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

Eunuch Cao entered and bowed to Chu Xunzhen, saying, "Greetings, Ninth Princess Consort. His Majesty has decreed that you be summoned to the palace. I have come to fetch you."

"Thank you, sir. Please have some tea and rest for a while."

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Cao sat down without any ceremony and gestured for Chu Xunzhen to go change her clothes first.

Chu Xunzhen changed into a sky-blue palace dress embroidered with bamboo patterns, and wore an imperial green jade hairpin before following Eunuch Cao into the palace.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Chunxi waited inside the carriage, while Chu Xunzhen subtly handed Eunuch Cao a purse.

Eunuch Cao understood immediately and accepted it.

Chu Xunzhen asked curiously, "Does Your Majesty know why His Majesty summoned you so urgently?"

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Cao smiled and said, "Good things are coming soon, Your Highness. Your good fortune is yet to come."

Chu Xunzhen was completely bewildered.

Even if Nangong Yue had already entered the palace and successfully sued Gu Changfeng, Eunuch Cao would not have said that if it weren't for the great benefit it would bring to him.

"Thank you for your kind words, sir."

Chu Xunzhen followed Eunuch Cao to the Imperial Study.

As soon as she entered the Imperial Study, she saw the old imperial physician Li and Nangong Yue, who was covered in blood, standing to one side.

Chu Xunzhen's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Your Highness!"

"How dare you! Why aren't you bowing to the Emperor?"

A clear female voice rang out from the side.

Chu Xunzhen turned his head and saw a young woman dressed in a sky-blue palace dress with water patterns standing beside the emperor.

"Your daughter-in-law greets Your Majesty. Just now, I saw the Ninth Prince covered in blood and was suddenly frightened. I lost my composure for a moment. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

The Emperor waved his hand and said, "It's alright. The blood on Ninth Prince isn't his own; it's the blood of the assassin he just captured."

Chu Xunzhen's pupils contracted.

An assassin has appeared in the palace?

"How is Father? Is he hurt?"

Hearing Chu Xunzhen's concerned words, the Emperor smiled with satisfaction: "Thanks to Ninth Brother. However, I've heard that you and Third Brother have been at odds lately. Since you are brothers, you should get along well."

"Yes, Father. Your daughter-in-law knows her mistake."

Chu Xunzhen adopted a very humble attitude.

Even though the emperor knew that his sons would inevitably fight each other in the future, he still had to express his opinion now.

The emperor looked at Chu Xunzhen with satisfaction.

"The reason I summoned you here is because the herbal bracelet you presented last time was remarkably effective. This is Princess Jiamin, who intends to purchase your herbal formula and the complete production method."

Chu Xunzhen's gaze sharpened.

They're trying to steal her prescription.

"Your Majesty, the incense recipe is a family heirloom and cannot be sold. If you wish to pass it on to the Princess, that is also possible, but the Princess must become my daughter-in-law's apprentice before she can pass on the recipe."

Princess Jiamin's eyes widened, her voice arrogant: "You want me to become your disciple? Are you worthy?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen immediately knelt on the ground and said to the emperor, "I know that my medical skills are shallow and I am not worthy to be the princess's teacher. Please forgive me, Father."

The Emperor paused, scrutinizing Chu Xunzhen, then laughed heartily: "Since that's the case, then let's set this matter aside for now. If I find someone willing to become my disciple, the Ninth Princess Consort must impart all her knowledge to them."

"That's natural."

As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, the old physician Li, who was standing next to Nangong Yue, couldn't help but speak up.

He hurriedly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke in an aged voice.

"Your Majesty, I wish to become the disciple of the Ninth Prince's Consort. I humbly request Your Majesty's permission."

Chu Xunzhen was stunned.

This old imperial physician, Li, has served as an imperial physician for so many years and holds a highly respected position.

She had already refused him once before when he asked to become her apprentice.

This time, he still hoped to become Chu Xunzhen's disciple.

"Dr. Li, you are highly respected, and our areas of expertise are different. How can I become your master?"

The old physician Li's expression was firm as he said, "Medicine knows no age or gender; those who are skilled come first. I hope to learn more medical skills from the Princess."

Princess Jiamin was dumbfounded.

She naturally knew Li Lao's status in the Imperial Medical Academy.

If Elder Li succeeds in becoming an apprentice today, wouldn't Chu Xunzhen be able to walk sideways in the Imperial Hospital in the future?

Princess Jiamin quickly stopped her: "Imperial Physician Li, you mustn't! If this news gets out, won't the Great Qian laugh at our Great Ning for having no one to teach us? The head of the Imperial Medical Academy actually wants to take a young girl as his master?"

The Emperor pondered for a moment, then said, "Since Imperial Physician Li insists, Ninth Princess, why don't you accept him as your concubine?"

Chu Xunzhen was stunned.

She's here now.

His Majesty's word was law, and this time she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.

"Yes."

Overjoyed, Physician Li immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen quickly helped him up.

The Emperor watched this scene with satisfaction and said, "You may all leave. As for Gu Changfeng, for trespassing into the Ninth Prince's residence, he is to be fined one year's salary and ordered to personally go to the Ninth Prince's residence to plead guilty with a bundle of thorns on his back. How about it? Are you two satisfied?"

Chu Xunzhen and Nangong Yue both smiled.

"Thank you for your decision, Your Majesty."

After Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, he and Nangong Yue left the Imperial Study.

"Your Highness, I wish to visit the Empress Dowager."

"Okay. Let's go together."

Just as the two finished speaking, a palace maid rushed over.

"Her Majesty the Empress requests the presence of the Ninth Prince's Consort."

Just as Nangong Yue was about to go over together, Chu Xunzhen grabbed his hand and said, "Your Highness, please go and visit the Empress Dowager first."

Nangong Yue's eyes flashed, and she said, "Alright. Be careful in everything."

"Don't worry, Your Highness."

Phoenix Palace.

Empress Ma, dressed in a long, bright red palace gown and adorned with pearls and jade ornaments, looked at Chu Xunzhen with eyes that held a hint of anger.

"The daughter-in-law pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Ma's expression changed, and she coldly said, "How could I possibly deserve to be called 'Empress Dowager' by you?"

Chu Xunzhen's eyes flashed, and she lowered her head meekly.

"Ninth Princess Consort, I previously gave the Prince two women. Are you aware that one is alive and the other is dead, and neither of them even served the Prince in bed?"

"Reporting to Mother, your daughter-in-law has already instructed the household steward to make arrangements for them. As for their future, that is up to Your Highness to decide."

Empress Ma's face was cold and her voice was angry as she said, "Can't you advise the prince?"

Chu Xunzhen looked puzzled and said, "I tried to persuade him, but the prince wouldn't listen."

"Chu Xunzhen, they are merely two lowly concubines, yet you cannot even tolerate them. How can you be so jealous?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen raised an eyebrow.

"Does Mother mean that the Prince didn't touch them because I wouldn't allow it? I dare not question the Prince's decision."

Empress Ma slammed her hand on the table and said, "Wasn't it you who deliberately instigated the Prince not to take them into his room? You even encouraged him to kill Qin Youmeng!"

Chu Xunzhen remained extremely calm: "Your Highness is my heaven and earth. How could I dare to disobey you? As for those two women, I have never interfered with them. I even tacitly allowed them to use their own methods. They have no means of their own and cannot gain Your Highness's favor, so they cannot blame me, their princess consort, can they?"

Empress Ma was about to speak when Chu Xunzhen continued, "Your Majesty is the Empress. If the concubines do not receive the Emperor's favor, Your Majesty can advise him. But can you force the Emperor to favor those thousands of concubines?"

Upon hearing this, Empress Ma was so angry she almost fainted.

How dare a mere Ninth Prince's Consort speak to her, the Empress, like that?

"Chu Xunzhen, do you really think I wouldn't dare to punish you?"

As Empress Ma finished speaking, Chu Xunzhen raised an eyebrow and said, "Your Majesty, with your noble status, you naturally have the right to punish your daughter-in-law. But I don't know what I've done wrong?"

"You have no respect for your elders and dare to talk back to me."

Chu Xunzhen shook her head and sighed, "Mother, you are mistaken. As a princess, I am merely stating the facts. If a concubine cannot win her husband's heart, then it is the fault of the principal wife. Are you suggesting that all the beauties in the palace who have fallen out of favor are also wrong, Mother?"

"Eloquent and persuasive. Even if you are eloquent today, it is your fault if you fail to advise your husband."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen smiled faintly: "May I ask how Mother knows that her daughter-in-law did not advise her husband? Could it be that Mother has arranged for people in the Ninth Prince's residence to monitor me and the Prince?"

After these words were spoken, all around fell silent.

Empress Ma was so angry that her chest heaved, and she couldn't speak for a while.

The old woman beside her spoke coldly, "Ninth Prince's Consort, how dare you speak ill of the Empress like this?"

Chu Xunzhen didn't look at the nanny, but instead looked at the Empress and said, "Your daughter-in-law wouldn't dare. Your daughter-in-law has repeatedly advised the Prince to take them into his household. Mother Empress has criticized your daughter-in-law for not advising the Prince. Your daughter-in-law believes she has advised him. Does Mother Empress mean that your daughter-in-law must remind the Prince several times a day?"

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the palace gate.

Everyone looked in the direction from which the sound came and suddenly realized that the person was Nangong Yue.

"Ninth Prince, control your princess consort. How dare she speak to me like that?"

Nangong Yue's eyes flashed, and she said, "Your Majesty, you are my legal mother, not my birth mother. If you wish to interfere in matters of the bedroom, you can do so with my third brother's bedroom. Since those two women were bestowed upon me by the Empress Dowager, how I deal with them is entirely within the bounds of propriety. How come, in the Empress Dowager's mouth, it's that the Princess Consort lacks tolerance?"

As Nangong Yue finished speaking, Empress Ma said coldly, "Very well! Since that's the case, I intend to make Princess Jiamin your concubine. What do you think?"

Although Princess Jiamin was the adopted daughter of the eldest princess, she was spoiled and pampered growing up. Nangong Yue didn't touch the beauties she had given her before and even neglected them.

If the princess marries Nangong Yue and becomes his concubine, she wants to see if Chu Xunzhen can remain as calm as she is now.

Nangong Yue scoffed, "I once said that I am powerless to do so. If Princess Jiamin is unhappy after becoming a concubine, then it will be the Empress Dowager's fault."

"Nangong Yue, how dare you!"

Empress Ma cursed angrily, but the next moment, she froze, as Nangong Yue approached step by step.

"If Mother has nothing else to say, I will take the Princess to visit the Empress Dowager. As for the marriage, Mother is the legal mother, so it is entirely up to you to decide."

Nangong Yue's lips curled up, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Empress Ma was frightened.

She remembered the last time this madman caused chaos in the palace, and how he almost killed her.

As soon as Nangong Yue stepped out of Huangxi Palace, she looked at Chu Xunzhen.

"Sister, if she bullies you again, just take action. I'll cover for you."

Suddenly, a young eunuch rushed out of Shou Kang Palace, shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Imperial Physician! Quickly summon the Imperial Physician! The Empress Dowager is unwell and has fainted!"

Chu Xunzhen rushed to Shou Kang Palace.

However, as soon as she entered the gate of Shou Kang Palace, a man pressed a long sword against her throat.