Married Thrice to Salted Fish

Chapter 40

Lin Qingyu sat quietly on the bed for a long time. For a while he couldn’t tell the difference between the dream and the real world. He looked blankly at his hand, as if he could still recall the feel of the boy’s lower abdomen. But no matter how he tried, he couldn’t remember the face of the person in his dream.

He only remembered that that man was taller than the Lu Wancheng he was familiar with. He was “handsome”, had a better-sounding voice and could easily carry him. And…what else?

His memory of the boy seemed to be covered with a veil. No matter how hard he looked, he could only see a vague outline.

Hua Lu brought over hot water, waiting upon him as he washed his face. He asked, “Did you dream of him last night?”

Hua Lu’s eyes turned red again, and she shook her head.

Lin Qingyu slowly closed his palms. “He came back.”

“What did the Young Master say to Shaojun?”

Lin Qingyu smiled. “He was the same as before, saying nothing serious. He just said some useless nonsense.”

He didn’t even want to tell him his name. The bastard. He should be hanged and given a beating.

But even if all he said was nonsense, the atmosphere of the dream had still been warm, making one feel nostalgic. It was a pity that when he woke up from the dream, there was nothing left.

Lin Qingyu began to collect the things Lu Wancheng had left behind, selecting some that would be buried with him.

There were too many things, so he asked Hua Lu to sift through them first. He picked out the things that Lu Wancheng had used in the past year. Others that were too old could be disposed of at will.

The clothes he’d worn, the jade crown he’d worn, the tableware he had used, the throwing pot he had played with, the books he’d read and…the birds.

During the first half of the year, Lu Wancheng’s health hadn’t been too bad. He collected a lot of strange things and also raised a Hwamei and Myna. Later, his health gradually deteriorated and both the Hwamei and Myna also died of illness. Lu Wancheng personally arranged the funeral for the two birds, humming a cheerful tune to send them on their way. He said that the tune was called the coffin dance meme and asked him if he wanted to learn it. He could teach him and when he died, he could have the people from the Xiong Si play it on the suona as they carried his coffin and sent him off.

At the time, he didn’t feel like paying attention to Lu Wancheng. He simply let him babble outrageous things in his ear and wouldn’t even look at him. Fortunately, Lin Qingyu has a good memory, and even if he hadn’t paid attention at the time, he could still recall many details now.

Lu Wancheng liked fun things that didn’t require him to move much. One day, on a whim, he said that he wanted to know how the people of Dayu sheared sheep. So he asked the steward to bring a sheep from one of the villages. He then ordered them to shear the sheep in front of him.

“If I were that sheep, I would have died from embarrassment.” Lu Wancheng said as he lay on the reclining chair.

This reclining chair was Lu Wancheng’s favorite. He liked to lie on it to bask in the sun, swaying slowly, squinting; just like a lazy cat.

Lin Qingyu followed Lu Wancheng’s example and lay down on the reclining chair. He picked up a book that he been lying by the side and flipped through it.

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He remembered this book, a popular crime mystery novel. Lu Wancheng had circled the murderer’s name on the third page, making it so that he couldn’t read it any further. He wrote the word “get lost!” in reply to Lu Wancheng and never revisited this book afterwards. He hadn’t expected for Lu Wancheng to actually reply to him in the book.

“This man is the murderer.”

“Get lost!”

“In the end, I have unexpected spoiled Doctor Lin’s reading experience! I’m sorry, let me kowtow to you in apology.”

Lin Qingyu looked at a certain someone’s scribbled handwriting and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

Lu Wancheng had always been like this — first making people speechless with anger, then quickly and sincerely apologizing, making it impossible to stay angry.

At that time, Lu Wancheng was still a through and through hedonistic son of rich parents — eating and drinking all day long, lying in bed and refusing to get up. Since when did he start to become deep and shrewd, exhausting his thoughts and ingenuity?

There was a slight dull pain in his chest. Lin Qingyu closed the book. Still, he couldn’t shed any tears.

Maybe what he lost was something he should never have had.

In the study, Lin Qingyu found Lu Wancheng’s will written a month ago. In his letter, he stated that the dowry left by his biological mother, Wen Shi, was to be left to his widow, Lin Shi, in its entirety. Secondly, he hoped that his grandparents would convey to the Empress that since he had already passed, the matter of their being husband and wife as part of the Chong Xi should stop here. He wished for Lin Shi to be able to return to the Lin Residence and from here on, their marriage should be irrelevant.

When Wen Shi got married, Wen Guogong prepared a very generous dowry. Twenty years later, it has hardly been touched. It was almost comparable to the Lin Residence’s entire family property.

In addition, after Lu Wancheng departed, Zhang Shiquan also discussed the accounts with Lin Qingyu. Since taking over the general affairs of the Hou Mansion, Zhang Shiquan has been quietly transferring most of the Hou Mansion’s fields, villages and shops under Lin Qingyu’s name.

Lu Wancheng said on their wedding night that when he died, he would let him take his inheritance back to the Lin Residence.

Lu Wancheng hadn’t lied to him.

There was only one thing left, which Lu Wancheng hadn’t made up his mind on before he died. “Shaojun, Young Master Hou didn’t know about the issue of the private salt business in Xuzhou. In your opinion, what should we do now?”

Lin Qingyu originally wanted to use this matter to force Liang Shi to submit. At the same time, after making full use of Lu Niantao, he would use it to make her fall from power – it wouldn’t do him any good if Lu Niantao really became a guifei and gave birth to a prince. It was a pity that before he could use it, mother and daughter were already on the point of dying.

Within the span of a year, the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion had experienced death, madness, and illness. Their situation was already as precarious as a pile of eggs. Now, he just had to wait for Nan’an Hou to be unable to hold on any longer, either retiring and returning to his hometown or falling ill and dying. There was no need for him to do anything.

How boring.

“Extricate yourself from this matter completely. Let them continue to make trouble,” Lin Qingyu said, “Maybe it will be useful in the future.”

Zhang Shiquan said respectfully, “Yes.”

“Young Master,” Huan Tong hurried into the room. “The Crown Prince is here. Master Hou says you should prepare to welcome him.”

Both the Emperor and the Empress expressed concern over Lu Wancheng’s death. As the Crown Prince, Xiao Cheng could not neglect this matter. For him to come to the Mansion to offer his condolences in person was considered giving Nan’an Hou face.

Lin Qingyu knew that such a day would come. “I see, I’ll change my clothes and go.”

Nan’an Hou, supported by Pan Shi, was waiting by the gate to receive the Crown Price. Lin Qingyu, along with the other clansmen, stood behind him. Nan’an Hou thought that the Crown Prince would come with his side concubine when he came to pay his condolences but unexpectedly, only the Crown Prince came.

Xiao Cheng and Nan’an Hou exchanged a few greeting, saying nothing more than polite civilities such as ‘I am sorry for your loss.’ “I wanted to come earlier to the Mansion to send my cousin off. However official matters have kept me so busy that it is only today that I managed to get away.”

The Emperor was getting on in the years and since catching a cold during the hunting party, his Majesty’s health has not been as good as before. For the stability of the court, he had to let the Crown Prince assist him. Xiao Cheng even took over the Ministry of Revenue from Nan’an Hou. It could be said that Xiao Cheng was like the sun at high noon, his power and influence was growing.

Nan’an Hou now only had one daughter left so he couldn’t help but ask after the side concubine’s current situation. Xiao Cheng simply down played the matter. “Lu Shi is feeling unwell and it is inconvenient for her to leave the palace. I shall burn incense for my cousin on her behalf.”

Lin Qingyu looked behind Xiao Cheng. The crown prince was away from the palace, but aside from the driver’s group, he only brought two bodyguards with him. Given Xiao Cheng’s suspiciousness, he would definitely not be so negligent about his own safety. He must have hidden a lot of his shadow guards in places where others couldn’t see.

Nan’an Hou invited Xiao Cheng in. When Xiao Cheng passed by Lin Qingyu, the corner of his lips raised up into a smile that was yet not a smile.

Lin Qingyu was first to look away. It wasn’t that he was afraid to lock eyes with Xiao Cheng. He was only worried that if he were to be hit with Xiao Cheng’s grease, no one would be able to save his eyes.

The group arrived at the mourning hall. As Lu Wancheng’s widow, Lin Qingyu lit six incense sticks and handed them over to Xiao Cheng.

Xiao Cheng took the incense sticks and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: “Little Qingyu, you’ve lost weight.”

Lin Qingyu had a black expression on his face, as if he hadn’t heard.

Xiao Cheng looked at Lu Wancheng’s memorial tablet and laughed slowly. “I still remember my cousin once saying that as long as he doesn’t say it’s over, nothing will end. But what about now? The person standing in front of Little Qingyu is Gu – is this not considered an end?”

Lin Qingyu’s heart moved.

That’s right, as long as that person doesn’t say it’s over, nothing ends.

He cheered up and said, “Your Highness may have heard rumors about me.”

“Rumors?”

“I married Lu Wancheng and the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion met with disaster after disaster. It can be seen that the matter of having a male wife is not tolerated by Heaven.”

“Is Little Qingyu misunderstanding something?” Xiao Cheng smiled evilly, “How could Gu marry a male wife? What Gu wants is only your face.”

Lin Qingyu raised his eyelashes, “Your Royal Highness…what do you want?”

“There’s no hurry.” Xiao Cheng bowed slightly three times to Lu Wancheng’s memorial tablet. He looked to be piously burning joss sticks while he said insulting words to the widow of the deceased, “The most delicious prey can only come from a patient hunt.”

Lin Qingyu’s eyelashes drooped back down. His hand reached into his sleeve, as if to pull out something. A white light flashed in front of Xiao Cheng’s eyes. Before he realized what had happened, a figure came out of nowhere and stood in front of him.

Lin Qingyu felt a sharp pain on his wrist and he was knocked back a few steps, barely able to stabilize his body. He then found a long sword placed against his neck.

A maid keeping watch beside the coffin screamed. Her mouth was quickly covered. The sudden change frightened everyone. They could only see a black-clothed young man in the mourning hall, holding a long sword, radiating awe-inspiring killing intent, looking blankly at Lin Qingyu.

Compared to Lin Qingyu, the young man was extremely ordinary both in appearance and in figure. He was someone who could easily melt into a crowd. But at this moment, with the slightest move of his hand, the floor would be splattered with Lin Qingyu’s blood.

Lin Qingyu whispered, “Shen Huaishi?”

Surprise flashed in the young man’s eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Xiao Cheng said, displeased, “What are you doing out suddenly appearing out of nowhere?”

The young man said succinctly, “Lin Shaojun has a sharp object hidden in his sleeve.”

Everyone took a sharp breath. Assassinating the crown prince was a serious crime that was punishable with death for the entire family and confiscation of all their property.

“Oh?” Xiao Cheng narrowed his eyes dangerously, “Lin Shaojun wants to do something stupid in front of his husband’s coffin?”

Lin Qingyu said calmly, “Shadow guard daren has misunderstood.” He took out what was hidden in his sleeve which turned out to be nothing but a buyao. “This is something left by Young Master Hou. After Young Master Hou departed, I started to carry it around with me, developing the habit of fiddling with it from time to time. Unexpectedly, it caused such a misunderstanding. I hope His Royal Highness can pardon me.”

Xiao Cheng scrutinized Lin Qingyu. All the other people didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly until Xiao Cheng said, “Withdraw.”

The young man immediately put away his sword. He lowered his eyes and said, “This subordinate deserves death.”

After this small disturbance, Xiao Cheng didn’t stay long. Lin Qingyu put the buyao along with the other funeral objects to let it accompany Lu Wancheng in his eternal sleep. Otherwise, Lu Wancheng might have nothing to fiddle with in the other world.

After the wake was the burial. The ancestral tomb of the Lu Family was in Lin’an and Lu Baishuo rushed to the capital from his hometown in order to return Lu Wancheng, this fallen leaf, back to his roots. As his widow, Lin Qingyu should go with Lu Baishuo to send Lu Wancheng off on his final journey.

The New Year was approaching, and Lin Qingyu planned to leave for the south after the New Year’s. On New Year’s Eve, Nan’an Hou’s mansion did not post Spring Festival couplets. They didn’t set off any firecrackers and they were not allowed to visit relatives and friends. Although Lin Qingyu missed his parents and younger brother, in order not to bring down criticism upon them, he still chose to stay in the Hou Mansion for the New Year.

He gave the servants of the Blue Wind Pavilion a holiday and spent the New Year with Huan Tong. Huan Tong cooked them a pot of dumplings and while the master and servant were eating, they welcomed a guest.

Hu Ji was alone in the capital and it was inevitable for him to feel particularly lonely during times when families should gather. He first went to the Lin Residence, where Mother Lin gave him a meal and said that if he had nothing to do, he could go to the Nan’an Hou Mansion for a visit. So Hu Ji came and brought along a few of Mother Lin’s pastries.

Lin Qingyu thanked him and asked, “Is Mother well?”

Hu Ji said: “Shiniang is alright. I am more worried about Shaojun and Pan Yuan daren who is far away in Yongliang.”

Lin Qingyu frowned. It has been a long time since the news came to the capital from Yongliang. New information has been slow in coming. The battles to the northwest continued unceasingly. General Gu’s fate was uncertain and no one knew when his father could return.

When Hu Ji heard that Lin Qingyu was going south, he said worriedly, “The epidemic is raging in the south. Shaojun must be careful.”

Lin Qingyu nodded and said, “Yes.”

Hu Ji stayed with them for a while and then got up to say goodbye. Lin Qingyu saw him out. When he looked up, he saw the sky ablaze with light, the galaxy twinkling down at them.

That night, the year ended and tomorrow, the new year would come.

After that night, the soul of the boy surnamed Jiang never entered his dreams again.