Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 012

Chapter 12

First encounter? Du Lingjing paused.

Du Zhiqi, standing to the side, was initially surprised to see the Marquis treating his niece with such courtesy. He was even more astonished when he learned that the two had met before.

But Zhenyue Tower…could it be the time she went to see Shao Boju?

Du Zhiqi’s head throbbed with pain.

Last time, she went to see Shao Boju without a word, then caused a city-wide scandal involving Shao Boju murdering someone; this time, she had come to see Marquis Lu. Du Zhiqi wondered what she was planning this time, his eyes fixed intently on his niece.

Du Lingjing ignored her uncle’s warning gaze, silently pondering the situation.

It seemed this Marquis Lu did not recognize her.

In that case, the imperial decree for the marriage alliance could only be from the palace.

As for the Marquis’s strange behavior at Zhenyue Tower that day, could he have mistaken her for someone else?

Rumors in the capital said that he was twenty-five and still unmarried because he was waiting for someone. Some said he’s waiting for the unmarried daughter of the Emperor’s brother-in-law, others said a stunningly beautiful courtesan from a brothel, and still others claim it was a Tatar princess unacceptable to the court…

The one he mistook for her at Zhenyue Tower that day might very well be the one he had been waiting for.

And this person was the Marchioness in his heart.

Du Lingjing could only speculate.

Thinking of this, she looked at this Marquis Lu.

“Would it be possible to speak with Your Lordship alone?”

Before she could finish speaking, her uncle, Du Zhiqi, glared at her, but unable to lash out in front of Marquis Lu, he suppressed his anger.

“What do you want now?”

He became angry, but Du Lingjing ignored him.

Whether she could speak with this Marquis alone was not up to her uncle.

She looked at the Marquis, seeing that the man showed no surprise, and instead addressed her uncle.

“This study is a bit stuffy; would you like to step outside for a moment, Master Du?”

He directly ushered Du Zhiqi out.

Du Zhiqi was surprised. This was his study, yet Marquis Lu was telling him to leave?

“This… I will go get some fresh air first.”

Du Zhiqi’s head was throbbing more and more. He could not refuse Marquis Lu, so he could only look at his niece, his eyes sharp, wanting to whisper a warning to her not to cause any more trouble. Before he could speak, Marquis Lu urged him, “Master Du, please go quickly.”

No matter how angry Du Zhiqi was, he could not stay any longer and could only quickly leave the study.

As soon as he left, Du Lingjing clearly felt the anger that had been pressing down on her face dissipate, and she felt a little lighter.

It was that Marquis who spoke up for her. She could not help but look up and smile slightly at him to show her gratitude.

But the man seemed to freeze, his gaze gently falling on her face, fixed.

She had eyes as soft and delicate as lotus petals, and when she smiled, ripples spread across them.

Lu Shenru inexplicably recalled that year, when she stood among rows of bookshelves, bathed in the morning light streaming through the window, quietly holding a book, smiling gently in his direction.

“Sorry, I mistook you for a book-devouring rat in Mian Tower…”

That was the first time she had spoken to him.

It was the first time she had smiled back at him.

His heart softened, as if rippled by gentle waves.

“Do not stand there; sit down and talk,” he said.

He did not seem to think much of it, but Chong-An, standing outside, blinked and turned. “Brother, does the Marquis consider this his home?”

Chong-Ping quickly told him, “Shut up!”

Inside the study, Du Lingjing nodded her thanks and sat down.

The aromas of tea and books mingled like two ribbons, drifting and overlapping in the gentle breeze outside the window.

The atmosphere shifted. The man, watching her sit quietly, felt his heart soften and asked softly.

“What do you want to tell me?”

His gaze fell on her lowered eyelashes.

But a moment later, she lifted her eyes and spoke.

“I dare not hide it from you, Your Lordship. Du Lingjing has someone in her heart, someone she cherishes above all else. I am afraid I cannot be your wife.”

These words caused a moment of silence not only in the room but also outside, where the Chong-Ping and Chong-An brothers held their breath. Chong-An, in particular, could not help but look in astonishment at his master’s face through the window.

The man’s eyes hardened.

He looked at her. “Jiang Jieyuan?”

She lowered her head slightly and nodded gently. “Yes.”

As she said “yes,” a stray hair slipped behind her ear. She tucked it behind her ear, the bamboo leaf tied to her wrist twirling slowly.

The man’s gaze lingered coolly on the bamboo leaf.

Of course, it was Jiang Zhuxiu.

She had always had him in her heart; she had not seen anyone else.

The man silently thought to himself, but asked aloud, “But Jiang Jieyuan has passed away. Why does the young lady prefer to dwell on the past?”

The past?

Third Young Master had only been gone for three years.

These words made Du Lingjing uncomfortable, and her tone unconsciously softened.

“Although my husband is gone, in my heart, the mountains and rivers have feelings, and the plants and trees have sentiments; he has never left.”

These words were so poignant that even the sparrows in the trees outside the window stopped flying away. The man could not help but smile.

“Your husband.”

So, in her heart, even without marriage, Jiang Zhuxiu was her husband.

Only Jiang Zhuxiu was her husband.

His heart felt like it was being scratched by countless tiny thorns of thistle; though no blood was drawn, the stinging pain was unbearable.

But he did not want to talk to her about unrelated dead people anymore.

“But the imperial decree has bestowed a marriage upon you, Young Lady, to me. What do you think?”

He only mentioned the imperial decree, and Du Lingjing did not want to discuss anything else with him. She glanced at him.

“Although I formerly resided in Qingzhou, I know of your high position and great power, and now, seeing you, I find you even more valiant and extraordinary, like a celestial being. It’s a pity that my circumstances are truly insignificant and unworthy; to be your spouse would be a disgrace to you.”

Valiant and extraordinary, like a celestial being.

But “a disgrace…” she used a better word.

The man pursed his lips, but she did not stop.

“The Marquis has seen the Du family’s situation. My uncle is incapable of shouldering great responsibilities, and my father has been gone for many years; I am afraid he cannot assist you. On the contrary, my father had many enemies in court. As my father’s only daughter, if I were to marry you, I am afraid I would only bring trouble upon you.”

Lu Shenru remained silent.

Her words made a lot of sense; anyone else would likely have to consider her perspective.

But he did not speak.

Du Lingjing, however, sensed a hint of indifference in his expression.

If he did not care about this… Du Lingjing pondered for a moment.

“I’ve heard that the Marquis has been waiting for someone; it seems the time is not right, which is why he has not yet married the true Marquis’s wife.”

As she said this, she noticed the man staring intently at her.

Du Lingjing asked directly, “The Marquis does not actually want this marriage alliance, does he?”

This marriage alliance would not bring him much benefit. For a powerful official like him, a marriage without a significant advantage would be a major disadvantage.

If he agreed, she could use her serious illness as a pretext to have the Marquis and her uncle simultaneously petition the Emperor to arrange another marriage for the Marquis.

Arranging a new marriage was not a reversal of the original decision; it was simply a matter of changing the spouse.

As for who the spouse was, that was none of her concern.

But it all depended on whether the Marquis was willing.

“I, Lu, truly do not wish for a marriage alliance. I have remained unmarried for many years precisely because I do not wish to be unjustly drawn into one. If the marriage is unsuitable, it would be a misfortune for another family’s daughter.”

Upon hearing this, Du Lingjing’s heart skipped a beat.

She stared at him even more intently.

Lu Shenru also noticed her gaze, gently returning her look, but then suddenly shook his head and smiled. “But this time, the imperial decree arranged the marriage without any warning.”

He sighed softly. “I know you and your former betrothed were deeply in love, and you have not forgotten him, but with the imperial decree bestowing this marriage, even though I hold power in the eyes of the world, I am powerless.”

He lowered his voice slightly. “The higher my position, the less I have control over my own affairs.”

Du Lingjing saw him give a bitter smile, his handsome eyes seemingly filled with helplessness.

He looked at her. “Could my wife understand?”

He politely declined, then suddenly changed his mind.

Du Lingjing was startled; her heart sank.

She should not be his wife.

“I dare not accept such praise, Your Lordship. Please be careful with your words.”

She would not even let him call her “wife,” yet she called Jiang Zhuxiu “my husband.”

Lu Shenru fell silent; his softened heart hardened again.

“The Du family is renowned for its poetry and scholarship, a noteworthy and distinguished lineage. From the venerable Master Du, a lifelong scholar with countless students, to the outspoken and pioneering Minister Du, who dared to criticize current affairs, and now to you, young lady, whose collected books have been published and circulated throughout the land. If anyone is to say I am begging for your services, it is I, Lu, who am begging.”

Du Lingjing remained silent, but he gazed at her intently.

His eyes, once sharp and fiery, now calmed like a still lake reflecting the moon, their surface rippling gently.

He said, “That day at Zhenyue Tower, though it was our first encounter, I… at that moment, already felt a stirring of affection for you, Young Lady.”

Du Lingjing was stunned, then saw him suddenly stand up.

His tall figure stood in the study, making the entire room seem cramped.

“As for our marriage, anything I, Lu Shenru, possess, and that you, Young Lady, would deem acceptable, I am willing to offer it to you with both hands.” His eyes trembled slightly. “Please accept, Young Lady.”

Du Lingjing’s fingers grew cold; this was something she had not anticipated at all.

Although she had intended to try to persuade this Marquis to devise a plan with her, her subsequent aggressive words were actually meant to annoy him and make him comply willingly.

But he…

Du Lingjing felt a sudden panic.

Lu Shenru stepped closer to her.

The man’s gaze met her eyes, and she looked away.

Her loose clothes hung on her shoulders, revealing her fair neck in the cool autumn breeze. She turned away from his gaze, her neck faintly bluish.

The man sighed inwardly, unwilling to take another step closer.

Du Lingjing felt a slight sense of relief, but then she heard him sigh softly, a sigh filled with helplessness.

He spoke in a low voice: “I, Lu, am only twenty-five when I married. I beg you… to have mercy on me.”

Du Lingjing froze on the spot.

The way he spoke made it seem as if he truly needed her mercy!

The man’s breath slowly approached her feet, enveloping her completely.