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

It's like an earthworm struggling to crawl out of the grass to find food, only to be caught in a heavy rain that washes it away and makes it disappear without a trace. It can't find its way home. When the rain stops and the sun shines down, it's washed onto the road, dried up into a dried earthworm, unable to find food or water, and just dies stiffly on the road, with passersby stepping on it.

You could blame the heavy rain for coming, for washing it onto the road, and for the sky clearing up so quickly. It's just that fate was unfair to it; it was just unlucky.

But now someone is suddenly telling it, "Who told you to crawl out of the bushes? Don't you realize it's going to rain soon? Didn't you hear the other animals' rain warnings?"

Didn't all of this happen because you insisted on climbing out? You were nestled in the grass, and nothing happened to you. Why did you have to be so greedy? A rain shower will end in an hour. Won't you starve to death if you don't eat something later? Being hungry is painful, but the sky will always clear up. Why couldn't you resist risking your life?

Can an earthworm accept this cruel reality? Can it stop blaming God for the rain?

Few people can accept this harsh reality: no snowflake is innocent during an avalanche, but you can choose not to stand on the snow-covered mountain.

People must take responsibility for every decision they make; once they make up their minds, they cannot blame others.

The stark truth is laid bare before us; to admit it is like being forced to eat a poisonous fruit—no one can bring themselves to do it.

Including Lu Jieyue and Lu Jieshuang, they stood frozen in place, the stark truth hurting them more than every lash Meng Yun delivered.

But they couldn't accept it, they just couldn't accept it.

At this moment, a ghostly, seductive voice came from the deepest hell, "Can't you understand? Wei Zhaoning knew that if she didn't help you, you would be doomed forever, but she still resolutely chose not to help, watching you jump into the fire pit. How vicious she is!"

The two of them, like stiff puppets, slowly turned their heads to look at Wei Jiaruo, a glimmer of light seemingly appearing in their empty eyes.

Wei Jiaruo's seductive voice continued, "I know her past life was miserable, so she doesn't want to care about you anymore in this life. But have you ever thought that her past life's misfortunes were caused by Lu Zhufeng? Lu Zhufeng personally ordered the fire to be set."

"But now, because of love, she has returned to Lu Zhufeng's side and is even willing to be his concubine without any title or status. Lu Zhufeng still doesn't treat her well."

Why can she forgive Lu Zhufeng even after he treated her like this? You all sincerely apologized, and after watching you all jump into the fire one by one, she wouldn't even lend you a hand? Has any of you done anything worse than Lu Zhufeng?

I find it hard not to suspect that she's directing all her hatred at you. And you are the ones responsible for her despicable behavior.

The two of them shuddered suddenly, their unfocused eyes gradually returning to their senses.

Is that so?

Is such that.

What did they do wrong?

Wasn't it Lu Zhufeng's own fault? Which of them did something more outrageous than Lu Zhufeng?

They all knelt down, but Wei Zhaoning still wouldn't forgive them, not even giving them a quick death.

We just stood by and watched them suffer a fate worse than death!

How vicious!

At this moment, Meng Yun emerged from the study, his face contorted with malice. "I've been looking all over for you! Didn't I tell you to sit here and wait for me?"

Lu Jieyue snapped back to her senses and stammered as if she wanted to say something.

Wei Jiaruo smoothed things over, saying, "Brother-in-law, please don't be offended. I haven't seen her in a long time and wanted to catch up with her, so I brought her here for a walk."

Meng Yun stared at Lu Jieyue for a while before saying, "Alright, what are you still standing there for? Let's go!"

Lu Jieyue and Qing Que quickly followed, and when they passed by Wei Jiaruo, Wei Jiaruo gave her a sinister smile.

"Elder sister-in-law, think carefully about what I said today, then I won't see you off."

Lu Jieyue gripped the handkerchief tighter and tighter as she followed Meng Yun out of the Marquis's residence.

*

Wei Zhaoning overheard some fragmented information, which was roughly that the Crown Prince's side could produce a potion that could control people's minds. If they did not obey orders, they would become uncontrollable like wild beasts, and they planned to use it at a banquet.

The two only used coded language to explain their specific purpose, without stating it explicitly, so Wei Zhaoning couldn't understand it.

Back inside, Wei Zhaoning's unease intensified; she had to stop it.

"Miss, Liuxiang just delivered a message." Dongxu brought in a pot of tea.

Wei Zhaoning snapped out of her daze. "What news?"

Dongxu leaned close to her ear and said, "After you left, Miss, Lu Jieyue followed, and then Wei Jiaruo followed as well. Later, you stopped talking to Lu Jieyue, so Wei Jiaruo went up to her and said a lot of things. But Liuxiang was far away, and Wei Jiaruo is now wary of her. I don't know what she said, but I did say that Lu Jieyue became absent-minded afterwards."

Wei Zhaoning took a sip of tea, sighed, and said, "I understand."

"Make some pear soup and take the medicine. I suspect Lu Zhufeng will arrive soon."

"Yes, Miss."

Wei Zhaoning tapped the table with his fingers intermittently.

Wei Jiaruo was indeed determined to mess with her; she probably didn't say anything good to Lu Jieyue and the others.

We need to be extra careful now.

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat as she realized she was unconsciously tapping her fingers on the table, something the Regent often did. How could she be doing this...?

She composed herself and temporarily banished the regent from her mind.

As expected, Lu Zhufeng came again tonight. Ever since Wei Zhaoning returned, he's been living at her place, lingering there every night. Wei Zhaoning is having quite a headache; she'll probably have to buy more of that medicine.

After the "clouds and rain" (a euphemism for sexual intercourse), Wei Zhaoning, suppressing her nausea, gently took Lu Zhufeng's hand.

"My lord, are there any banquets planned recently?"

Lu Zhufeng was relaxing when he said without thinking, "A general is returning to the capital, and His Majesty will hold a welcoming banquet."

Wei Zhaoning's eyes lit up. "Could you take me with you, Lord Marquis?"

Lu Zhufeng remained silent, and Wei Zhaoning continued, "You know I used to love going to banquets. I've been cooped up in the Marquis's mansion for so many days, I'm really going crazy. Take me out for some fun, I want to catch up with my old sisters."

Lu Zhufeng frowned. "With your current status, wouldn't it be embarrassing for me to take you out? Only wives are usually qualified to attend banquets. You're not even a concubine. Wouldn't it be a laughingstock if I took you? Listen to me, let's wait until this period is over. How old are you? Do you still want to act like a young girl and go to banquets?"