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

In front of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness's residence.

Granny Li helped the pale-faced Li Yi to stand.

They had been there for more than a quarter of an hour, but the doorman showed no intention of leading them in.

Granny Li glared at the gatekeeper, her face flushed with anger. "My lady is the wife of the Marquis of Ping'an, and also the mother of your Marquis of Zhongyi's wife. Your companion has been gone for so long, why hasn't he returned? Is he deliberately leaving my lady waiting outside?"

The gatekeeper's face was full of helplessness.

"I'm sorry, Madam, we didn't receive your invitation earlier. We need to go and ask."

Li Yi stopped Granny Li, shook her head and said, "Never mind, let's wait for now."

After a short while, the other servant who had gone in to announce their arrival finally returned. He said to Li Yi and his companion, "Please come in. My master is on duty today, and my mistress has just taken a nap. We dare not disturb her."

Chu Xunzhen watched the two enter the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, and immediately threw two small Gu worms in Li Yi's direction.

Two tiny Gu worms, no bigger than ants, jumped onto Li Yi's skirt.

As long as the Gu worm is present, she can hear the conversation between the two of them clearly.

Chu Xunzhen walked to a restaurant not far from the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence, ordered a private room, and sipped fragrant tea.

It wasn't that she was idle; rather, she wanted to cause Li Yi immense pain.

Li Yi felt a slight stinging pain in her leg.

She didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a mosquito bite on her leg.

Li Yi followed the servant forward. Far from being angry, she was actually happy for Chu Wanrou.

The fact that the servants in this mansion fear Rou'er proves that Rou'er is skilled at managing the household, using both kindness and severity.

Li Yi and Granny Li were taken to the main hall.

They had only been sitting down for a short while when Chu Wanrou came out.

She wore a rose-pink dress, with a gold hairpin in her hair. Her outfit was rather flamboyant, a far cry from the Chu Wanrou who usually preferred to wear white.

Li Yi looked at Chu Wanrou with gentle eyes and asked softly, "Rou'er, how have you been lately? Is Changfeng treating you well?"

Chu Wanrou smiled shyly: "Mother, Brother Changfeng is very nice to me."

She did not have a good time in the first few days after her marriage.

Gu Changfeng looked at her as if he were looking at someone else through her.

In the past few days, she has been using the agate bracelet to accelerate the absorption of Li Yi's luck, and Brother Changfeng's attitude towards her has become increasingly better.

Seeing that Li Yi was completely unharmed, she was a little puzzled.

Logically speaking, Li Yi should be extremely weak, perhaps even bedridden, after having so much of his fortune drained. How come he's still full of energy and running to the Marquis of Zhongyi's residence?

However, she also noticed that Li Yi's expression was a little off.

"Mother, are you alright? Why do you look so pale?"

Hearing this, Li Yi replied with relief, "It's nothing. I just haven't been feeling well lately."

Granny Li suddenly spoke up: "Second Miss, you may not know this, but Madam suddenly collapsed by the roadside today. If it weren't for the kind people she met, she probably wouldn't have been able to get here."

Chu Wanrou's face showed shock, and at the same time, her eyes also showed some lingering fear.

She gently patted her chest and said, "Fortunately, Mother met kind people. Otherwise, how could Rou'er feel at ease?"

Li Yi remembered what she and Granny Li had discussed before and said, "Rou'er, Mother hasn't been feeling well lately, and this agate bracelet is quite uncomfortable to wear. Mother's wrist is large, and it's a bit tight on her. Why don't you wear it?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou's expression changed, and she quickly said, "Since this agate bracelet has been given to Mother, it naturally belongs to Mother. Mother, please wear it for now, and I will collect one or two more beads to string on the agate bracelet for you."

After he finished speaking, the entire main hall fell into complete silence.

Chu Wanrou didn't know what she had said wrong, but Li Yi suddenly stopped talking.

Granny Li remained silent.

After a long pause, Li Yi finally spoke softly, "Rou'er, I've heard that the abbot of Baiyun Temple, Li Changsheng, is a highly respected and reclusive master. I'd like to have the agate bracelet you gave me blessed. Do you have any other jewelry that I could take to the temple for blessing as well?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou's expression changed, and she quickly shook her head: "No need, Mother, I already had this agate bracelet blessed. If it's blessed again, it won't be as effective."

"What about the other jewelry? I'll take it to Baiyun Temple to have it blessed. When you wear it, it will not only ward off evil spirits but also bring you good luck."

Li Yi's words were perfectly natural.

Chu Xunzhen, who could secretly observe and listen to all of this through the Zi Gu, found it all extremely interesting.

Li Yi wasn't stupid either.

Chu Wanrou's repeated refusals suggest that Li Yi must have realized something was wrong.

"Mother, no need. Brother Changfeng already took me to Baiyun Temple, and my jewelry has already been blessed. Mother can just take her own jewelry to be blessed."

After saying that, Chu Wanrou added, "Mother, the agate bracelet in your hand has already been blessed. Remember, it must not be blessed again, otherwise it will lose its power. Also, you must not take off your bracelet. The bracelet recognizes its owner, and only by wearing it for a long time can it bring good luck."

Granny Li looked at Chu Wanrou without revealing any expression on her face.

Li Yi's hands trembled, and she asked wearily, "Really? What if I insist on taking off this agate bracelet today?"

"Then Rou'er will not forgive Mother. Does Mother only love my elder sister and not me? I know that I am just an adopted daughter of a marquis's family, and I know that I have taken my elder sister's place. Mother will not listen to my words, and I am in so much pain that I want to die."

Li Yi felt utterly cold inside.

She recalled that before Chu Xunzhen left, he told Granny Li that if the bracelet was removed for more than a day, the luck that Chu Wanrou had absorbed would backfire.

With tears blurring her vision, Chu Wanrou was about to rush towards Li Yi, but in the next instant, Li Yi took off the agate bracelet from his wrist.

Under Chu Wanrou's shocked gaze, she violently threw the agate bracelet to the ground, and a liquid as red as blood dripped from it.

With a gurgling sound, Chu Wanrou felt a sweet taste in her throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Li Yi was stunned.

Although she had already confirmed it, she couldn't believe it when she saw it with her own eyes.

Li Yi abruptly stood up, walked towards Chu Wanrou, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Rou'er, I am your mother. Why did you want to harm me?"

Chu Wanrou shook her head violently, her face pale, and waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "No. Mother, I didn't hurt you. I don't know why this agate bracelet is bleeding."

Li Yi sneered, "Rou'er, your mother has treated you like her own daughter all these years, why would you want to harm me?"

"No, Mother, Rou'er was framed. I even coughed up blood just now."

Chu Wanrou was both shocked and furious.

"Very well. In that case, I will take the bracelet to Baiyun Temple and have the abbot consecrate and cleanse it."

Chu Wanrou's face was grim as she stared intently at Li Yi. She immediately walked to the front of the main hall, picked up the broken bracelet, and hid it in her bosom.

"Mother, there's something wrong with this bracelet, I can't wear it anymore. I've been framed. It must be my sister who's jealous of my relationship with you."

Chu Xunzhen, relying on the Zi Gu, listened to these words and found them amusing.

Chu Wanrou really does push all the blame onto her.

Li Yi gave a wry smile, but Chu Wanrou suddenly grabbed Li Yi's hand, pulled her, and led her to the side room.

"Mother, this is my room. This is the Guanyin statue that His Majesty bestowed upon Brother Changfeng. I don't ask that you believe me, but I sincerely wish to give you this Guanyin statue to ensure your safety."

Li Yi took the Guanyin statue, stroked the kind-faced Guanyin, and smiled through his tears.

"I knew it, I knew Rou'er wouldn't do this to me. Chu Xunzhen even said you were trying to harm me. I don't believe it."

It seems she can forgive Chu Wanrou for trying to harm her. But what if she knew that Chu Wanrou had ruined all three of her children?

What if she knew that the real jinx was Chu Wanrou?

Doesn't she always say that Chu Xun is a jinx?

What if the jinx was her most beloved daughter?

Chu Wanrou remembered Chu Xunzhen and sent Li Yi away.

At this moment, Li Yi was in a great mood and handed the Guanyin statue of the Goddess of Mercy who grants children to Granny Li.

Granny Li took the Guanyin statue, but something felt off.

This Guanyin statue seems a bit strange, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was strange about it.

Chu Xunzhen left the restaurant; there was no need to listen any further.

Li Yi forgave Chu Wanrou once again and even allowed her to take the agate bracelet back.

Since Li Yi has chosen to believe Chu Wanrou again, she can't be bothered with her.

The next time Li Yi's luck is snatched away, it will probably not be as simple as it is today.

Chu Xunzhen had just stepped out of the side room when he suddenly saw Liu Xiangning.

The two looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

Liu Xiangning rushed over excitedly, grabbed Chu Xunzhen's hand, and said, "Zhenzhen, what are you doing here?"

"I'll come to taste the tea."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiangning immediately introduced, "This is my mother."

Chu Xunzhen looked up and saw a tall, slender woman smiling at her.

She wore a long black dress adorned with pink roses, and her whole demeanor was like a secluded orchid in a valley, exuding a unique charm.

"Greetings to the Grand Tutor's wife."

Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor's wife smiled even more kindly. She glanced at Chu Xunzhen and said, "This humble woman greets the Ninth Prince's Consort."

Chu Xunzhen chuckled and said, "Grand Tutor's wife can just call me Zhenzhen."

"Mother, I've told you everything. She's really good, and she doesn't have the airs of a princess at all."

The Grand Tutor's wife nodded and smiled, "Your Highness, please forgive my daughter. She's a bit boisterous and has only been back in the capital for less than a month; she doesn't know the proper etiquette."

Chu Xunzhen smiled leisurely: "Xiang Ning is innocent and cheerful, and upright. I like her very much."

Liu Xiangning felt a little embarrassed by Chu Xunzhen's praise and said, "By the way, Zhenzhen, my mother and I were just discussing coming to see you these past two days to finalize the health-preserving bracelet we wanted to buy. Since we've run into each other today, why don't we go into the private room and chat?"

"Alright. I was just enjoying some tea, and now I'm a little hungry."

Chu Xunzhen followed Liu Xiangning and her group into the private room.

As soon as they sat down, the Grand Tutor's wife asked, "What kind of food does the Ninth Princess Consort like?"

Chu Xunzhen said, "The guest should follow the host's lead. It's best if the Grand Tutor's wife makes the decision."

Liu's mother did not refuse and ordered several plates of pastries and a few side dishes.

While the waiter was serving the dishes, the Grand Tutor's wife ordered her accompanying nanny to bring out a booklet and said, "Your Highness, I am interested in the 'Wangchun Fragrance.' Do you think this fragrance recipe suits me?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen said, "Wangchun Incense is composed of agarwood, benzoin, sandalwood, lavender, orchid, peppermint, and borneol. It is generally recommended to wear it when you are overworking your brain, as it helps to soothe your emotions and relax you. I observe that your complexion is sallow and you are physically and mentally fatigued, so I recommend another incense formula."