Chapter 49

Chapter 49

On the second day of the New Year, she returned to Clarification Lane.

Her uncle arrived with Zhan Ming, representing her maternal family. Her younger sister, Du Runqing, predictably did not show up, but her uncle, Du Zhiqi, quietly asked Du Lingjing about securing an official post for him.

"I've heard the Marquis intends to reinstate many officials from the Fu Party. As your uncle, I am naturally closer than outsiders. What do you think, Jing?"

With spring approaching, the Ministry of Revenue would begin adjusting official appointments across the regions—a prime opportunity for new postings.

Du Zhiqi had been actively cultivating connections with Fu Party members who had recently arrived in the capital. When his elder brother died and the Fu Party was in disarray, some had approached him. But at that time, he could barely protect himself and avoided associating with them.

Now that Jing had married the Marquis and had his backing, he no longer had to worry so much and could even aim for high-ranking positions alongside the Fu Party members.

He still clung to the position Shao Boju had once promised him.

"Have you discussed this with the Marquis, Jing? What does he think?"

Du Lingjing couldn't help but reply, "Uncle, are you still thinking about Shao Boju? Do you know he's currently imprisoned?"

Du Zhiqi, of course, knew. "But I heard the Emperor has hinted at clemency—he may be pardoned."

If Shao Boju could be forgiven for such a serious crime, perhaps he could regain his status in a few years. All Du Zhiqi wanted was to return to the capital for an official post—how could that be out of reach?

As uncle and niece spoke in the hall, someone had come earlier looking for Lu Shenru, so he had excused himself briefly.

Before they could finish speaking, Chong'an came to summon Du Lingjing to the study.

When she arrived, she noticed a troubled expression in his eyes.

"Has something happened?" she asked.

The man was silent for a moment before sighing, his voice low.

"Shao Boju has committed suicide."

The study fell into sudden silence. Du Lingjing stood frozen for a long moment, unable to process the news.

The Emperor had already signaled his intention to pardon the Tanhua. Even if he could never regain his former status, he would at least keep his life.

Yet, just as the pardon was announced, he chose to end his life.

Was it because he refused to submit to his uncle Shao Zun? Or because he could no longer face his former allies after his disgrace? Or perhaps, having once been immersed in power and privilege, he found life without hope unbearable?

In her father's old study, Du Lingjing saw the Marquis remain pensive for a long while.

But he did not dwell on Shao Boju's death. Instead, he sighed and said, "The Emperor maintains strict impartiality. Now that Shao Boju is dead, the two from the Earl of Rongchang's household will likely meet the same fate. There may be wider consequences."

He turned away. "I need to return briefly."

A single move could affect the entire situation—the political tides in the court never ceased. Du Lingjing quickly nodded and let him go.

As soon as he left, Du Zhiqi came to inquire. Remembering how her uncle had just insisted Shao Boju would be spared, Du Lingjing bluntly delivered the news.

The moment the words left her lips, she saw her uncle's face go pale with shock.

"Why?" he murmured.

Du Lingjing did not answer immediately, her eyes scanning her father's empty study.

Her father's old belongings had been scattered or lost over the years, leaving only a few chests of old books and paintings. Without her personal attention, they could never be restored to their original state. And now that she, too, had married, the study had grown even more neglected.

The traces of her father were fading beyond recovery.

Her voice grew somber.

"Father once rose to the rank of Grand Secretary, pioneering reforms across the land, only to die in a mountain flood. The uncles of the Fu Party followed him through highs and lows—some never lived to see the Marquis's revival and departed with Father. Shao Boju didn't die while awaiting judgment, yet when the Emperor granted clemency, he took his own life..."

"And the Marquis," she turned to her uncle. "Do you truly believe he married me because of an imperial decree?"

She shook her head. "It was to unify the Fu faction, to fortify his stance against Grand Secretary Dou."

At her words, Du Zhiqi looked at her in shock.

"But... the Marquis requested the imperial marriage decree..."

Du Lingjing gave a humorless laugh.

"Whether it was Father, the uncles of the Fu Party, Shao Boju, or the Marquis—forgive my bluntness, Uncle, but which of them wasn’t more politically astute than you? Do you really think the capital's political landscape is an easy place to survive?"

Had he truly married her off to Shao Boju back then, the Du family would have been brought down alongside him.

But it was never possible—because the imperial marriage decree had been requested by the Marquis himself.

In the depths of winter, Du Zhiqi broke out in a cold sweat.

In places he couldn't even begin to understand, events had unfolded layer upon layer, yet he had only ever seen the surface.

"Then... what about my official position?"

Du Lingjing said, "Your former post remains vacant. I believe, Uncle, that you've had your fill of the capital. Perhaps it's best to return to where you came from."

Return to where he came from? Du Zhiqi felt as though a boulder had crushed his hopes.

He had wanted to secure a better position, to leave that remote place behind—yet after all this circling, he was being sent back.

He looked at his niece, now the Marquis's wife, and for a moment, he saw his elder brother, the Grand Secretary. Neither of them believed he was fit for great responsibilities...

His shoulders slumped. "But your aunt is still ill, and your cousin is in the capital—what about them?"

"Don't worry, Uncle. As long as I'm in the capital, I'll take care of them."

With that, Du Lingjing said no more.

Her uncle was truly ill-suited for high office. Leaving early, avoiding further manipulation, might just save him from ruin.

Having said her piece, Du Lingjing had no desire to linger. But instead of returning to the Marquis's residence, she went to visit Hu Tinglan.

When she saw him, it was as if he had been plunged into frigid waters—his entire being weighed down, drenched and heavy.

Clearly, he already knew about Shao Boju's suicide.

Old friends who had once been as close as brothers, now torn apart by circumstance—yet both had still been alive. Now, in this moment, they were separated by life and death.

Du Lingjing didn't know what to say. Instead, it was Hu Tinglan who spoke.

"I don't know if this was fate, or if from the moment he was named Tanhua, he was already on an irreversible path to ruin."

Du Lingjing was rendered speechless.

It seemed even Shao Boju himself had once said that his talents were far inferior to Hu Tinglan's.

Yet while Elder Brother Hu only achieved an ordinary rank in the imperial examinations, Shao Boju was personally selected by the Emperor as the Tanhua.

Perhaps fate truly changed irrevocably at that very moment.

Du Lingjing also remained silent with her Elder Brother for a long while. Hu Tinglan, however, did not wish to reveal too much in front of others and merely said to her, "You returned to your family home today, yet made a special trip to see me. You should head back soon."

He intended to send her off, but Du Lingjing shook her head. Suddenly, she asked,

"Elder Brother, aren’t you going to tell me about Mr. Liao’s situation?"

The Marquis was vigorously promoting the members of the Fu faction, and Mr. Liao was the most capable among them—yet his loyalty held fast to Prince Yong.

Du Lingjing could guess half of it. She pressed Hu Tinglan directly, "What exactly is the situation with Mr. Liao, and what are his thoughts? Elder Brother, speak plainly to me."

Her mind was clear, and she had already broached the subject to this extent.

Hu Tinglan could no longer hide it from her. He revealed that the Marquis intended to promote Mr. Liao, even to elevate him into the ranks of the Grand Secretariat.

"But Mr. Liao cannot change his convictions. He firmly believes Prince Hui is far too young, and to be honest, the Marquis and the Imperial Consort—as Prince Hui’s maternal relatives—are far too domineering, making him an ill-suited choice for the heir apparent."

He added that Mr. Liao believed Prince Hui was even less suitable than the neglected third prince, Prince Cheng.

"Mr. Liao truly cannot be of use to the Marquis, and he fears the Marquis may visit his wrath upon other members of the Fu faction—especially you. He is now flustered, likely to retire to his ancestral home for good."

After speaking, he looked at Du Lingjing.

The room was poorly lit, the embers in the brazier nearly extinguished.

Du Lingjing let out a slow breath.

"I understand. This is likely not just Mr. Liao’s situation alone. Perhaps I should speak to the Marquis about it."

Indeed, there were others in the Fu faction with similar concerns. Hu Tinglan asked her, "Is it appropriate for you to bring this up?"

Du Lingjing felt there was no one more suitable than her.

After all, she was the link the Marquis had painstakingly built to connect with the Fu faction.

She smiled faintly. "Though my influence may be slight, I must still try."

...

That day, she returned to the Marquis’s residence. Passing through the outer compound, she overheard some of the Marquis’s counselors discussing matters concerning the Fu faction—though the Marquis himself was absent.

She waited for him in the inner residence, but he was occupied that night and returned too late, choosing to stay in the outer compound to avoid disturbing her.

The next morning, Du Lingjing rose early and had her meal. Seeing he still hadn’t returned, she considered for a moment before heading out.

Only when she reached the outer compound did she realize she was not the first to seek an audience.

Though it was still early, a crowd had already gathered in the outer compound, all waiting to see the Marquis.

Neither Chong Ping nor Chong'an were present. Today, a young steward was managing the outer compound. He ordered servants to serve tea and urged everyone to wait patiently. "The Marquis is occupied with a thousand matters. There’s no need to rush—please sit, enjoy your tea, and wait."

In the past, when Du Lingjing had accompanied her father in the Clarification Ward, there had also been visitors seeking an audience. Uncle Wen would arrange for them to wait in the outer compound—but never this many.

Now, she overheard someone muttering that he had come five times since the turn of the year, "Each time, I fail to see the Marquis. Good sir, please ensure my request is relayed this time."

Another chimed in, saying he had come the day before, "The Marquis accompanied his wife back to her family home. I waited until nearly evening without seeing him. Today, I arrived by first light—please, do inform him!"

Several others also complained of long waits. Qiu Lin, standing nearby, remarked, "The Marquis is far too busy. If it were me, having so many people clamoring for audience every day, I’d be driven to distraction."

Du Lingjing found her words amusing and let out a quiet chuckle.

But her laughter caught the young steward’s attention.

He hurried over to greet her. "My Lady, why have you come? The Marquis is in the reception hall discussing matters with his counselors. Shall I announce your presence?"

Du Lingjing had intended to ask him to relay her request, but upon hearing that the Marquis was in conference and seeing so many others waiting, she said there was no hurry. "It’s not urgent. I’ll wait a while."

The steward could not let her wait in the outer reception hall like the others, so he escorted her to the inner courtyard near the Marquis’s study.

But as soon as Du Lingjing entered, she overheard a counselor passing by.

"...These Fu faction members are insufferable—obstinate and unyielding. The Marquis saved them, even arranged high positions for them, yet they still cling to Prince Yong? Especially that Liao Xu—the Marquis has shown him more than enough courtesy."

"Exactly. Little wonder these Remonstrators were purged and exiled from court. Grand Secretary Du must have been the same—no wonder the Emperor refused to promote him..."

To criticize the Fu faction was one thing, but Grand Secretary Du was the My Lady’s father.

The steward paled, realizing the two counselors hadn’t noticed her—but she had heard every word.

He was frantic, wishing he could silence them, but just then, another group of counselors passed by, also discussing the Fu faction. Fortunately, one among them spotted the My Lady and urgently hushed the others.

An awkward tension filled the air. The steward was at a loss—whether to escort Lady Du inward or not.

Du Lingjing understood perfectly.

The inner courtyard was where the Marquis’s counselors spoke freely—unsuited for outsiders. The visitors waited in the outer reception hall, where they couldn’t overhear.

She, too, was an interloper...

She turned to the steward.

"I’ll wait outside as well."

Relieved, the steward quickly agreed. "If My Lady wishes to see the Marquis now, I can announce you at once."

But from the reception hall ahead, she could hear the Marquis engrossed in debate, his low voice occasionally interjecting with questions.

She declined. "There’s no need. I’ll wait until he’s finished."

The steward escorted her back outside and had a privacy screen arranged. Du Lingjing sat among those who had waited for days, sipping tea patiently.

Yet the wait stretched on—from dawn until the sun had climbed high. She had already had her tea replenished thrice, and still, the Marquis showed no respite in sight.

Some in the reception hall, unable to brook further delay, left, saying they would return another day.

Du Lingjing had no other matters to attend to—she only wished to discuss the Fu faction with him at length.

She wanted to tell him that even if he had planned for so long, marrying her solely to win the fealty of the Fu faction’s ministers, there was no need to rush. Haste makes waste.

She waited a while longer, thinking he might be nearing the end. But with so many still waiting—some fretting as they paced—she held little hope of precedence.

Should she grab a bite first and then come back to wait?

Just then, Ruan Gong suddenly arrived, walking briskly.

He stepped forward and relayed a message from Elder Hu, saying that Mr. Liao, "left today, leaving the capital to return to his hometown in Sichuan."

Du Lingjing was startled.

She thought the New Year festivities were still ongoing, and it would take at least a few more days. She hadn’t expected Mr. Liao, reluctant and resigned, to leave so soon.

Sichuan was not Qingzhou—mountains and rivers apart. Once gone, when would he ever return? They must first clear things up.

Du Lingjing immediately stood up, telling Ruan Gong to quickly prepare a carriage. Without even changing her clothes, she hurried after him.

...

Lu Shenru had been busy all morning without a moment’s rest. Finally getting a breather, he had just ordered a meal to be served when the steward from the outer hall approached.

He asked if there were still people waiting to see him. "Who are they, and what brings them here? Stick to the urgent ones."

Everyone in the outer hall had waited so long—none were trivial.

But indeed, there was one person who said she wasn’t in a hurry and could wait slowly.

Yet the steward ventured, "If the Marquis has time, perhaps he could see the Marchioness first?"

Lu Shenru froze at his words, wondering if he had misheard.

"Who did you say?"

The steward hastily clarified, "The Marchioness. She has been waiting in the hall since early morning—three hours now. Would the Marquis like to see her first?"

As soon as the words fell, the man’s eyes flashed.

The atmosphere in the study instantly turned oppressive, a chill settling over both inside and outside the room.

"You dared to make the Marchioness wait outside for three hours?!"

The steward faltered and fell to his knees. Chong Ping, who had just returned from outside, drew a sharp breath at the steward’s words.

The man’s face darkened as he strode out, heading straight for the hall.

"Quan Quan..."

Yet when he reached the hall and stepped behind the screen, he found only an empty teacup—not a sign of her.

"Where is the Marchioness?!" he demanded.

The steward in the hall had no idea when she had left.

Lu Shenru assumed she had returned to the main courtyard and turned to head inward, but fortunately, a servant stepped forward to explain. "My Marquis, the Marchioness received urgent news and rushed off in a carriage."

*

The news of Shao Boju’s suicide had kept Yang Jinyu up all night.

Like everyone else, she had initially been overjoyed upon hearing the Emperor hint he might show mercy. But Shao Boju had chosen this moment to kill himself. With his death, the Emperor couldn’t afford to be lenient to her two younger brothers without appearing partial.

Her mother, the Countess of Rongchang, had fainted once more.

It was likely that before the end of the first lunar month, the Emperor would pass sentence on her brothers.

Now, aside from the Marquis and the Imperial Consort, no one could save them. Yang Jinyu felt like she was going mad. Her husband hadn’t even visited her courtyard during New Year's Eve.

She had to find a way herself—but what could she do?

She had tried to provoke the Marchioness Lu, hoping to stir conflict between her and the Marquis. But that woman was as unruffled as still water—no matter what you threw at it, it remained silent and flowed away undisturbed.

Rather than targeting her further, perhaps it would be better to stir up trouble between the Marquis and the Fu Party.

Yang Jinyu couldn’t think of a solution until someone reported that Liao Xu, the member of the Fu Party who clashed most with the Marquis, had left the capital to return to his hometown.

A thought occurred to her.

Liao Xu had clearly been driven out by the Marquis.

If something were to happen to him on his journey, would the Fu Party turn against the Marquis in outrage?

With this thought, she immediately summoned her men and headed out of the capital.

*

Du Lingjing got held up briefly.

Outside the city, she encountered Mr. Zhang, who owned a bookstore in the outer district.

Mr. Zhang had been in hiding too, due to the Fu Party’s persecution by Shao Boju. He maintained connections with the Fu Party members and, having been under Shao Boju’s surveillance, had fled to the countryside for several months, only returning just before the New Year.

Du Lingjing hadn’t had the chance yet to meet him personally, but Ruan Gong had brought New Year’s gifts to Mr. Zhang on her behalf. He had also mentioned to this bookstore owner in the capital Du Lingjing’s desire to uncover the mystery of the eight rare Song-era books that had led her to the capital—how they'd suddenly surfaced.

Hearing Ruan Gong’s account, Mr. Zhang also thought it strange. "The capital is full of profound individuals, but for eight precious Song editions to appear in succession is indeed rare."

He promised to look into it for Du Lingjing. Now, seeing her pass by his door, he called out,

"Jing, where are you headed? Regarding those eight Song books, I’ve found some clues."

Du Lingjing had almost forgotten about that, but she wasn’t here for that now. She hastily thanked him and asked,

"Mr. Zhang, have you seen Mr. Liao? Which gate he'd left by?"

As it happened, before departing, Liao Xu had indeed visited Mr. Zhang’s bookstore to bid farewell. He said he was returning to his hometown to care for his elderly mother, retiring to the countryside for good and giving up his teaching post in Baoding. He didn’t know if he would ever see his old friends again.

Mr. Liao, melancholy, drank a cup of tea at the bookstore before leaving through the Right Peace Gate of the outer city.

Du Lingjing couldn't afford to stay. She promised to visit Mr. Zhang another day to go over the Song books properly, then hurried toward the Right Peace Gate in chase.

As she inquired along the way, she figured Mr. Liao couldn’t be far.

But when passing a tea stall, Ruan Gong made inquiries, and Du Lingjing heard someone exclaim in surprise.

"Now that's odd—a skinny old gentleman left, and so many are chasing him? Just fifteen minutes ago, someone else asked about him."

The words made Ruan Gong pause, and Du Lingjing raised an eyebrow, turning sharply.

Ruan Gong immediately slipped him some coins for information.

The man chuckled, saying the previous pursuers were even more numerous. "There was also a carriage, but it bore no insignia—no way to tell whose it was. But they brought many men, all looking like trained fighters, also chasing after that old gentleman."

He pointed ahead, but a bad feeling shot through her.