Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Interested
On the day she returned to Chengqingfang, Du Lingjing met a man in the old teahouse that her father often visited.
"Mr. Dou." She stepped forward.
The powerful cabinet minister, at this moment, was only wearing a plain cloth robe, sitting alone at a small table under the window, drinking tea like an ordinary person.
Du Lingjing walked over and he looked up at her. Du Lingjing asked him if she was sitting at the same table with him. The old man just drank the tea in his hand again and again without responding.
But Du Lingjing did not notice his refusal. She ordered tea and sat down quietly.
A few raindrops as big as beans fell outside, and a quick summer downpour instantly covered the old teahouse. The outward-facing windows were banging against them by the raindrops, but on both sides of the small table by the window, an old man and a young man were drinking tea quietly.
The elderly minister looked outside following the sound of rain, but when his eyes inadvertently passed over the woman opposite him, he paused slightly, even he noticed it.
When it's quiet, it's exactly the same...
But he didn't really stop to look, he just looked out the window.
Such a heavy rain is like a hasty encounter in the world. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the rain falls thoroughly and the sky clears up. But people are not like rain. Rain will evaporate quickly under the hot sun, but the encounter with people will remain in the memory for a long time.
Dou Ge Lao silently finished the remaining tea in the cup without ordering any more. However, when he looked up, he could not help but glance at the young man opposite him.
Du Lingjing spoke slowly.
"You have known my father, haven't you?"
Yesterday, the Marquis sent someone to inquire and got the result.
After getting married, her father took her mother to travel around to study. The two of them stayed in an academy in Henan for nearly two years. The academy was located adjacent to the remote county where Dou Ge Lao was squeezed out.
It is very likely that the two knew each other and got to know each other during those two years, but there is no clear evidence.
Du Lingjing asked softly, but Lord Dou just glanced at her.
“I don’t know.”
Du Lingjing paused, took a sip of tea and continued.
"My father loved to drink tea here. Tomorrow is the seventh anniversary of his death."
Seven years. It turns out that the person has been gone for seven years.
Dou Ge Lao couldn't help but be silent.
But then he said, "I don't know."
He didn't want to recognize her, and Du Lingjing didn't know what to say. At this time, Dou Ge Lao stood up, took out the money and put it on the table, then turned and left.
Du Lingjing looked at the tea money he left on the table and actually paid for her.
She also stood up and bowed behind Dou Ge Lao. The old man paused slightly, but did not stop, and walked away.
Du Lingjing sat in the teahouse that her father loved to visit last year for a while before getting up and leaving.
Who would have thought that just after leaving the teahouse and walking a few steps towards the Du family residence, I met another person.
"Commander Wei?"
It’s Wei Jue.
Wei Jue didn't expect to meet her here. He was stunned for a moment, "Madam, have you returned to Chengqingfang?"
Du Lingjing nodded. Seeing that his face was not very good, his eyebrows were drooping. When he saw Du Lingjing looking at him, he restrained his expression.
He said he just happened to be passing by.
He was not riding a horse, nor was he accompanied by any men, and he was wearing plain clothes.
Du Lingjing wanted to invite him to her house for a cup of tea, but he said he had important matters to attend to, so he left.
Du Lingjing frowned secretly and watched him walk away. When she returned to the door of her home, she looked up at the plaque on the door and saw the words "Du" and "Fu" written by her father and herself.
She looked up for a long time before stepping into the door.
Wenbo was waiting for her in the mansion. Du Lingjing asked a few questions first. How was Wenbo's coming in? Then she walked towards her former room in the middle of the road as usual.
Unexpectedly, Wen Bo called her and pointed to the east, in front of the door leading to the east road.
"Madam, take a look."
Du Lingjing turned her head and saw that many flowers and plants had been placed at the entrance to the east road. These flowers and plants had just been watered by a heavy rain. At this moment, raindrops still remained on the leaves, and were blown down by the wind.
There was the bustling sound of people coming and going in the courtyard.
Du Lingjing blinked and turned to walk towards the east road.
Originally, the east road was much more exquisite than the middle road and the west road. Du Lingjing walked all the way inside and found that there were beautiful flowers placed along the way. The door curtains had all been replaced with new ones at some point, and even the lanterns under the corridor had been replaced. In the middle of the courtyard, several people were working together to lift a swing.
Seeing Du Lingjing coming over, the servants all stopped and saluted, "Madam."
"This is?"
"To answer Madam, this is what the Marquis wants. He wants you to have some fun during your stay here."
While they were talking, they had already placed the swing securely and wiped it clean from top to bottom, waiting for her to sit on it and rock it.
"So, the flowers were also ordered by the Marquis?"
Everyone said yes, and a maid said, "Even the bedding in the room has been hung out to dry and replaced with new ones."
Du Lingjing looked at the brand new East Road covered with flowers and couldn't help but smile.
He had asked her which street she lived on, and she said she lived on Middle Road. He looked sullen when he heard that, but he didn't say much and just pretended not to care.
She thought at that time, can Lu Weishi really endure it?
Unexpectedly, the middle road was cleaned up by her, but she also dressed up the east road like this.
If she were to continue living in the old wing on the central road, I wonder what his expression would be when he found out?
But Du Lingjing finally softened her heart. Looking at the flowers in the garden and the swing that Tete bought for her, she ordered someone to bring everything over.
"Let's stay on the East Road this time."
Du Lingjing settled down, and in the evening, someone came.
Perhaps it was because he heard her living in the east road he had expanded as soon as he entered the door. When he arrived in the courtyard, he saw the person standing in the corridor and couldn't suppress the smile between his eyebrows.
Du Lingjing saw that his eyes were clearly raised, but he still wanted to ask her, "Madam, why are you staying in the East Road? Didn't you say you would stay in the Middle Road?"
Du Lingjing almost wanted to laugh out loud, but she held back her smile and pretended to be thinking seriously.
"Really? I meant the middle road? If my husband hadn't reminded me, I would have forgotten. Then I'd better move back."
After she finished speaking, she raised her foot to walk to the corridor, but he took two steps forward, stopped her in the corridor, and grabbed her wrist with his big hand.
"Now that you're here, don't leave."
Now that she was in his territory, could he still let her go?
Du Lingjing had never seen anyone more domineering than him. He picked her up by the waist and carried her directly into the room.
"Does your wound no longer hurt?" she asked quickly.
The man said that it didn't hurt anymore, "As long as my wife is kind to me, what does this little injury matter?"
Du Lingjing opened her eyes wide. It was obviously him who had been angry before, but now he was turning the tables.
She didn't want to deal with this person anymore.
But he laid her on the couch under the window and placed his hot palm on her belly.
"But it's uncomfortable?"
Du Lingjing blinked and looked over. "As long as the Marquis doesn't cause any trouble, what does this little discomfort mean?"
After he finished speaking, the man paused, then laughed helplessly.
"Quanquan..." he called her.
He pressed her ears and bent down to kiss her lips.
The hot breath that belonged only to him instantly drew her in.
After just a few breaths, her breathing became more rapid.
But there was a gentle and peaceful smile on the corner of her lips.
The moment the smile fell into Lu Shenru's eyes, his heart skipped a beat.
She was no longer the same as she was nine years ago when she chased him away from Mianlou. She was no longer the cold and distant woman he saw when he met her again in the capital. She was no longer the same as she was when he lifted her veil and saw her face full of tears at their wedding...
That gentle and peaceful smile was like fine sand grinding on his heart.
He regretted the harsh words he had said to her because he was angry with Jiang Zhuxiu.
He may never be able to match Jiang Zhuxiu's position in her heart in his entire life, but he should be content to have her smile, a smile just for him.
His kiss became heavier.
It was not yet completely dark, but everyone in the courtyard had already left.
And he suddenly carried her to the bed and untied her belt.
Du Lingjing was really frightened by him, "My Lord, have you forgotten? We have a child!"
But he didn't forget, "The child is delicate, but I also miss my wife, I just want to be close to her for a moment."
Miss? Aren't they together every day?
But he had already held her in his arms, ruffling her long hair, and gently taking off his clothes. It was hot, and the clothes fell off her shoulders, bringing coolness to her shoulders.
He sat close to her and took off his clothes. In a moment, his chest, like a barrier, was exposed in front of her. His chest was covered with old scars, but the scorching heat it emanated made Du Lingjing want to escape.
But he would not let her go, and held her against his shiny, heaving chest, which was like a branding iron.
Although she knew he couldn't do anything, the closeness and warmth of his presence was enough to make Du Lingjing feel hot from the ears.
She couldn't help but think of when they first got married, she couldn't accept him at first, but he was not in a hurry, but he was naked with her every night until her body became familiar with his before anyone else's.
Du Lingjing couldn't stand it any longer, her face was burning with anger, and she was eager to escape.
But he laughed quietly, "My wife and I both have children, why are you still blushing?"
Du Lingjing didn't want to argue with him, but he held her from behind with his hands, making her press against his chest, close to him. ... ...
Du Lingjing didn't run away, but in the end it wasn't her who couldn't bear it anymore.
His voice was so hoarse that he wanted to hold her hand and let her hold the object, but seeing that she was really unable to do so, he had to take away her pouch.
"I'll take care of it myself."
Du Lingjing: "..."
But she inexplicably remembered the little pocket she couldn't find on the night of her wedding...
*
Dou Mansion.
When Dou Ge Lao returned to his house, he asked the servants, "Where is the old lady?"
Has the servant returned? The old lady is eating dates in her yard.
Dou Ge Lao went straight to my mother's yard and saw that she had eaten half a plate of dates. When she saw him coming, she smiled at him with her eyes curved.
"My son eats dates."
Her oldest son stepped forward and sent all the people away.
Dou Ge Lao didn't beat around the bush with his mother, and said, "You were confused at one moment and clear-headed at another. You specially invited Du Zhili's daughter to come to our house. Are you really going to tell her that I used to be friends with her father?"
But the old lady raised her old eyes and asked, "Isn't it?"
Dou Ge Lao was helpless, "Yes. But Du Zhili has passed away, and she married that kid Lu Shenru, so it's better not to talk about the past."
But his mother stuffed a handful of dates into his hand.
"Have you forgotten my old ambitions from my youth?"
Dou Ge Lao was silent. He had passed the imperial examination when he was young, and his old ambitions were as high as Mount Tai. Even the new policy promoted by Du Zhili was nothing in his eyes at that time.
He once wrote ten thousand words of advice, and after his advice was rejected, he bluntly criticized the previous emperor, but what did he get in the end?
He had been sitting on the bench in a remote state capital for ten years.
He never forgot his old ambitions, but neither the previous emperor nor the current emperor was a wise ruler who could allow him to realize his ambitions.
It wasn't until the emperor's prince passed away that he suddenly saw an opportunity.
He can cultivate the wise ruler he wants himself.
It’s King Yong!
Dou Ge Lao said, "My son has never forgotten, but it is not the right time yet."
I didn't expect his mother to suddenly say that.
"My son is old now, can he really wait?"
Upon hearing this, Dou Ge Lao laughed. He was already old, but it would be almost time.
"The emperor's health is not as good as that of an old minister like me."
He will surely survive until the emperor passes away and the young emperor ascends the throne.
But the prerequisite is that it is King Yong who ascends the throne, not King Hui.
Dou Ge Lao called his mother, "My son can only wait for Prince Yong to ascend the throne. Just eat your dates, and don't cause trouble for me!"
He stuffed the dates back into my mother's hand.
The old lady looked at Zaozi and asked, "Can you really wait?"
The world is in chaos, but not everyone thinks like him.
No one knows who the emperor sitting high in the palace will let succeed to the throne.
*
After a few days, the Wanshou Festival is just around the corner.
The Emperor did not hold a palace banquet during the Dragon Boat Festival in May as he was not feeling well. However, the Emperor's Longevity Festival is a day to pray for his longevity, so a palace banquet was inevitable.
Marquis Lu and his wife entered the palace a little earlier this time.
The emperor's health was getting worse, and all the ministers could see it. Memorials urging him to appoint a crown prince were sent to the palace from all over. Although the emperor kept them all, he would not think nothing of it.
This time all the civil and military officials are here, and they all want to see which son the emperor is more interested in.
Marquis Lu could no longer look after his pregnant wife personally, so he asked Princess Nian Jia to take care of my wife.
Nian Jia was puzzled. When she just returned to Beijing from the northwest, didn't Marquis Lu want to send her back?
Nian Jia held a grudge, and said, "Lord Lu is worrying too much. I will take care of Jing Niang, but not for the Lord."
She specifically left a question unsaid, not saying who she was taking care of.
The man's eyes paused slightly, but he would never care about it in front of his wife.
He ignored the provocative Nian Jia and just gave Du Lingjing more instructions.
"If Quanquan feels unwell, please send someone to tell me immediately, or you can tell the queen."
"Got it." Everyone was looking at this place, and Du Lingjing quickly pushed him away.
But he frowned and said, "Why do I feel that my wife doesn't care much about you and my child?"
Du Lingjing had no way to defend herself.
Seeing him pursing his lips in depression, I had to say, "How could I not care? Lord, go ahead and rest assured."
He didn't quite believe it, but he had no choice but to leave.
Whenever Nian Jia saw that he was unhappy, he would be in a good mood.
"I just can't stand seeing Lu Shenru do whatever he wants. Apart from the matter of appointing a crown prince, I also hope that the imperial concubine can ascend to a high position. As for everything else, I will oppose him."
Du Ling calmly thought that she still had time to go against Lu Weishi, "How are you and the prince?"
As soon as she asked, Nian Jia instantly wilted.
"The prince is unwilling to make me suffer, so he has changed it from eight days to four days."
This time it’s half price.
Even Du Lingjing opened her eyes wide.
Isn't it just around the corner, the next day or even every day?
Nian Jia covered his head with his hands, no longer wanting to fight with Marquis Lu, so he pulled Du Lingjing and said, "Let's go find the Imperial Concubine."
The two asked for directions and learned that the imperial concubine was going to the queen's bedroom to personally welcome the queen.
The ladies were waiting to greet him.
Du Lingjing and Nian Jia also lined up there. From time to time, they saw palace maids clearing the road in front, and all the concubines came together to welcome the Queen out of the palace.
Although Lu Huairu went to greet the guests in person with great respect, the person sitting next to the queen at the moment was not the Imperial Concubine with the highest status, but two concubines below the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine was left out in the cold.
All the ladies saw it, but no one said anything.
Unexpectedly, just as Queen Wang was going up the stairs, her feet suddenly shook, and the concubine who was supporting her had just arranged the phoenix chair for her to sit on.
She suddenly moved aside, leaving only the imperial concubine behind her.
The imperial concubine stepped forward and supported the queen.
But when Queen Wang saw that it was her, she immediately pushed her hand away.
Although it was just an insignificant action, all the ladies nearby watched it intently.
The Queen Mother clearly humiliated the Imperial Concubine.
After the queen took her seat and spoke a few words, the atmosphere relaxed a little and some people began to whisper about what had just happened.
Du Lingjing and Nian Jia both heard it, but when they looked at Imperial Concubine Lu Huairu, who was serving Queen Wang at the upper seat, they saw that her expression did not change much. She was neither angry nor aggrieved. She just sat there quietly.
Nian Jia sighed and whispered in Du Lingjing's ear.
"It's not the first time that the Queen has disliked the Imperial Concubine. It has been like this for more than ten years."
Du Lingjing looked inquiringly, and Nian Jia told her that this was a rumor she had heard from her mother before.
She said that the Imperial Concubine entered the palace in a sedan chair, and although she was later given the title of concubine, she was originally just the Emperor's concubine.
At that time, the emperor had no concubines, only the Empress, his first wife, and the only concubine, the deceased Shao. But Shao was favored by the Empress, and the emperor did not favor her too much. However, Lu Huairu was favored by the emperor, so he quietly took her into his palace, had sex with her that night, and only came to the Empress the next day to marry her.
"According to rumors, the Empress Queen dislikes the Imperial Concubine very much."
Du Ling thought calmly that it was inevitable. Which wife would be happy with the concubine having such a high birth? After all, Prince Yin had never been favored, and Queen Wang was only of a minor official family.
Du Lingjing sighed secretly, but heard Nian Jia say again, Nian Jia said that this was just a rumor and he didn't know whether it was true or not.
"But I heard that the Empress was also young and energetic at the time. She couldn't tolerate the Imperial Concubine but had to. She once asked the Imperial Concubine in front of her, "Does the Lu family of the Yongding Marquis's Mansion raise their legitimate daughter as if she were a concubine?"
Du Lingjing's heart trembled when she heard this.
Imperial Concubine Lu Huairu, the eldest daughter of the Lu family, was given to someone as a concubine in a sedan chair. Was this the humiliation she had to endure?
She couldn't help but look up at Lu Huairu, who was sitting above her. The imperial concubine's expression remained calm.
Du Lingjing was in a state of mixed emotions for a moment, but Nian Jia said it was just a rumor, "It's probably exaggerated, but Queen Wang did have a bad temper and was not from a high family, and she herself was concerned about this. I'm afraid the Imperial Concubine didn't have an easy time when she was a concubine before her."
Du Ling remained silent.
Queen Wang became heartbroken after the Crown Prince's death. The imperial physician once thought that the Queen might not survive, but she managed to hold on year after year. Could it be that she hated the Imperial Concubine so much that she refused to give way to her and prevented Prince Hui from becoming the legitimate son?
It might be understandable that she was unwilling to give up the throne, but the emperor also cared about her very much.
The imperial concubine and Prince Hui were in an awkward situation and could only wait, year after year.
Du Lingjing secretly guessed the reason. At this moment, a bustling noise came from the main hall.
Nian Jia immediately sent someone to inquire, and the palace maid came back to report that it was His Royal Highness Prince Yong who read the birthday message, which made the emperor very happy.
"The Emperor was very pleased and just now gave His Royal Highness Prince Yong a generous reward!"
After the words fell, Nian Jia and Du Ling looked at each other in silence.
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