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

Chu Wanrou was speechless, unsure whether to extend her hand or not, and remained motionless for a long time. Seeing this, Chu Xunzhen scoffed, too lazy to argue with her.

Without saying a word, Chu Xunzhen immediately took back the account book and threw it to Gu Changfeng.

"Second Sister's skills are lacking; she can't read the account books. Perhaps the Young Master should look at them. Or perhaps Second Sister doesn't want to pay Tinghan's money, and is deliberately saying this. The Young Master dislikes me so much, but likes Second Sister; surely you can afford to cover the expenses of your personal attendants? You wouldn't want to be the petty person unwilling to pay, would you?"

Gu Changfeng's face was grim. He took the ledger and glanced at it.

With just one glance, he knew that these accounts were all true.

"Chu Xunzhen, is it necessary for you to be so petty? You've cut off my father's medicinal herbs, and I haven't said anything yet. Are you going to make such a fuss over a mere penny?"

Gu Changfeng said angrily.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled lightly: "Young Master Gu is the heir of the Marquis of Chongding, and will inherit the Marquis's mansion in the future, so naturally he won't care about mere gold and silver. But in my eyes, Chu Xunzhen, there is only silver. If the young master is short of money and deliberately doesn't want to give it, then Rou'er can write an IOU, or the young master can write an IOU."

"You're completely unreasonable."

He, the heir of the Chongding Marquis's mansion, wrote an IOU to his former fiancée who had broken off their engagement.

How is that possible?

"Tinghan, go back and get the money."

Gu Changfeng gave the order.

Ting Han was taken aback; where in the manor would he find a thousand taels to give to Chu Xunzhen?

You know, the Crown Prince didn't even present the full betrothal gifts when he proposed to the Second Miss. Didn't the Crown Prince think of that at first glance?

Never mind, let's ask Madam for a solution first.

"Wait, no need. I have money here. Brother Changfeng, Rou'er is willing to share your burden. I was surprised when I saw the account book before, and thought it was wrong, so I said the account book was wrong. Now that the amount in the account book is correct, Rou'er is willing to withdraw the money to buy clothes for Guard Tinghan for all four seasons."

He listened in silence.

Especially the condescending, condescending tone made him feel as if he owed Chu Wanrou a favor.

In the past, when Chu Xunzhen bought clothes for him, she would never say it like this, as if it were charity. Instead, she would make him feel as if he were bathed in a spring breeze and accept it with a clear conscience.

Chu Wanrou took out a silver note worth one thousand taels and handed it to Chu Xunzhen, her heart bleeding.

This was a secret stash of money her mother had given her, and Chu Xunzhen had managed to swindle it away like this.

Chu Wanrou was inwardly devastated, but on the surface she still smiled broadly.

Chu Xunzhen looked at Chu Wanrou in surprise; she really was Li Yi's darling.

Despite the usual complaints about the hardships in the household, Chu Wanrou, an adopted daughter, had an allowance that was equivalent to that of three masters.

Ting Han breathed a sigh of relief, while Gu Changfeng looked at Chu Xunzhen smugly and sneered, "You're so petty. You even want the money you gave Ting Han to buy clothes back. I really don't know who would marry a woman like you?"

Chu Wanrou smiled gently: "Your Highness, your sister is waiting for His Majesty's decree. The Ninth Prince has already submitted a memorial to His Majesty. As long as His Majesty agrees, your sister will become the Ninth Prince's principal wife."

Upon hearing this, Gu Changfeng was first taken aback, then burst into laughter.

In his previous life, he was a trusted minister of the current emperor, and he knew how much the emperor secretly disliked the Ninth Prince.

How could he possibly bestow a marriage upon the Ninth Prince?

"So that's why you didn't want to become a concubine in my Gu family. You were still dreaming, weren't you?" Gu Changfeng sneered, his gaze towards Chu Xunzhen filled with condescending disdain.

Chu Xunzhen didn't care, and instead smiled faintly.

Why hasn't that news reached here yet? It seems Gu Changfeng doesn't know yet.

Whether I'm indulging in pipe dreams or not is none of the Crown Prince's business. It's your younger sister, Gu Songrong, who's currently indulging in pipe dreams.

Chu Xunzhen meant something, and said.

Gu Changfeng frowned, about to ask Chu Xunzhen what she meant, when Chu Zhanpeng, Li Yi, and Chu Mingli rushed over.

"You unfilial daughter! The Chongding Marquis's Mansion is a long-standing friend of my Ping'an Marquis's Mansion. How could you do such a thing? Go to the yamen immediately and withdraw the charges."

Li Yi's walking posture was somewhat unnatural, but even so, she still forced herself to stand up and angrily roared at Chu Xunzhen.

"Sister, even if you're making a scene, you need to know when to stop. How will you ever be able to enter the Chongding Marquis's residence if you keep acting like this?"

"Chu Xunzhen, even if you are resentful, you cannot do such a thing to Songrong. If anything happens to her, how can I explain to my son-in-law, how can I explain to Lord Chongding?" Chu Zhanpeng roared angrily.

Gu Changfeng looked bewildered, and Ting Han was also completely confused, not knowing what had happened.

"My lord, what's going on?" Gu Changfeng asked, suppressing his unease.

He vaguely remembered that his mother had asked him to come and find Chu Xunzhen today, to deliver medicinal herbs to the mansion, and to ask Gu Songrong to go out and get some medicinal herbs to bring back to the mansion.

Could it be that something happened to his sister, Gu Songrong?

Chu Zhanpeng was shocked.

The person in question is unaware of this matter yet.

Everyone fell silent, unsure of what to say.

Suddenly, a servant from the Chongding Marquis's residence rushed over and whispered the whole story in Gu Changfeng's ear.

Chu Wanrou, who was standing to the side, heard it all clearly.

What?

Gu Songrong actually offended the Ninth Prince and was sent to the authorities?

Officials have now gone to the mansion to search the storerooms and look for the missing medicinal herbs.

Gu Changfeng stared intently at Chu Xunzhen, unable to believe it.

In her past life, she was just a dull and boring woman, but in this life, she actually managed to get the Ninth Prince to stand up for her and arrest her sister in the government.

At this point, Gu Changfeng had to admit that he had underestimated Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen—his wife in his past life, is very different in this life from the one in the past.

Gu Changfeng dared not think about it further.

He always felt that if he thought about it more carefully, something might get out of control.

No! Perhaps Chu Xun really loves him too much, which is why she uses such methods to force him to submit and marry her as his legal wife.

Yes, that's it.

"My Chongding Marquis's Mansion has acted uprightly and honestly. Over the years, the medicinal herbs we have taken from the pharmacy have only been for treating my father's headaches and maintaining his health. We have not resold medicinal herbs, nor have we embezzled any herbs from Wan Yao Ge. Even if the government comes to investigate, we can withstand it."

Gu Changfeng regained his previous arrogance and said coldly.

Everyone in the Chongding Marquis's mansion is upright and honest; how could they possibly do such a despicable thing?

Upon hearing this, Ting Han's gaze fell upon the young master, and his face turned deathly pale.

How could the Crown Prince be so certain, and say such a thing?

Even the betrothal gifts were obtained by piecing together money from the sale of medicinal herbs.

He reported this to the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince was aware of it.

"Chu Xunzhen, come with Young Master Gu to the government office to withdraw the lawsuit. Just say it was a mistake. You made a mistake yourself, it has nothing to do with the matsutake mushrooms."

Chu Mingyuan's voice suddenly rang out.

I don't know when he arrived, but I suppose he already knows everything he needs to know.

"Young Master Chu is still poisoned, yet you're meddling in other people's business. If Gu Songrong knew how much you've done for her, she would be incredibly grateful."

Chu Zhanpeng was furious: "You unfilial daughter, what time is it? Why aren't you following the young master to the government office to explain things?"

Although he valued Chu Xunzhen because of the Ninth Prince, Chu Wanrou was his most beloved daughter. What if this matter affected Rou'er's future?

Chu Xunzhen chuckled, and suddenly, a noisy commotion came from outside the door.

The gatekeeper rushed in and announced, "Something terrible has happened! There are rioters everywhere outside the Marquis's mansion. They're blocking the gate and demanding that Young Master Gu come out and give them an explanation."