Chapter 17

Chapter 17

With the impending joyous event, every member of the Du family in Chengqing Lane radiated happiness and cheer.

First came the hair-pinning ceremony for the second young lady on the twenty-ninth day of the eighth month.

Madam Wan personally presided as the chief officiant, and the eldest daughter of Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang’s family was invited to serve as the assistant officiant. Madam Wan had previously secured an imperial marriage decree for an alliance between the Liu family of Lingnan and the Zhang family, so the Zhangs were more than willing to oblige her. Not only did their eldest daughter attend, but she also brought along several noble young ladies from esteemed families.

The Du family’s hair-pinning ceremony was as grand as any held by ducal or marquisate households. Even though the second madam of the Du family was ill and the young master had yet to arrive from the academy in Baoding, the festivities were not diminished in the slightest.

Though Du Lingjing made few appearances, she still gifted her younger sister a South Seas jade hairpin inlaid with eastern pearls.

This item was exceedingly rare, a gift from a bookseller from southern Fujian who had made the rare journey north to present it to Du Lingjing.

Qiu Lin couldn’t help but lament, "Young lady, this gift is far too extravagant."

Du Lingjing merely smiled. "After all, she is taking my place in the marriage."

Qiu Lin had nothing more to say.

Once the hair-pinning ceremony concluded, the days swiftly turned to the ninth month. The sixth day of the ninth month was the wedding day. Originally, Du Zhiqi had been marrying off his niece, but now it had suddenly become his own daughter. The demand for exquisite tableware grew even more stringent, all hastily purchased at great expense. Even the renowned Suzhou-Hangzhou chrysanthemums, then in full bloom, were bought in bulk—twenty-eight pots at once.

As he admired the vibrant blossoms vying in splendor in their pots, he waved a hand and called for a servant. "Send eight pots to the eldest young lady as well."

The servants were astonished, thinking to themselves, *Didn’t the second master hold the eldest young lady in low regard? Why is he suddenly in such a hurry to send her flowers?*

Not only were they puzzled, but even Ruan Gong, Chang Pu, and the others who received the flowers found it strange. "The second master still remembers us?"

Qiu Lin, however, sniffed dismissively. "The young lady just gifted the second young lady a South Seas jade hairpin. What are a few pots of flowers compared to that?"

Still sulking, she was met with an amused glance from Du Lingjing. Yet, seeing the Suzhou-Hangzhou chrysanthemums sent by her uncle, each in full bloom and bursting with color—a riot of blossoms—she couldn’t deny the festive air they carried.

She couldn’t help but step closer to admire them, only to turn and see her younger sister, Du Runqing, standing there.

The young girl wore a cherry-red overcoat embroidered with peach blossoms, her hair adorned with a row of pink floral hairpins. She stood outside the west courtyard gate, no trace of her previous sickly demeanor remaining—her complexion now rosy and healthy.

She knew full well that even her grandmother had never given her such a rare gift.

But what mattered more was not the gift itself, but the fact that her elder sister had agreed to the substitution, allowing her to marry the Marquis.

In the past, though she had secretly set her heart on the Marquis, she had never dared to hope. Only by the riverside, pushing floating lanterns into the water while whispering her fragile hopes, had she allowed herself to dream.

But in just five more days, she would be the Marquis’s bride!

She called for Rui Xue to bring the new Jiangnan tea gifted to her by the Zhang family. Without explicitly stating her reasons, she offered Du Lingjing a shallow curtsey.

"Thank you, elder sister."

Only upon seeing the tea did Qiu Lin ease her sulking slightly.

Du Lingjing paid no mind to such trivialities and gently steadied her sister.

"There’s no need for formalities."

She smiled faintly at her younger sister. The two households had already separated, and once her sister married into the Marquis’s household while she returned to Qingzhou, there would likely be few chances for them to meet again.

The sisters, separated by years, had never been close to begin with. With so many barriers between them, the fact that they could still exchange a few polite words was already something.

Du Lingjing’s expression was serene and untroubled. The autumn breeze could not stir ripples in her eyes—it could only lift the strands of hair at her temples and flutter her sleeves.

For a moment, Du Runqing was transfixed by her sister’s presence.

She suddenly recalled the day the substitution had been settled, when she had still been dazed and asked Rui Xue, "If I marry in my sister’s place, will the Marquis dislike me?"

Rui Xue had replied, "How could he? The Marquis has seen you before and favored you even then. Even if it’s a substitution, why wouldn’t he like you?"

That day, Rui Xue’s words had made her cheeks burn, the bronze mirror reflecting the flush on her face.

But now, as she watched her sister standing in the wind, her heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

The Marquis *had* seen her—but he had seen her elder sister even more.

That day in the outer study, the Marquis had even spoken privately with her elder sister for a few moments before announcing that the wedding would take place on the sixth.

Could it be—She studied her sister’s slender figure, her long black hair and brows, her eyes like clear pools, lashes like feathers, bathed in the autumn wind like a celestial visitor alighting briefly and about to drift away again—

Could it be that the Marquis, in his heart, had actually favored her elder sister?

Even if she became his bride, would he never forget that he was originally meant to marry her elder sister?

The young girl bit her lip, an indescribable pang of sour jealousy welling in her heart.

Without thinking, she spoke, unsure of what she even wanted to say. "The Marquis sent far more betrothal gifts than usual. I suppose—originally, they were meant for elder sister. Does elder sister want—"

Before she could finish, her elder sister turned and fixed her with a gaze.

"What does second sister wish to say?"

She froze, unable to respond, but then heard her sister say,

"Those are *your* betrothal gifts, and the Marquis is *your* husband. They have nothing to do with anyone else."

The voice was calm, yet it struck straight to her heart. "Little sister truly ought to think less, worry less, and guard her heart with proper thoughts."

Having spoken, Du Lingjing gave her sister one last glance before turning and returning to her room.

For a moment, no one remained outside the door. Rui Xue couldn’t help but murmur, "Why was the eldest young lady so unkind when speaking to you? You’re about to become the Marchioness."

But the young girl did not respond. She stood transfixed for a long moment, biting her lip, before finally snapping out of it and saying, "Let’s go back."

……

The bustle of the Du family’s wedding preparations did not extend to Du Lingjing’s west courtyard.

Instead, she specifically summoned Ruan Gong to inquire about another matter.

"Neither the authorities nor the Embroidered Uniform Guard have found any trace of the Hu siblings yet? What about the people we sent out?"

Ever since Du Lingjing received news of the Hu siblings’ disappearance, she had dispatched search parties three times, but now Ruan Gong could only shake his head.

"It’s been nearly two months, and there’s been no news at all—as if they’ve vanished into thin air."

Seeing her frown, he quickly added, "Don’t speak recklessly."

Ruan Gong hastily corrected himself. "Just because we haven’t found Young Master Hu and Lady Hu doesn’t mean something has happened to them. Perhaps they’ve hidden in some secluded place, warily evading all these chaotic search parties."

Du Lingjing’s people were, of course, searching to rescue them—but others, especially those under the Shao family’s influence, might have very different intentions.

Shao Boju had been stripped of his position as the imperial reading attendant due to the murder scandal. But with the Hu siblings’ case unresolved, though Shao Boju could not be cleared of suspicion, neither could he be convicted. As time passed, he had actually regained some measure of ease.

Lately, more voices at court have been defending him, and he won’t be long in distancing himself from the scandal.

Once Shao Boju regains his former favor, Du Lingjing might be unaffected, but the still-missing Hu siblings would be in trouble.

She heaved a long sigh, instructing Ruan Gong to continue searching and to keep an eye out for any suspicious messages, while massaging her temples again and again.

"...What exactly happened?"

Unfortunately, no matter what befell the Hu siblings, she couldn’t leave the estate for now.

To make the bride swap seem more plausible, the best scenario would be for her to suddenly fall gravely ill, forcing the Du family to replace the bride.

If the Marquis ever pressed the matter, there would at least be an explanation. But whatever he chose to do afterward would no longer concern her.

*

Jiqing Quarter.

The Marquis’s estate was just as festive.

Yet while the inner courtyard bustled with servants running about, the outer study was thick with tension.

"The Gu family’s been sneaking into the dowry storage?" The man’s voice rose slightly as he called for Chong Ping. "Tell me everything."

Chong Ping stepped forward.

He explained that because Second Madam Du was bedridden, the Du family had temporarily leased a small house in a neighboring alley to store the dowry for the bride’s wedding.

The dowry had originally been prepared—around sixty-four trunks—clearly intended for the eldest daughter’s marriage to Shao Boju. However, after the imperial decree betrothed the younger daughter to the Marquis, and given the Marquis’s lavish betrothal gifts, the Du family had to bump it up to seventy-two.

Since Du Zhiqi was only marrying off a niece, not a daughter, seventy-two trunks were already considered acceptable.

Then, out of nowhere, two days ago, Du Zhiqi tacked on sixteen more, bringing the total to eighty-eight.

Yet while the dowry chests were prepared, the items to fill them had not been purchased.

Chong Ping smelled something fishy and had the residence watched for three days. To his surprise, instead of the Du family, it was the Gu family slinking in after dark.

"...They waited until the dead of night, bribed the patrolling guards, and moved items from Madam Wan’s dowry residence into the dowry storage. They moved like shadows, clearly intended to avoid outside attention."

Chong Ping added, "For the first two days, it was Madam Wan’s steward running the show. But yesterday, her only son, Master Gu, suddenly appeared, hauling stuff in, then hauling some back out—weird."

Chong Ping had men watching again tonight but first reported to the Marquis.

Seeing the Marquis’s expression darken, he suddenly called for Chong’an.

"What’s the young lady been up to these past few days?"

Chong’an, noticing the grim expressions on both the Marquis and his brother, grew nervous, though there was nothing unusual about the eldest young lady’s behavior.

He replied, "I’ve seen Ruan Gong and Chang Pu busy with wedding preparations, not a hint of worry. Moreover, the young lady’s maid, Ai Ye, even bought two new flower pots from the outer city’s flower market, saying the young lady waters them daily and needed lighter ones."

At this, Chong’an noticed his brother frown, though he didn’t understand why—until the Marquis asked,

"Are you certain she waters the flowers herself, and not someone else?"

Chong’an confirmed it was the eldest young lady of the Du family, as the maid Ai Ye had specifically requested lighter pots from the shopkeeper, explaining, "Our young lady’s hands are for writing. She’s worn out from writing all day—watering shouldn’t be a chore."

Chong’an relayed this verbatim to the Marquis, adding, "I heard Second Master Du sent her eight pots of fancy chrysanthemums, and she’s been quite taken with them."

Unexpectedly, the Marquis’s expression darkened further, and he suddenly ordered,

"Get my blacks."

*

Late at night, the taverns and teahouses of the capital gradually bid farewell to their last patrons. Only night watchmen and guards roamed the streets.

Lu Shenru slipped into Chengqing Quarter from the north, passing by the temporary residence where the Du family stored the dowry.

He paused briefly, watching a dozen men hauling things inside.

Chong Ping whispered, "Marquis, they’re all from the Gu family."

The Gu family had no connection to the eldest young lady, Du Lingjing—why would they be adding items to her dowry chests?

His jaw clenched. In a flash, he was inside.

The Gu men moved like ghosts within the courtyard, quietly placing items into the dowry chests.

Lu Shenru glanced at Chong Ping, who got it and flicked a pebble at a porcelain vase carried by a servant.

The vase clinked—sharp in the silence.

The steward shot him a look; the servant went white. "Wasn’t me!"

Before he could finish, the steward’s glare intensified. The jumpy servant nearly tripped when something hit his foot.

The steward had had enough. He grabbed the vase, dumped it in a chest, and kicked the servant down. The servant dared not make a sound.

Hissing, the steward warned, "These items were taken from the old madam’s treasury—dowry for the second young lady, to be brought into the Marquis’s estate. If anyone makes a mistake, don’t blame me for reporting to the old madam. You’ll get more than a beating!"

The group trembled, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Yet in the shadows of the corner, Chong’an tightly covered his mouth.

He stared, disbelieving, at the Gu men, then to his brother, and finally to the Marquis—

Madam Wan of the Gu family dared to swap the Marquis’s bride?!

Swap the first daughter for the second?!

In the pitch-black darkness, a sliver of pale moonlight slipped through a broken tile, illuminating the Marquis’s lips.

Chong’an saw the Marquis’s mouth quirk slightly as he gave a slow nod.

"The Gu family... how bold."

The moment the words fell, Chong’an’s back went rigid. But the Marquis was already gone.

In Chengqing Lane, the Du household was still scrambling with wedding prep, with people coming and going in the main courtyard. The west court, though, was quiet.

Lu Shenru’s gaze fell on the eight pots of chrysanthemums beneath the corridor.

Watering these every day—so devoted. Was she in on the swap as well?

The man pressed his lips together and silently moved past the corridor.

Her room was lit, the window slightly ajar. The night breeze carried the faint scent of books and lamp oil into the air.

He looked inside and saw her seated at the desk.

He stood motionless, watching as she first propped her cheek with her left hand, flipping through the yellowed pages with her right. Then, as if struck by a thought, she straightened and picked up a brush to write.

She wrote steadily for a full quarter-hour without pause.

Until the lamp on the desk grew dimmer and dimmer, flickered at last, and nearly drowned in the oil.

Only then did she snap back to awareness. The man’s eyes rested on her upturned face, noticing her eyes seemed weary as she rubbed them wearily a few times. He frowned, but then heard her call for Qiu Lin.

"Fetch a fresh wick."

But Qiu Lin dissuaded her, "That’s enough, miss. It’s far too late. If you keep writing, your eyes will truly suffer."

The man nodded in firm agreement, yet she insisted on working a little longer. She dug out a wick from a nearby box on her own, refilled the lamp with oil, and replaced the shade.

She said, "The lamp Sanlang made is different from ordinary ones. The light is gentle and unwavering, easy on the eyes."

After speaking, she cradled the lamp carefully as she returned to the desk and picked up her brush again.

Outside the window, Lu Shenru lingered in the shadows, staring at the lamp, lost in memory.

It was the third year of the Yin You Dynasty. He had just ridden back from the Ningxia borderlands to Xi’an to visit his grandfather.

His grandfather’s health declined with each passing day, with no cure in sight—like a candle guttering on its last thread of wick. Only the slightly warmer spring days brought a little ease to his ailing body.

After visiting his grandfather, he went to the military camp outside the city and didn’t return until dusk, battling the gritty wind.

But the moment he entered the city, Chong Ping murmured to him under his breath.

Chong Ping was usually sparing with words, but that day, he couldn’t hide his surprise.

"My lord, it’s the young lady!"

He didn’t catch his meaning at first, but when he turned his head slightly, his eyes locked onto the figure ahead.

She wore a pale green dress, standing amid Xi’an’s dusty gusts like a fresh, rain-kissed leaf.

Her head was bowed as she browsed through an old bookstall by the roadside.

He meant to leave, but his feet carried him forward against his will, bringing him to her side.

Unrecognizing, she edged aside to give him space at the stall.

Unsure whether to laugh or stay silent, he stood beside her and pretended to browse the old books. Not a single word registered.

Instead, he watched her slender, pale fingers. She frowned at the inappropriate books on the miscellaneous stall, but when she found a decent one, she immediately had Qiu Lin buy it, her eyes alight with excitement.

Same as ever. He stifled another laugh.

Only Qiu Lin accompanied her—no one else.

So he remained by her side, unmoving.

This was Xi’an, his territory. She’d strayed into his domain, right under his nose.

Xi’an was grittier than Qingzhou. As she left the bookstall and walked ahead, he followed.

Everything seemed to captivate her—watching artisans carve patterns into sheep bones but not daring to buy, she recoiled when foreign traders invited her to feed their exotic birds…

A soft chuckle escaped him, and she heard him, turning to look.

She hesitated, but recognition still didn’t dawn, only shyly explaining to this "stranger," "It’s my first time in Xi’an."

She had the nerve to address him first?

Why not answer her, then?

But before he could say anything, Qiu Lin suddenly rushed over.

"Miss, I’ve found Third Master!"

At Qiu Lin’s call, she immediately looked up, dismissing this "stranger" without a backward glance, and hurried to the other side of the street.

"Sanlang, where have you been? Xi’an is unfamiliar, the wind cold and harsh—how could you stay out all day without returning?"

She fired questions at the newly returned man.

It was Jiang Zhuxiu.

Jiang Zhuxiu gave a faint cough in apology, "My apologies for keeping you searching all day."

"But what were you doing?"

All she cared about was where he’d vanished to all day.

Jiang Zhuxiu didn’t answer immediately, instead producing a small lamp from his sleeve.

"What’s this?" she asked, puzzled.

Jiang Zhuxiu explained it was a lamp made by a famed Xi’an craftsman. Plain as it looked, its light was steady and gentle, perfect for reading at night.

He had brought it for her.

Some of her urgency ebbed, but she still pressed, "Did you spend all day just buying a lamp?"

"Of course not. But once we leave Xi’an, this lamp won’t be easy to find." Jiang Zhuxiu smiled and explained, "So I begged the craftsman to teach me. But I’m all thumbs—it took me the whole day to get it right."

She paused, and on the other side of the street, Lu Shenru fell silent as well.

Who loved reading by lamplight the most went without saying—this was Jiang Zhuxiu’s real purpose.

Jiang Zhuxiu’s servant grinned and added, "Miss, our Third Master only had eyes for you!"

Jiang Zhuxiu cut him off with a sharp, "Enough."

On the street, Lu Shenru pressed his lips together, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught the pink blooming on her cheeks. Suddenly, she called out to Jiang Zhuxiu.

"Are you cold? You’ve only just recovered. Here, let me warm your hands."

With that, she truly took his hands in hers.

The bustling crowd around them seemed to melt away—or perhaps they should have swept her away from his sight, but they didn’t.

She never spared another thought for this "stranger." But as they passed by, Jiang Zhuxiu suddenly looked up and saw him.

Jiang Zhuxiu tensed, his hold on her hand slackening. But Lu Shenru turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

...

The Du family’s western courtyard in Chengqing Lane lay hushed. From outside the window, he watched as she lit the lamp again.

But Qiu Lin could take no more. "Have you no care for your eyes, miss? Why must you drive yourself so relentlessly? You’re not sitting for the imperial exams, after all!"

She laughed softly, "But money must be made. After the division of the family, with no other industries to support us, Mianlou can only rely on the printing house."

"They divided the family?"

Lu Shenru raised an eyebrow.

Then Qiu Lin spoke up, "If we'd known this beforehand, at least some of the betrothal gifts sent by the Marquis should have been kept for you, Miss."

"What would I do with his betrothal gifts? My second sister is taking my place in marrying him—she is the rightful owner of those gifts."

When she finished speaking, the courtyard inexplicably fell silent.

The man outside the window watched her in silence, only to see her as if something occurred to her.

"That key... you should send it to Second Sister as well."

Qiu Lin complied, taking out a copper key engraved with the likeness of a pavilion.

Lu Shenru glanced at it and finally burst out laughing.

The lamp Jiang Zhuxiu had given her, she carried with her all that way. Yet the key to the library he had given her, she could casually toss to someone else.

Under the clear moonlight, the man stood there laughing silently, who knows for how long.