Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 038

Chapter 38

Lu Shenru removed his brocade robe from the outer room and casually hung it on the rack. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his wife sitting by the bed, her long black hair draped over her left shoulder. She was also tilting her head slightly to the left, looking at him to see if he was finished.

The small lamp under the window illuminated her long, black hair, highlighting her fair skin. Dressed only in plain clothes, she sat by the bed, exuding an indescribable gentleness.

But Lu Shenru remained silent, his lips pursed. He washed up, then slowly drank a few sips of tea at the table. Remembering something, he gave an order outside.

She was still sitting by the bed, waiting for him. She kept waiting.

Only then did he walk into the inner room.

He would not say a word to her. Du Lingjing’s heart pounded, but she sat there waiting for him.

Finally, seeing that he had finished his work and tidied himself up, she came over.

Thinking about it carefully, his allowing her to move her luggage and stay with him, and not sleeping elsewhere that night, nor complaining about her disturbance and kicking her out, might be a subtle way of him slowly calming down.

Du Lingjing remained sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for him. Seeing him approach step by step, her heart skipped a beat.

Lu Shenru was still sitting there, seemingly not wanting to have anything to say to her immediately, but she was different from usual.

He had to speak.

“Will my wife sleep outside?”

He spoke to her.

Du Lingjing could not help but perk up, but his words were rather cold, his tone subdued, and he was clearly still angry.

She nodded, saying she would sleep outside tonight.

“If you are thirsty at night, My Lord, just tell me,” she added, thinking he might be fast asleep and not notice. “Please, My Lord, wake me.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt the man’s gaze linger on her.

Lu Shenru realized she was not joking, nor was she just being polite; she genuinely intended to sleep outside.

She sat beside him, her arms folded, wearing only a plain undergarment, the collar and sleeves emanating a faint scent of books.

He could not help but recall that year at Mian Tower, when his injuries prevented him from moving, and he could only lie in a corner, not always able to see her. Occasionally, she would happen to walk to the side of the building within his sight, like a butterfly with wings as pale as flower petals, dressed in a light dress, quietly alighting in the study. He did not want to make a sound, afraid of startling the unexpected butterfly.

But now, she said she would serve him?

Lu Shenru’s gaze lingered on his wife for too long.

But he said nothing. The lamplight flickered twice, and Du Lingjing could not tell if he agreed or disagreed. Just as she did not know if he was angry or not. After thinking it over, she finally asked.

“Is the Marquis still angry?”

The room fell silent as soon as she spoke, and the lamplight flickered even more gently, as if brushed by a feather.

She saw his expression soften slightly, but when he spoke, his voice remained calm.

“What does my wife think?”

Du Lingjing had come to apologize, so she lowered her tone.

“I should not have doubted the Marquis,” she whispered. “I am deeply ashamed.”

The lamplight, like a veil of varying shades, quietly spread over the bed where the two sat, draping over her lowered forehead.

Lu Shenru’s heart skipped a beat.

She was apologizing to him.

But her apology still carried a hint of politeness.

The man did not speak for a moment, then she looked at him again.

“Anger is bad for your health; please do not hold it against me, Your Lordship,” she said, her gaze sweeping over the edge of the bed. “From now on, I will sleep on the outside and watch over Your Lordship at night.”

She said she wanted to switch places with him; did she really intend to serve him physically? Did he need her to serve him? This, like her earlier “I am ashamed,” contained a subtle, almost imperceptible politeness. He did not want her to be polite to him, so he frowned.

But as soon as he frowned, he saw her expression tense.

This time, Du Lingjing had tried every method Tingjun had instructed her to use; she was genuinely apologizing to him.

But he still frowned, even shaking his head slightly.

Du Lingjing was certain her friend’s methods would not work.

He had done her such a great favor, yet she still doubted him. How could a few light words truly appease him? On the contrary, her constant bothering must have made him even more unhappy, right? Perhaps, even annoyed.

She bit her lip secretly, averting her gaze to the outer room.

The man suddenly asked her, “What are you thinking about?”

Du Lingjing was silent for a moment, then answered him truthfully.

“Nothing much. I was just thinking that if Your Lordship finds it inconvenient, I could actually sleep in the outer room.”

After she finished speaking, she gave him an awkward smile, then got up to leave.

Before she could take a step, her wrist was suddenly gripped tightly. She turned around in surprise. The man’s brows furrowed even lower as he stared directly at her.

“No one apologized, and you are leaving after only a half-hearted apology.”

Du Lingjing did not understand his meaning for a moment.

But the next moment, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her close, holding her in his arms before Du Lingjing could react.

She looked at him in bewilderment and surprise, the man’s voice deep and resonant.

“My wife should be more sincere.”

He carried her directly to the bed, and the next moment, he leaned in and kissed her.

The candlelight crackled as he bit her lip.

The force of his bite carried the pent-up anger of the past few days, and Du Lingjing let out a soft moan.

The man knew she was in pain and could not bear to bite her again. He could only caress her ear and kiss her deeply.

His kiss was long, intense, and possessive. Before long, Du Lingjing was breathless, and the man’s breathing quickened as well.

A swollen, painful sensation spread beneath her lips. He released her slightly, letting her catch her breath.

She suddenly spoke softly, slightly breathless.

“Do not be angry, alright?”

Lu Shenru was taken aback.

If during the day she had some expert guidance, by evening, when he barely paid attention, she wanted to leave, and he knew the expert’s guidance was over. He had kept her there, telling her to be sincere, but he knew she would not.

But now, she had said it to him again—

“Do not be angry, alright?” These were her own words.

So, she really cared whether he was angry or not, did she not?

He still did not respond verbally, but his fingertips caressed her slightly swollen lips, and the kiss that followed was gentle and tender, different from before.

He kissed her from her lips to the tip of her nose, then to the corner of her eye, her fine eyelashes gently brushing against his lips.

The man’s heart softened terribly. As his kisses returned, they traveled from her neck, down her collarbone, her shoulders, and across her thin back, his hands holding her abdomen.

No incense had been lit in the room, yet he remained unchanged, his earlier anger seemingly adding to his intensity.

But Du Lingjing, accustomed to the fragrance, felt a stinging sweat break out on her back.

The temporary lodging was not as grand as the Marquis’s Mansion, but it was exquisite and cozy, quickly becoming damp and warm, completely masking the chill outside.

The candlelight flickered. Inside the canopy bed, his pace slowed considerably, but each time he began from the outside, pushing open the door and entering step by step.

He continued deeper, step by step, until he filled the entire room, overflowing it. When he was fully inside, he saw her mouth open, tears welling up and falling.

Only then did he feel his presence fully manifested. He stepped back, then opened the door again, and began once more.

Whether the old woman burned incense or not was irrelevant; a damp, humid atmosphere gradually filled the room.

Until a downpour passed, her previously cool body became thoroughly soaked and hot.

He carried her to wash her, and when he returned, Qiu-Lin and the others had already changed all the bedding.

Du Lingjing was completely exhausted; whether she slept inside or outside the bed was unimportant.

Seeing her about to fall asleep as soon as she touched the sheets, the man finally chuckled softly, “So tired?”

“I am ashamed of myself…”

She managed a forced, earnest reply, but before she could finish the sentence, “Not as robust as the Marquis,” the man laughed.

Hearing the hoarseness in her voice, he gently stroked her slender neck and throat.

“That’s why I want you to eat properly.”

Du Lingjing’s eyes widened slightly. Eating was for this?

However, she lifted her tired eyelids and looked at him.

He’s not angry anymore, was he?

She could not help but look at him a few more times. Water droplets still clung to his hair, dripping onto his chest. He was still shirtless, and in the dim light, the old scars on his body were mostly hidden, revealing only his strong, muscular arms.

The heroic air between his brows relaxed.

He really was not angry anymore.

“My wife was spying on me?”

What did he mean by spying? She was just checking to see if he was still angry. But she was too exhausted to argue and closed her eyes.

The man wanted to say a few more words to her, but in the blink of an eye, he saw that she had truly fallen asleep. He could only cover her with the quilt, hold her shoulders, and gently brush his fingertips against them.

Lu Shenru, however, was not sleepy.

His gaze drifted past the gauze curtain to the desk in the outer room. He thought of how she had received guidance from a wise man today and how she could now add fragrance to his life.

He would have to thank that wise man another day.

As for what had happened before, he would let it go for now. If she could stop being so polite in distancing herself from him, then he could simply let it go.

…

The next morning, he still had some trivial matters to attend to, so Lu Shenru went to see Shao Boju, where he was being held.

The once radiant scholar, now so dejected, seemed to have no spirit in his eyes, clearly aware that he was doomed to die.

Lu Shenru tried to ask him a few questions, but he acted as if he could not hear him.

His status was special, and torture was inconvenient; further questioning was pointless. The matter had already been reported to the capital that day, and presumably, the court knew about it by now.

And the Lady of Rongchang, as he had instructed, had voluntarily brought her two unfilial sons to plead guilty. The Earl of Rongchang’s family’s century-old reputation should be preserved, but it would still have some impact on the Earl of Rongchang, who was fighting beyond the Great Wall.

Whether it was the Shao family or his side, it seemed like a lose-lose situation, but it could be considered a balance. However, it was hard to say whether Shao Zun and Grand Secretary Dou would think the same way.

Yesterday, a letter arrived, saying that someone reported that several Qianhu garrisons at the passes in Shanxi were embezzling the grain and rice allocated by the court as winter approached, leaving soldiers without winter clothing and causing desertions.

The northwestern border regions were all under the jurisdiction of dukes, marquises, and earls who were on good terms with the Marquis of Yongding’s family. Someone reported this matter, but fortunately, he intercepted the memorial in advance. He had already ordered all localities to inventory the grain, rice, and cotton clothing. If anyone dared to embezzle or divert funds, they should not blame him for making an example of them.

When Du Lingjing woke up, it was already late.

She felt her head was heavy, as if it were filled with muddy water, heavy and painful, and very unbearable. Just then, the man returned from his duties outside. Seeing her awake, leaning against the bed in a daze, he could not help but come over.

“What’s wrong? Were you really exhausted last night?”

Last night.

Du Lingjing had only intended to apologize to him, nothing more, but…

She did not want to answer his question, so he called Qiu-Lin and Ai-Ye in to help her get up.

Chong-An announced from outside, “My Lord, the troops have been counted, and we can depart. The two prefects have also come to see you off.”

Du Lingjing then realized it was indeed late. He had come temporarily; many matters awaited him in the capital, and now he was about to return.

Hearing that the prefects had come to see him off, he could not refuse to see them, so he instructed Qiu-Lin to help his wife change her clothes.

“It was windy last night, and it’s even colder today. Please dress Madam warmly.”

Qiu-Lin readily agreed. Du Lingjing, seeing that he was indeed no longer angry with her, realized that Tingjun’s prediction had largely come true and could not help but glance at him a few more times.

Was he really that easy to talk to?

But the Marquis Lu, in the eyes of outsiders, did not seem to be like this…

She lowered her eyes in thought, but after only a moment, a sudden headache struck. The headache that had been unbearable since she got up earlier was now even more unbearable, making her feel weak all over.

Ai-Ye changed her into thicker clothes. “Why is Madam so cold?”

Qiu-Lin walked over, examined Du Lingjing’s complexion, reached out and touched her forehead, and took a deep breath.

“Madam, why do you have a fever?”

Du Lingjing usually stayed in the study revising books and rarely went out, let alone ventured into the mountains, where she had even spent the night.

Qiu-Lin exclaimed in surprise, “Could it be that she’s caught a cold?”

The physician who treated Hu Tinglan’s injury yesterday had warned him to be careful of catching a cold, as it would make his wounds harder to heal.

The two maids dared not be careless and were about to report to the Marquis.

Du Lingjing immediately stopped them.

“Madam, are you not going to tell the Marquis that you are ill today?”

Du Lingjing shook her head, and with a slight movement, her head throbbed with pain. She endured the headache and said, “It’s just a cold; I will be fine in three to five days. Do not delay the Marquis’s journey.”

She already owed him enough; he forgave her yesterday without her doing anything. She naturally would not doubt him anymore, but how could she possibly delay him further and hold him back?

Du Lingjing told the two not to speak to him. “I will tell the Marquis myself that I wish to stay a few more days to catch up with friends.”

Qiu-Lin and Ai-Ye had no choice but to accept that she would stay and recuperate for a few days, which seemed reasonable.

Not long after, Lu Shenru returned after dismissing the two prefects.

Du Lingjing saw that he looked normal, not like someone who had caught a cold, and thought to herself that last night with him… at least she had not passed on her illness to him.

Two charcoal braziers were burning in the room, making it warm and cozy. The other brazier seemed to have been recently lit, and her belongings had not been tidied up yet. Before he could ask, she spoke first.

“Is Your Lordship leaving so soon? Some friends are gathered here, and we have not had a chance to chat much. It’s a rare treat to see them all. Your Lordship, may I stay a couple more days?”

She tried to keep her breathing steady, and the man, as expected, did not notice, focusing only on her desire to stay alone.

He said, “I was not planning on returning to the capital immediately. I intended to make a detour to the nearby garrison to inquire about the rice and clothing supplies… Actually, it’s fine if we do not go. Shall we set off tomorrow?”

Du Lingjing was surprised.

He actually wanted to abandon his original plans and stay an extra day for her sake.

She was only slightly ill; it was not important…

She shook her head repeatedly, saying no, “I want to see my friends a few more times and then accompany Brother Hu, Tingjun, and the faction members to the capital.”

Because everyone was injured to some extent, the government would need them to rest for a few days before sending them to the capital. Du Lingjing calculated the time; by then, her minor illness should have subsided, allowing her to travel to the capital with the others.

As for him, whether he needed to investigate at the nearby military post or return to the capital early to handle various matters, it would not be a problem.

She said she would stay and saw the man frown slightly as he looked at her. “Really not coming with me? I’ve heard that many people in Baoding have caught colds lately. You do not travel often; I am afraid you will catch something too.”

Du Lingjing almost assumed Qiu-Lin and the others had told him everything.

But he did not know, though he had already anticipated it.

Du Lingjing could not help but feel a surge of emotion.

Was he being too attentive to her?

From his gentle treatment of her after marriage to his repeated acts of kindness, from gifting her the books for the Guilin Tower to reclaiming her old house and expanding it further, from knowing early on that she loved Liaohua candy to even foreseeing her rarely going out and the possibility of her catching a cold…

Was it all because of that fleeting glimpse of her he claimed to have seen at the Zhenyue Tower?

Or was it because of the imperial decree that she married him and became his wife?

Du Lingjing’s thoughts were somewhat chaotic, and her head was spinning, making her even more confused.

She could not help but look into the man’s eyes. His gaze was deep, like a finely ground inkstone. He looked back at her, the ink soft and delicate, as if about to fall onto her heart and then quietly spread. Du Lingjing’s heart skipped a beat, and inexplicably, she dared not look at him any longer.

With the faction members settled, she could not let him stay another day for her.

Du Lingjing forced a smile. “My Lord, there’s no need to worry. I will keep an eye on things. It will only delay you for a few days. I will talk to Tingjun and the others a bit more, and then we will be back.”

Lu Shenru saw that his wife was indeed staying, and he also remembered that he was going to leave most of his men behind to escort everyone to the capital. Besides, that Lady Hu was a kind person…

He sighed softly. “Alright. Then be careful. If you really fall ill, have someone inform me immediately, understand?”

Du Lingjing lowered her eyes and nodded gently.

The man was going to conduct a surprise investigation into the embezzlement of rice and winter clothing at the nearby Qianhu garrisons. He was using this route as a cover to find out the true situation of these garrisons. He could not delay any longer, so he left Chong-An to look after his wife and took his men, riding north.

Before leaving, the man saw her to the door, then stopped her, saying only, “Remember what I said.”

Seeing her obediently nod, he left with peace of mind.

He left quickly, heading north, until even the sound of his horse’s hooves faded from her ears. But when Du Lingjing returned to her room and sat down, she still felt he was beside her.

A jumble of chaotic thoughts about him surged through her mind, rising and falling. After a while, she calmed down slightly and sighed softly.

Just as she stood up, her vision blurred, and she stumbled a couple of steps.