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

"Sister, what's wrong?" Nangong Yue asked, puzzled.

Chu Xunzhen snapped out of her daze, immediately took two steps back to increase the distance between them, and cupped her hands in greeting.

"Xunzhen has overstepped his bounds and offended Your Highness. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

As soon as the words were spoken, Nangong Yue froze, looked up at the person in front of her, and felt that although Chu Xunzhen was standing in front of her, he seemed to be very far away from her.

His voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes filled with grievance, and his tone was sour: "Why is my sister's attitude towards me different this time?"

Chu Xunzhen lowered her head, her right hand, which was clasped in front of her, tightened slightly, not daring to look into his clear eyes, and said in a dry voice, "This subject's treatment of Your Highness has always been the same."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Yue felt a slight pang in his chest and immediately turned his head away. He gripped his sleeve tightly with his left hand, his lips pressed together, suppressing his emotions, afraid that he would rush forward and hug her, thus abruptly offending her, and even more afraid that he would frighten her.

He must endure!

He couldn't rush things. Otherwise, his father wouldn't have granted him the marriage. Although he was the leader of the Gu Sect, he had a fatal weakness. If it were discovered, not only would he be in danger, but his sister would be too. He had to endure it.

Under the moon, sparse shadows overlap.

The two remained silent for a while before Nangong Yue broke the silence.

"Sister, Father has summoned me. I think it might be because there's news about us. Wait for me."

Nangong Yue smiled at Chu Xunzhen, looking as if she was very much looking forward to it.

"Your Highness," Chu Xunzhen suddenly looked at Nangong Yue and said, "If you have someone you like, you don't have to force yourself."

As Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Nangong Yue's eyes narrowed slightly, her expression completely different from usual.

She then knew that he had returned to normal.

"What do you mean, sister? You have someone you like and you don't like me anymore?" In the night wind, Nangong Yue's voice was sore, her eyes were red, and her hands trembled. She tried to raise them several times but then put them down.

Chu Xunzhen shook his head and solemnly said to Nangong Yue, "If Your Highness has someone you admire, you don't need to marry me because of a joke you made that day. Life is short, and I hope Your Highness can spend the rest of your life with the person you love."

She liked Nangong Yue, liked his purity, but he was her benefactor, and she wanted to see him happy for the rest of his life and not miss the one he loved.

Chen Lianxin considered herself the future Ninth Prince's consort, and everyone else acknowledged it. Although Chu Xunzhen admired Nangong Yue's childlike innocence, she wasn't indispensable to him. Ultimately, she preferred power and control over life and death, a life where she wouldn't be a pawn anymore, which suited her better.

Nangong Yue was stunned.

He only likes Chu Xunzhen, so why would he have any other person he admires?

"My heart belongs to you, sister, and no one else," Nangong Yue said, grabbing Chu Xunzhen's hand.

He had a feeling that if he didn't make things clear today, he would definitely regret it later.

Chu Xunzhen frowned and said carefully, "Your Highness, if being close to me can help you recover better, you don't need to marry me, lest your beloved create a rift between you."

Recalling what he learned from Huang Ying that His Highness's cousin had been living in the Ninth Prince's residence and acted as the mistress of the Ninth Prince's residence, Chu Xunzhen shook his head.

Nangong Yue's eyes twitched.

She is his beloved. What is she saying?

In a flash, Nangong Yue finally understood why she had misunderstood.

"Sister, Yue said that Yue loves you, regardless of curing the illness or the future." Nangong Yue grasped Chu Xunzhen's hands and said solemnly, "Chen Lianxin is my cousin, and there is no one else. The person in my heart is you, yesterday it was you, today it is you, and tomorrow it will still be you."

The alluring beauty mark under the moonlight shimmered with a bewitching light, and Chu Xunzhen was stunned.

Eunuch Cao, who was not far behind, felt his teeth ache from listening.

Who would have thought that even the esteemed Ninth Prince could fall in love, especially with a fallen daughter of a lowly marquis who had returned from the countryside? This is hardly a good thing.

Thinking of His Majesty, he kept his lips tightly closed and shook his head from time to time.

Chu Xunzhen was somewhat at a loss.

Did she misunderstand?

Looking at the girl, who was as innocent and unaware as a little white rabbit, Nangong Yue smiled and let go of her hand.

He turned his head away, concealing the crazy thought in his eyes, the desire to disregard everything and meld Chu Xunzhen into his very bones, to make the two of them seamlessly intertwined.

"Your Highness's kindness is appreciated; Xunzhen understands now."

After Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, he went straight out of the palace gate, afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would anger Nangong Yue.

Although he concealed it well, Chu Xunzhen still sensed that he seemed to be suppressing something, like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be released.

As Chu Xunzhen exited the palace gates, she saw Granny Hua anxiously waiting for her.

Upon seeing Chu Xunzhen, Granny Hua grinned, "Miss, you're back?"

"I'm back. Let's talk when we get back." Chu Xunzhen thought of the conversation just now and of Nangong Yue, and her cheeks flushed.

Granny Hua raised an eyebrow, glanced at Chu Xunzhen suspiciously, nodded, and got into the carriage.

The carriage headed towards the Marquis of Ping'an's residence.

The Marquis of Ping'an's residence.

Li Yi sat on the couch, with Chu Wanrou massaging her shoulders from behind.

Li Yi was enjoying herself with her eyes closed when she suddenly opened them, her eyes filled with annoyance and disgust: "That wretched girl hasn't returned yet?"

Standing to the side, Li Mama, who had been pushed aside by Chu Wanrou, nodded respectfully and said, "Madam, the eldest young lady has not yet returned."

"It must be that vile woman who filed a complaint against the Marquis of Chongding's mansion, and was punished by the Emperor." Li Yi said coldly, "The Marquis of Chongding injured his leg while saving the late Emperor and is now unable to walk. If the Marquis of Chongding's mansion falls, people will only say that His Majesty cannot tolerate a small marquis's mansion."

Beside him, Chu Zhanpeng paced anxiously, his eyes filled with fear, and said, "Madam is right. What should we do?"

"When she returns, send her to the estate," Li Yi said, his gaze cold and sharp.

Li Yi patted Chu Wanrou's hand and looked at his daughter with increasing satisfaction.

"Rou'er, don't be afraid. Since the Chongding Marquis's mansion has fallen into decline, your mother will choose another good husband for you."

At this moment, Chu Mingli, who was drinking tea and holding his teacup, spoke up: "Mother, it's not convenient for Chu Xunzhen to take so much silver to the estate."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi glanced at her second son with satisfaction: "Her money will remain in the Marquis's residence. The Marquis and I can only safeguard it for her."

Sitting next to Chu Mingli, Chu Mingxuan slapped his thigh, as if he had thought of something. He glanced at Chu Wanrou, who was stretching her mother's muscles, and smiled憨厚ly: "I heard that Chu Xunzhen's Wanyao Pavilion is very profitable. It's good that she's going to the estate to recuperate, so Wanyao Pavilion can be left to Rou'er to manage. Rou'er is so grown up now, it's time for her to assist her mother and learn how to manage a household."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou smiled shyly: "Third Brother, please don't tease me."

"How could that be? Rou'er, your third brother believes in you." Chu Mingxuan was in a great mood. Only in front of Chu Wanrou could he act like an ordinary person and laugh without a care in the world. In the past, he had always been living on the edge, using poison to take people's lives.

If Rou'er hadn't saved him back then, he wouldn't be where he is today.

Chu Wanrou suddenly spoke up: "Sister must be very lonely at the estate. Why don't I go with you to the estate for a while, and then Brother will take us there, okay?"

Chu Mingyuan did not answer.

"Big brother..." Chu Wanrou kept calling out.

Chu Mingyuan still did not answer.

Seeing that Chu Mingyuan didn't speak, everyone subconsciously looked over, and what they saw startled them.

He was scratching his face, and soon his face was covered with a dense rash.

Chu Wanrou exclaimed in surprise, pointing at Chu Mingyuan, "Brother, you have a rash! Quickly, summon the royal physician!"

Suddenly, a jet-black venomous snake darted in and bit Chu Wanrou's ankle with lightning speed.

Li Yi was terrified and cried out in alarm, "A snake!"

"Rou'er, how are you?"

Chu Zhanpeng was so frightened that his face turned pale.

Chu Mingxuan's face was grim, and he said in a cold voice, "Besides me, only Chu Xunzhen in the whole family has ever been exposed to Gu magic. She is so vicious that she deliberately let the people of the Gu sect teach her to use Gu magic to summon poisonous snakes to harm people."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Chu Xunzhen, still immersed in His Highness's words, walked in. Looking at the scene of wailing and lamentation before her, she snapped out of her daze and said in a playful tone, "Oh, everyone's here. I have something to discuss with you."