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

Chu Xunzhen hid in the bushes, her gaze icy.

If she hadn't dodged those ambushes, she would be the one lying in the room now being groped by Gu Changfeng.

She had noticed Chen Lianxin's strange behavior long ago.

How could such an arrogant person suddenly repent? How could he suddenly become so subservient to her?

But the fact that she was willing to kneel down before her and even refer to herself as a servant made her guess that Chen Lianxin's intentions were far from small.

Chu Xunzhen's eyes flickered.

Gu Changfeng is physically weak, and now that they are in the act, he must be completely relaxed. If she were to launch a surprise attack, he would surely be ambushed by her.

But he was, after all, a close advisor to the emperor.

The emperor favored him, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, granting him a mansion, and now appointing him as the commander of the Five Cities Garrison.

Even after Zhou Qing was released, the emperor did not reinstate him to his original position.

It's easy to imagine just how much the current emperor favors Gu Changfeng.

If he dies, there will definitely be a thorough investigation.

If this case involves her, she doesn't care; she can simply return to the Gu Sect. But Nangong Yue was seriously injured because of her, and she absolutely cannot abandon him and leave like this.

Chu Xunzhen bent over and quietly approached the hut.

She moved swiftly, as agile as a kitten, and in one swift motion, she stood by the window of the cottage.

She raised her right hand, and a smiling Gu was launched into the small house, landing on Gu Changfeng.

"Who is it?"

Gu Changfeng looked up at the window, but there was no one there. Only the breeze was blowing, making a soft sound as it hit the window frame.

Gu Changfeng cursed himself for being too cautious.

Even if there is someone, it could only be Chen Lianxin.

But that bitch wants nothing more than for Chu Xunzhen to suffer. She wants to be with Nangong Yue, and he happens to want Chu Xunzhen. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. Even if she comes back, it's probably just to see what happens to Chu Xunzhen.

The Smiling Gu crawled onto Gu Changfeng's body, and the next moment, it bit Gu Changfeng hard.

Gu Changfeng clenched his right hand and patted it on his waist.

With a bang, the smiling Gu, no bigger than a mosquito, was swatted dead.

Chu Xunzhen suddenly retreated and shrank back into the bushes.

She had just hidden in the bushes when she felt a weight on her shoulder; someone had put their hand on her shoulder.

She instinctively kicked backward, but then Granny Hua's voice rang out: "Your Highness, it's me, Granny Hua."

Chu Xunzhen's leg stopped in mid-air and then retracted.

Chu Xunzhen turned around and saw Granny Hua and a dumbfounded Anshun.

Anshun was surprised.

Wasn't Chu Xunzhen just an ordinary young lady from a secluded family? Even if she did possess some extraordinary abilities, wasn't it because she opened the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion and knew some medical skills? How come she knows the Gu Sect's unique communication technique?

Anshun had indeed been ordered by his master to secretly protect the princess who was then in the boudoir of the Marquis of Ping'an's residence, but those people dared not get too close in order to avoid suspicion.

Could it be that the princess has some connection with the Gu Sect?

Does Your Highness know this?

Chu Xunzhen followed Granny Hua and An Shunyuan away.

Once they reached a safe place, Chu Xunzhen turned to Anshun and said, "That small house is Chen Lianxin. She tried to harm me, and now Gu Changfeng thinks she's me and has already taken her body. Eunuch Anshun, could you contact the Prince and see if he'd like to save her?"

Anshun left for a short while and returned, saying, "Your Highness, the Prince said that Miss Chen is not in any danger and we don't need to worry about her."

After saying that, An Shun lowered his head and stood beside Granny Hua, continuing, "The Prince also said that I should obey the Princess's orders."

Chu Xun was somewhat surprised.

She spoke up, "Eunuch Anshun, are you really not going to save the Prince's cousin?"

Upon hearing this, Anshun shook his head and said, "Chen Lianxin has always been arrogant and domineering towards us, relying on the fact that her parents have been kind to the Prince. If we disobey her orders, she will complain to the Prince. The Prince will punish us out of respect for her aunt and uncle. Later, the Prince directly ordered us to obey Miss Chen. We were not convinced."

Chu Xunzhen nodded and said, "I see."

She thought to herself, "How could someone like me, an ordinary cousin with no official position, no rank, and no special privileges bestowed by the emperor, possibly command the people of the Ninth Prince's mansion?"

It turns out that Nangong Yue had given orders in the past, instructing everyone to obey her commands.

With such favoritism, it's no wonder she misunderstood.

"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. His Highness only regards Miss Chen as a younger sister. As for giving her special privileges, it's simply because she's too troublesome."

Chu Xun was really stunned.

It seems that Nangong Yue used to be a hands-off manager.

"Understood. I'll head back now."

When Chu Xunzhen returned to the Prince's Mansion, he had just entered the side room when he saw Nangong Yue sitting on the couch.

Chu Xunzhen exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, why are you up?"

Nangong Yue looked at Chu Xunzhen with lingering fear in her eyes and said, "Anshun has told me everything that happened. Sister, I'm sorry. I've caused you trouble. It's all my fault. I didn't pay much attention to Chen Lianxin before, which led to her being so lawless and almost harming you."

Chu Xunzhen looked at Nangong Yue in surprise and asked, "She is, after all, your cousin. You don't blame me?"

Nangong Yue gripped Chu Xunzhen's hand tightly and said, "I only blame myself, sister. My conscience is troubled when I think about how I almost harmed you."

Just then, Anshun arrived.

His voice rang out from the courtyard: "Your Highness, Nangong Qing has been brought back and is now being housed in a side room."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen went outside.

Arriving at the side room, Chu Xunzhen looked at Nangong Qing, who had already been poisoned, and shook his head with a sigh.

She put the antidote pill into her mouth.

An hour later, Nangong Qingsu woke up.

Her eyes were filled with tears, and her gaze fell on Chu Xunzhen with a look of guilt.

"I never imagined that you would save me under these circumstances." Nangong Qing said with a smile, but as she smiled, tears welled up in her eyes. "I am her biological mother, how could she send me to be used as a drug user?"

Chu Xunzhen did not respond, but said, "The Prince's Mansion is not interested in your grudge with Chen Lianxin. Here is 300,000 taels of silver, which is the Prince's gift to you and your uncle. You and Chen Lianxin should leave the capital and go somewhere else to live a good life. As long as you don't squander the money, even if you don't do business, this silver will be enough for you to enjoy for the rest of your lives."

Nangong Qing was taken aback.

"Are you still willing to give me money?"

"Your leg was injured because of the Prince, and your husband died saving him. Over the years, the Prince's mansion has treated you and your daughter with the same respect as a princess. The Prince has not wronged you in the slightest. On the contrary, you are unwilling to let go of even your one-year-old daughter, Xingyuan, in order to gain more power."

What Chu Xunzhen didn't say was that if Nangong Qing hadn't harmed Nangong Xingyuan, Nangong Yue would probably have been willing to give him even a million taels.

Nangong Qing looked ashamed.

"Your body has been severely damaged by the drugs, and you have less than three years to live. You may leave. As for your daughter, she plotted to harm me and was taken away by Gu Changfeng. Gu Changfeng mistook your daughter for me. If you wish, she can become Gu Changfeng's concubine. If not, when the matter is exposed tomorrow, you can leave with Chen Lianxin."

Nangong Qing thought of that rebellious daughter, who actually made a deal with the Third Prince to sell her, her mother, to him so that she could become a drug user, just because he wanted her to be his concubine.

What's wrong with her wanting her daughter to become the Third Prince's concubine?

If she could just get into the Third Prince's harem, she could slowly try to become a concubine. But now, she's become Gu Changfeng's woman.

"That rebellious daughter has absolutely no connection to me. I will leave today."

Chu Xunzhen looked at Granny Hua, who took out a piece of Xuan paper from her bosom and handed it to Nangong Qing.

"This is a settlement agreement. Once you sign it, the 300,000 taels will be yours. From now on, the Ninth Prince's Mansion will have no further connection with your family of three. The Prince will no longer owe your husband for saving his life, nor will he owe you, Nangong Qing, any favors, and similarly, he will owe your daughter, Chen Lianxin."

Without the slightest hesitation, Nangong Qing said directly, "I'll sign."

Chu Xunzhen watched her sign the document, then put it away with satisfaction.

"Tomorrow, I will take it to the government office to get it stamped. You may leave now."

Nangong Qing left.

Her body trembled as she wheeled herself away.

Chu Xunzhen ordered Anshun to prepare some reliable people to serve her.

To prevent this person from encountering any accidents after leaving the palace and having their 300,000 taels stolen, and then coming back to cause trouble for them.

Of course, Nangong Qing had to pay for the monthly wages of those who served her herself.

Nangong Yue looked at Chu Xunzhen and said, "Zhenzhen, don't you think I'm too soft-hearted?"

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and said, "You have repaid the life-saving grace for several years. You respect Nangong Qing as if she were your own aunt. You have even given her daughter honor. Over the years, although Chen Lianxin has no title of princess, she has long had the real power of a princess. You have done the best. If it were me, I'm afraid I could not have done what you have done."

Nangong Yue looked at Chu Xunzhen cautiously and asked, "Will you be angry that I gave Aunt 300,000 taels of silver, sister?"

"No! Nangong Qing sacrificed her legs to save you. Those legs affected her entire life. As for your uncle, he died saving you. Kindness is priceless and should not be measured by money. I believe that their hearts were pure when they saved you, but as time goes by, people's hearts change. I just hope Your Highness doesn't blame me for having Nangong Qing sign a settlement agreement."

Nangong Yue's eyes welled up with tears.

He gripped Chu Xunzhen's hand tightly and said, "Your Highness has considered things thoroughly, while I, the Prince, have only given you silver, which shows a lack of foresight."

Nangong Yue raised her hand and massaged Chu Xunzhen's temples. Chu Xunzhen enjoyed this moment of tranquility.

Suddenly, Butler Wu rushed in to report.

"Your Highness, many people are kneeling outside the gate. They are all shouting that they want to see Your Highness."

Chu Xunzhen was startled, sat up, and abruptly looked up, asking, "What happened?"

"We sent people out to ask, but the people remained silent."

Chu Xunzhen stood up and said, "I'll go out with you to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Yue suddenly grabbed Chu Xunzhen's hand and said, "Sister, let Anshun, Shouyi, Shouer, and Shousan accompany you out, and also take some servants with you. Just in case anything happens."

Chu Xunzhen felt a warmth in her heart: "Okay."

The gates of the Ninth Prince's Mansion opened.

Chu Xunzhen, dressed in a light yellow embroidered long dress, walked out of the palace.

Her gaze fell upon the crowds in front of the palace gates, and she asked, "Gentlemen, what brings you here to see me, the princess consort?"