Chapter 39

Chapter 39

After Lu Shenru departed, Qiu Lin and Ai Ye brought cold water to help Du Lingjing cool her fever.

Initially, she thought some cold medicine might take effect by afternoon. When Chong'an noticed something amiss and inquired, Du Lingjing still assured him she was fine.

But by dusk, her fever had soared. Her head felt heavy, and she lacked the strength even to speak. Chang Pu rushed to fetch a physician.

Of course, Chong'an couldn't remain unaware.

Seeing his wife's pale face, Chong'an's heart fluttered. "Has Madam been feverish since this morning? Why didn't you tell the Marquis?"

If the Marquis knew she had been ill before he left and had concealed it from him...

Du Lingjing shook her head. "The Marquis has important matters to attend to, and travel is arduous. Don’t report it to him yet. If the fever hasn't broken by tomorrow, then inform him."

After speaking, her throat hurt too much to utter another word.

Chong'an pulled a long face, but seeing her difficulty, he hastily agreed.

But wait until tomorrow? He had noticed something amiss in the afternoon and should have pressed further to report it to the Marquis. Delaying half a day was already too much. If he waited until tomorrow and the fever still hadn’t broken, Chong'an felt he would surely be dismissed from the Marquis’s household.

Seeing that the lady was too ill to object, he slipped out and immediately sent someone to catch up with the Marquis.

Lu Shenru had made a detour to inspect the Zijin Pass Garrison.

However strict military discipline was or how severe the punishments, there were always opportunists daring enough to embezzle soldiers’ rations and winter uniforms.

He had already issued a warning: if any officer under his jurisdiction dared to knowingly violate the rules again, he would make an example of them.

But after inspecting the Zijin Pass Garrison, he found that the garrison commander had just replenished the withheld provisions the day before.

Hearing that the restitution had only just been made, Lu Shenru let out a disappointed "Oh."

His close attendants silently sighed in relief for the Zijin Pass commander, who remained unaware he had narrowly escaped disaster—otherwise, his plans for the New Year would have been uncertain.

Since he found no violations, Marquis Lu didn’t linger. Without notifying the garrison officers, he left without fanfare.

From Zijin Pass, he traveled northeast toward the capital.

The journey was smooth, and he soon arrived in the city.

His first order of business concerned the Earl of Rongchang’s affairs. Adviser Yu, left in the capital to oversee matters on his orders, reported that the Countess had followed the Marquis’s instructions—both of the young masters had been personally delivered by her to the custody of the Court of Judicial Review.

"His Majesty ordered the Court of Judicial Review to investigate. No verdict has been reached yet."

Leniency would mean only requiring the two to face execution for the murder. A harsher sentence might not mean the family’s execution, but the Earl would still be held responsible for failing to discipline his household.

Having been away from the capital for days, Lu Shenru listened as Adviser Yu continued, "Grand Secretary Dou and the Shao family, with Shao Boju’s crimes now exposed, are demanding in court that His Majesty impose the strictest punishment. However, with the Earl commanding troops in Liaodong to hold the line, some argue the matter should wait until the war is settled. In my opinion, His Majesty seems inclined toward the latter."

Lu Shenru nodded. He had already written to the Earl of Rongchang. With his eldest son fallen in battle and his two younger sons guilty of grave crimes, the Earl still had a capable second son. If the earldom could be saved, Lu Shenru would support this second son inheriting the title.

Still, the Earl was getting on in years. After some thought, Lu Shenru said, "Once this matter is resolved, recall the Earl to Xi’an and have his second son continue gaining battlefield experience in Ningxia."

Adviser Yu hesitated. "Marquis, that second son, Yang, is inexperienced. I doubt he can hold the position alone."

"I know." Lu Shenru inclined his head. "Transfer the Heir Apparent of Count Zhongqing from Shaanxi Regional Military Commission to Ningxia. Wei Cong can take charge independently."

Seeing that the Marquis had thought of everything despite his absence, Adviser Yu relaxed slightly.

"Your arrangements are sound, Marquis. Otherwise, if the border campaign falters, those at court will jump at the chance to criticize."

The Marquis laughed it off. "Nothing new. I’ll still attend court tomorrow morning."

At this, Adviser Yu suddenly remembered something.

"Marquis, you’ve just returned and may not know—this morning, His Majesty noted that many officials had fallen ill, even Grand Secretary Dou was absent. With illness so widespread, court is suspended for five days."

The Emperor, always frail, dreaded infection and often suspended court during outbreaks.

Yet Lu Shenru was surprised. "Even Grand Secretary Dou is ill?"

Another adviser added, "Grand Secretary Dou has spent years walking on eggshells. It’s time he rested."

Over the years, the Grand Secretary had been a constant thorn in the Marquis’s side.

The remark drew laughter from the room.

In the late years of the previous emperor, when new grand secretaries were to be appointed, Grand Secretary Dou, then in his fifties, seemed the obvious candidate. Yet the emperor unexpectedly elevated the thirty-six-year-old Du Zhili instead.

In the fifteenth year of Hongqi, Grand Secretary Du entered the cabinet at thirty-six. It wasn’t until the third year of Yin You that Grand Secretary Dou, then fifty-six, finally joined. Now past sixty, he staunchly supported Prince Yong as heir, clashing fiercely with the Lu faction backing Prince Hui.

The Marquis, tempered by such opposition, had grown shrewd beyond his years.

Adviser Sun, older and no longer in court, had witnessed its many shifts.

He sighed, "What a pity the chief grand secretary is Dou. If only it were still Grand Secretary Du."

The words sent the room into thoughtful silence.

After the Marquis’s marriage, Grand Secretary Du had become his father-in-law.

If Grand Secretary Du were still here, how much better things would be.

The Marquis himself was quiet for a moment before murmuring,

"What's past is past."

After briefly addressing a few more matters, he dismissed his advisers.

With court suspended, his thoughts turned to his wife in Baoding. The northern cold truly was severe lately.

He called for tea. After a cup, he summoned Chong Ping.

"Return to Baoding."

Yet no sooner had the Marquis left than the messenger sent by Chong'an arrived.

Finding the residence empty and the Marquis already gone—as if anticipating the news—the guard marveled at the couple’s remarkable connection.

The return journey was leisurely.

Stopping at a roadside teahouse, Lu Shenru noticed an elderly woman selling hairpins from a box.

Most passersby were men, and the two nuns nearby had long renounced such adornments.

The elderly woman, perhaps due to poverty, had come out to sell hair ornaments. Seeing that not a single one was sold, she couldn't help but feel disappointed, sighing softly, "Honorable guests, this old woman is old and can't travel far anymore, but not a single one of these flowers is poorly made. Even if you don't wear them, you could buy them for your wives to bring them joy."

She pressed her case earnestly, but the crowd of men just laughed. Some said they hadn’t yet taken a wife, others claimed it was too far to bring them home, and a few remarked that these hairpins were too youthful for their older wives.

Lu Shenru, however, glanced at the old woman's box of hairpins.

For some reason, he thought that perhaps the vivid flowers had already been picked, leaving only soft hues of pink and white hairpins, like peach, apricot, and pear blossoms. Though not vivid, they brimmed with the freshness of spring.

For some reason, he remembered the day she had apologized to him, adding a touch of grace to his study. She had worn a pale pink pleated skirt and a white silver-threaded overrobe, looking just like blended peach and pear blossoms.

"I’ll take the whole box," he said.

The old woman exclaimed, finally looking up to see a young nobleman with sharp brows and an air of distinction—his wife must be just the right age for such flowers.

Chong Ping directly handed her a silver ingot without waiting for change, making her even happier.

"Your lady will be overjoyed to know you think of her so often."

Would she?

The man wasn’t certain, but who didn't like hearing nice things? Without thinking, he motioned for Chong Ping to give her another ingot.

The teahouse crowd gaped in surprise.

Lu Shenru gazed at the box filled with hairpins of varying shades.

If only she would stop keeping score of every little thing, treating him with a formality not how husband and wife should be, he would be content.

He turned and ordered his attendant, "Tell the seamstresses to match these colors and prepare several sets of robes for my wife."

Even in winter, she would wear the blossoms of spring.

Now that she was his wife, she need no longer dress in somber or plain garments.

*

Du Lingjing’s fever had finally subsided after two days.

She asked Chong’an, "You didn't inform the Marquis, right? I’m nearly recovered."

Before Chong’an could mumble an answer, Hu Tingjun came by to visit Du Lingjing.

Du Lingjing had wanted to check on Lord Hong and Mr. Liao, who had also fallen ill, but her own condition had been severe. Now that she'd improved, Tingjun insisted she rest. "Wait a few more days," she insisted, having already delivered medicine to the two men and stayed for a brief chat.

When she returned, Du Lingjing waved Chong’an away to talk with her.

"How are the gentlemen?"

Hu Tingjun reported that Mr. Liao was still quite ill, while Lord Hong was nearly recovered. Fortunately, the two lived together, and when she visited, they were having tea with other visitors.

"So they were in good spirits?"

Of course, Tingjun replied. With Shao Boju’s situation resolved and danger passed, they were relaxed. "But I heard the gentlemen mention someone who'd been missing for years—Mr. Chu Mu."

She glanced at Du Lingjing.

Chu Mu had served as her father’s advisor for years. Later, when her father went home to observe filial mourning, most of his staff left—except for Chu Mu, who stayed by his side.

Later, when her father resumed his post in the capital, a sudden mudslide took his life, along with those of Uncle Wen’s son, Ruan Gong’s father, and Mr. Chu.

Du Lingjing had hurried there, only to find her father’s recovered corpse.

Chu Mu’s remains were never found. Having no relatives to claim him, Du Lingjing had searched for him endlessly but found nothing.

Startled, she asked, "Why mention him now?"

Chu Mu had disappeared completely. At first, people hoped he had survived, eager to question him about the disaster. But as years went by without news, hope faded.

Tingjun continued, "They mentioned it because someone claimed to have seen a man resembling him in Beizhili Province."

"Ah… Could it be him?" Du Lingjing exclaimed.

Tingjun shook her head. "No one knows. Mr. Liao's friend told him it was very similar. He heard about it and went to look but came up empty."

She added, "Probably just someone who looked like him. Not everyone gets lucky like we did."

Du Lingjing went quiet for a while.

If Chu Mu was still alive, she would have asked why her father had taken that mountain path—and how they had met such a fate.

The sun rose higher, suspended far in the sky, bringing some warmth to the people.

After days in bed, Du Lingjing was finally well enough to take a short walk with Tingjun by the door.

Just as they reached the gate, they saw a horse came galloping across the fields in the distance.

The hoofbeats pounded in her heart, and the rhythm felt strangely familiar, making Du Lingjing look up.

On horseback, the man’s gaze locked onto her instantly, urging his steed forward.

He took in her attire—a lotus-hued horse-face skirt, a pale lilac overrobe, and a white rabbit-fur cloak embroidered with purple floral motifs.

Fittingly, among the hairpins he had bought were two delicate lilac blossoms.

As he dismounted, he saw her eyes widen, shimmering with a bright light, whether from the sunlight or something else, he couldn't tell.

"Marquis?"

Du Lingjing’s eyes widened, the light in them subtly shifting. She felt her heart beating faster.

Lu Shenru studied his wife. Was that joy in her expression, more than surprise?

When had she ever looked at him like this?

The man immediately dismounted and strode directly toward her. However, he also noticed another person standing beside her.

The man had to first bypass his wife and greet the person beside her.

"Lady Hu, what a pleasure."

Hu Tingjun hadn’t expected the Marquis to return so soon—let alone fix his attention on one person before politely acknowledging her.

She knew his reputation well. Were it not for a certain someone, would he have even glanced her way?

Hastily, she returned the courtesy. "I came to keep Jing company today."

The man mentioned that he had heard Lady Tingjun's husband, Guo Ting, intended to seek an official post in the capital. "If Second Lady comes to the capital, do visit our residence often to keep your mistress company."

"My wife."

Hu Tingjun replied but also stole a glance at her friend.

Du Lingjing heard this term for the first time and looked up at the man, recalling how he had previously referred to himself as "your husband" and now used "my wife."

His relationship with her seemed different from how she interacted with others.

She felt something odd, and she glanced at him again.

Why was he back?

The man noticed her gaze and looked down, but after just a glance, he frowned.

"What is it?"

The sudden question threw Du Lingjing off. Just moments ago, he had been speaking cheerfully with Tingjun, but now he was frowning.

She was lost. What did he mean?

The man, however, directly addressed someone behind her. "Qiu Lin, is my wife ill?"

Qiu Lin, now all respect, quickly replied,

"My lord, the lady caught a chill and has been unwell these past few days."

"For how long?" The man frowned even more deeply at his wife but didn’t ask her directly. Instead, he called for Chong'an. "Why wasn’t I informed that my wife was ill?"

The question left Chong'an stunned.

He had clearly reported it—hadn’t the Marquis returned precisely because of his message?

Chong'an couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. Under the Marquis’s glare and his elder brother’s watchful eyes, he stammered, tongue-tied.

To his surprise, the lady spoke up for him.

"I told him not to report it. It’s just a minor illness."

But Chong'an felt the Marquis’s sharp gaze upon him.

"Is that so? A minor illness? So you think minor illnesses don’t need to be reported?"

The Marquis’s tone was sharp, making Chong'an suck in a breath.

He quickly knelt. "I wouldn’t dare hide it! I did send word!"

His words surprised the lady, who looked at him in astonishment. Reluctantly, he admitted the truth.

"In truth, my lady fell ill right after the Marquis left. She had a high fever for two days and has been bedridden since..."

Hearing his full confession, Du Lingjing sighed to herself.

Lu Shenru, however, understood now. He looked at his wife—so that day, when she urged him to leave, saying she wanted to stay and catch up with friends, it had all been an excuse.

He had to ask, "Were you afraid of delaying my affairs?"

Du Lingjing answered frankly, "I saw the Marquis was very busy. My little cold wasn’t worth your time."

"Oh," he said. "Is it because I’ve already done you a 'great favor,' and you feel too embarrassed to trouble me further?"

He pressed further.

Du Lingjing didn’t understand why he was asking this but answered honestly.

Lu Shenru gazed into her eyes, hearing the sincerity in her words.

"Indeed, I owe the Marquis far too much. To trouble you with such trivial matters would be inexcusable."

"Trouble..."

She always chose her words carefully.

Before their marriage, Jiang Zhuxiu was her "husband," yet even after all this time married, he remained just "the Marquis."

Jiang San had left her countless Song editions, worth half of Mian Tower, and she took them without a word. But when he did her even a small favor, she remembered it, eager to clear every debt.

Suddenly, Lu Shenru asked her,

"My lady has 'troubled' me so much. As you wrote in your letter, paying me back with the western and eastern sections of Chengqing Lane—isn’t that too little?"

The question stopped Du Lingjing short.

Hu Tingjun, standing nearby, blinked in surprise.

Jing had mentioned earlier how Marquis Lu had reclaimed the Du family estate in Chengqing Lane for her and even expanded it eastward.

She’d argued that while Guilin Tower was part of the Lu residence, the Chengqing Lane expansion was too much. In her haste, she had given him the entire estate to show her thanks for his kindness.

At the time, Tingjun had found Jing’s use of "care" somewhat odd. Now, hearing the Marquis bring it up, she understood.

Yet Jing seemed oblivious, she looked puzzled.

"Then what does the Marquis want?"

He asked her, "Would you hand over Mian Tower?"

After a pause, she replied, "You can have it."

Hu Tingjun winced.

Lu Shenru, however, gave a dry chuckle.

She’d surrender Mian Tower—how much did she think she owed him?

Was he her husband or a creditor she couldn’t offend?

Du Lingjing didn’t understand why he was laughing again. A nagging discomfort settled in her heart, though she couldn’t quite name it.

Then, though he was still looking at her, he spoke to Tingjun.

"Lady Tingjun, see how proper Jing is, keeping such a careful tally between us."

Back on the road, he’d thought she looked happy to see him.

But now, it seemed he had been mistaken—just his imagination.

The man’s gaze lingered briefly on the lilac edge of his wife’s dress before he said he’d change and walked off.

"I'll take my leave."

At the door, someone's gaze followed his retreating figure inside, but when he refused to turn back, they could only look away.

Tingjun watched from the side, seeing her friend's downcast, silent expression, before finally speaking in a hoarse voice.

"Looks like he's mad again."

"What do you think set the Marquis off, Jing?"

If Du Lingjing only understood. "Is he upset I didn't tell him I was sick? But I didn't want to bother him."

Seeing that she truly couldn’t grasp it, Tingjun felt both amused and melancholy.

She suddenly thought of Jieyuan Jiang.

Jieyuan Jiang had known her since childhood; they were childhood sweethearts. Their feelings were mutual, they understood each other perfectly, and with his gentle and considerate nature, he naturally took care of everything for her, saving her from any worry.

But the Marquis was different.

In some ways, he was like Jieyuan Jiang—even exceeding him in some ways—yet there were also differences.

Hu Tingjun called softly to her friend.

"Actually, it’s quite simple. It depends on whether you care, Jing."

If she didn’t care about the Marquis, that lord wouldn't be able to affect her.

Tingjun looked at her downcast eyes—she clearly wasn't indifferent.

"If you do care, Jing, you should really think about why he’s angry."