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

Gu Changfeng was stunned.

"Chu Xunzhen, what are you doing here?"

Gu Changfeng said in disbelief.

Shouldn't she be seriously injured, lying in bed in excruciating pain? Or like Rou'er before, with graying temples, dull and dehydrated skin, looking incredibly old?

Chu Xunzhen stared coldly at Gu Changfeng.

"Gu Changfeng, how dare you! You brazenly trespass into my Ninth Prince's residence, what is your punishment?"

Gu Changfeng choked and couldn't speak for a long time.

He didn't see the terrible state Chu Xunzhen had expected; instead, he saw her still breathtakingly beautiful, just like before.

"I only heard screams from inside the Ninth Prince's mansion, so I rushed in to try and save people. Zhenzhen, how can you say that? You've misunderstood me."

Gu Changfeng clutched his chest, as if he had suffered a tremendous blow.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on Gu Changfeng, and he sneered, "Lord Marquis, you'd better wait to explain those words to His Majesty."

Gu Changfeng's gaze darkened, and he suddenly sighed, "Zhenzhen, let's go to the side. I have something to say to you."

Anshun and Ankang stared at Gu Changfeng and stood in front of Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and said, "I, Chu Xunzhen, am upright and honest. There is nothing I cannot say to others. Lord Gu, please speak freely."

Gu Changfeng's expression darkened slightly.

He stared intently at Chu Xunzhen and said in a deep voice, "Leave Nangong Yue. If you're willing, this Marquis will find a way to take you away and settle you down."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Gu Changfeng with cold expressions.

Chu Xunzhen scoffed, "Lord Gu, where does your confidence come from, repeatedly asking me to leave with you? In terms of appearance, you cannot compare to my Prince's handsomeness. In terms of status, you are merely a marquis, while my Prince is a true prince. As for wealth, my Prince owns countless properties, all of which have already been handed over to me, his wife. Why should I go to your harem and become a mistress or concubine with someone as penniless, unattractive, and lowly as you?"

Gu Changfeng looked embarrassed and stared intently at Chu Xunzhen.

"Fine! I, the Marquis, even considered saving you. Today, you will be buried with the Ninth Prince's mansion."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen immediately sensed something was wrong.

She gave Anshun a look, and the next instant, Anshun raised his long knife.

Chu Xunzhen shouted to the crowd, "Thieves have trespassed into my Ninth Prince's Mansion. Kill them without mercy!"

At her command, An Shun, who was already prepared, instantly killed the five people in front of him.

The line of blood burst open on the enemy's neck.

In the blink of an eye, the personal guards that Nangong You had carefully trained collapsed to the ground.

Ankang Gonggong raised the duster from his waist.

Beneath the floating dust was a short knife.

He instantly killed three people.

Gu Changfeng was stunned and suddenly stepped back.

"Chu Xunzhen, how dare you lay a hand on me?"

Chu Xunzhen didn't even glance at Gu Changfeng, and said, "Kill all the bandits and report to the Five Cities Military Command."

As she spoke, she put her finger to her lips and whistled twice.

The palace shook violently as a brown bear strode in.

Its enormous size terrified everyone.

"Kill all the intruders."

At Chu Xunzhen's command, the brown bear raised its paw and slapped it down.

The enemy was knocked away.

Gu Changfeng suddenly fled deeper into the mansion.

Chu Xunzhen stared intently at him, then roared, "You scoundrel, how dare you disturb the peace of my royal residence?"

She raised her left hand, and anesthetic needles shot out from her bracelet.

Gu Changfeng turned around abruptly, barely dodging the silver needle.

He had specifically studied Chu Xunzhen's fighting style beforehand; otherwise, he would have definitely been hit by those anesthetic needles just now.

Chu Xunzhen, holding a dagger in her left hand, charged towards Gu Changfeng.

"Zhenzhen, you are no match for me. Don't push me."

As soon as Gu Changfeng finished speaking, Chu Xunzhen sneered, "If you're not going to fight back, then die here."

She moved her right index finger, and a rustling sound suddenly rang out all around her.

The sight of hundreds upon hundreds of venomous snakes left Gu Changfeng's mind blank.

"What's wrong? Wasn't Lord Gu very imposing just now?"

Chu Xunzhen scoffed.

Gu Changfeng sneered, "I've been on guard against you for a long time."

As he spoke, Gu Changfeng suddenly pulled out a porcelain bottle from his waist and sprinkled powder on the poisonous snakes around him.

The venomous snakes, smelling the venomous powder, retreated.

"I knew you had experts in Gu poison here. I was prepared. Now I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve."

Chu Xunzhen sneered: "All guards, kill him."

At Chu Xunzhen's command, his guards emerged from the shadows from all directions and surrounded him.

"Eight bodyguards? Chu Xunzhen, you think too highly of me." Gu Changfeng sneered.

Chu Xunzhen's expression was cold as he addressed the eight guards: "Kill the thief impersonating Lord Gu in front of us with all your might."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng's face turned ashen.

He wanted to say something to Chu Xunzhen, but he was surrounded by eight guards, and his body had only recently recovered, so he was no match for them.

Soon after, he was stabbed several times, and blood dripped down his robes.

Chu Xunzhen didn't even glance at him, and said to An Shun, who had just wiped out the enemy, "Search the entire Marquis's mansion. Besides looking for Granny Hua's whereabouts, make sure no one escapes. Also, check if there are any contraband items in the mansion."

Upon hearing this, Anshun understood.

Gu Changfeng is about to collapse.

One of the bodyguards slapped him to the ground.

He instantly stood up, assuming an attack stance, but the next moment, he turned and fled in panic.

"No need to chase after them. You are secret guards, responsible for protecting the safety of the master in the manor."

Chu Xunzhen never intended to kill Gu Changfeng directly in the Prince's mansion.

No matter what, he was still a Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness personally bestowed upon him by His Majesty.

Those guards trained by Nangong You were actually private soldiers recruited by Nangong You himself.

Even if many of those private soldiers died, the emperor would not be enraged.

He would only suspect that Nangong You took advantage of his vulnerability, and would even think that he deliberately recruited private soldiers to commit evil deeds everywhere.

Chu Xunzhen abruptly addressed the crowd: "Close the mansion. Guard the main gate and side gates. No one is allowed to enter or leave. Everyone must be checked by you and An Kang to confirm that they are wearing masks, to prevent anyone from being impersonated."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Just then, someone outside the gate called out, "Master Piaomiao is here."

Chu Xunzhen suddenly said, "Quickly, bring her in. No! I'll go get her myself."

Piaomiao stood outside the door, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

Just now, the sounds of fighting shook the Ninth Prince's mansion.

Inside the Five Cities Military Command, Zhou Qing received a report from the people: the sounds of fighting were deafening inside the Ninth Prince's Mansion, and there was a fear of disaster.

Then Zhou Qing arrived.

As soon as he arrived, he saw a woman dressed in a black gauze dress leaning against the side, waiting.

"What a beautiful woman."

"What kind of clothes is she wearing?"

"My God, if such a beauty were to glance at me, I would remain chaste for her for ten years."

......

The people were buzzing with discussion, and even the soldiers behind Zhou Qing were stunned by Piao Miao's appearance.

She was beautiful in a captivating and mysterious way, noble and alluring, unlike any of the ladies from prominent families in the capital.

Zhou Qing walked to the gate of the Ninth Prince's Mansion and said to the gatekeeper, "Zhou Qing of the Five Cities Garrison has received a report that someone has come to the Prince's Mansion to cause trouble, so I have come to investigate."

"Please wait a moment, sir."

The gatekeeper sent a maid back to inform Chu Xunzhen.

After hearing Zhou Qing's words, Piao Miao looked at him curiously and asked, "As expected of the Iron-Faced Justice. The righteous aura he exudes as he approaches is almost blinding."

"You flatter me, young lady."

Chu Xunzhen arrived at the gate of the Prince's Mansion and took Piaomiao's hand.

"Great! You're finally here."

As Chu Xunzhen spoke, she saw Zhou Qing and her eyes lit up.

"Lord Zhou, you've come at the right time. Thieves have broken into the Prince's residence. We fought desperately to kill them. Please bring your men in quickly and see if there are any survivors. Investigate who is trying to harm the people of the Ninth Prince's residence!"

Chu Xunzhen led the two into the Prince's mansion.

Zhou Qing was followed by dozens of soldiers.

As soon as Zhou Qing arrived at Chu Xunzhen's courtyard, he saw a pile of corpses on the ground.

"Lord Zhou, why don't you take a look at the scene first? This is Master Piaomiao from Baiyun Temple. The young princess is ill and needs the master's treatment. I, the princess consort, will have to excuse myself now."

"Your Highness, please continue with your work. Just send someone from the scene to tell me what happened."

Anshun volunteered, saying, "This servant is willing to share the princess's burdens."

"Eunuch Anshun, please tell Lord Zhou what happened just now, and also ask Lord Zhou to check on the whereabouts of Granny Hua."

"Yes."

Piaomiao asked in confusion, "Zhenzhen, what's wrong with the young princess?"

"The young princess has been cursed and lost her soul. Piaomiao, come quickly and see how she is!"

Piaomiao followed Chu Xunzhen into the room and immediately saw Nangong Xingyuan, who was tied to the bed with her eyes closed.

As she approached, Nangong Xingyuan suddenly opened her eyes.

Those innocent eyes now had vertical pupils.

Nangong Xingyuan chuckled softly, like a snake flicking its tongue, looking at Piaomiao as if she had spotted prey, licking her lips.

Piaomiao's expression was grave as she shook her head and said, "She's been afflicted by a snake curse."

Chu Xunzhen's expression was grim.

"Is there any way?" Chu Xunzhen asked intently.

"As you know, the Snake Gu Curse is a strange curse combining snake gu and snake curse. It cannot be transferred. If there is a Gu Soul Bell, it can recall one of her souls, but if the snake gu is in her body for more than thirty days, it will assimilate her internal organs, and she will truly act like a snake. Such forbidden arts are against the natural order and have long been prohibited from use."

Chu Xunzhen asked, "Could we remove the snake poison first?"

"Difficult." Piaomiao shook her head and sighed, "We have no idea whether the person who cast the Gu poison used the venom of one snake or multiple snakes to feed the Gu worms, and then the Gu worms transmitted it to her."

Chu Xunzhen said, "Go check on Xingyuan's wet nurse. Has she also been afflicted by the snake curse?"

Piaomiao walked to the side room, looked around for a while, and then directly stuffed an antidote pill into the wet nurse's body.

Shortly after, the wet nurse began vomiting blood.

She's better now.

Chu Xunzhen was shocked.

Both were afflicted by the snake curse. How come the wet nurse recovered so quickly, while Xingyuan's condition was so severe?

Seemingly sensing Chu Xunzhen's confusion, Piaomiao said, "The wet nurse was infected with the Gu Qi of the Snake Curse Gu. As for Xingyuan, the situation is even more serious after the Snake Curse Gu entered her body."

"Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, young lady, for saving my life."

Piaomiao said, "No need to thank me. You just need to tell me which kinds of venomous snakes you used to feed the Gu worms?"

The wet nurse froze after hearing the words, and after a long while, she suddenly gave a bitter laugh: "I'm sorry, Your Highness."

She glanced at Nangong Xingyuan again and said, "I'm sorry, Little Princess. This old servant has no face to face you."

As she spoke, she ran straight towards the pillar and crashed into it.

At the critical moment, Chu Xunzhen rushed forward.