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

"Eunuch Cao." Chu Zhanpeng strode forward, gave Eunuch Cao, who had not yet entered, a fawning smile, and cupped his hands in greeting.

Eunuch Cao, his eyes fixed straight ahead, smiled and said in his red and black eunuch robe, "His Majesty has decreed that Marquis Ping'an's eldest daughter, Chu Xunzhen, is invited to the palace for an audience."

Upon hearing this, Chu Zhanpeng's expression changed in surprise, and his eyes widened. But he quickly regained his composure.

"Xunzhen, why aren't you bathing and changing your clothes before going to the palace with Eunuch Cao?"

Chu Zhanpeng smiled kindly at Chu Xunzhen, like a loving father.

"Yes, Father."

Chu Xunzhen responded. His Majesty had summoned her to the palace, so she had to be cautious. Thinking of this, she prepared to have Granny Hua make the necessary preparations later.

After saying goodbye to Zhou Qing, Chu Xunzhen helped Chunxi up and was about to leave.

Seeing Eunuch Cao frown, Chu Zhanpeng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said, "Xunzhen, look how tired you are. Someone, quickly help the young lady's maid and take her to the family physician for treatment."

The maids around him looked at each other, glanced at Li Yi, and dared not move.

Li Yi remained silent. Granny Li, however, darted around and stepped forward, saying, "Miss Chunxi is unwell; I'll help her and take her to the Gao family's doctor. Eldest Miss, please go back and wash up."

"Okay. Thank you, Granny."

Chu Xunzhen glanced at Granny Li and spoke.

"You flatter this old servant, young lady. It is our duty to share the burdens of our master."

After Li Mama finished speaking, Chunxi smiled at Chu Xunzhen: "Miss, please prepare to enter the palace first. Don't worry about me. With Li Mama here, everything will be arranged."

Chu Xunzhen said no more and went straight back. He found the copy of the account book that Zhou Qing had given him, which recorded the Chongding Marquis's family's violations of the law, and hid it carefully so that he could hand it over if the emperor asked.

Eunuch Cao sat in the reception area, sipping tea and waiting patiently.

Chu Zhanpeng was genuinely curious, so he leaned closer and asked, "Father-in-law, my rebellious daughter has only been back from the countryside for a little over three years, and she rarely goes out. Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing that His Majesty suddenly summoned her?"

As he spoke, Chu Zhanpeng handed over a bulging money bag.

Eunuch Cao had been dozing off with his eyes half-closed, but when he saw the bulging black money bag, he immediately opened his eyes wide and became fully awake.

Eunuch Cao reached out and took the money bag, weighed it in his hand, and smiled even more broadly: "You're too kind, Lord Marquis. I don't know His Majesty's intentions, but they are certainly related to the Marquis of Chongding's mansion."

Having said all he wanted to say, he closed his eyes again.

Chu Zhanpeng cursed the other party under his breath as an old fox.

Standing not far away, Chu Mingyuan's face darkened, and he muttered under his breath, "Damn it."

Chu Wanrou stood beside him, a hint of confusion in her eyes, and asked, "What's wrong, big brother?"

Chu Mingyuan patted Chu Wanrou's head before speaking: "His Majesty originally intended to support Gu Changfeng, but unfortunately, this incident has occurred at the Chongding Marquis's residence, and Chu Xunzhen will certainly be held accountable."

Upon hearing this, Chu Wanrou's face turned deathly pale, her right hand unconsciously twisting the handkerchief, and her lips tightly clenched.

A gentle breeze swept by, and the night deepened.

Chu Mingyuan didn't take it seriously at first, but suddenly his gaze froze.

"Big brother, what's wrong?" Chu Wanrou had just spoken.

The next moment, the two saw Chu Xunzhen, dressed in a pale yellow silk dress, walking towards them from a distance.

Her lips were a pale pink, neither too heavy nor too light; her face was like a peach blossom; her eyes shone like stars; and her long, graceful figure was like a fairy descended from heaven and mistakenly entered the mortal world.

As it drew closer, a captivating fragrance of gardenias filled the air.

Chu Mingyuan was stunned.

He knew that Chu Xunzhen was very beautiful, and that her beauty was very similar to that of his mother, Li Yi.

He had heard his father say that his mother was once the most beautiful woman in the capital. Now, looking at this face that seemed to have descended from heaven, paired with this dress, his vision was struck by something he had never experienced before.

Chu Wanrou caught her elder brother's gaze, and almost tore the handkerchief in her hand to shreds.

Jealousy burned in her eyes, and she could only lower her head, afraid that her elder brother would see her jealous and ferocious appearance.

"Eunuch Cao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." As soon as Chu Xunzhen finished speaking, Eunuch Cao's eyes lit up.

What an absolutely stunning beauty.

"Miss Chu, please."

Granny Hua helped Chu Xunzhen into the carriage that drove into the palace.

The carriage headed towards the palace.

Inside the carriage, Granny Hua and Chu Xunzhen were seated. As for Eunuch Cao, he was in the carriage in front.

Granny Hua looked at Chu Xunzhen and handed her a silver bracelet, saying, "Miss, the things have been prepared."

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

Without saying a word, Chu Xunzhen put it on.

This bracelet contains a hidden compartment; by turning the bracelet, one can cast a spell.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Granny Hua was ordered to dismount and wait, while Chu Xunzhen remained seated in the carriage and proceeded directly into the palace.

Following behind Eunuch Cao, Chu Xunzhen gazed at the magnificent golden palace with a blank expression.

Little did they know that Eunuch Cao, walking ahead, was secretly amazed; this legitimate daughter was indeed a composed and dignified person.

The Imperial Study.

Eunuch Cao entered the hall to report, and soon came out.

"His Majesty invites Miss Chu in." After saying this, he stepped aside and gestured for her to enter.

"Thank you, sir."

Chu Xunzhen entered the palace, immediately curtsied slightly, and respectfully bowed to the emperor sitting above: "Chu Xunzhen, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Ping'an, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The air was so quiet that there wasn't a sound, as if no one was there.

After a long while, Chu Xunzhen finally heard the words "No need for formalities".

Only then did Chu Xunzhen dare to raise her head and look directly at the emperor's face.

His Majesty is in his prime, with a majestic and imposing presence. He exudes imperial authority even without uttering a word.

"Do you know why I summoned you to the palace?" Emperor Nangong Chen asked.

"Your Majesty, I do not know," Chu Xunzhen replied with a bow, neither humble nor arrogant.

After a long pause, the Emperor spoke again: "Chu Xunzhen, without my permission, you accused the Marquis of Chongding's mansion of reselling medicinal herbs and embezzling funds. Do you know that the Marquis of Chongding's mansion is now in decline, and the entire mansion is in ruins?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Xunzhen chuckled inwardly, but showed no joy on her face, speaking calmly: "The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. The Chongding Marquis's mansion has embezzled a huge quantity of medicinal herbs, profiting from their sale, oppressing the people, and jeopardizing the foundation of the nation. The Chongding Marquis's daughter is arrogant and domineering, and I could no longer tolerate it, hence this complaint."

The emperor scoffed, "So, according to you, you helped me? And it was only because that eldest daughter of the Gu family went too far that you were forced to make such a fuss?"

Chu Xunzhen remained unfazed and said, "The Ten Thousand Medicines Pavilion is a property bestowed upon me by my adoptive parents. The Gu family is greedy for medicinal herbs. Privately, I cannot stand idly by and allow them to embezzle every month; publicly, this matter is harmful to the people and brings no benefit whatsoever. With the price of medicinal herbs rising, those who truly need them may not be able to obtain life-saving medicines because they do not have enough money."

"I ask you again: What is your connection with the Gu Clan? Are you aware that your grandfather was afflicted with Gu poison? Have you already cured him of the Gu poison?"

The emperor's tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet his three short sentences struck Chu Xunzhen like thunder.

These were truly a triple threat. If she didn't answer them well, she probably wouldn't be able to leave this enormous imperial study today.