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

Chu Xunzhen was about to get off the carriage when a strong arm blocked her way.

"Sister, you can't go down."

Nangong Yue looked solemnly at the scene outside the carriage, then turned to An Kang and said, "Quickly go back and gather a thousand personal guards."

This is no longer a simple riot; it is a premeditated riot.

Otherwise, how could ordinary people dare to rush into the Wan Yao Ge (Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion) opened by the current county magistrate?

Chu Xunzhen frowned as she watched the shopkeeper's head still bleeding.

Just then, the chilling sounds of the army rang out.

Chu Xunzhen and Nangong Yue were surprised to see that hundreds of soldiers had come to suppress them.

"Kneel down, all of you! This is the pharmacy of the Ninth Prince's Consort. Who dares to disobey?"

The man who shouted the loudest was tall and had a resolute face; he was none other than Zhou Zhenjin, the fiercest general under Nangong You.

The army charged into the crowd.

The people were so frightened that they all knelt on the ground.

Chu Xunzhen gripped her skirt tightly with both hands, her gaze fixed on Zhou Zhenjin's face, before stepping down from the carriage.

Nangong Yue wanted to go down too, but Chu Xunzhen gently shook his head at him.

"This humble general, Zhou Zhenjin, the garrison commander of the East Gate, pays his respects to the Ninth Princess."

As soon as Chu Xunzhen stepped off the carriage, Zhou Zhenjin clasped his hands in a salute.

"No need for formalities," Chu Xunzhen said. "Thank you, General, for protecting my Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion. You may leave with your men now."

Zhou Zhenjin remained expressionless and said, "Many of the people here are spies from enemy countries. Only by having guards stationed at Wanyao Pavilion can we ensure its safety. Ninth Princess, you can continue operating as usual."

Chu Xunzhen's gaze was icy, her right hand tightly gripping the handkerchief, her voice cold: "The medicine-making techniques of my Wanyao Pavilion are a closely guarded secret. How could there be outsiders present? I truly appreciate the General's help in suppressing spies from other countries."

Zhou Zhenjin chuckled: "Your Highness, please don't be so polite. We guards don't know anything about herbal medicine preparation and would never steal herbal formulas. Besides, we are under the orders of the Third Prince to protect Your Highness's Wanyao Pavilion."

The way she said that would make anyone who didn't know better think that Chu Xun was really the Third Prince's wife.

Nangong You is good at confusing people.

"What if I, the princess, refuse?" Chu Xunzhen asked calmly.

Zhou Zhenjin's gaze remained unchanged as he said, "If the Princess Consort is not pleased, we may retreat."

With that, Zhou Zhenjin waved his hand under everyone's gaze, and the soldiers immediately withdrew.

However, at this very moment, the people once again stormed into the Wanyao Pavilion, looting, vandalizing, and burning it.

"Rob them! The Wan Yao Ge (万药阁) sells inferior medicines as superior ones. How many people's money have these high-ranking officials and nobles swindled from?"

The crowd was in a frenzy; the people were going crazy.

Zhou Zhenjin chuckled: "Your Highness, would you like our help to suppress this?"

Just then, a man rushed in and said, "Your Highness, the Prince's personal guards are trapped on the outskirts and cannot get in for the time being."

Chu Xunzhen stared intently at Zhou Zhenjin.

Zhou Zhenjin didn't care, and even smiled: "Does the princess need our soldiers to protect her? If the princess doesn't make a decision soon, and the crazy people offend her, this general will be powerless to help."

Nangong You's revenge was indeed swift and fierce.

But what if there's no army?

She is not alone here.

"General Zhou is utterly incompetent; he couldn't even protect a princess. I must petition the Emperor to ask why he appointed someone who couldn't even protect a princess as a general?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Nangong Yue lifted the carriage curtain.

Zhou Zhenjin's expression changed, and he respectfully bowed to Nangong Yue, saying, "This humble general greets the Ninth Prince."

"How dare I, the King, request your audience? Even my father, the Emperor, wouldn't be worthy of your audience! You, a general, dare to openly threaten my Queen? Are you taking advantage of my stupidity?"

Nangong Yue's words were so sharp that Zhou Zhenjin dared not give a careless reply.

His expression changed drastically as he said, "What do you mean, Your Highness?"

"The refugee spies are robbing the medicinal herbs from the Wan Yao Ge. As a general, you're not protecting them. Are you trying to ensure the soldiers on the border won't have enough medicine this month? Is this your intention? My third brother is so considerate of the people's plight, how could he disregard their lives and let you watch the Princess's things be stolen?"

Zhou Zhenjin glanced at Nangong Yue, his eyes filled with resentment, but he had no choice but to speak: "Your Highness is too kind. How could this humble general stand by and watch the Princess's Myriad Medicines Pavilion be robbed?"

With that, Zhou Zhenjin reluctantly said to his men, "Send ten men into the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion to suppress the refugees."

"Yes."

Ten soldiers hurriedly entered the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.

The displaced people who were looting, shooting, and burning were all killed by having their throats slit.

In no time, no one dared to cause any trouble.

"Thank you, General Zhou."

Chu Xunzhen said thank you, but the smile in his eyes was directed at Nangong Yue.

While the soldiers were killing people, she took the innkeeper's pulse and found that he had only hit his head and suffered an external injury, and had fainted. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhou Zhenjin flicked his long sleeves and was about to leave, but Chu Xunzhen blocked his way.

"Does Your Highness have any further instructions?" Zhou Zhenjin asked impatiently, frowning.

Chu Xunzhen looked at Zhou Zhenjin and said, "I observe that General's lips are slightly purple and his eyes are sunken. Does he suffer from unbearable heartache and abdominal pain every seven days?"

Zhou Zhenjin's expression changed, and he stared at Chu Xunzhen in shock.

After a long pause, he finally said, "That's right! Indeed."

"The general has been poisoned. If you trust me, come with me."

Zhou Zhenjin paused, then followed Chu Xunzhen into the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion.

In the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Medicines.

The ground was covered with trampled herbs.

Chu Xunzhen picked up the herbs, her eyes reddening.

Zhou Zhenjin was puzzled, but he secretly made a note of it.

It seems that the Ninth Princess really loves herbs, to an inexplicable degree.

Chu Xunzhen turned to look at Zhou Zhenjin and said, "I've heard that you followed your grandfather to the border during your childhood, marching and fighting alongside him?"

"good."

Chu Xunzhen looked at him and said, "General Zhou, do you know that the herb just now was Orchid Heart Grass? Orchid Heart Grass has the effect of stopping bleeding and is an essential ingredient for healing medicine. Just one Orchid Heart Grass can be used to make ten packets of hemostatic powder. Those bandits didn't trample on the herbs, but on the soldiers at the border."

Zhou Zhenjin's pupils contracted.

"This batch of herbs was all destined for the soldiers guarding the border. Now they've all rotted. General, how can you face those soldiers who are stationed at the border?"

After Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Zhou Zhenjin remained silent for a long time.

"What does the struggle between princes have to do with ordinary soldiers? Yet those in power trample on the flesh and blood of those in lower positions to achieve their own goals."

As Chu Xunzhen spoke, she opened the drawer to prepare the medicine.

In no time, the five packets of herbs were prepared.

"After the general returns, take one packet daily for five consecutive days, and the poison should be completely eliminated. After that, the general can gradually recuperate."

Zhou Zhenjin took out a piece of silver from his pocket, but Chu Xunzhen waved her hand and said, "These medicines are free for the general. Thank you for helping me drive away the refugees."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Zhou Zhenjin, his face filled with shame, spoke with difficulty. He couldn't stay any longer.

He placed the silver on the table, picked up the herbs, and hurriedly left.

Chu Xunzhen watched his retreating figure and smiled.

In her past life, Zhou Zhenjin was someone she helped Gu Changfeng recruit to Nangong You's side.

This person is good at judging situations and aligning himself with those who have powerful backgrounds, but he has not lost his conscience. He will surely regret what happened today.

At this moment, he was probably thinking of the soldiers on the border, and his heart was filled with unease.

Nangong Yue's personal guards have arrived.

The people dispersed.

"Quick! Help the shopkeeper in."

Chu Xunzhen called to the others to help the shopkeeper into the Wan Yao Pavilion.

"Statistical loss".

"Statistics on repair costs."

"Statistics on casualties and injuries."

Chu Xunzhen issued a series of orders.

Not far away, Nangong Yue gazed at the dazzling Chu Xunzhen, becoming increasingly infatuated.

In her past life, Gu Changfeng confined her to the backyard, making her tremble with fear and walk on thin ice even when running a ready-made clothing business.

In this life, he only wants to give her what she wants and let her do what she loves.

Seeing how busy Chu Xunzhen was, Nangong Yue couldn't sit still any longer.

He directed Ankang to help gather herbs and care for the wounded.

An hour later, the manager of Wanyao Pavilion regained consciousness.

He looked at the princess and was moved to tears.

"Your Highness, that's wonderful. The Myriad Medicines Pavilion is still there."

"The matter has been resolved, so don't worry. By the way, call all the staff at Wan Yao Ge here."

Chu Xunzhen looked at the thirty-two people from the Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion and spoke solemnly.

"I know that this incident has hurt many people, and some have even lost their lives. But they stood firm in the face of the looting and vandalism by refugees and spies from the enemy country. They did not back down. They are all heroes of my Wanyao Pavilion. As for the heroes who died in this incident, I have decided to give each of them a certain amount of compensation to comfort their souls in heaven."

After a pause, Chu Xunzhen continued, "As the owner of this establishment, I, the Princess Consort, will provide compensation of no less than two hundred taels of silver to those injured in this incident. Wan Yao Ge was not established for profit, but to help the people. We are a transit point for border soldiers. Every herb we select and every pill we produce is a matter of life and death for them. We are healers, but we are also the support behind the soldiers, a source of hope for them to survive when they are injured. Therefore, I hope you will not be afraid, will not back down, and will continue to produce medicine for every soldier of Great Ning fighting on the border."

As soon as the words were spoken, the medical apprentice shouted excitedly.

They are not ordinary doctors, nor ordinary apprentices. Every effort they make may save a life at some point in the future.

Who says only those on the battlefield are heroes? They are the unsung heroes who save heroes and allow them to continue to shine.

The onlookers wept bitterly.

boom!

An old man knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said, "My son went to the battlefield and used medicine from Wan Yao Ge. Wan Yao Ge's medicine is a rare treasure, but it's also the cheapest in the capital. From now on, if anyone tries to harm Wan Yao Ge, they'll have to step over my dead body first."

"Wan Yao Ge is our guarantee. I see the manager packing medicine and transporting it to the border every month. Anyone who dares to touch Wan Yao Ge will have to get past me, Old Hu, first."

"And me!"

"I!"

.......

Everyone was thrilled.

Many locals spontaneously helped renovate the Wanyao Pavilion.

An Kang was so surprised by what he saw that his eyes almost popped out.

I've seen eloquent people before, but I've never seen a woman so eloquent and confident.

An ordinary young lady would probably be terrified and her legs would have gone weak if she encountered this scene.

But the Ninth Princess, a woman raised by merchants, had not a trace of pettiness.

He knew Zhou Zhenjin. He was usually arrogant and aloof, and he looked down on almost everyone except those with higher official positions.

But today, he left in a sorry state, and even the princess generously treated his illness.

How could he possibly cause trouble for the Myriad Medicines Pavilion in the future?

Just as Chu Xunzhen was busy, Eunuch Ankang stepped forward and whispered, "Granny Hua is awake."