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

The one who shouted with excitement was Chunxi.

She knew the girl was right.

The girl was always capable of anything.

Neither the master nor the mistress knew how good the girl was.

They always ignored the girl's kindness.

Everyone was stunned.

Especially Granny Zhou, who looked utterly incredulous.

How could that be?

Why is this happening?

Do not!

She subconsciously turned her head and looked at the second daughter, Chu Wanrou, not far away.

Although there was a smile on her lips, her eyes sent chills down Zhou Mama's spine.

This is the look in her eyes that would make her commit suicide if she were exposed.

Granny Zhou's lips trembled as she stared intently at the lady not far away.

The lady dislikes the eldest daughter; perhaps she can save her life.

"This was done by someone. Granny Zhou, you lowly servant, you deceived your superiors and bullied the legitimate daughter. Fortunately, Xunzhen is unharmed today. Guards, drag her away, give her a hundred strokes of the cane, and sell her off." Chu Zhanpeng said coldly.

It's nothing more than the lowly life of a servant.

If it can satisfy His Highness the Ninth Prince, then it would be a great deal.

Even if he is a mentally challenged prince, with so many people present, his attitude as the Marquis of Ping'an represents the attitude of the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion.

His Majesty will surely be satisfied.

"Yes."

Several servants pinned Granny Zhou to the ground.

Granny Zhou struggled, instinctively glancing in Chu Wanrou's direction, but Chu Wanrou only frowned, heartbroken, and said, "Granny, you actually used my incense to frame my sister! How could you do this?"

"Second Miss, what are you talking about? It was clearly you who..." told me the method. Why are you denying it now?

Before Zhou Mama could finish speaking, Chu Wanrou immediately interrupted, "Mama, mistakes must be punished. Considering your loyalty to the Marquis's mansion, Mother will certainly not make things difficult for your relatives who work there."

Upon hearing this, Granny Zhou gave a bitter laugh and was dragged away.

Chu Wanrou came out and said to Chu Zhanpeng and Li Yi, "It's my fault. I was wearing the sachet that Prince Gu gave me, which gave Granny Zhou an opportunity to use the incense to frame my sister. I'm willing to accept the punishment."

Chu Zhanpeng quickly helped her up, gestured for her to stand aside, and said gently, "Let's discuss this matter again."

He then looked at Nangong Yue and said solemnly, "Please, Ninth Prince, move to the nearby Hanshan Courtyard for your medical consultation."

The Ninth Prince's back was covered in blood, and he was swaying precariously.

If this is ignored and something goes wrong, his position as a marquis will be over.

Hanshan Academy is located next to the "Chrysanthemum Garden" where Chu Xunzhen lives.

The decor is simple, but it is extremely comfortable.

On the contrary, the Chrysanthemum Garden had a sense of decay.

I don't know how my sister manages to live in a place like this.

Nangong Yue's eyes were gloomy, and she found Chu Zhanpeng increasingly unpleasant to look at.

"There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, let alone biological and adopted children. If Lord Chu does not know how to manage the Marquis's mansion, I can inform the Empress Dowager and have her send someone to assist you."

The Ninth Prince's voice rang out coldly, a stark contrast to his previous childish tone.

Everyone was stunned.

Wasn't it said that His Highness the Ninth Prince hit his head and was occasionally acting crazy and mentally unstable? Why does this sound so normal?

Upon hearing this tone, Eunuch Pingkang's face lit up with joy.

"Great! That's wonderful!"

Today, His Highness is more awake.

With a bright smile, Eunuch Pingkang helped Nangong Yue into Hanshan Courtyard.

As soon as they entered the side room, Li Yi, who was kneeling on the ground, immediately started cursing at Chu Xunzhen.

"It's all your fault, you jinx, you jinx! If the Marquis is held accountable tomorrow, I won't let you off the hook!"

Her eyes flashed with a fierce light, and her brows were furrowed with anxiety and fear.

Before Chu Xunzhen returned, their family lived in harmony and happiness. How could they have offended His Highness?

Now, not only has she displeased His Highness, but she has also become utterly ashamed.

If the palace holds her accountable, she is likely in grave danger.

"The matter is clear. It was Granny Zhou who framed you through underhanded means. How can you say such things about me, Madam? Does Madam know that I did this for you...?"

Before Chunxi could finish speaking, Chu Xunzhen interrupted her.

Spring Joy.

Chunxi was taken aback, and could only nod reluctantly.

She felt wronged on behalf of her girl.

Does the lady even know that if it weren't for the young lady, she would have been bedridden long ago?

If the young lady hadn't treated the lady's headaches every day, how could she have recovered so quickly?

Why is the lady so heartless that she won't even give the young lady the slightest bit of favoritism?

Li Yi looked disgusted, not even glancing at Chunxi, but instead coldly looked at Chu Xunzhen and said.

"Don't think that just because the Ninth Prince is interested in you, you've climbed the social ladder. Everyone in the capital knows he can go crazy and act erratically from time to time. These past few days, he's been like a child, which is his most normal state. If he goes completely mad again, don't blame me for not warning you. I advise you to stay away from him. Prince Gu is your best choice."

Chu Xunzhen scoffed, "If that's the case, then I'll be the wife, and Chu Wanrou will be the lowly concubine. How about that? I, the legitimate daughter of a marquis, am still a concubine, while she, a mere adopted daughter, can only be a lowly concubine."

"You think you can become Prince Gu's wife?" Li Yi was so enraged by Chu Xunzhen that she blurted out, "You dare compare yourself to Rou'er? She's proficient in everything—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You're just a merchant's adopted daughter from a remote mountain village; you're not even worthy of carrying her shoes!"

"If Madam continues to say such things, I don't mind informing His Highness that Chu Wanrou was carrying two sachets. I'll have the imperial physician beside His Highness examine her more thoroughly to see if there's any connection between her and Zhou Mama's outburst earlier. Also, I think I saw Madam pick up a sachet. To prove her innocence, I believe Madam would be willing to present the sachet that Zhou Mama threw out of the side room to the imperial physician for examination."

Li Yi's expression immediately changed.

To become the matriarch of the household, she must be no pushover.

Rou'er wore two sachets, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which might lead her to be involved in this matter.

No, she would never allow it.

As for the sachet she found, perhaps the problem lies with the herbs inside it.

"Still spouting nonsense? Your sister is kind-hearted. She already said that she only didn't want to wear the twin lotus sachet that Prince Gu gave her, afraid of upsetting you. But what about you? You're so aggressive. Do you even have the demeanor of a legitimate daughter of a marquis's family?"

Chu Xun looked at Li Yi with amusement and asked, "What about Granny Zhou? Why did she harm me?"

"Isn't it because you're a jinx, committing evil deeds and harming your sister?"

"Granny Zhou can't even read a single character, yet she knows the knowledge and proportions of using incense to kill. Madam, I truly admire her." Chu Xun's sincere admiration made Li Yi's face turn pale and then red.

This rebellious daughter.

How dare they mock her?

Everyone looked at each other.

Granny Zhou was just a rough old woman; she certainly didn't seem to know anything about incense proportions or the incompatibility of medicinal herbs.

Could this really have been done by the Second Miss?

But the second young lady was kind-hearted and gentle, and didn't seem like the kind of person who would do such a thing.

Perhaps Madam wanted to punish the eldest daughter but couldn't think of a better way, so she resorted to this drastic measure.

But if the matriarch of the household wanted to punish her legitimate daughter, would she use such underhanded methods?

After much thought, I still think the second young lady is the most suspicious.

"Stop! No! His Highness has gone mad!"

Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream came from inside the room.