Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 023

Chapter 23

On the third day of the wedding, Du Lingjing returned to her parents’ home.

Many people gathered in the alleyway outside the Du Mansion in Chengqing Ward to share in the joyous occasion.

Unfortunately, since his niece’s wedding, Uncle Du Zhiqi had not felt any relief. Instead, he spent his days agonizing over how to conduct himself:

His niece’s marriage to the Marquis of Yongding was a joyous occasion, something most people would not even dream of, yet just days before the wedding, he and his niece had a falling out and separated. His once close friend, Madam Shao, was now completely ignored. As for his mother-in-law’s family, his brother-in-law had nearly been beaten to death, and now, barely clinging to life, the entire household was in turmoil. His mother-in-law, Old Lady Wan, was nowhere to be seen…

To make matters worse, he had hoped to use his niece’s marriage to secure a good official position, but now, he could not get any.

He could not even manage his own affairs, let alone those outside his household.

Meanwhile, Du Runqing, who had previously been able to manage some affairs, had fallen seriously ill. Unable to be cared for by the Gu family, she and her mother, the Second Madam, had gone to their estate outside the city before her sister’s return visit and were not at home at all.

Although Du Jicang had not left, he was merely a collateral branch of the Du family in Chengqing District, and it was not appropriate for him to interfere.

Lu Shenru, with his newlywed wife, returned to her parents’ home. Upon arriving and seeing everyone offering congratulations, he instructed Chong-An.

Chong-An immediately had two large baskets of copper coins brought out and distributed them joyfully to those offering congratulations at the Du family’s gate.

Everyone offered their congratulations: “Congratulations, Your Lordship!” Du Lingjing saw the man’s ever-present smile, and the old gatekeeper, Wen Bo, personally opened the door for him.

“Please, Your Lordship.”

The man was very pleased, but Du Lingjing heard him speak gently to Wen Bo.

“Wen Bo should call me son-in-law.”

Wen Bo was taken aback, looking up at Du Lingjing. Du Lingjing was also surprised, hearing Wen Bo politely change his address.

“Please come in, Son-in-law.”

Du Lingjing saw that the man beside her had become even more handsome and then entered the house. Du Zhiqi and Du Jicang were already waiting, but Du Lingjing looked over and raised her eyes.

“Zhanming is back?”

Beside the uncle and nephew was a boy of about twelve or thirteen.

The boy wore a scholar’s robe, clean and tidy, slender and upright, standing there like a newly sprouted green bamboo in spring.

It was Du Zhanming, the young master of the Du family and son of Du Zhiqi.

He had been studying at the academy in Baoding. Du Zhiqi had originally wanted him to return before his sister’s wedding to see her off, but he had not made it in time and only saw him today.

Du Zhanming quickly stepped forward to greet his sister and brother-in-law, the Marquis.

The Marquis of Yongding was a household name. Scholars had mixed opinions about this powerful Marquis Lu, and Zhanming heard people mention him daily at the academy, some praising, some criticizing. Now, the Marquis was his brother-in-law.

Embarrassingly, he had heard about the series of commotions that had occurred earlier on his way back.

The young man was somewhat at a loss, not daring to look the Marquis in the eye. Lu Shenru, however, had Chong-An bring over a box, which he took and personally gave to Zhanming.

“A few inksticks from Cheng Junfeng. I wonder if Zhanming will find them suitable?”

This made Du Zhiqi look up.

Cheng Junfeng was the foremost ink maker of the dynasty; his ink was priceless. This Marquis Lu had casually given several inksticks to Zhanming, who had not even passed the imperial examination.

Du Zhanming was also stunned. Du Jicang promptly reminded him not to forget to thank him.

Du Lingjing also glanced at the inksticks, then her eyes lightly swept over the Marquis beside her.

He had even prepared a gift for Zhanming.

Zhanming thanked him. Lu Shenru asked him a few questions about his studies. Being a military man, he was familiar with Zhanming’s subjects. “Zhanming just mentioned that ‘sages are those who accumulate knowledge and skills,’ which seems unlikely to be taught in academies near the capital. It appears your teacher in Baoding is a proponent of the Xunzi school of thought.”

He said this with a smile, and the young man, seeing his amiable expression and cheerful tone, readily agreed.

“Our teacher used to follow my uncle’s new policies, believing that ‘law is the foundation of governance,’ and also saying that ‘rites guide one’s will, and laws correct one’s conduct.’ Zhanming deeply agrees!”

The man laughed at this, and Du Jicang also smiled at his younger brother.

Du Lingjing’s gaze softened, and she softly asked him, “Who is your teacher in Baoding?”

But before she could finish speaking, Du Zhiqi suddenly reprimanded his son.

“You’ve only had a few years of schooling; how much do you understand of the sages’ wisdom? Showing off like this, go back to your seat!”

Du Zhanming, scolded by his father, immediately dared not say another word and sat down at the lower end of the table.

The previously harmonious atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.

Du Lingjing’s question naturally went unanswered; her gentle gaze vanished.

Seeing this, the man put down his teacup.

The atmosphere in the hall inexplicably became more tense.

Zhanming lowered his head, not daring to speak. Du Jicang glanced helplessly at his uncle, Du Zhiqi, who also realized what was happening.

Clearly, he was the elder in the family, but how could he have the right to speak in front of this Marquis son-in-law?

His face twitched awkwardly.

After thinking for a moment, he simply stood up. “I have some trivial matters to attend to. Please sit down.”

With that, he left.

Zhanming was at a loss for words until Lu Shenru called him.

“Sister just asked you, which teacher was it?”

Du Lingjing glanced at him, and Zhanming replied.

“It was Master Liao Xu. He used to be an official in the court, but later resigned and came to teach at our academy.”

Liao Xu.

Du Lingjing remembered him.

The year he passed the imperial examination with flying colors, it was during his father’s time to preside over the spring imperial examinations. All the successful candidates were students of the Emperor, but Liao Xu respected her father more than anyone else, and her father had invited him to their home several times.

At that time, Du Lingjing was still young, and she only remembered that every time Liao Xu came, he would bring her a packet of Liaohua candy from the gate of Longfu Temple.

Liaohua candy was a Shandong-style pastry, and because it was branded as a Confucius family specialty, it sold very well. Du Lingjing liked it, but she often could not buy any.

But Master Liao always managed to buy some, beckoning her over as soon as he entered and slipping the pastries into her sleeve.

Each time, the pastries he gave her were still warm.

“Little Jing-niang, eat them while they are hot!”

…

Later, her father was forced into exile due to the new political reforms. He was attacked and transferred to Guangdong and Guangxi for many years, and it turned out he was now teaching in Baoding.

Du Lingjing could not help but ask, “How is Master Liao?”

Du Lingjing remembered that he was quite plump when he was young. Her father said he was very good at culinary arts. She wondered if he was still as plump as he had been after more than ten years.

Zhanming said he was fine, but hesitated for a moment. “It’s just that Master Liao has not been seen for almost half a month.”

Du Lingjing raised an eyebrow, and Du Jicang asked, “Why has Master Liao disappeared?”

Zhanming said that initially Master Liao had only asked the headmaster of the academy for a few days’ leave, “but he has not returned since.”

Lu Shenru was silent for a moment upon hearing this, then he spoke.

“Did they disappear along with the Hu siblings?”

The Hu siblings, Hu Tinglan and Hu Tingjun, had close ties to Shao Boju.

Du Lingjing’s expression turned serious.

Zhanming shook his head, saying no, “But Master Liao and the eldest brother of the Hu family are indeed acquainted, and they often correspond.”

He said, his gaze shifting to Du Jicang and Lu Shenru, finally settling on Du Lingjing’s face.

“Elder Sister, please do not be offended. The reason Zhanming is late is that another teacher and two students have also gone missing from the academy. The headmaster suspects it’s related to the Hu siblings’ disappearance and has been assigning us to search in various places.”

When Du Zhiqi sent someone to call him home, he was searching for people in another place, and this back and forth caused the delay.

“Have you found them?” Du Lingjing asked.

Zhanming shook his head. “Not yet.”

Du Lingjing had also been sending people to search for the Hu siblings, but without any news. It had been over two months since they disappeared.

She could not help but look at the man beside her.

Back then, when she spread the news that the Shao family had plotted to harm the Hu siblings, a storm had erupted overnight—it was all thanks to this Marquis.

If anyone least wanted to see Shao Boju triumphant, it was him.

The moment her gaze fell on the man, he understood her meaning.

He shook his head at her. “I have no news either.”

So many people, as if they had vanished into thin air.

Du Lingjing pursed her lips in silence. Du Jicang then asked Zhanming.

“Did everyone from your academy go to search?”

Zhanming said yes, “The imperial court’s forces were searching in the Zhengding and Baoding areas. At first, many people came, but they could not find anything, so some were called back. That’s why the headmaster sent us all out to search, and many other people who heard about the matter also came to help.”

He seemed to remember something and quickly told Du Lingjing.

“Sixth Brother Jiang was there too! The headmaster saw that Sixth Brother recognized me and even put me with him!”

Sixth Young Master Jiang, Jiang Fengchuan.

Third Brother’s younger brother.

He was not Third Brother’s biological brother but an abandoned child from the clan. Third Brother’s parents took him home and adopted him.

There was a line in a Yuan dynasty poem: “Evening clouds disperse, the setting sun hangs, a river of maple leaves, reeds on both banks.”

Jiang Fengchuan ^{(Maple River)}.

He was personally brought home by Third Brother, and his name was given to him specifically according to their generation.

The two brothers were like blood relatives.

After Third Brother passed away, Sixth Brother was formally adopted by Third Brother’s parents by the clan to take care of them and bring them joy.

But a rumor inexplicably spread in the city that Sixth Brother was going to marry his sister-in-law in place of his brother.

Both the Du and Jiang families were respectable scholarly households, and the Du family’s daughter was not obligated to marry; the practice of “succession by the younger brother upon the death of the elder brother” was inappropriate.

Moreover, in Du Lingjing’s heart, there was only Third Young Master, and no one else.

A year after Third Young Master’s death, the Jiang family sent Sixth Young Master to study far away to avoid suspicion, and Du Lingjing had not seen Sixth Young Master for two years.

She was surprised to hear that Sixth Young Master was also in Baoding.

“Why was Sixth Young Master there?” she asked Zhanming. “Does he know you?”

Zhanming replied that he did. “Sixth Brother Jiang has taken great care of your younger brother. I thanked him repeatedly, but he said we are family, and there’s no need for formalities.”

“Those were indeed the words Sixth Young Master would say,” Du Lingjing thought to herself.

She was about to ask about Sixth Young Master’s situation when she heard her Elder Brother Cang cough twice.

This cough brought both siblings back to their senses.

Zhanming, seeing that the man at the head of the table was not the third brother of the Jiang family but the Marquis of Yongding, quickly shut his mouth.

Du Lingjing was also taken aback, turning to look at the man, expecting him to be displeased. Unexpectedly, he remained amiable, and upon seeing her, asked a question.

“Is Sixth Brother always traveling and studying?”

He then said gently, “If he ever arrives in the capital, let him stay at our residence for a few days.”

Du Jicang and Du Zhanming remained silent.

Du Lingjing certainly would not allow a member of the Jiang family to stay at the Marquis’s Mansion, but she was still surprised by the Marquis’s politeness.

That day, she was in low spirits and inexplicably made a hurtful remark to him, yet he was not angry but apologized. Today, when Sixth Brother was mentioned, Zhanming even said that Sixth Brother said the two families were one family, and he was not displeased at all; on the contrary, he wanted to invite Sixth Brother to stay at the Marquis’s Mansion.

Du Lingjing glanced at him again and said it was not necessary. “He has studied abroad for many years and has his own place to go.”

Having said this, she moved on from Sixth Young Master Jiang and said no more.

The group then began to talk about the disappearance of the Hu siblings and Master Liao.

Upon returning to the Marquis’s Mansion from Chengqing District, Du Lingjing thought of Hu Tingjun’s young children, who had been abandoned and disappeared, and felt secretly anxious.

When Shao Boju wanted to marry her, she had exposed the matter. For herself, this was to break free from the Shao family. As for Tingjun and her siblings, with people in the court paying attention, they should reappear soon.

But many days had passed, and they still had not appeared.

Instead, she had disrupted Shao Boju’s plans and married this Marquis of Yongding.

In his panic, Shao Boju might escalate his actions, potentially making things even more difficult for the Hu siblings.

Du Lingjing had a bad feeling.

Just as she was thinking this, someone spoke up.

“No news yet might not be a bad thing.”

He mentioned Yu Ge, a member of the Marquis’s Mansion: “I will have Master Yu keep a close eye on this matter. He will let you know as soon as there’s any news, so do not worry too much.”

He had guessed her thoughts and even had a person of the Marquis’s Mansion keep an eye on things for her.

Her current manpower was too limited, and what she could do was confined to the library; she could only accept his kindness.

That evening, she retired for the night before he returned from the outer courtyard.

He did not linger either and also retired early.

The next morning, before dawn, he got up and went to court.

After Du Lingjing woke up, she quickly washed up and ate breakfast, then called Qiu-Lin.

“Where are the daily tasks assigned in the Marquis’s Mansion?”

In a large, secluded mansion like the Marquis of Yongding’s residence, there were far more servants than masters. Lu Shenru could not possibly manage all the trivial matters of such a vast mansion.

He had never married before, nor had he heard of any concubines in the household; the household affairs were likely managed by Steward Zong.

Qiu-Lin asked her, “Why do you ask this, Miss?”

The Marquis’s Mansion had been functioning without a mistress for many years, yet it continued to operate as usual.

She asked, and seeing the young lady’s lowered eyelids, she whispered, “From now on, call me Madam.”

Qiu-Lin was surprised.

Du Lingjing simply said, “In the homes of dukes and earls, do they marry just to bring home a decorative object? The duties must be performed.”

Qiu-Lin paused for a moment, then said that in a quarter of an hour, the stewards would go to the administration hall to assign tasks, and the servants would also go there.

Upon hearing this, Du Lingjing got up, changed her clothes, and went to the administration hall.

…

Today in court, it was nothing more than the Prince Yong’s faction’s tired rhetoric of urging the establishment of an heir; the Emperor ignored it, and Lu Shenru did not bother to pay it any mind. He returned home after court.

Previously, he would only go to the study in the outer courtyard, but today was his first time leaving the court since his wedding.

As he walked towards the inner courtyard, the man asked Chong-An.

“What is Madam doing right now? If she’s been working on the books for too long, even if Qiu-Lin and the others do not remind her, you should.”

Chong-An was taken aback, thinking, “When did Madam start working on the books? Is the Marquis dreaming?”

He could not help but say, “Madam is handling affairs in the administration hall.”

Lu Shenru stopped in his tracks.

“Say that again?”

Chong-An thought he had said something terrible and choked for a moment before repeating, “Master, Madam went to the administration hall early this morning and has not returned yet.”

The man’s steps came to a complete halt.

He thought that, given her reluctance at the time of her marriage, it was already quite good that she had started managing her own residence these past two days.

But she was actually managing affairs of the mansion for him? The man walked straight to the entrance of the administration hall.

Through the latticed window, he immediately spotted the person seated at the head of the table.

Today she wore a light blue, subtly patterned jacket, her hair styled in a bun adorned only with two pearl flowers.

Lu Shenru stared in astonishment, momentarily unable to believe it.

She sat upright at the head of the table, her face solemn, listening to the steward assign tasks to the servants below.

It seemed perfectly legitimate.

However, the tasks were incredibly fragmented: from pruning the trees and flowers in the backyard, to replacing the tiles in a house, to the Marquis’s plan to hire more maids and servants, and to making a few outfits for each… every single detail was discussed in the hall.

The minutiae were almost overwhelming.

The man could not believe she could listen so attentively to all these trivial matters.

In Qingzhou, in Mian Tower, there were no such things.

He pondered, then looked closely at her face.

Her expression remained serious, as if she were truly listening, but he scrutinized her eyes, trying to follow her gaze.

Her gaze swept past the stewards, servants, maids, and old women in the hall, finally settling on the begonias in the courtyard.

Lu Shenru could not help but chuckle softly.

Chong-An did not know what the Marquis was laughing at, but saw the man stride over.

Inside the hall.

Du Lingjing’s mind had long since wandered.

The trivial matters of the Marquis’s Mansion were far beyond her imagination; it was as if the tiny words in the book had flown out, turning into mosquitoes buzzing around her ears.

She quietly looked at the begonias in the courtyard, trying to clear her mind a little.

Since she was here, she should at least listen to the end, she thought.

However, at that moment, everyone in the hall suddenly stood up.

The crowd bowed.

“Your Lordship.”

Before Du Lingjing could recover her senses, the man strode through the crowd, his eyes smiling as he walked straight towards her.