Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 006

Chapter 6

When Du Zhiqi returned, the sun was hidden beneath the high and low bricks and tiles of the Imperial City, and the night wind blew the newly lit lanterns, spreading a dim light.

Old gatekeeper Wen Bo did not open the gate for a long time, so he did not call out again. He let his servant clear the way and quietly returned to his residence, staying directly in the outer courtyard.

Just now, as Du Zhiqi emerged from the gates of the Imperial Clan Court, he saw Ruan Gong galloping towards him, but he had already delivered the name card ahead of him.

Feeling a lingering fear of having acted too hastily and not wanting to lose face in front of the Imperial Clan Court because of his niece’s steward, he quickly boarded the Gu family’s carriage.

He followed the Gu family’s carriage away, and Ruan Gong could no longer approach.

Now that things had come to this, it was impossible to get the name card back. The Shao family would then ask the Emperor to bestow a marriage decree, thus finalizing the engagement between the two families.

Although the matter was settled, contrary to his niece’s previous words, Du Zhiqi was still afraid of her and that she would come to him crying and making a scene again.

Ultimately, she was her elder brother’s only remaining bloodline. Would it not be shameful for the uncle and niece to have such a public falling out?

He could not help but ask the servant in a low voice, “What is the eldest young lady doing?”

The servant replied, “The eldest young lady is in the west courtyard.”

“What is she doing?”

The servant was puzzled. “The young lady is not doing anything. The west courtyard is quiet, just like the past two days.”

Du Zhiqi was stunned.

Did she not already know? This meant…seeing that there was no way to turn things around, she had given up?

*

Beside the Second Madam’s bedside, Du Runqing held an empty medicine bowl for an unknown amount of time, her mind wandering.

A single sentence from the maid Rui-Xue immediately brought her back to her senses.

“Miss, the Second Master is back.”

“Father’s back? Was the name card delivered?”

Rui-Xue was still unsure. “This servant will inquire right away.”

Before she finished speaking, a person entered, lifting the curtain, and said immediately, “No need to inquire. The card was delivered, and the matter was settled.”

Du Runqing and Rui-Xue both looked up.

“Oh, Nanny Guan is here?” Rui-Xue quickly went to help her.

Du Runqing could not help but be delighted. “Why is Nanny here?”

The person who came was none other than Nanny Guan, the Old Lady Wan’s trusted confidante.

Du Runqing asked Rui-Xue to make tea. Nanny Guan glanced at the Second Madam first, seeing that she had taken her medicine and was sleeping soundly, then sat down by the small lamp by the window.

“It was the Old Madam who sent me. She said the young lady is young and inexperienced in such matters, and this mishap must be distressing. She sent me to comfort her.”

The words made the small lamplight flicker, and Du Runqing’s tears instantly fell.

Nanny Guan exclaimed in surprise and quickly offered her a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but Du Runqing’s tears flowed even more freely.

Originally, she only wanted to use her mother’s sudden illness as an excuse to invite her maternal grandmother to the Du family.

The marriage between the Shao and Du families was arranged by her maternal grandmother, but her father, persuaded by her eldest sister, went back on his word and refused to discuss it again. Not only was she anxious to see the opportunity slip away, but her maternal grandmother was the first to object.

That was why her maternal grandmother instructed her to stop her mother’s medication for two days and dismissed the maids. They had only intended for her mother to come out briefly, but unexpectedly, she was startled and fell down the stone steps, hitting her forehead…

Du Runqing’s heart trembled at the thought of her mother’s blood-covered face, and tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Seeing that Old Lady Wan had indeed predicted this, Nanny Guan quickly comforted her.

“Today’s events were purely accidental. It was all the servants’ overreaction that frightened Madam.”

Du Runqing still covered her face and cried, “If I had not stopped Mother’s medicine and sent everyone away, how could Mother have ended up in such a dangerous situation?”

She still blamed herself, but Nanny Guan said, “Normally, you would never have done such a thing, Miss. In the end, it was all because of your eldest sister’s troublemaking. First, she persuaded your father to lose his composure, and then she kept the whole family under her watch, preventing them from moving. That’s why Old Lady Wan and Miss resorted to this drastic measure.”

These words caused Du Runqing’s sobs to pause slightly, and Nanny Guan patted her shoulder.

“Do not cry, young lady. It’s all settled now. The old lady said you were very composed; even with a slight mistake, you did not panic. You are truly someone about to come of age, quite different now.”

Her grandmother’s praise finally stopped the young girl’s tears. Since her mother’s accident, she felt like the sky had fallen. Fortunately, her grandmother had arranged for her mother to be brought to the capital and had always taken care of her and guided her.

She stopped crying. Looking at her red eyes, Nanny Guan teased her.

“Putting everything else aside, it’s truly heartbreaking to see you crying like this, young lady. After you come of age and get married, who knows how much your husband will love you? Even the strongest will melt into tenderness.”

Du Runqing’s face flushed red instantly.

“What are you saying, Nanny? How old am I?”

Nanny Guan laughed even harder. “Does the young lady not have someone she likes?”

Du Runqing was at a loss for words, her head bowed low, her neck turning bright red.

Nanny Guan laughed uncontrollably but stopped teasing her, instead sighing.

“This is the proper way for a young lady. Look at your elder sister, clinging to her deceased betrothed and refusing to remarry. With her parents gone, she should listen to her uncle, yet she argues with him endlessly. How can a woman act like this?”

“And the son-in-law, such a big matter, just stopped by his niece. Does he think the marriage arranged by the Shao family is a joke?”

Nanny Guan recalled that earlier in Old Lady Wan’s carriage, when the old lady mentioned the marriage, Second Master Du had said no, fearing there were many inappropriate considerations.

The old lady could not help but scold him.

“You are utterly foolish! You rejected the Shao family’s offer so easily; why did you not just slap them in the face? Let the whole capital see you slap the Shao family in the face!”

Second Master Du turned pale and repeatedly said he did not mean it that way. The old lady ignored him, simply having someone bring out the prepared pen and ink, watching him write the name card, and then the carriage took him directly to the Imperial Clan Court.

That was how the matter was finally settled.

Du Runqing listened in a daze but still asked Nanny Guan, “What if my eldest sister makes a scene again?”

Nanny Guan laughed. “The old lady said that even if your eldest young lady is capable, can she go to the palace to get that name card back? Or can she bring her Grand Secretary father back to life to protect her? Nothing’s possible.” Nanny Guan chuckled. “At most, she will make a scene at home and cry a couple of times, but that will not amount to anything. This is the capital; it’s not a place she can cause trouble.”

Nanny Guan left shortly after. Du Runqing saw her off and then listened intently in the west courtyard.

The west courtyard was completely silent, as if they knew nothing at all.

Du Runqing felt a growing unease, but Nanny Guan was right. What else could her sister do?

*

In the West Courtyard.

Qiu-Lin sat on the bed, arms crossed, tears streaming down her face. She did not want to cry out loud and be heard, to avoid making a fool of her young mistress, but the tears just would not stop flowing.

“The Eldest Master treated the Second Master well when he was alive. He never forgot about him, even arranging a separate house for him. And yet, only a few years after the Eldest Master’s death, he’s already bullying his own niece like this?”

Ruan Gong sighed beside her, taking a handkerchief to wipe her tears, only to hear her say angrily again.

“And the Second Young Lady, we really underestimated her. Can an act really go this far? No wonder she’s crying so bitterly; she did not expect the Second Madam to hurt her head, did she? Now that the Second Madam is injured, will she and her grandmother not blame our young lady for not obeying the Second Master’s wishes, causing this situation? Will we not have to feel sorry for them being wronged and comfort her?”

Ruan Gong’s face darkened. “In the end, it was our carelessness.”

Qiu-Lin agreed, “It’s all your fault. It’s just the two of us left for the young lady, and you never consider her feelings. At the beginning of the year, you even promised her a good match, saying we could get married once she was settled. Now look what’s happened! Her name card is in the palace, and her marriage is no longer her own choice!”

Ruan Gong and Qiu-Lin had been betrothed since childhood, arranged by their parents. But after the Master passed away, Qiu-Lin couldn’t bear to see her young lady alone and delayed the marriage, wanting only to stay with her.

That was why Ruan Gong said those words. Now, Ruan Gong sighed, “It’s my fault. I won’t say anything more.”

But things had already come to this. The more Qiu-Lin thought about their current situation, the angrier she became, and tears streamed down her face. But she told herself she couldn’t cry anymore; swollen eyes would only make her more of a laughingstock.

She wiped away her tears and got off the bed. “The young lady has been restoring ancient books in her room all day without eating anything. She should at least eat something, shouldn’t she?”

She took some snacks to Du Lingjing’s room.

“Miss, would you like something to eat? This white rice cake is something I had Ruan Gong buy from the foot of Baita Temple. Didn’t you use to like this?”

She saw the young woman sitting by the window, repairing ancient books. The pages of which were torn and tattered. The young woman gently picked at the leaves with bamboo tweezers, placing a sheet of Xuan paper underneath to try to decipher the blurred characters.

The young woman didn’t answer until she brought the cake closer. Only then did she look up at the sky.

“Has Chang-Pu returned from Cangzhou?”

The young woman’s voice was slightly hoarse, but Qiu-Lin, having received no news, shook her head dejectedly. “Miss, please eat something first. He might have been delayed on the way.”

Du Lingjing didn’t touch the white rice cake on the table but simply looked at the sky and frowned.

“Today is the third day.”

Today was the twelfth day of the eighth month, the third day since Chang-Pu went to Cangzhou to find Hu Tingjun. In three days, it would be the Mid-Autumn Festival.

How could Qiu-Lin not know that the imperial decree for marriage would arrive right after the Mid-Autumn Festival? But Chang-Pu hadn’t returned yet.

Just then, Ruan Gong approached the door.

“Miss, Chang-Pu is back!”

Du Lingjing immediately called Chang-Pu in.

Chang-Pu had just dismounted, his legs barely straight. Du Lingjing asked if the letter had been delivered, and he shook his head, panting heavily.

“No, Miss, it wasn’t delivered…”

Du Lingjing frowned, and Ruan Gong couldn’t help but kick him.

“What’s wrong with you? Tell us quickly!”

Seeing his parched throat, Qiu-Lin poured him a bowl of water and forced it down his throat. “Alright, don’t keep the young lady waiting; tell us quickly!”

Chang-Pu caught his breath and then spoke.

“Young Lady, something has happened to the Hu family!”

He said he went straight to Second Lady Hu’s house upon arriving in Cangzhou, but Second Lady Hu and her husband, Guo Ting, left a month ago and never returned. They didn’t say where they were going; for the first half of the month, they sent messages back to let her know they were safe, but later, there was no further news.

With Hu Tingjun and her husband missing, the messages couldn’t be delivered.

Chang-Pu arrived late because, as he explained, “I went to the Hu family’s eldest son’s house again.”

Hu Tinglan was an official in the capital, but several months ago, he was temporarily transferred to Zhending.

Du Lingjing asked in a deep voice, “What’s the situation at the Hu family’s eldest son’s house?”

She asked, but Chang-Pu shook his head even more.

“The Hu family’s eldest son’s house is deserted; they left more than a month ago. According to the neighbors, the Hu family left in a hurry, almost overnight!”

The Hu siblings had both disappeared, and without any warning. The air in the room seemed to freeze.

Shao Boju and Hu Tinglan had been friends for over ten years, sharing joys and sorrows, even facing life-or-death situations together—a fact known to all.

Now that the Hu family was missing, did he still have the leisure to remarry?

Qiu-Lin saw Du Lingjing lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

But the next moment, the young woman suddenly looked up and called to Ruan Gong.

“Take my visiting card and invite Shao Tanhua to meet me at Zhenyue Tower.”

*

On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, one day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the entire capital was adorned with fruits and mooncakes for moon worship.

The streets were teeming with people, especially the Lantern Market Street in front of Zhenyue Tower, where tall lanterns were hung early, dazzling and colorful, attracting crowds from all over the city.

As the largest teahouse on the Lantern Market Street, Zhenyue Tower was bustling with activity. Under the bright lights, the entire building was as bright as day, with people constantly coming and going.

Du Lingjing hadn’t been to such a bustling place in many years. She initially thought it was too crowded to enter, but overheard the lively conversation of the tea drinkers around her.

“It’s strange; Zhenyue Tower is acting strangely today. First, I saw Scholar Shao grace us with his presence, which is quite normal. Then, guess who I saw?”

Everyone craned their necks, but the man still looked as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I just saw Marquis of Yongding, Marquis Lu!”

His words drew gasps of surprise from everyone.

Who didn’t know that these two were bitter enemies in the capital, from opposing factions vying for the Crown Prince position? Let alone appearing in the same teahouse, who, besides the palace, could possibly allow them to be in the same place?

Someone said he was mistaken. “Impossible. With the Shao family here, Marquis Lu couldn’t possibly be here. You must have imagined it. Zhenyue Tower doesn’t have that kind of influence!”

Indeed, only the Shao family’s sedan chair was outside; the Marquis’s horse was nowhere to be seen.

Du Lingjing didn’t care whether the Marquis came or not; she only knew that Shao Boju had arrived, and that put her mind at ease.

She walked through the bustling hall, but seeing the main staircase in the center packed with people, she had to turn towards a dimly lit, secluded corner staircase.

There were fewer people here, and the noise was partially masked by a row of tall, wall-like lights. Ruan Gong cleared a path for Du Lingjing, and she headed towards a private room on the third floor.

As she turned the corner on the second floor, she glanced up the stairs to avoid bumping into someone.

But just as she looked up, two boys rushed towards her on the stairs, shoving her around. Du Lingjing had no time to dodge and was thrown backward, her foot slipping and falling.

She gasped and hurriedly reached for the handrail when a gust of wind suddenly swept behind her.

Someone stepped behind her, and before she could react, the person had caught her, a hand resting on her waist.

Zhenyue Tower remained noisy, the sounds of voices and music mingling together, the bright lights illuminating the entire building.

Du Lingjing saw the person supporting her from behind.

The man’s brows were slightly furrowed, two faint scars crisscrossing his high, straight nose. His eyes were like inkstones, and his lips were slightly pursed.

“Did you sprain your ankle?” The man’s voice was hoarse and sharp.

Du Lingjing had never heard such a voice before. As for his face, for a moment she felt she had seen it before, but she couldn’t quite place it.

She didn’t answer him immediately, but felt a warmth from the hand on her waist, along with a slight increase in his pressure.

That pressure contained an inexplicable control, and his question just now implied an unspoken intimacy.

It seemed their relationship went far beyond this.

Du Lingjing was startled, then quickly pulled her hand away from his.

The man stood just one step below her, slightly ahead of her, and in the dim light of the lamplight, his eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

Seeing she was unharmed, he glanced at her and said softly in a hoarse voice.

“There have been too many people at Zhenyue Tower these past few days; it’s inconvenient everywhere.” He paused, then continued, his gaze gently falling on her eyelashes, his voice seeming even lower. “There are no good people here; it’s better not to come.”

The noisy voices and music flickered the lights in the hallway, and Du Lingjing saw the dim red light reflecting on his dark eyes, making them appear soft and gentle, as if waiting for her to heed his advice and turn away from Shao Boju.

Du Lingjing was momentarily dazed.

But the next moment, her brows furrowed slightly.

“Excuse me, do I know you?”