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

Everyone was stunned.

Chu Wanrou, in particular, was shocked.

In the past, Chu Xunzhen would have burst into tears if treated like this by his elder brother. Why is he so calm and talkative today?

"If it weren't for me, would Chu Wanrou even know that the betrothal gifts were so much less? The Chongding Marquis's Mansion doesn't value her, that's why they gave so little. I sought justice for Chu Wanrou and restored face for the Ping'an Marquis's Mansion, what's wrong with that?" Chu Xunzhen sneered, "Brother, you keep saying you dote on Chu Wanrou the most, but the Chongding Marquis's Mansion is so unreliable, yet you still want her to marry into it. I think you're doing this on purpose, brother?"

"You're quite the smooth talker. Your disheveled appearance has already caused quite a stir in the city. Today, I, as your elder brother, will teach you a lesson."

Chu Mingyuan kicked Chu Xunzhen in the back of the knee.

If that kick lands, both legs will probably be dislocated.

Just as he raised his right foot, someone suddenly rushed out from under the corridor and stood firmly in front of Chu Xunzhen.

"stop."

A familiar voice rang out, carrying an air of authority and leaving no room for argument. Chu Xunzhen was startled, turned his head, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Is it you?"

The person who arrived was none other than Nangong You, dressed in a navy blue casual suit.

His tall figure blocked Chu Xunzhen's path, a faint smile on his face.

"Greetings, Third Prince."

Everyone immediately bowed in respect.

Chu Xunzhen looked at the person in front of her, not understanding why the person in front of her would help her.

"Mingyuan, Xunzhen is your sister, how can you be so fierce? Fortunately, I saw it and blocked your hateful attack, otherwise you would regret it if she were injured in the future." The Third Prince's voice was gentle, but it also carried a persuasive tone.

"Yes, Your Highness is right." Chu Mingyuan pulled his leg back, steadied himself, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Third Prince. However, when his eyes swept over Chu Xunzhen, his gaze remained extremely cold.

"Your Highness, my sister has just returned. Why don't we let her go back and change her clothes and take a bath first?" Chu Wanrou deliberately spoke, her gentle voice sounding like that of a very considerate younger sister.

Pei Changqing snorted coldly: "Third Prince, this woman stays out all night and is shameless. She should be taught a lesson. Otherwise, if all women in the world were like her, wouldn't there be chaos?"

Chu Xunzhen was originally going back, but after hearing what Pei Changqing said, she immediately stopped.

"Young Master Pei does know some propriety and shame. If I remember correctly, when Young Master Pei came to the manor the day before yesterday, he stayed with Chu Wanrou in her room for more than three hours. Does someone like Young Master Pei, who completely disregards etiquette and Chu Wanrou's reputation, have the right to criticize me?"

Pei Changqing was so angry he laughed.

He slammed his right hand on the table, causing the tea on the table to shake and spill out.

"Wanrou and I are fellow disciples, so naturally we discuss the arts of the Heavenly Sect when we're together. You, as Wanrou's older sister, stayed out all night, affecting her reputation. I haven't even questioned you yet, but you're already blaming me?" Pei Changqing sneered.

"Chu Xunzhen, get out of here immediately. I don't want to see you." Chu Mingyuan's voice was cold and deep, his gaze filled with disgust, as if even a glance at her would defile his eyes.

"It's as if I really enjoy seeing you all. If you hadn't been barking at me like that, I would have arrived already."

After Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, he chuckled and strode away.

Nangong You's eyes lit up, and he turned around to pat Chu Mingyuan on the shoulder, saying, "Brother Mingyuan, don't be angry. There's no grudge between siblings. I'll try to persuade Chu Xunzhen for you. After all, she's very likely to become a member of the imperial family in the future. That's all I have to say. I hope you all understand."

Without caring about the expressions on the faces of everyone present, the Third Prince quickly chased after Chu Xunzhen in the direction she had left.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

When Chunxi saw Chu Xunzhen's appearance, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Her once neat and tidy girl was now covered in dust and dirt, her clothes tattered and stained with blood. It wasn't hard to imagine that beneath those clothes, she must have been covered in wounds.

"Girl, you've suffered so much. How could this happen?"

Granny Hua hurried forward, her gaze grave. She placed her right hand on Chu Xunzhen's pulse, and after a long while, she finally breathed a sigh of relief: "My dear girl, you scared this old servant to death."

Chu Xunzhen's eyes were also a little red. She shook her head and smiled, "I'm fine. I'm sorry to have worried everyone."

Her own brother ignored her injuries and only joined forces with outsiders to attack her reputation. On the contrary, Chunxi and Granny Hua, who had no blood relation to her, had no suspicion of her and were only heartbroken for the harm she had suffered.

"Miss, I'll prepare a bath for you."

"it is good."

After entering the private room and closing his eyes to rest, Chu Xunzhen finally relaxed a bit.

Recalling the moment when Nangong Yue lay there at her mercy, she felt as if she saw that alluring beauty mark under her gaze, which held a fatal attraction.

"Girl, the water is ready."

Chu Xunzhen took off his clothes, and Chunxi was so frightened by the sight of his body covered in wounds that she almost cried.

It's obvious that he fell.

Even Granny Hua's eyes were filled with tears, her heart aching.

"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Chu Xunzhen said nonchalantly. In the past, in order to find suitable Gu worms for raising Gu, she had even fallen from the top of the mountain all the way down to the foot of the mountain.

Chunxi went out to guard the gate, while Granny Hua cleaned the wounds on Chu Xunzhen's back.

"Miss, there's been no news from Bing Shuang since yesterday," said Granny Hua. "This old servant plans to go check on her later."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Granny."

Upon hearing this, Granny Hua stroked Chu Xunzhen's jet-black hair and said, "Miss, if you're not happy staying here, shall we return to the Gu Sect?"

Granny Hua was an orphan whom the Gu Clan took in and raised.

She was highly talented and, after mastering the Gu techniques, became a pillar of the Gu sect. Later, the sect leader appointed her as Chu Xunzhen's protector.

"Granny Hua, this family treated me like this, how dare they get everything? I want to watch them fall from their high places, regretting and weeping."

Granny Hua's eyes were ferocious, and her voice carried a murderous intent: "Miss, if you are willing, this old servant is willing to use all my Gu techniques to destroy the foundation of this Marquis's mansion."

"No, Granny. If the sect finds out you've been using Gu magic against ordinary people, you'll be severely punished." Chu Xunzhen paused, then said, "There's no need to risk your life for a bunch of scum. Besides, even if we do nothing, the people in this Marquis's mansion will ruin themselves."

"Young lady, you're right." Granny Hua smiled, revealing a set of bright white teeth. "But I want to tell you, young lady, that this old servant is not afraid of death. For you, young lady, I am willing to endure the punishment after using the Gu technique. Just give the order, young lady, and I will do anything for you, even die for you."

"Granny, please don't say that again, or I'll get angry. You still have to stay with me." Chu Xunzhen pretended to be angry.

At this moment, an uninvited guest arrived outside the Chrysanthemum Garden.

This person was none other than the Third Prince who had been chasing after Chu Xunzhen.

He looked at the chrysanthemum garden in front of him, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly.

Having lived for twenty years, this is the first time I've been tripped up by a courtyard and unable to move forward.

He had been wandering around here for a long time, but he couldn't get into the courtyard no matter what he did.

Every time I feel like I'm about to step into the courtyard, I'm actually just going around in circles.

"Interesting. Summon Pei Changqing."

The Third Prince addressed his attendants behind him.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Pei Changqing arrived. However, his furrowed brows revealed his displeasure.

"Brother Changqing, what's wrong?" the Third Prince asked, squinting his eyes.

Pei Changqing felt a chill run down his spine. Recalling his master's instruction to respect the Third Prince, he immediately straightened his expression and said, "I just lost a game of chess with Brother Mingyuan."

"Haha, Brother Changqing, I've discovered something interesting. I've been here for almost an hour and still haven't been able to enter this courtyard. I've long heard that Brother Changqing is a leading figure in the sect, knowledgeable in the Five Elements and the Art of War. Today, I wonder if I might have the honor of witnessing your prowess?"

Pei Changqing was surprised, but immediately nodded: "Of course."

He looked at the courtyard with the words "Chrysanthemum Garden" in front of him and stepped inside.

But at that moment, the void trembled, and the two characters "Chrysanthemum Garden" were moved several meters further away.

Pei Changqing's expression changed, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.