Chapter 23 Chapter 23
On the third day of the wedding, Du Lingjing returned home.
The alley in front of the Du Mansion in Chengqingfang was crowded with people who came to share in the good fortune.
Unfortunately, Uncle Du Zhiqi has not been relieved since his niece's wedding. Instead, he has been thinking about how to deal with it every day:
His niece married into the Yongding Marquis's mansion, which was a great joy to others. However, he quarreled with his niece a few days before the wedding and separated from her. The Shao family, who used to be very close to him, no one cares about him now. As for his mother-in-law's family, his uncle was almost beaten to death, but now he has finally survived. The whole family is in a bleak situation, and he can't even see his mother-in-law, Madam Wan... ...
What's worse is that he originally wanted to use his niece's marriage to get a good job, but now, he can't get any job.
He couldn't even sort out his own affairs, so naturally he couldn't take care of the people outside the door.
Du Runqing, who had been able to take care of some things, fell seriously ill, and the Gu family had no time to take care of them, so she took her mother, the Second Madam, and went to a farm outside the city before her sister returned home, and was not in the mansion at all.
Although Du Jicang did not leave, he was just a branch of the Du family in Chengqingfang and could not interfere in other people's affairs.
It was Lu Shenru who returned home with his newly-married wife. When he arrived at the door, he saw everyone congratulating him and gave instructions to Chong'an.
Chong'an immediately ordered people to bring out two large baskets of copper coins and distributed them enthusiastically to the people who came to congratulate the Du family in front of the door.
Everyone congratulated the Marquis on his great happiness. Du Lingjing saw the man smiling all the time, and the old doorman Wenbo opened the door for him personally.
"My Lord, please."
The man was very happy, but Du Lingjing heard him speaking to Wenbo in a gentle voice.
"Wen Bo should call me uncle."
Wen Bo was stunned and looked at Du Lingjing. Du Lingjing was also stunned, and heard Wen Bo politely change his words.
"Sir, please come in."
Du Lingjing saw that the man beside her was becoming more and more angry, so she walked into the door.
Du Zhiqi and Du Jicang were already waiting, but Du Lingjing looked over and raised her eyes.
"Zhan Ming is back?"
There was also a boy of about twelve or thirteen following the uncle and nephew.
The young man was dressed in a scholar's cloth robe, his whole body was clean, he was thin and stood upright, standing there like a new green bamboo in spring.
He is the young master of the Du family, Du Zhanming, the son of Du Zhiqi.
He had been studying in an academy in Baoding. Du Zhiqi originally wanted him to come back before his sister's wedding to accompany her in her marriage, but he didn't expect that he could make it in time and only saw her today.
Du Zhanming hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects to his sister and the marquis brother-in-law.
The reputation of Marquis Yongding was known to everyone. The scholars in the literati had mixed opinions about this powerful Marquis Lu. Zhan Ming could hear people mention him every day in the academy, either praising or scolding him. Now the Marquis had become his brother-in-law.
But the embarrassing thing was that he heard about the series of troubles that had happened earlier on his way back.
The young man was a little at a loss at the moment and did not dare to look up at the marquis. Instead, Lu Shenru asked Chong'an to bring a box over. He took it in his hands and gave it to Zhan Ming personally.
"A few pieces of Cheng Junfeng's ink. I wonder if Zhan Ming is used to using them."
Du Zhiqi raised his eyes and looked over after hearing these words.
Cheng Junfeng was the best ink maker of this dynasty, and his ink was extremely valuable. Lord Lu simply gave a few pieces to Zhan Ming, who had not yet passed the imperial examination to become a scholar.
Du Zhanming was also stunned, but Du Jicang reminded him in time not to forget to say thank you.
Du Lingjing also glanced at Mo twice, and then her eyes lightly glanced at the marquis beside her.
He even prepared a gift for Zhan Ming.
Zhan Ming thanked him, and Lu Shenru asked him a few questions about his studies. Being a military general, he was not unfamiliar with what Zhan Ming had learned.
"Zhan Ming just mentioned that 'a sage is the result of the accumulation of human effort'. If it is a school in the capital, I'm afraid it is not taught very much. It seems that the teacher in Baoding is a person who advocates the Xunzi school."
He said this with a smile. The young man saw that he looked happy and spoke with a smile, so he said, "That's right."
"Our teacher used to follow the new policies of my great uncle. He believed that 'law is the beginning of governance' and that 'rituals guide their aspirations and laws correct their behavior'. Zhan Ming deeply agrees with this!"
When he said that, the man laughed, and Du Jicang also looked at his younger brother with a smile.
Du Lingjing couldn't help but soften her gaze and asked him softly.
"Who is your husband in Baoding?"
But before he could finish his words, Du Zhiqi suddenly scolded his son.
"You have only studied for a few years, how much do you know about the profound meaning of the saints? You are showing off here, why don't you sit back down!"
After being scolded by his father, Du Zhanming quickly sat down without saying anything more.
The rare harmonious atmosphere in the hall suddenly stagnated.
Naturally, she could not respond to Du Lingjing's question, and she retracted the gentle gaze she had just given her.
Seeing this, the man put down the teacup in his hand.
The atmosphere in the hall became inexplicably depressing.
Zhan Ming lowered his head and dared not speak. Du Jicang looked at his uncle Du Zhiqi helplessly, and Du Zhiqi also realized something.
He is clearly the elder in the family, but how can he have a say in front of this marquis' son-in-law?
His face twitched without any embarrassment.
After thinking it over, he simply stood up and said, "I have some trivial matters to attend to. Please take a seat."
After saying that, he left.
Zhan Ming was at a loss as to what to do, and it was Lu Shenru who called him.
"My sister just asked you, which gentleman is it?"
Du Lingjing glanced at him and Zhan Ming replied.
"It's Mr. Liao Xuliao. He used to be an official in the court, but later resigned and came to teach in our academy."
Liao Xu.
Du Lingjing remembered this person.
The year he passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, his father was presiding over the spring examination. All the Jinshi were disciples of the emperor, but Liao Xu respected his father as his teacher more, and his father also invited him to their home several times.
Du Lingjing was still young at that time. She only remembered that every time Liao Xu came, he would bring her a packet of Liaohuatang from the gate of Longfu Temple.
Liaohuatang is a Shandong-style snack, and it is sold under the banner of Kongfujiatang, so it sells very well. Du Lingjing is used to it and likes it, but she often can't buy it.
But Mr. Liao always bought it. As soon as he entered the door, he called her over and stuffed it into her sleeve.
Every time the snacks were served, they were still hot.
"Little Jingniang, eat it while it's hot!"
... ...
Later, my father was displaced by the New Deal and was transferred to Guangdong and Guangxi for many years due to criticism. Now he is teaching in Baoding.
Du Lingjing couldn't help but ask, "Is Mr. Liao okay?"
Du Lingjing remembered that he had a chubby figure when he was young. His father said that he was very good at preparing delicious food. After not seeing him for more than ten years, he wondered if he was still as chubby as before.
Zhan Ming agreed, but hesitated for a moment, "It's just that the master hasn't been seen for half a month."
Du Lingjing raised an eyebrow, and Du Jicang asked, "Why is the master gone?"
Zhan Ming said that at first the teacher only asked the dean of the academy for a few days' leave, "but who knew that he never came back since then."
Lu Shenru was silent for a moment after hearing this, and then he spoke.
"Did he disappear with the Hu brothers and sisters?"
The siblings Hu Tinglan and Hu Tingjun have close ties with Shao Boju.
Du Lingjing straightened his expression.
Zhan Ming shook his head and said no, "But Mr. Liao and the eldest brother of the Hu family do know each other, and they often communicate."
He said, looking at Du Jicang and Lu Shenru, and finally at Du Lingjing's face.
"Don't blame me, big sister. The reason why Zhan Ming is late is because another teacher and two students are missing from the academy. The headmaster suspects that it is related to the disappearance of the Hu brothers and sisters, and has been sending us to search for them in various places."
When Du Zhiqi sent someone to call him home, he was out of town looking for someone, and the back and forth delays caused by this wasted time.
"Have you found the person?" Du Lingjing asked.
Zhan Ming shook his head, "Not yet."
Du Lingjing has also been sending people to look for the Hu brothers and sisters, but there is no news. It has been more than two months since they were missing.
She couldn't help but look at the man next to her.
At that time, she spread the news that Shao was plotting to murder the Hu brothers and sisters, which caused a storm overnight. It was all thanks to this marquis.
If there was anyone who least wanted to see Shao Boju being successful, it was him.
As soon as her eyes fell on the man, he understood what she meant.
He shook his head at her, "I don't have any news here either."
So many people seemed to have evaporated into thin air.
Du Lingjing pursed her lips and remained silent. Du Jicang asked about Zhan Ming again.
"Have all the people from your academy gone to look for him?"
Zhan Ming said, "The court's personnel are all looking for it in Zhending and Baoding. Many people came at the beginning, but they couldn't find it, so some of them withdrew. That's why the headmaster asked us to go out and look for it. Many other people who heard about it also came to help."
As he spoke, he thought of something and quickly told Du Lingjing.
"Sixth Brother Jiang is here too! The headmaster saw that Sixth Brother knew me, so he put me and him together!"
Jiang Liulang, Jiang Fengchuan.
Saburo's younger brother.
He was not Sanlang's brother from the same mother, but an abandoned child in the clan. Sanlang's parents took him home and adopted him as their son.
There is a line in Yuan opera: The evening clouds disperse, the setting sun hangs, there are maple leaves in the river, and reed flowers on both sides.
Jiang Fengchuan.
He was brought home by Sanlang himself, and his name was given to him by Sanlang according to his generation.
The two brothers are like real siblings.
After Sanlang passed away, Liulang was formally adopted by Sanlang's parents by the clan, to take care of his parents and enjoy their love on behalf of Sanlang.
But a rumor suddenly spread in the city that Dao Liulang was going to marry his brother's sister-in-law in place of his brother.
Both the Du and Jiang families are respectable families of scholars, and the girls of the Du family do not have to get married, so this kind of "brother succeeds the younger brother" thing cannot be done.
Not to mention that in Du Lingjing's heart, there is only Sanlang and no one else.
A year after Sanlang passed away, the Jiang family sent Liulang away to study abroad to avoid suspicion. Du Lingjing hadn't seen Liulang for two years.
She was surprised to hear that Liu Lang was also in Baoding.
"Why is Liu Lang here?" she asked Zhan Ming, "Does he recognize you?"
Zhan Mingdao knew, "Sixth Brother Jiang took good care of his younger brother. I thanked him repeatedly, but Sixth Brother said that we are a family and we should not talk about different things."
That’s exactly what Liu Lang would say, Du Lingjing thought to herself.
She was just about to ask again about Liu Lang's situation, but she heard Brother Cang cough twice.
This cough brought both the brother and sister back to their senses.
Zhan Ming looked at his brother-in-law at the top, who was not the third brother of the Jiang family, but the Marquis of Yongding, and he quickly shut up.
Du Lingjing was also stunned for a moment, and turned to look at the man, thinking that he might be unhappy, but he still looked happy, and asked a question when he saw her looking at him.
"Has Liu Lang been studying abroad?"
Then he said to her in a gentle voice, "If he arrives in the capital someday, let him stay in our house for a few days."
Du Jicang and Du Zhanming were both silent.
Of course Du Lingjing would not let the Jiang family live in the Marquis' Mansion, but she was still surprised to see that the Marquis could be so polite.
That day she was in a low mood and said something that hurt him for no reason, but he did not get angry and apologized to her instead; today when mentioning Liu Lang, Zhan Ming also said that Liu Lang said that the two families were originally one family, and he was not unhappy at all, but wanted to invite Liu Lang to stay in the Marquis' Mansion for a while.
Du Lingjing looked at him again and said, "No need."
"He has traveled and studied for many years, so he has his own destination."
After saying this, he exposed Jiang Liulang and said no more.
Everyone started talking about the disappearance of the Hu brothers and sisters, Mr. Liao and others.
When returning to the Marquis' Mansion from Chengqingfang, Du Lingjing thought that Hu Tingjun had a young child at home, but she had left the child behind and disappeared, and she felt secretly anxious.
She had exposed this matter before when Shao Boju wanted to marry her. For herself, of course, it was to break away from the Shao family. As for Tingjun and his sister, with the attention of people in the court, they should be able to show up soon.
Who would have thought that after so many days, it still hasn't appeared.
Instead, she broke Shao Boju's plan and married the Marquis of Yongding.
Shao Boju might even become more aggressive in his panic. Will it be even more detrimental to the Hu brothers and sisters?
Du Lingjing secretly felt something was wrong.
As she was thinking, someone beside her spoke.
"No news for now may not be bad news."
He mentioned Yu Ge, the aide of the Marquis' Mansion, "I will ask Mr. Yu to pay more attention to this matter and tell you as soon as there is any news. Don't worry too much."
He guessed her thoughts again and asked the staff of the Marquis' Mansion to keep an eye on her.
She currently had very limited manpower and could only do the bookstore, so she could only accept his favor.
In the evening, she went to bed before he came back from the outer courtyard.
He didn't delay and went to bed early.
The next morning, before dawn, he got up and went to court.
After Du Lingjing woke up, she washed up, had a quick meal, and then called Qiulin.
"Where are the daily assignments for the Marquis' Mansion?"
In a mansion like the Yongding Marquis' Mansion, there are far more servants than masters. It is impossible for Lu Shenru to be divided into many tasks to take care of such a large mansion.
He had never married before, and there was no news that he had concubines in the mansion. The household affairs were probably taken care of by the chief steward of the clan.
Qiu Lin asked her, "Why are you asking this, girl?"
The Marquis's Mansion had been without a mistress for many years, but it still functioned normally.
She asked, and saw the girl's eyes were lowered, and she whispered something.
"Call me Madam from now on."
Qiulin was surprised.
Du Lingjing only said, "When a duke or earl marries a woman, is he marrying her just to bring her home as a decoration? You have to do what you have to do."
Qiulin was silent for a moment, and said that in a quarter of an hour, the stewards would come to the directors' hall to assign matters, and the servants would also go there.
Upon hearing this, Du Lingjing stood up, changed her clothes, and went to the board of directors' room.
... ...
Today in the court, all that was heard was the same old rhetoric from Prince Yong and his group urging the appointment of a crown prince. The emperor ignored them and Lu Shenru didn't bother to take it to heart.
He went home after the court session.
According to his previous steps, he would only go to the study in the outer courtyard, but today was the first time he left court after his wedding.
The man asked Chong'an as he walked towards the inner courtyard.
"What is Madam doing right now? If she has been working on the book for a long time, even if Qiulin and the others don't remind her, you should remind her."
Chong'an was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, when did the Madam start to revise the book? Was the Marquis dreaming?
He couldn't help but say, "Madam is in the board of directors."
Lu Shenru paused.
"Can you say that again?"
Chong'an thought he had said something terrible, and choked for a moment before continuing.
"My Lord, Madam went to the Council Chamber early in the morning and has not returned since then."
The man stopped completely.
He thought that considering how reluctant she was when she got married, it was good enough that she could start taking care of her own house in the next two days.
But she was actually taking care of the affairs of the mansion for him?
The man walked straight to the outside of the council chamber.
Through the lattice window, he saw the person sitting at the upper seat in the hall.
She was wearing a sky-blue double-breasted jacket with dark patterns today, and only two pearl flowers were pinned on her bun.
Lu Shenru looked at it in surprise, finding it hard to believe for a moment.
She sat upright at the top with a serious face, listening to the steward assigning matters to the servants below.
It looks like that's the case.
But the things to do were too trivial, including which flowers and trees in the backyard needed to be repaired, which house needed tiles replaced, how many more maids and servants the Marquis's Mansion was going to buy to work in the mansion, and how many clothes each person needed to have made... every single thing was discussed in the hall.
The details are so trivial that it makes your ears buzz.
The man couldn't believe that she could listen carefully to all these trivial things?
She was in Qingzhou, and none of these things happened in Mianlou.
As he thought about it, he couldn't help but look at her face carefully.
Her face remained straight, as if she were really listening, but he looked into her eyes and tried to follow her gaze.
Passing by the stewards, servants, maids and old women in the hall, her eyes fell on the begonias in the courtyard.
Lu Shenru couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed quietly.
Chong'an didn't know what the Marquis was laughing at, but he saw the man striding over.
In the hall.
Du Lingjing's mind had already flown away.
The trivial matters in the Marquis' Mansion were so numerous that they were beyond her imagination. It was as if the small words in the book had flown out and turned into mosquitoes hovering around her ears.
She quietly looked at the begonias in the courtyard, trying to relax a little.
Now that I'm here, I have to listen to the whole thing, she thought.
However, at this moment, everyone in the hall suddenly stood up.
Everyone saluted.
"My Lord."
Before Du Lingjing could regain her composure, the man strode past the crowd and walked straight towards her with a smile in his eyes.
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