Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 029

Chapter 29

The wind and rain subsided in the latter half of the night, and the room was quiet.

When Du Lingjing woke up, her mouth dry, she was momentarily disoriented. A slight swelling and soreness in her private parts made her move slightly to sit up, and the man opened his eyes.

He grew up in the military and was a very light sleeper. Since their marriage, whenever she woke up or moved at night, he would sit up with her.

Today was no different. She had not intended to disturb him, but he was already sitting up.

“Why are you awake?”

His words immediately reminded Du Lingjing of last night.

She had thought that it would only last a quarter of an hour; she thought that since she had prepared herself, she could endure it.

But last night, he had been in control. Several times, even he seemed to be losing control; large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead to her temples, then slid down her neck, collarbone, and chest.

But he endured it all, holding her waist tightly, refusing to let go, wiping the sweat dripping from his chest. Instead of stopping, he lifted her, sometimes letting her lean against the bed, letting the carved mattress support her back as he explored deeper; other times, he simply pulled her onto his lap, completely controlling her strength, until the very end of the night…

The chaotic scene had barely flashed through her mind when her ears burned as if someone had gently bitten them.

She prepared to get herself a drink of water, but only realized as she moved that she was wearing a small undergarment.

The man reached for his undergarment and draped it over her shoulders.

“Would you like some tea? I will get you some.”

Before she could refuse, he had already gotten off the bed, shirtless, lit the bedside lamp, and quickly poured her a cup of warm tea, bringing it into the bed.

Du Lingjing did not want to look at him, only covering herself with her undergarment and lowering her head to drink the tea.

The night was quiet; the chirping of insects had long been silenced by the depths of autumn. After the wind and rain had ceased, only the crackling of the bedside lamp and the faint sounds of their breathing could be heard.

He seemed wide awake and, finding a strange leisure, sat by the bedside, watching her slowly sip her tea.

Du Lingjing glanced at him very lightly from the corner of her eye. His eyes, however sharp, caught her gaze immediately, and he chuckled softly.

“What are you looking at, my wife?”

Last night’s events made Du Lingjing reluctant to speak to him, yet he had asked anyway.

She could only reply.

“Should Your Lordship not be going to court?”

Her voice was clear and melodious, yet also slightly hoarse, as if from the soft sobs of the previous night.

Lu Shenru paused, looked at his wife for a few moments longer, and then replied with a soft laugh.

“A bunch of old geezers, not worth your husband seeing every day.”

Du Lingjing paused, her hand holding the teacup still.

Husband…

An unfamiliar term.

Du Lingjing did not speak and only continued to drink her tea.

The small lamp by the bedside cast a warm yellow glow, adding to the hazy atmosphere through the gauze curtains, now casting a slanted light on her profile.

Lu Shenru quietly watched his wife.

She was a scholar, a reader, whose usual activity was sitting quietly in her study, reading and revising books.

Her face was fair; even her ears were snow-white and translucent in the light. Her eyebrows were delicate and long, and her eyes, reflected in the tea in the cup, seemed to move with a gentle ripple. However, they were mostly hidden by her fine eyelashes, casting long, upturned crescent-shaped shadows that fell onto her delicate nose.

The man, amidst the clear ripples, delicate feathers, and crescent moon, felt a tender warmth in his heart. He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She did not look at him, but her lips were slightly pursed beneath her delicate nose.

He was momentarily distracted, and before he knew it, he had lowered his head and kissed her lips.

He could not help but think of last night, when he softly called “Quan Quan,” and she cried out in a hoarse voice. His hand instinctively reached for her slender waist.

But just as he was about to pull her into his arms, she abruptly put down her teacup and placed her hands against his chest.

Her breathing was rapid and shallow, her watery eyes flashing with wariness, and her hands gripping tightly.

“…”

The man sighed helplessly.

“Alright.”

He could only gently kiss the tip of her nose and release her.

The rain that night had cleared the vast mansion, leaving it feeling fresh and clean.

The servants swept away water and leaves, knocked down broken branches, and trimmed the flowers and trees in the courtyard, all while smiling and discussing the main courtyard. “It seems a young master will be arriving soon,” one servant remarked.

Chong-An had overheard several people discussing this earlier that morning. For years, the Marquis of Yongding’s residence had only had the Marquis himself. Now that the Lady had married into the family, and the Marquis had even called for water last night, the question remained: would the young lady arrive first, or the young master?

Two guards were whispering about this when Chong-An said, “I think the young master will arrive first. Among the generals in the army, they are more likely to have sons first, perhaps related to their martial arts training. Although the Marquis is no longer leading troops, his skills have not diminished.”

He believed the young master would come first, adding, “With the Marquis’s abilities, I think the young master will arrive within a year.”

Just then, the Lady’s maid, Ai-Ye, walked over and overheard him, letting out a snort.

“Madam may not have it immediately. Is it not too early to say so now?”

Chong-An was taken aback, blinking.

Although Madam was younger, the Marquis was already twenty-five.

How could he dare to speak in front of Madam’s dowry maid? Instead, it was the dowry servant, Chang-Pu, who, hearing his younger sister speak, came over.

Seeing Chong-An, he smiled and said, “Guard An, how about a bet? Will the young master come within a year, or another year?”

Chong-An was about to agree.

Was he afraid of a bet?

But suddenly he remembered something: “We are all from the Yongding Army. Without the Marquis’s order, we cannot participate in a bet.”

Chang-Pu looked regretful upon hearing this.

Chong-An thought to himself that he had almost fallen for this kid’s trick again; last time, he had inexplicably given him a running fee.

Moreover, he glanced towards the main courtyard; no matter when, the heir would always come.

*

At the main courtyard.

Du Lingjing swallowed a whole pill and then two small pieces of malted sugar candy, clearing the bitterness from her mouth.

She did not want to add any more variables before things were settled.

A maidservant, Ying-Bi, came to ask her where to set the table for the meal.

“Madam, the Marquis has gone out, instructing you to eat plenty of food.”

Du Lingjing was hungry and nodded, ordering the food to be set in the hall.

She wondered why he had gone out at this hour; he had feigned illness and missed court that morning.

She could not help but think of her father when he was an official in the capital; he had always been diligent and conscientious, and after the late Emperor promoted him to the Grand Secretary, he worked even harder from dawn till dusk.

Although he did not sigh or complain, the prospect of going to court before dawn in the autumn and winter was simply too much to bear, yet he never missed a day. Even when he was slightly ill, he would force himself to arrive at the palace gates early to wait.

But this Marquis was different.

He could simply say he would not go and even called the senior officials at court “a bunch of old geezers.”

Du Lingjing found it both strange and somewhat amusing. If her father were still alive, she wondered how he would view his remarks.

But where he was now, she truly had no idea.

Lu Shenru, however, arrived at the gates of the Du Mansion in Chengqing Ward.

Du Zhiqi had been staying home for several days; if he had to endure strange looks wherever he went, it was better to remain secluded at home.

However, this meant that his hopes of obtaining an official position were even more dashed.

Unexpectedly, a servant suddenly rushed in to report, “Second Master, the Marquis has arrived!”

Du Zhiqi was startled and hurried to the door. He saw the Marquis talking to Wen Bo, seemingly inquiring about the neighbors. The two were chatting animatedly, and he even corrected Wen Bo’s address.

“Wen Bo, not Marquis, but Son-in-law.”

The old gatekeeper’s eyes crinkled with laughter, and he repeatedly agreed.

Du Zhiqi strode over and saw Lu Shenru looking over. Not daring to presume upon his seniority, he stepped forward to greet the Marquis.

The man then spoke, “Oh, Master Du is here.”

Du Zhiqi was indeed present.

This Chengqing District residence of the Du family had been given to him by his niece, who, to ensure the survival of Mian Tower, had not earned or received any share. It was his own residence now, and naturally, he spent his days at home while waiting for a vacancy in the capital.

Du Zhiqi could not possibly argue with this Marquis over words. Not knowing why he had come, he politely invited him inside.

Unexpectedly, the Marquis did not treat him like a guest at all, nodding and entering the residence directly.

Du Zhiqi had no choice but to follow. Once in the hall, he ordered tea to be served.

Since Du Jicang and Du Zhanming were not present, he could only personally serve the Marquis tea and casually inquire about his condition.

“What brings you here today, Lord Marquis?”

The man did not answer immediately, taking a sip of tea. Instead, one of his advisors spoke up.

“Lord Marquis heard that the three-courtyard house next door to the Du family is up for sale. Having some free time today, he came to see if the location is suitable. It would be good to merge it into the Du Mansion later, making it more spacious for Madam’s homecoming.”

Du Zhiqi was taken aback.

This residence had already been divided and given to him. What did Marquis Lu mean by this? Did he not want the two branches of the family to separate and still want Jing-niang to visit him frequently?

This thought made his heart skip a beat. If that were the case, he would not have to worry about finding a vacancy.

However, he secretly looked excitedly at this Marquis nephew-in-law, only to see the man lower his eyes, scraping the tea leaves in his cup, silently drinking his tea.

He was dressed entirely in a dark brocade robe with subtle patterns. Seated in a round-backed chair, head bowed, sipping tea, his imposing presence pressed down upon everyone like clouds gathering in the sky.

Du Zhiqi immediately understood.

He did not mean for the two branches of the family to remain in the same place; he simply wanted the old mansion in Chengqing District that Jing-niang owned.

Du Zhiqi felt a moment of resentment.

His niece was just an orphan; why should she take a mansion in the capital from her uncle, a court official?

But this resentment vanished in an instant.

This mansion was originally purchased by his father. Its expansion to its current state was his elder brother’s doing. Now, Marquis Lu had his eye on the neighboring three-courtyard house and wanted to expand it further. Then the Du Mansion would be one of the most prestigious mansions in Chengqing District.

Could such a mansion be given to him?

It could only belong to Jing-niang.

Only at this moment did he realize that his niece had truly married Lu Shenru, the powerful and intimidating Marquis Lu.

Du Zhiqi’s face twitched.

He forced a smile and agreed that it was indeed a good time to expand. “I was thinking that Jing-niang’s dowry was a bit small, so this house could be used to supplement it as part of her dowry.”

As he said this, he saw Marquis Lu slowly nod, holding his teacup.

However, Marquis Lu did not leave immediately, saying calmly,

“Regarding the job vacancy, Lord Du should discuss it with Jing-niang after you see her.”

He brought up the job vacancy, which was Du Zhiqi’s biggest concern. Now, he had no desire to stay in the capital; he only wanted to leave this troublesome place as soon as possible.

However, Marquis Lu brought it up but told him to discuss it with Jing-niang.

He had previously angrily rebuked his niece for stirring up trouble, claiming she acted arbitrarily simply because she did not want to marry. Now, this Marquis, offering a position, actually wanted him to consult with his niece and see what she thought.

Du Zhiqi’s embarrassment was indescribable, but what was done was done; was it not his own fault?

He could only say bitterly, “Thank you for your concern, Marquis.”

“It’s nothing.”

The man smiled but also rose, leaving someone to go buy the house from the neighboring family, and went out.

He had just bid farewell to Wen Bo and stepped out of the Du Mansion when a carriage pulled up in front.

Unfortunately, the one inside was Du Runqing, the second young lady of the Du family.

Du Runqing had returned temporarily to prepare medicine for her mother. As the carriage stopped, she looked out the window and immediately saw the man in front of the gate; her heart skipped a beat.

The man was tall and imposing, his brocade robe accentuating his figure. He noticed her carriage, glanced at it briefly, but then turned away, mounted his horse, and, before leaving, gave an order.

“Go back to the mansion and ask Madam if she would like to go out for a nice meal tonight.”

The servant responded and left, disappearing from the gates of the Du Mansion.

Inside the carriage, Du Runqing’s eyes lowered.

The maid, Rui-Xue, inquired outside and returned to tell her that the Marquis had come to purchase a residence.

Purchase a residence? Du Runqing understood this even faster than her father.

It was for her sister, was it not? Opening the library was also for her sister; everything was for her sister. Even clearing the way for her on the road—was that also for her sister?

Then, this imperial decree of marriage—was it also for her sister?

…

At Jiqing Ward, in the Marquis’s Mansion.

Du Lingjing had no time to eat out; the appointed time to meet the Flicking Faction members at the Fire God Temple in the north of the city was fast approaching.

She did not go out, so the man went home.

He found her with a map of the capital region, his long brows furrowed in thought as he stared at the location of the Fire God Temple. Anyone who did not know better would think he was contemplating some important military or national matter.

He walked over. “I’ve already had Chong-Ping deploy men within a ten-mile radius of the Fire God Temple.”

He did not want her to sit for long, so he pulled her up.

“Are you still sore?” he asked in a low voice. His voice was usually hoarse, and now, speaking softly, his breath enveloped her ear.

Du Lingjing was startled by his question but did not want to answer, simply saying, “I was thinking, what if something goes wrong?” She tried to change the subject.

She ignored him, and the man raised an eyebrow.

“Something going wrong?” he said. “Even if my wife has never trusted me, she should trust Chong-Ping.”

That was what he was saying… Why did he still remember her doubts about him? Did he really care that much about whether she trusted him or not? Was this concern a sign of guilt?

Du Lingjing thought to herself but dared not say it aloud. If she did, he would probably remember it even more and bring it up every few days.

She could not help but glance at him, but he immediately caught her gaze.

“What are you thinking?”

He demanded an answer.

Du Lingjing sighed helplessly and pursed her lips.

“Since the Marquis has made all the arrangements, it’s certainly appropriate.”

Only after she spoke did she hear him let out a long “Oh,” seemingly somewhat satisfied, but also somewhat dissatisfied.

His gaze lingered on her eyes, as if his arm were wrapped around her waist, then around her shoulder or the back of her legs, causing Du Lingjing’s heart to skip a beat for no apparent reason. She was utterly overwhelmed and quickly changed the subject.

But then again, the Shao brothers were frantically hunting down Flicking Faction and his men, and only Lu Shenru could rescue them. If she did not trust him, who else could she trust? They shared common interests; if it could strike at the hands of the Shao brothers and Prince Yong’s faction, he would be happy to oblige.

Two days passed in a flash.

On the morning of the appointed day, as soon as the city gates opened, Du Lingjing headed straight for the Fire God Temple in the north of the city.

The Fire God Temple was still quite popular; even before the morning frost had completely melted, people were already arriving with baskets to offer incense.

The group waited quietly nearby, but from dawn till midday, they found no one unusual.

Chong-Ping said they had spotted someone acting strangely seven miles away, but this person was very wary and disappeared as soon as they appeared. However, judging by the time, if it was indeed this person, they should arrive today.

Du Lingjing calmed herself and continued to wait.

Lu Shenru arrived in the north of the city after court.

Seeing her sitting quietly waiting, he joined her.

The sun slowly set. The crowd of people offering incense gathered most at midday and gradually dispersed as the sun set.

Du Lingjing had a vague feeling that something was amiss.

Just then, Chong-Ping hurried over.

“My Lord, Madam, someone left a note in the divination box.”

The note was small, containing only a few characters:

“The bamboo forest behind the mountain.”

Du Lingjing looked over. “This handwriting…”

“What’s wrong?” Lu Shenru asked. “Should we send someone over for you?”

“No need,” Du Lingjing immediately shook her head. She then stood up. “I know who it is. I will go myself.”

She clutched the note tightly in her hand and quickly walked towards the back mountain.

It was the back mountain, also a bamboo forest.

The man’s eyes showed a hint of contemplation as he strode after her.

This bamboo forest was not far from the Fire God Temple. In less than a quarter of an hour, Du Lingjing reached the edge of the forest.

It was dusk. Birds were returning to their nests in the forest. In the western hollow, a setting sun, bathed in the glow of sunset, hung in the sky.

Golden light filtered through the bamboo forest. Du Lingjing walked in, her feet crunching on fallen bamboo leaves, rustling softly in the wind.

In just a few steps, the bamboo forest enveloped her.

She was momentarily dazed.

It seemed like quite some time had passed since she had been to any bamboo grove.

Lu Shenru stood outside the bamboo forest, his handsome brows slightly furrowed.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the depths of the bamboo forest.

Du Lingjing turned to look and saw someone slowly emerging from the clusters of golden evening light.

He wore a bamboo-green robe, appearing as if he and the bamboo were one.

Bamboo leaves drifted down and landed on his shoulders.

Du Lingjing’s gaze flickered slightly before settling on the ground.

But then she regained her composure; she had not mistaken him for someone else.

“Sixth Brother? Is that you? I am here; come here.”

The voice carried on, and the young man finally emerged fully from the depths of the bamboo forest.

His thin face bore an even stronger resemblance to the man from before, and he was hunched over, his hand pressed against his chest.

Du Lingjing was startled when she heard Jiang Fengchuan speak.

“Sister-in-law, I am afraid I’ve suffered some serious injuries…”

He finished speaking, swayed, and suddenly fell forward.