Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 057

Chapter 57

The canopy bed was dimly lit. The person sleeping on the inner side of the bed curtains had turned her back. Lu Shenru silently glanced at her several times, unable to help but think of the scene at Mian Tower that year.

Now, it was just like that moment.

Outside Mian Tower that day, the weather was sultry and humid. The treetops did not move an inch, and the cicadas chirped incessantly, their sharp sounds piercing the ears.

It was completely dark outside. She did not come upstairs, only having Qiu-Lin take away all her usual writing implements. She waited downstairs, and after taking the things, she was about to leave.

But he stopped her at the corner of the moon gate in the backyard.

No one was moving around in the backyard at night, and he could not be exposed, lest he cause trouble for the Du family.

He could only hide in the shadows of the corner.

His injuries had not fully healed; the wounds he had hastily torn open on his journey were still throbbing. “May I say a few words, Young Lady?”

No matter what would happen in the future, he should at least tell her his thoughts.

But she would not even glance at him, turning her face away. She stood in the moonlight, a world apart from the shadows in the corner.

“I do not want to know who you are, Young Master, nor do I want to know what you have to say to me.” Her voice was deep and icy. “I only know that we should not see each other again.”

Having said that, without waiting for him to utter a single word, she resolutely turned and left through the moon gate…

Years passed in a flash. The moonlight outside the canopy bed was as cold and desolate as the moonlight that had fallen upon him that year.

Lu Shenru silently closed his eyes, lying flat, unsure whether he was asleep or not.

After an unknown amount of time, she turned over and suddenly sat up.

The man immediately woke up.

The heated floor made the room somewhat dry.

She wanted water and sat up groggily.

Lu Shenru did not ask but got out of bed, poured her some water, and handed it to her.

She took it with her eyes half-closed and sipped half a cup.

Seeing she had no intention of drinking more, Lu Shenru took the cup from her hand.

Still drowsy, she sat on the inside of the bed, moonlight spilling onto the floor and reflecting off her profile.

At this moment, it felt no different than in the many days since their marriage, as if they had never experienced this estrangement.

Lu Shenru could not help but reach out and take her hand.

Her hand still carried the damp warmth of the quilt, delicate and soft, which he gently held in his palm.

But the next moment, she suddenly woke up.

She looked up at him, immediately pulling her hand back from his.

The moonlight lingered on the stone slab.

She turned her back again, ignoring him completely.

Lu Shenru closed his eyes, said nothing, pursed his lips, and lay back down.

…

The next day, before dawn, the man rose early as usual to go to court.

He glanced back at his wife in bed, did not disturb her, changed his clothes, and went outside.

Chong-Ping was waiting outside, and he went to report two matters to him first.

The man listened, nodded, and gave a few instructions, but then seemed to remember something.

“The provincial examination is over,” he said, his face grave as he thought of the sixth son of the Jiang family. “Some people can be kicked out of the capital.” He continued, “In the future, the Jiang family…”

But before he could finish speaking, the door was suddenly pulled open.

She stood in the doorway wearing only a thin undergarment, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, looking up at him.

“What are you going to do to the Jiang family?!”

The night wind still carried the chill of winter, and she stood there in the doorway, her hair disheveled and dressed only in a thin garment.

Chong-Ping was startled and quickly looked away.

Lu Shenru’s gaze, however, was almost burning into her.

“Go back.”

But Chong-Ping saw out of the corner of his eye that the lady stood still, not returning to her room, silently meeting the Marquis’s gaze.

The night wind in the courtyard seemed to suddenly intensify, and Chong-Ping felt the Marquis’s entire aura press down on him.

He wanted to say something, but the man pulled off his cloak, wrapped it around the lady, and carried her straight back to her room.

The warmth in the room was replaced by the cold wind blowing in from outside.

“What did I say?!” Lu Shenru asked his wife, each word distinct.

Du Lingjing’s eyelids trembled. “Do not touch the Jiang family.”

Those six words pierced the man’s ears like nails. His gaze was fixed on her, his low, husky voice barely able to contain its urges.

“The Jiang family is your very eyeball; how dare we touch them?!”

The question fell, their eyes met, and the room fell into a deathly silence.

Chong-Ping, outside the window, hurriedly called out.

“My Lord! My Lady…”

Inside the room, Du Lingjing’s eyes welled up with tears.

Lu Shenru stood up abruptly and turned to leave.

…

For two days, spring flowers bloomed throughout the capital, but the Marquis’s Mansion remained frozen in the depths of winter.

That day, when Lu Shenru returned home, he saw Steward Zhao.

Steward Zhao arrived with a stack of books and a pile of letters, seemingly having just come from Guilin Tower.

She could not leave, so she had Steward Zhao come every other day.

Steward Zhao was currently speaking with Ruan Gong.

“The provincial examination is over, and there’s still over a month until the results are announced. These candidates and scholars have already come to Guilin Tower.”

He spoke of these scholars, adding that some had long wanted to display the bookstore owner’s works, while others had purchased the Du family’s anthology of contemporary essays, which proved useful in this examination.

“They want to thank Madam in person. Everyone else is raising prices, but we are lowering them! Every poor scholar praises Lady Du. However, if Madam does not go to Guilin Tower, they do not want to come to the Marquis’s Mansion.”

They thanked Lady Du, not the Marquis of Yongding’s residence. After all, the civil and military officials had always been at odds, and Lu Shenru’s reputation among scholars was quite poor. Even with the rescue of the Flicking Faction, it would be difficult to change the scholars’ opinion of him in a short time.

The academicians were already being lenient by not denouncing him as a power-hungry and treacherous official, so naturally, they would not visit his residence. What they regretted most was how the Emperor could have bestowed the Du family’s daughter upon him.

Steward Zhao had no choice but to have those who were interested write letters, which he would then deliver to the Marquis’s Mansion and give to the Madam.

At this moment, Steward Zhao handed a thick letter to Ruan Gong, casually asking, “How is Madam?”

Ruan Gong did not say whether she was well or not, only replying, “Madam does not want to speak from morning till night these days. She spends most of her time writing in the west wing, not even leaving the main courtyard.”

Steward Zhao sighed deeply.

Lu Shenru stood behind the wall, the shadows of the trees making his dark brocade robe appear even more somber. His gaze pierced through the layers of courtyard walls, looking towards the main courtyard.

But the man turned and called to Chong-An, “Come here.”

Chong-An quickly stepped forward. “What are your orders, Lord Marquis?”

*

In the main courtyard’s west wing.

Ai-Ye brought in tea and snacks. Seeing that the madam had spent half the day repairing books and that she was making rapid progress despite not being able to go out, her eyes had been red lately.

Ai-Ye could not help but say, “Madam, why not go for a walk? Why not stand on the Shushi Pavilion? The view from there is expansive, and it will soothe your eyes.”

The Shushi Pavilion was a good place, especially in spring when the flowers were in full bloom; the view inside and outside the mansion was beautiful.

But Du Lingjing shook her head, having no intention of going.

Ai-Ye wanted to persuade her again, but Qiu-Lin returned at that moment.

She entered and said, “Madam, guess who’s here?”

Du Lingjing looked up.

The Marquis would not let her out, and ordinary people could not get in either. Who else could it be but Steward Zhao?

Unexpectedly, Qiu-Lin spoke up, “Madam, Princess Nianjia has arrived!”

“Nianjia?”

Du Lingjing stood up abruptly. She had not replied to Nianjia’s invitation; she did not know how to respond. She immediately asked.

“Where is Nianjia?”

Qiu-Lin had just received the news.

The princess was probably invited by the Marquis. Qiu-Lin replied, “The princess is currently in the outer courtyard, but word came from there that she will come to see you soon!”

…

In the outer courtyard.

Lu Shenru asked a few questions about Wei Cong’s condition these past few days.

Princess Nianjia had returned from the capital with her husband, Wei Cong, the heir of the Earl of Zhongqing, to recuperate.

Lu Shenru had previously visited Wei Cong at the Earl of Zhongqing’s residence.

His external injuries were not too severe, but his internal injuries were said to be quite serious, so he did not dare to delay and returned to the capital.

However, Lu Shenru overheard him say a few words that hinted at something else—

He had other business to attend to in the capital.

But there were many people visiting him at that time, and he did not have time to linger, so the two did not say much. Wei Cong was a man of few words and composure, and seeing that he was not in a hurry, Lu Shenru also calmed down and waited.

At this moment, he asked Princess Nianjia a few questions about Wei Cong’s condition.

The princess opposite him had a bright and beautiful face, adorned with jewels from head to toe, and every gesture exuded the air of a royal princess, her demeanor impeccable, and no one dared to underestimate her.

If one did not know that she and Jing-niang had known each other for many years, it would be hard to believe that the two had such a deep friendship.

Then, Princess Nianjia quickly explained her husband’s illness. After speaking, she began to ask him questions.

“Why did Jing-niang not come to greet me? Why did she not accept the invitation and go to my Prince Yu’s residence?”

These two questions were difficult to answer.

Lu Shenru simply replied, “The Marquis’s Mansion is the same.”

Nianjia glanced at him; his words were rather ambiguous. She gave a soft snort.

What a strange man. How could such a gentle and quiet person like Jing-niang have married him?

It was just that the third brother of the Jiang family was in poor health. However, since Jing-niang was not in Qingzhou but in the capital, they had more opportunities to meet.

Lu Shenru asked Chong-An to lead her to the back.

Du Lingjing, having heard the news, changed her clothes and was now walking towards the courtyard gate. She had only taken a few steps when she saw the person approaching.

The newcomer wore a willow-yellow gold-embroidered jacket, and the hair ornaments swaying in the bright sunlight reflected off her, making everyone’s spirits sway and brighten.

“Jing-niang!”

“Princess…”

The two had not seen each other for many years. The instant they met, they did not even have time for formal greetings before taking each other’s hands.

The princess, usually so aloof and high-ranking, now held her childhood friend’s hand tightly.

“It’s wonderful! You are in the capital too! You have no idea how bored I’ve been in Xi’an these past few years!”

Du Lingjing could not help but laugh at her tone.

The maids beside them stifled their laughter.

Nianjia, realizing her tone was too excited, cleared her throat sheepishly.

“Indeed, these past few years, I, the princess, have been traveling to Shaanxi Province on behalf of the Emperor and Empress to observe the people’s conditions.”

She tried her best to maintain a semblance of her royal princess status.

Du Lingjing, however, wanted to laugh even more, but she echoed her words.

“The princess is absolutely right.”

She then led her into the main courtyard.

But a steward came over and said, “Madam, the Marquis has had the Mingqin Pavilion by the lake in the back garden prepared. Would you like to invite the princess to the Mingqin Pavilion for tea and to enjoy the scenery?”

The Mingqin Pavilion stood right by the water; at this time of year, with the spring breeze caressing her face, the view from the water was most pleasant. But Du Lingjing did not want to go as he suggested.

However, Nianjia was unaware of the inner workings, only saying, “I have not been to the Marquis of Yongding’s residence much. I did not expect you to be the mistress of this place. Quickly, take me for a look around.”

Du Lingjing dared not claim to be the mistress; she was merely a prisoner. But she did not want to spoil Nianjia’s mood, so she and Nianjia finally stepped out of the main courtyard gate and headed towards the back garden.

They had not gone far from the main courtyard when they saw a man standing under a tree at the crossroads ahead.

He was not standing in the bright sunlight but in the shadows beneath the tree. His eyelids were half-closed, his gaze passing over everyone else, silently settling on her face.

Du Lingjing paused slightly but then quickly looked away.

The man remained silent until Nianjia finally asked a question.

“Oh, even the ever-busy Marquis Lu has time to have tea with us in the backyard?”

Du Lingjing noticed that gaze sweep across her face again.

His voice was lower than usual.

“I will not go. Princess, please go ahead.”

He was replying to her, but his gaze could not help but linger on the person beside her. Nianjia blinked. These two were probably not right…

But the man quickly turned and walked away, and they went to the Mingqin Pavilion, which had been prepared in advance. The window was pushed open, and the warm spring breeze, carrying the fragrance of flowers, blew in.

“Jing-niang, does this not remind you of when we were in the palace?”

Du Lingjing personally brewed tea for her, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her.

She said it was like, “Back then, the late Empress and the Dowager Consort also took us to the waterside for tea and to enjoy the scenery.”

A stream of memories opened up, and Nianjia immediately began to talk incessantly, recounting her past adventures in the palace as if they were still fresh in her mind.

Du Lingjing’s thoughts drifted along with hers. The capital city back then seemed completely different from the city before her.

Nianjia had always been this talkative since childhood, but back then, whenever Du Lingjing recalled certain things, one out of every three sentences Nianjia uttered was related to Wei Jue.

Although she had not met Wei Jue many times then, because of Nianjia, she felt no sense of unfamiliarity with the current Commander of the Jinyiwei.

But now, as Nianjia reminisced about her days in the palace, she spoke at length, but not a single word was mentioned about Wei Jue.

It was as if the person she was closest to in her childhood had never existed in her life.

Du Lingjing felt a pang of indescribable bitterness.

It seemed everyone had assumed Nianjia would marry him back then; even the late Empress Dowager teased Nianjia about it, and Dowager Consort Jiang, standing by, did not object.

But when they both grew up and reached marriageable age, she, far away in Qingzhou, heard that Nianjia had married Wei Jue’s cousin, Wei Cong, the heir of the Earl of Zhongqing.

It was not a forced marriage by the Emperor; rather, it was a decree obtained by both families after careful consideration, who together petitioned the Emperor for the couple’s hand in marriage.

Rumors circulated that Wei Jue was the Emperor’s maternal cousin, while Nianjia was his niece. The rumor claimed that if the Emperor had not ascended the throne, the difference in their generational positions would have been inappropriate, thus preventing the marriage from happening.

Others said that Wei Jue’s family was originally a branch of the Earl of Zhongqing’s household, but after the Emperor’s ascension, Wei Jue’s father, as the Emperor’s uncle, was granted the title of Earl of Xinyun. His mother, Lady Baoguo, then looked down on Nianjia, who was born posthumously, believing she had no support and would be of no benefit to Wei Jue’s future.

Furthermore, some said that Nianjia wavered between the two Wei brothers, and Wei Jue simply abandoned her.

The true reason remained unknown to Du Lingjing.

She only knew that Wei Jue was still unmarried, causing his mother, Lady Baoguo, great anxiety.

Nianjia did not mention Wei Jue at all but instead spoke of her current husband, Wei Cong.

The heir apparent had been stationed at the northwestern border, leading troops. He was first appointed to the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command, but later, due to the Yang family’s affair, Lu Shenru transferred him to Ningxia.

“The heir apparent was seriously injured this time. When I saw him, he was lying in bed with his eyes closed. I thought I was going to be a widow!”

They had been married for three years but had no children.

Du Lingjing told her not to speak carelessly, but Nianjia did not seem to care about such things.

“Fortunately, he’s recovered! He will recuperate in the capital for a while and have some proper treatment from the imperial physicians.”

She pouted and muttered. “It’s all Lu Shenru’s fault! The heir apparent was doing well in Gansu. With the Yang family in trouble, the Earl of Rongchang should have been the one to make the first contribution. But instead, he insisted on transferring the heir apparent to Ningxia. The heir apparent had not even settled in before the Tartars attacked. It was truly an undeserved disaster!”

She was very dissatisfied with Lu Shenru.

Du Lingjing sighed softly upon hearing this.

Nianjia, however, said, “Jing-niang, why are you sighing? Lu Shenru’s good deeds have nothing to do with you.” As she spoke, she suddenly asked, “What? You still care about him?”

Nianjia, thinking of the strange situation between the two, blinked inquiringly.

But Du Lingjing shook her head.

Seeing that she did not want to elaborate, Nianjia said, “That’s true. You two have only been married for half a year. I’ve been married to the Earl’s heir for three years, and I am not familiar with him either.”

She mentioned that Wei Cong was stationed at the border in Gansu, while their marital residence was located in Xi’an.

She said, “Those high-ranking families in Xi’an are terribly boring. One minute, they are trying to curry favor with me, the next, they are afraid I will look down on them. It’s extremely uncomfortable to be around them. And those people from the Prince of Qin’s mansion—I cannot get along with a single one of them. It was novel at first, but later I got so bored I even wanted to go to Gansu.”

Du Lingjing asked her, “Why did you not go to Gansu to see the Earl’s heir?”

“It’s because the sandstorms there are terrifying, and the Tartars are restless. I did not want to eat sand, but he did not say anything.”

However, in the three years of their marriage, they had only met a handful of times, but Nianjia seemed to have no complaints about her husband.

Nianjia only said that she had practically climbed all the mountains in Shaanxi. “I was so bored! Now I am finally back in the capital!”

She asked Du Lingjing, “Did you see any old friends in the capital?”

Du Lingjing smiled and nodded, saying she had seen the Hu siblings. Nianjia had also heard about Shao Boju’s affair and clicked her tongue twice. “That third-place scholar position was worse than not having it at all; he ruined his future.”

Du Lingjing felt the same way. She said she had seen some old friends from the Flicking Faction, but Nianjia did not recognize them. However, Du Lingjing glanced at her and still said something.

“Commander Wei also returned to the capital after the New Year. Hearing of my wedding, he sent four Song Dynasty books as a generous gift.”

Wei Jue had also just returned to the capital. He and Nianjia were both in the capital; they were bound to meet sooner or later.

Du Lingjing mentioned this, and Nianjia’s eyes flickered slightly.

The once-exuberant princess’s eyes darkened slightly. She gave a very soft “Oh,” her earlier excitement gone, and simply said something understated.

“I have not heard anything about him for many years.”