Chapter 14

Chapter 14

"Ai Ye, come in and report."

Du Lingjing's voice echoed from within the room, and her maid, Ai Ye, promptly entered.

Yesterday, Du Lingjing had tasked Ai Ye with discreetly inquiring in the capital why Lu Shenru, at twenty-five, remained unmarried. Unexpectedly, before Ai Ye could return with any findings, he had appeared at their door today.

Du Lingjing cut straight to the chase.

This was the most unusual aspect of the Marquis. If she could uncover the truth, it might offer her a sliver of opportunity.

Ai Ye reported her findings.

"To answer you, Miss, there are many in the capital curious about this matter. Whenever the Marquis of Yongding is mentioned, aside from his command of vast armies, his support for Prince Hui, and his defiance of the civil officials, this is the other major topic. However, after making inquiries, I found that the accounts vary."

Du Lingjing nodded, signaling her to continue.

Ai Ye said, "The most prevalent theory is that Marquis Lu has been waiting for someone. Initially, they said he was waiting for the Imperial Uncle’s daughter."

The current Emperor’s birth mother passed away early. Before his ascension, the Imperial Uncle and his wife had shown him considerable care. Upon the Emperor’s glorious enthronement, he ennobled the Imperial Uncle as the Count of Xinyun, appointed him Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and specially honored the Imperial Uncle’s wife as Lady Protector.

The Imperial Uncle and his wife had two sons and one daughter. This daughter was the only daughter of the Count of Xinyun’s household, just fourteen this year, and would not come of age until next spring.

Given the Count of Xinyun’s favor, it was not unreasonable for Marquis Lu to wait. Moreover, the Lady Protector happened to share the surname Lu, originating from the Yongding Marquis Lu family—though a collateral branch, she could still be considered the Marquis’s aunt.

This match was the most favored in the marketplace, and it made sense for the Marquis to have waited for years.

This year, many had wagered on an imperial decree arranging the Marquis’s marriage to the Imperial Uncle’s daughter, with the wedding to take place after her coming-of-age ceremony next spring.

But when the decree was issued, all those gamblers lost their shirts in the betting houses.

Ai Ye said, "The talk about the Marquis waiting for the Imperial Uncle’s daughter has largely died down."

She glanced at her mistress. "Now, those who still speak of it are fewer than those who say the Marquis has been waiting all these years for you, Miss."

Du Lingjing frowned.

"Nonsense."

Ai Ye quickly shifted to another rumor. "Apart from that, the most discussed topic is the rumor of a Tatar princess. Some say the Marquis was once betrothed to a Tatar princess—or perhaps a noblewoman from a tribe—but could not marry her due to their differing statuses. But there are also those who claim that the Tatar noblewoman drifted into the capital's entertainment quarters and used to sing at the Bingzhu Tower, which happens to be not far from the Marquis’s residence in Jiqing Lane. The Marquis was said to be a frequent patron there."

Du Lingjing frowned as she listened. "Is that all?"

Ai Ye hesitated before adding, "Actually, there’s one more theory."

She seemed reluctant but continued, "Some say the Marquis was injured during his campaigns on the frontier and has delayed marriage because... he is impotent."

Before she could finish, while Du Lingjing remained unfazed, Qiu Lin beside her widened her eyes in shock.

"Really?!"

She turned to her mistress. "If that's the case, it might not be entirely out of the question to consi—"

Du Lingjing shot her a glance.

Ai Ye also added, "Not many believe this theory. Most argue that the Marquis, with his imposing and martial demeanor, is unlikely to be... incapable."

Indeed. Du Lingjing recalled the Marquis's appearance. The gossip floating around was downright ridiculous—just like the claim that he had been waiting for her, entirely unbelievable.

Ai Ye hesitated again, and it wasn't until Qiu Lin urged her that she spoke:

"Rather than saying the Marquis hasn't married because he's... lacking in that regard, I think another rumor is more believable."

"What is it?" Du Lingjing asked.

Ai Ye replied, "They say the Marquis grew up on the battlefields of the frontier—wild as a tiger or wolf. Ordinary women might not... endure him. The Marquis knows this well, which is why he has never married a well-bred lady."

"What?!" Qiu Lin gasped.

Du Lingjing didn’t know how to react either, frowning as she listened.

"Like that songstress from the Bingzhu Tower, for example. She was of Tatar origin. A few years ago, she disappeared from the Bingzhu Tower, and some say she has since entered the Marquis’s household. While others failed... she alone won his favor. They say in these past few years, she has borne him three sons and two daughters."

Qiu Lin was speechless.

Du Lingjing pressed her fingers against her sore eyes and fell silent for a moment.

"Is there no reliable account at all?"

Ai Ye shook her head but, after some thought, added,

"Honestly, I think the most plausible explanation is simply that the Marquis has impossibly high standards. Ordinary people can’t catch his eye, which is why he hasn’t married yet."

Du Lingjing closed her eyes briefly.

She didn’t believe there was anything extraordinary about herself that would earn his favor. But perhaps allying with the Du family served some other purpose for him.

After hearing all these absurd rumors, her head was spinning.

Du Lingjing returned to her desk to continue revising her letters, but inexplicably, weird rumors about Marquis Lu kept swirling in her thoughts, driving her crazy.

After two full days of editing, she finally felt some peace return—yet the matter of the imperial decree remained unresolved. It was already the twenty-sixth of the eighth month, and the date he had set, the sixth of the next month, was only ten days away.

The thought made it impossible to focus on her work. But then Ruan Gong came with a message.

"Miss, the Imperial Dowager Consort has sent a palace maid to ask you to come to the Pillow Moon Pavilion."

Du Lingjing changed her clothes and went at once.

Yet when she arrived at the private chamber in the Pillow Moon Pavilion, she only saw Dowager Consort Jiang’s nanny, Nanny Pu.

"Nanny, isn’t Her Highness here?" Du Lingjing was slightly taken aback.

Nanny Pu shook her head. "Her Highness left for Hongluo Temple to meditate. Before leaving, she instructed me to relay a few words to you."

When she and Third Master were still in the capital—just after the late Emperor had passed—Her Highness had gone to Hongluo Temple for seclusion. She and Third Master had visited her there many times, and Her Highness would have Nanny Pu prepare vegetarian snacks for them.

This time, if not for her situation, Her Highness likely wouldn’t have returned to the capital at all.

Du Lingjing composed herself. "What instructions does Her Highness have?"

Nanny Pu studied her. The young lady had grown taller since she was a girl, but back then, though she was gentle and quiet, her eyes had shone like sunlit mountain springs. Now, her gaze was lowered, those springs now dulled, flowing quietly under a heavy mist.

Nanny Pu gazed at her with tenderness.

"Her Highness said to tell you," she paused, "don’t dwell too much on Third Master."

Those words alone, like sand stinging her eyes, made Du Lingjing’s tears fall instantly.

The private room was so quiet it was stifling. Qiu Lin covered her mouth and nose, while Nanny Pu's eyes reddened as well.

She said, "Her Ladyship didn’t come to speak to you in person because she feared seeing you cry."

Yet before her words fully faded, Du Lingjing raised her head.

"But Nanny, how... how can I not think of him?"

Her voice was so choked with emotion it was unbearable to hear. Even Nanny Pu, who had witnessed countless storms in the palace, couldn’t stop her eyes from welling up now.

"That brings me to the second message Her Ladyship asked me to convey to you."

Du Lingjing looked at her, and Nanny Pu continued.

"Her Ladyship said you are still young. This world is not just about filial piety between father and daughter or childhood sweethearts, nor is it solely about the vast sea of books and the wisdom of ages. She said your character and talents surpass those of ordinary people, and perhaps you deserve a broader, more fulfilling life—one that makes life worth living."

Du Lingjing froze in silence for a moment before lowering her head again.

"...Her Ladyship overestimates me."

Since her father and Sanlang passed away, she had only wished to spend the rest of her days quietly in Mianlou.

She didn’t need anything grand. In the library, she often felt as though they were still by her side, making the loneliness bearable—that alone was a rare solace.

Now, even that rare solace might be taken from her.

She bowed her head in silence.

Nanny Pu sighed. "Her Ladyship has a third message."

"...Please speak, Nanny. Jing is listening."

Nanny Pu gazed at the young woman before her, whose sorrow was as heavy as night rain.

"Her Ladyship said, an imperial decree cannot be defied. But Marquis Lu might yet be a good match for you."

The words hung in the air, and Du Lingjing stiffened in surprise.

"A suitable match?"

She couldn’t help but shake her head. "No... I don’t believe so."

She shook her head again and again, fell silent, but tears streaked down silently with each slight movement.

Nanny Pu sighed deeply. "Ah, child, you’re as stubborn as always..."

Having delivered Dowager Consort Jiang’s three messages, Nanny Pu now had to leave.

She needed to return to Hongluo Monastery before nightfall to report back.

Du Lingjing couldn’t keep her, so she stood to escort Nanny Pu out.

Yet as soon as they stepped out of the private room and turned into the stairs, they ran straight into someone.

"Nanny Pu."

"Marquis Lu?"

Nanny Pu spotted Lu Shenru and stepped forward to greet him with a bow.

Lu Shenru quickly urged her not to bow, his gaze shifting to the young woman behind her.

Her eyes were red.

She’d wept.

His jaw tightened.

Nanny Pu, in a hurry, promptly excused herself, turning back to stop Du Lingjing. "There’s no need to see me off, miss."

With that, she descended the stairs with the attendant.

Du Lingjing had no wish to linger—especially not in his presence. Wordlessly, she dipped her head to him and turned to go as well.

But he remained standing on the stair beneath her, didn’t budge, just held her gaze.

Once again, it was Pillow Moon Tower. Once again, this very stairwell.

If the last time was a coincidence, then this time... Du Lingjing paused. Had he really enlisted Dowager Consort Jiang and Nanny Pu to speak on his behalf?

The thought crossed her mind as she met his gaze. With just that fleeting look, Lu Shenru understood her suspicion and explained,

"I was just passing through."

He truly had been passing through—today, he was meeting officials from the Shaanxi Regional Military Commission. But upon entering earlier, his guards had said she was in Pillow Moon Tower.

The man knew he couldn’t talk his way out of it without sounding like he’d been following her, so he let her study him.

Yet she looked away.

Du Lingjing could hardly believe that this marquis, who had previously scorned Pillow Moon Tower, would simply "chance" to wander in here.

She turned her head away, no longer looking at him, and nodded dutifully in acknowledgment of his explanation.

But then she spoke. "Marquis Lu, please go ahead. However, Du Lingjing must visit Chongjiao Lane to purchase a few books for her deceased husband. I won’t keep you from your important matters."

With that, she pressed to the wall, gesturing for the marquis to ascend the stairs first.

If he went up, she could go down—otherwise, he would remain standing in her way on the steps below.

How could the man not understand her meaning?

Her tone was impeccably polite, but "her deceased husband"...

She really knew how to pick the words to cut him deepest.

Lu Shenru couldn’t help but quirk his lips.

He ignored that remark and instead said,

"The marquis residence has already prepared most of the arrangements for our wedding. You may rest assured."

The words made Du Lingjing turn to look at him again.

The stairwell was so quiet that only the sound of their breathing, softly mingled, lingered between the two people standing on the stairs.

Lu Shenru tilted his head up, letting her study him as he gazed into her eyes.

Red-rimmed, with even the slender bridge of her nose tinged faintly pink, and tear tracks still clinging to her cheeks.

Why cry for that man again?

Yet Du Lingjing couldn't help but recall that day in the study when he insisted on tying his betrothal gift around her waist.

Was this really a good match?

Their breaths intertwined, and she seemed to faintly catch the scent of his overpowering presence.

She no longer wished to remain stuck in this standoff with him.

Turning her head away immediately, seeing that he showed no intention of yielding, she moved to go downstairs.

Determined to go down, but before he could step aside, they were suddenly much too close.

Lu Shenru, however, couldn't resist raising his hand to grasp her wrist.

His burning palm suddenly seared her skin.

"Marquis," Du Lingjing said, her voice low.

The man understood her meaning.

Reluctantly, he replied, "...Very well."

He let out a soft sigh, gently releasing her hand and stepping aside to let her pass. His gaze followed her as she descended faster and faster, finally disappearing at the bottom of the stairs.

But she never looked back.

*

Chongjiao Fang was at the northernmost end of Chongwenmenli Street. Du Lingjing had only used it as an excuse and had no intention of actually going there. After leaving Pillow Moon Tower, she returned home directly.

That evening in the capital seemed to be threatening rain. Before the rain fell, the air was heavy and stifling.

Qiu Lin had someone bring out the fans. "Could it be that we're getting another heat wave tonight?"

The room was stuffy, and Du Lingjing's thoughts were scattered. After writing a few pages, she set down her brush. Qiu Lin helped her wash up, then extinguished the lamps for an early night's rest.

Perhaps due to the oppressive heat, her sleep was anything but peaceful that night.

Du Lingjing tossed through several fragmented dreams, the rumbling of distant thunder filling her ears. Her dreams shifted repeatedly until suddenly, she found herself before an imposing mansion with ornately carved beams and painted ceilings.

She didn't recognize the place, but when she turned to look into the room beneath the covered corridor, her eyes immediately fell upon the Marquis.

The man wore only an inner robe and pants, standing with his back to the light. The flickering flames illuminated his damp shoulders, creating shifting shadows.

As he turned slightly, his collar hung half-open, revealing his sharply defined collarbones. Du Lingjing was shocked, disoriented, when suddenly a woman of Tatar appearance emerged before him, clad in revealing foreign attire.

Her mind involuntarily identified the woman—

The Tatar songstress who had borne him three sons and two daughters?

Now, even after childbirth, the songstress's figure remained still shapely. She approached the man, running her fingers along his collarbones to the veins of his neck, then up to caress his cheek.

The man smiled down at her, then suddenly lifted her effortlessly into his arms and placed her atop a high desk behind him.

The lamplight flared bright for an instant before dimming again. Half-discarded robes pooled on the floor as he grasped the songstress's ankle, engaging in intimate acts...

Horrified, Du Lingjing turned to flee, but the man suddenly looked up, his gaze locking onto her through the window.

In the next moment, everything seemed to spin wildly around her. When she opened her eyes again, the lamplight revealed that it was no longer the Tatar songstress perched on the desk.

Bare-armed, the man's scorching palm gripped her waist while the other closed around her wrist.

Now she was the one being undressed!

As he lowered his head, his eyes held hers. Du Lingjing froze, then jerked awake from the dream.

Dawn had broken, though the rain still hadn't fallen. The sky was a dull gray, not a breeze stirred.

She was drenched in sweat. Sitting up, she looked down to find her thin sleeping robe had slipped off her shoulders, though she didn't know when it had happened.

Suddenly recalling the absurd dream, she hastily pulled her robe up to cover herself and called out to Qiu Lin from behind the bed curtains.

"Qiu Lin, bring me some chilled tea."

Qiu Lin quickly obliged.

Only after draining the cup did Du Lingjing feel her calm return somewhat.

"You're covered in sweat, miss. What did you dream about?" Qiu Lin passed her a damp cloth to wipe herself.

That dream—and the Marquis within it... Du Lingjing had never experienced such a disturbing dream before.

"Nothing," she shook her head. "It was nothing."

But only nine days remained until their wedding.

Suddenly, Ai Ye rushed in.

"What's the matter?" Qiu Lin asked.

Ai Ye replied, "Your sister ran a high fever last night and fainted this morning. The second master urgently called for a doctor."

Du Lingjing arched a brow.

Her younger sister had always been healthy—how could she have fallen ill so suddenly?

She got up and changed.

"I'll go see her."