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

Chu Wanrou smiled leisurely, somewhat smug.

"Look everyone, the Marquis of Chongding's household has sent dozens of chests of betrothal gifts. Each chest is filled with countless gold, silver, jewels, and paintings by famous artists, as well as precious fabrics. If the Marquis of Chongding's household were truly poor, why would they send so many betrothal gifts?"

The people standing outside the hall looked at each other and discussed among themselves.

"Indeed, even the current princess only brings seventy or eighty loads of betrothal gifts."

"Gu Changfeng went to great lengths to bring Chu Wanrou home in marriage."

"The Marquis's mansion doesn't seem to be short of money, so there's no need for them to covet the medicinal herbs from the Myriad Medicines Pavilion, is there?"

"Who knows? People are never satisfied. After all, no one ever thinks they have too much money."

Chu Wanrou gestured to the two guards to open the box, and everyone craned their necks, eager to go forward and take a look.

With a snap.

A flash of golden light revealed the gold and silver jewelry inside the box to everyone.

Another sound, *thud*.

At least six or seven scrolls of calligraphy and paintings by famous artists were visible inside the box.

Chu Wanrou looked at everyone's expressions with a smug expression, then opened a few more boxes for everyone to admire.

After straightening her clothes, she clasped her hands in a fist salute to Zhou Qing and said, "Lord Zhou, the Chongding Marquis's mansion is not in dire straits and can still afford a decent betrothal gift. How could they possibly embezzle a mere 150,000 taels? There must be some misunderstanding."

Gu Changfeng glanced at Chu Wanrou, becoming even more satisfied.

As expected, Rou'er is extraordinary.

With Rou'er as his virtuous wife, he had no need for Chu Xunzhen at all.

He originally didn't want to argue with Chu Xunzhen because she was his legal wife in his previous life.

But this time, Chu Xunzhen had touched his sore spot, and he had to teach her a lesson so that she would never forget it.

Chu Xunzhen naturally caught Gu Changfeng's gaze, but she didn't care. Instead, she laughed and said, "Who knows if what's in your box is real or fake? As for how much silver and wealth the Marquis of Chongding has, Chu Wanrou, you already know before you've even married into the family. You're really something."

Chu Wanrou blushed.

How dare Chu Xunzhen mock her like that? Doesn't it imply that she's eager to get married and is even inquiring about her future husband's family?

Gu Changfeng's expression changed, and he said coldly, "Miss Chu is just being a sour grapes. It's a pity that you are no longer qualified to enter the Chongding Marquis's mansion. My Chongding Marquis's mansion dares not accept a woman as petty and calculating as Miss Chu, who is always ready to send away a family friend."

Nangong Yue's expression changed, and she was about to speak, but Chu Xunzhen's counterattack was even faster: "Is Young Master Gu going to refuse to shed tears until he sees the coffin?"

She hadn't intended to expose the matter so quickly. Since Gu Changfeng had made Tinghan take the blame today, then he, the heir, would go and keep him company.

After all, the two of them shared a deep master-servant bond.

Zhou Qing raised an eyebrow and said to Chu Wanrou, "Second Miss Chu, is this your method of proving that the Marquis of Chongding's mansion has money? This method does not prove that the Marquis of Chongding's mansion is not suspected of embezzling money. Rather, it confirms that the Marquis of Chongding's mansion may have embezzled money."

What?

Chu Wanrou's face turned ashen.

How could that be?

Zhou Qing shook his head and said, "The Chongding Marquis's mansion used precious and rare items for the betrothal gifts for Miss Chu. Since the mansion's public funds were insufficient, they naturally need to make up for it."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Granny Hua couldn't help herself and laughed so hard she bent over.

I thought Chu Wanrou could produce some evidence, but it turned out to be her betrothal gifts.

Gu Changfeng's face turned green.

The more he admired Chu Wanrou just moments before, the more devastated he felt at this moment.

"Chu Xunzhen, don't be so smug. Within three days, within three days, I, the young master, will have gathered the silver for you. Lord Zhou, can I leave with my sister Songrong now?"

The voice carried a murderous intent, and Gu Changfeng's patience was almost exhausted.

Zhou Qing nodded and said, "Of course."

"Matsutake, Mother is late. And Changfeng, are you alright?" The voice of the Lady of Chongding Marquis's Mansion came from outside the hall.

Chu Xunzhen's eyes lit up.

She said it herself.

She sent someone to fetch Lu Ruoying a long time ago. Why hasn't she arrived yet?

So they've been standing outside the whole time.

The crowd parted to make way, revealing a small path. Lu Ruoying, dressed in a maroon long gown, immediately stepped out.

"daughter."

Gu Songrong threw herself into Lu Ruoying's arms and began to sob.

Seeing that the three were about to leave together, Chu Xunzhen put away his brush, took the Xuan paper filled with writing, and folded it up.

She suddenly spoke up: "Gu Changfeng, please wait."

Gu Changfeng paused, but did not intend to pay any attention to Chu Xunzhen.

In his past life, he treated Chu Xunzhen in the same way when he was angry. As his wife, she was cautious and timid.

In the past few days, she has done too many wrong things and caused so much trouble that Gu Changfeng is even somewhat reluctant to let her enter the manor.

"Lord Zhou, this is my petition. This time I am accusing Gu Changfeng of deceiving the Marquis of Chongding's family by using inferior betrothal gifts instead of the proper ones. The actual betrothal gifts were less than what was supposed to be given to our family. This is a disrespect to Chu Wanrou and even more so to the Marquis of Ping'an's family."

Gu Changfeng paused, unable to believe it.

He already admitted it and returned 150,000 taels to her. What more does she want?

Lu Ruoying's expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly recovered.

Her gaze was icy, fixed on Chu Xunzhen like a venomous snake eyeing its prey. She said coldly, "Nonsense. Chu Xunzhen, I only think you're jealous of Chu Wanrou and speaking recklessly. If there's a next time, I'll make you pay."

"Hehe!" Chu Xunzhen gave Hua Mama a wink.

Granny Hua understood, stepped forward, and kicked a betrothal gift box hard in front of her.

Chu Wanrou's expression changed drastically, and she sobbed, "Granny, no!"

With a clang, the bottom of the box, which was supposed to be filled with gold and silver jewelry, was found to be filled with brass.

bump!

Before anyone could react, Granny Hua kicked another betrothal gift box next to her.

The box tipped over, spilling all the calligraphy and paintings by famous artists inside.

Besides the genuine calligraphy and paintings by famous artists on the top layer, there were also some paintings by third-rate painters in the middle and inside of the box.

The contents of each dowry chest fell out.

They're either selling inferior goods as superior ones, or the quality is poor, or the quantity is wrong.

Gu Changfeng was stunned.

He didn't even know that the contents of those dowry chests were like this.

impossible.

It must be that wicked and despicable Chu Xunzhen who ordered someone to switch the betrothal gifts he gave to Rou'er.

Chu Wanrou's face stiffened, filled with disbelief. Just moments before, she had been eagerly boasting to Chu Xunzhen about the many betrothal gifts Gu Changfeng had given her. Now, looking at these worthless plants, with only a handful of genuine items, she felt as if an invisible hand had slapped her hard across the face.

Lu Ruoying, who was standing to the side, was also deathly pale.

Damn Chu Xunzhen!

The people were abuzz with discussion.

"I didn't expect it, Miss Chu was telling the truth."

Has the Gu family truly fallen on hard times?

"Even the betrothal gifts are of inferior quality; this marquis's mansion is beyond saving!"

Chu Xunzhen glanced coldly at Zhou Qing and asked, "Lord Zhou, the evidence is here, and so is the account book. Now, I, this young lady, wish to sue Prince Gu, and sue the mistress of the Chongding Marquis's mansion and Prince Gu for deliberately deceiving my second sister into marriage. Is this a valid claim?"

The words left everyone in shock.

It seems that Chu Xunzhen is going to sue again after already filing a lawsuit.

That's tough enough.

Zhou Qing glanced silently at Gu Changfeng's family, desperately suppressing the smile on his lips, afraid that he would burst out laughing.

"Naturally, it is settled. Lu Ruoying of the Marquis of Chongding's residence, his son Gu Changfeng, and his daughter Gu Songrong, shall remain here immediately."

Gu Changfeng's face instantly turned pale, like a lone wolf awaiting judgment, standing still, staring intently at Chu Xunzhen.