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

"Chu Mingxuan, I thought you were just a little arrogant, but you still knew about propriety and shame. In our Great Ning, filial piety comes first. How could you call your grandfather an old man?" Chu Xunzhen's expression changed, and his body trembled slightly with anger, his voice shaking.

"Hahaha!" Chu Mingxuan laughed wildly, speaking disdainfully, "I respect him, so he is my grandfather; if I don't respect him, he's nothing more than a decrepit old man. As for you, Chu Xunzhen, a lowly merchant from the countryside, how dare you compare yourself to Rou'er?"

Chu Wanrou's eyes instantly reddened. She gently tugged at Chu Mingxuan's sleeve, her voice soft and pitiful: "Third brother, don't say that. Sister just likes money too much and got greedy for a moment, unwilling to hand it over. I believe in sister, she will definitely give the money that Lord Zhou gave her to Mother."

Li Yi, with a kind expression, said to Chu Wanrou, "Rou'er, how can you be so kind? My darling, what will I do if you suffer a loss after you get married?"

"Mother, rest assured, Mingyuan will definitely protect my sister," Chu Mingyuan said, while giving Chu Xunzhen a cold glance. "I will absolutely not let anyone bully her."

"Chu Xunzhen, today, you have to hand over these 100,000 taels of silver whether you like it or not. If you refuse to hand them over no matter what, you won't be leaving this reception hall today," said Chu Mingli, the second brother, raising his chin and sneering.

"Don't even think about looking for that old geezer. Everyone here is one of ours, no one will let you go looking for that old geezer." As Chu Mingxuan finished speaking, Chu Xunzhen looked up and saw that the servants and maids surrounded her in layers.

Chu Xunzhen trembled, her gaze shifting slightly, her voice turning cold: "Father, do you share their sentiments? The Ninth Prince wishes to marry me as his princess consort, and you're just going to watch them humiliate me?"

Chu Zhanpeng's gaze hesitated at first, then hardened.

"Xunzhen, you said this money was to pave the way for your father's future. Why are you unwilling to hand it over now?"

Chu Mingxuan sneered: "That goes without saying, she must have regretted it. I'll use my Gu to find out where the silver is."

Suddenly, Chu Xunzhen laughed, a chilling laugh: "Hahaha!"

She burst into laughter, her cold fingertips pointing directly at Chu Mingxuan, laughing so hard she was bent over.

"What are you laughing at?" Chu Mingxuan stared coldly at Chu Xunzhen with disgust in his eyes.

The merchant's bastard son dared to mock him; he was already courting death.

"The Gu Sect does not allow interference in worldly affairs, Third Brother, you haven't forgotten, have you?" As Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Chu Mingxuan's expression changed slightly, and his right hand clenched tightly.

"As for you, Chu Mingli, was Rou'er's betrothal gift any good? You're also partly responsible for misappropriating it. If it weren't for you, the Chongding Marquis's mansion wouldn't be in such a miserable state. Doesn't your conscience hurt?" Chu Xunzhen curled her lips into a cold smile. "I still have the power to manage the household, and I also have your account books. If you don't acknowledge it, I'll have no choice but to hand the account books over to Lord Zhou for inspection."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Mingli's expression changed.

"Chu Xunzhen, you have no respect for your elders. We are your brothers. How dare you speak to us like this?" Chu Mingyuan's gaze was icy, as if Chu Xunzhen was not his own sister, but his enemy.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, a deep smile flashing in his eyes: "Chu Mingyuan, I told you, your face is beyond saving. Soon, the side effects will appear. By then, there will be no cure."

"This is alarmist."

"girl......"

Chunxi was isolated outside and was extremely anxious.

Chu Mingyuan scoffed, then reached out his right hand and grabbed Chunxi's neck.

With just a little effort, Chu Mingyuan lifted Chunxi up. In an instant, her face turned as pale as paper, and her eyes showed a trace of helplessness.

"Chu Xunzhen, aren't you going to hand over the money Lord Zhou gave you? Even if you don't care about your parents and have no filial piety, don't you value your life as a maid?"

Chu Mingyuan's gaze was as cold as three feet of ice, freezing people's hearts.

The servants and maids present, who had never seen Chu Mingyuan look like this before, were terrified.

"I've already said, the money hasn't been received yet. Chu Mingyuan, release Chunxi immediately, and I'll treat you right away. Otherwise, if you persist in your ways, even if a celestial being were to arrive, your face would be beyond saving."

"Chunxi, you heard it too. It was your young lady who refused to save you. Don't blame me, young master." With that, Chu Mingyuan snapped Chunxi's hand in one blow.

Chunxi's face turned pale with pain, but she laughed: "Don't even think about using me to threaten the young lady."

Chunxi raised her eyes and looked at Chu Xunzhen, her voice firm: "Chunxi is fortunate to serve you by your side, Miss, and I will never regret it in this life. Please don't let them threaten you because of me."

Another kick landed on Chunxi, causing blood to stream from the corner of her mouth.

"You're courting death!" Chu Xunzhen roared angrily, finally unable to bear it any longer, and flung the Gu worm in his hand toward Chu Mingyuan's eyes.

The next instant, Chu Mingyuan screamed in agony, instinctively releasing his grip. He covered his eyes, crying, "Chu Xunzhen, what did you do to me?"

"Chunxi, are you alright?"

Chu Xunzhen helped the weak Chunxi up, his eyes filled with worry, and asked.

"Girl, I'm fine. It's Chunxi who's dragging you down." Chunxi leaned weakly against Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Mingli waved his hand, and dozens of old women stepped forward.

"Men, hold her down and search her body."

Despite his obsession, Chu Mingli has not given up.

He needs this money to pay off the huge debts he has incurred in the past few days.

"Chu Xunzhen, you can actually throw out Gu worms so casually? You really do know that Gu Sect master. If you tell me his name, I might consider sparing your life."

Chu Mingxuan's voice was honest and simple, but his words were cold and harsh.

He simply touched Chu Mingyuan's eyes with his hand, and caught the Gu worm that Chu Xunzhen had thrown out.

"That person even gave you a protective Gu gu? Interesting. But what's the use of just a protective Gu gu? Chu Xunzhen, you're disobedient and unwilling to hand over all your silver, so your third brother has no choice but to take action."

"Cough cough!" A sudden coughing sound rang out.

Upon closer inspection, everyone recognized him as Lord Zhou Qing, commander of the Five Cities Garrison.

"There are no guards at the Marquis's residence, and the gates are not closed. I have come uninvited; I hope I have not disturbed you all?"

Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow at the scene before him and spoke.

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, and suddenly it became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

It was Chu Zhanpeng who reacted first, bowing to Zhou Qing and saying, "Greetings, Lord Zhou. I wonder what brings you to my Ping'an Marquis's residence so late at night? If needed, my Ping'an Marquis's residence will certainly cooperate."

Zhou Qing narrowed his eyes slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips. His left hand was hidden beneath the sleeves of his black official robes.

"I have come today on important business, but it seems my timing is unfortunate. Perhaps you all should settle this matter first, and I will listen in and wait?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

That really is like bringing up the very thing you don't want to talk about.

"You flatter me, sir. What brings you to my residence today? Please enlighten me," Chu Zhanpeng said with an awkward laugh.