After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

Lu Jieshuang was nervous. If her brother found out that she was having an affair, he would definitely skin her alive!

"Brother...Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

Lu Zhufeng and Wei Jiaruo entered hand in hand.

"What's wrong with your face? What were you saying just now? Why are you so angry? Who bullied you?" Lu Zhufeng stepped forward and was about to remove the veil from her face.

Lu Jieshuang suddenly dodged away, "It's nothing, brother. I have an allergic reaction on my face. I think I ate something wrong. It looks terrible. Don't look."

"I'm your older brother, not an outsider. Is someone bullying you?" Lu Zhufeng asked with some concern.

He doted on his little sister the most. He had been busy with various things lately, and the girl had been acting strangely and quiet. He thought he would take the time to visit her today.

"Who would dare to bully me? I was just scolding Yinzhu for being clumsy and incompetent." Lu Jieshuang's eyes flickered, and she dared not look Lu Zhufeng in the eye.

Lu Zhufeng narrowed his eyes, finding it very strange.

Seeing this, Wei Jiaruo seemed to be deep in thought. When Liu Xiang whispered a few words in her ear, she suddenly spoke up: "Oh, my lord, if Shuangshuang doesn't want to talk, then don't force her."

"What do you men know about a young woman's feelings? Therefore, my lord, you may return first; I will stay and talk with Shuangshuang."

Lu Jieshuang felt like she had found a savior. Although she didn't have much to say to her brother, if he stayed any longer, she was afraid that he would be exposed. She chimed in, "Yes, brother, you should go out first and let your sister-in-law talk to me for a while."

Lu Zhufeng hesitated for a moment.

"Oh dear, hurry up and leave, my lord, leave it to me," Wei Jiaru urged.

He had no choice but to go out first, adding one more word: "Never mind, just talk to your sister-in-law about it; she's been through this before."

Seeing how devoted Wei Jiaruo was to her family, he felt a warmth in his heart. Having Jiaruo was truly his blessing.

After he had walked away, Wei Jiaruo asked with a smile, "Do you have someone you like?"

Lu Jieshuang pursed her lips. "No."

Wei Jiaruo went over and took her hand, her eyes and brows filled with joy: "Lord Li."

Lu Jieshuang's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately pulled her hand back. "How did you know? You didn't tell my brother, did you?"

Wei Jiaruo thought to herself that she not only knew, but she also knew how much resentment Wei Zhaoning had incurred from Lu Jieshuang for trying to stop this.

"Where the heart is, there love is. Worldly rules are all empty words. Look at me, I was willing to become a concubine for the Marquis. Others think I'm degrading myself, but I don't think so. As long as I can be with the one I love, that's enough."

Lu Jieshuang's eyes lit up. "You..."

"I won't tell the Marquis, nor will I stop you. There's nothing wrong with pursuing your own love. Your sister-in-law wants you to be happy and is here to help you. Do you want to completely drive away Princess Changning, so that it's just you and Lord Li from now on?" Wei Jiaruo's tone was full of seduction.

"Sister-in-law, you have a solution!" This time, Lu Jieshuang took the initiative to hold Wei Jiaruo's hand.

Wei Jiaruo's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Of course. Wei Zhaoning hit you just now? Don't you want to get revenge?"

"Why don't we reach an agreement? It just so happens that I have a small favor I'd like you to do for me."

*

The ninth day of the tenth lunar month is an auspicious day for marriage.

Lu Zhufeng wanted to hold a formal ceremony for Wei Jiaruo as a principal wife, so he sent her back to the Duke's mansion first, promising to welcome her into the family in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men.

Inside the Yongxin Marquis's mansion, red silk and brocade had been used to decorate the place at some point, with red silk flowers hanging high on the eaves, corners, and plum branches.

Lu Ze earned a large sum of money and used half of it to host his brother and sister-in-law's wedding banquet.

He had long said that he would make sure his sister-in-law married into the family in a grand and glorious way, to repay her kindness in supporting him.

Everyone in the Marquis's mansion was overjoyed; even the passing dogs received two pieces of candy.

The procession stretched for miles, with carriages lined up in an orderly fashion, and Lu Zhufeng, dressed in wedding attire, sat high on his horse, exuding an air of refined elegance.

The crowd surged in and out, each person craning their neck to look around.

"This Marquis of Yongxin's mansion is really strange. He married the eldest daughter of the Wei family, and before the divorce was finalized, he married another woman, inheriting two branches of the family. Marquis Lu is living a very prestigious life."

"I heard that the eldest daughter of the Wei family is wicked and cruel. If it weren't for Lord Lu's leniency, she would have been divorced long ago. He even kept her as a concubine, which shows his deep affection."

"These are two sisters! Lord Lu is truly blessed!"

The men were envious, while the women scoffed.

"The eldest daughter of the Wei family is so incompetent that she actually let her half-sister marry into the family as a concubine? That's hilarious, I've never heard of such a thing before."

"Exactly! Look at how arrogant and smug she was before. No one can have a smooth life forever."

"Look at her now, her husband is marrying his half-sister as a concubine with a grand wedding procession, and she's probably hiding in some corner crying. What a failure as a woman."

"Which of my master's concubines wasn't completely under my control?"

Wei Zhaoning and the others from the Marquis's residence greeted the "new bride" at the gate.

Her face was cool and clear, clean without a trace of smokiness, and her eyes shone with an aggressive light, alluring yet seductive, making people hesitant to approach her.

Lu Ze laughed and said, "You really are virtuous. Your brother is marrying a concubine, and you still have to greet her at the door. Do you want to help count the money if someone sells you out? You shameless wretch."

Lu Jieshuang: "That's a bit too perceptive. Are you really that afraid my brother will divorce you?"

The old lady and Lu Jieyue covered their mouths and chuckled.

Wei Zhaoning remained unmoved, letting the words go in one ear and out the other.

After a few teasing remarks from the group, they got bored and stopped responding to anything they said, just standing there blankly like a dummy.

"It's no wonder you're annoyed, brother. If I were a man, I wouldn't like your boring personality either." Lu Jieshuang rolled her eyes at her.

Dongxu jogged over, and Wei Zhaoning leaned close to her and whispered, "Is the inventory finished?"

Dongxu held up a long list. "Miss, it's all been tallied. All the money you've given to the Marquis's mansion since you married into the family is on this list."

Wei Zhaoning smiled and said, "Keep it."

The wedding procession quickly brought the bride to the Marquis's residence, amidst cheers and scornful remarks from the roadside.

Lu Zhufeng's eyes were full of joy, and there was not a trace of guilt in his gaze as he looked at Wei Zhaoning.

He gently lifted the curtain of the bridal sedan chair, took a jade-like hand, and led Wei Jiaruo down.

Holding a round fan, Wei Jiaruo gently moved the fan slightly aside, revealing a pair of alluring eyes as she looked in Wei Zhaoning's direction.

She felt incredibly pleased. Today, she was marrying into the family as a secondary wife, while Wei Zhaoning stood there looking dejected, even having to help with the wedding procession.

The sight sent her blood rushing to her head.

The best is yet to come; this is just the beginning.

She turned to look at Lu Jieshuang, and the two exchanged glances. Lu Jieshuang nodded at her.