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

Chu Wanrou's expression changed. She touched her cheek and said evasively, "Rou'er doesn't know how she got better."

Chu Mingyuan's face was numb with pain as he asked, "Rou'er, do you have the antidote? Can you give it to your elder brother?"

If he is disfigured, how can he marry, have children, take the imperial examination, and become an official?

Chu Xunzhen, what a cruel heart you have!

"Brother, I am also following the doctor's instructions for treatment."

With a hint of resentment in his eyes, Chu Mingyuan said, "Rou'er, I remember you have a senior brother who is a disciple of the Heavenly Sect. Could you please invite him to treat my brother?"

"Don't worry, brother. I sent a message to my senior brother a few days ago, and he should arrive tomorrow. It's all Rou'er's fault for not being skilled enough and not knowing how to detoxify, otherwise you wouldn't have suffered so much."

"Okay, okay, I'll wait, Rou'er."

With that, Chu Mingyuan hurriedly left.

As he left, he glanced at Chu Xunzhen with icy eyes. That glance was full of hatred.

Chu Xunzhen didn't mind. He chuckled and raised his sky-blue carved ceramic teacup to sip the fragrant tea.

"Chu Xunzhen, you woman, do you even know what propriety and shame are? How dare you treat my personal guard like this. Let me tell you, unless you apologize to Tinghan, I will not consummate our marriage after you enter the manor."

Gu Changfeng's voice was cold and deep, his anger reaching its peak.

"Sister, even if you're angry with the Prince, you shouldn't have ordered someone to strip Tinghan of his clothes. First of all, he's the Prince's close attendant; secondly, men and women shouldn't be so close. No matter how much you quarrel with the Prince, you shouldn't do this. What if others criticize the Prince and say your reputation is damaged?"

Chu Wanrou's voice was filled with worry, as if she were a truly good younger sister who was concerned for her older sister.

"Rou'er, there's no need to speak up for her anymore." Gu Changfeng said coldly, "I've come today to ask you something. Why hasn't my father's medicine been delivered to the manor yet?"

Chu Xun found it rather amusing.

"Before, we were engaged, so naturally I allowed you to take medicinal herbs from my Wan Yao Ge. But now, we're no longer engaged, so why should I send herbs to you unconditionally? I remember I already told your steward to report to you that you must pay in cash for any herbs you need in the future. What, didn't your steward tell you that?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng rubbed his dizzy head and tried to recall.

Indeed, a few days ago the steward reported to him that Chu Xunzhen would only allow them to take the medicinal herbs if he accepted the money.

That day, he sneered a few times after hearing this, saying that she was always putting on airs and that her only goal was to become the legal wife.

He thought that once his relationship with Wanrou was settled, even if Chu Xunzhen was unwilling, she would have no choice but to obediently become his concubine.

"Sister, the Crown Prince was once your fiancé. How can you be so petty?" Chu Wanrou, dressed in a moon-white gauze dress, asked innocently in a soft voice.

"Sister is so generous! If you wish to pay this amount for Attendant Tinghan, that's fine too. I'll return the clothes to him immediately."

Chu Xunzhen's eyes lit up.

She genuinely hoped that Chu Wanrou would be willing to pay.

Noticing Gu Changfeng's gaze, Chu Wanrou immediately smiled: "What's so difficult about that? Sister, the young master and I grew up together, and I've known Tinghan's servant since childhood. I can afford a mere set of clothes."

Chunxi's eyes lit up with joy, and she said, "Second Miss, my young lady had clothes prepared for her personal servant Tinghan because she was the young master's fiancée. It's wonderful that you've come to prepare them for her now."

Chu Wanrou was somewhat puzzled.

What does Chu Xun really mean by this maid?

Didn't she just buy Tinghan a set of clothes? It's impossible that all of Tinghan's clothes were bought by her, right?

At this moment, Tinghan also returned.

He was dressed in coarse linen clothes and looked like an ordinary man from an ordinary family.

"Tinghan, why are you dressed like this when you come back?"

Gu Changfeng was stunned.

Although Tinghan sometimes made mistakes, she was generally reliable in handling matters.

We told him to go back and change his clothes first, but he changed into this outfit. Isn't that embarrassing for him?

Tinghan also looked depressed.

He reported to the prince, "I don't know what happened, but when I returned home, all the robes I kept in the wardrobe were torn to shreds. Please forgive me, Your Highness."

"What?" Gu Changfeng was shocked.

There were thieves committing such a heinous act at the Chongding Marquis's residence; he had to go back to see his mother and younger sister.

"Haha! The wicked will surely get their comeuppance." Chunxi pointed at Tinghan, laughing so hard she was doubled over. "This is retribution!"

Ting Han's face flushed red and then turned pale.

Looking at the coarse linen clothes on his body, and recalling the fine fabrics that had been torn to shreds, an indescribable feeling arose in his heart.

"Tinghan, the second young lady is your future mistress. I believe she will also share the young master's burdens and find someone to tailor clothes for you." Granny Hua smiled at Tinghan, a hint of mockery on her old face.

Ting Han couldn't help but look at Chu Wanrou.

Chu Wanrou was inwardly shocked and furious, but on the surface, she remained composed and extremely proper, saying, "Don't worry, Tinghan, it's just a few clothes. The young master's affairs are my affairs. I will definitely become the young master's virtuous helper, so that the young master has no worries."

Gu Changfeng was moved, but Chu Xunzhen spoke up: "If that's the case, please return all the money I gave to Guard Tinghan to buy clothes."

Chu Wanrou's gaze shifted, and she said coldly, "How can you be so petty, sister? Before, you were engaged to the Prince and were willing to share his burdens; that showed your virtue. Now that the Prince has dissolved the engagement, are you so heartless?"

Chu Xunzhen's eyes shone like stars as she smiled and said, "Of course. Since I've broken off the engagement with Prince Gu, I'll naturally take back the money I paid. This will also prevent misunderstandings. Or are you just saying nice things, willing to share the prince's burdens, but now you're unwilling to even pay for the meager amount of money for Guard Tinghan's clothes?"

Chu Wanrou was immediately caught in a dilemma.

What a cunning Chu Xunzhen! He's making things so difficult for her.

Noticing Gu Changfeng's gaze, Chu Wanrou immediately said, "Tell me, how much silver? I'll pay for Tinghan."

Chu Xunzhen gave Chunxi a look, and Chunxi immediately took out the account book and said, "Guard Han spent a total of 1,398 taels of silver on you, Miss."

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, "Since our two families are old friends, let's round down to one thousand taels. Chu Wanrou, will you be paying with silver notes or cash?"

One thousand taels?

Chu Wanrou was dumbfounded.

She wouldn't need that many clothes in a year.

By the way, she remembered that Tinghan's clothes were all made of the finest Shu brocade.

At that time, she was still marveling at the power of the Marquis of Chongding's mansion, that even the young master's attendants could wear such precious fabrics.

It turned out that Tinghan's clothes were actually provided by Chu Xunzhen.

She was surprisingly generous to the prince's servants.

"Impossible." Gu Changfeng was stunned.

How could Tinghan's clothes possibly cost so much money?

"Chu Xunzhen, you deliberately mentioned so much silver just to force Rou'er to submit, didn't you? Let me tell you, even if Rou'er allows you to enter the manor, it still depends on my decision."

Chu Xunzhen looked at Gu Changfeng as if he were a fool, and said to Chu Wanrou, "The account book is here, and there is also a seal as proof."

Chu Wanrou took the account book, looked down at it, and her delicate body trembled violently at the sight of it.

Her voice suddenly rose: "Sister, how could you falsify accounts to extort money from me?"

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, "Why would I need to go to such lengths? Besides the account books, I also have receipts and delivery slips. I wonder if you'd like to take a look?"