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

"Cough cough...Ptooey ptooey ptooey..."

Gu Changfeng spat out the crumpled paper he had stuffed in his mouth, his gaze towards Chu Xunzhen almost spitting fire, and suddenly reached out to grab Chu Xunzhen.

That bitch.

How dare she humiliate him like that?

He, a high-ranking general of the current dynasty, was so humiliated by a mere merchant.

Gu Changfeng ripped the crumpled paper from his throat, his anger rising, and said, "How dare you!"

Chu Xunzhen scoffed, "A frog in a well dares to put on airs in front of me, Chu Xunzhen? As the old saying goes, one should be humble, abide by the rules, and restrain oneself to follow propriety. Now, the heir of the Chongding Marquis's mansion is forcing my Ping'an Marquis's mansion to become his concubine, which is disrespectful to the Marquis of Ping'an. With such a lack of manners, no wonder the Chongding Marquis's mansion is declining day by day."

"Insolence!" The Lady of the Chongding Marquis's Mansion slammed her hand on the table, her gaze sharp as if she wanted to devour Chu Xunzhen alive. "Who do you think you are? How dare you look down on the Chongding Marquis's Mansion like this?"

Previously, I had always been subservient and timid in front of her, completely under her control.

What about now?

How dare he speak so highly of the Chongding Marquis's Mansion in front of her and her son? Where is her dignity?

"Mother, don't be angry. Perhaps Chu Xunzhen can't accept becoming a concubine right now." Gu Changfeng looked at Chu Xunzhen and said, "I know you love me and are willing to give everything for me. But I only love Rou'er, and Rou'er will always be my wife. As for you, considering your help to Father and Mother over the years, as long as you behave yourself after entering the manor, I can give you the status of a concubine after you give birth to a daughter."

The more Gu Changfeng thought about it, the more suitable it seemed.

In their past life, Chu Xunzhen was his principal wife, and Rou'er was his concubine. In this life, he would insist on reversing the roles, making Rou'er his principal wife and Chu Xunzhen his concubine. After they had a daughter, he would then elevate Rou'er to the status of a good concubine. In this way, he could both satisfy Chu Xunzhen's feelings for him and not let Rou'er down.

"Changfeng, if this woman enters the manor, unless she gives birth to a son, she will forever remain a lowly concubine," the Lady of the Chongding Marquis's manor said coldly, her slender eyebrows making her appear somewhat mean.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on the Lady of the Chongding Marquis's Mansion, and the coldness in his eyes made her feel a chill down her spine.

How dare a mere country bumpkin, a woman who can't be presented to the world, look at her like that?

Her previous obedient and sensible behavior was all a lie.

"I already said I won't enter the Chongding Marquis's residence. Is Madam getting old and hard of hearing? Can't she understand human speech?"

Li Yi said angrily, "Chu Xunzhen, you have no choice today. This is an arranged marriage by our parents and a matchmaker. You must sign the contract today. Someone, bring me some Xuan paper. Mingli, you write it."

"Yes." Chu Mingli smiled maliciously.

Chu Xunzhen refused to cook pear soup for him, even though it was just a simple request. He decided to listen to Rou'er from now on.

If she doesn't obey, then the only option is for Rou'er, the future mistress, to properly discipline this concubine.

At this moment, Chu Mingli had completely forgotten how many times Chu Xunzhen had brought him soup.

Each time, he would either have someone pour it out or give it to a servant to drink.

Chu Xunzhen didn't take it to heart and said, "I advise Madam not to be too smug. Otherwise, when His Majesty issues the decree of punishment, it will only make you a laughing stock."

Li Yi was so angry that he was about to order Chu Xunzhen to be subdued, but the next moment, the servant guarding the gate rushed in to report.

"It's terrible, Madam! Someone from the palace has come to read out an imperial edict."

Li Yi's face darkened. He said, "What kind of behavior is this, all in such a panic? Someone, bring the imperial edict."

When everyone stepped outside the courtyard, they discovered that Marquis Chu Zhanpeng, with a gloomy expression, was already waiting to the side, clearly expecting everyone from the Marquis's residence to kneel down and receive the imperial decree.

The Grand Eunuch Cao sneered, unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict, and spoke in a high-pitched yet solemn voice.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lady Li, wife of the Marquis of Ping'an, is of a shrewish and unruly nature, causing trouble at will and even assaulting the Emperor's son. Considering this is her first offense, the Marquis of Ping'an is hereby fined three years' salary, and Lady Li is confined to her quarters for one year to cultivate her mind and transcribe one hundred volumes of Buddhist scriptures, to be submitted to the palace on a chosen day. Lady Li, have you not yet received this decree?"

Li Yi's face turned pale, as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his mind.

She was publicly punished and confined to her quarters? The master was fined?

"Aren't you going to accept the imperial decree?" Chu Zhanpeng's cold voice rang out, his eyes like knives.

Chu Xunzhen had no doubt that if a knife appeared in front of Chu Zhanpeng right now, he would not hesitate to stab his wife with it.

Li Yi mechanically extended his hand and accepted the imperial edict.

Her hands trembled, and she was almost powerless as she knelt on the ground.

"Madam Hou, some people can be dealt with, but others, if dealt with, may suffer serious injuries or even lose their lives. This is all I have to say; please take care of yourself."

Eunuch Cao chuckled sinisterly, then turned and quickly left with his palace servants.

Lady Chongding and Gu Changfeng, who were kneeling to the side, also smiled awkwardly and stood up.

If they weren't here, this grand ceremony wouldn't have been necessary.

Unfortunately, they happened to be at the Marquis of Ping'an's residence when the imperial edict was read out.

"Greetings, Lord Chu." The Lady of the Chongding Marquis's Residence greeted Chu Zhanpeng.

Chu Zhanpeng's expression immediately brightened, and he said, "I apologize for the embarrassment, Madam of the Chongding Marquis's residence. The other day, Xun Zhen caused trouble, and my wife requested family discipline, but accidentally injured the Ninth Prince. Fortunately, your family provided assistance; otherwise, His Majesty would not have been so lenient today."

What did the Marquis of Chongding's mansion do to help them?

How come she didn't know?

Lu Ruoying looked puzzled, but still answered, "Of course, when the two families unite by marriage, we share both glory and loss."

"It's getting late, so Changfeng and Mother will take their leave," Gu Changfeng said, his face grim.

His mind was now filled with Chu Xunzhen's cold, loveless gaze.

When exactly did Chu Xunzhen, who looked at him with such affection in his past life, become like this?

Her actions will negatively impact his career and future.

Didn't she know?

Lady Chongding said to Chu Zhanpeng, "Changfeng and Rou'er's marriage is settled. As for Chu Xunzhen, as long as he signs the indenture, he will be my son Changfeng's person. He is just a merchant, and it is already more than enough to give him the dignity of being a concubine."

Chu Zhanpeng gave a few perfunctory replies but did not intend to elaborate.

Gu Changfeng frowned, feeling that Chu Zhanpeng's attitude was somewhat subtle.

But he has always been arrogant. If Chu Xunzhen doesn't agree today, then on the day he marries, she shouldn't cry and ask him to give her a concubine position.

Chu Xunzhen initially intended to turn around and leave, but after a moment's thought, she walked to Li Yi's side and said, "Madam is under house arrest, so she should repent properly and not do anything to harm the Marquis's family again. Furthermore, if His Majesty finds out that you not only beat His Highness but also wronged your eldest daughter to become a concubine, and if you incur His Majesty's wrath again, even if Prince Gu has a treasure like the Evergreen Jade, I'm afraid he won't be able to protect Madam."

"You?" Li Yi was furious, trembling with rage. "Rebellious daughter! Rebellious daughter!"

As Li Yi's cursing and shouting faded away, the sound of Chu Zhanpeng ordering his men to confine Li Yi to the courtyard gradually disappeared into the distance.

Chu Xunzhen walked towards the gate of the Marquis's mansion, but before she had gone halfway, her path was blocked.

The person blocking the way was none other than Chu Wanrou, dressed in white and wearing a veil, looking like a goddess or fairy.

"Sister, I need to talk to you. Look, what's this?" Chu Wanrou's voice was soft, but a calculating glint flashed in her eyes.