Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 257 Divorce
Lu Jia was genuinely surprised to hear Lu Jie mention her marriage at this moment. She quickly looked up, but then quickly shut her mouth.

At this time, it would be truly distressing for her to have to observe mourning for the deceased Jiang family.

Even disregarding this, Lu Ying betrayed the Lu family with a do-or-die determination. She never even considered finding out Lu Jie's attitude. During the mourning period, it was uncertain whether the Yan family would still need Lu Jia to act as an informant in the Grand Commandant's mansion, or whether they would change their minds.

If that happens, Lu Jia's situation will become dangerous.

So, they immediately suppressed the news of Jiang's death, thus allowing Lu Jia to marry into the Grand Commandant's household smoothly. Even if there were still twists and turns in the future, at least she would have become a member of the Shen family.

Lu Jie had already weighed the pros and cons in an instant, so what else could Lu Jia say?
The Lu family mansion, where the bride was being escorted away, gradually quieted down.

When the Grand Secretary married his granddaughter-in-law, the entire mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and distinguished guests filled the house. Early in the morning, water was sprinkled on the streets, and red silk was tied from inside the mansion to the two large pomegranate trees outside.

On such an important day, Yan Song, in his high position, would choose a quiet place to brew tea and chat with the first-class ministers who came to the banquet. Yan Shu and his wife would take charge of the affairs of the inner and outer courtyards, and could not leave the place of their responsibilities for a moment.

Yan Liang took the lead in welcoming and entertaining guests, sharing the responsibility with his uncles and elders.

As the bridal sedan chair entered the gate, news about the Lu family reached his ears.

He simply clasped his hands together and glanced back at the bridal sedan chair that was being carried through the gate amidst the deafening sound of suona horns. Then, he curled the corners of his lips, waved to the people who had come, and immediately put on a warm smile to greet the guests.

First bow to Heaven and Earth, second bow to the parents, and then the husband and wife bow to each other.

After the ceremony, the deafening drumming and music that had almost pierced her eardrums along the way was gradually left behind by Lu Ying.

"Congratulations to the Third Young Master and Third Young Mistress!"

As the newlyweds entered the room, the ladies of the house came in one by one to offer their congratulations. The women of the Yan family also entered, embracing each other, and, taking advantage of their long-standing acquaintance with Lu Ying, they joked around to their hearts' content.

Lu Ying remained motionless beneath the bridal veil.

Fortunately, Li Mama and Ying Zi were there to return the gifts on her behalf and also gave out the prepared celebratory money.

When the two of them finished dealing with the situation and returned, they discovered that the groom had been dragged out at some point.

The bright red new house was now only occupied by the mistress and her servant.

Granny Li brought a cup of tea to Lu Ying, but before she could open her mouth, Lu Ying had already pulled off her bridal veil.

Her gaze swept past Granny Li, taking in the surroundings before she murmured, "From this day forward, this will be my home for the rest of my life."

"Miss……"

"Call me Third Young Mistress." Lu Ying picked up two red dates and longans from the plate on the table, peeled them, and ate them. "What use is a young lady? Only a young mistress is useful. As a young mistress, at least you'll have a man behind you."

Granny Li shut her mouth. After thinking for a moment, she said again, "The news came on the way here. The master ordered Lu Rong to seal off the main courtyard and not to let a single word out. If our people had come out any later, they probably wouldn't have been able to get out."

At this point, she said, "If the news gets out now, the eldest young lady's wedding will have to be postponed. In your opinion, young lady, do you need me to give the order?"

"No need."

Lu Ying ate the red date: "What ability do I have to compete with my father for now? I just need to achieve my goal."

Granny Li pursed her lips: "This servant understands."

……

After the guests were seated, Yan Liang surveyed the room from a corner, then exchanged a glance with Madam Yan in the main hall. The mother and son then went separately to the back hall. Upon reaching the nearest courtyard, Madam Yan sat down: "What is it?"

Yan Liang smiled and said, "I've come to congratulate Mother. The idea I suggested earlier has come true."

Madam Yan, who had just finished drinking tea, immediately looked up, then abruptly stood up: "Madam Jiang..."

"Just as Mother wished, Aunt could not bear the exposure of all her crimes and has already submitted to the law in fear of punishment."

Madam Yan's eyes suddenly lit up.

She slowly took two steps forward, then quickly turned around: "Is it Ying-jie?"

Yan Liang nodded: "Only she can succeed in this matter."

Madam Yan's expression shifted: "I used to think that although this girl was somewhat clever, she was ultimately just a young lady from a sheltered family. I never expected her to be so pragmatic."

“That night at the Lu family’s house, she begged her father to hand over the Jiang family to me. At the time, I thought she might not be doing it for the Yan family. Now it seems I have let her down.”

Yan Liang said, "She is, after all, a young lady of the Lu family, the biological daughter of Minister Lu. Even though Lu Jie has shown her less concern because of Madam Jiang, the bond of blood can never be broken."

"In my opinion, given her decisiveness, Mother should treat her better in the future."

Madam Yan pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded: "You're right."

……

After the news of Jiang's death was kept secret, Lu Jie immediately summoned Yang Bonong and asked him to draft a document to be sent to the Ministry of Rites. Together with the letter of divorce he had written earlier, he had it delivered to the Ministry of Rites as soon as possible.

Since Jiang was granted an imperial decree, the divorce had to be carried out according to regulations. However, given Jiang's heinous crimes and the divorce agreement reached with the Yan family, the Ministry of Rites had no reason to refuse to proceed.

The next afternoon, the imperial edict arrived.

News immediately spread from the Lu family that the divorced wife had packed up her carriages and dowry, moved out of the mansion, and was heading to her ancestral home in Jizhou.

At that time, many people on the street saw the former Madam Lu's carriage leave the Lu family and head straight out of the city. All the carriages traveling with her were sealed off, presumably because this wicked woman, who had received her just deserts, was ashamed to face the world and therefore refused to show her face again.

When the news of the divorce reached the Yan family, Yan Shu, who had finally finished his children's weddings and was standing on the veranda playing with his myna bird, raised an eyebrow, then sighed with his hands behind his back, and sent Yan Liang and his wife to the city gate to "see them off".

With Jiang dead, the biggest threat was gone, and the Yan family breathed a sigh of relief.

The series of unexpected events that followed, triggered by the exposure of Wei's affair with Yan Shu, have finally come to an end.

Lu Jie is still their comrade-in-arms, and they will fight side by side in the future. Moreover, since they have become in-laws, the two families will stand even closer together. At this time, why shouldn't the Yan family step forward to cooperate?

As the carriage carrying Jiang's body drove out of the city gate, the Lu family also received the auspicious date for the betrothal ceremony from the Grand Commandant's office.

Lu Ying has just become the third young mistress of the Yan family, and Lu Jia's wedding is just around the corner.

spring is coming.

The winter snow has melted. The willows by the lake have sprouted gray-green buds, and after a rumble of thunder, spring rain after spring rain has fallen on the earth.

If it's divided into volumes, then the next volume should be the new volume...