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

"Interesting." The nonchalance in Pei Changqing's eyes vanished, replaced by seriousness.

He looked around, searching for a breakthrough. After a long while, he finally realized that someone had set up a maze here.

Chunxi was guarding in front of Liao Liao Chu Xunzhen's room, and naturally saw the two men acting suspiciously outside the courtyard.

She was dumbfounded as she watched them bend over, lower their heads, and make all sorts of bizarre movements outside the courtyard.

"Sneaking around like that, he's definitely not a good person. Why come to see me when the young lady is bathing? He must have ill intentions."

Chunxi's gaze was cold and unwavering, like a door god guarding Chu Xunzhen's door.

The Third Prince was completely dumbfounded.

Chu Xunzhen's arrogance is one thing, but after all, she is the daughter of a marquis, and because she comes from the countryside, she doesn't know her place. I can understand that.

How could a mere maidservant dare to ignore him?

"I am the Third Prince, and he is a disciple of the Heavenly Sect. You little girl, why don't you open the door at once?"

Upon hearing this, Chunxi kept her eyes straight ahead and remained guarding her daughter's door.

"Your Highness, please don't be anxious. Let me break the formation for you and see what's wrong with Chu Xunzhen? How can she have such an arrogant maid?"

Inside the side room.

Chu Xunzhen emerged from the wooden tub and donned a robe.

Emerging from Granny Hua's right ear was a tiny purple spider, no bigger than a sesame seed.

It is Granny Hua's natal Gu.

Granny Hua sent her outside to investigate. After a long while, the Gu worms brought news. Granny Hua's expression changed, and she reported, "Miss, the Third Prince has arrived, along with Pei Changqing, a disciple of the Heavenly Sect."

As she spoke, Granny Hua even showed a look of disgust.

The Heavenly Sect and the Gu Sect are mortal enemies.

The Gu Sect casts Gu, and the Heavenly Sect removes it.

"Oh? What are they doing here?" Chu Xunzhen, dressed in moon-white shimmering brocade and wearing a gauze robe, walked to the table and sipped her fragrant tea.

Outside the Chrysanthemum Garden.

Nangong You's voice rang out: "Brother Changqing, how is it? Is it possible to break the formation?"

"Your Highness, this is a minor illusion array, a formation of the Gu Sect," Pei Changqing said.

Gu Sect?

The third prince sat on a stone bench to the side, playing with the jade thumb ring on his thumb, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt.

"Is it possible to crack it?" The Third Prince suddenly became curious about Chu Xunzhen.

Why is there a small maze formation outside this courtyard?

This must be related to the people in Juyuan.

"We cannot break the formation, Your Highness. The formation has been altered. Changqing is incompetent."

A quarter of an hour later, Pei Changqing, his forehead covered in cold sweat, said to the Third Prince.

Nangong You was speechless inside, but he still smiled and said in a friendly manner, "It's alright."

After resting, he stepped forward and called out to the courtyard, "Nangong You has come to pay his respects to Miss Chu and hopes that Miss Chu will grant him a favor."

Pei Changqing was dumbfounded.

Can it work?

The fact that they set up a maze clearly indicates they don't want anyone to disturb them. If it was indeed set up by someone inside the Chrysanthemum Garden, they obviously wouldn't pay any attention to those outside.

The person who could set up such a sophisticated illusion array would obviously not care too much about the royal family's status.

A moment passed, and no one came out.

Two breaths passed, and no one showed up.

Three breaths passed, and still no one came out.

Nangong You looked on with interest, both angry and amused: "Good, good, good, this is truly the first time someone has ignored me to such an extreme."

If Nangong You was genuinely interested in Chu Xun before, now he truly wants her to kneel down and submit.

"Guards, return to the manor and invite Brother Mingxuan here."

The Third Prince sat outside the Chrysanthemum Garden, waiting quietly.

When Chu Zhanpeng heard the news, he couldn't believe it.

He rushed to the outside of the Chrysanthemum Garden, his expression trembling with fear, and respectfully said to the Third Prince, "Your Highness, it is late and the dew is heavy outside. Please come inside to rest."

"Lord Chu, this prince merely wished to see your eldest daughter who had returned from the countryside, but three hours have passed and I still haven't been able to. This eldest daughter of the Chu family certainly puts on quite a show of arrogance?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhanpeng broke out in a cold sweat.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I will bring my daughter out immediately."

Chu Zhanpeng spoke and immediately walked into the Chrysanthemum Garden.

Upon seeing this, everyone looked as if they had seen a ghost.

How could he get in?

Chu Zhanpeng was also baffled.

Wasn't it said that there was an array separating them, preventing them from entering Chu Xunzhen's courtyard? But the current situation doesn't seem to suggest that. He simply walked in.

With a creak, the door opened, and at the same time, Chu Xunzhen's clear female voice rang out.

"What is the matter that you all are making such a racket in my courtyard?"

The third prince looked up and was immediately stunned.

The girl's long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, with droplets of water clinging to each strand. A misty aura emanated from her, making her appear as pure and beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water.

The anger that had been building up while waiting vanished completely in an instant.

A beauty as lovely as jade, what harm is there in waiting?

No wonder Ninth Brother favors this person so much.

"Miss Chu, who designed the array outside the courtyard?" The Third Prince revealed what he considered a dashing smile before asking.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen was somewhat bewildered and immediately asked, "What kind of formation is this?"

The Third Prince was not angry, simply thinking that she was intentionally concealing her identity as a master.

Chu Mingyuan wasn't going to tolerate her. He coldly said, "Where did you steal someone else's array design? If it brings trouble to the Marquis's mansion, this young master won't take responsibility for you."

"Mingyuan, you mustn't be so cruel to your sister." Nangong You said, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "I have something to discuss with Miss Chu privately. Everyone, please leave. By the way, send a message back to the manor, telling him not to come over. He should finish what he's doing and return to the Chu residence after that."

"Yes." The Third Prince's men, along with Chu Mingyuan and the others, left.

Before leaving, Chu Zhanpeng was somewhat worried and earnestly said to Chu Xunzhen, "Xunzhen, the Third Prince is a true dragon among men. Speak politely and do not offend him. If the Prince needs anything, cooperate with him. If you encounter any difficulties, come to your father, and I will certainly help you."

Chu Xunzhen ignored Chu Zhanpeng and secretly chuckled when she saw Chu Wanrou's distorted face not far away.

Are you in a hurry?

It was just a prince coming to chat with her, yet Chu Wanrou was so angry. This shows that she was really afraid of losing her favor.

"May I ask Miss Chu to dismiss all others?"

Nangong You glanced at Chunxi and Granny Hua with a troubled expression, then spoke to Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen raised an eyebrow.

What is that? So mysterious.

She gave Granny Hua and Chunxi a look, and the two immediately walked far away, choosing a place where they couldn't hear the conversation but could still see the two people's movements.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?"

Nangong You made no attempt to conceal his purpose, saying, "I have come today to give you something, Miss."

Nangong You took out a brocade box from his bosom.

Chu Xunzhen lost interest and suddenly turned her head away.

"I cannot accept a gift without merit. I sincerely appreciate it, but Your Highness's gift is too precious for me to accept."

Chu Xunzhen's gaze grew impatient.

This person was Chu Wanrou's suitor in her past life; his visit today is surely not for anything good.

Nangong You, however, was not angry. Instead, he opened the jade box with a charming smile.

Inside the brocade box was a white silver hairpin adorned with camellia flowers.

Chu Xunzhen glanced at the hairpin, her expression instantly changing. She angrily demanded, "How did you get this silver hairpin?"

Nangong Yue didn't answer, but instead a playful smile appeared on her face.