Married Thrice to Salted Fish

Chapter 71

After Gu Fuzhou wrote the letter of guarantee, he solemnly handed it to Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu took a look. True to Gu Fuzhou’s usual style, it was written entirely in casual speech. Whenever Gu Fuzhou wrote letters to others or wrote his reports to the emperor, he often used refined, graceful words. His literary talent was not particularly remarkable, he was still a head above his military peers. Only when writing something for him did Gu Fuzhou write in whatever way he felt most comfortable. He would even occassionally include a few doodles.

Reason told Lin Qingyu that any promise or a guarantee was nothing more than wishful thinking on their part. When bad luck comes, how can a piece of paper be able to stop it? But for now, his heart was soothed by Gu Fuzhou’s promise and guarantee.

Whether it was Lu Wancheng or Gu Fuzhou, no matter how much this person tended to ignore his proper duties, he has never let him down. Lin Qingyu was willing to believe him.

Lin Qingyu put away the letter of guarantee. “I’m fine.”

Gu Fuzhou breathed a sigh of relief. But at the same time felt a little regretful. A sensitive, vulnerable beauty with eyes rimmed red is truly a rare sight to behold. Being looked at so tenderly by Lin Qingyu, he felt for a few moments that he was in danger falling into inextinguishable burning heat. It seemed that Lin Qingyu only need to say it and he would give him anything, even if it was getting up early for him for the rest of his life.

Lin Qingyu was also feeling embarrassed because of his brief loss of control. He pretended to be calm and collected and said, “Let’s go to sleep.”

“Alright.” Gu Fuzhou lifted the quilt, helped Lin Qingyu to lie down and then lay down himself.

Lin Qingyu’s eyes widened slightly. “You…”

Gu Fuzhou’s cheeks grew hot and while spurning his shamelessness, he covered both himself and Lin Qingyu with the quilt and said, sounding all natural, “I’ll coax you to sleep before I head up.”

“You? Coax me to sleep?” Lin Qingyu said with a smile, “And who is it who falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow?”

When Gu Fuzhou asked the carpenter to make the bunkbed, he hadnt’t considered that he would be sleeping with Lin Qingyu in General Gu’s body. Two teenagers in the bottom bunk was just right. Now, it was obviously cramp and crowded. He had changed bodies and Lin Qingyu also grew a bit. The ill-tempered little beauty of the past had turned into a deep-thinking great beauty. No matter how bad his temper, he knew when to restrain himself, finding a way behind their backs to take those people’s lives. Only in front of Gu Fuzhou would he unscrupulously expose his malice.

Gu Fuzhou laughed and leaned in closer to Lin Qingyu. Their long hair lay scattered on the pillow, intertwining.

“Want to hear a bedtime story?” Gu Fuzhou asked.

Lin Qingyu said: “Tell me about your hometown.”

“You seem to be quite interested in this.”

“I’m interested in everything about you.”

Gu Fuzhou smiled. “Then let me tell you about the mobile phone. The mobile phone is a very important tool in my hometown. If one day, you go to my hometown and you get separated from me, you can use the mobile phone to find me. You just have to record down this string of numbers first…”

As Gu Fuzhou spoke, his voice became fainter and fainter and it didn’t take long for him to fall completely silent. To be honest, Lin Qingyu was already surprised that he managed to last so long before falling asleep. Lin Qingyu tucked in the quilt and beside Gu Fuzhou’s pillow, closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, when he felt that Lin Qingyu’s breathing had turned slow and even for a long time, Gu Fuzhou cracked open one eye and after confirming that Lin Qingyu was indeed asleep, he opened the other one.

Gu Fuzhou’s eyes were clear, without the slightest sign of drowsiness. He and Lin Qingyu were lying face to face. Their faces were so close together he couldn’t even see the other’s entire face. And yet, even this much was enough to send his heart shaking. He couldn’t help reaching out his hand, plucking Lin Qingyu’s long silky hair from his forehead and tucking it behind his ear. He said, a quiet whisper, “Good night, Qingyu.”

The next day was Lu Wancheng’s death anniversary. After Lin Qingyu saw Gu Fuzhou off to court, he took Huan Tong and Hua Lu to the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion.

Not long ago, in October, Pan Shi had given birth to a healthy baby boy . The lifelessness was swept away from the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion and it once again radiated with vitality. The happy event put heart into Nan’an Hou and thrived in the imperial court. Not only has he tightened his grasp over the Ministry of Revenue but the Emperor also placed great importance in his opinions.

When Lin Qingyu arrived at the Hou’s Mansion, Nan’an Hou was at morning court and it was the Pan Shi who received him.

“I was wondering just yesterday whether Doctor Lin would be coming today.” After giving birth to her child, Pan Shi was in relatively good spirits; merely that she had gotten a bit more plump. Although she still remained a concubine, the servants of the Hou Mansion already regarded her as their mistress. When Pan Shi got pregnant, Nan’an Hou probably felt that he was still young and took in several concubines, on and off. Since nothing stirred in the bellies of these concubines, they dared not yet stir trouble in front of her.

Pan Shi had no intention of competing for favor. So, child in hand, she spent her days managing the household and living a good life.

Lin Qingyu said, “It’s Young Master Hou’s death anniversary. Of course, I would come. How is Young Master Hou’s little brother?”

Pan Shi said with a gentle smile, “The little young master is fair and plump. He’s a little heavier for babies his age. At the end of last month marked the end of the little young master’s first month. I wanted to send an invitation to the General’s Mansion,” Pan Shi smile waned a little, “But Master Hou said…”

“Yiniang need not say more, I understand.” Lin Qingyu looked at Hua Lu from out the corner of his eyes. Hua Lu understood it and took out a brocade box, saying, “This is a lock of longevity that the Young Master had specially made for the little Young Master Lu. We wish that the little young master may grow up safe and sound.”

Pan Shi hurriedly got up with the help of a maid, “On behalf of the little young master, allow me to thank Doctor Lin.”

After the two talked for a while, it was time for to make the offerings. Inside the Lu Family’s ancestral hall, servants laid out cooked food in front of Lu Wancheng’s memorial tablet, meaning to let the deceased “taste something fresh”. Later, they brought in a brazier and Lin Qingyu burned paper money as consolation for the dead. Pan Shi had specially invited monks from Changsheng Temple to chant sutras for Lu Wancheng.

By the time they had finished with everything it was almost meal time. Pan Shi was unsure whether to have Lin Qingyu stay for the meal. At this hour, Master Hou should also be coming back. Master Hou most certainly wouldn’t want to see this former daughter-in-law of his.

Pan Shi hesitated but Lin Qingyu didn’t take the initiative to leave. Not long after, the steward came to report that Nan’an Hou had returned. Pan Shi looked at Lin Qingyu in embarrassment. “Doctor Lin, this…”

Lin Qingyu smiled slightly. “Perfect timing. It has been a long time since I’ve paid my respects to Master Hou.”

When Nan’an Hou returned to the mansion and saw Lin Qingyu, his mood, already bad because of the death anniversary of his eldest son, was made even worse. Even if Lin Qingyu was now the wife of the great General Gu, he could not bring himself to muster a good expression. “What is the General’s wife coming to my mansion for?”

“The General’s wife is here to pay homage to the Eldest Young Master.” Pan Shi coaxed, “He has been very considerate.”

Nan’an Hou snorted coldly, and said, “When Lin Shi left the mansion that day, we agreed to cut all ties and to have nothing to do with each other in the future. Our Lu Family never had any male wife and the General’s wife has neither identity nor distinction in this mansion. Coming here are you not afraid of incurring the ridicule of others, making the General lose face?”

Lin Qingyu said indifferently: “The general has a broad mind. The state of his home country is central in his mind. How could he possibly care about a trivial matter such as this? Master Hou need not worry for his sake.”

Nan’an Hou was stifled with anger. “Are you here to insist on a tie with the Lu Family!”

“I have no wish to insist on any tie with the Lu Family, only that there is a certain matter pertaining to the Lu Family that I need to deal with.” Lin Qingyu said, “Auntie, if there is nothing else, why don’t you go and see to the little Young Master first?”

Knowing that Lin Qingyu was going to talk to Nan’an Hou alone, Pan Shi decided to withdraw with the servants. Seeing this, Nan’an Hou spoke sarcastically even to Pan Shi, “Do you do whatever he asks you to? Have you forgotten who you belong to!”

Pan Shi was stunned. “Master Hou…”

Lin Qingyu didn’t have the patience to appreciate the matters of the Lu Family’s household. “Since it is Master Hou who wishes to have so many people spectate, you cannot blame me.”

“What do you mean?!”

Lin Qingyu said, “Hua Lu, go and invite Manager Zhang over.”

After Lin Qingyu left the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion, Zhang Shiquan stayed in the Hou’s Mansion to take care of the accounting affairs. He got the news early that morning that Lin Qingyu would be coming today and he had everything Lin Qingyu wanted ready, so he had already been waiting outside early on.

With a stack of ledgers in hand, Zhang Shiquan gave a round of greetings. “Greetings to the General’s wife, Master Hou, Yiniang.”

Nan’an Hou asked Lin Qingyu, “Why have you asked him here?”

Lin Qingyu raised his eyes and Zhang Shiquan presented the stack of ledgers to Nan’an Hou. Nan’an Hou picked up the top book and looked at it suspiciously. After a few pages, his expression became more and more solemn. “This-this is…”

Lin Qingyu said leisurely, “Judging from Master Hou’s appearance, it seems you had no knowledge of this matter.”

Nan’an Hou turned pale and everyone waved away, leaving only him, Lin Qingyu and Zhang Shiquan in the room. “What exactly is this?” Nan’an Hou said, “Where did these huge sums come from and why are they on the account books of the Hou Mansion!”

Zhang Shiquan looked to Lin Qingyu for instructions and after receiving his approval, he said, “What could Master Hou mean? All this money was earned through your second wife Liang Shi’s painstaking efforts. Naturally, it was thus recorded in the Hou Mansion’s account.”

Although Nan’an Hou seldom asked about the household affairs, he was still aware of the shops and villages run by the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion. Such a large sum of money could not have come from the income of several restaurants or villages. Two words popped out in his mind and he staggered in fright.

“Master Hou has probably guessed it.” Zhang Shiquan said, “In today’s world, only the illicit salt trade would be able to make such huge profits. According to Dayu’s law, selling more than a certain amount of illicit salt is a capital offense. Surely, Master Hou is aware of that?”

Naturally, Nan’an Hou knew. Not long ago, he had even personally handled a case of a local official operating an illicit salt business. The official’s clan had been involved in the sale of illicit salt and because of the huge amount, he was finally sentenced to be executed. Looking at the sums in the ledger, Liang Shi’s family had been operating at a scale that far surpassed that.

Nan’an Hou never expected that Liang Shi could bring about such a huge disaster even after her descent into madness. He wanted to kill her immediately. “That b*tch!” Eyes bulging, he glared at Lin Qingyu. “When did you find out? Why are you only telling me of it now!”

Lin Qingyu said, “Because, just as Master Hou has just said, I have no ties with the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion and we have nothing to do with each other. Even if the Hou Mansion were to provoke His Majesty’s fury and collapse overnight, I will continue to be my general’s wife. Maybe the Emperor might reward even reward me by reinstating me to my official position after seeing my meritorious service in exposing this matter. What do you think?

The word “expose” made Na’nan Hou, long versed in court struggles, shudder in fright. “You…”

Lin Qingyu went on, “Unfortunately, the little young master has just reached his first full month. Once this matter is exposed, who knows whether he’ll live to see his hundredth day?”

Nan’an Hou spoke irresponsibly, “Poisonous woman, actually threatening me with the life of an innocent child!” Nan’an Hou had lost his sons one after another and had this child in his old age. He regarded this child as more important than anything else. He was desperate to save this child.

“Threat?” Lin Qingyu smiled almost sympathetically, “Master Hou misunderstood. I simply kindly reminding Master Hou.”

Zhang Shiquan said, “Master Hou, it is your wife’s family who is behind this matter. For the sake of Young Master Hou’s face, the General’s wife has kept quiet regarding this matter, enabling you to return to court and regain His Majesty’s favor. If I were you, I would be thanking the General’s wife. How could you be making unscrupulous charges against him?”

Nan’an Hou’s officialdom had not been for nothing. Lin Qingyu concealing this matter and suddenly bringing it up now, meant that there was something he needed him to do. What he hated most was being controlled by others, but for the Lu Family’s glory and for the sake of his newborn child, he had to give in, “Say it. What do you want?”

Lin Qingyu smiled with satisfaction. “Don’t worry, Master Hou, I won’t have you do anything that would offend against Heaven and reason nor would I have you do anything that goes against your loyalty to the Emperor. I simply ask that you write a letter and asking the Emperor to confer to the Fourth Prince his title as feudal king.”

The Marquis of Nan’an was taken aback. “The Fourth Prince?”

“Exactly.”

It wasn’t only to the Emperor that Xiao Jie had a low sense of presence; the same went for the court ministers. If Lin Qingyu hadn’t mentioned it, Nan’an Hou would not have even remembered that this title had yet to be conferred.

Nan’an Hou asked suspiciously, “Is it that simple?”

“For now… it’s that simple.”

Nan’an Hou was feeling indecisive. The Fourth Prince was already of age; he had also already left the palace. It was reasonable that he be named feudal king. The granting of this title though would risk the Crown Prince’s displeasure. He asked again, “Why not have General Gu do this himself?”

Lin Qingyu snorted. “Has Master Hou been scared stupid?”

Nan’an Hou’s anger flared. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

“The Emperor and the Crown Prince are suspicious of the General and I do not wish for the General to be implicated.” Lin Qingyu said calmly, “Does Master Hou understand what I mean?”

No matter how reluctant Nan’an Hou was, he could only say, “I… I understand.”

With regards to the matter of Xiao Jie’s title as feudal king, Nan’an Hou would bring it up in court but they would also need someone from the harem to provide support; only them would this be foolproof. The first one Lin Qingyu thought of was the Empress. The Empress used to take good care of him, but ever since he married Gu Fuzhou, she had obviously turned cold towards him. He had gone several times to Fengyi Palace only be rebuked.

The Empress’ love and righteousness was reserved only for her own family. In her eyes, Lin Qingyu remarrying someone else before his period of piety expired justified her turning against him.

Fortunately, aside from Lu Wancheng, there was one other person in the Empress’ family and for her, he was the most important.

On this day, Lin Qingyu had just finished examining the Emperor’s pulse. He went to the library of the Imperial Medical Office together with Hu Ji, who had just finished his rotation. Lin Qingyu went straight to the innermost area, where there was a locked iron door. He had previously obtained the Emperor’s permission to access this room on the grounds that he “wished to see all the Emeperor’s medical records ever since he began suffering from headaches”. The library’s guard opened the door. After the two entered, Hu Ji asked curiously, “Doctor Lin, what are you looking for?”

Lin Qingyu said: “The Sixth Prince, Xiao Li’s medical records.”

The author has something to say: An Irresponsible Little Theater

Gu Fuzhou: If you go to my hometown one day, you can find me using a mobile phone. This is my mobile phone number…

And then the great beauty transmigrated from the past to the present.

One day, while Classmate Jiang was playing a game, about to get five kills, a message popped up on his phone.

Unknown number: Your wife got lost and borrowed my phone from me. He’s asking you to quickly come and pick him up.

Classmate Jiang: ?