Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 026

Chapter 26

“It’s a matter between us old acquaintances; it has nothing to do with Marquis Lu. I am only discussing it with you.”

On the riverside street, Du Lingjing could not help but glance at Shao Boju upon hearing this.

Shao Boju turned to look at the water. The sun was not yet high in the sky; the pale sunlight, like a veil, spread across the surface, drifting gently with the current, adding a touch of melancholy to one’s eyes.

Du Lingjing heard Shao Boju say, “I do not want things to escalate any further. What good would it do for me, Hu Tinglan, or anyone else? It would only allow others to see us fighting like brothers, using the opportunity to drag us all down.”

He did not say what it was about.

She looked at Shao Boju, who turned his gaze from the shimmering water to her.

“I know you are looking for someone, Jing-niang, and your new husband, Marquis Lu, must be looking too. If you could contact him…”

Shao Boju paused here.

Du Lingjing knew he was referring to Hu Tinglan, the eldest brother of the Hu family.

She had heard from Hu Tingjun, the younger sister of the Hu family, that the Shao family, though large and powerful, could not tolerate the children of the third and fourth branches. The feuds from their father and grandfather’s generation continued to Shao Boju’s generation.

His father, an illegitimate son, was rumored to have been suppressed by the eldest son’s family because their concubine mother had caused the death of their mother in a power struggle. He was humiliated within the clan, received no help, and struggled to survive. As a child, Shao Boju could not even get into the clan school. His father, not daring to speak out in the clan, bribed the school teacher so that he could listen in from outside the window for a few moments.

While other children in the clan studied around the stove in the schoolhouse during the winter, he stood in the snowdrift outside, his hands and feet cracked, painstakingly writing down the teacher’s lessons, hoping the teacher would glance at them while he came out for some fresh air.

The more he endured this hardship, the more determined Shao Boju became to study, determined to succeed.

Later, an advisor to Grand Secretary Dou, seeing that his aunt served the Emperor, then-Prince Yin, and recognizing his genuine talent, introduced him to the Imperial Academy in the capital.

Upon hearing of this favor, the Shao family looked down on him, and his father faced even greater persecution within the clan. When Shao Boju came to the capital to study, he could not even afford new clothes.

That year, his classmate Hu Tinglan lent him his own clothes and asked his sister, Hu Tingjun, to sew him two sets of thick winter clothes, which helped him through the entire winter.

Shao Boju had nothing of value and could not repay this kindness. The following spring, the Hu siblings faced a family emergency and hastily returned to Cangzhou. Unexpectedly, they were captured and held hostage by bandits on the way, forced to kill one of their siblings each day in exchange for money from the authorities.

Du Lingjing’s voice still trembled with lingering fear as she listened to Hu Tingjun recount this story. It was Shao Boju who, after hearing the tale, somehow ended up in the bandits’ den. When he arrived covered in blood, she did not recognize him; it was her elder brother who recognized him immediately: “Boju?”

Shao Boju’s eyes lit up. Ignoring his own blood-soaked state, he cut the ropes binding the siblings, hoisted the unable-to-stand sister Hu Tingjun onto his back, grabbed Hu Tinglan’s hand, and ran down the mountain.

That night, he said, “I’ve finally repaid you siblings a little favor.”

And so, they forged a bond of life and death. When Tingjun got married, Shao Boju gave her a dowry that exceeded that of her brother, Hu Tinglan, causing Hu Tinglan to shake his head all day. Shao Boju, however, dragged him into a drunken stupor…

Old memories were like the morning light on water—beautiful, yes, but when the wind and waves surged, only fragments remained.

Shao Boju paused, then continued.

“If you can contact him, please pass on a message for me.”

He spoke softly, “Between him and me, things should not have come to this. If he’s willing to come out and see me, we can be honest and work together to smooth things over. That’s better than having others exploit the relationship between us, old friends. As for the others, I will not touch them. Can he not trust me one more time?”

Seeing his words, Du Lingjing’s heart seemed to flutter. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

Du Lingjing did not respond immediately, but Shao Boju called her name.

“Jing-niang also wants to resolve this quickly, right? If you can contact him, please pass on my message to him.”

He was certain she could see the Hu siblings and the other missing people.

Du Lingjing paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement, “Alright.”

“Besides this matter, is there anything else Brother Shao wants to tell me?”

Shao Boju asked her to pass on a message, implying he wanted Brother Hu to trust him again, but he remained silent about the current situation.

Du Lingjing remembered meeting the Shao brothers while trying to persuade Shao Boju. She only mentioned that there might be something left by the Hu siblings on the west side of Jishui Pool, and they immediately went to search.

As a result, the Shao brothers were keen to obtain the incriminating evidence that the Hu siblings possessed, but the Hu siblings had concealed themselves with it.

The Shao family could not find them and feared the evidence would be leaked and known to everyone, which was why they urgently wanted her to pass on a message, intending to reconcile based on past friendships! But what incriminating evidence did someone have against him? He remained silent.

She asked, and seeing that Shao Boju still would not answer, instead bringing up something else, she chuckled softly.

“I came in haste and did not have time to prepare a wedding gift for you, Jing-niang.”

Du Lingjing had no intention of engaging him in conversation, but his gaze swept over the carriages and servants of the Marquis of Yongding’s residence, and his tone shifted.

“I truly did not expect that Jing-niang would marry into the Marquis of Yongding’s household. However, Marquis Lu is no ordinary man.”

She noticed his tone soften, his words becoming more complex.

“At our age, Lu Shenru already controls the entire Yongding Army. He has countless cronies, wields immense power, and is a true powerful figure, his cunning unfathomable. Whether you choose to be his friend, foe, or even his lover, you should think carefully.”

Du Lingjing’s long eyebrows furrowed slightly as she heard his tone soften. “What Lu Shenru wants is something few others can give. Jing-niang, do not believe him easily.”

Having said this, Shao Boju said nothing more. He watched as Chong-An had another group of guards brought in from elsewhere and said to Du Lingjing, “Marquis Lu really cares about you, guarding you so strictly.”

With that, he turned and left.

Du Lingjing remained standing by the water, while Shao Wuxing quickly walked to Shao Boju’s side and asked in a low voice.

“Brother, those people are stubborn. Will having her deliver the message really work? Will it make them hand over the evidence and the people?”

Before he could finish speaking, Shao Boju glared at him.

“You must not be ruthless, especially the Hu siblings. Do not touch them!”

Shao Wuxing immediately composed himself, bowed his head, and replied that he understood, recalling what Shao Boju had mentioned about Lu Shenru to Du Lingjing earlier.

“…Will Marchioness Lu believe you?”

Shao Boju said he did not know.

“But she only holds onto the past in her heart, and Lu Shenru’s arranged marriage is rather strange. It’s hard to say she will trust him. But if we plant a seed of distrust in her heart, perhaps we still have a chance.”

As Shao Boju said this, he looked up and saw Marquis Lu approaching from the city gate.

The man sat atop his tall horse. Their eyes met, and in that instant, Shao Boju raised an eyebrow, gave a low snort, and said to Shao Wuxing,

“What Jing-niang and I just said was the truth, was it not?”

…

As he brushed past Shao Boju, Shao Boju gave him a polite smile, and Lu Shenru pursed his lips.

He had just finished court and heard that this man had stopped his wife’s carriage, yet she had actually listened to a couple of pointless words from Shao Boju.

Chong-An dispersed the onlookers from the street. She did not return to the carriage but stood alone by the water’s edge, the breeze ruffling her skirt.

The man approached, unfastening his cloak. He knew Shao Boju would not speak well of him. Yesterday, she had doubted him because of the Liaohua candy, and today, she would likely say even less.

He walked behind her and draped the cloak over her shoulders.

“It’s cold and windy here; what are you doing?” he said. Du Lingjing sensed the sullenness in his voice and glanced back at him.

He was still wearing his crimson court robes embroidered with unicorns, his black gauze hat, jade belt, and black boots—the pinnacle of a court minister’s status. His tall figure standing by the street made the entire alley seem dark and colorless.

He did not look at her but simply tightened the cloak around her, wrapping her completely inside.

“You will catch a cold if you are exposed to the wind for no reason. Let’s go home.”

His dark eyes held a hint of displeasure. So he guessed Shao Boju had not said anything good about him?

Du Lingjing did not follow his lead; she stopped in her tracks.

Seeing this, the man could not help but smile.

She had promised yesterday not to doubt him anymore… She would not believe what he told her, but her own promises to him were also unreliable.

The man paused, waiting to see what she would do, but she spoke softly.

“Does Your Lordship have time? I have something I’d like to say to you.”

She gestured for him to walk towards the street.

Lu Shenru was taken aback. She looked up at him, and he could only follow her into the bustling street, listening as she walked, softly recounting to him every word Shao Boju had just told her. The man was surprised. She had told him everything, pausing only at the very end to glance at him.

“Naturally, Shao Boju did not say anything good about the Marquis either.”

She had told him the whole truth. Lu Shenru had not expected this. For a moment, he wanted to ask what kind of reputation that man had to be so ruined in front of his wife, but he thought it would be pointless to ask further and changed his mind.

“He wanted to create a rift between us as husband and wife.”

These words actually sounded somewhat aggrieved to Du Lingjing. But she did not answer him. Admittedly, the Marquis beside her was indeed difficult to see through and probably very cunning, but regarding the disappearance of everyone, as of now, he was more trustworthy than Shao Boju.

If Shao Boju could be trusted, the Hu siblings would not have gone this far. They must have secrets and evidence that Shao was trying so hard to cover up, which was why they had turned against each other. The Shao brothers could not gain their trust. On the contrary, although this Marquis Lu might have other plans, finding the missing people as quickly as possible with his help was paramount; too much time had already been wasted.

She looked at Lu Shenru. “What does Your Lordship think?”

The two continued walking along the street.

The man pondered for a moment.

“Shao Boju knows we are married, yet he still entrusts this matter to you. Perhaps he has other schemes, but I believe he’s desperate.”

This was the same thought Du Lingjing had, and she nodded.

Lu Shenru continued, “However, since he believes you might be able to contact Hu Tinglan and the others and deliver a message, making you the only trustworthy person among the missing, then you have a special connection to them.”

He immediately got to the point.

Originally, Du Lingjing had wanted to go to the old residence in Chengqing District today to look through her father’s old letters, but Shao Boju stopped her, and she felt she did not need to verify anything.

“These people should be my father’s former allies and followers; the court even gave them names.”

Lu Shenru said.

“Flicking Faction?”

Du Lingjing slowly said yes.

Xunzi said, “Follow the Way, not the ruler.” A so-called “Flicking” minister was one who could defy the ruler’s orders, usurp the ruler’s power, and reverse the ruler’s actions to secure the country’s safety, avert the ruler’s humiliation, and whose merits were sufficient to bring great benefit to the country.

In short, they were ministers who would sacrifice the ruler for the country.

Her father had always been a follower of Xunzi’s school of thought, believing that the way of a minister was to serve the country and its people and that the words and actions of the ruler were difficult to refute due to human desires and therefore not always compliant and should not be heeded entirely. “Flicking officials,” a term that carried a hint of alarm, implying they were threats to the monarch. However, the late Emperor did not take it seriously.

However, the late Emperor died soon after, and the current Emperor showed no favoritism towards the new policies. Instead, due to her grandfather’s death and her father’s return to his hometown for mourning, the new policies stalled. Later, her father returned to the capital to resume his post, but died in a flash flood. The new policies, like a breached dam, completely collapsed.

After the collapse of the new policies, these formerly Flicking officials scattered completely.

Because they assisted her father in implementing his new policies, they inevitably offended many in the court. After her father’s death, they were no longer able to unite as one. Within a few years, some were demoted, some resigned, and some were even falsely accused and exiled, never to return from their distant homes.

After her father’s death, they still frequently corresponded with Third Young Master. Third Young Master was in poor health, but he still managed to maintain connections and support in the court. However, Third Young Master was also gone. Only Hu Tinglan remained in the capital region, finding places for these former officials who had attempted to save the country but failed and were scattered.

This year was the tenth year of Yin You’s reign, six years since her father’s death. With no one to protect them, these people no longer appeared in the court, only wanting to return to their hometowns to teach and make a living.

They must have accidentally obtained some of Shao’s most secret information and kept it hidden.

Shao Boju wanted to take away the evidence, forcing them to go into hiding.

Du Lingjing felt a pang of melancholy.

If her father had not died, or if Third Young Master were still alive, or if her uncle were capable, would those who had followed her father so devotedly back then not have ended up in this predicament?

Or perhaps, could she have protected them herself?

But right now, none of these things was true.

The hurried pedestrians on the street occasionally brushed against the hem of her clothes.

Lu Shenru glanced at her. “Since you have a clear understanding, let’s quickly investigate all the members of the Flicking Faction. Whether we need to find more people or figure out what happened, it will be easier.”

With his manpower, once he had enough information, finding people would be quick.

Du Lingjing agreed, but she turned to look at him.

“But we are wasting too much time now. Instead of searching for them one by one, let them come to me.”

This made the man raise an eyebrow. “What does Quan Quan mean?”

Du Lingjing asked directly.

“I intend to spread the word that I plan to establish another library in the capital, collecting books throughout the Beizhili region, from ancient editions to official collections—I want them all.”

Once this news spread, if the members of the Flicking Faction trusted her and wanted to find her, they only needed to slip a note or make a mark in the books, and Du Lingjing would be able to find them!

Outside, the Shao family was hunting them down everywhere, trying to seize evidence, even threatening to kill them to silence them, forcing them to be extremely cautious and unable to show themselves. Even though the court and the literati had sent people to search for them, they dared not easily believe them.

Her method of leading them to pass on the message was the safest.

Upon hearing this, Lu Shenru looked at her in surprise.

From the moment Shao Boju stopped her to this moment, only a few moments had passed, yet she had already grasped the key point and found a solution. The man could not help but sigh deeply. Her method was truly ingenious.

He asked her, “Then what do you want me to do for you?”

It was simple.

Du Lingjing’s manpower was too limited, and news of her book collection would be difficult to spread quickly.

“Please, Lord Marquis, assign me some manpower.”

As long as she had enough manpower, news of the Flicking Faction would soon arrive.

Lu Shenru smiled. “Then I will offer you a plan, My Lady.”

Du Lingjing looked over and heard him speak.

“Manpower is easy to arrange, but as for spreading the news, there’s actually a faster way.”

“Please speak, Lord Marquis.”

Her words were too polite; Lu Shenru did not like hearing them, but he still pressed on with the important matter.

“My Lady, have you forgotten the betrothal gifts I gave you? If you are going to open a book collection shop, why not open this one?”

He had been building this library for six years; it was comparable to the Wenlan Pavilion in the imperial palace. Everyone in Beizhili, even half of the north, knew about it, but it had always been empty.

Today, if Marchioness Lu were to bestow a name upon this building and open it to house books, the news would spread like wildfire.

Even without the Marquis of Yongding’s manpower, someone would naturally do their utmost to facilitate it.

The man’s gaze fell upon her eyes with a smile.

Du Lingjing lowered her eyes slightly.

She had actually considered this matter.

However, the amount of money Marquis Lu had spent building this library far surpassed what three or five of her Mian Tower could ever amount to.

Although he had given her the keys as a betrothal gift, Du Lingjing did not consider it her private property.

Moreover, she did not know what he had intended to use this building for in the first place.

It certainly was not for her to use as a book repository.

She said, “That would be too grand a spectacle; I do not have the resources.”

She had just separated from the family; it would be quite an achievement to be able to afford this book collection.

But the man stopped, stepping aside to stand half a body in front of her.

“Do I not have any money either?”

“…”

Du Lingjing did not speak.

The man said, “Oh, so you do not want it.”

It was too valuable. Opening that library would likely involve him even more deeply.

She would have to wait and see how things went; getting too involved would not be good…

She did not look him in the eye, only saying, “Let’s see how the news spreads first; what do you think, Lord Marquis?”

The man did not speak.

Du Lingjing had no choice but to remain silent.

The two walked on, and somehow they arrived near Longfu Temple. The sweet aroma of Liaohua candy caught Du Lingjing’s attention, and she saw the shop open, with a crowd rubbing their hands, waiting for the hot pastries to be ready.

Just as she looked over, she heard the man beside her speak.

“Does my wife want some?” he said. “It’s a pity I cannot buy it for you, lest I be accused of having ill intentions and arouse suspicion.”

“…”

Why did he still remember last night?

Du Lingjing pursed her lips, felt around her waist as if she had some money, and walked over.

But she had only taken one step when he stopped her.

“Really going? Are you not afraid of being jostled?”

Du Lingjing could not help but look up at him.

So, should she go or not?

The man looked at her clear, watery eyes, watching him quietly, and his heart softened.

He spoke, and unexpectedly, she spoke up as well.

“Tell Chong-An to go.”

“Let Chang-Pu run the errand.”

They both spoke at the same time, paused, and involuntarily looked at each other.

Their gazes met unexpectedly for a moment, Du Lingjing’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away. The man remained motionless, only watching his wife.

But the most confused was Chong-An, who scratched his head in bewilderment.

Should he go, or should Chang-Pu go?

Chang-Pu, however, did not share this doubt. He jumped out from the side, first addressing the Marquis and his wife, “This humble servant will go.”

Chong-An secretly thought, “Good. As the Marquis’s personal guard, I will just buy the candy…”

He looked at Chang-Pu approvingly, but Chang-Pu giggled and held out his hand to him.

“Guard An, give me the money. I will go buy the ‘Liaohua Candy.’ You can also give me a running errand fee, and the job will be done, right?”

Chong-An reached for his money but realized something was amiss.

It was only right that the Marquis should pay for the lady’s desserts, so why should he have to pay this servant a running errand fee?

“…Why should I pay you for running errands?”

“I run the errands, you pay; is that not perfect?”

“This…”

It seemed reasonable, yet something seemed off.

The other attendants nearby suppressed their laughter.

Du Lingjing could not help but smile, glancing at Chang-Pu, “Stop fooling around; go quickly.”

Chang-Pu replied, “Yes, ma’am,” then turned to Chong-An, “Take your time thinking; I will pay for it on credit for now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter.

Du Lingjing, for some reason, glanced discreetly at the Marquis.

The man rubbed his temples, amused and helpless.

Lu Shenru thought to himself, how come the most efficient Chong-Ping had such a younger brother?

He vaguely sensed a gaze beside him, but when he looked again, he could not catch it.

He saw only his servant standing beside her, her cloak draped in his own, and she standing before him.

Compared to before, it felt like a dream.

No rush.

*

Originally, Steward Zhao had come to the capital to request that his employer build a new library here. Now that Du Lingjing had changed her mind and wanted to collect books to build the library, Steward Zhao was overjoyed.

As for whether this library would be the same towering building the Marquis had outside the city, that was not urgent.

News of Du Lingjing’s book-collecting plan spread rapidly.

She silently counted the days. If the news had successfully spread and the person was still in Beizhili, there should be a reply in seven or eight days.

However, seven or eight days passed, and she had Qiu-Lin and the others carefully examine every book they had collected, but they found no response.

Du Lingjing sat at her desk, deep in thought.

During their years in the capital, she and Hu Tingjun did not always have time to meet.

However, they would often stroll through the bookstores near the Imperial Academy.

The books they read were different from those of the students at the Imperial Academy. At first, Du Lingjing did not notice this until one day, she suddenly saw a note in one of the books in the bookstore.

It was Tingjun’s handwriting; she had written down a particularly insightful passage and tucked it inside.

She secretly started reading the book as well, writing down her favorite passages on slips of paper and slipping them inside.

When she checked again a few days later, there were five or six slips of paper from Tingjun in the book, urging her on the back of hers, “Read it quickly, or I will move on to the next book.”

Over the years, they secretly slipped many slips of paper into the book. Later, Tingjun carefully collected all the slips, occasionally mentioning them in their letters.

Du Lingjing sat quietly at her desk.

Others might not understand her meaning at first, but Tingjun would not; she would understand immediately.

Why had it not arrived yet?

Had the news not reached them yet?

Two more days passed, and Du Lingjing could not help but feel anxious.

Just then, Zhanming brought her news from Baoding Academy.

Ruan Gong whispered.

“Sixth Young Master has disappeared in Baoding. Someone went to places he’d been and found… a patch of blood on the ground.”

Du Lingjing gasped.

Ruan Gong quickly said it should not be anything serious. “There was not much blood. Sixth Young Master has been traveling and studying for many years; he still has some martial arts skills. He’s probably just hiding.”

Hiding? Was he hiding with the Flicking Faction and the others?

Du Lingjing remained silent, then Chang-Pu rushed in.

He said news had also come from the hometown of the Hu siblings in Cangzhou.

“Lady Hu and her husband have both disappeared, leaving their daughter in the care of their aunt. But two days ago, someone broke into the house in the middle of the night, trying to kidnap the little girl, and even cut her arm.”

Du Lingjing jumped to her feet.

Sixth Young Master, the child… Was the Shao family anxious and in a hurry?

But she had not received any news yet.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy and oppressive; no one dared to speak, and not even a wisp of wind could escape through the crack in the door.

But then, the guard Chong-Ping suddenly arrived in person.

He bowed to Du Lingjing, then rose and spoke.

“Madam, the Marquis requests that you make a trip outside the city.”

Translator’s Note:
“拂党” Fu Dang – I translated this to Flicking Faction. That’s a transliteration. 拂 literally means to whisk or flick, which also means ‘to go against’ or ‘run counter to’. In truth, I considered using “Opposition.” But that sounded too “rebellious” and also felt that it lost its flavor. You see in costume dramas how they flick their sleeves to express dissatisfaction? That felt more aligned with the image of the scholars and ministers flicking their sleeves should the ruler do something that is not beneficial to the country.