Chapter 53 Chapter 53 The Truth

"You said, Mr. Zhang found out that among the eight volumes of Song Dynasty books that brought me to Beijing, four of them were related to the Marquis' Mansion?"

Du Lingjing was editing a book in the west wing of the main courtyard. Upon hearing this, she looked at Ruan Gong with slight surprise.

Ruan Gong said what Mr. Zhang, the bookstore owner in the outer city, said, "Mr. Zhang said that we haven't got all the information yet, and we have to wait for some time for the other information. But the four we have found out are indeed related to the Marquis' Mansion."

Ruan Gong was sweating at his collar.

If the eight Song Dynasty editions that brought them to Beijing were all related to the Marquis' Mansion, or even to the Marquis, then the time was too early, far earlier than the marriage granted in the Mid-Autumn Palace.

But what the Marquis told his wife was that they met at the Pillow Moon Tower, which was the first time the Marquis and his wife met...

Ruan Gong didn't dare to think about it any more and gently wiped the sweat from his neck, but he saw that his wife's expression didn't change.

The lady was stunned for a moment, then she smiled softly, shook her head and sighed.

"How could any of the things happening in the capital have nothing to do with him? I guess it's just a coincidence."

The lady didn't take the news seriously at all. Ruan Gong was surprised and listened to her again.

"Don't doubt the Marquis, or he will be angry again."

She told Ruan Gong not to pay too much attention to the matter and to wait until all the information was complete.

After Du Lingjing finished speaking, she raised her hand and let Ruan Gong go.

She really thought so. If Dou Ge Lao and other civil officials who supported Prince Yong were relatively calm and restrained, Lu Shenru had an overbearing and demanding attitude written all over his face.

In the past, he would fight for his party and arrest and punish officials. Now he has become much more stable and no longer does such outrageous things. However, his shadow can be seen in every event in the capital.

It is not surprising that four out of the eight books are related to him.

At that time, he and she didn't know each other yet, so it couldn't be him who scattered the Song Dynasty editions one by one, leading her all the way to Beijing.

Du Lingjing didn't take this matter to heart.

Moreover, even the Jinyiwei commander Wei Jue sent her a wedding gift consisting of four volumes of the Song Dynasty edition.

When she heard the Marquis mention it, she was surprised, "The commander's gift is too expensive."

He said it was a little heavy, "but collecting ancient books is for future generations. If you accept it, it will be considered as accumulating blessings for him."

He had no problem accepting the gift, so Du Lingjing just followed suit.

Because of her injured arm, she had not revised her books for several days. Today, she was finally able to pick up her pen as usual and sat in the west wing for a while.

Qiu Lin asked her another question, laughing secretly, "Madam, would you like to put the blessed fertility doll that Madam Hu gave to you under the window of your bedroom?"

Wouldn't that tell everyone that she longed for a child?

Du Lingjing said no, "Hide the dolls quickly, don't let anyone see them."

Qiu Lin couldn't help laughing when he saw her blushing face due to embarrassment.

But after a few days, the weather warmed up and it was February, and Qiulin came to ask her again.

"Madam, the second lady sent someone to say that the doll was specially blessed by a master and must be placed under the window, otherwise the Buddha will blame you and may even punish you."

Du Lingjing was stunned when she heard this.

“Does it have to be placed?”

Qiu Lin nodded to her, "I have seen similar puppets praying for children before, it seems that there is such a saying."

"Then, then why don't you quietly put it up for a while when no one is around during the day?"

The implication is, don't let the Marquis see it.

Qiulin laughed again, but also responded and left.

Du Lingjing hadn't been to Guilin Tower for many days, so she asked someone to harness a carriage and go to the tower.

But in the afternoon, the man went home to look for her, but couldn't find her. He heard that she had gone to Guilin Tower, so he went to his room to change his clothes.

But when I walked to the window, I saw a pair of adorable rag dolls.

He picked up the doll and called Qiu Lin, "Is this... a doll for praying for a child?"

Qiulin never thought that the Marquis would discover it first and recognize its function. She could only say yes.

She looked at the Marquis quietly and saw that he was staring at the pair of dolls.

"Did the lady ask for it?"

How do you explain this? It's a complicated thing to explain.

Qiu Lin thought about it and just said "hmm" vaguely.

She saw that the Marquis became more and more stunned after hearing what he said, so he turned around and strode out the door, holding the Madam's baby doll in his hand.

*

Du Lingjing didn't stay in Guilin Tower for long before it was getting late. She wanted to stay there tonight, but when she thought about the Marquis insisting that she go back and forth that day, she had no choice but to leave.

Feng Xiang came to look for her.

The Feng family produced many talented people in official careers, but Feng Xiang did not pay much attention to this.

Liu Lang would ask Uncle Hui to send him two articles every now and then, asking her to read them and write a few comments, which she did. But Feng Xiang preferred to come to Guilin Tower to help out whenever she had some free time.

Feng Xiang came to see her and told her about the military books she was going to publish. He said he had proofread them for her and "can give them to Shopkeeper Zhao to print, but as it is the spring imperial examination period, I am afraid that military books will not sell as well as contemporary literature."

This is not a problem. Du Lingjing did not print the ancient book of military strategy for the purpose of making money. She said to Feng Xiang, "I collected a few ancient books a few days ago. They are heavier than those I collected in Qingzhou. I want to give them to you. I will ask Ruan Gong to send them to you tomorrow."

Feng Xiang was surprised, and he waved his hands repeatedly. Du Lingjing told him to accept it, "When I was away from Guilin Tower, thanks to you for helping me wholeheartedly."

She just said this casually, but unexpectedly the young man's face turned red again, as red as the glow in the sky behind him.

Du Lingjing couldn't help but look at him and smile, his face turned even redder, and he thanked her awkwardly and said goodbye, ready to leave.

Du Lingjing wanted to chat with him for a few more minutes, but she heard a familiar sound of footsteps behind her.

She turned her head and looked.

The man was dressed in a dark brocade robe, and he strode towards them under the half-night sky that had fallen in darkness.

The wind blew up the hem of his robe. When Feng Xiang saw him, he saluted from a distance and turned to leave.

He has never been nice to others, so naturally they avoid him.

But he seemed to want to call her back.

Du Lingjing quickly stepped forward to stop him, "Weishi!"

He stopped talking and snorted in dissatisfaction, "He is being so coy again, who is he showing it to?"

Lu Shenru only looked at his wife, but she just loved talking to this boy.

But he took out all his dissatisfaction with her on Feng Xiang.

"Next time I see him blushing when talking to you, I will throw him into the glacier and let him calm down."

Bad temper...

Du Lingjing didn't want to pay any more attention to him and turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

He pursed his lips and looked unhappy, so Du Lingjing could only soften her voice.

"How did you find time to come here, Lord?"

He glanced at her and didn't answer the question, but his eyes softened noticeably.

Most of the time, Du Lingjing didn't understand what he was thinking and listened to him.

"I'm not going back tonight. I'll stay in Guilin Tower."

Rare. Du Lingjing blinked and looked at him twice. He smiled, but said that he would not live in the courtyard where he stayed before, but pointed to the courtyard on the other side.

Du Lingjing looked over there from Guilin Tower and heard that it was a branch courtyard of the marquis' mansion connected to Guilin Tower.

But Guilin Tower was big enough and had enough rooms, so she had never been there.

She asked him, "Your Majesty, are you going to the other courtyard? What is the name of that other courtyard?"

The man was stunned by her question, "My lady, you don't think that the only betrothal gift I gave you is this book house, right?"

He said helplessly, "This villa is also yours. You can choose any name you want to give it."

Guilin Tower is already big enough, not to mention this villa.

He hummed again and ignored her.

Du Lingjing followed his steps into the villa. The villa had no name, and the scenery and houses in the villa had no names either.

But the garden was built using the landscaping method of the south of the Yangtze River. The weather has not yet warmed up, and the spring flowers have not yet bloomed, but under the sunset, the scenery in the garden has changed with every step, and there are already thousands of forms.

The man suddenly said, "Madam, pick one."

"What are you picking for?"

"You pick first."

Du Lingjing thought he wanted her to pick a place to name it, so she looked around and pointed to the houseboat parked by the lake.

"Painted boat..." The man looked at her and raised his eyebrows.

Du Lingjing vaguely felt that something was wrong. Wasn’t it just a name?

She looked at his face and saw that his handsome eyes were filled with smiles.

She realized something, but he said, "Okay, since my wife likes the pleasure boat, let's stay here tonight."

... ...

The starry sky reflected the entire pond, green willows were sprouting by the pond, and pleasure boats were swaying on the pond.

Du Lingjing's face was already flushed when he saw him ordering people to clean up the pleasure boat and spread a thick quilt before entering. But he felt that this place was nicer.

At this moment, two maids suddenly came over, took out two rag dolls, and placed the pair of dolls for praying for a child on both sides of the pillow, one on the left and one on the right.

After releasing the puppets, the two maids quickly retreated. There was no one else on the pleasure boat, only rippling waves.

He picked her up and placed her between the two dolls for having a child.

He let the two dolls hold her on both sides. Du Lingjing's face was burning like fire, but the houseboat was narrow and she had nowhere to escape.

How could she not know what was going to happen next?

She simply didn't dare to look at him.

Lu Shenru saw his wife lying awkwardly between the two dolls, her face as red as a bright spring flower, the collar of her thin shirt falling below her tender shoulders, and she tried hard to pull it up.

He lowered his head and smiled.

Pray for a child.

He thought that judging from her reluctance to accept the imperial decree in the beginning, she might have wanted to avoid having children.

After all, they had been making love for several months, but she was not pregnant.

But the incense that the nanny always lit for them had the effect of aiding pregnancy. The two effects canceled each other out, so the issue of having children became uncertain.

He had never asked her more about this matter, because he didn't want to hear her tell him directly that she didn't want it.

But today, she placed a pair of little dolls under the window, praying for a child.

So, his Quanquan wants to have a child with him, right?

The man's eyes were so dark that they could not be melted.

Du Lingjing just felt that he was going to eat someone again.

But he gently rubbed the soft spot of her waist with his fingertips.

He chuckled.

"My lady and I will live up to the blessing of God this time."

The pleasure boat was swaying in the water. He didn't know when he had someone untie the rope tied to the shore, and the boat drifted to the center of the pool.

The stars fell on the water, and the pleasure boats, caressed by the spring breeze, flowed with the starlight.

The boat is full of spring dreams, pressing down on the starry sky.

... ...

That night we really stayed in a pleasure boat on the water.

He placed the two dolls under the window of the pleasure boat, and held them in his arms under the quilt, swaying with the waves.

"Quanquan, do you want to go to Jiangnan?" he said to himself, "I only took a quick glance and never stopped to stay, which is a pity."

It turned out that he wanted to travel around the south of the Yangtze River.

Du Lingjing rarely saw him having the leisure time to think, and she thought he was too busy to take care of these things.

As expected, he said, "Your Highness is still too young. It would be better if he were as old as Prince Yong."

After the new year, King Hui was only nine years old. It would take at least another six or seven years for him to establish himself.

She heard him sigh deeply.

Du Lingjing raised her head and looked at him. The starlight reflected on the water surface fell into his half-closed eyes.

She couldn't help but say.

"Only the stones need not sigh. Throughout history, the most beautiful Jiangnan region with misty rain, smoky willows and painted bridges is all in the writings of literati and poets, in their articles and poems."

She smiled softly, "You've already experienced it."

Her voice was as moist and gentle as the spring water in the pond at night. The man was stunned and looked down into her eyes. There was a gentle smile in her eyes, and the only shadow reflected in her eyes was him.

Lu Shenru moved closer to her face and looked at her carefully.

"Quanquan, you are finally willing to say a few soft words to me."

Soft words? Du Lingjing was stunned. So this is the soft words he wanted? What kind of soft words are these?

She really couldn't help laughing out loud. She couldn't understand what he was thinking, and he had already lowered his head and kissed her lips where she had spoken soft words.

The spring breeze blew through the window lattice. Du Lingjing did not avoid it, but raised her neck actively.

Although he and she were just an accidental match made in heaven, they were able to be so honest with each other and open with each other under such a strange combination of circumstances, which was rare in the world.

... ...

As February approaches, the Spring Examination is only a few days away.

Manager Zhao ordered someone to print out a set of the military books that Du Lingjing and Feng Xiang had compiled together and sent them to the marquis's mansion.

Du Lingjing flipped through it carefully. It was clearly printed, with detailed content and illustrations on the left.

More importantly, she didn’t actually value this set of books. Someone picked them out and praised them when he was helping her sort through the books she had collected.

He didn't know yet that she had already repaired and printed it for him. Du Lingjing was about to have someone send it to Yuanxiu Pavilion in his outer courtyard, but after thinking it over, she decided to go there herself.

Unexpectedly, before she left the house, Chang Pu came over and said to her, "Madam, the Sixth Master has arrived at our old house in Chengqingfang and is asking you to come over."

Du Lingjing looked puzzled when she heard this.

Liu Lang has a place to stay in Beijing, and the Spring Examination is only two days away. Why would he go to Chengqingfang?

She had read the articles for him. He wanted to see her a few days ago and asked her to go to Hongluo Temple.

She thought that if she suddenly went to Hongluo Temple to see Liu Lang, someone would be unhappy, so she didn't go.

Why did Liu Lang come to Chengqingfang today?

"What's his business?"

Chang Pu scratched his head and said he didn't know, "Sixth Master didn't say. But the entrance examination is coming soon, maybe it has something to do with this."

Du Lingjing also guessed that it might be related to his imperial examination. Imperial examinations were a big deal and only took place once every three years. Du Lingjing could not neglect it, so he had to put down the book in his hand, change his clothes and go to Chengqingfang.

But when she arrived at Du's residence in Chengqingfang, he was not there. Instead, he sent someone to invite her, "Sixth Master, please go to Zhenyue Tower."

Since Du Lingjing was here, they had no choice but to go to the Zhenyue Tower not far away.

However, when she arrived at the Zhenyue Tower, she saw Jiang Fengchuan drinking with others in a private room upstairs.

There was a person sitting opposite. Du Lingjing didn't walk in immediately. Instead, she took a look through the crack in the door and raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Sitting opposite him was a young eunuch who was in charge of serving at palace banquets in the West Garden of the Imperial City. Unfortunately, Du Lingjing had met him twice at the palace banquets before the New Year. How could he be invited to the Pillow Moon Tower by Liu Lang this time?

She didn't know what he was doing, but Jiang Fengchuan in the private room had already gotten the young eunuch drunk, but he himself was not drunk. When he saw her finally coming, he asked the eunuch a question outside the door.

"Please tell me more about the palace banquet at Taiye Lake during the Dragon Boat Festival last year, eunuch."

The young eunuch was drunk and asked, "Sixth Master, are you asking about Marquis Lu's marriage granted by the imperial decree? Didn't we talk about it?"

He muttered and fell asleep on the table.

Du Lingjing frowned when she heard the words "Imperial decree granting marriage".

She didn't know what Liu Lang wanted to do, but it was obviously not something serious, so she turned around and was about to leave.

But before she could take a step forward, someone came out of the private room, stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.

Du Lingjing wanted to shake him off, but failed and just listened to him.

"Don't you want to know how Lu Shenru and you got married by imperial decree?"

Du Lingjing said in a deep voice, "I already understand this matter, there is nothing more I want to know."

"Understand?" Jiang Fengchuan smiled when he heard it. "Lu Shenru told you that this is all the will of the emperor, right? You have only been married to him for less than half a year, and you already trust him so wholeheartedly?"

When he said this, he looked down and saw the coldness in her eyes. She didn't refute at all, so she really believed that man.

He laughed more and more hoarsely, and the smell of alcohol spread all over his body.

Only half a year...

He suddenly asked, "Do you still think of my third brother in your dreams at midnight?"

Do you know that person was willing to commit suicide for you? !

He didn't say the last part. He couldn't bear to let her know, so he could only hold it in.

But he held her wrist and watched her closely.

Du Ling stood still.

Sanlang... ...She seemed to have not dreamed of Sanlang for a long time.

She closed her eyes and said, "Liu Lang, what do you want to do?"

She finally softened her tone, and Jiang Fengchuan gave her his wrist.

"Nothing. I just want you to hear some truth."

Du Lingjing pursed her lips, "But the marriage was entirely the emperor's idea. I already know that it has nothing to do with the marquis."

She had just suspected him about this matter, and she didn't want to do it again.

Besides, he had promised her word for word in front of her.

But Rokuro asked, "Really? Are you so sure?"

Du Lingjing straightened her voice, "I'm sure."

"Ha!" Jiang Fengchuan laughed. He asked her to listen outside the door. "I'll go in and help you confirm it again."

After he finished speaking, he turned around and went back to the private room.

He woke up the eunuch and drank a pot of wine.

The eunuch praised in a daze, "Master Jiang Liu is a wine immortal!"

Jiang Fengchuan just smiled, then poured himself another full cup and held it in front of the young eunuch's face.

"Eunuch, please tell me in detail about Marquis Lu's marriage granted by the imperial decree."

Seeing that he was determined to listen, the eunuch sighed twice.

He said, "Since Mr. Jiang Liu has learned about this from His Royal Highness Prince Yan, and His Royal Highness has mentioned it, there is nothing I cannot say. Besides, Shao Tanhua is dead, and this wine is so fragrant, I will tell you."

At that time in Hongluo Temple, His Royal Highness Prince Yan said that Lord Lu did not ask for an imperial decree for the Mid-Autumn Festival, but for the Dragon Boat Festival Palace Banquet. However, the prince stopped there and did not say any more.

Jiang Fengchuan took great pains to find the eunuch who served at the Dragon Boat Festival Palace Banquet, and it was this person in front of him.

This person is in charge of the palace banquets at Taiye Lake in the Western Garden. He is not as tight-lipped as the palace servants around the emperor.

After drinking, Jiang Fengchuan asked several times and he finally spoke.

The smell of alcohol in the private room made it difficult to breathe.

Du Lingjing heard him speak through the half-open door.

"Only the Emperor, Prince Yan, and the Marquis were there at that time. Those noble families had already told the Prince about the marriage this year, and they would not really wait until the Mid-Autumn Festival to make a decision. The Prince got the list and took the opportunity to let the Emperor review it during the palace banquet."

Some families have already decided which family they will marry into, but others are just waiting for the emperor's opinion.

The emperor naturally would not decide immediately, but would slowly think about it until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

That day, after the emperor looked at the list, he turned around and asked Yongding Marquis Lu Shenru.

"As for your marriage, you and your sister are fine, neither of you is in a hurry, but there are few men in the capital who are not married at the age of twenty-five. Only you and Wei Jue... ...you siblings are not in a hurry, but I am anxious for you."

The emperor said, "Why don't you choose one this year and don't delay any longer."

The emperor asks about Marquis Yongding's marriage every year, and not just this year.

But in previous years, the Marquis had always declined. But this time, the Marquis did not refuse. Instead, he stood up and thanked His Majesty.

He stood up to thank him, and the King of Yan said, "It's rare," and personally handed over the list, "My Lord, please choose one of these noble ladies from various families who are waiting to be selected."

All the noble ladies in Beijing were chosen by him.

But he turned the pages of the list one by one, until he reached the end, and suddenly closed the list.

He asked for pen and ink.

The emperor agreed immediately.

The smell of alcohol makes people dizzy.

"... My Lord, eliminate all the candidates one by one, and finally write down the name of the Marquis' wife, who is not even on the list, and submit it!"

Du Lingjing stood outside the door, and the sounds from the entire Zhenyue Tower disappeared in an instant.

Lu Weishi, that’s not what you said.

She was in a trance and heard the eunuch speak again.

"But Shao also wanted to marry the Marquis' wife, and they got in the way. The Marquis had already decided to marry the Du family. The whole capital thought it was the emperor's will, so Marquis Lu would naturally not come out to refute the rumor. The Marquis's mind is so deep that no one can guess it..."

Du Ling stood silently outside the door, and Jiang Fengchuan suddenly asked a question.

"Eunuch, can you take this seriously?"

Jiang Fengchuan said, looking at her outside the door. The eunuch was drunk, but his mouth was not drunk, and he responded immediately.

"Of course I take it seriously! If even one word of this is false, I will drown in the Taiye Lake tomorrow!"