Married Thrice to Salted Fish

1. Chapter 118

After the anniversary of Gu Fuzhou’s death, Lin Qingyu recovered from his illness and returned to court. The ministers found that the prime minister, after his return, was not the same as before. In a word, the prime minister has become lazy.

Prime Minister Lin no longer worked from dawn til dusk, busying about on every task. Now, when it came to small matters, he allowed to cabinet to decide, only showing up when there were major issues. On the other hand, the emperor, after recovering from his soul-loss disease, under the tutelage of Guan Taifu, made rapid progress in his studies. After a little more than a year, he was no different from a normal prince. He appeared in Qinzheng Hall more and more frequently. He was also no longer dazed and sleepy in morning court. When the ministers had something to report, Prime Minister Lin would throw it to the emperor with a, “Your Majesty, what do you think?”

There were various indications that the emperor was not far from fully taking over the reins of government. Sure enough, it didn’t take long before the cabinet’s notes written in blue in the reports became the emperor’s critiques written in red.

Since the emperor personally took charge, the officials rarely saw Lin Qingyu in the palace. If Lin Qingyu didn’t come to the palace, the emperor had no choice but to go out of the palace to cling to him. The empress dowager watched as her son ran out the palace day after day, causing rumors to fly everywhere. Unable to bear it, she called Lin Qingyu, asking, “Qingyu, why don’t you stay in the palace, just like before, in Xingqing Palace’s side hall?”

Lin Qingyu said, “Dare I ask the Empress Dowager, in what capacity should I stay in the palace?”

The empress dowager was at a loss for words, “This…”

“Before, the emperor was mentally incomplete, so this minister had no choice but to overstep the rules and act as an agent of the government. Now that His Majesty is fully in charge of the government, this minister is simply too young to serve as head of all these officials. It is a daunting task. I wish to express to Her Highness my intention to resign as prime minister. I ask that you choose another to take this post.”

The Empress Dowager had also noticed Lin Qingyu’s recent disinterest in government affairs. That he would choose to resign was not at all surprising for her. She didn’t immediately agree or disagree. Instead, she asked, “If you step down as prime minister, you will still stay in the capital, won’t you?”

Lin Qingyu said, “I wish to travel the four corners in search of effective medicines.”

“This is absolutely impossible!” The empress dowager turned anxious, “The emperor cannot be without you!”

Lin Qingyu said lightly, “That is His Majesty’s business and not this minister’s. If this minister insists on leaving, does the Empress Dowager intend to force me to stay?”

The empress dowager’s eyes darkened. For her, nothing was more important than her son’s body and mind. If Lin Qingyu insists on leaving then she will have no choice but to force him to stay.

But how could she force him to stay? Would she imprison him in the palace? No, Lin Qingyu has too much prestige in the army. Were she to do this, it would only create a rift between the emperor and his ministers.

The empress dowager was worried. She invited Jiang Xing to discuss the matter.

When Jiang Xing heard that Lin Qingyu was to leave, he said nervously, “Mother, I can’t leave the prime minister’s side…”

The empress dowager held his hand and patted it. She said comfortingly, “Mother knows. Aren’t I helping you find a way through this problem?”

Jiang Xing thought for a while and said, “The prime minister said that him staying in the palace would be transgressing regulations, then let us find a proper and legitimate reason for him to stay here.”

The empress dowager said hesitantly, “Li’er, you…do you like the prime minister?”

Jiang Xing smiled, his brows and eyes curving, “I like him. I like him the most.”

The empress dowager gritted her teeth and throwing caution to the wind, said, “In our time, it is common for male servants and concubines to serve the Emperor. Even your own Imperial father had a few in his harem. Although I feel it a bit unfair to Wancheng and General Gu, but…”

Jiang Xing smiled slightly, “The prime minister cannot be a servant, nor can he be a male concubine. If this is how it is to be, he must be empress.”

The empress dowager’s eyes widened. “Empress?! Li’er, have you gone sick again!”

“Ordinary people can marry male wives so why can’t I have a male empress?” Jiang Xing smiled, “Did Mother forget. This is even an imperial edict you asked of Father. If you hadn’t forced the prime minister to marry my cousin as a male wife, would taking on male wives even be so accepted in the Dayu?”

Every word in the saying ‘you reap what you sow’ seemed to strike the empress dowager senseless. After a while, she said hurriedly, “The emperor is the ruler of our country. How can you compare yourself to ordinary people! Men can’t have children. If the emperor were to have a male empress, there would be no legitimate son.”

“I will have neither legitimate children nor illegitimate ones. Mother must already know. I am a cut sleeve and the kind that cannot bear to lay down with a woman.” Jiang Xing said quietly, “Mother, my mind cannot stand so much stimulation. Do not force me.”

Empress dowager: “…”

Jiang Xing put on a pitiful expression, as if to say, “If Mother disagrees, I’ll get sick and show her!” The empress dowager felt very distressed. When the image of how her son looked when he lost his soul flashed in her mind, she threw all thoughts of reason and ethics to the back of her mind. She said worriedly, “Even if Aijia were to agree, how can those generals and officials accept it? How can the emperor block the mouths of all under heaven?”

Jiang Xing knew that with this the empress dowager was just about wrangled. He said with a smile, “The empress dowager need not worry about this. There are precedents for marrying widows in previous dynasties. There have even been some who snatched away their daughter in law to be their noble consort and some who’ve made their father’s concubine their empress. Compared to that, all I want is to marry my cousin’s widow. This isn’t such a big problem.”

After Shen Huaishi considered it, he finally chose to stay in the capital. As His Majesty had said, it was his duty to recast the glory of the Heavenly Prison Sect. Lin Qingyu also said that he could go back to the Northwest at any time he wished.

Now, Shen Huaishi could freely enter and leave the palace and has become one of Jiang Xing’s most trusted confidants. Jiang Xing even told Shen Huaishi his real name. But telling him was useless. Xu Junyuan will keep calling him “Jiang Gongzi” anyway and Shen Huaishi will only ever use honorific titles. If Jiang Xing wanted to hear someone call his name, he had to go to Lin Qingyu.

After Jiang Xing came to power, in order to solve the shortage of qualified officials, the lack of capable people, he opened an Enke to recruit scholars. After the end of the Enke, Jiang Xing held a large Qionglin banquet in the palace to entertain the new palace graduates. During the banquet where most of the guests were young talents, the top passers were seated closest to the emperor, with a clear view of the emperor’s face.

For these young scholars, this was their first time entering the palace and they were all very cautious. They didn’t dare to gawk or stare too openly. Only when the emperor offered them wine, did they dare raise their eyes to look at His Majesty.

What they were met with was the sight of the young emperor wearing a luxurious black dragon robe; his handsomeness revealing the sharpness of a true monarch. He radiated a distinguished and accomplished air. He appeared candid, clear and bright. With just one glance, one had a clear sense of what it was to be “young” and what it was to be a “son of heaven”.

And the Prime Minister, seated next to him, impressed upon them how a person can be both cold yet bright and colorful, charming yet dignified. The newly passed Young Master Tanhua was the most gifted scholar from the southern reaches. Though born with excellent looks, seeing these two people, he could not help but feel ashamed of his inferiority.

After three rounds of drinking, Li Chan’s shoulders sank and it was the half-drunk Wu Guogong who put his arms around his shoulders, saying, “Chan ah, what do you think of Young Master Tanhua?”

Li Chan gave an objective appraisal, “A gallant young scholar, gifted with both talent and beauty.”

“Heroes usually agree!” Wu Guogong patted Li Chan on the back in relief, making Li Chan almost spit out his food, “This lord has already investigated. Young Master Tanhua is unmarried. Do you think he would make a good match for Prime Minister Lin?”

Li Chan said without hesitation, “Not good enough. Although Tanhua is good, in the days to come, he will join the Imperial Academy or the Imperial Censors and other such places to temper himself. Prime Minister Lin is the head of all ministers, how could the status of the two match?”

Knowing that it was time for him to lie again, Shen Huaishi interjected, “I heard that Prime Minister Lin intends to resign.”

Li Chan resolutely said, “Regardless, he would still not be worthy.”

Wu Zhan came to join in the fun. Hearing their conversation, he said, “Then how about Zhangyuan? Although he is not as good-looking as Tanhua, he is the champion after all.”

Li Chan shook his head. “No, he cannot be.”

Wu Zhan said in a rough voice, “Then you tell us who can. Who would be worthy?”

Li Chan was silent for a long time before uttering two words, “His Majesty.”

They were all taken aback. Wu Zhan thought Li Chan was joking and said, laughing, “Although the emperor likes Prime Minister Lin, it is definitely not the kind of love.” After speaking, he thought of Lin Qingyu’s face and turned uncertain, “Well, probably not. The emperor is still a child.”

Li Chan said helplessly, “The emperor is already fully in charge. Why would he still be a child?” Li Chan looked up, “The emperor has grown up a long time ago.”

Shen Huaishi pondered and said, “In terms of status, only the emperor is qualified to marry Prime Minister Lin. But the emperor’s wife will be empress.”

“So what if he’ll be empress?” Wu Zhan raised an uproar, made courageous with drink, “Are you saying the person that General Gu valued most is not qualified to be empress?”

Shen Huaishi said, “General Wu, please watch your words. We are in the palace.”

Jiang Xing watched from a distance as these people conversed together. He called over Xiao Songzi and whispered a few words. After the Qionglin Banquet, Wu Zhan and the others were invited to Qinzheng Hall for an audience with the emperor.

Jiang Xing said, “I have something that I need to consult with you, my ministers.”

They said in unison, “This minister shall do his best to share the worries of His Majesty.”

Jiang Xing has always been curious about how these ministers managed to speak so neatly. “To tell you the truth, I wish to make Prime Minister Lin my empress.”

Shen Huaishi: …Finally.

Li Chan: … Sure enough.

Others: Ah! ! !

“I have already learned of General Gu’s last wish from Shen Huaishi. The General laid down his life for our country, he has rendered the greatest of contributions. How can I have the heart to allow him to die with a grievance?” Jiang Xing said with serious look in his eyes, “I am willing to care for Prime Minister Lin in the General’s stead. In this whole world, only Zhen can protect Prime Minister Lin for the rest of his life.”

Wu Zhan was so moved that he almost cried. “Your Majesty, Your Majesty…”

Wu Guogong burst into tears. “Fuzhou must be looking over us. With this, he can rest easy in the nine springs.”

Li Chan had mixed emotions but mostly of relief. Yes, only the son of heaven can protect Prime Minister Lin for a lifetime. He asked, “Dare I ask what His Majesty wishes us to do?”

Jiang Xing said, “The Prime Minister is a person who values love and righteousness. He must still be holding onto General Gu’s memory. Zhen hopes that you can find a way to help me persuade Prime Minister Lin to agree to my marriage proposal.”

With the arrival of summer, good news came from the Northwest. Wu Youyuan has led the Zhengxi Army deep into the hinterlands of the Xixia and they had broken through several cities. Xixia was forced to send envoys to sue for peace. Those who advocated for war and those who advocated for peace, raised an awful commotion about the matter. Prime Minister Lin happened to be in the Imperial Medical Office, overseeing the delivery of a nest of poisonous lizards with the genius doctor from the Southern border.

The poisonous lizard had laid five or six eggs and Lin Qingyu was burying them in the specially prepared gravel. He also fed the female lizard. After finishing his work, Lin Qingyu washed his hands and put the wedding ring Jiang Xing had given him back on his finger.

Seeing this, the genius doctor said, “The Prime Minister puts on and takes off this ring more than a dozen times a day. Do you not find it troublesome?” The genius doctor had deep-set eyes and a very exotic face. He appeared to be a young man barely past twenty yet he could actually be as old as Lin Qingyu’s grandfather.

“It is a bit troublesome.” Lin Qingyu put the ring on his finger again, “But I am willing to go through this inconvenience.”

Lin Qingyu returned to the General’s Mansion and when he got off the carriage, he saw Shen Huaishi, Wu Zhan and the others standing in a row at the door of his house. Each had on a different expression but they all appeared eager to have a try.

Lin Qingyu pretended not to understand and invited them into the mansion. He asked, “What is it?”

Wu Zhan has always been very straight to the point. He said directly, “Prime Minister, do you have any wish to remarry?”

“No.” Lin Qingyu’s brows were now tinged with anger, “What does General Wu mean by this? How long has it been since the General passed away and you’re already thinking of having me marry?”

“No, no, that isn’t my intention.” Wu Zhan said quickly, “But this is the General’s wish.”

Lin Qingyu was taken aback. “The General’s wish?”

Having forced to deceive people so many times, Shen Huaishi’s acting skills were forced to improve. “Prime Minister, it was General Gu’s stated wish while he lived that you be able to find another to form a relationship with; to find someone you can spend the rest of your life with hand in hand.”

Lin Qingyu was a little moved. “The General, did he really say that?”

“It is true.” Wu Guogong said solemnly, “To die with one’s eyes open is no laughing matter. Teacher Xu even came to tell us that those who do are made into lonely ghosts unable to reincarnate.”

Lin Qingyu said coolly, “That man purposely mystifies simple matters. Don’t tell me you believe him too?”

Wu Zhan persuaded him earnestly, “Truth be told, the Emperor wishes to marry the prime minister. The Emperor is handsome and he has been clinging to you since he was a child. If you marry him, you will be the Empress of our country. This, this would not be a loss for you.”

“His Majesty…?” Lin Qingyu’s eyes went wide and his face changed suddenly, “Who taught the Emperor this? This is simply absurd.”

Li Chan said, sounding him out, “Prime Minister Lin, I believe that His Majesty is sincere to you. You too must have some affection for the Emperor…”

Wu Zhan nodded again and again. “Yes, yes. Prime Minister, we know that you have no wish to remarry. But for the sake of the General, please think the matter over.”

Lin Qingyu closed his eyes. After a long silence, he said reluctantly, “Since it is the General’s last wish, I will consider it.”