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

Gu Changfeng's eyes narrowed.

He said coldly, "Who do we have here? It's you, you fickle, shameless woman."

"How dare you!" Chunxi said coldly from behind him, "How dare Lord Gu insult the Ninth Prince's Consort? Does he not respect the royal family?"

Chu Xunzhen stared coldly at Gu Changfeng and said, "Lord Gu, you must speak with evidence. How could I, the Princess Consort, be accused of being promiscuous? If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, I will definitely go to the palace and impeach you."

Gu Changfeng's expression was grim.

Thinking back to the last time, when he was impeached by Nangong Yue and the emperor made him kneel in the imperial study for an hour, he still felt a dull pain in his knees.

Gu Changfeng looked at Chu Xunzhen, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I apologize, I mistook you for someone else."

"Then who did you mistake for?" Chu Xunzhen smiled. "Oh? I see. You mistook her for your wife, Chu Wanrou, didn't you? Well, when it comes to being promiscuous, Chu Wanrou is number one, and no one dares to claim second place."

Chu Xunzhen was too lazy to say anything more to Gu Changfeng and went straight to sit down on the side of the courtroom.

"Lord Zhou Qing has been temporarily relieved of his post and is no longer in charge of the Five Cities Garrison. However, during his tenure, he was fair and impartial, fearless of powerful figures, and loyal and kind. Now, he is merely making a small request, and Lord Gu refuses it?"

Gu Changfeng coldly said, "As a prisoner, he dares to touch a corpse. Ninth Princess, if he intentionally harms the body to deliberately evade responsibility, can you bear the consequences?"

Zhou Qing stared intently at Gu Changfeng, closed his eyes, and said, "Ninth Princess Consort, please stop trying to help me. I don't want to implicate you. Gu Changfeng, I am the former commander of the Five Cities Garrison. I guarantee with my integrity that I will only examine the body and will absolutely not damage it. Otherwise, I am willing to confess my guilt and accept beheading."

"Fine." Gu Changfeng sneered, "Since you want to watch, then watch your fill."

After saying this, Gu Changfeng ordered the soldiers to bring up the body of Zhou Qing's wife.

In the courtroom.

Gu Changfeng sat in the head seat, his gaze fixed on Chu Xunzhen.

Today, she wore a pale yellow ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), looking radiant and lively, completely different from the rigid and dull matriarch of a noble family in her previous life.

Chu Xunzhen ignored Gu Changfeng's gaze. At this moment, she was using her unique secret technique to contact the Great Saintess.

She said she'd be here today, right? She can't possibly not come, can she?

Just as Chu Xunzhen was worrying, the soldiers carried up the body covered with a white sheet.

A chilling aura instantly filled the courtroom.

Gu Changfeng's gaze fell on Zhou Qing, and he sneered, "Zhou Qing, let's examine the body. However, I'll only give you half an hour. If you don't find anything special, you'll sign a confession admitting that you killed your wife."

"it is good."

Zhou Qing's voice was hoarse.

He walked shakily to the straw mat and lifted the white cloth.

Then everyone saw the body of Zhou Qing's wife.

Chu Xunzhen glanced at the corpse.

She always felt that there was something inexplicably off about the corpse.

Gu Changfeng's gaze remained fixed on Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen didn't care.

In her past life, this man wouldn't even glance at her. In this life, however, he's constantly seeking validation.

Gu Changfeng watched the two examine the corpse and sneered, "The body is stiff, and there are five-finger strangulation marks on the neck. The five-finger marks on both sides of the neck are exactly the same as the outline of Zhou Qing's fingers. Ninth Princess, tell me, is this Zhou Qingqian's doing?"

At this moment, Gu Changfeng felt a sense of triumph.

These two think they can turn the tables? How could that be?

Zhou Qing looked at his hands, then at his wife's neck, a look of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

"Is it really me?"

Even if he was unwilling to admit it, the evidence showed that he was indeed responsible for his wife's death.

His face was ashen.

Chu Xun was about to use his unique secret technique again to urge the Great Saintess.

But the next moment, her expression turned ugly.

It was only because Granny Hua sent her a message saying that the Great Saintess couldn't come because she was tied up with something.

Chu Xunzhen carefully examined the corpse.

The Great Sage had taught her that corpses could speak and would always leave behind messages of death.

She can't just give up like this.

Gu Changfeng laughed loudly: "Ninth Princess Consort, this woman was killed by Zhou Qing. You can't delay just because you're on good terms with Zhou Qing."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing smiled wryly and said, "Ninth Princess Consort, thank you for visiting me. I have few friends in my life, very few indeed. It is my honor to have such a close friend as you before I die."

Chu Xunzhen turned to Zhou Qing and said, "It hasn't even been half an hour yet. Are you giving up already, sir? If my sister-in-law is really killed by villains and you are beheaded, I'm afraid her spirit in heaven will not rest in peace."

After saying that, she ignored Zhou Qing's reaction and began to examine the woman's body.

Zhou Qing was stunned at first, then he came to his senses.

"Your Highness is right. I cannot give up like this, otherwise I would be letting my wife down."

As he spoke, Zhou Qing's eyes reddened as he continued to examine the body.

With half an hour almost up, Gu Changfeng yawned.

He laughed triumphantly, "Ninth Princess Consort, this case should have been closed long ago. You insisted on delaying official business, and now not only have we gained nothing, but so many people are still here with you. You've wasted so much manpower and resources."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen's lips curled up: "Is that so? Lord Gu is mistaken."

Gu Changfeng looked puzzled.

Chu Xunzhen replied, "I have already determined that Lord Zhou Qing is not the murderer."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned.

Zhou Qing and many soldiers stared at Chu Xunzhen in disbelief.

Zhou Qing shook his head and chuckled, "Your Highness has already helped me a great deal. There's no need to address me as 'Sir.' I have already accepted reality."

"Ha!" Gu Changfeng sneered, "Ninth Princess Consort, then tell me, how are you so sure? The evidence now points to Zhou Qingqian."

Chu Xunzhen looked at the corpse and pointed to the ten finger marks on the corpse's neck, saying, "These finger marks are indeed Zhou Qing's."

Gu Changfeng scoffed.

He thought she was going to reveal some special clue.

It turns out it was just a bunch of useless nonsense.

"Ninth Princess Consort, who among us doesn't understand what you're saying?" Gu Changfeng stood up, scanned the crowd, and spread his arms, saying, "Today you openly disrupted the court. If you can't find new evidence to clear Zhou Qing's name, then you will be guilty of provoking trouble and deliberately disrupting the court. At that time, even if you are a princess consort, you will be thrown into the imperial prison."

Chu Xunzhen said calmly, "Okay."

Gu Changfeng frowned.

Overconfidence is arrogance.

Gu Changfeng chuckled and even had the soldiers brew him a pot of tea: "The coroner has confirmed that it was Zhou Qingqian. Now, if you want to find new evidence, it will be as difficult as climbing to heaven."

In the courtroom, the three coroners stood to one side.

They watched with cold expressions as Zhou Qing and the Ninth Princess examined the corpse.

Chu Xunzhen stood aside.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing closed his eyes and covered the white cloth back up.

Despite being shackled, he suddenly knelt on the ground with a thud and said, "Thank you, Ninth Princess Consort. I will repay your kindness in the next life."

Gu Changfeng sneered: "Someone, bring the inkpad and let Zhou Qing sign it."

Two soldiers stepped forward.

One was covered in red clay, and the other held a note.

"Wait!"

Chu Xunzhen suddenly shouted.

Gu Changfeng frowned, slammed the gavel down heavily, and roared, "Ninth Princess Consort, you have obstructed me time and again today. Do you still intend to protect Zhou Qing? How can you be worthy of the title of Princess Consort with such behavior?"

Chu Xunzhen coldly replied, "Just now, Lord Gu said that he would find new evidence within half an hour. Now that I, the Princess Consort, have found the evidence, I must stop him."

Gu Changfeng frowned, shocked. "You found evidence? All three coroners reached the same conclusion. This woman was killed by Zhou Qing. For the sake of our past relationship, don't cause any more trouble. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you today."

Chu Xunzhen ignored Gu Changfeng and directly raised the corpse's hand, saying, "Please take a look, everyone."

Everyone looked bewildered.

Even Gu Changfeng stared intently at them.

For a long time, no one could see anything wrong with it.

Isn't this a dead person's hand?

Gu Changfeng's face darkened, and he roared, "Ninth Princess Consort, you have openly disrupted the order of the court! Guards, take her away and throw her into the imperial prison!"

Zhou Qing's expression changed drastically. He stretched out his arm to block Chu Xunzhen and said urgently, "Your Highness, go quickly! Don't pay attention to me, and don't waste my time. In this life, I owe you. In the next life, I will repay you with my life."

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and said, "Look, this woman's fingernails are clean, without a single piece of skin."

Everyone was confused, but the three coroners were stunned.

Chu Xunzhen glanced at everyone and said, "This is the new evidence."

Gu Changfeng asked, puzzled, "A woman's fingernails are naturally clean. Would they possibly have dandruff?"

Chu Xunzhen smiled and said, "Lord Gu is right. If this woman was indeed strangled by Zhou Qing, based on the victim's first reaction, her hands would grab the murderer. When the victim grabs the murderer, her fingernails would scratch the fabric of the other person's clothes or scrape their skin. But now, the hands on the corpse have clean fingernails, which completely defies logic. This is the first suspicious point."

Everyone looked at each other, their breathing quickening.

"The second point of doubt is, do I need to cut open the woman's abdomen to check for any remaining toxins?"

Gu Changfeng's face trembled with shock as he stared intently at Chu Xunzhen.

He roared, "You think you can destroy a woman's corpse based solely on guesswork? Chu Xunzhen, you're definitely up to no good. Guards, seize her and throw her into the dungeon!"

As soon as Gu Changfeng finished speaking, the soldiers stepped forward and surrounded Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen narrowed her eyes slightly and coldly shouted, "Who dares to touch this princess?"

As she finished speaking, Shouyi, Shou'er, Shou'san... Shouliu, the six people rushed in from outside and stood in front of Chu Xunzhen.

Gu Changfeng's expression was grim.

He slammed his hand on the table: "I hereby declare that the evidence you have found is insufficient and cannot affect the case. Guards, seize Zhou Qing's hand and make him sign immediately."