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

"Who are you talking about?" Chu Zhanpeng asked incredulously, slamming his hand on the table. "The Marquis of Chongding's mansion is not only refusing to return the money, but also trying to arrest people?"

He wanted to see what the other party was up to.

Li Yi's gaze turned icy as he coldly said, "It must be this rebellious daughter who caused this trouble. My lord, this unruly daughter is wild and difficult to tame, constantly causing trouble. If she remains at home, your career will be in jeopardy!"

Chu Zhanpeng's gaze suddenly fell on Chu Xunzhen, somewhat hesitant.

Chu Xunzhen immediately smiled obediently, but her words were laced with malice: "When I wasn't back before, Father was still the Marquis of Ping'an, wasn't he? If Father wants to rise to a higher position, the only way is to support me. But if Father is afraid, he can send me away. But if he does that, the Marquis's path will come to an end."

"Xunzhen is right. This time, she has done a great service for the Marquis's family. Even if we had been on good terms with the Marquis of Chongding's family before, now that we are going to use them as stepping stones, we must not be soft-hearted."

As soon as Chu Zhanpeng finished speaking, Li Yi's face showed a look of reluctance, and she could only nod and say, "Yes, sir, I understand."

"Father, I'll go out and take a look first." Chu Xunzhen smiled faintly at Chu Zhanpeng.

Li Yi was so angry that he trembled all over, his sharp nails almost piercing the flesh of his palm.

In the past, Rou'er would always come to pay her respects when she returned. Today she didn't come, wasting a good opportunity for Chu Xunzhen.

"Let's go take a look together." Chu Zhanpeng glanced at Chu Xunzhen with appreciation.

As expected of her own daughter, she knows how to think of the Marquis's mansion and her own family.

In front of the Marquis's mansion.

Gu Songrong and Zhou Qing, along with dozens of guards from the Chongding Marquis's residence, stood at the gate.

"Lord Zhou, may I ask what brings you to my Ping'an Marquis's residence? If there is anything I can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to ask," Chu Zhanpeng said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing's gaze fell on Chu Xunzhen, his eyes filled with pity. He said, "The Chongding Marquis's residence has reported that Chu Xunzhen, the legitimate daughter of the Ping'an Marquis's residence, is using her adoptive parents to extort money from the Chongding Marquis's residence. Now that we have witnesses and physical evidence, Chu Xunzhen, come with us."

Chu Zhanpeng frowned and immediately looked at Chu Xunzhen.

This rebellious daughter actually has connections with that pair of merchants?

Chu Xunzhen calmly replied, "I wonder who the witness is? And where is the physical evidence?"

Gu Songrong gave a cold laugh: "I knew you'd say that. There are two witnesses here."

Chu Wanrou and Chu Mingyuan came out.

Chu Zhanpeng's eyes widened, his face filled with anger.

Zhou Qing spoke up: "Chu Xunzhen, you extorted the heir of the Chongding Marquis's mansion for the sake of your adoptive father Chen Kangnian and adoptive mother Zhang Minlan. We have witnesses here, and the physical evidence is the letter you wrote to the heir of the Gu family at that time. Please come with us."

His gaze was cold and indifferent.

Out of personal motives, he felt sorry for Chu Xunzhen's plight, but now he was a local official. He had to deal with the case reported by the people of the Chongding Marquis's Mansion, even if he suspected that the Chongding Marquis's Mansion was deliberately retaliating against Chu Xunzhen.

Chu Xunzhen's expression remained unchanged, but deep down he already understood.

Sure enough, just as she had taken action against the people from the Chongding Marquis's residence that morning, they went to cause trouble for her adoptive parents.

Fortunately, she had made arrangements in advance, otherwise she would be terrified now.

"Sister, you've been back for so long, but you still haven't settled into this family. Rou'er knows you're not used to it, but you can't let the Crown Prince abuse his power and secretly help your adoptive father, can you?" Chu Wanrou smiled smugly.

Chu Xunzhen thought that once he had reported the Chongding Marquis's mansion, everything would be fine.

In a prominent family, how could there be a simple-minded person?

Chu Xunzhen has really bitten off more than he can chew this time.

Chu Zhanpeng's expression was grim.

"Chu Xunzhen, you have disappointed your father greatly."

Chu Zhanpeng said coldly.

Chu Xunzhen chuckled inwardly.

Just moments ago, she was her father's beloved little darling, but now that her adoptive parents are involved and she's been dragged into the case, Chu Zhanpeng's attitude has immediately changed.

"Guards, take Chu Xunzhen to the government office."

Chu Mingyuan gave a cold laugh.

Chu Xunzhen actually caused the friendship between the Chongding Marquis's Mansion and the Ping'an Marquis's Mansion to break down because of jealousy. She deserved to be arrested.

As for her adoptive parents, they deserve to die.

Chu Xunzhen calmly replied, "Lord Zhou, Chu Mingyuan is my elder brother, how can he be a witness? As for Chu Wanrou, she is an adopted daughter of the Marquis's family and has a relationship with me, so she cannot be a witness. As for this letter, please let me take a look at it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing nodded and was about to agree, but Gu Songrong stopped him, saying, "No, Lord Zhou, Chu Xun really wants to destroy the evidence."

"It's alright. If Miss Chu destroys the evidence, she will inevitably face over thirty days in prison."

Chu Xunzhen glanced at Gu Songrong and chuckled, "Miss Gu, has your household raised enough money? If not, don't blame us for not warning you when someone comes to collect the debt. Although our Ping'an Marquis's mansion is kind to others, we cannot tolerate petty thieves who renege on their debts."

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhanpeng snapped out of his daze and immediately said, "Gu Songrong, now that your Gu family isn't raising any money, you're deliberately bringing in witnesses who can't testify. Are you trying to cause trouble for our Ping'an Marquis's mansion? If there's no solid evidence, then this Marquis will have to countersue you for false accusation."

Chu Xunzhen couldn't be bothered to pay any attention to Chu Zhanpeng.

Seeing that witnesses couldn't serve as proof, and still eyeing the money, this opportunist switched sides again.

Chu Wanrou stepped forward and said, "The handwriting on this letter is indeed yours, sister. Sister, just admit it, okay? The young master said he won't blame you. As long as you admit it, he won't force you to go to jail, but you'll have to erase half of the compensation money."

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhanpeng paused, clearly deep in thought.

Chu Wanrou looked worried. With her long, slender fingers holding a handkerchief, she leaned closer and whispered, "Father, the young master said that the Marquis of Chongding is very angry, and the Lady of the Marquis of Chongding's mansion is also furious. If my sister, like Gu Songrong, goes to jail and stays there for more than thirty days, they will compensate us with 80,000 taels of silver, and the friendship between the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion and the Marquis of Chongding's mansion will remain unchanged. But if we insist on them compensating us with 160,000 taels of silver, they will fight to the death with the Marquis of Ping'an's mansion."

Wearing a black mask that covered half her face, Chu Mingyuan approached and said, "Father, Gu Songrong can suffer in prison, so why can't Chu Xunzhen? Besides, the best course of action now is to stabilize the Chongding Marquis's mansion. Although we lost 80,000 taels of silver, we can still maintain good relations with the Chongding Marquis's mansion. In addition, we will also receive 80,000 taels of silver. Chu Xunzhen is wild and unruly. Her behavior is too arrogant and must be restrained. Sending her to prison to reflect on her actions will be a good way to get her to calm down."

"But..." Chu Zhanpeng hesitated, "If outsiders find out, wouldn't they say we, as parents, are too heartless?"

"Uncle, don't worry. My brother said that if Chu Xun really doesn't want to, then we'll use his adoptive parents' lives to keep him in check."

After Gu Songrong finished speaking, Chu Zhanpeng finally made up his mind.

"Xunzhen, I already know about this matter. Although witnesses cannot prove it, I know that it did happen. As the Marquis of Ping'an, I cannot stand by and watch you go astray. Go back with Lord Zhou first, and I will naturally try to persuade you to come back."

As soon as Chu Zhanpeng finished speaking, Gu Songrong's malicious voice rang out: "Chu Xunzhen, you have to go today whether you like it or not, otherwise, you can go collect the corpses of your adoptive parents."

Chu Xunzhen's gaze was cold as she walked straight up to Gu Songrong and slapped her across the face without warning.

"Chu Xunzhen, are you crazy?" Gu Songrong covered her flushed face and asked in disbelief.

Chu Xunzhen scoffed, giving her a cold look, and said, word by word, "Crazy? You dare to touch my adoptive parents? Who gave you the guts?"