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

"Mother, did you really order someone to replace my betrothal gifts?" Gu Changfeng's voice rose, filled with disbelief.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Lu Ruoying naturally wouldn't admit it.

"Changfeng, you have disappointed your mother greatly. How could you believe the words of a stranger? Although I have always been very strict with you, how could I do such a thing?"

Lu Ruoying said sternly.

Changfeng absolutely cannot find out that she did it.

Otherwise, if Changfeng loses his position as heir apparent, how will she bear the responsibility?

Gu Changfeng was in a state of utter confusion.

Chu Xun was truly his wife in his past life.

Although she was shrewd and calculating, and always reeked of money, it must be said that she never seemed to have deceived him.

So it's true that she said she wouldn't enter the Gu family?

impossible.

This incident is a good example.

Chu Xun truly loved him to the point of madness, to the point that even if it meant stripping him of his title as heir, she would still extend his wedding with Rou'er.

Otherwise, what does it matter to her whether Rou'er's betrothal gifts were replaced or not?

"Mother, I believe you."

As soon as Gu Changfeng finished speaking, Lu Ruoying breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother, are we just going to let this go? Don't we still have the Evergreen Jade? As long as we take out the Evergreen Jade, we can keep your position as heir apparent," Gu Songrong said excitedly.

Gu Changfeng's expression was grim.

His Evergreen Jade was already used to help Li Yi. Where in the mansion is there any imperial gift that can protect his position as heir apparent?

Lu Ruoying was furious when she thought about this.

She never expected that the usually composed Changfeng would actually use the Evergreen Jade to save the lives of outsiders.

Now, what should we do?

"what!"

The screams were piercing, and the sound of clubs was heard. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Chu Mingli.

He fabricated evidence and found a fake witness, so Zhou Qing punished him with fifty strokes of the cane.

Hearing his agonizing screams, Chu Wanrou finally came to her senses.

"Second brother, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, sister wouldn't have gone so crazy targeting us. It's all my fault." Chu Wanrou twisted her handkerchief, tears streaming down her face.

Normally, Chu Mingli would already be comforting her, but now he is being tortured and is unable to respond.

"Um!"

A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of Chu Mingli's mouth, and his eyes were somewhat blurry.

He didn't understand why this was happening.

He went to find Zitao to fabricate evidence and even threatened her with her family. Logically, he should have been in the clear.

But why would Zitao go back on her word and mention him instead?

He didn't understand.

Chu Xunzhen found it somewhat amusing to look at Chu Mingli's bewildered and unaware expression.

Having lived two lives, she could tell what her second brother was thinking in just one glance. He probably didn't understand why Zitao wasn't cooperating with him.

Chu Xunzhen moved closer to Chu Mingli and leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"Second Brother, are you wondering why Zitao would turn around and accuse you?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Mingli stared intently at Chu Xunzhen.

But after a short while, the fierce look in his eyes couldn't be maintained, and he showed a pained expression instead.

Blood gushed from his buttocks. Chu Mingli, pale-faced, asked incredulously, "Could it be you?"

"That's right. It's me. Zi Tao has long been mine. She told me what you wanted her to do a long time ago." Chu Xunzhen smiled slightly and nodded.

Chu Mingli roared, "Impossible! I've investigated her. Isn't she afraid I'll cause trouble for her family?"

"Brother, you're ridiculous. Even you, the second young master of the Marquis's mansion, don't seem to cherish your own sister. How could you possibly think that Zitao would give false testimony for her family? Don't you know that Zitao hates her family the most? She hates Chu Wanrou even more. She loves Gu Changfeng, but Gu Changfeng doesn't care about her. Chu Wanrou even sent her to seduce the Ninth Prince. As a result, she was beaten badly, and none of you went to visit her. If it weren't for me, she would be dead."

Upon hearing this, Chu Mingli looked at Chu Xunzhen with a look of horror.

Is this still a girl who came back from the countryside?

Isn't she just a rich, naive fool who'll only be used by him? Isn't she his money bag?

How could she be so insightful about people's hearts?

Chu Xunzhen stood aside, continuing to enjoy Chu Mingli's miserable state.

In both past and present lives, Chu Mingli asked her how much silver she had taken.

She never blamed him, but why did Chu Mingli not only show no sadness or grief after learning of her death, but instead happily gamble away money at the casino, even losing her old clothes to the gamblers, allowing them to humiliate her with the clothes she had worn?

She vaguely remembered that her spirit saw him boasting that she had once been the most beautiful woman, and that he even used the clothes of a dead beauty as a wager.

If her body hadn't been dumped in the wilderness, he probably would have used it as a wager.

Seeing Chu Mingli's miserable state, Gu Songrong was startled and immediately pulled Lu Ruoying away from the place.

Zhou Qing's men blocked the way for the three of them.

"Zhou Qing, what do you mean by this?" Gu Songrong said angrily. "My brother is a favorite of His Majesty. If you dare to lay a finger on my mother or brother today, I'd like to see how His Majesty will punish you tomorrow!"

"There's no need for Miss Gu to trouble herself with that," Zhou Qing said nonchalantly.

"Lord Zhou, how many strokes of the cane will each of them receive?"

As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Lu Ruoying immediately cursed, "You little bitch, how dare you harm my Chongding Marquis's Mansion like this! My Chongding Marquis's Mansion will never let you get away with this!"

Zhou Qing coldly said, "This is a public court, Madam Hou, please be careful with your words."

"My intention is that Madam Lu and Young Master Gu shall each receive thirty strokes of the rod."

"No," Chu Xunzhen said. "Madam Lu is old and her body is not as strong as that of a younger person. I suggest that Madam Lu take ten strokes of the cane, and the remaining fifty strokes be given to Gu Changfeng."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

If all these blames were to fall on Changfeng, how could he possibly live? She was his own mother, and she would absolutely not allow anything to affect him.

"No! All sixty strokes of the cane shall fall upon me. I am the wife of the Marquis of Chongding, and it is my duty to take the punishment in place of my husband!" Lu Ruoying roared, then looked at Gu Changfeng and said, "If Mother is to perish, Changfeng, remember to avenge Mother."

Gu Changfeng trembled and said, "Mother..."

Chu Xunzhen laughed, laughing so hard he bent over: "What? These days, the punishment is decided by the perpetrator?"

Nangong Yue suddenly slammed her palm heavily on the table.

Anshun suddenly understood, and her shrill voice trailed off: "Who gave you permission to distribute them yourselves? The Lady of Chongding Marquis is the matriarch, yet she allowed the exchange of betrothal gifts to happen; she deserves forty strokes of the cane. As for Gu Changfeng, he is undoubtedly responsible and deserves twenty strokes of the cane."

Several guards came forward and immediately pinned Gu Changfeng and Lu Ruoying down onto the wooden bench.

As the clubs struck their bodies, the two could not help but scream in agony.

Chu Xunzhen watched this scene with a sense of satisfaction.

"Daughter, did you see that? Your mother has avenged you."

In her past life, her little one-year-old daughter was running a high fever. Lu Ruoying, as her mother-in-law, deliberately delayed her from finding a doctor. As for Gu Changfeng, he let his daughter die from her illness without any reaction, and he was unworthy of being a father.

Even if those two villains died ten thousand times, it would still not appease the hatred in her heart.

daughter?

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou, who was standing not far away, was first taken aback, and then subconsciously looked at Chu Xunzhen's stomach.

Does Chu Xun really have a daughter, but she is not a virgin?

No.

She had to go back immediately and find out what happened.

Chu Wanrou left the blood-soaked Chu Mingli behind, walked past him, and went straight back.

Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, she had barely opened the courtyard gate when someone embraced her.

"Ah!" she exclaimed, her mouth and nose immediately covered.

Who?

She instinctively turned her head and her eyes widened in shock.

Is that you?