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

The Ninth Prince, dressed in a lake-green robe, leaned casually on a soft couch covered with pink fur.

The alluring black mole gleamed in the sunlight.

Everyone glanced at it and felt they had offended the emperor's authority.

There is such an exceptionally handsome man in the world.

The onlookers only glanced at him before feeling ashamed and lowered their heads in shame.

"This humble official pays his respects to Your Highness the Ninth Prince."

"Hmm. No need for formalities." Nangong Yue's voice was childish, creating a strong sense of separation between it and her exquisitely sculpted face.

The people gradually came to their senses and sighed inwardly.

It's a pity that such a handsome man was born to a foolish prince.

Nangong Yue blinked, looked around at everyone, and immediately locked her gaze on the girl in blue standing in the crowd.

"elder sister."

He winked at Chu Xunzhen and silently mouthed something.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Ninth Prince."

Everyone bowed to Nangong Yue.

Looking at that face, Gu Songrong blushed, but then felt extremely ashamed and indignant.

They are all Chu Xunzhen.

If it weren't for her, how could Gu Songrong have ended up like this, meeting the Ninth Prince?

"Lord Zhou, announce the results. By the way, has Gu Songrong of the Gu family been punished for offending His Highness?"

Zhou Qing quickly replied, "No. I intend to investigate the matter of the medicinal herbs before imposing any punishment."

Nangong Yue nodded, her voice still somewhat childish, and smiled, "Then let's announce the results."

"Yes." Zhou Qing solemnly clasped his hands in greeting, walked to his official position, and announced loudly: "After investigation, the Wan Yao Ge's inventory records, the Chongding Marquis's family's medicinal herb registration records, interviews with dozens of witnesses, and the medicinal herbs intercepted from Lindu have all confirmed that the Chongding Marquis's family repeatedly swindled high-priced medicinal herbs from the Wan Yao Ge, resold exceptionally large quantities of precious medicinal herbs at exorbitant prices, and disrupted market order. All of this is true. We are now arresting Gu Songrong, Gu Changfeng, Marquis Gu Sanhua of the Chongding Marquis's family, and Madam Lu Ruoying of the Chongding Marquis's family, the four masterminds of the case."

The words left everyone in shock.

The one who found it the most unbelievable was Gu Songrong.

I just saw my elder brother Gu Changfeng. I thought he was a savior who had fallen from the sky. Today I could wash away my shame and return to the Marquis's mansion. But who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, all hope would vanish? Not only me, but also my elder brother, mother and father would be arrested.

Gu Changfeng was the first to lose his temper and immediately shouted, "Lord Zhou, you have quite the airs. Let's not even talk about this matter; you, a mere officer of the Five Cities Garrison, dare to arrest everyone from the Marquis of Chongding's household? Who gave you the audacity?"

"Lord Zhou, now that the matter has been investigated, send men to the Marquis of Chongding's residence to arrest the person." Eunuch Anshun glanced at Nangong Yue, understood her meaning, and immediately said.

"Yes."

Zhou Qing sneered.

Under the emperor's nose, let alone a mere marquis's mansion, even a member of the royal family should be punished for such an evil deed.

"Your Highness, we are innocent! The Chongding Marquis's mansion has always been trembling with fear, sharing His Majesty's burdens and pleading for the people. How could we possibly have committed such an evil deed?"

Gu Changfeng's forehead was covered in cold sweat. After speaking, he looked at Zhou Qing and shouted, "Lord Zhou, you claim to have evidence without any real proof? Where is the evidence? Where are the account books? Where are the witnesses?"

Chu Xunzhen gave a cold laugh.

They're really courting death.

Zhou Qing was extremely righteous and hated nothing more than the oppression of ordinary people by the sons of powerful families.

He is a cautious person and will not reveal the result unless he is 100% certain.

Today, let's see how Gu Changfeng breaks this deadlock.

Suddenly, Chu Xunzhen felt a gaze fall on him.

She looked up and saw Nangong Yue pouting, looking at her with a resentful expression.

The alluring black mole shone brightly in the dazzling sunlight, making Chu Xunzhen feel somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze, and a faint pink blush involuntarily rose to her cheeks.

Beside her, Chu Wanrou couldn't believe it.

How could this happen?

Did the Marquis of Chongding's mansion embezzle medicinal herbs from Chu Xunzhen's pharmacy? How could a noble family like theirs do such a despicable thing?

Looking at Chu Xunzhen beside her, Chu Wanrou saw that he was not worried about the young master at all, but was instead exchanging glances with the handsome and enchanting Ninth Prince. Chu Wanrou's eyes were filled with intense hatred.

Being a scoundrel is a sign of good fortune.

She first returned, gained the status of a legitimate daughter, and was engaged to Brother Changfeng. After the engagement was dissolved, she hooked up with the Ninth Prince.

Although she was mentally challenged, the esteemed Ninth Prince still showed her great favor.

How could Chu Wanrou not hate this?

Zhou Qing ordered someone to bring out the account book and summoned the three men to the palace.

One of them was the manager of Wanyaoge, another was the steward of the Chongding Marquis's mansion, and the third was a medicinal herb merchant from Lindu.

Zhou Qing looked at Gu Changfeng and asked, "Young Master Gu, do you know these three people?"

"I know him," Gu Changfeng said, head held high and chest out.

In his past life, he was a first-rank general and had seen all sorts of battles. Now, Zhou Qing had brought these three people here, trying to frame him. That was impossible.

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "Since you know him, does that mean the young master also knows that your Chongding Marquis's residence took valuable medicinal herbs from Wanyao Pavilion and resold them to this herbal medicine merchant from Lindu?"

Gu Changfeng's expression changed, and he said coldly, "Lord Zhou, this medicinal herb merchant from Lindu does indeed come and go from the manor every month, but it's all normal purchasing of medicinal herbs. My Chongding Marquis's manor is a century-old family; how could we possibly embezzle medicinal herbs from Wanyao Pavilion to resell to him?"

Standing behind him, Tinghan's expression was even more unpleasant.

Is Your Highness perhaps too busy to notice?

Who in the entire Marquis's mansion doesn't know about this?

Zhou Qing's gaze fell on Gu Changfeng, and he shook his head violently, saying, "I thought the young master of the Chongding Marquis's mansion was a man of integrity and upright character, a dragon among men. Now I see that he is nothing but a liar, greedy, and shameless man with a face as thick as a city wall. This is a copy of the account book. Please take a look, young master, and all of you."

Outside the hall, the people gathered around, pointing and whispering.

Gu Changfeng flipped through the account books in the soldiers' hands, becoming more and more alarmed as he read.

How could this happen?

In his past life, everything was fine at home. His mother said that the family was having some difficulties, but Chu Xunzhen made a big fuss over a tiny bit of herbal medicine she had taken from him to sell. At the time, his mother even told him to talk to Chu Xunzhen and tell him not to be so stingy.

But now, the money from reselling medicinal herbs has reached 150,000 taels of silver.

Seeing the surprised expressions on everyone's faces, Chu Xunzhen smiled at Zhou Qing and said, "Lord Zhou, the Marquis of Chongding's mansion is upright and honest. The people in his mansion would certainly not bully the manager of my Wanyao Pavilion, nor would they take away my Wanyao Pavilion's medicinal herbs to resell, disregarding the people. I believe that the young master will be able to make up the difference of 150,000 taels to my master today."

Gu Changfeng's face darkened.

Chu Xunzhen actually dared to openly demand that he pay her 150,000 taels of silver?

How dare she? He clearly told her that he wanted to marry Wanrou and that he was short of money, asking her to contribute some to help. If she refused, fine, but why target him like this? Target his Chongding Marquis's mansion?

Gu Songrong couldn't believe it. She snatched the ledger, glanced at it, and screamed.

It's incredibly detailed, and everything is recorded.

Did she take so many valuable medicinal herbs from Wan Yao Ge?

Chu Xunzhen's gaze fell on Gu Songrong. If she didn't skin the Gu family alive today and avenge the humiliation of being humiliated and forced to buy her out of marriage proposals, she wouldn't be Chu Xunzhen.

"Young Master Gu, did your younger sister, Gu Songrong, secretly take medicinal herbs from Wan Yao Ge and resell them? In fact, none of you knew. If so, I can grant you a few days' grace. However, Gu Songrong will have to pay the price and repay me 150,000 taels of silver."

As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Gu Changfeng's expression changed drastically.

What a cruel heart!

This forces him to make a choice.

They could force him to repay 150,000 taels today, or blame it on Matsutake mushrooms, thus protecting the Marquis's mansion.

Chu Xunzhen's teasing gaze fell on Gu Changfeng, awaiting his choice.

Should we repay the 150,000 taels today, or shift the blame for all this evil onto my sister and save the Marquis's mansion?