CompletedDu Lingjing disliked the intrigues of the capital and had no intention of marrying into a powerful family. She once had an engagement, and after her fiancé passed away, she never thought of remarrying. Yongding Marquis Lu Shenru held a position at the pinnacle of power in the capital, yet his position as Marquis’s wife remained vacant, with all the noble families in the capital eyeing his marriage. To her, he was a stranger, distant, and she had no desire to get to know him. However, an imperial decree of marriage decreed her to this powerful Yongding Marquis.
The entire city was astonished. The noble families in the capital speculated that this marriage was certainly intended by the palace to balance the court. Du Lingjing went to find the Marquis, considering that if he also did not wish to fall into a political marriage, they could discuss a plan to decline it together. However, he said, “I know you share deep affection and loyalty with your predecessor, and are unwilling to forget him… but with an imperial decree of marriage, although I am said by the world to wield great power, I am helpless.” At that time, he smiled bitterly, his heroic eyes full of helplessness, and he pleaded with her: “Can my lady be understanding?”
But she should not be his “lady,” yet she tried every method and failed to refuse this marriage. That day, the rain fell ceaselessly, and Du Lingjing could only step into the wedding sedan with silent schemes, becoming his Marquis’s wife, Lu Shenru’s wife.
…After marriage, he was gentle and attentive, considerate in every detail, even offering to accompany her to pay respects to her predecessor. He fulfilled the role of husband impeccably, except when they were alone at night, within the warm curtains, his gaze burned fiercely, ceaselessly… Du Lingjing could only try her best to live in harmony with him.
But one day, she suddenly heard: when the Emperor inquired about a marriage alliance, it was he who dismissed all other candidates one by one, specifically writing her name and presenting it to the Emperor, forcefully seizing this marriage with her.
*Cleverly seized and forcefully taken; if this bothers you, please do not read. *Updates daily at 5 PM, rests on Thursdays.