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

Lu Jieshuang didn't have enough money for a carriage ride back, so she walked for almost a month before finally returning to the capital.

Along the way, she barely managed to survive on the meager dozen or so copper coins she had left, which allowed her to buy one steamed bun a day.

She was still wearing the thin clothes that Chen Huaishi had recently bought for her, but after traveling for many days, the original lotus root pink color had turned charcoal black.

The wind was biting cold, and she was dressed in thin clothes. She slept under a bridge at night and caught a cold, which caused her to develop a persistent high fever.

But she had no money for treatment, so she went into a pharmacy on the way and stole a large bag of medicine, which was enough to get her to the capital.

She thought about many things along the way.

Even if she misses out on being with her lover, it doesn't matter.

She also has family: her older sister, older brother, second older brother, and mother.

They are blood relatives, and no matter if she is a death row inmate or anything else, they will accept her unconditionally.

She still has a family; focusing solely on love isn't a sustainable path.

The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached. She imagined how painful it must have been for her family to see that fake Lu Jieshuang being beheaded on the execution platform.

She's too stubborn. No matter what these days have been like, she should have let her family know she's safe. It's been almost two months, and I can't imagine how much they've suffered during those two months.

Thinking this, she no longer feared the cold and quickened her pace.

When she got closer to the Marquis's residence, she was startled.

Contrary to expectations of being adorned with white banners, the Marquis's residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and hung with red silk.

The sight made her stop in her tracks, her heart pounding.

Who got married?

The Marquis's family is still in mourning, how can they hold a wedding banquet?

The cold wind lashed her face, seeping into her bones, and a chill ran through her, raising goosebumps all over her body.

She had originally planned to remove the mask from her face once she entered the Marquis's residence, but now it seems unnecessary.

She was somewhat angry; hunger and cold were making her senses increasingly unclear, and the only thing she could clearly see was her burning anger and resentment.

She went around to the back and found a small path that she had dug before when she and Li Changming secretly left the mansion, thus avoiding the guards and entering the mansion.

The atmosphere of the Marquis's mansion struck her heart like a blow.

Bright red silk ribbons hung from the eaves, and even the air was filled with joy.

The maids and servants all changed into red clothes and carried red lanterns with a "double happiness" character on them.

They chatted and laughed.

"It's so nice to have a wedding. The young lady gave us a lot of money and said we must make this wedding a grand affair."

"That's right! You can get a handful of gold seeds just for hanging up a piece of silk."

Lu Jieshuang's brow twitched. Was it Lu Jieyue's wedding?

But where would the Marquis's mansion get the money for rewards? They clearly can't even afford the cost of food.

Thinking of this, I overheard the maids discussing it.

"Sigh, I wonder if I'll still get this much reward money after this wedding banquet. Let's do as much as we can before it starts."

"Don't be so pessimistic. Let me tell you, I heard that the Marquis went out with Lord Meng to make connections with powerful people and made a lot of money from it."

If this marriage goes through, the Marquis's mansion will only become richer in the future. If the masters become rich, we servants can't help but benefit from it.

Focus on your work and stop thinking about unnecessary things.

"Thanks to this marriage, I originally thought it was inappropriate for the Marquis's mansion to hold a wedding banquet right after the Third Miss's death, but now that I think about it, it still has its advantages."

Lu Jieshuang's face was deathly pale, her lips were bloodless, and her fingers trembled slightly.

Brother, even after her death, you still have the heart to associate with the powerful and influential?

She disappeared into the night and ran to the front hall. She couldn't believe it. These servants must be making things up. Everyone knew that her brother doted on her the most. He treated her so well. He couldn't possibly be faking it!

How could that be...?

She wanted to see for herself that the words of a group of maids were not credible at all!

The people in the front hall were all drunk, with a table full of delicacies and several jars of fine wine.

"Let's drink until we drop! Come on! Let's continue!" Lu Zhufeng's face was already flushed, and his words were unclear, but joy could be seen in his eyes.

Lu Ze was already passed out on the table, muttering, "Brother-in-law, you have to help my shop attract customers."

The old lady didn't drink alcohol, but she was drinking her tonics on the side, laughing and telling jokes.

Lu Jieyue was happy and drank a few cups as well. "Brother Mengyun, if we keep drinking like this, my brother will get into trouble."

Meng Yun opened a new jar and said with a smile, "This wine is imbued with festive cheer; how can one complain about having too much joy?"

"Brother-in-law, come here!"

Lu Jieyue couldn't refuse him, so she smiled helplessly and said, "Alright, alright, I'll make some late-night snacks. Do you want some fried meatballs?"

"Whatever you say."

When Lu Jieshuang saw this scene, her shoulders trembled violently, not because of the cold, but because of an unspeakable sadness spreading deep within her heart.

The air around her seemed to freeze instantly. She clutched her chest with difficulty, as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on her.

Wei Zhaoning couldn't escape sitting there with them, but she had a strong intuition and, as if possessed, looked behind the beam and pillar, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Before Lu Jieyue could get up, she sighed, "If Ashuang were here, I would really miss her pastries."

Lu Jieshuang's empty eyes refocused.

So... the person who still cares about her is actually Wei Zhaoning?

But the reactions of others made her even more heartbroken.

Upon hearing this name, Lu Zhufeng and Lu Jieyue felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

"Why are you bringing her up out of the blue? You have nothing better to do!" Lu Jieyue said sharply.

For a moment, Meng Yun was stunned and asked, "Is it your sister who was beheaded?"

Lu Jieyue looked a little embarrassed. "Ah...yes."

Lu Zhufeng's expression was equally unpleasant.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore. She did something wrong and deserves to be punished. Why bring up someone so unlucky on such a joyous day?"

Perhaps he really had too much to drink, and the words just slipped out without thinking.

Perhaps he was about to climb the social ladder, and being associated with Lu Jieshuang's tainted reputation would be beneath him, so he was eager to distance himself from her.

Lu Jieshuang's eyes were bloodshot, and she seemed like a person of ill omen...

Wei Zhaoning said, "Your Excellency is mistaken. No matter what, Ashuang is still your own sister. How can you say such a thing?"

Lu Zhufeng got angry. "Shut up! How dare you bring that up? If you hadn't neglected to discipline her, would she have turned out like that?"

"Never mention it again!"

Meng Yun didn't speak, he just drank his wine.

Lu Jieyue hurriedly said, "Alas, our Marquis's family has strict rules. If it weren't for Wei Zhaoning's instigation, Ashuang wouldn't have been harmed. She's gone now, so let's not disturb her on such a good day."

Wei Zhaoning chuckled twice and then remained silent.

"Come on, keep drinking! The Marquis's mansion is getting better and better now. Why bring up that unbearable past? The most important thing is for the living to live well." Lu Zhufeng smiled and filled Meng Yun's cup with wine.