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

"what!"

"There are bugs."

There were bugs in the cloak.

Chu Wanrou cried out in surprise and jumped up from Gu Changfeng's arms. Her cloak fell to the ground, revealing her curvaceous body, and most importantly, the brand-new scratches on her wrists were also exposed.

"Her hand is bleeding," the Ninth Prince's innocent voice rang out.

All eyes then shifted from searching for the insects to her wrist.

"Look! She has scratches on her hands."

"It really was Miss Wanrou who did it? My God, how is that possible?"

"Could it be that she really wants to steal Prince Gu as her fiancé?"

......

Lord Chu clearly saw the scratches on his hands, and his face turned ugly.

Li Yi's expression changed drastically.

Gu Changfeng saw the brand-new scratches and couldn't believe it.

Rou'er is so kind.

How could a woman like her, with her cunning and ambition, who has no interest in domestic life, possibly do such a vicious thing?

He believed she must have her reasons.

Suddenly, he noticed that the predatory gazes of the servants around him were all fixed on Chu Wanrou.

His expression changed, and he picked up the cloak and draped it over Chu Wanrou's shoulders.

"Rou'er, it's alright, I'm here. I stepped on the bug and killed it."

Gu Changfeng comforted Chu Wanrou, picked her up, glared at Chu Xunzhen, and quickly left.

"Father, the truth is already clear. Chu Wanrou framed me. Do I still need to be confined to my quarters and forced to copy the 'Admonitions for Women'?"

Lord Chu's face was grim as he stared intently at Chu Xunzhen.

This rebellious daughter actually dared to humiliate him so blatantly.

He admitted it was her from the start; how could he, the Marquis, be so humiliated today? Now things are really messed up. With the guests gone, his reputation for poor judgment and incompetent investigation will surely spread.

"Now the evidence is conclusive. Mother, can you see clearly? Xunzhen didn't cause any trouble; it was indeed Chu Wanrou who did it. I believe Chu Wanrou didn't do it on purpose. But isn't the Chu family's teaching to admit mistakes and correct them? To not wantonly deceive or slander others? Or is it that as an adopted daughter of the Chu family, you don't need to follow the etiquette of the Marquis's mansion?" Chu Xunzhen coldly questioned.

"Chu Xunzhen!" Lady Hou, Li Yi, was so angry that her face turned ashen and she was practically fuming.

How dare she question her own mother like that? And keep mentioning the word "adopted daughter," hurting Rou'er's feelings.

"Xunzhen can hear me. Do I still need to be confined?"

"This injury is not what you described. You only said that because you saw the injury on Rou'er's hand long ago, deliberately making us misunderstand and punish Rou'er. Chu Xunzhen, how can you be worthy of being the legitimate daughter of a marquis's mansion with such character? Since you are wrong, you are punished to enter the ancestral hall and kneel for a day and a night. Guards, take Chu Xunzhen away."

Li Yi was furious, his chest heaving with rage.

She would absolutely not let this rebellious daughter leave unscathed.

She wanted her to kneel down, kowtow to her Rou'er and apologize, and even wanted her to be confined to the ancestral hall to reflect on her actions.

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on Li Yi, without any expression of sadness or joy.

In her past life, she was obedient and docile, but what she received in return was not love, but death—she was bullied to death. In this life, she will never be obedient and compliant again.

Chu Xunzhen never called this woman "mother" again. Because she didn't deserve it.

The stark truth is right before her eyes, yet she can turn a blind eye.

"This is too tragic! I have a feeling that what Chu Xunzhen said is true."

"Wow! Brilliant! Truly brilliant! Full of twists and turns. The inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion are far more interesting than any play on stage."

"Poor legitimate daughter! Is the Lady of the Marquis stupid? It's obvious that the adopted daughter is bullying the legitimate daughter."

......

As Chu Xunzhen was being carried away by two maids, she smiled sweetly, clutching her cloak tightly. She suddenly turned around and said to Nangong Yue, "Thank you, Your Highness, for saving my life today."

Even though the person in front of her was a little mentally challenged, she was still genuinely grateful.

Nangong Yue stopped sucking his fingers and smiled, "You're welcome. Where are you going, sister? Are you really going to the ancestral hall? The ancestral hall is dark and full of bugs, it's so scary. Father Emperor never wanted to lock me up there. I'm sure your parents wouldn't want to either."

The other person is mentally challenged. But before becoming mentally challenged, he was the emperor's most beloved child.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, "Thank you, Your Highness. Not every parent in the world is the same. Some parents can't bear to see their children suffer, but some parents wish their children would suffer."

The Chu couple's eyes were filled with anger.

Chu Xunzhen, this is a veiled reference to them.

She was so sarcastic and strange, completely unlike Rou'er's gentle and obedient nature.

"Chu Xunzhen, we are entering the ancestral hall to pay homage to our ancestors and to make you reflect on your actions. How dare you refuse?" Madam Chu said impatiently.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, neither refusing nor giving up, his gaze carrying a hint of meaning: "Alright, Xunzhen will go to the ancestral hall now."

"Sister, I'll protect you," Nangong Yue said, a determined look on her face. "I'll protect you from being bitten by bugs."

Chu Xunzhen's inner feelings.

Her closest relatives refused to believe her, but the Ninth Prince was of the purest heart.

"It's alright, even insects can be good or evil. I'm innocent, the insects won't hurt me."

Chu Xunzhen smiled gently, and Nangong Yue was stunned.

But the next moment, the palace eunuchs arrived.

"I'm leaving now. I'll come back to save you." The Ninth Prince smiled innocently and was led away by the palace eunuchs.

Looking at the Ninth Prince, who was handsome and refined but clearly showed signs of mental instability, Chu Xunzhen felt a pang of sadness.

She needs to find some time to check on his condition and find a way to cure him.

"Miss, how are you? Let me help you back so you can change your clothes."

A familiar voice, trembling with emotion, rang out.

It is Chunxi.

That loyal person from her past life, who died for her and was secretly harmed by Chu Wanrou.

Chu Xunzhen felt a pang of sadness, but she knew this was in front of others.

She held back her tears and, supported by Chunxi, walked towards the Chrysanthemum Garden where she lived.

In her past life, she fell into the water and was rescued by Gu Changfeng. She thought she had turned misfortune into blessing and saved the fiancé her mother had arranged for her.

At the time, she was very happy, believing that since Gu Changfeng had rescued her from the water and they had been intimate, he would definitely marry her. He wouldn't be taken away by Chu Wanrou.

Little did they know, although he stayed behind, Gu Changfeng's heart remained with Chu Wanrou.

In this life, he will never have to wrong himself again.

After changing her clothes, Chu Xunzhen was led by two old women towards the ancestral hall. On the way, she passed a banquet.

The ladies were all talking about it.

"Poor Miss Chu. Not only could she not live in the manor since childhood, but after returning home, her fiancé was also stolen away."

"Didn't the Lady Hou say that the mark was there this morning?"

"Pah, only you would believe her. Judging from the freshness of the wound, it was scraped less than fifteen minutes ago."

"I never expected that. I used to think Chu Wanrou was a gentle and docile person."

......

Having witnessed countless power struggles between legitimate and illegitimate children within the family, they understood the drama unfolding today perfectly.

I was also somewhat shocked.

Over the past three years, Chu Xunzhen has made quite a few jokes.

When they fell into the water, they all thought it was Chu Xunzhen who was intolerant and harmed Chu Wanrou, but who knew that it was actually Chu Wanrou who did it.

A mere adopted daughter has brought disaster upon the true legitimate daughter of a marquis's family.

If she doesn't find evidence to prove herself, then all the blame for today's mess will fall on her.

Listening to the words of the ladies at the banquet, Li Yi, who had returned to the banquet and was sitting at the head of the table, had a frosty expression on his face.

She possessed an astonishing air of a matriarch, and her appearance bore a striking resemblance to Chu Xunzhen.

Watching Chu Xunzhen's retreating figure, she immediately showed a look of disgust. She patted the aggrieved Chu Wanrou beside her, signaling her to relax.

"Rou'er is kind-hearted. Today, she picked morning dew for me and scratched her wrist with a tree branch but didn't say a word. Unlike some people who rely on their bloodline to disrespect their elders and forget their duties as children."