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

"What's wrong?" Chu Xunzhen quickly helped her up and asked softly.

Hearing this gentle tone, Chen Jiamin burst into tears.

Chu Xunzhen took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears, asking, "Princess Jiamin, what exactly happened?"

"Sister-in-law, Her Majesty the Empress has gone mad! She wants to marry me off to the Ninth Prince as a concubine."

Hearing this, Chu Xunzhen was surprised.

The Empress mentioned it last time, but nothing came of it.

Could it be that an imperial edict has been issued?

Chu Xunzhen asked, "Did the Empress tell you this in private, or has an imperial decree already been issued?"

"Sister-in-law, she has already issued the imperial decree. Please, you and my cousin think of a solution, okay? I don't want to marry my cousin. I don't want to join your family."

Hearing Chen Jiamin's words, Chu Xunzhen couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Jiamin was stunned.

Chu Xunzhen's reaction is strange.

Why aren't you anxious at all? What's going on?

"Sister-in-law, how can you still laugh? We're in a dire situation. If you hesitate any longer, and the Empress pleads with His Majesty, then I'll really have to marry into the Ninth Prince's household."

Chu Xunzhen patted her back and her hand, then chuckled, "Silly girl! Don't worry. As long as the imperial decree hasn't been issued, there's still room for maneuver."

Chen Jiamin was moved by Chu Xunzhen's composure.

She seemed less panicked.

"Sister-in-law, your composure is something Jiamin can't match."

Chu Xunzhen smiled.

In her previous life, she was Gu Changfeng's wife. She helped the half-dead Chongding Marquis's family rise to become a family of generals of the highest rank. She encountered countless difficulties along the way.

She solved it too.

In this life, she married Nangong Yue. Those days were even more comfortable.

Chu Xunzhen looked at Chen Jiamin and asked earnestly, "Princess, are you really not going to marry the Ninth Prince as a concubine? Do you have someone you like now?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiamin shook her head vigorously and said, "No, sister-in-law. I don't like men at all now."

Chu Xunzhen: "!"

"What makes you say that?" Chu Xunzhen raised an eyebrow and asked, looking at her with some confusion.

Chen Jiamin said, "If a man has three wives and four concubines, he will certainly not be able to love one person exclusively in the future. When there are many children, some will be favored and some will not. Sister-in-law, I think the only purpose of a man is to leave bloodlines for women."

Chu Xunzhen laughed: "Then you can find a man who doesn't accept having three wives and four concubines."

Princess Jiamin shook her head and said, "Jiamin is incapable of having such delusions."

"Are you free for a while?"

Chen Jiamin nodded and said, "I'm fine for a while, I don't need to go to the Wanyao Pavilion to help out today."

"Then you can help me make herbal beads here?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Jiamin nodded vigorously: "That's wonderful, sister-in-law. Is it the kind of herbal beads that Her Majesty the Empress and Princess Jasmine wear?"

"good."

Chu Xunzhen said, opening a drawer, "These are all made by me. Which one do you like?"

Chen Jiamin was overwhelmed by immense happiness.

"Sister-in-law, I want this light green one."

"Alright, this is Jade Dragon Sprout, which has beauty and skin-nourishing effects, and can also calm the nerves and help with sleep."

Chu Xunzhen put the bracelet on Chen Jiamin's wrist.

Chen Jiamin sat there happily and worked.

Chu Xunzhen looked at her, seemingly lost in thought.

"By the way, I asked you to go to Baiyun Temple to find Piaomiao and learn kung fu, did you go?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiamin shook her head apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, sister-in-law. I forgot."

Hearing this, Chu Xunzhen was not surprised.

As the owner of Wan Yao Ge (万药阁), the manager would report to her every day that Chen Jiamin arrived early and helped out until late at night. She would even linger until closing time before reluctantly leaving.

"It's alright. You can help me grind the Chinese medicine here, and then make it into beads."

"good!"

Princess Jiamin was overjoyed.

Seeing her interest, Chu Xunzhen explained it to her in great detail.

She got the hang of it in no time.

"I'm going to find the Prince to discuss what you just mentioned. You stay here and focus on making the herbal beads. I'll call you when it's time for your meal."

"Yes, yes!" Chen Jiamin said excitedly, "I will definitely do my best, sister-in-law."

Chu Xunzhen smiled as she looked at her energetic appearance.

Stepping out of the pharmacy, Chu Xunzhen asked a patrolling guard nearby, "Have you seen the Prince?"

"Your Highness, the Prince has gone to the death row."

Chu Xun was somewhat surprised.

Arrived at the death row.

What Chu Xunzhen saw was Nangong Yue with a cold expression.

His black robe added to his cold and aloof demeanor.

His cold gaze fell upon the prisoners in the death row.

"Tell me, who gave the defense map to the Qian people?"

His voice was chilling, and his murderous aura swept over the prisoners.

This is destroying the prisoner's mind through mental manipulation.

Chu Xunzhen remained silent, simply waiting quietly.

Seeing that he had finished interrogating the man, he stepped forward.

In that instant, the coldness on his face vanished, replaced by panic, and his face even turned pale for a moment.

"Sister, what brings you here?"

Nangong Yue rushed forward and supported Chu Xunzhen, afraid that she would fall.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, "Your Highness, I'm not pregnant. I can walk this road myself."

Nangong Yue said, "It's slippery here, damp, and covered in moss. Let me help you."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade him otherwise, Chu Xunzhen let him have his way.

"Princess Jiamin has arrived. She says the Empress wants to bestow her upon you as a concubine."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Yue froze.

"It seems the Empress has too much free time."

"Your Highness, I'm leaving this matter to you. I'll head back to find Jiamin now."

"Sister, let me help you up."

Inside the death row, the prisoners stared in disbelief.

These vicious people only ever saw Nangong Yue's cold side; they had never seen him so careful, gentle, and considerate.

It really is true that one thing can subdue another.

Chu Xunzhen had just been released from the death row when he heard the gatekeeper announce, "Jun Wancai has arrived."

Chu Xunzhen went to the front hall and saw him sitting upright in his seat, sipping fragrant tea.

He was dressed in a black brocade robe today, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist.

On the table beside him was an exquisitely carved rosewood box.

"Sect Master Jun, what brings you to my Ninth Prince's residence today? Could it be that there's been a problem with the batch of Gu poison pills I gave you before?"

Hearing this, Jun Wancai waved his hand and smiled, "Your Highness is too kind. Your Highness's refining skills are superb. Every Gu poison pill is of excellent quality and appearance. The batch you sent before has already been sold out."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen smiled and said, "So, Pavilion Master Jun came today to give me good news? And to share the silver?"

Jun Wancai smiled, opened the folding fan in his hand, and presented the box: "Here is fifty thousand taels of silver. Your Highness, these dividends are yours."

"Thank you, Master. However, you needn't go to such trouble. You could have sent someone to deliver it or taken the silver to a money exchange for safekeeping. I can then go and collect it whenever I have free time."

Jun Wancai nodded and said to Chu Xunzhen, "Actually, there is one more thing that I need the Princess's help with."

Chu Xunzhen was somewhat surprised and asked, "What is it?"

"The Fifth Princess has taken a liking to me, but I am unwilling to marry her. Could the Princess Consort possibly help me?"

Chu Xun was somewhat surprised.

The Fifth Princess, Nangong Jin, was the emperor's favorite princess.

In the past, the second princess, Nangong Moli, stood out from the crowd and was the emperor's favorite princess among all the princesses.

But ever since she was deceived by that poor scholar and willingly married him, she has disgraced Da Ning.

Even though the emperor later found out that someone had plotted against Nangong Moli, she had hurt the emperor and empress's feelings by marrying that poor scholar. Now, when she returned to the palace, she no longer had the glory she once had.

"Since the princess has not yet requested permission, there is still a chance. I, the princess consort, will do my best, but I cannot guarantee that I will succeed in the end."

Upon hearing this, Jun Wancai shook his head and chuckled.

He stood up, looked at the scenery outside the door, and said, "If this is fate, there's nothing we can do. But what I fear most is that those people are plotting against my Treasure Pavilion."

Chu Xunzhen remained silent.

She doesn't easily talk about things she doesn't know.

"There's one more thing. Could Your Highness refine more slimming elixirs and beauty pills? The girls are going crazy."

"Sure. Come back in three days to pick it up. In addition to the pills you were originally going to refine, I'll also add one hundred bottles each of slimming pills and beauty pills."

"Okay. It's a pleasure doing business with you."

Just then, the gatekeeper came to report.

Empress Ma requested that the Ninth Princess Consort enter the palace.

Jun Wancai left.

Chu Xunzhen changed into a light purple palace dress and wore a purple jade hairpin before getting into the carriage.

The Imperial Palace.

Inside the Phoenix Palace.

As soon as Chu Xunzhen entered the hall, he saw Lin Qiao'er lying to the side, her face pale.

"Xunzhen pays his respects to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Ma's gaze was icy. She slammed her right hand heavily on the table and roared, "Ninth Prince's Consort, how dare you! Lin Qiao'er was sent to the Prince's residence as a concubine. It's one thing to treat her poorly, but as a concubine, she hasn't even served the Emperor for so long! Ninth Prince's Consort, how can you be so jealous?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen sighed helplessly: "The Prince may not approve of Lin Qiao'er, perhaps because Lin Qiao'er is not clever enough, or is too dull. What does that have to do with me, the Princess Consort?"

"How dare you talk back?" Empress Ma shouted angrily at the maid beside her. "Guards, slap her!"

Chu Xunzhen looked at the approaching nanny and said to Empress Ma, "I wonder what wrong my daughter-in-law has done?"

"You disrespect me. You don't even kneel before me. I'm reprimanding you, and you dare talk back?"

Chu Xunzhen chuckled: "Mother, are you unaware? Father has already granted me permission to enter the palace to pay my respects, without the need for kneeling. As for the claim of being disrespectful, that's utter nonsense. I'm simply stating the facts: Lin Qiao'er is dull-witted and incapable of pleasing the Prince."

Lin Qiao'er, who was lying on the side, was so angry that she almost vomited blood.

That day, she was beaten with forty strokes of the cane and thrown into the Phoenix Palace.

The Empress was furious at her stupidity and ordered her to be punished with ten more strokes of the cane.

"I have not received any notification, so I am unaware of this. Guards, seize the Ninth Princess and slap her thirty times."

The three old women grabbed Chu Xunzhen.

An old woman even pressed her hand on her wound.

Soon, blood stained the back of Chu Xunzhen's clothes.

Empress Ma roared, "Slap yourself!"

Suddenly, the eunuch's long, drawn-out voice rang out: "The Empress Dowager has arrived."