Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Du Lingjing couldn't pinpoint when her husband had returned that night.

The next day, life resumed its usual rhythm.

After breakfast with him, NianJia came to find her. While he attended to the ceaseless dispatches from the capital, Du Lingjing and NianJia took a stroll on the hillside behind the mountain retreat.

She inquired how NianJia had slept the previous night.

Only upon her arrival yesterday did Du Lingjing learn that this mountain villa belonged not to NianJia and Wei Cong, but to her own marquis.

Du Lingjing couldn't count the number of estates and courtyards he owned in the capital's environs, but as a hostess, she politely asked her guest about her comfort.

NianJia replied that she had slept well, praising the tranquility of the place—free from the capital's clamor and the perpetual howling sandstorms of the northwest.

“I went to bed early last night, but I vaguely heard some commotion in my sleep and thought the Crown Prince had aggravated his injury and fallen ill. It startled me so much I shot upright.”

She recounted that when Wei Cong was first injured a few days prior, it had indeed been precarious. She hadn't dared to sleep at night, fearing that if she did, the consort she had worked so hard to secure would be gone by morning.

Du Lingjing quickly asked, “Is the Crown Prince alright?”

“He’s fine, he’s fine,” NianJia shook her head. “I was mistaken. He went somewhere last night and only returned in the dead of night.”

She glanced at Du Lingjing. “It was probably your Marquis Lu looking for him.”

Du Lingjing recalled that he, too, had returned very late—it seemed NianJia’s guess was correct.

The two walked a bit further along the hillside. After the spring rain, the ground was even greener, the grass swaying softly beneath their skirts, lush from afar and still vibrant up close.

NianJia, sharp-eyed, spotted a carriage approaching from the direction of the capital.

“That must be Physician Li coming to examine the Crown Prince. Let’s head back.”

Du Lingjing followed her down from the back hill and went straight to the courtyard where Wei Cong was recuperating. Sure enough, Physician Li had just arrived.

After exchanging greetings, Physician Li washed his hands and examined Wei Cong, checking his pulse on both wrists and inspecting his wounds.

NianJia eagerly asked, “How is he? Has the Crown Prince improved?”

Physician Li, an elderly man, stroked his salt-and-pepper beard and nodded with a smile.

“The Crown Prince is young, after all, and possesses the robust physique of a martial artist. In just a few days, he’s shown significant improvement.”

“Really?” Du Lingjing saw NianJia’s eyes light up. “Then could you please go back and tell my mother that I’ve taken good care of the Crown Prince, and he’ll be good as new!”

Before she even finished speaking, everyone in the room burst into laughter.

Du Lingjing covered half her face as she laughed—clearly, Princess Yu had given NianJia quite the tongue-lashing before.

Now, NianJia turned to Wei Cong and asked, “Crown Prince, you also think I’ve taken good care of you, right?”

She seemed a little unsure and needed confirmation from the source himself.

Wei Cong didn’t embarrass her at all. Smiling, he glanced at her and said, “The princess wakes up three times every night to check on me. With such care, of course I’m recovering quickly.”

NianJia’s eyes widened. “You actually knew?”

She had thought he was sound asleep each night when she peeked through his bed curtains and scrutinized him from head to toe.

NianJia’s face flushed slightly.

Wei Cong didn’t explain further, only smiled and said to Physician Li, “Please inform the princess that the princess consort has indeed been very diligent.”

Physician Li looked at the two with amusement and promised to relay the message.

Lu Shenru, meanwhile, inquired about the condition of the emperor, the empress, and Prince Hui in the palace. After Physician Li answered curtly, everyone saw him off as he returned to the capital.

Du Lingjing and NianJia only escorted him to the inner gate. Du Lingjing heard NianJia murmuring under her breath, “He actually knew…”

“You sleep in the same bed with the Crown Prince. Of course he notices when you move,” Du Lingjing explained.

In her own case, even the slightest movement at night would make him sit up and ask if she was restless or needed water.

Perhaps all these military men who had campaigned abroad slept as lightly as if on thin ice, waking at the faintest disturbance.

But after her explanation, NianJia murmured something else, even softer.

“But we don’t sleep in the same bed…”

“Huh?” Du Lingjing heard her.

NianJia quickly added, “He’s covered in injuries. I was afraid I might jostle him carelessly in my sleep.”

She had had another bed made up nearby and slept there instead.

Though she offered an explanation, her expression was slightly awkward.

Du Lingjing recalled NianJia mentioning that even after three years wed, she still wasn’t very familiar with Crown Prince Wei.

From what Du Lingjing had observed these past few days, Wei Cong was quite indulgent toward NianJia, treating her well in every way. How could they still not be close after three years?

NianJia didn’t elaborate further, saying the noonday sun was scorching and she needed to go change clothes before quickly taking her leave.

But Du Lingjing found herself reflecting on her own situation. She had always been slow to open up, yet in just over half a year of marriage, she had grown so familiar with him that it felt like they couldn’t be any closer.

From the moment they were married by royal command, he had refused to let her keep her distance. And after they became intimate… she had become so intimate with him that she often felt her own will slipping away…

Her mind had scarcely drifted for a moment before she stepped into the shade he cast under the sun.

His figure and presence enfolded her at the same time. Du Lingjing saw him standing in the gateway.

She glanced up slightly and saw him cock his head slightly, extending his hand to her.

Last night, he had suddenly grown dark for no reason—he was the one who brought up the third prince, no one else had said a word. Afterward, he made amends, but she had ignored him.

Du Lingjing immediately decided not to pass through this gate and turned to go another way.

But before she could step away, she was swept into his embrace.

There he went again.

Holding her tightly against him, Du Lingjing struggled in vain against his hold, scowling as she averted her face.

Yet he asked her, “If I were injured on the battlefield, would Quan Quan take care of me the way NianJia looks after Wei Cong?”

Would she rouse herself thrice nightly to tend to him?

Du Lingjing remained silent, but she heard him add.

“The princess’s caregiving skills aren’t all that great either.”

Du Lingjing: "..."

Was he actually looking down on Nianjia?

Nianjia's care was already more than adequate.

But she said, "In my opinion, it would be best for the Marquis to worry about his own fortunes."

He went quiet, seemingly dissatisfied with her response, yet unable to find fault with her reasoning.

After all, no one had brought up Sanlang for no reason just now.

He paused slightly, and Du Lingjing seized the moment to slip past him, quickly walking off.

*

In the capital, the newly purchased estate of the Jiang family.

Since Jiang Sixth Master passed the metropolitan examination and became a selected scholar, the threshold of the new residence had nearly been worn out from visitors.

A steady stream of people came to offer congratulations and pay their respects, but aside from those seeking to establish connections, there were also matchmakers dispatched by families hoping to arrange a marriage for the still unmarried Jiang Sixth Master.

Jiang Fengchuan initially had the patience to receive them, but as the number of visitors grew, he simply had the gates shut and retreated to Hongluo Temple.

Unexpectedly, even the peaceful precincts of Hongluo Temple couldn't provide an escape.

His foster parents in Qingzhou, overjoyed at his success, also sent letters mentioning his marital prospects and entrusted the matter to Imperial Dowager Consort Jiang.

Somehow, families in the capital eager to marry off their daughters learned of this and descended upon Hongluo Temple. With no alternative, Jiang Fengchuan returned to his new residence.

Nanny Pu, however, was close on his heels.

She came on Imperial Dowager Consort's orders, carrying a thick dossier.

Jiang Fengchuan invited Nanny Pu for tea and bade her rest, but she proceeded to go through each family in the booklets with him.

"Imperial Dowager Consort insists that Sixth Master's marriage cannot be taken lightly. We must carefully select a suitable family and young lady, but ultimately, it depends on your own preference."

Nanny Pu relayed the Dowager's question, "Among these, does Sixth Master have any particular interest?"

To her surprise, Liulang lowered his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

His handsome features and narrow, feather-like eyes made Nanny Pu's heart ache with pity at his sigh.

"What ails Sixth Master? This is a joyous occasion—why sigh?"

She asked, only to hear Liulang sigh again.

"Nanny, you know that Liulang was abandoned by his birth parents as a child, raised on the charity of neighbors. It was only thanks to Third Brother finding me and bringing me home. Sadly, Third Brother was frail and died young, unmarried. My parents are now of an age where they should be dandling grandchildren, yet Liulang..."

He paused and sighed, "Liulang feels that none of these families or young ladies are lacking, yet none seem destined for me."

He claimed to be a man who follows the Dao, one who must heed fate.

"These families were chosen by Imperial Dowager Consort and Nanny for me. I, too, wish to find someone I favor, like how Third Brother had a young lady he truly cherished. But I simply cannot decide. Does this not disappoint the expectations of Imperial Dowager Consort, Nanny, and my parents?"

His sorrow was palpable.

Nanny Pu exclaimed, "Is that all?"

After a moment's thought, she said, "This old servant understands—Sixth Master hasn't found a young lady of fate. Why trouble yourself over this? You've only just passed the metropolitan examination, and the palace examination is yet to come. There's ample time to consider—no need to rush."

Her reassurance eased Jiang Fengchuan's gloom. He blinked at Nanny Pu and said, "But the onslaught of visitors is overwhelming. To be honest, Liulang can scarcely cope."

Nanny Pu fully grasped his meaning now and couldn't help but point at him, laughing.

Liulang smiled too, personally pouring her tea and respectfully handing it to her.

Nanny Pu said, "Then Sixth Master should simply close the gates for now. Imperial Dowager Consort has been weary lately. This old servant will tell her that fate has yet to arrive for Sixth Master—there's no harm in waiting."

Jiang Fengchuan brightened at this. "Nanny has always been kindest to me."

He served the finest tea from his residence, but Nanny Pu declined. "The hour grows late. This old servant must return to Hongluo Temple."

Jiang Fengchuan escorted Nanny Pu all the way to the main gate.

With her words in mind, he promptly ordered the gates shut. "Until after the palace examination, turn away all matchmakers."

The gatekeeper obeyed.

Returning to his study, Jiang Fengchuan finally found some peace. A stack of newly delivered invitations lay on his desk, all ignored, as he instead retrieved a small box from a drawer.

The box was small. He opened it to reveal a small red jade seal.

The jade was the red of autumn maples, exquisitely carved with a lush sprig of maple.

It was her gift of congratulations.

While other gifts were had Uncle Hui store away, this red jade seal alone remained on his desk.

His parents and Imperial Dowager Consort urged him to choose a suitable marriage, but he truly couldn't decide, nor did any young lady seem destined for him. Yet...

Uncle Hui entered with tea.

Jiang Fengchuan made no attempt to conceal it, pressing the small red jade seal into ink and stamping a small seal-script character for "maple" on paper.

Uncle Hui approached to pour tea, glancing at Du Lingjing's gift as Jiang Fengchuan asked, "Is she still kept at home by Marquis Lu?"

Uncle Hui replied, "Not exactly. The Marquis took his wife out of the capital these past two days."

"I see."

Uncle Hui glanced at him and added, "The Marquis would never mistreat his wife. Sixth Master need not concern himself."

"Is that so?"

Suddenly, he asked, "Is Uncle Hui acquainted with Marquis Lu? Or did Third Brother also know him?"

The sudden question made Uncle Hui start. "What exactly does Sixth Master wish to ask? This servant doesn't know the Marquis, nor did Third Master."

This time, Jiang Fengchuan remained silent, studying the jade seal.

Uncle Hui looked at him and said, "Sixth Master should let the matter rest. Third Master's final wish was not to tell the lady about his ending his life by altering his medicine."

He said, "Since the lady doesn't know, then let her remain unaware. Jiang Liulang should also remember Third Master's dying wish!"

Knowing how the lady is, there's no telling what she'd do if she learned of this matter.

Uncle Hui knew his words carried little weight, so he could only use Jiang Zhuxiu to pressure Jiang Fengchuan.

How could Jiang Fengchuan not understand his meaning? He laughed.

"Uncle Hui, don't be nervous. I heard you."

Uncle Hui worriedly poured tea for him and withdrew.

The study was quiet, leaving Jiang Liulang alone.

His gaze fell upon that small red jade seal, then shifted to a stack of papers covered with annotations beside his hand.

Those were the essays she had reviewed for him before the metropolitan examination. He had sent the articles to her, and she had carefully read each one, then penned her comments beside his words.

She'd filled his papers with comments for him. While not as crammed full as when she used to critique Third Brother's essays, she still wrote long paragraphs for him.

Her script was graceful yet vibrant—even when crowded together in tiny characters, it moved with the quiet grace of a mountain spring.

Jiang Fengchuan's eyes lingered inexplicably long on her writing.

*

Mountain retreat villa in the outskirts of the capital.

The others were racing their horses on the slopes behind the villa, while Lu Shenru and Wei Cong sat their horses side by side, conversing.

"About tonight's matter—Don't overdo it since your injury hasn't fully healed."

The dark horse, Dark Amber, pulled half a length ahead, guiding Wei Cong’s mount across a small stream at the foot of the mountain.

"It’s not urgent," Wei Cong replied, turning his head slightly toward the marquis at his side and lowering his voice.

"But these spies—the Yongding Army has pursued them for over ten years, yet despite multiple attempts, they’ve never captured any key figures, only sustaining heavy losses..."

Such as the Lu family’s second son, Lu Hengru.

Wei Cong murmured, "Even if we fail to catch them this time, it doesn’t matter. These people are anything but ordinary, and the forces behind them have never shown the slightest hint. We’ll find another opportunity."

He was a steady and methodical man, one who valued patience and careful planning.

Lu Shenru knew this.

His eyes tracked the riders approaching from the edge of the woods, and he gave a slight nod.

He said no more on the matter, and Wei Cong likewise fell silent. Both turned their attention to a white horse in the distance, bearing two riders—

NianJia was riding with Du Lingjing.

One wore a pale green dress, the other a bright red, their skirts fluttering against the white horse, a captivating sight.

But after a short loop, they stopped before a tea tent set up by the marquis’s guards.

Chong Ping personally went to help his lady dismount, while NianJia remained seated, pointing to a small pony nearby. "Jing, do you dare ride alone now? Try that little pony."

Lu Shenru watched as she first whispered something to the pony before mounting it. Unexpectedly, the pony had other ideas—despite her earlier coaxing, it stubbornly refused to move.

Chong An stepped forward to lead the pony, finally coaxing it into motion. Yet as soon as it began walking, it suddenly bolted. She wasn’t prepared and nearly tumbled off.

She was too scared to keep riding and stood beside the horse wiping sweat from her brow.

Lu Shenru chuckled softly and rode over.

"Ride this one."

He dismounted and scooped her right onto his Dark Amber.

Du Lingjing could barely handle the little pony—how could she ride such a towering warhorse?

She kept saying no.

But Dark Amber was far more "obedient" than the little pony, not moving erratically at all. Instead, it gave her a friendly snuffle.

Du Lingjing stroked its mane, and he twitched his ears.

No longer afraid, she sat steadily on Dark Amber's back and smiled.

A smile played at Lu Shenru's eyes as he let her try riding on her own, holding the reins beside her.

NianJia dismounted from her white horse, and Wei Cong caught her elbow.

She was staring at the pair ahead.

"Well I'll be, who would’ve thought? Marquis Lu actually leading a horse for someone. A rare sight indeed."

Wei Cong laughed but only glanced at the woman beside him.

"And hasn’t Her Highness the Princess also lowered herself to tend to me?"

His gaze softened. "I'm deeply honored."

Where did that come from?

NianJia quickly replied, "You're my Consort, and I have only one Consort. It’s only natural!"

The man chuckled lightly.

She didn’t understand why he was laughing again and simply said, "No need to stand on ceremony, Consort."

He responded, "Very well. From now on, with Your Highness, I won’t always stand on ceremony."

His words carried another meaning. NianJia suddenly realized something, her cheeks burning, and she hastily remounted.

"I’ll go for another ride!"

She spurred her horse and was gone in a cloud of dust.

*

Du Lingjing spent the whole afternoon riding, working up quite a sweat. After washing up in the evening, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

But she woke in the middle of the night.

Sitting up, she expected someone to rise with her as usual, but tonight, the other side of the bed lay empty.

The bedding held no warmth—he'd clearly been gone for hours.

Du Lingjing parted the bed curtains and noticed a pot of tea, still warm, waiting on the small table beside the bed.

Left there for her.

But he wasn't there at all.

Du Lingjing recalled that he had been occupied the previous night as well, then suddenly remembered the empty sword rack in Yuanxiu Pavilion before their departure—the Second Master's Silver Snow Sword was missing.

Without drinking her tea, she instead threw on her robe and stepped outside.

The mountain villa lay under the high-hanging stars and moon, the air still and the trees motionless. Occasionally, a spring insect chirped once or twice before disappearing back into the grass.

The lantern beneath the eaves cast light over the courtyard, which was as peaceful as ever, just like always.

Except—he wasn’t there.

Just as Du Lingjing reached the corridor, someone came forward holding a lantern.

"You're awake, Madam? Do you need anything?"

It was Chong Ping.

He had slipped out at night but had left Chong Ping behind for her.

Du Lingjing hesitated in the quiet dark, the whole villa utterly silent.

She shook her head at Chong Ping.

"Nothing."