Not only was Lady Lu there, but also Lu Huaizhou's younger full - blooded sister, Lu Qingyu.
She was shy by nature, yet she walked up to the carriage herself to greet her. "Qingyu welcomes sister - in - law back to the mansion."
Jiang Fuying looked at Lu Huaizhou in surprise. "My lord, what's this about?"
"Don't be nervous. This is all mother and Qingyu's kind gesture."
As he said this, he winked at her.
Before Jiang Fuying could figure out his meaning, he lifted the carriage curtain, jumped out of the carriage before her, and reached out his hand to her. "My lady, we're finally back at the mansion."
Jiang Fuying suddenly understood.
This Lord Lu was trying to act like an affectionate couple with her in front of his mother and sister.
He had helped her at the Jiang family today, and now it was time for her to return the favor.
So she gave a faint smile and cooperated with him. "Thank you, my husband."
On the surface, their hands were clasped, and he helped her out of the carriage. In fact, Lu Huaizhou's palm was deeply concave, trying his best to avoid touching her palm.
Feeling his tense nerves, Jiang Fuying was quite surprised.
As the well - known playboy in the capital, he was actually... afraid of having skin - to - skin contact with women?
Could this be just her illusion?
Her intense gaze made Lu Huaizhou feel uncomfortable.
He had no choice but to remind her softly. "Mother is waiting for us to enter the mansion."
Jiang Fuying suddenly came back to her senses.
Right in front, Lady Lu was smiling and watching them.
With an elder present, they should act like an affectionate couple to the fullest.
Jiang Fuying whispered, "Please cooperate with me, my husband."
Before Lu Huaizhou could react, the next second, she took his arm on her own initiative.
Lu Huaizhou's body suddenly stiffened.
Was she...
Jiang Fuying bowed slightly and saluted Lady Lu. "Mother, we're back."
"It's good that you're back." Lady Lu had already heard what had happened at the Jiang family and felt pity for her. "Since you've entered our Zhennan Duke's Mansion, from now on, we're a family."
Jiang Fuying's heart trembled violently.
In two lifetimes, neither the Jiang family nor the Pingning Marquis's Mansion had ever regarded her as one of their own. This was the first time an elder was willing to treat her as "family"...
Seeing her in a daze, Lu Qingyu led the way for her with a smile. "This way, sister - in - law."
At first, Jiang Fuying didn't have a clear idea of what Lu Huaizhou meant by "welcoming you grandly".
She thought the Zhennan Duke's Mansion was just trying to maintain a good appearance.
It wasn't until she stepped into the Zhennan Duke's Mansion and saw the colorful silk ribbons everywhere and the lanterns and decorations that she really felt it.
"Fuying, I'm sorry you had to suffer during the wedding ceremony the other day." Lady Lu looked apologetic and said sincerely, "The imperial - bestowed wedding can't be held again. After discussing with Huaizhou and Qingyu, we decided to welcome you back to the mansion grandly..."
Lu Qingyu beside her nodded vigorously and asked her carefully, "Sister - in - law, do you like the decoration of the mansion?"
Tears welled up in her autumn - water - like eyes.
She never expected that the Lu family not only didn't reject her for being a substitute bride but also truly regarded her as "family" in action.
Noticing the tears in her eyes, Lu Huaizhou, whose arm she was holding, deliberately changed the topic.
"Aren't you hungry, my lady?"
The touching atmosphere was immediately broken by him. Jiang Fuying looked puzzled.
"Huh?"
The next second, Lu Huaizhou pouted, and the topic took a 180 - degree turn.
"Mother, is there any refreshment in the mansion?" He looked aggrieved. "The wedding - visit banquet at the Jiang family was full of traps. I didn't want to stay there any longer. I only took a few bites and then brought Fuying back."
Jiang Fuying was a bit stunned.
He actually took the blame on himself.
But he had already helped her so much. How could she let him bear all the blame alone?
"Mother, actually not only my husband..."
Someone gently tugged at her sleeve.
While she was in a daze, Lu Huaizhou interrupted her. "Mother, actually it's all my fault today at the wedding - visit banquet! I'm used to being willful. I can't stand those villains' faces."
Lady Lu had already heard the inside story. She didn't think there was anything wrong with what her son and daughter - in - law had done.
So instead, she kindly greeted Jiang Fuying. "Fuying, I've asked someone to prepare some refreshments. I don't know if they suit your taste."
"Since you didn't eat much lunch, let's have dinner earlier."
...
In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere here, the other side was extremely quiet.
After Jiang Fuyue recognized the authenticity of the Yingyu bracelet, she was extremely angry. But in order to win Pei Qing'an's heart, she had to pretend to be understanding. "My husband, I see you still have official business to attend to. How about we go back to the mansion first?"
Pei Qing'an didn't comment on her understanding.
Just when the carriage was about to reach the Pingning Marquis's Mansion, it suddenly stopped on the way.
"My lord, my lady, there's a servant from the Zhennan Duke's Mansion blocking the road ahead."
Jiang Fuyue was already annoyed, and now she was even more indignant. "What's going on? Why are they blocking the road for no reason?"
"The Zhennan Duke's Mansion just set off firecrackers and is now cleaning the street."
Hearing this, Jiang Fuyue immediately lifted the carriage curtain.
Looking closely, the ground was covered with the marks left by the red firecrackers.
In front of the Zhennan Duke's Mansion, there were more than a dozen servants cleaning the street.
From time to time, she could hear the servants' discussions in her ears.
"The duke and the duchess really value the young mistress!"
"Of course! Since yesterday, the duchess, the duke, and the third young lady have been secretly preparing these firecrackers for the young mistress. They did this to welcome the young mistress back grandly today!"
"These firecrackers are not the most important part! The duchess said that she couldn't let the young mistress feel wronged, so she made a grand arrangement inside the mansion..."
The more Jiang Fuyue listened, the more uncomfortable she felt.
She bit her lower lip tightly, and her hands almost wrung the handkerchief to pieces.
Why didn't the Lu family use such a grand welcome ceremony for her in her previous life?!
"Do you think the Pingning Marquis's Mansion next door has prepared a welcome ceremony for their young mistress?"
The curious words of the servant reached Jiang Fuyue's ears, lighting a glimmer of hope in her heart.
She looked at Pei Qing'an expectantly and said softly, "My husband, does our mansion have any ceremony?"
Pei Qing'an pretended to be closing his eyes to rest and didn't respond.
Of course, he could hear the servants' discussions outside, but he only thought it was ridiculous.
Lu Huaizhou, a playboy, was inferior to him in every aspect. He could only put on a show on the surface to try to outshine him.
But why should he fall for Lu Huaizhou's trick?
Seeing that he was unmoved, the glimmer of hope in Jiang Fuyue's heart was extinguished.
She quickly put down the carriage curtain.
Out of sight, out of mind!
That playboy Lu Huaizhou, who only knew how to indulge in pleasure, only had such tricks!
The so - called welcome ceremony was just a passing cloud. What really mattered was to live a prosperous and happy life!
As for her naive older sister Jiang Fuying?
Jiang Fuyue sneered contemptuously.
Let Jiang Fuying think that she had married into a good family that would treat her well!