Married Thrice to Salted Fish

Not long after, Huan Tong and Hua Lu left the Blue Wind Pavilion one after the other; one went to the long-waiting Chang Yang, and the other went to Sleeping Moon Pavilion where Pan Yiniang was.

Huan Tong found Chang Yang and told him that the Young Master had read his letter. There were so many people in the mansion during the daytime that it was inconvenient to meet with him. He was going to have to be inconvenienced to wait a couple of hours in the mansion and come nightfall, the two of them would meet.

Chang Yang had no objection. Huan Tong took him to an empty room in a side courtyard of the mansion. He said, “Chang Gongzi, please wait here. When the time is right, the Young Master will come without prompting.”

This wait lasted from dusk until dark. During this period, Huan Tong even served him a meal.

It wasn’t long past the summer solstice, the days were getting hotter day by day. Come nightfall, the lingering summer heat gradually dissipates, even becoming slightly cool sometimes. At this moment, if one had a beautiful woman by his side to take a stroll through the garden to appreciate the lotus under the moonlight and listen to the sound of cries of the frogs, then it would certainly be worthy of this fine moment and beautiful scene.

It was a pity that the two “beautiful women” of the Blue Wind Pavilion were doomed to be left without this leisurely enjoyment tonight.

Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng out of the Blue Wind Pavilion then handed the wheelchair to Hua Lu. “I’m going.”

Lu Wancheng nodded. “Go on.”

Lu Wancheng watched as Lin Qingyu left, looking at his cold and distinct back. He felt a little uncomfortable. He attributed this discomfort to a man’s desire to monopolize rearing its ugly head. It should be fine as long as he exercises a bit of control. It was like when he was little and someone would borrow and walk away with his most favorite beautiful toy. He would be concerned about it the entire time, for fear that the toy would be soiled by others.

…Wait, this brainless little Shidi wouldn’t be so impulsive as to enact a passionate confession, and then stage a scene where he traps Lin Qingyu against a corner, puts his arms are the other’s waist and forces a kiss, right?

F*ck.

Lu Wancheng’s thoughts were running wild. He then heard Hua Lu ask him, “Young Master, where are we going now?”

Matters were urgent. Lu Wancheng calmed his mind and said, “The back garden.”

Lin Qingyu took advantage of the moonlight and passed through the back garden to the room where Chang Yang was waiting. With three taps on the door, the door opened from the inside.

Chang Yang couldn’t hide his excitement: “Shixiong!”

Lin Qingyu said, voice low, “If you’ve got something to say, let’s talk about it inside.”

Inside, the only source of illumination was an oil lamp used by the servants; it could only illuminate a small area around them. Chang Yang stared fixedly at the person before him. Under the faint light, the flame flickered in his Shixiong’s eyes. Staring at it for a long time, his breathing grew scalding.

Before he could have his fill of looking, Lin Qingyu went straight to the point. “Talk.”

Chang Yang looked at his slightly parted red lips. After being momentarily dazed, he said all in one go, “Shixiong, come with me!”

Sure enough.

Lin Qingyu sighed lightly and asked calmly, “And where would you taking me?”

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“Anywhere! Away from the Hou Mansion, away from the capital!” Chang Yang’s eyes flashed with longing, “We can go back to the Master. We’ll go live in the mountains and forests in seclusion with him, okay?”

Lin Qingyu pressed the space between his brows and said, “My marriage with Lu Wancheng was bestowed by the Emperor. Once I’m gone, what would happen to the Lin Residence?”

“I have considered this matter too.” Chang Yang said, “Shixiong, do you remember that Master has been trying to create a medicine that can fake death?”

Lin Qingyu’s interest was finally piqued. When he had traveled with his Master, they had a chance encounter with a young woman who had hung herself on a branch. After saving the woman, the young woman wept as she told them of her experience. She had been sold as a concubine to the local bigshot by her gambler of a father. Everyday, she was beaten and insulted; she was even threatened that should she run away, he would take away the lives of her family as recompense. The young woman was left with no choice but to seek death.

From then on, the Master had the idea to create some sort of medicine that could fake death.

Lin Qingyu asked, “Master succeeded?”

Chang Yang nodded again and again. “Yes, Master named it the Wangsheng Pill. He also passed the prescription to me. Unfortunately, my skills are not good and even with a prescription, I can’t make it. But I know Shixiong surely can.”

“So, you want me to fake my death to escape?”

“Yes, as long as the world thinks that Shixiong is dead, they definitely won’t trouble the Lin Residence.”

“It’s a good idea.” Lin Qingyu said lightly, “But what’s the point of being a dead person?”

Chang Yang said without hesitation, “As long as Shixiong regains his freedom, he can go do whatever he wants. Isn’t that enough?”

“What I want to do… heh.” Lin Qingyu smiled, as if mocking Chang Yang’s naivety. “Didn’t you say you that you understand me? How can you not even know what I really want? I don’t want to be an ordinary doctor. I want to be the best. I have to read all the books in the world and have an inexhaustible supply of rare medicinal materials. And these, only the Imperial Medical Department can give me. I don’t shun prosperity, wealth, and power. I also like to see people kneeling before me, trembling with fear. Do you understand?”

Chang Yang looked blankly at Lin Qingyu, as though he were looking at a stranger.

“You don’t know anything and yet you keep harping on about taking me away. It’s ridiculous.” Lin Qingyu stood up, “I’ll have Huan Tong escort you out of the Mansion.”

Things were much too far from Chang Yang’s expectations. In his eyes, his Shixiong was a noble and benevolent gentleman who harbored virtue and merit. Associating him with wealth and power was simply too outrageous, too unfitting. For a while, he truly couldn’t accept it. However, seeing that his Shixiong was about to push the door to leave, he couldn’t help blurting out his thoughts, “Then, what Shixiong wants, can Young Master Hou give to you?”

Lin Qingyu stopped in his tracks.

“Young Master Hou is not long of this world. Now, he’s simply muddling along, eating and waiting to die. How is he any different from a spoiled fop thumbing his nose at the world? How can someone with such shameful behavior…”

Lin Qingyu interrupted him, voice cold, “Then what do you want him to do?”

Chang Yang was stunned. “…Shixiong?”

“Even you know that Lu Wancheng is terminally ill, he’s only got a single breath in him. You see him talking and laughing with you, taking nothing seriously. But you know how many medicines he takes every day, how many acupuncture treatments. He takes two steps and he’s out of breath. A little cold can put him into a coma, one he might not wake up from. When he gets a cough, he can’t sleep well all night but because he’s worried he might wake me up, he’ll force himself to endure it. He’s like this already, what do you want him to do? Go and take the imperial examinations? Or join the army and serve the country? He only has half a year left, why can’t he spend what little time he has being a spoiled fop who doesn’t have to worry about anything?”

Lin Qingyu rarely spoke so much to others. How could he not know that Lu Wancheng was mischievous, lazy and weird? He couldn’t understand how Lu Wancheng couldn’t take anything seriously, how he couldn’t care about anything. He even mocked Lu Wancheng to his face many times before. But this didn’t mean that others could look down on Lu Wancheng.

After a long silence, Chang Yang asked in a low voice, “Shixiong, do you…like him?”

Lin Qingyu didn’t hesitate. “I’m not gay and neither is he. My relationship with him, if I have to say…” Lin Qingyu smiled softly, “We are probably bosom friends forcibly tied by a predestined marriage.”

“Not gay.” Chang Yang smiled wryly, “I see, it’s me…who has bothered Shixiong.”

Lin Qingyu wanted to say that he wasn’t enough to be a bother to him, but seeing Chang Yang’s desolate expression, he decided to hold the words back.

Chang Yang took a deep breath and took out a prescription from the medicine box. He forced out a smile. “This is the formula for the Wangsheng pill. Please accept it, Shixiong. I-…I’m leaving.”

Lin Qingyu nodded lightly. “Huan Tong, see the guest out.”

Chang Yang walked out of the room. Looking up at the bright moon on the horizon, he suddenly sighed. He traveled all the way to the capital for his Shixiong. But now, the person before him was no longer the one in his heart. Maybe he should leave.

No, Shixiong has never been like what he had imagined. It was his own wishful thinking forcing his ideas onto his Shixiong. Shixiong was right; him being like this was ridiculous.

Chang Yang was feeling dejected when he heard Huan Tong say, “Don’t be sad, Chang Gongzi. With how my family’s Young Master is, he will definitely not let himself be trapped in this wretched Nan’an Hou Mansion.”

Chang Yang laughed at himself. “It was just me thinking myself infallible.”

Huan Tong patted Chang Yang on the shoulder and said, “Let’s go, Chang Gongzi, or it will be too late.”

Chang Yang asked, “Too late for what?”

Huan Tong smiled and said, “Young Master Hou knew that Chang Gongzi might be sad tonight, so he’s specially inviting you to watch a good show.”

The night grew darker, a dark cloud silently obscured the moonlight, and the lights in the mansion were extinguished. In the wooded back garden, if it weren’t for the lit lanterns, it would be difficult to see even the path under one’s feet.

Lu Qiaosong took Qiu Momo and hid behind a tree, staring at two figures by the pool. He asked, “Are you sure it’s them?”

Qiu Momo said, “I can’t be mistaken. Doctor Chang was wearing clothes of this color today and the Shaojun wore white clothes.”

Lu Qiaosong gritted his teeth and said, “Go! Don’t let them get away!”

Qiu Momo immediately jumped out from behind the tree. She can’t do much of anything but her voice was loud. Her howl could be heard by half the mansion. “Oh, if it isn’t Shaojun? It’s already so late but Shaojun isn’t attending to the Young Master by his sickbed, instead, he’s sneakily admiring the moon with someone!”

This howl came from out of the blue and the man in white was startled. He was unsteady on his feet and almost fell into the water. Fortunately, the blue clothed man beside him immediately caught him and steadied him on his feet.

The man in blue shouted sharply, “Who said such nonsense!”

Qiu Momo’s knees instantly went weak when she heard this voice.

How could it be Master Hou’s voice? Qiu Momo staggered and wanted to run back but she was suddenly stopped by Hua Lu coming out from nowhere. Hua Lu said loudly, “Why is Qiu Momo in such a rush?” She turned to look behind the tree, “Ei? Third Young Master is also here. Eldest Young Master is admiring the moon with the Master. Didn’t you see?”

Lu Qiaosong was forced to abort his escape and he cursed secretly in his heart.

Hua Lu’s voice was not as penetrating as Qiu Momo’s, but it was enough for Nan’an Hou to hear. Today, he was resting in Sleeping Moon Pavilion as per usual, Pan Shi attending upon him to change into normal clothes when, seeing the bright moonlight outside, Pan Shi said that the lotus flowers in the pond were blooming profusely and asked him if he wanted to take a walk by the pond to enjoy the moon.

Nan’an Hou was also a scholar, and couldn’t bear to betray the beauty of the moonlight. And so, he took Pan Shi to the back garden where he happened to meet his eldest son who was also here to enjoy the moon. Father and son got a rare opportunity to chat and Pan Shi, under the guise of preparing their food, thoughtfully left this time for father and son.

Lu Wancheng took the initiative to mention the Empress. The Empress has always been concerned about her sister’s only child and from time to time she would send the eunuch to the Mansion to pass on her greeting, often gifting him with supplements. Nan’an Hou asked him to wait for his body to get better, after which time, he could go personally to the palace to thank her.

The two were having a good conversation when that shout took them by surprise. It scared Lu Wancheng so much that he almost fell into the water. Nan’an Hou knew that his eldest son was frail and weak. Seeing how Lu Wancheng’s face paled, his lips turning bloodless, he was, naturally, furious, “Who’s talking? Come here!”

Lu Qiaosong and Qiu Momo were ‘invited’ by Hua Lu to appear before Nan’an Hou. Nan’an Hou said coldly, “And what is this master-servant pair doing making such a fuss in the back garden in the middle of the night?”

Lu Qiaosong put on a bold face and said, “Your son is here to enjoy the moon as well.”

Lu Wancheng smiled feebly, “Third Brother does not bring the singers and actresses he raises in the courtyard to admire the moon. Instead, he brings Qiu Momo. What a refined and elegant attitude of mind.”

Lu Qiaosong knew he was in the wrong, so he could only restrain his emotions.

Nan’an Hou looked at Qiu Momo: “What were you yelling just now?”

Madam Qiu hurriedly said, “To answer Master Hou, this servant accompanied the Third Young Master to admire the moon. Seeing two people by the pond from a distance, I thought it was Shaojun and Doctor Chang. You must not blame this servant, everyone in the Mansion knows that Shaojun and Doctor Chang are fellow disciples and share a close relationship, often meeting with each other. This is how this servant misunderstood.”

Nan’an Hou said, voice low, “Is there such a thing?”

“Father, Doctor Chang was coming to the Blue Wind Pavilion, not to see Qingyu, but to see me.” Lu Wancheng said lightly, “Doctor Chang and I immediately hit it off upon first meeting and shared delightful chats. I asked him to frequent the Blue Wind Pavilion to accompany me and relieve the boredom with conversation.”

Hua Lu echoed his words, “This is true. Whenever Doctor Chang came to the Blue Wind Pavilion, it was to talk with the Young Master. There were even times when the Shoajun wasn’t there.”

Nan’an Hou’s expression relaxed and he asked, “Who is this Doctor Chang?”

Lu Wancheng calmly said, “He’s the doctor who’s treating Third Brother’s kidney weakness.”

“Kidney…” Nan’an Hou pointed his finger to Lu Qiaosong’s nose and said, absolutely livid, “Explain yourself!”

He’d only known that Lu Qiaosong was sick, but he hadn’t known what sickness it was. Lu Qiaosong was someone with a previous record. As soon as the words “kidney weakness” came out, anyone would suspect the same thing.

Lu Qiaosong’s face immediately flushed he couldn’t have a fit of anger in front of Nan’an Hou. “Father has misunderstood, I just caught a cold…”

Naturally, Nan’an Hou didn’t believe him. However, he couldn’t very well interrogate him in front of the servants regarding such a matter that violated public decency. “Follow me to the study.” After that, with a flick of his sleeves, he strode furiously away.

“Father…!” Before coming here, Lu Niantao had repeatedly told Lu Qiaosong that no matter what the other party said, all he had to do was squeeze Lin Qingyu and Chang Yang’s relationship; even if it was fake, he only had to create suspicion. But he never expected that Lu Wancheng would point the finger at him instead.

He wasn’t going to be able to escape this heavy reprimand but he wasn’t going to let Lu Wancheng feel smug about it either.

Lu Qiaosong staggered to stand before Lu Wancheng. A grimace appeared on his face. “With Sister-in-law’s good looks, there aren’t just one or two people who admire him. Dage could bear it this time but can you bear it next time? No matter how magnanimous Dage may be, I don’t think even you can bear that many people casting greedy eyes at him in the dark.”

“Third Brother too knows that he is mine. Since he is mine then I ask you…” Lu Wancheng smiled, and his gaze passed over everyone one by one; seeming to but also seemingly not to, he looked in Chang Yang’s direction. “Don’t move, don’t touch, don’t think.”

The author has something to say: The school grass salted fish gong: My good brother, next time we have a marriage ceremony, I will make sure to personally perform it with you.