Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Du Lingjing froze.

How could this Marquis utter such words?

Was it the mark of a true man to be adaptable, or had he spent too long toasting in the power-laden palace, losing all sense of propriety?

Du Lingjing believed it was the latter. As for his claim of being smitten with her at first sight in the Pavilion of the Pillowed Moon—that couldn’t possibly be true.

But what exactly did he hope to gain by marrying her?

She stood motionless, watching as the man carefully withdrew an object from his robe, handling it as if it were a precious treasure.

From the corner of her eye, Du Lingjing saw it was a key.

He spoke.

"I own a library in the capital's outskirts, more spacious and airy than your family's Endeavor Tower. It houses over a hundred thousand volumes, often compared to the imperial Wenlan Library. Its construction took many years and was completed only half a year ago."

He extended his hand, offering the key to her.

The key gleamed with a brassy luster, its tip cast into the intricate likeness of a towering library.

Du Lingjing had long heard of this library. The Lu family had borrowed craftsmen from the Board of Works—those who built palaces for the imperial court—to construct it. From the time Lu Shenru returned from the northwestern frontier to the capital, the project had taken six years.

She had once sighed to her Third Elder Brother, remarking on the Lu family’s vast resources, capable of raising so magnificent an edifice, while the Du family could barely keep Endeavor Tower's collection intact, let alone build another.

At the time, her brother had only smiled without a word.

And now, he was offering the key to that very library to her.

"I’ve never known what to name this library. Now, I ask you to accept it—henceforth, it shall be yours, and you may bestow its name."

The brass key shimmered faintly. Du Lingjing felt a momentary daze. She had wished for her family’s collection to have a place as magnificent as the Lu family’s library—but not like this.

She shook her head.

"This is too precious. I cannot accept it."

She declined.

Her expression stiffened as she turned her head away, as though the key were not for a library but something vile that would taint her—something she wouldn’t even touch.

Lu Shenru pressed his lips together, but the next moment, he took another half-step forward.

The already narrow study grew oppressive. He was now less than half a step away from her.

Du Lingjing wanted to retreat, but behind her were only tables and chairs—no escape.

The man’s breathing was just audible. Unaccustomed to such proximity, Du Lingjing’s heartbeat quickened.

She clenched her hands and looked up at him.

His eyes were ink-black, heavy with unspoken intent.

She had no intention of deciphering it and repeated, "This key is far too valuable. Please take it back, Marquis..."

Yet before she could finish, he bent down and tied the key to her sash.

Her sash was tugged gently, pulling her slightly toward him.

Startled, Du Lingjing reached to undo it, but he suddenly lifted his gaze, his ink-dark eyes locking onto hers.

"All other betrothal gifts pale in comparison. This is the one thing I most wish to give you. Don’t remove it."

His low, husky murmur brushed against her ear.

Her fingers hesitated, and by then, he had already fixed the key securely to her waist.

Du Lingjing had never seen anyone give a gift in such a manner!

But the man’s lips curved into a smile, his eyes warming as he stepped back to his original position.

Du Lingjing set her lips in silent refusal.

Then, suddenly, her uncle’s voice came from outside the door. "Would the Marquis like more tea?"

Du Zhiqi feared his niece might cause another scene and dared not leave her alone with Marquis Lu for long.

At his inquiry, Lu Shenru glanced at the young woman beside him. Seeing that she wouldn’t even spare him a glance, let alone speak, he could only respond to Du Zhiqi.

"There’s no need for trouble, Lord Du. It’s getting late—I should take my leave."

His gaze swept over her once more. Of course, she wouldn’t ask him to stay.

But seeing the key still fastened to her waist, not yet removed, the man felt a deep satisfaction.

As Du Zhiqi entered the study, Lu Shenru addressed both uncle and niece.

"I’ve asked the Imperial Astrologers to select an auspicious date for the wedding—the sixth day of next month." He continued, "With drums and music leading the way, and red silk lining the streets, I will come to bring my bride home."

The moment the words left his mouth, both uncle and niece went rigid.

The sixth of next month?

That left scarcely a fortnight to prepare!

Du Lingjing couldn’t help but look up at him. He answered with a gentle smile.

Du Zhiqi, however, couldn’t contain his question. "The Marquis means… the sixth of next month? That leaves only half a month for preparations—"

"It will suffice." Lu Shenru didn’t look at him, his eyes fixed instead on the furrow between the young woman’s brows. "The marquisate will have everything ready within the fortnight. The future Marquise shall want for nothing."

With that, he departed without ceremony, bidding farewell to the uncle and niece.

Du Lingjing felt her eyes grow dry and sore, a throbbing ache spreading from her temples to half her forehead.

She turned to return to her courtyard, but her uncle stopped her.

"What did you say to the Marquis earlier? Thank providence he took no offense. Do you realize he is the Marquis of Yongding, who commands the border garrisons? Even the Emperor shows him deference—who would dare speak carelessly to him?"

Du Zhiqi recalled how his heart had near stopped when his niece suddenly insisted on speaking privately to Marquis Lu.

First, she had met Shao Boju in secret, stirring up a storm. Now, she insisted on speaking privately with Marquis Lu—what was she planning this time?

Thinking of how his niece, though outwardly demure, could stir up trouble, he couldn’t help but say,

"Next time you plan to do something, might you at least warn me?!"

Du Lingjing shot her uncle a surprised glance at his remark.

Du Zhiqi also found his own remark rather odd—if she told him in advance, how could she still "stir up trouble"?

"Anyway, just give me less to worry about!"

He spoke, noticing his niece seemed in low spirits, though she still managed a half-hearted "Hmm" in response.

Du Zhiqi clutched his head and sank into a chair.

Meanwhile, Du Lingjing made her way back to her chambers. Passing the main courtyard, she spotted the edge of a skirt.

Someone seemed to have ducked away quickly, but the hem of their skirt remained visible.

Qiu Lin whispered, "It's Second Miss. She's been watching what was happening between you, the Marquis, and Second Master in the front courtyard."

It wasn’t strange for her to observe the front courtyard, but why would she rush to hide when Du Lingjing approached?

However, Du Lingjing wasn't in the mood to ponder it now. Her gaze swept past Du Runqing’s skirt hem before she returned to the western courtyard.

She told Qiu Lin to get an empty box while she fumbled with the key at her waist.

She had no desire to be that Marquis’s bride, nor did she want his key.

Yet the key was fastened so stubbornly—like some tricky knot. She picked at it forever, and even Qiu Lin came to help, but neither of them could undo it.

"It looks like a slipknot, but it's stuck fast—practically glued to your waist. What should we do?"

Du Lingjing couldn’t help but remember how earlier, when she refused the Marquis’s gift, yet he'd pressed right up to her and fastened it around her waist.

She went quiet for a beat before suddenly grabbing the scissors.

Qiu Lin was startled. "But Miss, this is the Marquis’s key, tied with the Marquis’s silk cord..."

"You can't just cut it!"

She watched as Du Lingjing went stone silent but then decisively sheared through the cord in one snap.

The cord snapped, and the key hit the floor with a clang.

Not even looking, Du Lingjing turned away and went to her desk.

She pulled out an old text and began revising it, not uttering a single word the entire time.

Qiu Lin didn’t dare make the slightest noise—

When Du Lingjing was at her angriest, she would remain silent and immerse herself in editing manuscripts.

She worked on the manuscript until night fell and the lamps were lit.

Just as Qiu Lin was about to enter and adjust the light for her, the maid Ai Ye returned.

"Sister Qiu Lin, I’ve found out everything Miss asked about the Marquis of Yongding."

Qiu Lin brightened, and finally, a voice came from the study.

"Ai Ye, come in and report."

"Yes!"