Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The day after the Mid-Autumn Festival moon-worship ceremony, imperial marriage edicts were to be issued from either the Dong'an Gate or the Xi'an Gate of the palace.

Before dawn, the two palace gates in the capital were already crowded with eager onlookers.

This year’s two most significant alliances were the Shao family’s union with the Du family, and the Marquis of Yongding’s marriage to his future Marquise.

Though seemingly just two weddings, they were in fact a silent contest, each side vying to secure the most influential support.

However, news had spread the previous night that the Shao-Du match might be in jeopardy.

Many had placed large bets on this engagement, and now, outside both palace gates, everyone watched with wide eyes.

By the time the sun rose high, the first edict, led by a eunuch, was delivered from Xi'an Gate.

A portion of the crowd followed the eunuch into the city, and soon the news was confirmed: the Emperor had decreed the marriage of an imperial clan member to the daughter of a civil official.

Immediately after, news arrived from the Dong'an Gate that another edict had been sent to an imperial relative’s residence: a commandery princess was to marry into an earl’s household.

Both were imperial clan marriages, yet one allied with the literati officials, while the other fostered ties with the martial aristocracy.

Some couldn't help but lament, “The civil and military factions have been at odds since the founding of the dynasty, causing endless strife. Now, even the Emperor must worry about it. It’s hard to reconcile them, and His Majesty is truly in a difficult position…”

As the crowd murmured, they looked again towards the palace gates.

Every year, imperial clan marriages were announced first, and this year was likely no exception—the main event would surely follow.

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, from morning until noon, no further edicts emerged from the palace. Not only was the long-awaited main announcement missing, but no other betrothal decrees were issued either.

“This…”

By midday, with the palace gates tightly shut—a sign in previous years that no more edicts would be forthcoming—the entire capital buzzed with shock.

At the Gu residence in Huanghua Lane, Dowager Madam Wan still awaited final news.

But when Master Gu, who had gone to inquire himself, returned and shook his head with a grim expression, her heart sank.

Yet Gu Yangsi had more to say.

“Not only did the Emperor not grant the Shao family a marriage, but he also dismissed Shao Boju from his duties as Prince Yong’s study attendant, replacing him with another. When Prince Yong spoke a few words in Shao Boju’s defense, the Emperor merely told him to focus on his studies and not concern himself with extraneous affairs.”

Madam Wan pressed a hand to her chest upon hearing this.

The Shao-Du alliance was truly over.

Lady Liang hurriedly served Madam Wan a soothing tea, and only after drinking the entire bowl did she catch her breath.

“Even if this matter fails, other betrothals must not be affected.”

She said to Lady Liang, “Earlier, you mentioned that the Huang family of Jinan and the Shen family of Shunde wished to send their daughters to me. Let them come.”

As long as other families still sought her matchmaking, her reputation as the capital’s foremost matchmaker would remain secure.

Gu Yangsi quickly agreed. “Everyone knows Mother’s skill. This time, it was all because of that Du girl making trouble—otherwise, this marriage would have succeeded.”

At this, Madam Wan’s expression darkened.

“That’s why I insist on having young ladies sent to me first. I will personally instruct them—not to perfection, but at least to be docile and deferential, so they don’t get ideas above their rank and cause unnecessary trouble.”

Gu Yangsi nodded but asked, “What about the Du family…?”

Now composed, Madam Wan let out a derisive sniff.

“Unless Du Lingjing shaves her head and becomes a nun, I will marry her off sooner or later. And by then, there certainly won’t be a Third Honor Graduate like Shao Boju waiting for her.”

*

At the Du residence in Chengqing Lane, Du Zhiqi also received news of Shao Boju’s dismissal from Prince Yong’s retinue.

With no betrothal edict and the Shao family now out of favor, Du Zhiqi broke into a cold sweat.

Frustrated, he glanced out of his study and spotted Du Lingjing.

“What is she doing now?” Every move his niece made now put him on edge.

A servant went to inquire and returned.

“The young lady is speaking with Uncle Wen at the gate, asking if he will return to Qingzhou.”

Du Zhiqi froze. “She’s going back to Qingzhou?”

The servant added that Qiu Lin had been seen overseeing the packing. “It seems so… Should we stop her, Master?”

Du Zhiqi was briefly stunned, then his eyes widened.

“Let her leave as soon as possible! Do you think I’d stop her and let her stay in the capital to stir up more trouble?!”

The servant dared not reply.

Du Zhiqi wiped the sweat from his neck repeatedly.

He couldn’t bear the thought of Du Lingjing remaining in the capital—what if she suddenly changed her mind and married some high-ranking official? The implications would be disastrous.

He repeated his order to the servant.

“No one is to hinder her. Let her go at once!”

Du Lingjing had never intended to come to the capital in the first place. Now that the storm had passed, she had no reason to stay.

At the gate, she said to Uncle Wen, “Come back to Qingzhou with me. Let me take care of you in your old age.”

Her words, like the wind rushing through the gateway passage, brought hot tears to the old man’s aged eyes.

Du Lingjing clasped his hand.

In the fourth year of the Yin You Dynasty, Uncle Wen’s two sons and Ruan Gong’s father had all perished in a sudden mountain flood while escorting her father back to the capital to assume his post…

She and Ruan Gong had lost their fathers, and Uncle Wen had been left bereft of sons.

Tears streamed down Uncle Wen’s wrinkled face and splashed onto the ground.

“Alright,” he said hoarsely, “this old servant will accompany you back.”

Du Lingjing’s nose burned with emotion.

But Chang Pu came rushing in as if on fire, nearly bumping into Du Lingjing.

Ruan Gong, who was standing by, stepped forward to kick him, but Chang Pu quickly pleaded.

"I was just too excited! The young lady bet the opposite—wagered against the Shao marriage going through—and she hit the jackpot!"

Ruan Gong pulled back his foot and couldn’t help but ask eagerly, "How much did the young lady win with her five hundred taels?"

Chang Pu burst out, "It’s insane! The young lady’s five hundred taels nearly broke the bank at Qianxing Gambling House! She won over seven times the amount—after Qianxing took their commission, there’s still a cool three thousand taels remaining!"

Even Uncle Wen started. "In all my years in the capital, I’ve never heard of anyone winning three thousand taels in a single bet at Qianxing."

Ruan Gong first felt thrilled, but then, as if remembering something, he glanced at Du Lingjing.

"Qianxing is too ruthless, taking such a hefty cut."

Winning was good, but he had to remind the young lady that gambling dens were no place for proper folk.

The young lady was a cultured lady—she shouldn’t pick up such vices.

He dropped a subtle warning, but the young lady gave no sign, only smiling at Chang Pu. "Can the money be withdrawn today?"

Chang Pu shook his head. "Not yet, young lady."

He said someone had previously bet five hundred taels that the Marquis would marry this year, but today, with no imperial decree for marriage between the Shao family and the Marquis of Yongding’s household, everyone declared his bet lost. Yet he refused to believe it.

"How could it be? I had insider information—the Marquis is definitely getting married this year!"

He demanded Qianxing withhold the payout. "The sun hasn’t set yet—wait until sunset before deciding!"

Chang Pu told Du Lingjing, "Because of this, Qianxing said they’ll distribute the winnings in three days."

Ruan Gong frowned. "The young lady plans to depart first thing tomorrow."

"Ah! Then the young lady won’t wait for her winnings?"

Du Lingjing smiled and left the matter to Chang Pu. "You can wait for me."

"But wouldn’t the young lady be happier seeing the payout herself?"

As Chang Pu spoke, he noticed the young lady smile again, though the light in her eyes dimmed slightly.

"Third Master is still waiting for me at home."

At these words, Chang Pu immediately fell silent.

Over the years, every time the young lady went out, she counted the days until her return to Qingzhou.

Every time, she said, "Third Master is still waiting for me at home."

But if only Jiang Third Master could truly be at home waiting for her...

Ruan Gong lowered his head in silence, Uncle Wen sighed softly, and Du Lingjing remained composed.

After a moment of quiet, Chang Pu bounced back cheerfully.

"Then I’ll wait in the capital for the money on the young lady’s behalf! Once it’s exchanged for banknotes, I’ll bring them back to you!"

Du Lingjing nodded with a smile, then suddenly remembered something and instructed Ruan Gong.

"Last night, I should thank the Imperial Dowager Consort for speaking on my behalf. True to her character, she usually avoids such affairs. Regardless, send her all the Changqing tea we brought from Jinan."

Ruan Gong acknowledged the task and left.

Someone was peering out from the inner gate of the main courtyard—it was Du Runqing’s maid, Rui Xue.

She turned to her young lady and said, "Your elder sister is really leaving."

The rustling of leaves in the corner of the wall sent Du Runqing’s thoughts spiraling, leaving her even more unsettled upon hearing this.

Her elder sister had actually turned down this marriage.

She had pulled it off single-handedly—even Father, Grandmother, and the Shao family couldn’t stop her.

In fact, Father, Grandmother, and the Shao family would likely face consequences because of this failure.

Du Runqing could scarcely believe it.

Had elder sister really gotten out of the imperial match to the Shao family?

Just then, the rustling of leaves paused as the breeze stilled, but suddenly, the sharp clap of clearing the way came from outside the gate.

Du Lingjing, standing at the gate, also heard the commotion.

The Du residence went abruptly quiet.

Then, guards cleared the way, and Eunuch Yang from the Emperor’s retinue appeared at the Du family’s gate.

Seeing Du Lingjing standing right there, he smiled.

"Ah, the young lady awaits?"

He said this was how convenient. "Let the entire Du family come out. The Emperor has handed down an edict—the Du family is to receive it."

Du Lingjing went still.

Inside the main courtyard gate, Rui Xue was also startled but quickly seized Du Runqing’s wrist.

"Young lady, the imperial decree has arrived!"

Du Runqing’s eyes widened abruptly.

"I told you..."

She told you—Father, Grandmother, and the Shao family would never be outmatched by elder sister alone.

Elder sister was merely a fatherless girl with no one to rely on...

Meanwhile, Du Zhiqi, hearing that an imperial decree had arrived at the gate, all but sprinted from his study.

When he saw his niece standing frozen at the gate and Eunuch Yang from the Emperor’s side, bearing a gilt-edged decree, he drew a sharp breath.

So it had come. The decree had finally arrived.

As he brushed past his niece, he couldn’t resist hissing under his breath.

"You’d better mind your step. The Shao family won’t fall so easily by you!"

He finished speaking and stepped forward respectfully.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting, Eunuch Yang. The Du family is all here."

Eunuch Yang's gaze swept past him, then over the crowd, before finally settling on Du Lingjing.

"Then, all of you, receive the Emperor's decree."

...

At the Gu residence in Huanghua Lane.

Madam Wan shot to her feet upon hearing that the imperial decree had arrived at the Du household.

It was done! The match she'd personally begged the Emperor for had finally come to pass!

She couldn't help but whisper a prayer, "So the decree was merely delayed, just delayed."

Yet before her words fully faded, Master Gu, Gu Yangsi, rushed in from outside, his face ashen-faced.

Madam Wan raised an eyebrow, about to ask what had happened.

Gu Yangsi spoke in a trembling voice.

"Mother, the Du family did receive an imperial decree, but it wasn't to marry into the Shao family. Instead..."

"Instead what?!"

"Instead, the Marquis is to take a wife!"

"Which Marquis?" Madam Wan's mind went blank.

Gu Yangsi himself seemed unable to believe it.

"Lu Shenru, the Marquis of Yongding."

He called out to Madam Wan, repeating it.

"Mother, the Emperor has decreed a marriage between the Du family and the Marquis of Yongding's household. That Du Lingjing—she is now the Marquis's wife!"

Madam Wan's vision darkened abruptly, and she swayed on her feet.

*

The capital exploded like a stirred-up hornet's nest.

With the announcement of this final decree, the streets and alleys were filled with people rushing to spread the news. Every teahouse, tavern, and gambling den was abuzz with talk of the imperial edict.

"Wait—the Marquis is really getting married? After all these years, the Marquis is finally taking a wife!"

The Marquis's marriage was truly astonishing. A twenty-five-year-old powerful minister, still unmarried to this day—many had speculated whether he was waiting for some noble family's daughter to come of age, such as the Imperial Uncle's daughter.

But the Imperial Uncle's daughter wouldn't come of age until next year, while the Marquis was marrying this year.

Even more baffling was, "Wasn't the Du daughter supposed to marry the Tanhua (Third Rank Scholar)? How did she become the Marquis's wife?"

People had wagered on both marriages, each backing a different outcome, only for things to take a sharp turn.

It was as if everyone had been trapped in a bad dream, growing even more confused and disbelieving amidst the confusing decree.

At the entrance of the Du residence.

Du Zhiqi, who had stepped forward to receive the decree, felt his ears ring. He couldn't help but blurt out,

"Eunuch, is there some mistake?"

Eunuch Yang suddenly laughed at this, his voice sharp as he retorted to Second Master Du,

"Master Du, are you doubting this servant, or are you questioning His Majesty?"

Du Zhiqi jolted awake at once.

"This official wouldn’t dare."

He hastily accepted the decree with trembling hands.

Eunuch Yang paid him no further mind, instead turning his gaze to Du Lingjing.

"The Marquis has waited many years. At last, he has his bride."

Du Lingjing's ears were ringing, as if she’d heard but didn’t comprehend, her eyes downcast in silence.

But Du Runqing staggered backward.

*

At the Marquis of Yongding's residence in Jiqing Lane, firecrackers boomed in celebration.

The ear-splitting red firecrackers lined the main road before the residence, echoing for a solid two quarters of an hour. The Marquis's guards brought out two large baskets of copper coins, handing out coins to every well-wisher who came to offer congratulations.

For a time, the entrance to the residence was jammed solid.

An old seamstress personally brought over the wedding robes.

"Marquis, please try these on. Though they were made in spring, autumn might’ve changed your measurements. These are your wedding robes—they need to fit just right."

The man smiled and nodded, the bright red robes accentuating his tall, imposing frame. His eyes shone with happiness as he raised his arms, allowing the seamstress to take his measurements carefully.

Chongping, his bodyguard, had just returned from outside and now came to report. As he approached, the Marquis asked,

"How is she... doing?"

Chongping naturally knew whom the Marquis meant.

He looked uneasy. Only after the seamstress finished measuring and withdrew with a bow did he speak.

"Hard to tell, but the Du household doesn’t seem too happy."

He explained that the Du family didn’t light firecrackers at first. Only after someone asked did Second Master Du remember and ordered a string lit.

The Marquis didn’t appear bothered, but he asked softly,

"...And what about her?"

Chongping lowered his head further.

"The young lady hasn’t said a word since receiving the decree. She went back to the western courtyard and hasn’t come out since."

After speaking, he couldn’t resist glancing at his lord.

The Marquis hesitated, silent for a moment, but then laughed quietly to himself.

"It’s fine."

It was unclear whom he was comforting.

Then he called to Chongping.

"Pick the closest lucky date. I’ll deliver the betrothal gifts myself."