Ashes of Delight

At the onset of the Dog Hour, the marquisate of Luyang was ablaze with lanterns and festooned with banners. At the bustling main gate, the servants had just lit a string of a thousand firecrackers, their explosions crackling into the night.

But in the bridal chamber at the rear of the estate, all was silent.

With a sudden crash, Bai Huan hurled the pearl-inlaid lattice fan to the ground and sprang to her feet, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on the harsh glare of firelight outside. The despair of her death had yet to dissipate; her clenched fists trembled uncontrollably.

She could not fathom why, after dying, she had returned to the very moment of the wedding ceremony.

All the calamities that followed had their origin tonight.

Deceit, forced marriage, exchanged grooms, the theft of wealth, the demotion from wife to concubine, and finally, the annihilation of her entire family!

“They have gone too far! How dare they secretly switch the groom on the wedding night? The Bai family is not one to be trifled with! We must confront them and demand justice!”

The maid, Chenxiang, was so incensed that she flung the door open, intent on storming out.

“Stop,” Bai Huan commanded, seizing her and forcing herself to keep her emotions in check, not wanting Chenxiang to sense anything amiss.

“Chenxiang, go and fetch Fourth Young Master Gu here.”

Chenxiang stamped her foot in protest. “Miss, what do you want with that good-for-nothing brat who hasn’t even grown hair yet! Our rightful groom should be the legitimate eldest son, Gu Dalan