Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 046

Chapter 46

In the Imperial City, at Prince Hui’s Yuxing Palace.

When Lu Shenru arrived, Consort Lu Huairu was already waiting for him.

“Have you really just let go of the Earl of Rongchang’s affairs?”

The Noble Consort sat on the brocade couch, her hands tucked into hand warmers sewn from snow rabbit fur. A charcoal brazier burned in the room as she approached.

Lu Shenru rubbed his hands in front of the brazier. He snorted, “It seems Lady Yang has even come to Your Imperial Highness.”

The Noble Consort on the couch did not deny it. “After all, the two families are related by marriage. Lady Yang is my second brother’s direct cousin, and those two who committed crimes are also my second brother’s direct cousins. Even though my second brother is no longer alive, we still have to consider things so as not to put Aunt in a difficult position.”

Mentioning the deceased Second Master Lu, Lu Shenru fell silent for a few moments.

A very faint crackling sound came from the charcoal brazier. Seeing that her brother was silent, Lu Huairu spoke again.

“The Earl of Rongchang has a distinguished military record in the border regions, and I’ve noticed His Majesty seems quite hesitant these past few days. However, Grand Secretary Dou and others, seeing that the Shao family cannot escape this time, are pressing the Earl of Rongchang’s case relentlessly, putting His Majesty in a difficult position.”

The two cases became intertwined, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction.

From the people’s perspective, these were truly heinous crimes against the country, and severe punishment to rectify the court’s conduct and cleanse the government was most appropriate. However, from the Emperor’s perspective, a mutually destructive struggle with heavy losses on both sides was also a loss for him and not necessarily a good thing.

Lu Shenru initially did not want to get involved further, but hearing the Emperor’s attitude, he reconsidered.

“I can allow the Court of Judicial Review to handle Shao Boju’s case impartially, focusing on this case itself and preventing further entanglement with Shao Zun, the Shao family, and other members of Prince Yong’s faction. The rest is up to Grand Secretary Dou.”

If he did not take the opportunity to suppress Prince Yong’s faction, and Grand Secretary Dou understood his intention, he might also spare the Earl of Rongchang’s family, perhaps giving those two a way out.

With both sides backing down, the Emperor would have a way to save face.

Seeing his words, Lu Huairu breathed a sigh of relief. She said, “I do not think Grand Secretary Dou necessarily intends to exterminate us all. After all, the Earl of Rongchang is stationed at the border, which is why the Tartars dare not easily venture south.”

However, Lu Shenru disagreed. “Your Imperial Highness is kind, but we should not be too optimistic about this matter. If Grand Secretary Dou had been so kind earlier, considering the merits of us military generals who have served the court, he would not have so insistently supported Prince Yong and opposed us. We and they are already irreconcilable enemies.”

Mentioning Prince Yong, Lu Huairu pursed her lips and sighed softly.

When she first married the Emperor, who was then Prince Yin, the child was only two or three years old. His birth mother, Lady Shao, died shortly after giving birth to him.

The Empress, who was then Princess Yin, did not care much for him, only entrusting him to a wet nurse. However, the wet nurse lost him in the garden in the dead of winter.

After much thought, she asked the Emperor to take him into her care. Many years passed before he was raised, until the Crown Prince died and he became Prince Yong, enthroned by the court officials. The Shao family swarmed around him, as did the civil officials who had once wanted to surrender to the Lu family. He turned to face her, no longer calling her “Mother” in secret as he had in his childhood…

The crackling of embers echoed from the charcoal burner. Lu Huairu rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed blankly out the window.

“Your Imperial Highness, please do not dwell on the past. Let bygones be bygones. It’s better to start anew.”

Lu Shenru’s words drew a glance from Lu Huairu.

Let bygones be bygones, and start anew?

She wanted to ask her brother something, but he clearly did not want to elaborate and spoke first. “If Grand Secretary Dou and the others persist in their accusations, Your Imperial Highness should not be too compassionate and plead with the Emperor, putting him in a difficult position, which would not be a good thing.”

The Noble Consort understood. She said, “If we cannot save them, then we can only consider this a way to establish authority.”

She said it was necessary to establish authority, to make these noble and military officials discipline their sons, so that if they continued to misbehave outside, no one could save them from committing crimes. However, Lu Huairu also said, “I am afraid some people will not think that way.”

They did not see Lu’s actions as establishing authority; instead, they thought that Lu’s lack of protection showed that she had forgotten the old faction after the arrival of new officials. Thinking of this, the Noble Consort asked him, “Have you decided whether to use those officials from the Flicking Faction?”

On this point, Lu Shenru had no hesitation.

“The Flicking Faction may be a bit aloof, but if they were truly capable, they would be far superior to those under Grand Secretary Dou. Moreover, we do indeed lack such upright and capable ministers in the court; this is an excellent opportunity. As for the rest…”

He smiled indifferently.

“Everyone knows how the Lu family treats people. Whether new or old officials, as long as they are loyal to Prince Hui and the Lu family, I, Lu Shenru, will not mistreat them in the slightest. Otherwise, I will have to abandon them.”

…

Lu Shenru emerged from the hall and encountered Prince Hui leaving the school. Perhaps having heard that he had entered the palace, he hurried towards Yuxing Palace.

Upon seeing him from afar, he quickened his pace to the point of running.

The man immediately stopped, his eyes instantly revealing affection.

“Your Highness, do not run; be careful not to fall. I will not leave.”

Although he said this, the young prince still quickly reached him.

Lu Shenru raised his hand, dismissing the eunuchs and maids who had followed him. He looked down at his young nephew, who looked up and said, “Uncle has not come for a while.”

He had been busy lately, dealing with two cases between the capital and Baoding. With the year-end approaching, people had been coming and going. He straightened the young prince’s clothes, noticing that his nephew had grown taller. He was still only eight years old; becoming a powerful prince with authority was a long way off.

Seeing the flute in his hand, he remembered his promise.

“It was my negligence. I promised Your Highness I would teach you to play the flute, but I have not had the time.”

He looked apologetic, but the young prince waved his hands repeatedly. He said the Consort had hired two flute teachers for him, and he was already learning. As he spoke, he blinked at his tall, imposing uncle.

“My mother also said that since Uncle has an aunt and is a married man, he should come home more often whenever he has some free time.”

This remark made Lu Shenru chuckle, but Prince Hui seemed to remember something and ordered a palace maid to fetch something from his bedchamber. When the item arrived, it was handed to Lu Shenru.

The item was in a small chicken-wing wood box. Lu Shenru was about to open it, but Prince Hui said, “No, this is for my aunt. Please take it back and let her open it.”

The man paused, his eyes softening further. “Alright.”

…

Du Lingjing returned from Guilin Tower and saw a delicate little chicken-wing wood box on her desk. She could not help but ask the two maids, Ying-Bi and Xiang-Yi, who had come in to help her change.

“Did the Marquis send this over?”

He sent her things almost every day. At first, Qiu-Lin would report everything to her, but there were simply too many things. Later, Qiu-Lin and the others simply collected and stored everything for her, sometimes only discovering new items when she remembered to use them.

However, there were not many things specifically placed on her desk.

She asked, but the two maids did not answer.

The man stepped in from outside. “His Highness Prince Hui asked me to give this to you, Madam.”

Du Lingjing was startled. She wiped her hands before picking up the chicken-wing wood box.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I do not know either.”

She was even more surprised. There were things he did not know?

The man, seeing her surprised look, sighed helplessly. “Does my wife think her husband knows everything in the world?” He added, “If my wife insists I know everything, I will try my best.”

Du Lingjing said nothing; he had already added so much drama to his act. She could not help but smile, ignoring him, and opened the box. But inside the box was another wooden box, even more exquisite, with a somewhat Western style. Du Lingjing opened it again, and with just a slight opening, music emanated from within, and intricately carved objects began to rotate.

“What is this?”

Du Lingjing had never seen anything like it before; she had not expected her husband to actually know.

“A music box? I heard that missionaries returned from the West, bringing many Western treasures as tribute to the Emperor. I suppose His Highness received this and then gifted it to you, Madam.”

The music was an unfamiliar tune, yet very pleasant to the ear, especially when the music box was brought close to her ear.

She said, “It’s loud and melodious.”

But these words caused the marquis beside her to pause slightly.

Du Lingjing, remembering something, asked him, “His Highness bestowed this wonderful item upon me. Shall I go to the palace to express my gratitude?”

The man snapped out of his reverie and said there was no need. “It’s just a small trinket. If you are interested, you can prepare one for him another day.” He paused slightly. “His Highness likes these little trinkets that make sounds.”

Du Lingjing pondered. “Make sounds? When I was young, an old friend of my father’s from Ju County gave me a set of flower bells made of seashells. They were multicolored, and from afar, they sounded like the wind; up close, they sounded like the waves, a sound that lingered for a long time.”

She had kept them in Mian Tower. She asked him, “Would this be appropriate for His Highness?”

If it were, she would have it fetched from Qingzhou.

Unexpectedly, the man looked at her intently. Lu Shenru knew what she was referring to. She loved those seashell flower bells very much. On breezy summer days, she would hang them by the window to listen to the wind and the sea.

He looked into her eyes, wanting to say that it was a cherished item she’d kept for many years, and since she liked it so much, she should not give it away; they could just find another one.

But if he said that, she would surely be startled.

He could only say, “Since it’s been your maiden’s bell for so many years, let’s just forget about it; we can find another one.”

But she smiled and said, “What does it matter? It’s something I loved to listen to when I was young, and I think it’s quite suitable for His Highness’s age.”

She really wanted to give the seashell bell to His Highness, and His Highness had secretly prepared this music box as a gift for her. Lu Shenru’s heart softened even more. It seemed he really had married her…

He did not speak, only staring intently into her eyes.

Du Lingjing did not know whether the bell was appropriate as a return gift or not, but then she heard him ask a question out of the blue.

“How do you want to spend the New Year?”

Du Lingjing was taken aback. “How else can I spend the New Year?”

He chuckled, lowered his head, and pulled her into his arms.

Ying-Bi, Xiang-Yi, and Qiu-Lin, who were about to enter, hurriedly retreated. As they retreated quickly, Du Lingjing’s face flushed.

Encircled by this man, she heard him say, “This is your first year spending the New Year with me at the Marquis’s Mansion.”

This year was indeed different from previous years. If she could go back to this time last year, how could she have imagined that she would be here at this very moment? She was momentarily lost in thought, her mind wandering, when he suddenly spoke again.

“I only asked Quan Quan how she wanted to spend the New Year, not to make you think of anything else.”

He could even guess that she was thinking of something else? She could not help but ask him how he always seemed to know what she was thinking.

Unexpectedly, he added, “Do not ask me.”

Du Lingjing: “…”

He must be the strangest person in the world.

Since she could not understand his thoughts, she decided to leave. She had brought back several books from Guilin Tower today. But before she could escape his embrace, he carried her to the desk.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.

At first, his touch was as gentle as water, then it became a torrent of passion, like an army besieging a city. In no time, her breathing quickened.

The room was already quite warm, and the snow on the eaves had long since melted, dripping onto the banana leaves.

His advances grew more intense, his hand quietly enveloping her slender waist.

Du Lingjing stiffened. He pressed his lips close to hers and asked in a hoarse voice, “What’s wrong?”

The nanny had just come to burn incense the day before yesterday, and now he was going to…

“My period has started,” she whispered.

This time, it was the man’s turn to pause slightly, and then he lightly pecked her lips before pulling away.

His gaze fell on her lower abdomen.

Not pregnant?

That was fine. They’d only been married for less than half a year. Actually, he could not quite imagine that she would give birth to his child…

No, their child.

It felt like a dream.

He placed his palm on her lower abdomen. The heat of his palm traveled through the thin undergarment.

“Does your period hurt?”

Du Lingjing heard him ask.

The heat of his palm traveled through the thin undergarment. A warm, comfortable sensation filled her stomach, but their actions carried an unspoken meaning.

Du Lingjing thought of the pills she always took after sex; her eyelids lowered slightly. She shook her head, saying it did not hurt, but did not want to dwell on it.

Unexpectedly, he spoke for her. He chuckled softly.

“No rush, there’s plenty of time.”

*

In the cold of the twelfth month, the outer courtyard of the Marquis of Yongding’s residence was bustling with activity.

Lu Shenru wanted to strongly support Master Hong of the Flicking Faction to reinstate him as a third-rank official, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Feng Xiang’s father had served as an official in Nanjing for ten years and was due to return to the capital; he had already secured him a position as a Vice Commissioner of the Office of Transmission.

Then there was Feng Xiang’s uncle, the second son of the late Master Feng, who had previously been a staunch supporter of the Du family’s new policies. Lu Shenru had appointed him as the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, only waiting for the original Chancellor to retire in six months, after which the Feng family would take over. While seemingly a fourth-rank official position, this would have far-reaching consequences for future officials in the court.

The case of Shao Boju had dragged out most of the Flicking Faction members. Many had been ostracized for years and were at odds with figures like Grand Secretary Dou. Previously, they had preferred to be sidelined or resign and return home rather than associate with the Lu family.

Firstly, they did not want to get involved in the succession struggle, and secondly, they dared not easily trust the noble-born Marquis Lu.

This time, however, things were different. Marquis Lu had become the son-in-law of the deceased Grand Secretary Du and was even willing to sacrifice the Earl of Rongchang’s estate to save the Flicking Faction members.

Some Flicking Faction members even proactively considered joining him.

The Marquis’s advisors discussed the matter. When the officials were reshuffled next spring, all these Flicking Faction members would be reinstated.

The discussion was heated, but one person’s position remained undecided.

“That Master Liao Xu is a man of great talent. The Marquis saved him this time; if we can give him an important position, he might one day rival Grand Secretary Dou.”

When someone mentioned this, another said, “But Master Liao was punished by the Marquis years ago. Even if he forgives him for saving his life, he still supports Prince Yong as the Crown Prince, not Prince Hui. How can we give him an important position?”

Another person felt this was unimportant. “He taught in Baoding for many years, and his reinstatement is entirely due to the Marquis’s efforts. I think the Marquis should just use him and let him choose his own patron.”

This person added that some members of the Flicking Faction did indeed favor Prince Yong. “The Marquis has married a lady and saved someone; using them is perfectly justified. That’s how the court is now; they should think carefully about whose side they are on.”

His meaning was that the Marquis should act decisively in appointing people.

Everyone expressed their opinions, then looked towards the man at the head of the table, awaiting his final decision. Lu Shenru, however, merely propped his forehead up and looked out of the hall, remaining silent for a moment.

*

Surprisingly, when Du Lingjing went to visit Hu Tinglan again, she happened to encounter Master Liao.

She stepped forward to greet Master Liao, about to ask him how he had been, when Master Liao said he had business to attend to and turned to leave.

Du Lingjing sensed something was amiss and called out to him again, “Where are you going, sir? I heard that your former residence in the capital was sold long ago. If you are not satisfied with your current residence, you may move to Chengqing District.”

He had lived in Chengqing District before, when he was with her father.

But Master Liao waved his hand, saying, “No need for Jing-niang to worry about me. I have other matters to attend to and will be leaving now.”

He left as soon as he spoke. Du Lingjing felt a little strange and turned to Hu Tinglan, asking, “What’s wrong with sir?”

Hu Tinglan glanced at her.

Master Liao had just mentioned to him that an advisor from the Marquis’s Mansion had approached them, mentioning that the Marquis intended to give him an important position. However, Master Liao was a straightforward man. He still believed that Prince Yong was older, while the Emperor’s health might not last much longer, making Prince Yong a more suitable choice for Crown Prince than Prince Hui.

But if he were to be used by Marquis Lu, he would inevitably have to fight for the Marquis’s interests, which would contradict his own opinion. The gentleman was in a dilemma, and fearing that Jing-niang would be caught in the middle between him and the Marquis, he simply remained silent.

But Jing-niang seemed unaware of the situation. Hu Tinglan did not say much either, simply stating that the gentleman was indeed busy, thus glossing over the matter.

Neither of them spoke much, and Du Lingjing remained silent.

*

A few days later, more than half of the twelfth lunar month had passed, and the New Year was approaching. The entire Marquis’s Mansion was bustling with activity.

Du Lingjing wondered how the Marquis planned to celebrate the New Year. It seemed that the banquet at Shushi Pavilion was no longer enough for his grandeur.

She quietly waited to see his arrangements.

However, when he returned, he said that the arrangements for this year’s palace banquet had been finalized; it would be the day before New Year’s Eve.

As the wife of Marquis Lu, Du Lingjing had to attend the palace banquet.

But he reminded her, “The matriarchs and ladies of various families will also be attending.”

He said that the wife of the Duke of Wei’s heir and the eldest daughter of the Yang family would also be there. The new year was approaching, and the Emperor was about to deliver his verdict on the case of the two young masters of the Yang family. She was frantic with worry.

He told his wife, “If she comes looking for you, ignore her. Do not listen to anything she says. I already have a plan; just ignore her.”

The last time Lady Yang’s carriage encountered her, she clearly intended to avoid any interaction.

Would Lady Yang come specifically to see her at this palace banquet?

What could she possibly say? He would not let her hear it.