Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 010

Chapter 10

The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival moon worship, the imperial decree for the marriage would be issued from either the Dong’an Gate or the Xi’an Gate.

Before dawn, the two palace gates in the capital were already crowded with people searching.

The two most important marriages this year were the marriage between the Shao family and the Du family, and the marriage of the Marquis of Yongding to his wife.

What appeared to be just two marriages was actually a covert competition, a contest to see which side could garner the most support.

However, news circulated last night that the relationship between the Shao family and the Du family might be in jeopardy.

Many people had placed heavy bets on this marriage, and now, outside the two palace gates, everyone was watching with wide eyes.

As the sun rose high in the sky, the first imperial edict, led by a eunuch, was delivered from the Xi’an Gate.

A group of people followed the eunuch into the city, and soon the news was confirmed: the Emperor had bestowed a marriage upon a member of the imperial family to the daughter of a civil official.

Shortly afterward, news arrived from the Dong’an Gate that another imperial edict had been delivered to a member of the imperial family, this time to a county princess marrying into an earl’s household.

Both marriages involved alliances within the imperial family, but one was an alliance with a refined civil official, while the other was an alliance with a powerful military general.

Some could not help but sigh, “The civil and military officials have been at odds since the founding of the dynasty, causing countless troubles. Now, even the Emperor has to worry about this. The civil and military are difficult to reconcile, and the Emperor is in a difficult position…”

The crowd discussed, then looked towards the palace gates.

Every year, the marriage alliances between imperial relatives would begin, and this year was likely no exception; the grand finale would surely be later.

However, despite everyone’s anticipation from morning until noon, no one emerged from the palace. Not only was the long-awaited main event nowhere to be seen, but not even a single imperial decree for bestowing marriages was issued.

“This…”

Noon passed, and the palace gates remained tightly shut. In previous years, this meant there was no further imperial decree for bestowing marriages.

In an instant, the entire capital was in an uproar.

In the Gu Mansion on Huanghua Lane, Old Lady Wan was still waiting for the final news.

But Master Gu, who had personally gone to inquire, returned, shaking his head with a grim expression.

Old Lady Wan’s heart sank.

But Gu Yangsi had not finished speaking.

“The Emperor not only did not arrange a marriage for the Shao family but also exempted Shao Boju from his recent duties as Prince Yong’s tutor, replacing him with someone else. Prince Yong spoke up for Shao Boju, but the Emperor only told him to focus on his studies and not think about unrelated matters.”

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Wan clutched her chest.

The matter between the Shao and Du families was truly over.

Lady Liang quickly served Old Lady Wan some calming tea, which Old Lady Wan drank the entire bowl of before regaining her composure.

“Even if this matter does not work out, we cannot let other families’ marriage alliances be affected.”

She said to Lady Liang, “You mentioned that the Huang family of Jinan and the Shen family of Shunde wanted to send their daughters to me; let them send them over.”

As long as other families still sought her matchmaking services, her title as the “Matchmaker of the Capital” would remain secure.

Gu Yangsi readily agreed, “Everyone knows Mother’s abilities. This time it was all because that Du family girl caused trouble; otherwise, this marriage would definitely have gone through.”

At this point, Old Lady Wan’s expression changed.

“That’s why I had the young lady sent to me first. I will personally train her. I do not expect her to be exceptionally well-trained, but she must at least be obedient and respectful and absolutely must not develop any improper thoughts or think she’s something special, causing trouble for no reason.”

Gu Yangsi nodded in agreement but asked, “That Du family…”

Old Lady Wan, having regained her composure, gave a soft snort.

“Unless Du Lingjing cuts her hair and becomes a nun, I will marry her off sooner or later. Then, there will not be a top scholar like Shao Boju waiting for her.”

*

At the Du Mansion in Chengqing Ward.

Du Zhiqi also received the news that Shao Boju had been dismissed from his position as tutor to Prince Yong.

Without the imperial decree of marriage, and with the Shao family receiving a cold reception, Du Zhiqi broke out in a cold sweat.

He looked up from his study, annoyed, and saw Du Lingjing.

“What is she doing now?” Du Zhiqi was on edge whenever his niece did anything these days.

A servant went to inquire and returned with a sniff.

“The eldest young lady is talking to Uncle Wen in the same room, asking if he’s returning to Qingzhou.”

Du Zhiqi was stunned. “She’s going back to Qingzhou?”

The servant said he saw Qiu-Lin instructing people to pack her luggage. “Probably… Should Master stop her?”

Du Zhiqi was momentarily stunned, then his eyes widened.

“If she wants to leave, let her leave! Am I supposed to stop her and let her continue stirring up trouble in the capital?!”

The servant dared not speak.

Du Zhiqi felt even more sweat on his neck; he took a handkerchief and wiped it repeatedly.

He truly could not imagine what would happen if Du Lingjing stayed in the capital and one day suddenly changed her mind and married a high-ranking official.

He repeated his instructions to the servant.

“No one is allowed to stop her. Let her leave immediately!”

Du Lingjing had not planned to come to the capital in the first place. Now that the storm had subsided, she certainly would not stay.

At the gate of the mansion, she said to Wen Bo, “Come back to Qingzhou with me. I will take care of you in your old age.”

Her voice, like a draft through the doorway, brought tears to Wen Bo’s aged eyes.

Du Lingjing grasped his hand.

In the fourth year of Yinyou, Wen Bo’s two sons, along with Ruan Gong’s father, perished in a flash flood while accompanying her father on his journey back to the capital to resume his post…

She and Ruan Gong had lost their father, and old Wen Bo was now without any children.

Wen Bo’s tears streamed down his face, down his wrinkled cheeks, and onto the ground with a soft patter.

“Alright,” he said in a trembling voice, “this old servant will accompany you back, young lady.”

Du Lingjing’s nose stung with tears.

But then Chang-Pu burst in like a whirlwind, nearly bumping into Du Lingjing.

Ruan Gong, who was attending him, stepped forward to kick him, but Chang-Pu quickly begged for mercy.

“I am so happy! Miss bet against the marriage between the Shao family and ours, and it did not work out! You won! You’ve struck it rich!”

Ruan Gong stopped, then quickly asked, “How much did you win with those five hundred taels, Miss?”

Chang-Pu exclaimed, “Your five hundred taels practically blew up Qianxing District! You won more than seven times your initial investment! After Qianxing District took their cut, there are still three thousand taels left!”

Wen Bo was astonished. “I’ve been in the capital for so many years, and I’ve never heard of anyone winning three thousand in one go at Qianxing District.”

Ruan Gong was also delighted, but then, remembering something, he looked at Du Lingjing and said, “Qianxing District is too greedy. They took so much money.”

Winning money was good, but he had to remind the young lady that gambling dens were not good places.

The young lady was a refined and cultured scholar; she should not fall into this addiction.

He gestured cryptically, but the girl did not respond, only smiling at Chang-Pu. “Can you take out the money today?”

Chang-Pu shook her head. “Not yet, Miss.”

He said someone had bet five hundred taels on the Marquis’s marriage this year, but neither the Shao family nor the Marquis of Yongding’s mansion had received the imperial decree for the marriage. Everyone said he had lost all five hundred taels, but he refused to believe it.

“How could that be? I have word that the Marquis is definitely getting married this year!”

He ordered Qianxing District not to distribute the money. “The sun has not set yet; let’s wait until it does!”

Chang-Pu told Du Lingjing, “Because of this, Qianxing District said they will distribute the money in three days.”

Ruan Gong frowned. “Miss is preparing to set off early tomorrow morning.”

“Ah! Then Miss is not waiting for them to distribute the money?”

Du Lingjing smiled and kept Chang-Pu, “You wait for me.”

“But Miss would be so happy to see the money distributed in person!”

Chang-Pu said, seeing the young lady smile again, but the interest in her eyes slowly faded.

“Third Master is still waiting for me at home.”

Upon hearing this, Chang-Pu immediately fell silent.

These past few years, every time the young lady went out, she counted the days until she returned to Qingzhou.

Every time, the young lady would say that Third Master was still waiting for her at home.

If only Master Jiang could really wait for the young lady at home…

Ruan Gong lowered his head silently, Wen Bo sighed softly, and Du Lingjing remained calm.

After a moment of silence, Chang-Pu perked up again.

“Then I will wait for the money in the capital for the young lady! I will exchange it for silver notes and bring them back to her!”

Du Lingjing smiled and nodded at him, then, as if remembering something, she gave Ruan Gong another instruction.

“Tell Her Imperial Highness that I thank her very much for speaking up for me last night. If it were up to her nature, she would not usually concern herself with such matters. In any case, please send all the Changqing tea we brought from Jinan to Her Imperial Highness.”

Ruan Gong accepted the order and left.

Someone secretly peeked out from inside the second gate of the main courtyard; it was Du Runqing’s maid, Rui-Xue.

She turned to her young mistress beside her and said, “Miss, the Eldest Young Lady is really leaving.”

The leaves rustled in the corner of the wall. Du Runqing’s thoughts were in turmoil, and these words made her even more disoriented.

Her eldest sister really had refused this marriage.

She had truly done it on her own; even her father, maternal grandmother, and the Shao family could not stop her.

Even her father, maternal grandmother, and the Shao family would likely face further difficulties because of this failed marriage.

Du Runqing was still somewhat incredulous.

Was her eldest sister truly spared from being betrothed to the Shao family?

Just then, the rustling of the leaves paused briefly as the wind subsided, but suddenly, the sound of clapping clearing the way came from outside the door.

Du Lingjing, standing at the door, also heard the clapping.

A moment of silence fell outside the Du Mansion.

Then, guards cleared the way, and Eunuch Yang, the Emperor’s personal attendant, appeared at the Du family’s gate. He spotted Du Lingjing standing at the door and smiled.

“So, Miss, you’ve been waiting here all along?”

He said, “That’s perfect! The entire Du family, come out! The Emperor has issued an edict; shall the Du family receive it?”

Du Lingjing was taken aback.

Inside the main courtyard, the maid Rui-Xue was also startled but quickly grabbed Du Runqing’s hand.

“Miss, the imperial edict has arrived!”

Du Runqing’s eyes widened suddenly.

“I knew it…”

She knew it; how could her father, maternal grandmother, and Madam Shao be no match for her eldest sister alone?

Her eldest sister was just a helpless orphan…

On the other side, Du Zhiqi, hearing that an imperial edict had arrived at the door, practically ran out of his study.

When he saw his niece standing stunned at the door and then saw Eunuch Yang beside the Emperor, holding a golden imperial edict in his hands, he could not help but take a deep breath.

It was here; the imperial edict had finally arrived.

As he passed his niece, he could not help but mutter to himself.

“You’d better watch yourself. The Shao family is not so easily brought down by you!”

Having said this, he respectfully stepped forward.

“Eunuch Yang, we’ve kept you waiting. The entire Du family has arrived.”

Eunuch Yang’s gaze swept over him, then over the crowd, finally settling on Du Lingjing.

“Then, everyone, please receive the edict.”

…

At the Gu residence in Huanghua Lane.

Upon hearing that the imperial edict had arrived at the Du family, Old Lady Wan immediately stood up.

It was done! The marriage she personally arranged before the Emperor had finally been arranged!

She could not help but murmur a Buddhist prayer, “So the imperial decree was late, just late.”

However, before she could finish speaking, Master Gu, Gu Yangsi, rushed in from outside.

His face was deathly pale.

Old Lady Wan raised an eyebrow, about to ask what was wrong.

Gu Yangsi spoke in a trembling voice.

“Mother, the Du family did receive an imperial decree, but it’s not for the Du family to marry into the Shao family. Rather…”

“But what?!”

“Rather, the Marquis is marrying the Marquis’s wife!”

“Which Marquis?” Old Lady Wan’s mind went blank.

Gu Yangsi was also incredulous.

“It’s Marquis of Yongding, Lu Shenru.”

He called to Old Lady Wan, repeating it.

“Mother, the Emperor has bestowed a marriage upon the Du family and the Marquis of Yongding’s residence. Du Lingjing is now Marquis Lu’s wife!”

Old Lady Wan’s vision suddenly went black, and she swayed.

*

The capital city was in an uproar.

As soon as the imperial edict was issued, news spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys. Every restaurant, teahouse, and gambling den was abuzz with talk of it.

“No, the Marquis really got married! After all these years, the Marquis has finally married!”

It was truly rare for the Marquis to marry. A powerful minister of twenty-five, still unmarried, had led many to speculate whether he was waiting for a noblewoman to come of age, perhaps the daughter of the Imperial Uncle’s family.

However, the Imperial Uncle’s daughter would not reach marriageable age until next year, while the Marquis had married this year.

But even more surprising was, “Was the Du family’s young lady not supposed to marry the third-ranked scholar? How did she become the Marquis’s wife?”

Everyone had placed their bets on two different marriages, and suddenly things had gone awry.

It was as if everyone were trapped in a nightmare, becoming even more confused and incredulous amidst the chaotic edict.

At the gates of the Du Mansion.

Du Zhiqi, who stepped forward to receive the imperial decree, felt a ringing in his ears and involuntarily asked, “Are you sure you have not made a mistake, Eunuch?”

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Yang suddenly laughed, his voice shrill as he retorted to the Second Master Du.

“Lord Du, is your question questioning me…or His Majesty?”

Du Zhiqi suddenly snapped out of his daze.

“Your Majesty, I have no such intention.”

He quickly accepted the imperial decree with trembling hands.

Eunuch Yang ignored him, his gaze fixed on Du Lingjing.

“The Marquis has waited for many years, and now he has finally received the Marquis’s wife.”

Du Lingjing’s ears rang, as if she had heard but not heard, her eyes lowered in silence.

But Du Runqing staggered back a step.

*

In Jiqing Ward, at the Marquis of Yongding’s residence, firecrackers exploded.

A series of loud red firecrackers exploded for a full quarter of an hour on the main road in front of the Marquis’s Mansion. The guards brought out two large baskets of copper coins, giving a share to everyone who came to offer congratulations and auspicious words.

The area in front of the Marquis’s Mansion was instantly packed with people.

An old nanny, skilled in needlework, personally brought over the wedding attire.

“My Lord, try it on. Clothes made in spring may change size in autumn. This is for your wedding, so precise measurements are essential.”

The man smiled and nodded. The bright red wedding attire accentuated his tall and handsome figure, making him even more striking. His eyes shone with delight as he held out his hands for the old nanny to carefully measure him.

The personal guard, Chong-Ping, had just returned from outside and was reporting back. He had just stepped forward when he heard the Marquis ask, “How…is she doing?”

Chong-Ping naturally knew who the Marquis was asking about.

His face flushed slightly. He waited until the old nanny in the sewing room finished measuring and bowed before speaking.

“I cannot say for sure, but the Du family does not seem particularly happy.”

He explained that the Du family had not set off any firecrackers at first, but after someone asked, the Second Master Du remembered and had them set off.

The man did not seem to care about that, but he asked in a low voice.

“…And what about her?”

Chong-Ping lowered his head even further.

“The young lady has not said a word since receiving the imperial decree. She went back to the west courtyard and has not come out since.”

After he finished speaking, he could not help but look at his lord.

The lord paused slightly, remained silent for a moment, but then chuckled to himself.

“It’s alright.”

He seemed to be comforting someone.

Then he called out to Chong-Ping.

“Go and choose the nearest auspicious day. I will personally deliver the betrothal gifts.”