Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 056

Chapter 56

“…Without the Marquis’s permission, Madam is not allowed to leave the mansion.”

Before dawn, the remaining darkness still shrouded the sky, seamlessly blending with the vast walls of the Marquis of Yongding’s Mansion.

Night descended, the courtyard walls extended upwards.

Du Lingjing looked up, as if seeing a huge black prison confining her within.

She slowly turned and surveyed the towering, seemingly endless mansion. Qiu-Lin rushed forward in a panic, “Miss…”

What to do?

Du Lingjing slowly shook her head.

Perhaps from the moment she received the decree he had obtained, donned the wedding dress he had made for her, and stepped into this mansion, it was already destined that she would never leave.

He could be absent from his residence, from the capital, even a thousand miles away, but as long as he did not release her, she could not leave.

The man was inexplicably distant from her, so distant that even his face was blurred, shrouded in mist, only his dark, unfathomable eyes, beneath his furrowed brows, slowly gazing at her.

But he was not like this before.

Although they had only been married for less than half a year, they had shared moments of moonlit banquets, twilight horseback riding, and boating on the lake. He had offered sacrifices to Third Young Master together; he had offered three sticks of incense, and he had spoken of his longing to stay in Jiangnan—perhaps a wish shared by all northerners. She had advised him that Jiangnan existed only in poetry and literature, and he had already seen it…

But now, he had imprisoned her. She could not resist; she could only let him control everything about her.

Du Lingjing was dazed, her legs trembling slightly.

Which one was he really?

Was this Marquis Lu really the same Marquis of Yongding, Lu Shenru?

“Miss?!” Qiu-Lin called to her again.

If the master were alive, if the young lady were still alive with her parents and brothers, if the Du family had not fallen into ruin, would the Marquis dare to bully her like this?

How could anyone imprison his own wife?

Qiu-Lin cried in anger but saw the young lady only turn around and silently walk back.

…

The Marquis was ordered by the Emperor to go to Kaiping Garrison to deal with the mutiny and did not return.

But the next day, he sent flowers.

Du Lingjing sat blankly by the window. The banana trees outside had frozen to death in the spring snow. The gardener of the Marquis’s Mansion had removed them and was now approaching the window to report.

“Madam, the Marquis has sent a cartload of flowers. Which ones do you like? Where should they be placed?”

Upon hearing this, Du Lingjing vaguely remembered what he had told her the night before he left home.

“I will be returning to the capital in a couple of days. Would it be alright if I brought back a few potted flowers along the way?”

The gardener selected several rare and beautiful flowers, in full bloom, and had a maid bring them into the room for her to see.

Such precious flowers—last year, her uncle bought twenty-eight pots of them in one go to prepare for her second sister’s “wedding.” But for Marquis Lu, having a cartload of flowers delivered was merely a matter of a word.

And yet, before the weather had even warmed up, these flowers were already vying for attention, as if spring had arrived.

If he wanted, even flowers could bloom early.

Du Lingjing did not choose any of the pots; she did not comment on the flowers he had sent.

The gardener, unsure of her meaning, said, “Then I will take care of it myself and fill the main courtyard with the flowers the Marquis sent you; is that alright?”

But Du Lingjing spoke softly from under the window.

“I do not want his flowers,” she said. “Not a single pot. Take them all out.”

Her voice carried from inside the window into the courtyard, where a sudden silence fell; even the birds in the branches stopped chirping.

But the gardener did not leave. Instead, he said with difficulty, “…These flowers are what the Marquis promised you; they must be placed in your courtyard.”

Qiu-Lin and Ai-Ye gasped—

What the Marquis wanted for the Madam, she had no choice but to accept.

Du Ling paused, then suddenly chuckled softly.

She pushed open the window. The crisp spring breeze, carrying the scent of pollen from the courtyard, rushed towards her, brushing against her face, neck, and even slipping into her collar, as if grasping her shoulders.

He was truly an all-powerful nobleman and minister, able to take whatever he wanted within his sphere of influence.

The entire Marquis of Yongding’s mansion belonged to him, including her.

He could do whatever he wanted.

Qiu-Lin and Ai-Ye dared not speak, seeing their mistress sitting silently by the window.

*

At the Northern border, in Kaiping Garrison.

Marquis Lu had not finished dealing with everything. In truth, the military troubles had been suppressed, the generals replaced, and some Tartar spies arrested; the situation was mostly resolved.

He had not returned to the capital yet, but news from his family there, following his orders, continued to pour in.

At this moment, someone reported on the flowers.

“Madam did not want to display those flowers, but as the Marquis instructed, they were all placed in the courtyard, in the rooms, and by the window where Madam likes to sit and read.”

After the messenger finished speaking, he looked up and saw the Marquis ask in a low voice.

“What did she say?”

The servant shook his head. “Madam remained silent.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the servant saw the Marquis close his eyes.

He did not speak for a moment, then finally uttered a single word.

“Understood.”

The messenger left, and Chong-Ping sighed inwardly as he poured him more tea before withdrawing.

He could not bear to read a single letter from the court or the army. He rested his brow on his hand, but the image of her resolutely leaving the Marquis’s Mansion flashed before his eyes.

She left under the guise of using the Dou family’s carriage, without looking back.

She anticipated he would find her place, not only leaving early but also leaving behind the key to Guilin Tower.

The key was his betrothal gift for her wedding.

She did not want it anymore.

The man closed his eyes, thinking of that day, a heavy weight pressing on his chest.

At that time, he had grasped her wrist.

“The wind is too strong; your body cannot handle it. Do not go that way.”

She did not turn around. “I do not think this road is windy. As long as I am not traveling with the Marquis, this little breeze is nothing.” Only then did she glance at him. “If the Marquis would allow me to leave alone, I would be eternally grateful.”

Eternally grateful…

“Will you come back?”

“Since I’ve left, I naturally will not return.”

“But what if you already have our child?”

He looked into her eyes.

She only gave him one word: “Impossible.”

In the room at the Kaiping Garrison where he was staying, Lu Shenru closed his eyes in silence.

She was so certain because of the contraceptive, was she not?

She really had not considered having a child with him…

The northern wind and sand rattled the windowpanes.

The man laughed.

She said she believed him, that she would never doubt him again, but then turned to listen to Jiang Fengchuan’s words.

If it was Jiang Zhuxiu who had kept this from her, could she really bear to abandon him and never see him again?

Silence filled the room.

The generals of Kaiping Garrison had not understood the Marquis’s intentions for the past few days. The matter of the rebellion was almost resolved, yet the Marquis neither made any arrangements for the future nor left. These generals knew how busy the Marquis was just by observing the number of messengers arriving daily from the capital.

But why did the Marquis not leave?

If the Marquis did not leave, they dared not chase him away.

…

The next day, Chong-Ping watched from afar as the messenger sent by Chong-An appeared and sighed.

What news had arrived today?

The messenger from Chong-An reported back.

“My Lord, Princess Nianjia has returned to the capital with the heir of the Earl of Zhongqing. She sent wedding gifts to you and your wife and also sent an invitation to your wife, which she delivered to the Marquis’s Mansion.”

Princess Nianjia.

Lu Shenru, of course, knew about her and Princess Nianjia.

When she was young, accompanying her father in the capital, the late Emperor’s Empress Xiaorong favored her and frequently summoned her to the palace. Prince Yu died young, leaving behind only Princess Nianjia, his posthumous daughter, whom the late Emperor raised in the palace.

The two were of similar age and compatible in temperament, having known each other since their time in the palace.

At this moment, Chong-Ping said, “Your wife and the princess have known each other for many years. The princess has only just returned to the capital, yet she immediately sent an invitation to your wife.”

Lu Shenru paused slightly; he understood Chong-Ping’s implication.

Without his order, she could not leave the house.

The man was silent for a moment, his voice softening.

“Does she want to go?”

He could let her go.

But the messenger replied, “Madam said nothing and did not respond to the Princess’s invitation.”

No response…

Those words were like hot oil on a flame, slowly simmering in his heart.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

The man pursed his lips in silence, then suddenly stood up.

He summoned all the generals of the Kaiping Garrison, briefly explained the arrangements, mounted his horse, and rode away.

In an instant, his figure disappeared into the sandstorm.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances again.

*

In the capital city.

Du Lingjing looked at Nianjia’s invitation again.

Nianjia was not inviting her to the Earl of Zhongqing’s residence, but rather to the Prince Yu’s residence, where no one else would bother her. They used to meet outside the capital at Prince Yu’s residence.

Prince Yu was the son of Dowager Consort Jiang, who died young. Sadly, he succumbed to the plague before Nianjia was even born.

Nianjia grew up without a father; the late Emperor was her grandfather, so how could he possibly care for her?

She spent most of her time in the palace with Dowager Consort Jiang. Her closest companion at that time was not herself, who only occasionally entered the palace, but Wei Jue, the current Commander of the Jinyiwei, who served as her tutor.

Nianjia and Wei Jue were childhood sweethearts, growing up together in the palace. Nianjia was originally destined to marry Wei Jue, even learning to sew for him, but ultimately married Wei Jue’s cousin, Wei Cong, the heir of the Earl of Zhongqing, a member of the same Wei clan.

Du Lingjing was confused about what had happened. She inexplicably thought of herself; she was supposed to marry Third Young Master, but instead, she had ended up marrying into Lu Weishi’s household.

Lu Weishi…

He had not been home for days, but he had kept her from leaving.

A tear glistened in the corner of her eye.

Just then, footsteps outside suddenly became chaotic. Before she could turn around, she heard someone speak outside.

“The Marquis is back.”

The moment these words came through the window, the man lifted the curtain and stepped in.

Du Lingjing happened to look towards the door.

The moment their eyes met, the air in the room froze.

Lu Shenru immediately noticed the tear in her eye.

The tear did not fall, yet it seemed to strike his heart, causing him to tremble.

But she immediately wiped away the tear, coldly turning her head away.

She did not speak to him, nor did she look at him much, as if he had not been away for many days and had only just returned home.

A heavy weight pressed on her heart, and the man, too, remained silent, only the fragrance of the flowers filling the courtyard quietly wafting into the room.

He noticed the invitation from Princess Nianjia beside her.

Nianjia was the granddaughter of Dowager Consort Jiang, thus considered a member of the Jiang family.

Tears welled in her eyes, because she was thinking of Jiang Zhuxiu again…

“Why did you not turn on the heating? Are you not cold?” he asked her.

Du Lingjing did not respond, watching him change his clothes alone, then heard him speak again.

“Is there anything you like in the courtyard? Why not bring a couple of potted plants into the room?”

His tone was surprisingly gentle; anyone who did not know better would think this Marquis was exceptionally kind to her.

Du Lingjing stood up, bypassed him, and turned to leave. Before she could take a step, she was suddenly grabbed around the waist and pulled into his embrace.

He still carried the dust and grime of his recent gallop.

Du Lingjing was held tightly in his arms, her body pressed against his. He looked down at her closely.

“Where are you going, My Lady?” he asked, his lips brushing against her forehead.

Du Lingjing’s breathing quickened for a moment. Remembering the prohibition he had placed on her, she snorted.

“The Marquis has already imprisoned me in the mansion, and now he will not even let me leave this room. Is that it?”

Held close in his arms, her tone was like a spear thrown by the wind, piercing his most vulnerable spot.

She had always spoken gently and softly to Jiang Zhuxiu; when had she ever been so barbed?

For two days, they asked each other questions, yet neither answered.

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; even the fragrance of flowers outside dared not intrude.

Finally, someone could not bear it any longer.

Lu Shenru loosened his grip on her, letting her feel more comfortable, but he did not let go completely.

The scent of her hair gently brushed against his nose.

But the moment he loosened his hold, she immediately pushed him away, turned, and went back to the window.

His arms felt empty, as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out.

His gaze followed her back to the table by the window to retrieve Nianjia’s invitation to put it away.

He could not help but speak.

“Nianjia sent you an invitation. If you want to go…”

“I am not going anywhere.”

Du Lingjing simply put the invitation away.

He would not let her go out; even when Nianjia invited her, she needed his permission. Then she simply would not go anywhere. After she finished speaking, she stared intently at him.

Lu Shenru smiled.

If he would not let her go out, she’d simply stay away from everywhere. She’d see how far he could imprison her.

But if he lifted her restraints, she’d go far away. Could he find her again next time and the time after that?

He agreed, and the room fell completely silent.

The distant sound of the night watchman’s drum echoed through the alley.

Servants came to help the two wash up, and Du Lingjing had Ai-Ye bring a quilt and place it on the small couch.

Lu Shenru glanced at it from the corner of her eye, assuming it was for him.

She wanted him to sleep on the couch; fine.

But after everyone left, she sat down on the couch herself.

This was his mansion; she slept on the couch, and he slept on the bed…

This time, the man’s breathing became unsteady. He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and picked her up.

In a dizzying moment, Du Lingjing was pinned to the bed by him.

He lowered his gaze to meet hers, his lips pressed into a thin line, their breaths mingling, even their heartbeats becoming indistinctly intertwined.

The familiar, warm, humid scent gradually filled the bedchamber.

The man’s eyes softened; though he was the one imprisoning her, his eyes held a hint of pleading.

He gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

The air in the bedchamber grew even warmer.

But Du Lingjing pushed him away.

The man, pushed away, paused, then glanced down at the window.

Beneath the window next to their bed had been the two cute dolls she had purchased, the ones that represented her desire for a child.

They were supposed to have a child.

But because of Jiang Fengchuan, she had even stopped displaying the dolls…

The man directly summoned the two maids, Ying-Bi and Xiang-Yi. “Tomorrow, take out the doll that symbolizes the wish for a child and place it by the window.”

His gaze shifted from the window to her face.

“The doll that was obtained through prayer must be used; otherwise, it would be disrespectful to the gods.”

He slowed his speech at the last sentence, each word pressing against Du Lingjing’s ears.

Du Lingjing turned away immediately.

He did not mention tonight or which night; he simply wrapped her in a brocade quilt and had the underfloor heating turned on.

He looked into her eyes.

“We are not in a rush.”

She stopped looking at him. From the time he returned home to the time he blew out the candles, how much time had passed? She had turned away coldly and resolutely several times.

Lu Shenru inexplicably thought of the scene at Mian Tower that year.

This moment was just like that moment.