Exclusively for the Marchioness – CH 059

Chapter 59

“With your stubborn, unyielding temper, no one wants to make peace with you.”

Lu Huairu had said all this, but the man remained as firm as a rock, utterly unmoved. He merely snorted and walked out of Yuxing Palace without looking back.

The Noble Consort clutched her chest. Her maid, Nanny Meng, quickly brought over a warm cup of tea. “Your Imperial Highness, please do not be angry with the Marquis. His temper has been like this for a long time. Fortunately, he cannot harm the Marquis’s wife.”

That was true, but what was the point of locking her up at home? Ask around the entire capital: who locks their wife at home?

Lu Huairu said, “Bring him into the palace again tomorrow!”

She gave the order, intending to hold him in the palace the next day, explain things clearly to him, and then quickly release her. The next day, after court, the palace servant who had gone to deliver the message returned empty-handed, reporting back with a pained expression.

“Your Imperial Highness, as you instructed, I invited the Marquis to Yuxing Palace, but he completely ignored me and rode off on his horse.”

These words made it seem as if her younger brother’s cold and unyielding expression was right before Lu Huairu’s eyes.

Lu Huairu’s vision blurred.

“Your Imperial Highness!” The palace servants rushed forward to support her.

Fortunately, the Consort was still young and would not actually collapse from anger.

But as she looked towards the direction of the Marquis of Yongding’s residence outside the palace—

With that temper of his, with his parents gone, who could control him?!

*

At Jiqing Ward, in the Marquis of Yongding’s Residence.

He returned to his main room that evening.

Du Lingjing received a letter from Nianjia saying she had spoken to the Noble Consort about the matter, and the Noble Consort had summoned him to the palace that very day after court. It seemed Du Lingjing would be released soon.

However, five or six days had passed, and the third month had almost arrived, yet he still would not allow her to leave the house.

It was clear that even the Noble Consort could not control him.

At this moment, seeing him return, Du Lingjing tried to go to the west wing to sleep. Before she could even leave the room, he grabbed her forearm.

“You have not said a word to me for six days and six nights.”

Ever since the night he had the nanny burn incense.

He kept her locked up at home, refusing to let her out, and even the Noble Consort could not do anything about it, just as he wielded immense power in the court, and even Grand Secretary Dou could not suppress him. He could do whatever he wanted. If Prince Hui ascended the throne, then the whole world would be at his mercy.

But her mouth was her own, and she did not want to say a single word to him. Could he possibly pry her lips open?

She tightened her lips even more, remaining silent.

Her face was cold, like icebergs weighing on his heart, chilling him to the bone.

But she would not speak. What could he do to force her to open her mouth? He could only lift her and trap her on the bed.

Between the curtains, he forced her to share his pillow.

…

The next day, he went to court, but someone from the palace arrived—it was Nanny Meng, the consort’s attendant, someone who had served her since before her marriage.

Nanny Meng was very familiar with the Marquis’s Mansion, but the current mistress of the mansion had changed. Nanny Meng showed no arrogance, waiting calmly outside.

Du Lingjing had not expected the Noble Consort to send Nanny Meng and quickly changed her clothes to greet her in the main hall.

As soon as she entered the hall, she understood Nanny Meng’s purpose.

The Noble Consort had sent many gifts, using the pretext that Prince Hui particularly loved her seashell wind chimes. However, the value of these gifts far exceeded that of the wind chimes.

The Noble Consort was not there to thank her; she had come to “apologize” because she was truly at a loss with her brother.

Du Lingjing could not accept such gifts, but Nanny Meng told her to simply thank the Consort and accept them. Then, she dismissed the servants and took something from her sleeve.

“The Noble Consort said those things are nothing, and the Marchioness does not lack gold and silver jewels. But the Noble Consort only hopes that the Lady can be a little happier these days, so she picked up her old craftsmanship and made a knot for the Lady.”

Du Lingjing was startled as soon as the words left her lips.

She quickly stood up. “How dare I accept the Noble Consort making a knot for me?!”

If this were to spread, it would certainly be considered improper, but Nanny Meng said it anyway.

“Her Imperial Highness has already struck, Madam, please accept it. The Marquis’s temper is indeed…Sigh, I only hope Madam will not take it too seriously.”

Du Lingjing understood.

The knot was not actually for her; it was for the powerful minister, her younger brother, whom no one could control.

Her Imperial Highness was also a soft-hearted person, truly different from someone else.

Du Lingjing had no choice but to accept it, taking it back. She was about to kowtow in thanks when Nanny Meng helped her up.

It was a long, light green tassel, which could be tied around the waist or hung from the hem of the skirt. When folded together, its intricate and serene design was unlike anything Du Lingjing had ever seen before. But when the tassel hung down, it flowed like water down the waist, like a waterfall in a mountain stream.

Du Lingjing was stunned. “Her Imperial Highness’s craftsmanship is exquisite; you’ve shown too much favor to me.”

Nanny Meng smiled. “Her Imperial Highness only hopes that Madam will be happier.”

She said that this technique itself carried a meaning of blessing. “Her Imperial Highness tells Madam not to keep it away; it’s best to wear it often.”

As she spoke, she took out another knot from her sleeve. “Actually, there’s another one; Her Imperial Highness made one for the Marquis on a whim.”

But compared to the flowing knot from before, this one for that person was pitch black, made with stiff thread, and tangled into a black ball at the end.

Du Lingjing was confused. Nanny Meng cleared her throat.

“Her Imperial Highness was also angry, so she made a ribbon for the Marquis that looked like a blackened stone…”

A blackened stone…

Du Lingjing tightly pursed her lips, suppressing an inappropriate laugh.

She quickly changed the subject, praising the Noble Consort’s needlework skills. “I imagine Her Imperial Highness often does needlework for the Emperor and the young prince.”

She said she would, but Nanny Meng did not respond.

Nanny Meng said, “Her Imperial Highness is indeed skilled in needlework, especially in such extremely intricate knots. There are very few in the palace’s needlework department who can make such knots.”

But she added that making such knots was too mentally taxing, “Your Highness is usually too busy and has not done it for many years, especially since Prince Yong left the palace…”

Nanny Meng stopped there, only sighing softly.

Du Lingjing knew a little about it.

After his birth mother, Lady Shao, passed away, Prince Yong had been with Lu Huairu, who had just married Prince Yin, since he was two or three years old, growing up under her care from a toddler to a young man. He would not remember his birth mother, Lady Shao, but he would certainly remember Lu Huairu, who raised him.

Ultimately, however, a rift developed between mother and son.

Regarding the secrets of those in the palace, Du Lingjing only had a vague understanding. It was likely that only those directly involved and the “omnipotent and omniscient” Marquis Lu knew the whole story.

For instance, regarding Lu Huairu’s marriage into the Prince Yin’s household, Du Lingjing was in the capital with her father at the time and witnessed the event, but she only knew part of the story.

That was in the fourteenth year of the Hongqi reign. The Yongding army was trapped outside the Great Wall, and the Tatars suddenly wanted to negotiate peace with the court. The civil and military officials almost came to blows in the court over whether to advocate peace or war.

At that time, the late Emperor’s third, fourth, and fifth sons had all gone south to perform ancestral rites on his behalf. The unfavored Prince Yin, who was now the Emperor, was unable to go and remained in the capital.

However, the late Emperor, unable to make a decision due to the endless debate between the civil and military officials regarding whether to advocate peace or war, fell ill from the stress. At this time, none of the older princes vying for the throne were present, so Prince Yin could only temporarily oversee the country.

Prince Yin suddenly had the power to decide this matter.

It was at this time that Lu Huairu entered Prince Yin’s residence. This beloved eldest daughter of the Lu family voluntarily became Prince Yin’s concubine.

She entered the residence first and only later underwent the formal ceremony of becoming a secondary consort.

After her quiet marriage, Prince Yin immediately put aside peace negotiations and strongly advocated sending troops to aid the Yongding army. Although it was somewhat late, and the Yongding army had suffered countless casualties, they were not completely wiped out and gradually recovered to their current state…

At that time, Consort Lu Huairu was only eighteen years old.

There were rumors that she was actually engaged to a young general in the Yongding army. Du Lingjing did not know if this was true, but at that time, her father and grandfather were both at the border, her mother had passed away, and her grandmother was bedridden.

Half of the Yongding army was waiting for reinforcements, and the court was deadlocked, with no one making a decision.

She alone made the decision regarding the fate of the Yongding Army.

She relinquished her status as the eldest daughter of the Lu family, entering the Prince’s mansion in a small sedan chair to become the concubine of the least favored Prince Yin.

If Prince Yin had not later ascended the throne, what would have become of Lu Huairu, the eldest daughter of the Lu family?

No one knew.

…

Nanny Meng chatted with Du Lingjing for a while, mentioning that the Noble Consort also greatly admired the seashell wind chimes she had sent.

“Not to mention His Highness, sometimes hanging them under the eaves to listen to the wind, sometimes pressing them to his ear, asking what the sound of the waves is like?”

The two chatted for a while until it was getting late. Just then, the “arrogant” Marquis returned from court. Nanny Meng said the Noble Consort had a few words to convey to him and then took her leave.

Du Lingjing did not know how many more words the Noble Consort had given her younger brother, yet she was still confined to her home, unable to step outside.

No matter who sent an invitation, it was useless, except for the Marchioness of Jing’an’s seventy-seventh birthday celebration, for whom he placed the invitation on her desk.

If Du Lingjing simply refused to leave, he could not do anything about it, but this was a major event for the entire capital, and out of respect for the Noble Consort, Du Lingjing did not make a fuss.

However, she still would not speak to him.

On the eighth day, Wei Cong, the heir of the Earl of Zhongqing, who had returned to the capital to recuperate from his injuries, arrived, bringing Nianjia with him.

The two brought celebratory gifts. Du Lingjing went to the front hall and immediately noticed a tall and imposing man standing beside Nianjia.

He was about the same height as Marquis Lu, but clearly a general who had never left the battlefield; his entire body exuded a sense of ruggedness, further enhancing his imposing presence. Nianjia, standing beside him, appeared petite.

She glanced at the couple, especially noticing Nianjia’s unease beside General Wei. She could not help but steal a few more glances at Wei Cong.

But those two glances were caught by someone. He frowned, his eyes asking, “Why are you looking at someone else’s husband?”

Du Lingjing did not share her thoughts. Besides, she could not even go out anymore; could she not look at people?

In her opinion, Wei Cong was a year older than her, yet far more composed. He sat calmly and steadily, his taciturn demeanor exuding the air of a seasoned general.

In contrast, that powerful minister, habitually arrogant and domineering, his eyes and brows radiating tyranny, somehow came to be called “Shenru¹.”

Cautious to the end?

He did not seem like the kind of person who trembled with fear, walking on thin ice.

He was still staring at her, his gaze deepening. Du Lingjing did not want to pay him any attention, but it was not appropriate to keep staring at someone else.

Just then, she saw a servant bring tea. His right hand was injured, thickly wrapped in a white bandage. The tea was placed beside his left hand, but two fingers on his left hand were also injured.

Nianjia could not help but look at him, worried that his left hand, also injured, might not be able to lift the boiling tea.

But Wei Cong’s expression remained unchanged. He calmly and unhurriedly first stirred the tea leaves with the lid, then placed the lid down and steadily lifted the bowl, without even a tremor.

Du Lingjing saw Nianjia visibly relax, but her gaze inadvertently met her husband’s.

Their eyes met briefly across the empty space in the center of the hall. Nianjia quickly looked away, pretending not to care whether the person opposite her could drink tea, discreetly using the lid of her teacup to block his gaze, and then sipped her tea several times.

Du Lingjing glanced at her flustered appearance but noticed that Wei Cong did not seem as strange as her. His eyes softened, and a subtle smile seemed to appear in his eyes.

Nianjia, however, did not dare look at him for long.

Du Lingjing, used to dealing with books in the library, found this subtle exchange of glances rather amusing.

Nianjia noticed her looking and glared at her, while Wei Cong, along with the Marquis at the head of the table, discussed the affairs of the Shaanxi Military Command and the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command over the past six months.

The four exchanged a few brief words before Chief Steward Zong ordered a banquet to be prepared. The Lu family, including the Marquis and his wife, naturally invited the two distinguished guests to the feast.

At the banquet, Chief Steward Zong personally served Wei Cong, who repeatedly declined, but Lu Shenru simply told him to sit properly.

His right arm and right hand were severely injured, and his left hand was also unusable, though fortunately, walking was not hindered.

After serving him, Chief Steward Zong left. As soon as he was gone, Du Lingjing saw Nianjia steal a few glances at him, then, taking advantage of his inattention, quickly placed a piece of food with her chopsticks and offered it to him.

It seemed like a perfunctory gesture of service, yet she did not even let him see it.

He was speaking to Lu Shenru, but just as he finished speaking, he turned around and caught Nianjia’s chopsticks, which had been flying away after placing the food.

“Thank you, Princess,” he said softly.

Nianjia had not expected him to see her so quickly. She had to reply, but dared not look at him, only urging him on.

“Please eat quickly, My Lord.”

The man smiled.

“Alright.”

Du Lingjing found it extremely amusing. According to what Nianjia had told her before, she was incredibly bored in Xi’an and had not even visited Wei Cong. Although they had been married for three years, they were practically strangers.

But now it seemed he did not consider her Princess Nianjia; they were complete strangers.

Du Lingjing was secretly amused when she noticed a piece of food had been placed in her bowl.

Someone had also put food in her bowl. It was a piece of tender, boneless fish.

It was the Marquis.

Logically, she should have said, “Thank you, Marquis,” but Du Lingjing remained silent.

Lu Shenru placed more food, still with his chopsticks, into her bowl, but she remained silent, acting as if she had not seen it.

Eight days had passed.

Marquis Lu felt as if every dish he ate was poisoned—either the fish’s gall bladder had been cut, or the vegetables contained bitter herbs; each dish tasted worse than the last…

By the end of the meal, everyone had experienced a taste of bitterness and sweetness.

The four strolled a few steps in the garden. Wei Cong had traveled a long way from the Northwest to return to the capital, clearly not for a meal. Lu Shenru understood his intention and instructed servants to accompany the Lady and the Princess to stroll in the back garden, while he and Wei Cong went to the Yuanxiu Pavilion to speak alone.

With the two absent, Du Lingjing and Nianjia were quite relieved, especially Nianjia, who breathed a sigh of relief.

Du Lingjing asked with a smile, “I find the Heir Apparent to be a very steady and considerate person.”

“Who says otherwise?” Nianjia replied.

“Then why are you and he…”

Married for three years and still acting strangely?

Du Lingjing did not ask the second half of the question, but Nianjia understood perfectly, yet she quickly changed the subject.

“Let’s go to the Shushi Pavilion on the artificial hill. I think the scenery there is quite nice.”

Du Lingjing found it amusing, and seeing that Nianjia did not want to bring it up, she went along with it and did not say anything more.

Nianjia suddenly noticed the long sash tied around her waist.

“Oh? Your sash is quite exquisite, unusually intricate yet lively. Who made it?”

Du Lingjing remembered that she had asked the Noble Consort to reprimand someone, so she whispered to her, “The Noble Consort tied it for me.”

Nianjia was also startled.

She said, “Marquis Lu is really formidable; even the Noble Consort cannot handle him.”

Du Lingjing did not want to bring it up anymore.

However, Nianjia looked at the ribbon and said something.

“I was in Shaanxi and heard some old stories about Her Imperial Highness, but I do not know if they are true or not.”

“What old stories?”

Nianjia glanced around and, seeing that no one was nearby, she spoke softly.

“Her Imperial Highness was once engaged to a young general from her maternal family, the Guo clan. But in the fourteenth year of the Hongqi reign, when the Yongding Army suffered a major defeat, Her Majesty married the Emperor and naturally parted ways with General Guo.”

“And General Guo?”

Nianjia looked up and gazed into the northwest.

“Three years after Her Imperial Highness’s marriage, he died in battle…”

*

At the Outer Courtyard, in Yuanxiu Pavilion.

Lu Shenru and Wei Cong had no ambiguity.

The two had fought side by side in the army since childhood, facing countless life-and-death situations together. When he arrived in the capital and entered the court, Wei Cong remained to guard the border, overseeing the northwest.

He asked directly, “You’ve returned this time; is it because those spies from back then reappeared?”

After he finished speaking, seeing Wei Cong’s expression harden, he slowly nodded.