Chapter 19

Chapter 19

"How can this be? How could the Marquis—?!"

The young girl couldn’t fathom how the kind-hearted Marquis could personally order her uncle beaten half to death!

She turned to leave at once. "I’ll go to the Marquis' estate to find him! He told me I could seek him out for anything. I’ll beg him to release my uncle..."

She was truly determined to go, but Du Zhiqi quickly stopped his daughter.

"You mustn’t go! The Marquis won’t see you!"

"Why not? The Marquis wasn’t like this before..." The girl still couldn’t believe it.

Du Zhiqi didn’t know how to explain to his daughter that the anger provoked by the sister substitution in the marriage had now burned its way to the Gu family.

Looking at his daughter’s tear-reddened eyes, he sighed in frustration.

"The Marquis... only wants your sister!"

The girl froze where she stood.

*

Before long, news reached the Du household in Chengqing Lane, and the entire residence fell silent.

Not even a whisper of wind remained—only the suffocating chill of approaching deep autumn pressing down.

The Northern Bureau of the Imperial Guards hadn’t released Gu Yangsi. Instead, they had tortured him under the accusation of treason, and he was now at death's door.

The message was crystal clear.

The maid Chang Pu was torn between laughter and tears. Amid the tomb-like silence of the household, especially from her young mistress, she sought out Ruan Gong.

"If the Marquis truly insists on marrying our young mistress, I’ll give her all the money I’ve won. Would that make her feel better?"

Ruan Gong kicked her lightly. "Don’t add to the chaos."

Just then, old gatekeeper Wen sent a servant with a message—someone had arrived unexpectedly, asking to see the eldest young lady.

Ruan Gong hurried to inquire, only to be startled upon seeing the visitor.

"You are... Steward Zong, the head steward of the Marquis of Yongding’s household?"

Back when Ruan Gong was still a lowly servant, he had once glimpsed this elder steward from afar in the capital.

This was the head steward of the Marquis of Yongding’s household—countless people from the capital and beyond sought his favor, and meeting him was nearly as difficult as meeting the Marquis himself.

Ruan Gong’s head spun. What could the head steward of the Marquis’s household possibly be here for?

To his surprise, the steward was amiable and approachable, even recognizing him by name.

"You’re Steward Ruan, aren’t you? I’ve come on the Marquis’s orders, bearing something for the young lady."

The implication was clear—it would be best to present it to her directly. But when Ruan Gong sent Chang Pu to fetch Du Lingjing, she didn’t come.

Yet the steward didn’t seem displeased. Still smiling, he motioned for someone to bring forth the item.

The box containing the object wasn’t large. Steward Zong had it opened, and Ruan Gong froze at the sight.

"This is..."

"The Marquis heard that the young lady’s dowry courtyard was robbed and feared there wouldn’t be enough time to prepare her wedding attire for the ceremony. So, he had the Marquis' seamstresses work through the night to craft this set. He sent me personally to deliver it to the young lady."

He added, "When the day comes, the young lady need only don this bridal gown to the sedan."

It was a wedding dress.

Ruan Gong accepted it, and the steward took his leave without lingering. He hurried to the west courtyard with the bridal gown from the Marquis' estate, where Qiu Lin took it and pored over it.

To her eyes, it didn’t look like something hastily made overnight. The materials were lavish, the stitching meticulous, and the embroidery intricate—it must have taken months, if not half a year, to complete.

But mentioning this now was pointless.

What mattered was that, due to the sister substitution in the marriage, the wedding dress originally prepared by the second household for the eldest young lady had already been altered to fit the second young lady.

Taking in a dress was easy, but enlarging it was impossible.

Yet the young lady had no desire to marry at all, so she'd put it out of mind. Now, the Marquis’s household had sent over a bridal gown.

Qiu Lin gently held the dress out to her mistress.

Du Lingjing looked at it, her eyes stung from the brilliance of the dazzling hues—gold-embroidered hems, pearl-studded neckline.

For some reason, her lips quirked in a faint smile.

Was he making sure she would wear a gown he provided when she married him?

He... was dead set on having her as his bride.

*

At the Gu mansion in Huanghua Lane, Lady Liang wept ceaselessly. The family had poured money into bribing the Imperial Guards, but they still refused to release him. They had even sent someone to the Marquis’s residence, but not only did they fail to see the Marquis—they couldn't even get an audience with the head steward.

Lady Liang was at a loss. Turning to her mother-in-law, who had just regained consciousness, she pleaded, "Mother..."

Madam Wan, however, had come fully to her senses. She called for Nurse Guan to help her change clothes.

"I’m going to the palace. The Emperor is most merciful—he won’t stand by and do nothing."

The Gu family sent a petition to the palace, and Madam Wan rushed to the palace gates at once. At the first sign of permission, she would enter.

She didn’t dare wait—any delay might cost her son his life.

Yet after an hour, there was still no response from the palace. In desperation, she bribed a palace servant for news. After a long while, only one sentence came back:

"His Majesty is tired today. The Madam should return."

The Emperor refused to see her.

Madam Wan broke out in a cold sweat. Her legs gave way beneath her, and she crumpled right there at the palace gates, before the gawking crowd.

"Ha! The Emperor wouldn’t see Madam Wan, and now she’s nearly fainted dead away!"

The whispers swirled around her, but Madam Wan heard none of them.

One thought consumed her—what could she do?

Was her only son truly going to die in the Imperial Guards’ prison? Would Marquis Lu really kill for such a slight?

How had things come to this pass?! Had she misjudged everything?

*

Ji Qing Lane, the Marquis's estate.

Steward Zong had just returned to the Marquis’s residence. Everything in the household remained as usual, though the atmosphere had grown much heavier compared to the festive bustle of the previous two days. Everyone went about their tasks in hushed tones, not daring to make the slightest noise.

Steward Zong personally went to the study in the outer courtyard to report.

The man stood with his hands behind his back by the window. Steward Zong stepped forward and bowed before he turned to ask,

“Was the wedding dress delivered? Did she accept it?”

Steward Zong confirmed promptly. The Marquis then asked, “And what did she… say?”

At this, Steward Zong glanced at the Marquis.

“The young lady did not come out to meet the messenger.”

As soon as the words fell, the Marquis’s eyes darkened once more. The man fell silent, his expression tinged with a barely perceptible sullenness.

Steward Zong sighed inwardly and could only say,

“But the young lady did not refuse the dress either. The Du family currently has no wedding attire prepared for her. She will surely wear the one provided by your household when she marries you.”

Only after he said this did the atmosphere lighten slightly.

Just then, Chong Ping suddenly came to report.

“My Marquis, the Imperial Noble Consort requests your presence.”

*

The Forbidden City, the Yu Xing Palace.

As soon as Lu Shenru arrived, his gaze fell upon the small figure standing beneath the winding corridor, half-hidden among the pine branches.

Though already eight years old and living in his own separate palace, the child was slightly frailer than others his age. Now, stirred by the pine-scented breeze, he appeared even more slender.

Lu Shenru’s eyes gentled.

“Your Highness,” he called.

It was Prince Hui.

But whether the words were lost in the wind or not, Prince Hui did not seem to hear.

Lu Shenru had no choice but to walk over, stopping just behind him and studying him carefully.

“Does Your Highness wish to play the flute?”

The young prince was holding a bamboo flute. This time, he heard Lu Shenru’s question and quickly turned around.

“Uncle.”

After exchanging greetings, a faint blush appeared on Prince Hui’s fair face.

“I just thought it looked interesting, but I don’t know how to play. Mother said you are a master of the flute, that you love to play it on horseback amid the northwestern gales.”

He looked up at Lu Shenru with wide eyes.

Lu Shenru’s eyes crinkled fondly as he reached out to pat the boy’s shoulder.

“If Your Highness wishes to learn, it’s my honor. I’ll come another day to teach you.”

The young prince nodded obediently, then suddenly remembered something and hastily added,

“Mother is waiting for you in the main hall.”

After exchanging a few more words with him, Lu Shenru turned and headed toward the main hall.

Imperial Noble Consort Lu Huairu sat inside. When her brother entered, she waited for him to bow and take his seat before speaking.

“Let Gu Yangsi go.”

Only the siblings were present in the hall. Lu Shenru picked up the teacup beside him and took a sip.

He sipped wordlessly, saying nothing.

The hall was quiet, the silken drapes by the window swaying gently in the breeze.

The Imperial Noble Consort sighed from her seat on the raised dais.

“His Majesty bade me attend him today to sample pastries made by a new imperial chef from Jiangnan,” she said. “His Majesty mentioned that the late Consort Wan was also from Jiangnan and was skilled at making pastries. The late Emperor relished them, and even His Majesty had partook of them a few times in the past.”

As she spoke, she glanced at her brother, who remained focused on his tea.

“Do you know why His Majesty suddenly brought up Consort Wan?”

The Emperor’s mother had passed away early, and Consort Wan had no sons of her own. Naturally, she had wished to raise the Emperor, though for some reason, the late Emperor had not permitted it.

Nevertheless, Consort Wan had been kind to the Emperor during her lifetime.

Only when Lu Shenru finally placed his cup aside did Lu Huairu continue.

“Though His Majesty disregarded the matter of the Du sisters being switched, he sought me out expressly to say this. It was to spare Madam Wan’s face.”

She added, “If even His Majesty extends such courtesy, how much more should we?”

After speaking, she noticed her brother had set down his cup but closed his eyes in contemplation.

She couldn’t help but call to him.

“Wei Shi…”

Lu Shenru’s courtesy name.

At her words, the man finally opened his eyes.

“If not for this consideration, Gu Yangsi would have died long ago. Madam Wan fancies herself the matchmaker of the capital—fine, but she dares to interfere with my matters.”

He let out a mirthless chuckle.

Lu Huairu massaged her brow from her seat above.

In recent years, the Emperor had delighted in matchmaking for the children of civil and military officials. Madam Wan, coincidentally, had catered to the Emperor’s preferences and won His Majesty’s favor.

She could have made matches for other families, but she had to entangle her brother.

Of all people, why provoke him?

Lu Huairu side-eyed her brother.

Softly, she said, “Madam Wan did overreach. But both parties share blame. In the end, the eldest Miss Du couldn’t forget her former love. Really, you shouldn’t force…”

Before she could finish, she was abruptly interrupted by her brother.

"Mind your words, Your Highness."

The great hall stood silent and empty, save for the window drapes fluttering twice in the breeze.

The siblings exchanged a glance before turning away; neither spoke another word.

Lu Huairu took a sip of tea and couldn’t resist muttering.

"Now we can't even speak..."

Though her voice was soft, Marquis Lu, with his keen hearing, still caught it.

"What does Your Highness wish to say?"

He turned his gaze directly toward the raised dais.

"My marriage, and my relationship with her, are both properly sanctioned."

At these words, the hall fell silent once more.

The marquis pressed his lips thin, and the Noble Consort also remained quiet.

After a long pause, it was Lu Huairu who spoke first.

"Shall I contribute to her trousseau?"

Her offer was met with an immediate response from the man.

"Yes."

He said, "The Du family is short-staffed, and the second branch has been negligent. I ask Your Highness to personally select senior palace attendants to assist with her dowry and dressing."

Lu Huairu studied her brother a few times before nodding.

"Understood."

The siblings had found little common ground today, and Lu Shenru came to his feet.

He bowed to the Noble Consort seated above.

"The day after tomorrow is the auspicious day. I shall take my leave now."

He said, "In my happiness, may Your Highness share joy."

With that, he took his leave from the palace.

The Noble Consort watched her brother leave and sighed softly.

*

Early the next morning, the Brocade Guard finally freed the man.

Gu Yangsi was so weak he seemed hanging by a thread at any moment. Madam Wan shook from head to toe at the sight of her son.

"How dare Lu Shenru?! By what authority?!"

The Gu family steward, who had come to retrieve him, all but clapped a hand over the old madam’s mouth.

In an urgent whisper, the steward urged, "My lady, not another word! The family head has indeed been investigated by the Brocade Guard—he was found corresponding with Tatar generals on multiple occasions!"

They had traded goods several times, even military provisions.

But the amounts were tiny—just enough to make some profit.

Madam Wan almost choked again. She was beyond caring about anything else—all she feared was her only son dying.

Meanwhile, Du Runqing could hardly believe her eyes upon seeing her uncle without a single inch of unbroken skin, covered in blood.

Did the Marquis really command this?

As soon as Du Zhiqi saw his brother-in-law return, he had no desire to linger at the Gu residence any longer and hurriedly left with his daughter.

The moment the father and daughter got home, they heard that someone from the palace had arrived.

"Who is it?" Du Zhiqi was startled.

The servant rushed to explain that it was a palace maid sent by the Imperial Noble Consort, "to assist our eldest daughter with her dowry and wedding preparations."

Hearing this, Du Runqing went still at the news.

But Du Zhiqi thought of something else.

"What about the wedding dress?" The family’s wedding dress, tailored for Qing'er, wouldn’t fit Jing now.

Yet the servant replied, "The Marquis’s estate had already thought of this. Yesterday, Grand Steward personally delivered a wedding dress for the eldest daughter."

Du Zhiqi was stunned.

Du Runqing, though, was struck dumb.

So, the Marquis truly only wanted to marry her sister.

He had even prepared a wedding dress for her.

...

The western courtyard.

At a glance, the room was packed with wedding gifts—so many it made your eyes hurt.

The Du family didn’t own so many things—many had been delivered by the Marquis’s estate over the past two days. Somehow, Du Lingjing felt his presence clinging to every item, lingering around her, inescapable.

She truly couldn’t understand—why was he so determined to marry her?

Did men like him, at the top, crave what they couldn’t have?

The idea hit her then.

Throughout history, high-ranking nobles seemed to be just like this.

With everyone fawning over him, how could Marquis Lu be different?

Du Lingjing gave a slight shake of her head.

Qiu Lin, counting down the hours, was close to tears.

"If the young lady goes through with this... will the Marquis abuse her?"

Du Lingjing smiled. "It can’t be helped."

She’d shown nothing but disrespect to the Marquis and even tried to trick him with a bride swap. Now that he had discovered everything, how could she possibly get away unscathed?

Qiu Lin’s eyes grew redder with worry.

"Then... might he force you to consummate the marriage tomorrow night on the wedding day?"

Just like the rumored Tatar songstresses, making her endure his "attentions" all night, quickly bearing his heir?

Qiu Lin tightened her grip on Du Lingjing's hand at the thought.

"My lady, is there still a way out?"

Du Lingjing glanced at the courtyard filled with bridal trousseau, the palace matrons sent by the imperial household, and the Marquis's guards patrolling outside. Slowly, she shook her head.

"I fear there’s no escape at present."

"Then what should we do?"

The late autumn chill crept in through the cracks in the walls, sending a shiver down Du Lingjing's shoulders. She pressed her lips together.

"We’ll have to play it by ear."

*

At the Marquis of Yongding’s residence in Jiqing Lane.

Lu Shenru stood in the bridal chamber, watching the elderly maids prepare the bed, and couldn't help but say,

"Pad the bedding thicker, please. I'm used to sleeping on a hard surface, but she... I wouldn’t want her to be uncomfortable."

His words drew laughter from the maids.

"Don’t worry, Marquis. However delicate the young mistress may be, this bed will suit her just fine."

Their teasing brought color to the Marquis’s cheeks.

Fortunately, one of the maids shooed him away. "Leave it to us, Marquis. Off with you to don your wedding finery."

The man hurried off.

Soon, he returned resplendent in crimson bridal silks, a coral crown resting atop his thick black hair, the lantern light setting his figure aglow.

Outside, the sky brightened. Chong'an rushed to the door and called out,

"Marquis, the propitious hour is upon us!"

Beneath his noble brow, the Marquis's eyes gleamed. With the first light of dawn, he swept through the doorway.

Not just Lu's Jiqing Lane or Du's Chengqing Lane—the entire capital’s inner city teemed with spectators.

This day, the Marquis of Yongding would claim his bride!