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

A commotion broke out at Shou'an Hall, with heart-wrenching cries echoing throughout the entire Marquis's residence.

Wei Zhaoning was invited over by the old lady, who said she had important matters to discuss.

Only when they arrived did they realize that the crying inside the Marquis's mansion was Lu Jieyue's.

Lu Jieyue's big day is approaching.

Meng Yun delayed sending the betrothal gifts, supposedly because the families of his two wives, whom he had killed, were causing him trouble and burned his mansion to the ground.

He said he couldn't afford such a large dowry and needed to postpone the wedding.

But now that things have come to this, the Marquis's family is dissatisfied, but they can only swallow their anger and suffer in silence. The initiative is entirely in Meng Yun's hands.

Lu Jieyue valued these appearances the most, and had a big argument with Meng Yun.

"You promised to marry me into the Meng family in a grand and glorious way, but now you've made it so shabby, without even a betrothal gift, and the wedding keeps getting delayed. Do you want the whole world to laugh at me?!"

Meng Yun seemed to be provoked and slapped her hard across the face.

"Shame? When you made love to me at the banquet, did you even know the meaning of shame?"

"If you feel ashamed, then annul the engagement. Your body is mine now, and who else would want you!"

"you!"

Lu Jieyue ran back to the Marquis's mansion crying.

She never imagined that Meng Yun would hit her; he had said he would never lay a hand on her!

"Waaaaah, I didn't even care about my reputation to marry him, and he humiliated me like this! Waaaaah!" Lu Jieyue cried, tears streaming down her face.

The people in the Marquis's mansion value their reputation the most. She was the one who had to debase herself and lose her dignity in front of the guests. Who can she blame now?

Even if they feel sorry for her, they won't help her. Does she have any other choice but to marry Meng Yun?

No!

"Miss, Lord Meng is outside the Marquis's residence. He says he's here to apologize," a maid said.

Lu Jieyue's eyes were red-rimmed. "Let him go! I'm not marrying him!"

The old lady was startled. "You child, what nonsense are you talking about? We've already consummated our marriage, how can you just say you don't want to get married?"

If you marry someone else, they'll all look down on you because you're "second-hand." They might not say it to your face, but they'll all despise you deep down!

"Waaaaah, would you be satisfied if he beat me to death?!" Lu Jieyue complained indignantly.

The old lady kept giving Wei Zhaoning meaningful glances, asking her to persuade Lu Jieyue, but Wei Zhaoning straightened her hair and pretended not to notice.

She respects the fate of others, and she lives by that promise.

At this moment, Liu Xiang whispered a few words in Wei Jiaruo's ear, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes.

Lu Jieyue was still sobbing.

"Jieyue, you need to think carefully. Were your words spoken in anger or were they sincere? I can help you annul the engagement, but have you really thought it through? If you were to never see Lord Meng again and have to let go of this relationship, would you be willing to do so?"

Using a strategy of retreat as a means of advancement, Wei Jiaruo was determined to succeed.

Just now, Meng Yun sent a message through someone, saying that he knew about her borrowing money at exorbitant interest rates. He said that if she could agree to coax Lu Jieyue back, he would help her pay off part of the debt once the Meng family mansion was repaired.

Lu Jieyue didn't know what to say for a moment, and her crying gradually stopped.

"But......"

Wei Jiaruo continued, "Answer me, Jieyue, are you willing to part with it or not?"

"I...I can't bear to, but he never hit me. I guess he doesn't love me anymore, which is why he treats me like he treated his two ex-wives." Lu Jieyue lowered her eyes.

"If he really doesn't love you, why would he beg for peace outside the Marquis's mansion? Jieyue, Lord Meng's mansion was burned down, and he's short of money. There's nothing he can do about it. If you go and blame him now, do you think he can conjure up some money from his hands?"

Men are like mountains, women are like water. Wives need to learn to understand their husbands for their relationship to last. Think about it: if your own house were burned down, wouldn't you be furious? If your husband didn't care about you and even added fuel to the fire, wouldn't you do something drastic?

Wei Jiaruo analyzed it carefully.

"You two have come a long way, facing opposition from everyone. You were finally about to get married, and now you're willing to end this relationship over such a small thing?"

Sunk costs are the most difficult choices to make.

A hint of panic flashed across Lu Jieyue's face. She had even lost her virginity to marry him. She had given so much, and this relationship couldn't just end like this!

"But I can't get over it. He hit me and said a lot of hurtful things."

Wei Jiaruo's eyes darted around. "Let him make it up to you, and that'll be the end of it. You have to pay the price for doing something wrong."

"Besides, perhaps Lord Meng has some misunderstanding about you? For example, he might say that you are shameless or that your family has improper morals. I'm afraid he has some misunderstanding about our Marquis's mansion."

"Oh, by the way, sister didn't come home last night. She must have had something important to take care of, right? From now on, if something happens, just go out during the day. If outsiders see you late, who knows what kind of rumors will spread."

Upon hearing this, the old lady's eyes narrowed immediately as she looked at Wei Zhaoning.

Lu Jieyue seemed to have found a reasonable way out.

It's all Wei Zhaoning's fault. She was careless and stayed out all night as a married woman, which damaged the reputation of the Marquis's mansion and caused Brother Mengyun to misunderstand her!

That's why he'd make excuses to delay marrying her.

She ran to the old lady and sobbed softly, "Mother, it's all her fault! She's unfaithful, staying out all night, which has made Brother Mengyun resent her. Mother, you must stand up for me!"

Wei Jiaruo added fuel to the fire, "I believe in my sister; she's not that kind of person. She must have been held up by something important last night. Why don't we go to the Meng residence, explain things to Lord Meng, and let it go?"

The old lady frowned as she scrutinized Wei Zhaoning. She had long wanted to find an opportunity to deal with Wei Zhaoning for all these incidents.

He disrespects his mother-in-law, causing chaos in the Marquis's mansion, and now he dares to stay out all night!

"Kneel down!" the old lady said, her voice steady and authoritative.

"Someone, go and invite the Marquis here."

Wei Zhaoning remained calm. "My daughter-in-law has done nothing wrong. Why should she kneel?"

He had an arrogant and unruly demeanor.

Wei Jiaruo covered her mouth with a handkerchief, afraid that she would laugh out loud.

The Marquis knows she doesn't come home at night. Can she still hold onto her position as his concubine?

She should just be a concubine! She might even be divorced by the Marquis and sent back to her parents' home!

"Mother, please have mercy and don't punish my sister. Her maternal grandfather is a great general. Making her kneel might offend him!"

Upon hearing this, the old lady's anger intensified. She slammed her hand on the table, "Does a mother-in-law have to consider the general's attitude when disciplining her daughter-in-law?!"

"Guards! Take her down!"

At this moment, Lu Zhufeng arrived. His face was very pale. He rushed over and grabbed Wei Zhaoning's chin with one large hand, lifting her chin up.

"Where did you go last night!" His eyes were filled with malice.