What else could their young miss do? Everyone in the capital knew the Duke already had a favored concubine—and her young miss reputation was tainted. She had nearly been engaged to the Crown Prince, after all. His own nephew.
The Duke would surely dislike their young miss. He was a cold, arrogant, and powerful man—second only to the Emperor in terms of authority. He rarely regarded others, often cold and unsmiling, even toward those close to him. If not for the imperial decree, would he have ever agreed to marry their young miss at all?
Thinking of their young miss's predicament, the maidservants could only lower their heads. They all had no say in this matter. After all there were just servants.
Just then, Jiang Wenhao stepped into the room. "Sister," he said softly, "this elder brother will carry you there."
He bent down before her, offering his back. Although Jiang Meihua couldn't see his face clearly through the veil, the sound of his voice—steady and familiar—brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes. It's been three years since she last saw him…
She slowly climbed onto his back, her phoenix coronet tilting slightly with the movement. Her three maidservants and the two momo followed closely behind them, silent and solemn.
When they stepped out of the room, she could hear the sound of joyful laughter—probably from her cousins and the children of the other guests.
As he walked forward, she leaned toward his ear and whispered, her voice choked with emotion, "Brother… please take care of yourself, and take care of Father and Mother for me… since I won't be able to anymore."
"Sister doesn't need to worry. I'll fulfill your filial duties in your stead," Jiang Wenhao said softly. "But you must promise to live well. If that cold-faced Duke of Loyalty and Valor dares wrong you… I'll make him pay."
Her chest tightened at his words.
Soon, they arrived at the Ancestral Hall.
The hall was bathed in the warm glow of flickering red candles. Incense smoke curled lazily into the air, weaving through the carved wooden beams and drifting around the solemn ancestral tablets lined up on the altar.
When they reached the entrance, her brother slowly lowered her to the ground. Since she couldn't see through the red silk veil, her maids stepped forward and gently supported her by the arms.
Jiang Meihua glanced toward the two figures standing side by side and immediately knew—it was her sister and the Crown Prince. But with the red veil draped over her face, she couldn't see them clearly—only their blurred, shadowy outlines.
She didn't need to see their faces anyway. Her heart was already brimming with hatred. Just the sight of those two hypocrites made her stomach turn—especially her sister, who had betrayed her for a man in her past life.
But what could she do? The Duke and the Crown Prince were never close to begin with. She should have expected it from the start
At one side of the ancestral hall, her parents sat in places of honor, surrounded by elders and relatives, quietly awaiting the start of the ceremonial rites.
Although she couldn't see their faces clearly through the red veil, Jiang Meihua was certain her father's eyes must be brimming with tears. He had always loved her deeply—she was his favorite. Her mother, on the other hand, had always shown more affection to her sister.
Fang, Ying, and Lianhua gently led her forward, guiding her to where the Crown Prince and her sister stood. With no groom at her side, the moment felt painfully awkward. But Jiang Meihua didn't care.
It's better that bastard isn't here. If he were, she might not be able to stop myself from killing him. She was already struggling to control her temper, resisting the urge to slap both the Crown Prince and her "good" sister across the face.
After they finished bowing to Heaven and Earth, and then to her parent, Jiang Meihua remained still. Since she had no groom by her side, there was no need for her to perform the final bow.
The Crown Prince and Jiang Linyue then turned to bow to each other, completing the ritual. Her parents offered a few words of blessing and advice, and with that, the formalities were done.
Her sister, now glowing with happiness, was helped into the luxurious Dragon and Phoenix Sedan Chair, leaving first with the Crown Prince. They were escorted by imperial envoys, ceremonial guards, and a grand procession of family members and noble guests.
Soon after, two stern-faced momo approached Jiang Meihua and assisted her into the Phoenix Sedan Chair. As the bridal procession began to move, accompanied by ceremonial envoys, attendants, and a handful of people from her maiden home, Jiang Meihua sat quietly inside.
Jiang Meihua closed her eyes, her thoughts drifting back to what had happened at this very moment in her previous life.
If she remembered correctly, on their wedding night, Wang Junhao hadn't touched her. He hadn't even wanted to sleep beside her. But, being part of the imperial family, he still stayed in the bridal chamber—at least for appearance's sake. Etiquette meant everything to them.
She hadn't minded back then. In fact, she had been relieved. She didn't want to sleep with him either.
But the next morning, everything changed. His beloved white moonlight—that woman—had suddenly fallen ill. Without hesitation, Wang Junhao had left her chamber and gone straight to the concubine's bedside.
He abandoned her his wife on the second day of their marriage. Rumors had spread like wildfire throughout the Duke's mansion at the time. The servants became even less respectful toward her, and looks of pity followed her wherever she went. She had never felt more humiliated.
"What kind of main wife gets ignored while her husband rushes off to comfort a concubine on the second day of their marriage?"
"Even though she already despised Wang Junhao for robbing her of a future with the Crown Prince, she hadn't expected to be treated like a joke in her own marriage. That was when the seed of hatred for that concubine truly took root in her heart."
She was born into a noble family, with pride etched deep into her bones. How could she possibly allow a mere concubine—just the daughter of some fallen military officer from a low-ranking family—to humiliate her?
That shame festered into fury. And so, in her previous life, she had begun retaliating—slowly, cruelly—making that woman's days in the manor unbearable.
While lost in her thoughts, the imperial envoy carried her sedan chair through the Duke of Loyalty and Valor's grand gates and into the front hall.
The two momo stepped forward and helped her down from the sedan chair, guiding her to where Wang Junhao was standing.
Even with the red veil covering her vision, Jiang Meihua could hear the soft hum of conversation all around her—whispers, speculation, laughter.
Through the red, slightly obscuring veil covering her face, she could make out the vague silhouette of her groom—Wang Junhao.
She couldn't see his features clearly through the veil, but she knew it was him. The cold, oppressive aura surrounding him was unmistakable.Her fists clenched tightly inside her sleeves as she forced herself to stay still. Don't run… you can't run now… Even now, she still felt that lingering fear.
The official overseeing the ceremony stepped forward. "First bow—to Heaven and Earth!"
In perfect sync, Jiang Meihua and Wang Junhao bowed solemnly to Heaven and Earth.
"Second bow—to the parents!"
Since the previous emperor had passed, Wang Junhao's mother—the Dowager Empress Xiang—had made a rare appearance from the palace to attend her son's wedding.
Then the official raised his voice once more, "Husband and wife, bow to each other!"
Then, they bowed to each other—the final rite between husband and wife. Once the formalities were complete, Jiang Meihua was led away to the bridal chamber, while Wang Junhao remained behind to entertain the guests.
By the time she arrived in the bridal chamber, Jiang Meihua felt utterly drained. It's finally over...
Hearing the soft footsteps of the momo leaving, Jiang Meihua slowly lifted her veil.
"Eldest Miss!" Fang and Ying cried out in alarm. Ying rushed forward. "Miss you can't do that—the Duke must personally lift your veil!"
Jiang Meihua didn't want to bother explaining to them. She already knew the truth about this marriage. Wang Junhao would never love her, and she didn't care to love him either. All she wanted from this marriage… was peace.
And as for revenge… what power did she even have to take it? Her bastard husband who killed her in her previous life was immensely powerful—even more so than the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince himself held great authority, and her sister, now his wife, had his full backing. They were all untouchable… while she was completely powerless. So, she chose not to waste time thinking about things she couldn't control. As long as she avoid the Crown Prince and that scheming sister of her's, that bastard Wang Junhao won't get another chance to kill me.