Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Ruan Gong’s back was drenched in sweat.

Just forty-five minutes earlier, as soon as he had entered the capital, he had heard everyone talking about one major event.

“I wonder how many favorable matches His Majesty will arrange this autumn?”

During the late emperor’s reign, only imperial clan members were granted marriages. But since the current emperor ascended the throne, imperial matchmaking had extended beyond the imperial family and nobility to include all high-ranking households in the capital, whether civil or military.

“Marriages among the capital’s noble families are never arbitrary. Though they’re called imperial decrees, most of the time, the arrangements are privately made in advance, then presented to His Majesty for formal approval—just to secure the honor of his decree.”

Ruan Gong ordered tea from the waiter and overheard a man seated in the center of the room say, “The usual noble matches from past years were predictable and dull. But this year is different.”

At this, someone immediately asked, “Could it be that this year, His Majesty will arrange a marriage for *that* person?”

The mention of “that person” instantly got everyone’s attention.

A young man who had just arrived from outside the capital scratched his head in confusion. “That person? Who?”

The crowd gave him incredulous looks. “Who else could it be? The most distinguished guest at every Mid-Autumn banquet, the one countless people long to connect with but can never reach—that *Marquis*.”

The young man blinked. “The Marquis? The Marquis of Yongding—Marquis Lu?”

Finally understanding, he got nods and sighs from the crowd.

The Yongding Army, named after the Marquis of Yongding’s household, guarded the empire’s key border regions. Noble Consort Lu and Prince Hui were the emperor’s favorites, and Lu Shenru, the Marquis of Yongding, held power in court comparable to that of the most veteran civil officials, despite their rise and fall in influence.

Yet he had never married.

Every Mid-Autumn Festival, when the emperor bestowed marriages, the entire court and public would first speculate whether Marquis Lu would finally ally with a noble family and welcome a distinguished lady into his household.

But year after year, no Marchioness Lu ever appeared.

This year, the Marquis was now twenty-five.

Someone asked, “Could it be that this year, the Marchioness Lu has finally appeared?”

Ruan Gong was well aware of the Marquis of Yongding’s powerful reputation. He listened intently as another person inquired, “Has the Marquis’s household submitted a candidate to the Imperial Clan Court?”

Every year, the Imperial Clan Court still compiled the list of candidates for imperial matchmaking according to tradition. Families seeking the emperor’s blessing had to personally submit their names to the court.

But the man in the center waved his hand. “Given the Marquis’s status with His Majesty, his household doesn’t even need to submit a name to the Imperial Clan Court. The reason I say this year involves Marquis Lu isn’t because of any list—it’s because the Marquis’s estate in Jiqing Lane began renovations half a year ago. By my calculations, the work should finish this autumn. Doesn’t that line up perfectly with welcoming the Marchioness?”

The crowd exclaimed in understanding—it did make sense.

“Which family is the Marchioness from? Why haven’t we heard of any betrothal between the Marquis’s household and another noble family?”

People threw out a few guesses, but none had any evidence. Someone joked, “Perhaps the Marchioness Lu is stuck outside the capital by the rain and hasn’t even arrived yet?”

The room burst into laughter.

But the words inexplicably made Ruan Gong jump. His heart skipped a beat, and he listened intently, fixing his gaze on the man in the center.

Someone challenged him, “So the only reason you say this year is different is this? Without solid proof, no one will believe you.”

The Marquis’s marriage was a topic of speculation every year. No matter how convincing the theories sounded, the result was always the same—no Marchioness ever appeared. People had grown skeptical of such rumors, and the crowd clamored for the man to provide concrete details.

The man opened his mouth, and everyone leaned in—only for him to grin widely.

“This is a heavenly secret—not yet to be revealed.”

The crowd lost interest instantly, grumbling that it was pointless. “We believed your nonsense for nothing.”

Ruan Gong also exhaled in relief, scolding himself for overreacting.

The Du family had no connection at all to the Marquis of Yongding. No matter what, the Marchioness Lu could never be his own daughter.

The man in the center, feeling embarrassed, raised his voice again. “Fine, I’ll give you something with real proof—something just as big as the Marquis’s affairs.”

The Marquis of Yongding was a powerful minister who held sway in court, the younger brother of Noble Consort Lu, and the maternal uncle of Prince Hui. Who could possibly rival his influence?

The man swayed proudly. Someone hesitated before asking, “You’re not talking about Tanhua Shao Boju, are you?”

Tanhua Shao Boju.

If the Marquis of Yongding was Noble Consort Lu’s brother, the Tanhua was Virtuous Consort Shao’s nephew. Marquis Lu was Prince Hui’s uncle, while the Shao family were cousins of Prince Yong. Lu Shenru was the meritorious, high-ranking commander of the Yongding Army, while Shao Boju was the newly appointed Tanhua, who had passed the imperial exams.

One was military, the other civil—both were the emperor’s favorites.

The man in the center only smirked knowingly, sending the crowd into an uproar.

“You’re really talking about Tanhua Shao? Which noble family is he marrying into?!”

This time, the man didn’t claim heavenly secrecy. Stroking his beard, he said, “If we’re talking noble families… it’s not one of the most illustrious in the capital.”

In other words, not one of the capital’s most prominent houses.

The statement only made the crowd even more shocked. They urged him to stop holding back. “Out with it! Which family is it?”

The man sipped his tea, stubbornly refusing to answer.

Someone scoffed. “Are you just making up baseless rumors again?”

“How is it baseless?” Provoked, the man sat up straight. “I’m just afraid you won’t believe me. That family’s standing… you’d never expect.”

Ruan Gong’s eyelid twitched inexplicably.

His heart had already skipped a beat earlier, and now his eyelid twitched. He told himself he was being overly tense—how could these two high-ranking court officials possibly have anything to do with his daughter’s affairs?

But then the man in the center slowly looked toward Chengqing Lane.

“The family engaged to the Shao family… is right here in Chengqing Lane.”

Everyone looked in surprise in the direction of Chengqing Lane as the man chuckled and declared:

“The former Grand Secretariat’s residence in Chengqing Lane—the Du family—is about to have a grand celebration.”

……

Ruan Gong pulled out all his money to invite the man into a private room for tea.

“…Earlier, you mentioned the Du family’s grand celebration. When will it happen?”

The man repeated himself.

“Within ten days. I say within ten days, the Du family will rise in status thanks to this joyous occasion!”

Ruan Gong’s mouth went dry. “So… the Shao family will seek an imperial marriage to ally with the Du family?”

"Of course, with the Shao family's status, this marriage can only be arranged by imperial decree. Once Second Master Du submits the name card/application to the Imperial Clan Office, there will be no mistake."

Ruan Gong's mouth tasted bitter. "Then let me ask one more thing—which young lady of the Du family has caught the Shao family's eye?"

As soon as the question left his lips, Ruan Gong already had an inkling of the answer.

Sure enough, the man replied, "Who else could be worthy of the Tanhua but the only daughter of the late Grand Secretariat?"

The late Grand Secretariat's only daughter was none other than the eldest young lady of the household—Du Lingjing.

Ruan Gong felt dizzy.

No wonder the Second Branch had kept the wedding arrangements a secret, not wanting them to know.

It wasn’t because they considered the young lady’s background "inauspicious"—rather, this so-called joyous occasion was actually being arranged for her!

Second Master Du had secretly betrothed the young lady without her knowledge!

Ruan Gong thanked the man repeatedly before hastily leaving the capital.

However, after he departed, the man emerged from the teahouse’s private chamber and slipped into a secluded stairwell.

In the dimly lit corridor, a man leaned against the wall, arms crossed over a sword, appearing to doze. The informant approached and said, "Master An, as you instructed, I’ve relayed everything. Steward Ruan left in a hurry."

As soon as he finished speaking, a weighty purse of silver landed in his arms.

The man quickly accepted it with thanks. Seeing the swordsman turn to leave, he moved to escort him, but the man suddenly turned back.

The guard, Chong'an, asked curiously, "You already know about the renovations at our marquis’ estate, set to finish this autumn?"

The man chuckled. "In our line of work, staying well-informed is crucial. But even more crucial is knowing what to say and what not to say."

Chong'an nodded slowly. "Good. You have discretion."

The man grinned. "Thank you for your praise, Master An." Then, lowering his voice, he asked, "Might you give me a hint—is the marquis planning to welcome a marchioness this year?"

Chong'an tutted. "And here I thought you had discretion..."

The man immediately drew back, but Chong'an smirked after a pause.

"In a few days, you’ll find out."

Outside Chongwen Gate, the clamor of people and horses filled the air, but the noise faded once past the city gates. By the time one turned into Chengqing Lane, the clamor was entirely blocked out by the high walls of the capital’s grand residences.

*

In such a prestigious location, the late Elder Du had only managed to purchase a modest dual-courtyard dwelling after passing the imperial examinations, exhausting the family’s resources. It wasn’t until Du’s eldest son achieved the rank of Grand Secretariat that the residence was gradually expanded into a three-section compound with two wings and a garden. Given Second Master Du’s current position as a fourth-rank official stationed outside the capital, he had no business living in such a place.

Now that the rain had stopped, Du Zhiqi stood in the courtyard, directing the servants.

"Prepare extra sets of dishes. When we host the celebration, we mustn’t appear petty or invite ridicule."

He moved to examine the newly purchased teapots and dishes, frowning immediately. "Such shoddy work. Where’s the steward? Who arranged this purchase?"

Before he could finish, a figure hurried over from the covered walkway.

It was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a honey-hued gown embroidered with golden osmanthus and an autumn-hued horse-face skirt. She approached swiftly.

First, she bowed and addressed him as "Father," then glanced at the dishes. The glaze was uneven, with some edges left bare.

She admitted she had ordered the purchase. "Father, please don't blame them. Eldest Sister’s wedding was arranged hastily, and the household coffers have been depleted. I neglected some refinements in my haste."

She made earnest apologies. "I, too, wish to give Eldest Sister a proper wedding, but I’ve lacked experience in such matters. And with Father wanting to add to her dowry, every expense must be carefully weighed—it’s impossible to attend to every minor detail."

This was Du Runqing, the second young lady of the Du family. Since her mother, Mrs. Gu, had been bedridden from severe injuries, she had taken charge of all household affairs.

As she spoke, she glanced at Du Zhiqi.

Her father’s official rank was modest, and the family’s income was meager, yet their expenses were considerable. Eldest Sister already had a dowry—if they didn’t need to add to it, they could save a fair sum and ensure Father’s reputation remained intact.

Only those managing a household understood the weight of household expenses.

Hearing his daughter’s explanation, Du Zhiqi suddenly remembered that one couldn’t have it both ways.

He ordered finer tableware to be procured—"Fine tableware will always find use"—but as for additional dowry gifts for his niece, he waved dismissively. "Never mind. Her father provided generously for her while he lived. She surely lacks nothing."

Though he said this, his expression remained troubled as he folded his hands behind him and walked toward the covered walkway.

Du Runqing followed quietly.

"Father, don’t fault me for overstepping, but I understand your thoughts."

Du Zhiqi paused. Du Runqing continued softly, "Father feels guilty for arranging this marriage with the Shao family without Eldest Sister’s knowledge, so you wish to compensate her with a more generous dowry."

Her words hit the mark. Du Zhiqi looked at his daughter in surprise.

This marriage had never occurred to him before.

His elder brother had arranged a match for his niece, but the groom had died young. His niece had remained in their hometown, managing the family library and handling household affairs, even sending him substantial sums each year. Since she seemed content to stay, he had let her be.

Then, unexpectedly, the Shao family proposed a marriage alliance.

The Shao family had once been obscure, with little interaction between the two households. But now, with Shao Boju as the Tanhua and Prince Yong—born of Virtuous Consort Shao—gaining favor among civil officials as a potential heir to the throne, the Shao family had become greatly esteemed.

Du Zhiqi had returned to the capital at the start of the year, awaiting reassignment, but no suitable position had materialized. The thought of being sent back to some remote, insignificant post as a low-ranking official, never rising beyond a minor functionary, disheartened him.

Shao Boju was in imperial favor. Close to Prince Yong, and supported by grand councilors. Even setting aside his bright future, simply by marrying Du’s niece meant securing a respectable position for her uncle would present no difficulty.

The more he thought about it, the more advantageous the match seemed. Yet his niece was a quiet but determined woman. She had grown up with Jiang Sanlang, and the two had been deeply devoted. After Jiang Zhuxiu’s death, she had secluded herself in a bamboo courtyard, consoling herself with ancient texts. Persuading her to remarry would be no simple matter.

But then the Shao family mentioned seeking an imperial decree for the marriage during the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Once the imperial decree was issued, there would be no need to persuade his niece—she could only, and must, marry into the Shao family.

He had agreed to the match on the spot. Yet, in truth, with both her parents gone, arranging her marriage behind her back troubled him.

There was also the fact that while this would be her first marriage, she would be entering as a second spouse—Shao Boju’s first spouse had passed away.

Now that his daughter had voiced his very thoughts, Du Zhiqi rubbed his furrowed brow.

Seeing his distress, Du Runqing said directly.

"Father, you shouldn’t think this way. How can you consider this a failing of Eldest Sister?"

She continued, "After Third Brother Jiang’s passing, Eldest Sister became consumed by grief, retreating from society and living alone. For a woman, how could that be tenable? Instead, as her uncle, you’ve acted in her best interests, arranging this advantageous match to save her from that path. How could this be seen as failing your elder brother’s family?"

Her words gave Du Zhiqi food for thought.

This marriage—to the Emperor's favored official, sanctioned by imperial decree—was what others might covet in vain. What cause had he for guilt?

Her words eased the heavy burden on his heart.

Just then, someone came to report that Gu Jiu, the steward from the Second Madam’s dowry lands, had arrived.

With the household preparing for a major event, they were stretched thin everywhere and had no choice but to borrow Gu Jiu from the Gu family to oversee the estate. But why had he left the estate and made his way through the muddy roads all the way to the capital?

Both father and daughter found it odd and summoned Gu Jiu over. To their surprise, Gu Jiu hastily bowed and announced abruptly, "Second Master, Second Young Miss, Eldest Miss has arrived from Qingzhou."

That single sentence stunned Du Zhiqi, while Du Runqing thought she must have misheard.

"Are you certain you said Eldest Sister has come from Qingzhou to the capital?"

How could Gu Jiu lie? He recounted how Chang Pu had earlier gone to the Second Madam’s dowry estate. "...This humble servant made excuses about the roads being muddy and difficult, hoping to keep Eldest Miss at the estate outside the capital. But one can never be sure—what if Eldest Miss took it into her head to come to the capital?"

Du Zhiqi paled. "Why would Jing come now?" He pressed Gu Jiu, "What reason could she have for coming to the capital unannounced?"

"She claimed she was here to collect books."

"How does collecting books explain her coming all the way to the capital?" Du Zhiqi could hardly believe it.

He had counted on the Shao family securing an imperial decree for the marriage, and once the edict was issued, his niece would have no choice but to marry—no further involvement from him would be needed.

Who would’ve thought that before Mid-Autumn Festival even arrived, his niece would come first? If she kicked up a fuss, wouldn’t the whole thing collapse?

Du Zhiqi’s frown deepened.

He’d been uneasy all along, and now his niece’s sudden arrival—was this fate at work?

His thoughts wavered briefly until his daughter suddenly called out to him.

"Father, there’s no need to trouble yourself with worry. Daughter believes, first, Eldest Sister may not even reach the capital and learn of this matter. Second, if Father submits the name plaque to the Imperial Clan Court early, even if Eldest Sister finds out, what could she do about it?"

It was a done deal—Du Zhiqi had overlooked this.

"Sound reasoning."

Looking at his daughter again, Du Zhiqi’s expression softened.

"My child has truly grown up, considering the family in all things. Your elder sister may be eight or nine years your senior, but I fear she falls far short of your wisdom."

Du Runqing, though praised, shook her head in humility.

"After Mother was injured, I’ve managed the household this past year and only then realized how difficult it has been for Father. I merely wish to share your burdens."

Du Zhiqi had been stuck in low-ranking provincial posts for years, yearning for a capital posting, yet never securing one. His frustration was compounded by last year’s accident involving his wife’s carriage, confining her to bed, unable to oversee household matters, and requiring a steady supply of expensive medicines for recovery.

Only father and daughter truly understood the depth of their hardship.

At this point, tears welled in their eyes.

In a rare moment, Du Zhiqi stroked her hair as if she were still a child. Du Runqing leaned against her father’s arm, her nose stung with held-back tears.

This marriage alliance with the Shao family, marrying Du Lingjing into their family, was their chance to turn their fortunes around—how could they let it slip away?

Du Zhiqi straightened his back and took a deep breath.

He resolved to prepare the name plaque that very night. "At first light tomorrow, I will deliver it to the Imperial Clan Court to settle this matter. I’ll make sure it happens!"