort. Do you know your crime?"

As soon as Empress Ma spoke, Chu Xunzhen knew that Nangong Qing had probably already tried to sow discord between her and others.

"I don't know," Chu Xunzhen shook her head and said, without standing up.

The Empress's gaze turned cold as she said, "Ninth Princess Consort, how dare you, as a princess consort, prevent the prince from taking Chen Lianxin as a concubine? Since you are so jealous, I will punish you by making you copy 'Women's Virtues' ten times."

Chunxi's face was pale.

At this moment, Chu Xunzhen stood up.

"Your Majesty, whether or not the Prince takes a concubine is entirely up to him. As for Nangong Qing's daughter, Chen Lianxin, she was despised because she went to His Highness's study and undressed indiscriminately, which aroused His Highness's displeasure and led to her being rejected by him."

As soon as Chu Xunzhen spoke, the entire room fell silent enough that you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, an uproar ensued.

The Empress's expression was complex as she stared intently at Nangong Qing.

Chu Xunzhen guessed that since Nangong Qing had asked the Empress to make the decision, she would definitely not say anything indecent about her daughter.

"Ninth Prince's Consort, putting aside what Chen Lianxin is like, are you saying that you didn't stop the Ninth Prince from taking a concubine?" Empress Ma sat upright and spoke in a cold voice.

Chu Xunzhen's voice was clear and melodious: "Your Highness is of true dragon blood, so naturally you can't only have Xunzhen as your consort. Moreover, it is the duty of every woman who marries into the royal family to produce offspring. Xunzhen will naturally not object, and will even approve."

The Empress glanced at Chu Xunzhen with surprise.

If this woman isn't truly indifferent, then she's extremely cunning.

"I heard that Ninth Prince's health has improved a lot?" The Empress suddenly asked, changing the subject.

A hint of sadness appeared in Chu Xunzhen's eyes: "The prince is much better now, but he was unconscious a few days ago, and he is now awake."

"If that's the case, then I will send the imperial physician over to examine the Ninth Prince."

Chu Xunzhen's eyes revealed a look of surprise and delight: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Nangong Qing looked at Chu Xunzhen, both shocked and furious.

Chu Xunzhen doesn't seem like a girl who just came from the countryside at all. She's clearly a cunning and calculating noblewoman from a prestigious family.

I thought she was timid as a mouse, but now I know she's quick-witted and sharp-tongued.

Princess Nangong Moli addressed the crowd: "Today is a flower-viewing and poetry gathering. Besides appreciating the flowers, we also need to compose poems. Now, please take your seats."

Her gaze fell upon the noble ladies from various aristocratic families, who were already seated at the tables on the left.

The seats on the right were all occupied by men.

Chu Xunzhen was surprised to see Nangong Yue sitting at the table.

Seemingly sensing Chu Xunzhen's gaze, Nangong Yue gave Chu Xunzhen a doting smile from afar.

Chen Lianxin also sat down.

Just now, her clothes were soaked, so she went to change them.

As she walked through the banquet, she noticed that the noble ladies looked at her with a hint of disdain and disgust.

The young men looked at her with wicked arrogance and mockery.

Chen Lianxin approached Nangong Qing and was about to sit down when the Empress's voice suddenly rang out.

"Guards, escort Miss Chen away. Investigate what the Ninth Princess Consort said. If the evidence is conclusive, I will punish you by sending you to the Mingshan Stone Temple for three months of reflection."

Chen Lianxin was terrified and turned pale. She struggled but was pulled away.

"Sister-in-law, save me!"

"Sister-in-law, please help me!"

Chu Xunzhen found it amusing.

Previously, Chen Lianxin didn't take her seriously and called her Chu Xunzhen, but now that she's scared, she's willing to call her cousin-in-law.

What an irony.

The Empress frowned and slammed her hand on the table, saying, "Chen Lianxin, if you are innocent, I will certainly punish the Ninth Princess for the serious crime of spreading rumors and harming a noble lady. But if you really did such a thing, then you will have to accept the punishment yourself."

Upon hearing this, Chen Lianxin shook her head and said, "I'm innocent! I'm innocent!"

Nangong Yue suddenly stood up and walked to Chen Lianxin's side.

A glimmer of hope appeared in Chen Lianxin's eyes.

"Cousin, save me! The Ninth Princess just ruined my reputation, and now the Empress wants to take me to the Mingshan Stone Temple. Please tell me the truth, cousin."

As she spoke, Chen Lianxin quietly tugged at Nangong Yue's sleeve.

But Nangong Yue frowned and said, "The Princess Consort would never wrong you. Chen Lianxin, you know what you've done."

Upon hearing this, the Empress stared intently at Nangong Qing.

Nangong Qing was frightened.

She glared at the Ninth Prince and said, "Your Highness, how can you lie? It was clearly the Ninth Princess who was jealous and wouldn't allow you to take Lianxin as a concubine. How can you say such a thing now? How can you repay the life-saving grace I showed you back then?"

Chu Xunzhen glanced at Nangong Qing and said coldly, "Madam Nangong, saving His Highness was a brave and fearless act, but how can you use that life-saving grace to coerce him into taking your daughter as a concubine? Whether His Highness is willing to take Lianxin as a concubine is his own decision. We did a good deed; how can we expect to repay such a debt?"

Suddenly, a cheer rang out.

"Excellent! Well said, Your Highness is absolutely right."

Hearing that familiar voice, a hint of surprise flashed in Chu Xunzhen's eyes.

The person cheering was none other than Liu Xiangning.

Today she wore a rose-pink tulle dress, which made her look more feminine and less heroic.

Nangong Qing stared intently at Chu Xunzhen, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, kowtowing to the Empress and pleading, "Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince's Consort deliberately drugged Lianxin, causing her to lose her mind. This humble woman does not ask that Lianxin become the Ninth Prince's concubine, but only begs Your Majesty to assign His Highness two concubines so that they may bear children for the royal family."

Empress Ma pondered for a moment before saying to Nangong Qing, "You've put your heart into this."

Immediately, Empress Ma's gaze fell upon Nangong Yue: "Ninth Prince, what do you say? Are you willing to take concubines? If you are, I will arrange for two women to be given to you."