Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 025

Chapter 25

Who was coming?

Lu Shenru looked at his newlywed wife. Seeing that she did not meet his gaze, he was not in a hurry to ask. He simply sat down beside her, his expression unchanged.

Steward Zhao was already impressed by the grandeur of the Marquis’s Mansion. He thought to himself that he should pay his respects to the new Marquis son-in-law, but he was not sure if he would be able to get an audience.

That was the Marquis of Yongding! In the past, even if he spent all his wealth, he might not be able to get an audience with the Marquis.

But the Marquis had actually come.

He saw the man sitting beside his young mistress, having set aside the Liaohua he had brought for her, and now he went straight to him and asked, “Steward Zhao?”

Steward Zhao was surprised. The high and mighty Marquis of Yongding actually knew him.

Steward Zhao quickly went up to greet the Marquis. Du Lingjing was also somewhat surprised that he recognized him and blinked at him.

The man keenly noticed her gaze and explained that Steward Zhao’s contribution to the printing and dissemination of ancient books by the Du family’s Mian Tower was considerable. “I’ve heard about it,” he said.

Steward Zhao was flattered and quickly went forward to fawn over the Marquis, drawing another eye-roll from Qiu-Lin beside him.

Lu Shenru, however, paid no attention to this and only asked him, “You probably passed through Baoding, right? How’s the situation there?”

This was the same question Du Lingjing had asked, but he paused, looking at Steward Zhao.

“A few days ago, Zhanming mentioned that the Sixth Young Master of the Jiang family was also in Baoding. Did Steward Zhao see him?”

His tone was casual, as if he had asked suddenly on a whim. But everyone had just stopped talking about the Sixth Young Master of the Jiang family just before the man arrived. The conversation that had just ended was picked up by him casually.

Even Du Lingjing was somewhat surprised; he clearly had not heard what was said earlier.

Steward Zhao, however, hesitated to speak.

Third Young Master was deceased, and the Marquis had married the young lady; he could not very well reveal that Sixth Young Master Jiang wanted to meet with her. He simply assumed it was a coincidence, and as for the meeting in the capital, his eyes darted towards his young lady. He saw the young lady slightly shake her head at him and immediately understood.

“Reporting to the Marquis, I merely bumped into Sixth Young Master Jiang, exchanged greetings, and then took my leave.”

Was that so?

The man smiled without speaking.

Steward Zhao truly felt the pressure of this Marquis; even omitting half a sentence made him so nervous that his back broke out in a sweat.

It was the young lady who spoke up in time, urging him to go and rest, “You must be tired from your journey; go ahead.”

Steward Zhao dared not detain him any longer and hurriedly took his leave. Everyone in the room also withdrew.

An indescribable stillness filled the room.

The man did not get a direct answer from Steward Zhao, but judging from everyone’s expressions, he already knew.

However, he also caught a glimpse of the person beside him out of the corner of his eye, gently shaking her head at Steward Zhao.

Since she did not want to talk about it, he naturally did not press further.

He simply looked at her quietly and asked what she had eaten for lunch. “If you are tired of the cooks’ meals, we can hire a few more.”

The Marquis’s kitchen had eight cooks in total, each with their own unique style. Du Lingjing had not yet tried all eight of their specialties, so she could not say she was tired of them.

Her thoughts were still preoccupied with the matter of Sixth Brother and Third Brother, so she simply told him there was no need to hire more and asked, “Is there anything I need to do for the Marquis now that he’s back?”

The man shook his head at her, saying there was nothing, so she said, “Then I will go and organize some books for Steward Zhao to take away.”

Hearing his agreement, she went to the other side of the library. She sat at her desk for a long time before finally finding some peace, and then she took out the books she had recently repaired.

She had been repairing ancient books for many years, immersed in this craft since her father was still alive. At first, she simply lamented the loss of those ancient texts as time passed, even the pages themselves fading away. So she meticulously repaired and copied them for preservation.

Later, she discovered that copying was easy, but some incomplete ancient books had fragmented and illegible sentences that could not be directly repaired and copied. Only by carefully analyzing the context, even reading the entire text several times, could she borrow a sliver of the ancient authors’ wisdom to fill in the missing words and phrases.

This process of patching up omissions was like weaving a beautiful but flawed garment. Each time she finished repairing it, she would read it from beginning to end, feeling an indescribable sense of peace and contentment. All those years of reading had not been in vain.

Then she selected suitable books and articles, entrusting Steward Zhao to have them printed and distributed by a publishing house. These ancient works, which were on the verge of disappearing, were thus revived among scholars.

By connecting with friends through literature and linking with the ancients, she also used this opportunity to support Mian Tower’s continued collection of books and invite guests to read together.

Du Lingjing sat in the library until evening. Looking up to check the sky, she saw someone bring over a lamp.

“It’s getting dark. Even with a lamp, your eyes must be tired. Would you like me to massage your acupoints?”

Du Lingjing was indeed a little tired, but she could not very well ask the Marquis for help. She politely thanked him and called Ai-Ye to hand the books to Steward Zhao.

The man simply had a meal prepared. After they ate, it was completely dark.

He did not go to the outer study, but Du Lingjing did see the package with candies.

When he returned in the afternoon, the first thing he mentioned was the candy; its aroma was still warm and wafting through the air.

But now, the candy had cooled.

Du Lingjing went over and picked it up. Just as she held it in her hand, she heard him ask.

“Want some? It’s probably not as good as when warm,” he said. “I will have someone buy some warm ones tomorrow. This one is fine.”

He had brought the candy back specifically for her, but he had interrupted her afternoon. Du Lingjing felt a little embarrassed.

She said it was alright, unwrapped the package, pinched off a small piece, and smelled it. It was indeed the same candy from the shop in front of Longfu Temple—a taste she had not had in a long time.

She took a small bite, and Lu Shenru looked over.

Seeing her eat three bites in a row, he could not help but walk to her side. A faint sweetness from the candy filled the room.

Du Lingjing had not tasted this flavor in a long time and could not help but eat a few more bites.

She could not help but recall the time a few days ago in Chengqing District when everyone mentioned Master Liao Xu. She remembered how Master Liao often brought her the Liaohua candy from Longfu Temple.

But that day, she only thought about it in her heart and did not mention it aloud.

She admitted that he could indeed guess what she was thinking, but how could he possibly guess something like that?

She blinked, her eyelids slightly lifted as she looked at him.

“Why is My Lord not eating? Have you been eating too much lately?”

It was rare for her to ask him so directly, and Lu Shenru was taken aback. He looked at her closely and answered her question immediately.

“I’ve only had it once or twice; it’s a bit too sweet. But since you like it, I’ve already told them to buy it for you anytime.”

He then added with a smile, “Or we could simply hire a pastry chef from that shop to come to our residence and train the cooks in the kitchen.”

He replied to her several times, but Du Lingjing, looking at the Liaohua candy and the man before her, was secretly startled.

He really knew she liked this.

There were other shops in the capital that sold Liaohua candy, but she only liked the one from Longfu Temple.

He even knew that.

But she had not been to the capital in a long time and had not eaten Longfu Temple’s Liaohua candy in ages.

How did he know?

Du Lingjing was silent for a moment, her hand holding the candy, pausing.

The sweet aroma of the sugar strands that had filled the room vanished in an instant, whether burned by the candlelight or something else.

Lu Shenru noticed her hand, holding the candy, pause, and he could not help but close his eyes briefly.

Yes, she had never proactively shown concern for him. That last sentence was a warning, a test, and he had, in a moment of distraction, revealed the truth to her.

But when he opened his eyes again to look at her, he said directly.

“My Lady should like it. A few days ago, I specifically had someone inquire with the servants at the Du family’s old residence, and that’s how I learned My Lady enjoys this.”

“You, Lord Marquis, inquired about this?” she asked.

She did not believe him.

Lu Shenru smiled. “Of course.”

He did not avoid her gaze but instead looked directly into her eyes.

“I first met My Lady at Zhenyue Tower. At that time, I did not even know your name. Unexpectedly, an imperial decree bestowed marriage upon me, making you my wife. I know you were not so willing, but since it was the Emperor’s will, I could not refuse. But the more it’s like this, the more I should care.”

As he spoke, his voice lowered slightly. “Does my wife have any questions?”

He had noticed Du Lingjing’s hidden doubts and explained them to her directly, now asking her why she had them.

Du Lingjing paused.

She felt she did not really know this Marquis Lu, yet he seemed to know her perfectly well.

Furthermore, she had only left Qingzhou to collect books, yet inexplicably ended up in the capital, marrying him.

Ignoring the process and judging solely by the result, it was hard not to be suspicious.

But he had already explained, and before she could speak, he spoke again.

His voice grew even lower, like a heavy, lingering rain on a sweltering summer day.

“Does Quan Quan think that everyone except Jiang Jieyuan is an outsider, untrustworthy?”

“…”

Du Lingjing bit her lip, looking at the package of Liaohua candy he had so enthusiastically brought back, only to have it cooled down by her, and could only whisper, “I did not mean that.”

The man remained silent.

Lu Shenru silently looked at his newlywed wife.

She did not want to tell him about Sixth Young Master Jiang’s upcoming visit that afternoon. He had thought her unusually caring gesture that evening was a test.

Could it be that even a casual remark about Jiang Zhuxiu made her so suspicious and wary?

Seeing her put down the candy, he took a handkerchief and wiped her hands.

Her fingers were slightly cool, faintly sweetened by the candy.

And her lips.

The next moment, he lifted her.

Du Lingjing was startled, but he carried her directly to the table.

He lowered his head and covered her lips with his.

Du Lingjing’s eyes widened instantly.

His strength was greater than on their wedding day.

He pressed his lips against hers, his nose against hers, his kiss low and gentle, quickly stealing her breath.

Her breathing became erratic.

But Lu Shenru thought her disordered breathing was a hundred times stronger than her guarded aloofness.

He gently bit her lip; her eyelashes trembled, and her hand involuntarily pressed against his chest. He ignored it, his tongue sweeping beneath her teeth.

She would not let go.

At this point, Lu Shenru was no longer in a hurry.

The lamplight on the table crackled softly, swaying gracefully in the rising humidity.

He lowered his head to kiss her tenderly, the candlelight making her lips appear even redder.

He was not in a rush, slowly rubbing against her. After what seemed like an eternity, she relaxed.

The man seized this moment, thrusting in.

The sweetness between her lips and tongue made him momentarily intoxicated.

Their overlapping breaths and heartbeats, like a symphony of Jiangnan silk and bamboo instruments, rose and fell, intertwining and merging, the firelight flickering softly with the music.

Outside the room.

Qiu-Lin assumed her mistress and the Marquis were, as they had been the past few days, one writing and the other handling affairs.

She brought in tea, intending to refill her mistress’s cup, but as soon as she lifted the curtain, she froze in shock.

She saw the Marquis holding her mistress, sitting her on the table. He lowered his head, his nose brushing against hers, their lips meeting, and she could hear the mistress’s rapid breathing.

She was stunned, but after a few moments, she hurriedly retreated from the room.

Ai-Ye, noticing her strange expression, came forward and asked what was wrong.

Qiu-Lin hesitated.

She looked around the vast Marquis’s Mansion, and only now did she realize that her mistress had indeed married the Marquis.

She remained silent for a long time, then softly called to Ai-Ye.

“Prepare water for the mistress; we will probably need it tonight…”

Ai-Ye was also startled but quickly understood. …

Inside the room.

Du Lingjing was disoriented, unsure of the time.

Today, his kiss was completely different from that day, carrying a dull, persistent intensity that she was utterly powerless to resist.

He, too, seemed to be losing control. His eyelids veiled his handsome gaze, and his hand reached back to grasp her waist, pulling her towards him.

But the moment his hand touched her waist, with the slightest pressure, Du Lingjing stiffened.

He softened his kiss, trying to ease her tension, but Du Lingjing felt her lips growing cold.

Her hands clenched tightly.

Their hot, intertwined breaths ceased at that moment.

The man paused, and the next instant, she heard him let out a long sigh.

He loosened his grip on her waist, holding only her arm. His tongue, entwined for so long, finally parted from her lips, and he lowered his head to press his forehead against hers.

Her shallow, uneven breathing seemed to have been forcibly steadied by him.

He reached out and caressed her face, finally placing a final kiss on the corner of her trembling eye before pulling away.

He withdrew just in time, and Du Lingjing froze.

He looked at her, his voice hoarse.

“Do not doubt me again in the future, alright?”

She had almost forgotten about testing him, but now she heard him repeat the question.

His tone suggested he had suffered a great injustice.

What could Du Lingjing say? She could only nod and say, “Alright.”

He gave her another sullen look, making her feel awkward, before turning away and going inside. He took a deep breath and exhaled, then sat down and drank a whole cup of cold tea.

That evening, he held her as they fell asleep.

The autumn night wind howled and swirled outside the window, while inside the canopy bed, it was warm and cozy.

Du Lingjing, inexplicably unable to sleep, turned her eyes for the first time, glancing quietly at the man beside her.

The small lamp outside the gauze tent cast a soft glow on his nose, revealing two small scars of different depths, clearly not from a single battle.

She followed his straight nose down, her gaze involuntarily landing on his lips.

Just one glance, and she suddenly remembered his long kiss that evening, quickly averting her gaze.

The night wind rustled the banana leaves outside, and the sweet scent of candy lingered in the room.

She thought of the Liaohua candy incident. Could it be… Was she just overthinking it?

She could not say for sure.

But then she thought of yet another postponed consummation of their marriage. Could she keep making him wait indefinitely?

*

The next day, the man washed up early and went to court.

Qiu-Lin saw that the young lady got up as usual, without any discomfort, and that she had not asked for water in the room the night before.

Qiu-Lin was secretly surprised.

The Marquis had actually endured what happened last night.

The Marquis’s treatment of the young lady seemed different from what she had expected…

She could not help but say, “The Marquis does have quite a bit of patience.”

Indeed.

Du Lingjing had been surprised before, and now it seemed that a ruler who could sit in such a high position could endure what ordinary people could not. Du Lingjing really did not know him very well. She cleared her throat and let the matter pass.

Qiu-Lin helped her wash up, but noticing that her lips were slightly red and swollen, she took out some ointment and applied some to her lips.

Du Lingjing’s ears felt warm.

At this moment, Ruan Gong returned with news, saying that he had sent people to look for the master’s former students and friends, all of whom were in the capital region, and had obtained the information.

Du Lingjing immediately composed herself and asked him to report back.

He said that several elderly people were still enjoying their retirement at home, “but two others have also disappeared recently.”

Du Lingjing was surprised. More and more people were going missing, and it seemed they were all related to her father, including the missing teachers and students from the academy. They were acquainted with Third Young Master because they shared similar political views and supported her father’s reform policies.

Thinking this, she decided to return to Chengqing District to try to find something in her father’s study.

However, she had only been out of the house a short while when she was stopped.

Du Lingjing looked at the person outside the carriage window.

With a hooked nose and an unapproachable face, Shao Wuxing spoke to her.

“Madam Lu, do you have some free time? My brother requests your presence.”

Du Lingjing followed Shao Wuxing’s gaze and saw Shao Boju standing with his hands behind his back under a tree by the riverbank.

Chong-An frowned, indicating that if she did not want to go, she did not need to pay any attention. This was the carriage of the Marquis of Yongding’s residence; no one was allowed near her unless she wished.

But Du Lingjing thought for a moment and then got out of the carriage.

The street was bustling with people. Shao Boju was noticeably thinner than when she had last seen him at Zhenyue Tower. His eyes no longer shone with the confident brilliance of a top scholar; they held a hint of weariness.

He began to speak.

“Jing-niang did not want to marry me, but now that she’s married to Marquis Lu, how has he treated you?”

Du Lingjing did not answer his question, only asking, “Brother Shao, what do you want to say to me?”

Shao Boju smiled. “I want to ask Jing-niang to do me a favor; it’s just a small matter.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Chong-An and the guards of the Marquis’s Mansion, lowering his voice.

“However, this matter concerns you, me, the Hu siblings, and us old acquaintances. It has nothing to do with Marquis Lu; I am only discussing it with you.”