Chapter 53

Chapter 53

"You mean, Mr. Zhang found out that four of the eight Song editions that brought me to the capital are related to the Marquis’s household?" Du Lingjing asked.

Du Lingjing was restoring books in the west wing of the main courtyard when she looked up in slight surprise at Ruan Gong.

Ruan Gong repeated exactly what Mr. Zhang from the bookshop in the outer city had said. "Mr. Zhang mentioned that the information isn’t complete yet, and details about the other editions will take a few more days. But the four editions he’s already identified are indeed connected to the Marquis's household."

Sweat beaded on Ruan Gong’s collar.

If all eight Song editions that had drawn them to the capital were linked to the Marquis's household—or even to the Marquis himself—then the timing was far too early, predating the imperial betrothal decree during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Yet the Marquis had told his wife that their first meeting was at Pillow Moon Tower...

Ruan Gong didn’t dare dwell on it further, wiping the sweat from his neck. But he noticed his mistress showed no change in expression.

She merely paused briefly, then chuckled softly and shook her head with a sigh.

"Which matter in the capital isn’t somehow connected to him? It’s probably just a coincidence."

She brushed off the news entirely, much to Ruan Gong’s surprise. Then she added,

"Don’t suspect the Marquis, or he’ll get angry again."

She told Ruan Gong not to dwell on it and to wait until all the information was gathered.

With that, Du Lingjing waved Ruan Gong away.

She truly believed it was nothing. While officials like Grand Secretary Dou, who supported Prince Yong, were restrained and cautious, Lu Shenru flaunted his authority.

In the past, he had even arrested and beaten officials for factional disputes. Though he had since grown more measured, no affair in the capital lacked his influence.

If four out of eight books were tied to him, it wasn’t surprising.

At that time, they hadn’t even met—there was no way he could have deliberately collected those Song editions to draw her to the capital.

Du Lingjing dismissed the thought.

Besides, even Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Wei Jue had gifted her four Song editions as a wedding gift.

When the Marquis mentioned it, she had been startled. "The Commander’s gift is far too lavish."

He agreed it was somewhat extravagant. "But preserving ancient texts benefits future generations. Accepting them is a way to accumulate blessings for him."

He had no qualms about receiving gifts, so Du Lingjing acquiesced.

Her injured arm had kept her from book repairs for days, but today she could finally use her brush normally again. She lingered longer in the western chamber.

Qiu Lin came to ask her something, smirking. "Madam, should we place the blessed fertility dolls Lady Hu gave you—the ones consecrated by monks—under the window in your bedroom?"

Wouldn’t that announce to everyone her eagerness for children?

Du Lingjing refused. "Hide those dolls quickly. Don’t let anyone see them."

Qiu Lin laughed at her embarrassed flush.

But a few days later, as the weather warmed in early February, Qiu Lin asked again.

"Madam, Lady Hu sent word that the dolls were specially blessed by a master. They must be placed by the window, or the Buddha may take offense and punish us."

Du Lingjing was bewildered.

"They must be displayed?"

Qiu Lin nodded. "I’ve seen similar fertility dolls before. There does seem to be such a superstition."

"Then... place them there quietly during the day when no one’s around?"

Meaning: Don’t let the Marquis see.

Qiu Lin laughed but agreed.

Du Lingjing hadn’t visited Returning Woods Tower in days, so she had a carriage prepared to go there.

But in the afternoon, when her husband returned and couldn’t find her, he learned she had gone to Returning Woods Tower. He changed his clothes and headed to their room.

At the window, however, he spotted the pair of adorable cloth figures.

Picking them up, he called for Qiu Lin. "Are these... fertility dolls?"

Qiu Lin hadn’t expected the Marquis to notice them immediately—and recognize their purpose. She could only admit it.

Watching him cautiously, she saw him stare blankly at the dolls.

"Did my wife ask for these?"

How to explain? It would be complicated.

After a moment’s hesitation, Qiu Lin simply mumbled noncommittally.

The Marquis seemed even more lost in thought. Holding the dolls tightly, he turned and strode out.

*

Du Lingjing didn’t stay long at Returning Woods Tower before evening approached. She considered spending the night there but remembered the Marquis’s strict rule about her returning the same day, so she prepared to leave.

Feng Xiang came to see her.

The Feng family was full of talented officials, but Feng Xiang himself had little interest in an official career.

Liulang often sent essays through Uncle Hui for her feedback, which she gladly provided. But Feng Xiang preferred spending his spare time helping at Returning Woods Tower.

This time, he came to discuss her plans to publish several military texts. He had edited and proofread them. "They’re ready for Shopkeeper Zhao to publish. But with the spring examinations underway, military books won’t sell as well as civil service exam texts."

That didn’t matter. Du Lingjing wasn’t publishing ancient military texts for profit. She thanked Feng Xiang for his effort. "I recently acquired a few antique editions that are duplicates of ones I collected in Qingzhou. I’d like to gift them to you. I’ll have Ruan Gong deliver them tomorrow."

Feng Xiang was startled and gestured in refusal. Du Lingjing insisted. "You’ve been such a help at Returning Woods Tower while I’ve been away."

She meant it casually, but the young man’s face flushed as red as the evening sky behind him.

Du Lingjing couldn’t help smiling. His blush deepened, and he stammered gratitude before hastily excusing himself.

She wanted to exchange a few more words, but then familiar footsteps echoed behind her.

She turned.

Clad in dark embroidered robes, the man strode toward her under the dusk-lit sky.

The wind lifted the hem of his robe. Feng Xiang made a distant bow and quickly retreated.

The Marquis seldom showed courtesy to others—naturally, they kept their distance.

Yet he acted as though he wanted to call him back.

Du Lingjing quickly stepped forward to stop him. "Wei Shi!"

Only then did he stop, letting out a displeased huff. "Why is he putting on this bashful act? Who’s he trying to impress?"

Lu Shenru kept his gaze fixed on his wife—yet she always enjoyed chatting with that boy.

But his irritation with her was all taken out on Feng Xiang.

"Next time I see him blushing while talking to you, I'll toss him into the icy river to cool off."

What a temper...

Du Lingjing had no desire to engage further and turned to leave, only to be pulled back as he seized her wrist.

His lips pressed into a sullen line, and Du Lingjing had no choice but to soften her voice.

"Marquis, what free time brings you here today?"

He glanced at her but didn’t answer, though the edge in his eyes softened visibly.

Most of the time, Du Lingjing couldn’t fathom what went on in his mind. Then she heard him say,

"We’re not going back tonight. We’ll stay at Guilin Tower."

How rare. She blinked at him a few times. He chuckled but then added that they wouldn’t be staying in their usual quarters—instead, he pointed toward another courtyard.

Du Lingjing had glimpsed that area from the tower before. She’d heard it was a separate estate connected to Guilin Tower.

But the tower itself was already vast, with more than enough rooms. She’d never had reason to go there.

She asked, "Marquis wishes to go to the estate? What is it called?"

Her question seemed to catch him off guard. "Did my lady truly think the marriage gifts I gave you were just this library tower?"

He sighed. "That estate belongs to you too. As for its name, that’s for you to name."

Guilin Tower was already enormous—let alone with this additional estate.

He huffed again and ignored her.

Du Lingjing followed him into the nameless estate. Neither its pavilions nor its gardens had names.

Yet the gardens were built using Jiangnan landscaping techniques. Though spring’s warmth hadn’t yet returned and the flowers hadn’t bloomed, the scenery transformed with every step under the sunset glow, already holding countless charms.

The man suddenly spoke. "Choose a place, my lady."

"For what purpose?"

"Just pick first."

Du Lingjing assumed he wanted her to choose a place to name. After a glance around, she pointed to the pleasure boat moored by the lake.

"‘The pleasure boat...’ He arched a brow at her."

A suspicion dawned on her. Was this not about naming?

She studied his expression and saw mirth sparkling in his handsome eyes.

Just as she realized his intent, he said, "Good. Since my lady favors the pleasure boat, we’ll stay here tonight."

...

The starry river reflected in the pond, where willow buds greened the banks, and the pleasure boat swayed gently.

Du Lingjing had watched as he ordered the boat made ready, thick brocade quilts laid out inside, and felt her cheeks grow unbearably hot. And he only grew more pleased with the setting.

Then, two maids suddenly appeared, placing the pair of dolls for praying for a child on either side of the pillow before hastily retreating.

With the boat now empty save for the rippling water, he lifted her and settled her between the two dolls.

Sandwiched between them, Du Lingjing’s face flamed like fire. But the boat was narrow—there was no escape.

What would happen next? How could she not understand?

She hardly dared to look at him.

Lu Shenru watched as his wife lay flustered between the dolls, her cheeks flushed like peonies, the collar of her thin robe slipping off her delicate shoulders as she futilely tugged at it.

He smiled faintly.

Praying for a child...

Given her initial reluctance toward their marriage by imperial decree, he had assumed she might wish to avoid conception.

After all, months of sharing a bed had yet to result in pregnancy.

Yet the conception-aiding incense the matrons burned for them was meant to aid conception. Perhaps the two factors canceled each other out, leaving the matter uncertain.

He had never pressed her on it, dreading to hear her say she didn’t want one.

But today, she had placed that pair of child-prayer dolls beneath the window.

So, his Quan Quan... wanted a child with him?

His eyes grew dangerously dark.

Du Lingjing could only sense that he was about to have his way with her again.

But his fingers traced her waist with surprising tenderness.

He chuckled low.

"This time, my lady and I won’t squander heaven’s blessing."

The boat began swaying—he must have had someone untie the mooring ropes, for it now drifted toward the center of the pond.

Starlight rippled on the water, embracing the pleasure boat as it floated beneath the spring breeze.

A boat laden with spring’s dreams, weighing down the starry river.

...

They truly slept aboard the drifting boat.

He moved the two dolls to the windowsill as he held her beneath the brocade covers, rocking with the water’s movements.

“Quan Quan, would you like to go to Jiangnan?” he said of himself. “I only glimpsed it in passing twice, never stayed to savor it—what a shame.”

So he wished to travel through Jiangnan (the picturesque region south of the Yangtze River, famed in Chinese literature).

Du Lingjing rarely saw him indulge in such leisurely thoughts, assuming he had long been too busy for such things.

Sure enough, he added, “Prince Hui is still too young. If only he were of Prince Yong’s age.”

Once the new year passed, Prince Hui was only nine. To mature enough to stand on his own, it would take at least six or seven more years.

She heard him heave a sigh.

Du Lingjing looked up at him, the starlight reflected on the water glistening in his half-lowered eyes.

She couldn't help but say,

“Wei Shi (a term of endearment or his style name), there’s no need to sigh. Throughout history, the misty, rain-drenched Jiangnan—with its willowy bridges and ornate pleasure barges—has always lived in the writings and verses of poets and scholars.”

She smiled softly. “You’ve already tasted its beauty.”

Her voice was as gentle and soothing as the spring water in the pond that night. The man froze, looking down into her eyes, where warmth and tenderness dwelled. Her eyes held only him.

Lu Shenru leaned closer to her face, gazing at her intently.

“Quan Quan, you’ve finally blessed me with a few tender words.”

Tender words? Du Lingjing was stunned. So this was what he considered tender words? How were these tender words?

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She couldn’t understand his thoughts, but he had already lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers—the lips that had spoken those “tender words.”

The spring breeze rustled through the window lattice. Du Lingjing didn’t pull away but instead tilted her neck slightly upward.

Though their union had been a marriage arranged by imperial whim, in this twist of fate, they had come to face each other with honesty, free of concealment or doubt—a rarity in their world.

…

As February arrived, the spring examinations (imperial civil service exams) were approaching fast.

The treatises on warfare Du Lingjing and Feng Xiang had compiled were finally printed, with Shopkeeper Zhao sending the first set to Marquis Lu’s residence.

Du Lingjing carefully flipped through them—the printing was clear, the content detailed, complete with diagrams.

More importantly, this set of books wasn’t something she had prioritized. It was one that someone had picked out and praised while helping her sort through the collected texts.

He didn’t yet know she had restored and printed them. Du Lingjing intended to have them delivered to his study in the outer courtyard, Yuanxiu Pavilion (lit. “Distant Peaks Pavilion”), but after some thought, she decided to take them there herself.

Before she could leave, however, Chang Pu came to inform her, “Madam, Liulang has arrived at our old residence in Chengjing Lane and asks for your presence.”

Du Lingjing, puzzled, frowned.

Liulang had lodgings in the capital. With the examinations just days away, why had he gone to Chengjing Lane?

She had already gone over his essays. A few days prior, he had asked to meet her at Hongluo Temple.

She had guessed that if she suddenly went to see him there, Lu Shenru would be displeased, so she hadn’t gone.

Now, why had Liulang come to Chengjing Lane?

“What does he want?”

Chang Pu scratched her head. “I don’t know. Liulang didn’t say. But with the exams about to begin, perhaps it’s related.”

Du Lingjing also suspected it might concern his examinations—a major event held only once every three years. She couldn’t neglect it, so she set the books aside, changed her clothes, and went to Chengjing Lane.

Yet when she arrived at the Du residence there, he wasn’t present. Instead, a servant relayed, “Liulang asks that Madam come to Zhenyue Tower (lit. “Pillow Moon Tower”).”

Since she had already come this far, Du Lingjing had no choice but to go to the nearby Zhenyue Tower.

But when she arrived, she saw Jiang Fengchuan sharing wine in an upstairs private room.

Only one person sat across from him. Du Lingjing didn’t enter immediately, peering through the crack in the door—and raised her brows in surprise.

The man opposite him was a young eunuch from the Western Garden (a section of the imperial grounds) of the imperial palace, tasked with serving banquets. Coincidentally, Du Lingjing had seen him twice during the palace banquet at the end of the year. Why had Liulang invited him here?

She didn’t know what he was planning, but Jiang Fengchuan, still sober despite having poured wine for the eunuch, noticed her presence outside the door. He asked the eunuch,

“About last year’s Dragon Boat Festival banquet at Taiye Pond (the imperial lake)—could you elaborate further?”

The young eunuch, thoroughly drunk, mumbled, “Is Liulang asking about Marquis Lu’s imperially arranged marriage? Haven’t we already covered that?”

With that, he slumped onto the table, asleep.

Hearing the words “imperially arranged marriage,” Du Lingjing frowned.

She didn’t know what Liulang was up to, but it was clearly no good. She turned to leave.

But before she could take a step, someone emerged from the room and seized her wrist.

Du Lingjing tried to shake him off but failed as he said,

“Don’t you want to know the truth about your marriage?”

Du Lingjing replied coldly, “I know all I need to. There’s nothing more I wish to know.”

“Know all you need to?” Jiang Fengchuan laughed. “Did Lu Shenru tell you it was all the emperor’s doing? And after less than half a year of marriage, you trust him this much?”

He looked down at her, seeing only indifference in her eyes—no rebuttal. She truly believed that man.

His laughter grew rougher, the scent of wine thick around him.

Just half a year…

Suddenly, he asked, “Do you still dream of my third brother at night?”

*Do you know that man died by his own hand—for you?*

He bit back the last words. His brother hadn’t wanted her to know, so he had to endure the silence.

But his grip on her wrist tightened as he stared at her.

Du Lingjing stood frozen.

Third Brother… The question struck her. She hadn’t dreamed of him in a long time.

She closed her eyes. “Liulang, what do you really want?”

Her tone finally softened, and Jiang Fengchuan let go of her wrist.

“Nothing. I just wanted you to hear the truth.”

Du Lingjing pressed her lips together. "But the bestowal of marriage was entirely the Emperor's will. I already know it wasn't the Marquis's doing."

She had once doubted him over this matter and didn't wish to do so again.

Moreover, he had made his promise to her face, word for word.

Yet Liulang pressed, "Really? Are you so certain?"

Du Lingjing said firmly. "I am certain."

"Hah!" Jiang Fengchuan laughed, then motioned for her to listen carefully outside the door. "I'll go in and help you get confirmation."

With that, he turned and reentered the private room.

He woke the eunuch up, first knocking back an entire jug of wine himself.

The dazed eunuch repeatedly praised, "Jiang Sixth Master is truly a drinking god!"

Jiang Fengchuan merely smiled, then poured himself another full cup before holding it right under the young eunuch's nose.

"Eunuch, could you give me the details on how Marquis Lu received the imperial marriage decree?"

Seeing his insistence, the eunuch let out a couple sighs before answering.

"Well, since Jiang Sixth Master already knows about this from His Highness the Prince of Yan, and His Highness mentioned it, I suppose there's no reason not to tell. Besides, Tanhua Shao is already dead, and this wine's too good to refuse—I'll tell you."

Back at Hongluo Temple, the Prince of Yan had mentioned that Marquis Lu didn't request the decree during the Mid-Autumn Festival but during the Dragon Boat Palace Banquet at Duanwu. However, the prince only gave a hint and said no more.

Jiang Fengchuan had pulled out all the stops to hunt down the eunuch who served at that Duanwu banquet—the very man before him now.

This eunuch was in charge of the Taiye Pond banquets at the Western Garden, unlike the attendants who kept their mouths shut close to the Emperor.

After plying him with drink and repeated questioning, the eunuch finally spoke.

The thick smell of liquor in the private room was stifling.

Through the half-open door, Du Lingjing heard him say:

"At that time, only the Emperor, the Prince of Yan, and the Marquis were present. The noble families had already made their marriage proposals known to the prince earlier in the year—they weren't about to wait until Mid-Autumn Festival for a decision. The prince compiled a list and presented it to the Emperor during the banquet."

Some families had already arranged matches, while others truly awaited the Emperor's decision.

Naturally, the Emperor wouldn’t decide immediately but would take his time deciding until Mid-Autumn Festival.

That day, after reviewing the list, the Emperor turned to Yongding Marquis Lu Shenru and said:

"Your marriage—you and your sister sure take your time. But how many men in the capital stay single past twenty-five? Only you and Wei Jue... If you two won't worry, I’ll worry for you."

The Emperor continued, "Make it this year. Choose one—don’t delay any longer."

The Emperor asked after the Marquis's marriage every year, not just this once.

In previous years, the Marquis had always declined. But this time, instead of refusing, he stood and thanked His Majesty.

As he rose, the Prince of Yan remarked, "Now that's unusual," and personally handed him the list. "These are the eligible noblewomen, Marquis. Pick one."

All the noblewomen of the capital were his for the picking.

Yet he went through the list name by name, reaching the end before abruptly snapping the list shut.

He requested brush and ink.

The Emperor immediately granted it.

The alcohol haze made everything fuzzy.

"...The Marquis struck out every single name on the list, and in the end, wrote down the name of the future Marchioness—who wasn’t even on the list—and presented it!"

Du Lingjing stood outside the door, all noise from Zhenyue Lou disappeared.

Lu Weishi had said nothing of this.

Dazed, she heard the eunuch continue:

"And just as Shao sought to marry the future Marchioness, the Marquis had already set his sights on the Du family. The whole capital believed it was truly the Emperor’s will, and Marquis Lu wasn't about to deny the rumors. The Marquis’s mind is deep—impossible for anyone to fathom..."

Silent outside the door, Du Lingjing heard Jiang Fengchuan suddenly ask:

"Eunuch, is this truly the truth?"

As he spoke, Jiang Fengchuan glanced at her outside. The eunuch, though drunk, still had his wits about him and immediately replied:

"Of course it’s true! If even a single word is false, may I drown in Taiye Pond tomorrow!"