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

"Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations!" said Eunuch Cao, as he entered, led in by a servant outside the door, his smile as radiant as a chrysanthemum.

Chu Zhanpeng was surprised, and then looked at Chu Xunzhen.

"Good, good, good! Your Majesty's grace is boundless."

Chu Zhanpeng looked excited, his face flushed.

Chu Xunzhen donated silver notes to the national treasury. Although she did not ask for a reward, as the emperor, he would naturally issue a commendation to demonstrate the emperor's boundless grace.

This will set the entire Ping'an Marquis's mansion on the verge of takeoff.

Looking at the jubilant crowd, Chu Wanrou was practically wringing the handkerchief in her hand to pieces, but she could only smile faintly along with Chu Zhanpeng, though the smile looked somewhat stiff no matter how you looked at it.

"If you're ready, receive the imperial decree," Cao Gonggong's shrill voice rang out.

No one dared to delay, and they all knelt on the ground to listen to the imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Chu Xunzhen, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Ping'an, is known for her magnanimity, generosity in donating silver to aid the nation, providing medicine to support the army, and showing compassion for the people. She is hereby specially conferred the title of Princess of Huai Ren County, with the fief of Licheng and a fief of three hundred households. Her clothing, food, salary, and ceremonial regalia shall all follow the regulations for princesses of the imperial clan. This is the imperial decree."

After he finished speaking, the entire Ping'an Marquis's residence became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Chu Zhanpeng's smile froze; he couldn't believe it.

Li Yi was even more dumbfounded.

As for the three young masters of the Chu family, they didn't even have time to react.

Chu Tianxiong's face turned pale.

"It's over."

If he hadn't pressured her like that, there might still have been a chance to salvage the situation. But since he chose his son and Chu Wanrou, he essentially pushed Chu Xunzhen out of the picture.

Now Chu Tianxiong can only pin his hopes on the fact that Chu Xunzhen still harbors feelings of affection for him.

Congratulations, sister.

Nangong Yue's eyes burned with desire as she looked at Chu Xunzhen, like a wolf eyeing a docile little lamb, ready to devour it at any moment.

"Thank you, Eunuch Cao."

Chu Xunzhen accepted the imperial edict and gave Chunxi, who had just arrived, a look. Chunxi immediately handed Eunuch Cao a heavy money bag.

Eunuch Cao bounced the toss, his smile widening.

He glanced at the stunned Chu Zhanpeng, snorted coldly, and said in a sharp voice, "My lord, you'd better treat the young lady well. Her good fortune is yet to come."

"impossible!"

A voice suddenly came from outside the gate of the Marquis's residence.

Gu Changfeng, dressed in coarse cloth, stood in front of the Ping'an Marquis's mansion, his face pale as he roared angrily.

"Brother Changfeng!"

Chu Wanrou's voice was filled with surprise, but the moment she saw Gu Changfeng's attire, her face went blank, and her half-open lips closed in silence.

Gu Changfeng strode in, not even noticing the look of disgust in Chu Wanrou's eyes.

The gatekeeper recognized Gu Changfeng and therefore did not stop him.

"Brother Changfeng, why are you dressed like this?" Chu Wanrou asked with concern in her eyes, but her voice carried a hint of probing.

Gu Changfeng did not answer, but walked straight past Chu Wanrou and stared intently at Chu Xunzhen.

"How could you possibly be granted the title of County Princess by His Majesty?" Gu Changfeng exclaimed, staring intently at the bright yellow imperial edict in Chu Xunzhen's hand, feeling as if it were a fantasy.

A merchant's adopted daughter who returned from the countryside was actually bestowed the title of county princess by the current emperor?

Even if she is the legitimate daughter of a marquis, her knowledge and abilities are completely inadequate. What makes her qualified to be the county princess?

Most importantly, this didn't happen at this time in my previous life.

Chu Xun should be peacefully waiting to be married in her boudoir. Instead, she should be being punished by kneeling in the ancestral hall, being disciplined by the family, and having countless disgusting scars left on her body.

But now, looking at her, she is stunningly beautiful and poised, with not a single scar or wound on her hands.

Seeing Gu Changfeng blocking her way, Chu Xunzhen turned her body slightly to the side.

"Move aside, you're blocking my view."

Chu Xunzhen frowned and said coldly.

Gu Changfeng was stunned and was pushed away. He saw Chu Xunzhen looking at Nangong Yue with bright eyes, her pink lips parting to reveal a beautiful smile like a flower bud in full bloom.

"Changfeng, be careful." Although Chu Wanrou was angry, the two were still engaged.

She reached out and instinctively helped Gu Changfeng up.

The next moment, a sour smell wafted from him.

Chu Wanrou's expression changed, and she immediately pinched her nose and backed away.

"Rou'er, do you despise me?"

Gu Changfeng's face was grim. Looking at Chu Wanrou like this, he felt as if he were meeting her for the first time.

Didn't she say before that no matter what he became in the future, she would never dislike him?

Chu Wanrou forced a smile: "How could that be, Brother Changfeng? Rou'er's heart belongs to you. It has nothing to do with external factors."

After saying that, she suddenly vomited.

Gu Changfeng's expression was grim.

Chu Wanrou's vomit stained her sky-blue robe.

This robe was arguably the last piece of clothing he owned that remained intact.

"Congratulations, County Princess." Nangong Yue walked over and sincerely congratulated Chu Xunzhen.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving me from this dire situation." Chu Xunzhen's gaze trembled slightly as she looked at Nangong Yue's bright, star-like eyes, her face flushing slightly.

Gu Changfeng was stunned.

In her past life, when Chu Xunzhen married her, he never blushed or even took a deep breath. He was always dignified, composed, and acted appropriately. How could he have such a shy and girlish demeanor?

Gu Changfeng stood there, his right hand covering his chest, a slight throbbing pain in his heart.

No, that's not how it was in my past life.

In her previous life, Chu Xunzhen was never officially appointed as a county princess.

How could Chu Xunzhen, the adopted daughter of a merchant, such a lowly person, be valued by the Emperor and be granted the title of County Princess?

"So it's Young Master Gu. Has Young Master Gu come to congratulate me on being bestowed the title of County Princess?" Chu Xunzhen glanced at Gu Changfeng, who was several dozen steps away, and suddenly smiled mischievously. "You're not going to pay your respects to this County Princess?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng's face turned deathly pale, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Sister, how could you treat Brother Changfeng like this? Although you broke off your engagement, without him, where would you get your fine silks and satins, your tutor's guidance? How could you humiliate Brother Changfeng like this because of a moment of jealousy?"

Chu Wanrou spoke softly, tugging at Chu Xunzhen's sleeve. Her eyes, brimming with tears, seemed to be offering comfort, but in reality, she was stirring up trouble.

At Nangong Yue's prompting, Eunuch Anshun stepped forward, sneering, "The title of County Princess is bestowed by the Emperor himself, a position of great honor; Gu Changfeng has been stripped of his title as Heir Apparent and is merely a commoner, of lowly rank. Gu Changfeng, why don't you kneel down, pay your respects to the County Princess, and pay your respects?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng turned pale, his body swayed as if about to collapse, and his eyes were filled with grief and indignation.

Chu Xunzhen walked up to Gu Changfeng, looked down at him, and waited for him to kneel down.

"No! I can't kneel. You're my wife, why...?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Xunzhen raised an eyebrow and looked at Chu Wanrou, who was silently shedding tears beside him, with a half-smile.

Chu Wanrou froze, forgetting to wipe her tears. Her handkerchief fell to the ground, and her swollen, red eyes stared intently at Gu Changfeng. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Brother Changfeng, what did you say?"

"Anshun, hold him down and teach our young master Gu how to bow to the county princess!" Nangong Yue said with a domineering smile.

"Yes." Eunuch Anshun grinned and immediately stepped forward with Eunuch Ankang, who was standing next to him, and pressed down on Gu Changfeng's arms on the left and right.

boom!

An Shun kicked Gu Changfeng hard in the back of the knee.

With a snap, Gu Changfeng's legs curled up, and he obediently knelt on the ground.

Anshun's shrill voice rang out: "Gu Changfeng, why haven't you paid your respects to the County Princess yet?"