Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Waiting for Him
Before Du Lingjing could regain her composure, the man had already strode past the crowd and walked straight towards her.
She was surprised and wanted to stand up to greet him, but before she stood up, he held her hand and sat down beside her.
"Why is the Marquis here?" she asked.
His eyebrows and eyes were happy, "Nothing, I'll sit with you for a while."
Du Lingjing was a little confused about the situation. Seeing that he was just sitting there, he had nothing to ask her or the manager.
She had no choice but to continue sitting with him.
Lu Shenru held her hand in his own. Her hand was a little stiff at first, but gradually relaxed.
He seldom came to the meeting room of the stewards of the Marquis' Mansion. Even the chief steward of the clan rarely came unless it was important business in the mansion.
He looked at the people around him, and couldn't help wanting to laugh when he thought of her sitting upright but her eyes were fixed on the begonias in the courtyard.
She could actually do things for him? And she did it in a very professional way...
But now that she was already here, if he took her away directly, the people below might suspect that she had no authority to manage the household, which would damage her dignity as a marquis's wife.
At this moment, all the managers and servants were secretly looking upwards.
They only saw that the Marquis had a very happy look on his face, holding his wife's hand in his palm. His wife was still sitting there. But the Marquis saw them stop and said something.
"Madam is listening, go on."
Everyone immediately stopped their furtive glances. However, the lady was willing to listen to the trivialities of daily life that had just been discussed, but how could they dare to waste the Marquis' time with these trivialities?
The stewards glanced at each other and told the servants to only talk about the most important things.
Less than half an hour later, the matter that had been nagging for a long time was finally over. The people below were about to leave the meeting room, and Du Lingjing had not yet come to her senses.
So fast?
She blinked her eyes, and seeing that everyone in the hall had left, she turned to look at the marquis beside her.
The man curled his eyes at her and said, "Are you tired of sitting? Let's go out for a walk."
Du Lingjing nodded and walked out with him.
He held her hand tightly and never let go, so she could only let him do it. When they walked to the begonia in the courtyard, he stopped and asked her a question in a low voice.
"This crabapple tree is blooming beautifully. Do you want to move it to our yard?"
Du Lingjing was stunned for a moment, not knowing why he suddenly proposed this matter, but when she thought that she seemed to be listening to what was going on but was actually distracted by looking at the flowers, she felt a little embarrassed.
"Uh... no thanks."
Unexpectedly, he laughed and held her hand with a little force.
"It's okay, as long as you like it."
As he spoke, he called his followers behind him and moved the flowers over in a moment.
Du Lingjing had a strange guess. She wondered if he knew that she was secretly daydreaming just now?
But she was looking at the flowers and even the stewards and servants below didn't notice, so how could he know?
She couldn't figure it out, and he didn't say much. He just took her hand and walked towards the garden at the back.
Jiqingfang, where the Yongding Marquis's residence was located, surrounded the northwest corner of the imperial city. Because it was close to the imperial city, Taipingcang, and Huguo Temple, all the residents were dignitaries. Even so, the residence of the Yongding Marquis's residence occupied a small part of the streets and alleys of Jiqingfang south of Taipingcang.
In the past, the Yongding Marquis' Mansion was very prosperous, as could be seen from the numerous gates and courtyards of the mansion.
However, after the war in the 14th year of Hongqi, the Yongding Marquis' Mansion was severely damaged. Not only the mansion of the direct branch of the marquis, but also more than half of the side branches of the same family were damaged.
As for the legitimate branch, Du Lingjing looked at the huge marquisate, and found that only Lu Shenru was left.
He led her all the way inside.
Passing by two large houses, both of which were locked, he whispered, "This is the yard of my second and third uncle's house."
There's no one here anymore.
On the first day of the wedding, he took her to the ancestral hall. Du Lingjing saw that under the tablet of his grandfather, the old Marquis of Yongding, there were the tablets of his three sons. Next to the tablet of Lu Shenru's father was the tablet of his mother, who had passed away many years ago. Although his two aunts were still alive, they did not stay in Beijing and were probably widowed in their hometown in the countryside.
More than half of the huge mansion collapsed, and he was the only one left to guard the mansion with the red-lettered iron certificate and the northwestern border of the dynasty.
There are not many people left in the marquis' mansion, but he still has 200,000 Yongding soldiers behind him, and he is the only one who can hold on.
Now he pointed to a small courtyard in front with a newly decorated door and spoke to her.
"No one lives here, but this is the queen's yard, so it still needs to be renovated every year."
Du Lingjing looked over and saw that the courtyard was not big. Inside was a small building that was common in the south of the Yangtze River. It was indeed renovated and exquisite in every detail. However, since no one lived there, it was still a bit deserted.
Du Lingjing couldn't help but look at the man silently.
He had to shoulder the 200,000 Yongding troops, and he also had to support the imperial concubine and Prince Hui in the deep palace...
He turned around, and Du Lingjing saw that the joy on his face that came from nowhere was still there, so she spoke to her softly.
"The garden of the Marquis's Mansion was built under the supervision of the Ministry of Works based on the garden of the Palace. It is quite interesting. Would you like to go and take a look?"
However, before Du Lingjing could express her opinion, Chongping came from behind.
"My Lord, several of the staff members want to see you for something."
The man paused, and Du Lingjing saw that the joy on his face faded a little. He did not respond to Chongping immediately, but just asked her.
"You go walk around the garden, I'll be right back, okay?"
Du Lingjing was actually not very interested in the mansion garden of the Marquis's Mansion, but when he asked her about it, she nodded inexplicably.
"good."
His dark eyes flickered in the sunlight, and his gaze lingered on her face for a few moments. Du Lingjing felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by him, so he reluctantly let go of her hand and turned away.
He went with Chongping, leaving Chongan to lead her to the garden.
Qiulin also followed and first wiped her hand that had just been held by someone. Du Lingjing glanced at her and she muttered softly.
"My Lord is really clingy."
"..." Du Lingjing was a little embarrassed.
She signaled Qiulin to stop talking nonsense and followed Chongan inside.
I didn't want to walk far when suddenly a few white geese fluttered out from the grass.
Du Lingjing looked at it carefully. It was a Huzhou Taihu goose, with a long neck, a snow-white body, and an elegant posture. But its eyes were quite sharp.
Du Lingjing was just thinking about it when she saw someone's travel notes record that these geese were no worse than dogs and could drive away thieves at night. Just as her thoughts were about to reach this point, she saw several large geese pouncing towards them.
Qiu Lin took a deep breath and quickly protected Du Lingjing and moved aside.
Chong'an didn't expect these geese to be so bold.
The treasure that the Marquis held in his hands for fear of dropping it, and held in his mouth for fear of melting, was pounced upon by these ungrateful geese.
He quickly took the scabbard and started fighting, but he didn't expect that there was usually no one in the garden, and this group of geese thought they were the leaders, and the leader actually started fighting with Chong'an.
Chong'an couldn't really draw his sword in front of his wife, so he could only use the scabbard to fight the goose. Goose feathers flew into the sky and the fight went on for a while.
Qiu Lin couldn't help laughing out loud.
Du Lingjing couldn't help laughing.
But Qiulin was still afraid that his own girl would be in trouble, so he protected Du Lingjing and walked to the other side.
After they walked a few steps, they saw several small courtyards not far from the main courtyard, hidden among the trees nearby.
Qiu Lin blinked and couldn't help but say this.
"I haven't heard that the Marquis has a concubine, but does he have other concubines who are not officially recognized?"
Du Lingjing had only been married into the mansion for a few days, but the marquis had never asked a girl to serve her tea.
She said she didn't know, but Qiu Lin looked at the courtyards that were very suitable for accommodating concubines and whispered.
"Madam, do you still remember the rumors outside?" She blinked, "The Tatar singer in the Candlelight Tower has disappeared in the past few years. People outside say that she has entered the Marquis's backyard."
Du Lingjing remembered the rumor. The Hu Ji in the rumor was in his backyard. He doted on her very much. Hu Ji had given birth to three sons and two daughters for him... When Du Lingjing thought of this, she couldn't help but recall the chaotic dream she had on the day she first heard the rumor.
He did dote on Hu Ji in his dream, but before he knew it, Hu Ji turned into her.
Du Lingjing was startled, and heard Chong'an driving away the big goose and walking towards her, and she burst out laughing.
Qiulin felt that her voice was low enough, but Chongan still heard it. She was very embarrassed, but she just asked.
"Guard An, are the rumors true? If the Marquis has a concubine, or if there really is a Hu concubine who has given birth to a child for the Marquis, you should tell the Madam."
This question made Chong'an want to laugh even more, but when he looked up, he saw the Marquis coming back.
Chong'an didn't dare to laugh openly, but when he saw the Marquis closed his eyes, obviously he heard Qiulin's words. He wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, so he could only purse his lips and hold it back in his chest.
When Qiu Lin saw the Marquis coming, he quickly tightened his mouth.
Du Lingjing also felt embarrassed, as if she was the one questioning.
But he just looked at her.
He didn't say anything for a moment, just looked at her steadily as he walked towards her.
Chong'an signaled Qiulin to step aside, leaving only him and her here.
The wind caused ripples on the autumn water in the small pond, and blew the moisture on the water surface between the two people's light belts.
Du Lingjing looked at him awkwardly, avoiding his gaze. He walked in front of her, until he was so close that his toes were almost touching and their breathing could be heard.
He tilted his head helplessly, next to her ear.
"Quanquan," he called her, "I have neither concubines nor maids."
He sighed softly as he spoke, "There is no Tatar princess or singer who has ever given birth to a child for me."
"... ..."
Du Lingjing was so embarrassed that she didn't know how to answer.
It’s really Qiulin’s fault for being too curious.
She could only whisper, "I know."
He said, "You are the only one I have."
Du Lingjing suddenly recalled the day of their wedding, when they had not consummated their marriage.
And he seemed to see through her thoughts at a glance, he just said softly.
"I'm waiting for you."
The gentle breeze could not blow away the moisture on the water that was stuck between the two people.
Du Lingjing's heart beat faster and she stood there in a daze.
However, the man threw away the embarrassment and helplessness caused by the rumors just now, took her hand again, and pointed to the rockery made of Taihu stones behind the pond with a smile.
"Let's go up there. From there we can see a corner of the palace and the moat outside the square. The view is very beautiful."
She was still a little dazed, her long feathery eyelashes fluttering slightly, and although she was in a daze, she did not look nervous or tense.
The man watched quietly, and holding her hand, he walked to the hexagonal pavilion at the highest point of the rockery.
The wind rustled in from the edge of the imperial city.
He turned his head to look at the person beside him and the entire marquis' mansion, and the corners of his mouth curled up more and more.
There is only him and her here, no one else.
*
It was clearly late autumn in the capital, but in the Yongding Marquis Mansion in Jiqingfang, it was like a spring breeze.
Marquis Lu has been in high spirits since he got married, and the whole capital can see it.
A few months ago, someone made a report on the Shaanxi Provincial Commander in front of the emperor.
All the military commanders in Shaanxi were from the Yongding Army and were Marquis Lu's own men. Some people had reported that the military commanders in Shaanxi had wantonly expanded military farms, seized the land of the common people, and privately owned the farms to the generals, and that the court should investigate and punish them severely.
As soon as this incident happened, people from Prince Yong's faction submitted memorials one after another, demanding a thorough investigation and dragging the entire Yongding army into the water. They openly and covertly attacked the Yongding Marquis's Mansion for allowing soldiers to oppress the people, and said that Yongding Marquis Lu Shenru had too many troops and should be severely reduced.
The emperor paid no attention to what the marquis said, but this spring there was a drought and food shortages in various places, so the emperor had to order a strict investigation into the military farming in Shaanxi.
Unexpectedly, a few months later, the results were finally found out.
There were indeed people in Shaanxi who oppressed the people, hoarded land, and evaded grain taxes.
It was not the Shaanxi Dusi, not the Yongding Army, and certainly not the Marquis Lu, but several princes and relatives whose fiefs were in Shaanxi.
Now not only were the people who participated in the performance embarrassed, but all of them became nervous.
Instead of catching any evidence against Lu, he slandered the family and handed the evidence directly to Lord Lu.
If this happened as before, the Marquis would definitely take the opportunity to uproot those who had thrown dirty water on him. The mildest punishment would be dismissal from office and expulsion from the capital, while the worst would be confiscation of property and exile.
But this time, Marquis Lu, who was in high spirits, just smiled at the emperor and soon spread the word.
His teachings are to be lenient and gentle, and not to retaliate against injustice. God has the virtue of loving life.
He just raised his hand and let it go so lightly, and the bloody storm disappeared without a trace in these three sentences.
His kindness left the civil officials at a loss for several days.
The court was also peaceful for several days.
Needless to say, the Emperor specially rewarded the Yongding Marquis's Mansion with many gold and silver items.
Du Lingjing also gradually returned to her own affairs.
The marquis told her that she didn't need to go to the council room anymore, but instructed the steward to report to her every half a month on important matters in the mansion, such as personnel exchanges between the various mansions.
Du Lingjing thought to herself that this really saved her a lot of trouble. She had no interest in the power of the household finances of the Marquis' Mansion, but if the steward could pick out the important things, it would help her sort out the relationships in the capital and even the entire court as soon as possible so that she would have a clear idea of what was going on.
She agreed.
But Ruan Gong came and told her something.
She had previously thought that she was led all the way to the gates of the capital by eight ancient books from the Song Dynasty, so she asked Ruan Gong to find her father's old friend, Mr. Zhang, who ran a bookstore in the outer city, to find out if there was anything strange about them.
It is not ruled out that she might have been led all the way to the capital.
But Ruan Gong came back and said that Mr. Zhang had gone out a few days ago, "and he has not returned yet, and the bookstore is closed."
Du Lingjing raised her eyebrows.
She inexplicably thought of the disappearance of the Hu brothers and sisters, and her younger brother Zhan Ming said that other people were also missing, such as Mr. Liao Xu.
Both the Hu brothers and sisters and Mr. Liao Xu knew her, and Shao Boju had previously wanted to force a marriage with her through Madam Wan and her uncle...
Du Lingjing thought of this and asked Ruan Gong to find out where Mr. Shu Sizhang had gone. Then he mentioned a few other people, all of whom were his father's old friends or students. "You ask someone to go to these people's homes to see if there is anything wrong."
Ruan Gong straightened his expression and quickly took the order.
The days slipped into late autumn. Changpu went to Qingzhou and back. Now he returned to the Marquis' Mansion and brought back Manager Zhao from the Du's Printing House.
Ai Ye calculated the date for them. They were supposed to arrive yesterday, but they only entered Beijing this afternoon.
Du Lingjing asked, "Is the road safe?"
Chang Pu Lian said that everything was fine, but pointed at Shopkeeper Zhao, "Shopkeeper Zhao insisted on going to see the tall building of the Marquis's Mansion outside the city yesterday, so he took a detour and was delayed for a long time."
Shopkeeper Zhao was a shrewd businessman. When he entered the mansion, he kept looking around. Now he bowed to Du Lingjing and said.
"I didn't expect that the girl would marry into the Yongding Marquis's mansion after going out. The atmosphere of the Marquis's mansion is indeed extraordinary. I have seen it."
As he spoke, he pulled out a box from his sleeve that contained a mutton-fat jade pendant, which was a wedding gift for the girl.
Qiu Lin was speechless, but still accepted it on behalf of Du Lingjing. At this time, Shopkeeper Zhao said again.
"The young lady asked me to come to the capital, but she wanted to build another Mian Tower in the capital."
His eyes lit up as he spoke, "I went to see the tall building in the Marquis's mansion yesterday, and heard that it was the betrothal gift from the Marquis. Ah, our Mianlou and Seal Society, won't it become the number one library in the north in the future?!"
Qiu Lin rolled her eyes when she saw his shallow eyelids.
Du Lingjing was not angry, but just said to Manager Zhao.
"After all, it is the building of the Marquis's Mansion, so I can't use it. I let you come to Beijing only because I want to open another seal company in Beijing. There is no need to buy a building, so don't worry about anything else."
When Shopkeeper Zhao heard this, his back collapsed.
"My Lord thinks so highly of you that he gave you such a valuable building as a present. Do you really not want it?"
Before Du Lingjing could speak, Qiu Lin finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Did the Third Master treat you badly in the past? All you talk about is the Marquis's family."
When asked this question, Shopkeeper Zhao frowned and lowered his head.
Du Ling was silent for a moment, then remembered something and asked Manager Zhao and Changpu.
"Did you pass through Baoding on your way here?"
Changpu nodded and said that he had stayed in Baoding for one night. Du Lingjing asked about the search for someone in Baoding, and Changpu said that he had not heard of finding him yet.
Du Lingjing could only nod and asked, "Have you seen Liu Lang?"
Shopkeeper Zhao said he had seen him. "It just so happened that the Jiang family asked me to send some money to Mr. Jiang Liu, so I met with Mr. Liu."
Upon hearing this, Du Lingjing motioned for him to speak, and he said that Jiang Fengchuan was indeed in Baoding helping to find someone.
"Sixth Master said that the people who were lost in the academy were all acquainted with Third Master, and no one knows where they are now."
Du Lingjing paused.
"Do you all know Saburo?"
Shopkeeper Zhao said yes.
"You also know that Sixth Master cares about Third Master's affairs. Even if Third Master has passed away, Sixth Master will still look for him. Once he finds the person, he will tell Third Master, and then Third Master in heaven will not worry anymore."
He repeated Jiang Liulang's words, but Du Lingjing fell silent and looked at the Song Dynasty edition book on the desk.
Liu Lang was an abandoned child in the clan. His biological father had a falling out with his parents and the clan and left. His biological mother also disappeared. He grew up in the countryside eating at other people's homes.
When Sanlang returned home one day, he saw that he had been driven out for stealing the villagers' pancakes. In the middle of winter, he was wearing tattered clothes and didn't even have a pair of shoes, so he took him home.
Sanlang's mother was also sickly, and the couple had only Sanlang as their child, so they kept this abandoned child and adopted him as their son.
Liulang is two years younger than Sanlang, but because he has not had enough food and clothing since childhood, he looks like he is four or five years younger.
He followed Sanlang every day. Sanlang gave him a name, opened a yard for him, and personally took him to study.
When Sanlang was sixteen years old and won the title of top scholar in the imperial examination, before Jiang had time to celebrate, Liulang ran around the city shouting.
"My brother! My brother won the first place in the Autumn Examination! My brother is the top scorer!"
He shouted so loudly that he wished everyone in the city knew that his brother had become the top scholar, which made Sanlang laugh and feel helpless.
However, the title of Jieyuan that year consumed too much of Sanlang's energy, and he was unable to take part in the imperial examination the following year. He had hoped to take care of his health and take his time, but his health was not good enough. He could only wait until the imperial examination, sitting alone in the quiet study, gazing at the endless spring scenery in the north.
Liu Lang knew what he was thinking and put all his effort into taking the imperial examination.
He said that as long as he could pass the exam, in the spring of the following year, "I would carry my brother to the capital even if I had to carry him on my back. Then we two brothers would be in the exam hall together and we would be able to take care of each other."
He kept his word, and Yin You actually passed the imperial examination in the seventh year.
Although he was ranked last, he was as happy as if Sanlang had already entered the examination hall for the Spring Examination.
He was left in Jinan by his master, and wrote five letters in a row to Sanlang, urging him to pack his luggage quickly so that when he returned from Jinan, they brothers would set off for Beijing before the New Year.
Sanlang was also very happy.
He only wrote seven or eight letters to his old friends and peers, hoping that they would help his younger brother more in the future because of their old friendship.
But that year, he only had time to write a short letter to Liu Lang, asking him to stay in Jinan and study with peace of mind, and then he passed away.
When Liu Lang rushed back after hearing the news of the death, even his hair was disheveled.
At that time, the entire Jiang family was in grief, and everyone was crying in front of the mourning hall. He stood outside the mourning hall and asked word by word.
"Why did my brother die?"
Saburo's illness has lasted for many years, and everyone expected that he would not live long.
But he just stood in the strong wind in front of the mourning hall and asked.
"Why did my brother die?"
He said that he and his brothers had agreed to go to Beijing together to take the spring examination, and he had finally passed the exam, just a few months away, just a few months away.
He said that he would carry his brother to the capital and to the examination hall even if he had to do it on his back.
"So why did my brother die?!"
At that time, Du Lingjing walked out of the mourning hall. When he saw her, he could only ask in a hoarse voice.
"Sister-in-law, why?"
Du Lingjing couldn't tell how many tears she shed that day, and she didn't know how to comfort Liu Lang.
Liu Lang silently changed into mourning clothes and said, "I will mourn for my brother for three years."
There was no precedent for a younger brother to observe strict mourning for his older brother, so the clan told him not to act up and that three months would be enough.
He just sneered, "Three months? My brother is only worth three months?"
His clan didn't allow it, but they couldn't stop him. With the spring examination approaching, people from Jinan urged him to go to Beijing, but he simply ignored them and locked himself at home, guarding Sanlang for a whole year.
It was not until the following year when rumors spread that the Jiang and Du families had their brother succeed the younger brother that Jiang's father and mother forcibly kicked him out of the house.
He still didn't want to leave, but his parents said, "If you have the heart, you should take your third brother's place and finish the journey he couldn't take."
That day, he said yes.
Du Lingjing met him in front of Mian Tower.
From afar, I saw someone walking out of the morning mist.
He was wearing the bamboo green robe that Sanlang was most used to wearing, and was leading the white Western horse that he rode when she first met Sanlang.
The moment he walked out of the morning mist, she stood in front of the door of Mian Tower and couldn't help but call out softly.
"Sanlang..."
It wasn't until he came closer that she could see clearly and silently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
He said goodbye to her and said he was going out to study.
She prepared some extra money for him, but he refused to take it and just asked her a question.
"I will go to the capital to take the imperial examination for my third brother and come back. Sister-in-law, will you wait for him to pass the imperial examination?"
"meeting."
Definitely.
But the wind blew in from the lofty courtyards of the capital, and what was in front of him was no longer Qingzhou and Mianlou, but the mansion of Yongding Marquis.
Du Lingjing was in a trance for a moment.
"How is Mukuro?"
Shopkeeper Zhao said that Mr. Jiang Liu was a good person, "but he was tired from looking for someone, so he lost some weight, and looked a bit like Mr. San."
Having said that, he remembered that he was in the Marquis' Mansion and quickly shut up.
Du Lingjing asked again.
"Did he say anything else?"
Shopkeeper Zhao looked up at her.
"Sixth Master did say that."
Du Lingjing was not surprised.
Shopkeeper Zhao said, "Sixth Master said that he would come to Beijing in person to visit his wife."
Du Ling was silent for a moment, the wind made the doors and windows creak.
"knew."
As she was speaking, she heard a report coming from outside. She looked up and saw the Marquis, dressed in a black robe, coming back from outside. He smiled as soon as he saw her.
"I brought you a packet of Liaohuatang."
Du Lingjing paused slightly, and the reactions of the other people in the room were also a little hesitant.
The atmosphere was no longer as warm as the spring days before, and was now slightly chilly like autumn.
The man who had been known in the capital for his handsome face recently raised his eyebrows imperceptibly. His expression did not change, and his eyes swept across everyone, finally landing on his newlywed wife.
It doesn't look like anything happened.
So, is there anyone coming?
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