Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 045

Chapter 45

As the twelfth lunar month arrived, the capital experienced two more light snowfalls.

Du Lingjing visited Hu Tinglan. His injuries had improved considerably, but he still looked dejected on the day of Shao Boju’s sentencing.

After recording her statement, Tingjun hurriedly returned to Cangzhou. Du Lingjing wanted to invite her to dinner at Zhenyue Tower and then to a teahouse near the Imperial Academy in Chongjiao Ward, but Tingjun was concerned about her children at home, so Du Lingjing could only agree to meet her again after the New Year.

She herself was not exactly idle. The imperial examination in the second month of the following year was approaching, the peak season for selling popular books and calligraphy. The Du Publishing House, formerly based in Qingzhou, always saw a surge in sales during minor examinations… If it were the autumn imperial examinations of a province, it would be even more extraordinary.

This year, because she was preoccupied with her marriage in the capital, only Steward Zhao was left to manage the examinations in Qingzhou. Now, she had summoned Steward Zhao to the capital and opened a branch. Steward Zhao immediately recruited many people and said to her, “It’s only the end of the year, and the capital is already packed with students from all over waiting to take the exams. Let’s make a fortune!” This made it sound as if she ran a bookshop solely to profit from scholars.

But then she thought, she was now managing Guilin Tower, not Mian Tower. The money she brought with her had not been enough to cover the book purchases at Guilin Tower these days, so the Marquis specially allocated a large sum for her, and the Chief Steward Zong also sent a steward to assist. The amount of silver was so much that Steward Zhao’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Collecting books was expensive, but spending without earning was not a long-term solution, so she told Steward Zhao to stop thinking about the money allocated by the Marquis’s Mansion. With the imperial examinations approaching, it was crucial for Guilin Tower, a newly established library, to sell its books effectively and gradually establish itself as a legitimate collection of books.

Therefore, Steward Zhao wanted to seize the opportunity to make more money, which she readily accepted. These past few days, she had been leaving the city, traveling from the Marquis’s Mansion to Guilin Tower.

However, the day after she went to Guilin Tower, someone sent a servant to fetch her. The following day, she went out of the city again, and after only one night, he sent someone to pick her up again.

She thought this was not bad; at least she could stay at Guilin Tower for one night. But after only two times, this morning she left the Marquis’s Mansion early again, and before it was even dark, he simply had Chong-Ping personally fetch her to take her home.

Guilin Tower was not far, but making a round trip in one day would still take some time.

Du Lingjing returned to the Marquis’s Mansion and found everything peaceful. She picked up a book and sat by the window, reading silently. Just as she sat down, he returned from the outer courtyard. Du Lingjing continued reading, ignoring him. She wanted to see what important matter he would bring up that would force her to come back and forth all day.

Unexpectedly, he did not mention the reason, only saying, “Several deer have been sent to the capital from the old residence in Xi’an. They look quite robust. And that flock of geese in the back garden… Chong-An says they often act arrogantly. My Lady, do you think we should have some meat prepared for roasting tonight?”

She had gone out in the morning and was called back in the afternoon, just for some roasted meat tonight? She did not speak, but she also stopped reading, closing the book and looking into his eyes.

A breeze stirred in her watery eyes, stirring small ripples of annoyance on the surface. But her annoyance was like a feather brushing against his heart. Lu Shenru, not wanting to laugh while she was angry, could only say, “It’s cold, and attending court in the morning is difficult.”

What did the cold weather and the difficulty of attending court in the morning have to do with her going to Guilin Tower?

But Du Lingjing immediately understood. Because it was cold in the morning and attending court was difficult, he wanted her to accompany him in the evening. He looked at her, his meaning unspoken, but his dark eyes reflected her figure, his gaze asking if she was willing.

Du Lingjing’s face flushed slightly, but she said, “Guilin Tower needs to use the months before the imperial examinations to solidify its foundation.”

Unexpectedly, he asked, “Is the money not enough? I will have Steward Zong allocate some more for you.”

Du Lingjing’s eyes widened. Was it about money?

She looked at him wide-eyed, and he added, “The Marquis’s Mansion has plenty of money for collecting fees from a few books.”

Du Lingjing knew he was pretending not to understand, just to keep her at home.

She said, “I used to have some reputation at Mian Tower, but now that I’ve opened Guilin Tower in the capital, many scholars from all over come to visit.”

If she were at the Marquis’s Mansion, people would not dare come because of the Marquis’s prestigious name, but it was different at Guilin Tower. These scholars often brought her rare and valuable books. Since she was not at Guilin Tower, Steward Zhao had to receive them on her behalf.

As she spoke, she remembered something else and added, “Young Master Feng has also been helping me at Guilin Tower lately, so I cannot just stay home and enjoy my leisure.”

It would have been better if she had not mentioned Feng Xiang, because as soon as she did, Lu Shenru snorted.

“He’s not young anymore, and he blushes whenever he sees people. I wonder if he has some kind of illness. Should we call the imperial physician to take a look?”

It was not that he blushed whenever he saw people; it was that he would blush whenever he saw his wife, and he would even start to stutter, unable to speak properly. Not a good boy. Marquis Lu pursed his lips, displeased. How could Du Lingjing not see it?

Du Lingjing could only explain, “Young Master Feng has always been shy.”

But he only scoffed, “Then he should focus even more on his studies. Once he passes the imperial examinations, I can arrange for him to gain experience far away.” He said the Jiangnan region would be good, “Of course, it would be even better if he went to Guangdong, Guangxi, or Fujian.”

Jiangnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian? Was he sending this Young Master Feng as far away as possible? Du Lingjing almost laughed in anger. She was about to silently retort when he suddenly repeated what he had just said.

“Quan Quan, it’s not easy going to court in this cold weather.”

Du Lingjing: “…”

His gaze was intense, simply asking if she could stay home with him that evening.

Du Lingjing felt a strange softening in her heart.

“…Alright.”

She changed her plan to go in the morning and return in the evening. The Marquis was clearly pleased. He went out and ordered the plum grove in the backyard to be fenced off, saying he wanted to roast meat there and warm a pot of wine for himself, as he also wanted a small cup.

Du Lingjing could not help but chuckle softly. However, looking at his tall figure, she suddenly remembered that his marriage to her was a reluctant act under the imperial decree, but fortunately, she was the one he fell in love with at first sight in Zhenyue Tower.

Du Lingjing had never experienced love at first sight and always found such things hard to believe. But he married her and treated her so well—what other reason could there be? She could not think of one for the moment.

*

At Hongluo Temple.

The Jiang family, hearing that Jiang Fengchuan had settled in the capital to await the examinations, fearing he had been overworked these past few months, sent a steward and two servants from Qingzhou to serve him. Sixth Young Master, being young and unlike Hu Tinglan, who was deeply troubled by Shao Boju’s affair, suffered far more severe injuries than Hu Tinglan, but he recovered much faster.

Dowager Consort Jiang summoned a royal physician to examine him. The physician said he would be fully recovered by the second month of the new year, and the nine-day imperial examination would be no problem. The nine-day examination was something his elder brother, Jiang Zhuxiu, could not possibly endure, but he could.

Recently, he had been studying diligently. He would rise before dawn, walk twice around the temple, and then sit in his room for the entire afternoon without needing a nap. He could even stay up until midnight.

His diligence touched the Dowager Consort, who, fearing he would not be able to keep up, specially instructed Nanny Pu to prepare nourishing medicinal meals for him daily and send them to his study in the guest quarters.

Whenever Sixth Young Master saw Nanny Pu arrive, he would rise and rest for a moment, inviting her to sit while preventing her from opening the medicinal food bowl. “Nanny, let me guess what medicines are in it today?” he would ask.

He always guessed correctly, much to Nanny Pu’s amazement.

Today, Nanny Pu asked him, “Sixth Young Master, did you often accompany Third Young Master before and know all about medicinal herbs?”

Sixth Young Master said he would not call himself knowledgeable. “In terms of medicine, I am not even a tenth as good as Brother. But why can I accurately tell you what medicines you put in?”

Nanny Pu could not possibly guess. She thought he knew Taoist divination; perhaps he calculated it with his fingers?

But then she heard him say, “It’s because the two palace maids who help you pick out the medicines talk about today’s medicinal food every day as they pass by my window. It would be hard for Sixth Young Master not to know…”

Before he finished speaking, Nanny Pu could not help but laugh. She smiled, then realized it was improper for palace etiquette and quickly covered her mouth, but her affection for Sixth Young Master only grew stronger.

Jiang Fengchuan personally poured her more tea and said in a joking tone, “I heard that His Highness Prince Yan is coming to Hongluo Temple for a short stay after the New Year. Could it be that he’s here for Nanny Pu’s cooking?”

Nanny Pu had initially served in the Imperial Kitchen, but later, due to a hand injury, she was transferred to the palace of Dowager Consort Jiang. However, her culinary skills had not diminished. With just a few pointers from her, the dishes prepared in the kitchen were transformed.

His joke only made Nanny Pu beam with even greater delight.

She said she could not accept the honor, “His Highness Prince Yan comes to Hongluo Temple every year for a short stay, to pray for blessings, not for my cooking.”

“So His Highness comes every year. When is it? Is there a set schedule? I’ve never met His Highness before, so I hope I do not offend him.”

Nanny Pu told him not to worry, “His Highness comes to the temple every first month for ten days or half a month. His Highness admires scholars, and Sixth Young Master is well-educated and reasonable; His Highness would be more than happy to see him.”

Nanny Pu said this and then stood up, saying it was a medicinal meal ordered by the Dowager Consort and that Sixth Young Master should eat it while it was hot. “This old servant still needs to report to the Dowager Consort, so I will not keep Sixth Young Master any longer.”

Jiang Fengchuan specially got up to see her out of the courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, Uncle Hui asked, “Why did Sixth Young Master ask about His Highness the Prince of Yan?”

The Prince of Yan was the Emperor’s uncle, only four or five years younger than him, but of a very high generation.

He had never gone to his fiefdom because he was born with a weakness in his limbs, making even writing unsteady. The late Emperor doted on this younger brother as if he were his own son, and fearing he would not be able to receive medical treatment in his fiefdom, he built him a residence in the capital.

Jiang Fengchuan knew all this, but it was not important.

He smiled at Uncle Hui. “Just asking casually. But Uncle Hui, what are you worried about?”

Uncle Hui was naturally worried. Although the Prince of Yan did not have much real power, he held a crucial position. He was the Imperial Clan Court’s Zongling, the one to whom all high-ranking families had to submit their petitions for the Emperor-bestowed marriages every Mid-Autumn Festival!

The matter of the imperial decree bestowing a marriage might be unknown to others, but the Prince of Yan, the Imperial Clan Court’s Zongling, was fully aware of it. However, this prince rarely ventured out, making him virtually unseen by ordinary people, and the Prince of Yan would not speak of it lightly. But Sixth Young Master had inquired about this Zongling’s upcoming stay at Hongluo Temple for a period of fasting and purification.

Uncle Hui secretly clenched his fists under his sleeves. Would Sixth Young Master be using this opportunity to inquire about the Marquis and his wife’s marriage by imperial decree? But Uncle Hui dared not ask him too much; if he uttered even a single extra word, Sixth Young Master would seize upon it and unravel the whole affair.

Sixth Young Master’s temperament was vastly different from Third Young Master’s. Uncle Hui dared not ask further, only feeling worried.

Jiang Fengchuan, however, ate his medicinal meal unhurriedly, even serving Uncle Hui a bowl, and said with a kind smile.

“Uncle Hui, would you like some nourishing food too? Nanny Pu’s medicinal meal today is soothing and calming; do not worry too much.”

He would find out what he needed to know sooner or later. But he did not say this to Uncle Hui. He simply got up and took a few scrolls of paper to his desk, saying they were his recent writings.

“Uncle Hui, please take these to the Marquis’s Mansion and ask her to take a look.”

The young lady had always read Third Young Master’s previous writings, offering detailed comments. Third Young Master often felt that her comments were more accurate than those of most scholars.

Now that Sixth Young Master also wanted the young lady to review his writing, Uncle Hui hesitated but then heard Sixth Young Master say, “It’s just writing; surely this will be fine?”

Uncle Hui could only agree, seeing Sixth Young Master then take a brocade pouch from his waist.

“And this. The abbot of Hongluo Temple saw me yesterday morning and gave me a peace charm. I am a Taoist, so I do not need a Buddhist peace charm. But since it was blessed by the abbot, I will send it to her.”

A peace charm personally blessed by the abbot of Hongluo Temple—how could one obtain such a thing so easily?

Although Sixth Young Master often bothered Madam, whenever he got something good, like books, spring water, or peace charms… he always gave them to her first.

Uncle Hui sighed, having found out where Du Lingjing was, and went straight to Guilin Tower.

Du Lingjing accepted Sixth Young Master’s article, not too surprised, saying she would write a few comments in the margin and return it to Sixth Young Master for his reference after reading it.

As for the amulet he had given her, she asked Chang-Pu to fetch two copies of a collection of contemporary essays, recently compiled by Feng Xiang but not yet published, as a return gift.

After quickly handling a few matters, it was getting late, and Chong-An had already arrived at the door to meet her.

Thinking of someone’s words, “It’s not easy to go to court in the cold,” she could only smile and shake her head. She secretly thought that she would teach this phrase to the red-beaked green parrot later, wondering what would happen.

She returned to the capital with Chong-An. However, the carriage nearly collided with an oncoming carriage within the city.

Across the street was a carriage from the Duke’s mansion. Chong-An turned and said to her, “Madam, that’s the carriage of the heir of the Duke of Wei.”

It was the eldest daughter of the Earl of Rongchang’s mansion, Lady Yang.

Although it was a Duke’s carriage, she was indeed the wife of a Marquis, and Lady Yang should have yielded to her. However, Du Lingjing did not care about such things. Thinking of the Earl of Rongchang’s mansion, she told Chong-An to move aside.

Unexpectedly, the carriage moved back slightly, then turned into a side alley and drove off on another road.

“How can this heir’s wife be so rude?” Qiu-Lin said in a low voice.

Du Lingjing shook her head and said it was fine. She saw that Lady Yang’s carriage was heading to her maternal home, the Earl of Rongchang’s mansion, so the Earl’s wife must be in even worse shape.

With the end of the year approaching, the Emperor had ordered the Court of Judicial Review to postpone the trials, indicating that he intended to wait until after the New Year to handle these two cases.

But whether it’s Shao Boju or the two young masters of the Earl of Rongchang’s mansion, their fates were likely grim. Whether it was Lady Yang or the Marquis’s wife, this year-end must be incredibly difficult.

Du Lingjing did not dwell on the matter and returned to the Marquis’s Mansion.

But as the Duke’s carriage entered the alley, the Yang family’s maidservant could not help but ask, “The Marquis’s wife made way for the Madam, and the Madam ordered them to turn around and leave. Will the Marquis’s wife not be unhappy?”

If the Marquis’s wife was dissatisfied, she could say a few words to the Marquis, and the Marquis would be even less likely to concern himself with the affairs of the two young masters of the Yang family.

But as she was worrying, she heard her own mistress, Miss Yang Jinyu, say, “What can I do if she is unhappy? The Marquis no longer cares about our family. Father cannot return to the capital, Mother cries every day at home, and the two in prison are just waiting to die. The Marquis is only waiting for this case to be resolved so he can wholeheartedly promote the Flicking Faction members brought by Lady Du. He does not care about our lives!”

She said of herself, “Can pleasing Lady Du now turn back time and let the Marquis choose again?”

She said no, then suddenly added, “If only Lady Du were arrogant and domineering, maybe the Marquis would get tired of her and change his mind, remembering the benefits we nobles and military officers have received over the years!”

She paused, stunned. Time could not be turned back. The Flicking Faction members had been rescued. Perhaps the Marquis wanted to save them and win them over again. But if the Marquis could discover that neither Lady Du nor the Flicking Faction officials behind her were truly loyal to him, the Consort, or Prince Hui, would he change his mind and realize that controlling the powerful military officials who already supported Prince Hui was the most important thing?

If that were possible, perhaps the Marquis and the Consort could still salvage the situation before the Emperor punishes her two younger brothers…

Lady Yang was lost in thought.

The maidservant, however, understood the implication and quickly asked, “What does Madam intend to do?”

Yang Jinyu did not speak immediately, still looking out the window at the intersection where Du Lingjing’s carriage had disappeared into the distance.

“Let me think about it.”

T/N:
The Imperial Clan Court (Zongrenfu) was headed by the Zongling (宗令), a first-rank position. The author used Zongrenling (宗人令) but I chose to use the correct term.