Married Thrice to Salted Fish

1. Chapter 84

During the start of summer, the Crown Prince Xiao Cheng was repeatedly censured by the censors, charged with ‘bringing dishonor to his ancestors’ achievements, of acting without proper authority and of collecting cronies’. Immediately after, an order came from the Emperor: Addressed to temple of our ancestors and to the all the people of the country, King Ning, fourth son of the emperor, modest and self-effacing, of virtuous character, taking after His Majesty himself, is granted the scroll, treasure and position of crown prince.

On the day of the proclamation of the new crown prince, Lin Qingyu and Gu Fuzhou went to the palace to attend the ceremony. The two stood for hours under the scorching sun. Lin Qingyu managed fine and at the end of the ceremony, was still as magnificent as snow. Gu Fuzhou, on the other hand, was half-dead from baking under the sun; his court attire already soaked through with sweat. This “frail” foreigner couldn’t stand the high temperature that had persistent the past few days. As soon as they returned to the mansion, quick as a bold of lightning, he took off his heavy court clothes and slumped on the cool bench in only his sleeping garments. For a good long while, he couldn’t even muster up a single word.

Huan Tong brought in a bucket of ice and Hua Lu served up red grapes that had been soaking in the well. Slowly, Gu Fuzhou managed to recover.

While Gu Fuzhou was dazed by the heat, Lin Qingyu had already changed his clothes. He was dressed in unadorned white, sitting at the table with jade fan in hand, explaining today’s dinner to Huan Tong. With the light of the summer sunset draping over his figure, he created a serene scene worthy of painting.

Seeing this, an unquenchable fire rose in Gu Fuzhou’s heeart. He really wanted to go over there and tease him. But after standing for six straight hours, even moving his fingers proved difficult. He felt like he would die if he leaves this bend.

“Have the kitchen cook a pot of barley porridge. Prepare some pickles to stir the appetite and then prepare a couple of stir-fried vegetable dishes.”

Huan Tong wrote down the instructions. He said, “Young Master, do you really not want any meat or fish? The General might be unhappy with the lack of meat.”

Lin Qingyu thought for a while and said, “Then add some braised pork leg. Once the meal is ready, send it directly to our room.”

“Alright. I’ll have the kitchen prepare these.”

The General’s Mansion housed no elders and with Gu Fuzhou, this man of ‘elegance and refinement’, by his side, Lin Qingyu found himself starting to slacken in matters of etiquette. When he had nothing to do, he would accompany Gu Fuzhou for a lie-in in bed. Gu Fuzhou was often too lazy to go to the front hall to eat, so he would have the food delivered to their room. During rare times of leisure, when he wasn’t reading books, dispensing medicines, or raising Gu, he would spend time wiling away the hours with Gu Fuzhou.

If thing went on like this, Gu Fuzhou was definitely going to corrupt him into becoming a bag of lazybones as well.

Lin Qingyu turned around. He caught sight of Gu Fuzhou lying motionless on the cool bench. He frowned a little: “How long do you plan on lying there? Aren’t you going to changed your clothes?”

Gu Fuzhou stretched out his hand and pointed at the table. He said with a lazy tone: “Qingyu, I want to eat grapes.”

The red grapes were placed not far from Gu Fuzhou’s hand. He needed only to straighten up to reach them. With a ‘you are hopeless’ expression, Lin Qingyu approached and plucked a red grape. “Don’t eat too much. We’ll be having the evening meal soon.”

Gu Fuzhou blinked. “Feed it to my mouth…”

Lin Qingyu narrowed his eyes. He quickly and accurately shoved the red grape into Gu Fuzhou’s mouth. “You’re going to die from laziness.”

The red grape was sweet and juicy and it because it’d been soaked in the well, it also had a heat relieving effect. Gu Fuzhou was satisfied with his meal. Just as Lin Qingyu was about to withdraw his hand, Gu Fuzhou grabbed it and pulled him into his arms.

Lin Qingyu was forced to sit on General Slacker’s lap. His eyes narrowed like knives, but he didn’t struggle. “So, now you have energy again?”

“While I don’t have energy for anything else, I still have the energy to hold my wife.” Gu Fuzhou twisted of fed it to Lin Qingyu. He waited until after Lin Qingyu ate it before saying, “Xiao Jie has already attained the title of crown prince. For the time being, Xi Rong is behaving himself and is content with his lot. Can you take a break now?”

Lin Qingyu said, “The sea of learning has no horizon. For those who have the heart, there is never a moment to be idle.”

“The sea of learning may have no bounds but your husband’s age does.” Gu Fuzhou was being naughty as he held Lin Qingyu in his arms. His hand touched that graceful waist, that slender abdomen, lingering. “I am in my thirties. If we wait until you’re done before you accompany me, even if I want to do something to you, my spirit might be willing but my flesh would be weak. By then, would you take me square dancing or should we simply gossip under the sheets?”

Gu Fuzhou’s caresses made Lin Qingyu feel a little like smiling. “What is square dance?”

Hua Lu came in with the food. Seeing the Young Master sitting on the General’s lap, listening carefully to the General’s description of a beautiful dance with a very exotic style, she felt an upsurge of emotion in her heart. Though she has been serving the Young Master for so long, she never knew he had this side to him — gentle like water.

Whenever the Young Master and the General were together, they were happy. This was a kind of happiness that Young Master Hou couldn’t give to him. When the Young Master and Young Master Hou first became husband and wife, the Young Master didn’t have any good feelings for Young Master Hou. Later on, he gradually softened and grew willing to accept Young Master Hou. And yet, there still remained that layer of forbearance and gloom in his eyes. He knew that Young Master Hou only had a year left to live. So even when he was happy, there was always that shadow behind it.

And now that he was by General Gu’s side, though that deep shadow persisted, there would certainly come a day when he would completely recover.

Suddenly, Hua Lu felt relieved. Gone was the feeling of unwillingness she felt for Young Master Hou. She no longer blamed the General for snatching away the young master. Because… the Young Master’s smile, so genuine and unguarded, was truly beautiful.

Hua Lu withdrew with the food, almost bumping into Huan Tong who was carrying a pot of calamus wine. Huan Tong asked, “Why did you come out again?”

Hua Lu blushed. “The Young Master and the General are too busy to eat right now. Let’s bring these in a little later. It’s so hot; better let the porridge cool first.”

In the room, Gu Fuzhou was still talking without cease, on and on. Inadvertently locking eyes with Lin Qingyu, he suddenly felt like an idiot talking about square dancing with Lin Qingyu. He immediately cut his losses and changed the topic. “—in short, since matters have come to temporary close, it’s also time for you to fulfill your promise. Tomorrow, you are not allowed to go the palace. Nor are you allowed to go to the Imperial Physician’s Office. You are to stay here in the Mansion and keep me company.”

Lin Qingyu was about to say something, when he heard Gu Fuzhou say, “You gave me a written pledge.”

Lin Qingyu curled his lips. “I remember. There are twenty-four hours in a day and I won’t deprive you even an hour less.”

Gu Fuzhou smiled and leaned forward to kiss him. Lin Qingyu pushed Gu Fuzhou away and said, “You’re sweating all over. Aren’t you going to take a bath yet?”

Hearing the word “bath”, Gu Fuzhou already felt tired. “Save me. Washing my hair is such a bother.”

Lin Qingyu said, “On hot days like today, it’s easy for long hair to dry.”

“It’s still too much trouble. Qingyu, I want to cut my hair short, can I?”

“Short hair?” Lin Qingyu asked curiously, “How short?”

Gu Fuzhou gestured with his thumb and index finger, the two fingers were almost touching. “This short.”

Lin Qingyu thought for a while and said, “Why don’t you just become a monk?”

The next day, Lin Qingyu actually didn’t go anywhere. He even specially instructed Yuan Yin to close theirs gates and turn awat guests for today. Gu Fuzhou slept in until it was three poles high in the sky. After getting up, he shared a noontime meal with Lin Qingyu. In the afternoon, during the hottest time of the day, the two stayed in their room stocked with ice. On a whim, Gu Fuzhou chatted with Lin Qingyu about music.

Lin Qingyu’s specialty lay in medicine; nevertheless, he had studied the four arts. Gu Fuzhou wanted to see him play music, so he asked Huan Tong to fetch a Guqin from the warehouse. Huan Tong didn’t know which one Lin Qingyu was pertaining to, so he simply brought the whole cache over. The box contained all the musical instruments that Lin Qingyu had used.

Gu Fuzhou picked up a Xiqin and said, “Is this an Erhu?”

“Erhu?” Lin Qingyu said, “In the Dayu, this is called a Xiqin.”

“I know how to play this one.” Gu Fuzhou said with great interest, “When I was young, my mother forced me to choose two kinds of musical instruments to learn — a foreign instrument and a classical one. For the latter, I chose the Xiqin.”

Lin Qingyu said, “Why does it feel like all the things you know to do, your mother forced you to learn?”

Gu Fuzhou said with a chuckle, “Yeah, it’s fortunate I had her. Otherwise, finding myself here in the Dayu, I wouldn’t even have been able to write with a brush. What could I have used to make you fall for me?”

Seeing the homesick look in Gu Fuzhou’s eyes, Lin Qingyu had no idea how to comfort him. Gu Fuzhou’s hometown was so far away, it was practically impossible for him to go back.

Lin Qingyu lowered his eyes. He plucked the strings lightly and asked, “What song do you want to listen to?”

Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “Qingyu, I’ll use this Xiqin to play a duet with you, how about it?”

Lin Qingyu smiled. “Alright.”

The pair had absolutely no tacit understanding, creating a piece that was jarring and harsh to the ears. Huan Tong and Hua Lu were tortured for a long time; each pulling away farther than the other.

When the sun begun to set, Gu Fuzhou took Lin Qingyu to the pond to fish.

He has been in the Dayu for some time and fishing has become Gu Fuzhou’s favorite pastime. It required little effort and it provided the joy of a harvest. It was a lot more enjoyable than playing basketball or tennis.

While Gu Fuzhou fished, Lin Qingyu stayed by the side, giving him a bite of freshly cut fruit from time to time. Several maidservants were coming from a distance. Seeing the two, they approached and saluted, “General, Madam.”

Gu Fuzhou saw that each of them had a straw basket full of bamboo leaves. He asked, “Are you going to make zongzi?”

A servant girl smiled and said, “What else? It’s going to be the Dragon Boat Festival soon. We were thinking to wash the leaves and glutinous rice in preparation. We didn’t mean to disturb the General and his wife.”

“You’re not disturbing us.” Lin Qingyu said, “Zongzi…how do you wrap it?”

Gu Fuzhou was greatly surprised. The maid hurriedly took out a bamboo leaf and put a handful of glutinous rice on it. “First, fold it like this. Then this…Finally, turn it over and tie it with a rope.”

Lin Qingyu nodded. “I’ll give it a try.”

He had no interest in fishing and simply accompanying Gu Fuzhou was boring. And so, he found something for himself to do. Who wants to make zongzi? It looked simple, but was difficult to do. Though he tried several ties, he simply unable to do it. After some time, he completely lost patience.

Gu Fuzhou took a look and said, “High-end ingredients often only require simple cooking methods. Doctor Lin, who kept at it for an entire hour, decided to leave everything to the servants.”

The air was filled with the leisurely smiles of summer evenings.

Lin Qingyu dried his hands and said without a change in his expression, “Shut your mouth.”

At this moment, Yuan Yin turned up, looking for the both them: “General, Madam, someone came to the mansion to deliver a message…”

Lin Qingyu said, “I said no guests today.”

“But that person brought a token with him.” Yuan Yin took out a golden stone. It was the same one Lin Qingyu had given to Shen Huaishi that day.

Lin Qingyu said, “Where’s the letter? Bring it to me.”

Shen Huaishi’s words were as succinct as ever: See you at Jinxiu Pavilion.

Lin Qingyu said, “Shen Huaishi is still in the capital.”

Gu Fuzhou read the letter over Lin Qingyu’s shoulder. Reminding him, he said, “You promised one whole day, twenty-four hours. An hour less means it’s not one whole day.”

Lin Qingyu said, “Then, I won’t go.”

Gu Fuzhou looked at him with a slightly hesitant look. He laughed out loud. “No, no, no. It can’t be that Doctor Lin didn’t see that I was just joking.”

Lin Qingyu was slightly startled. “A joke?” He really hadn’t thought he was joking.

Gu Fuzhou said: “Shen Huaishi came to see you at this time, it must be something serious and may be urgent. How could I not let you go?”

Despite Gu Fuzhou saying this, but Lin Qingyu had made a firm choice. “No, I promised to accompany you for the whole day. A man of virtue is as good as his word.”

“Come on, when did you become a man of virtue?” Gu Fuzhou laughed, You’re obviously a vengeful ‘petty man’ with lies on hand and words running contrary to one’s heart.”

Lin Qingyu’s tone was contemptuous. “So that is how the General sees me.” He has lied to many people, but he has never lied to Gu Fuzhou.

“Isn’t it such a coincidence? That my exact type are deceitful great beauties.”

Lin Qingyu had never been one to go along with this ruse of Gu Fuzhou’s. “The General’s type isn’t ‘deceitful great beauties’. The general just likes great beauties.” In other words, what Gu Fuzhou liked the most was his face.

“You can’t say that. After all, the only reason why I like deceitful great beauties is because you’re deceitful.” Gu Fuzhou put his hands on Lin Qingyu’s shoulders and pushed him outside, “Alright, now, hurry up. Go, the protagonist of the original book is still waiting for you. Come back as soon as you’re done.”

“You…” Lin Qingyu reluctantly compromised, “I can go by myself.”

Gu Fuzhou watched Lin Qingyu leave. Once he was gone, Gu Fuzhou chuckled to himself. He stretched and went back to his room to catch up on sleep.

The author has something to say: Mini-theater:

The reason why the stranger was so enthusiastic in this meet up was, aside from being turned down by the great beauty, she just wanted to see what kind of man could be the husband of a great beauty. She was unconvinced, unwilling. Why is it that such a great beauty already had a husband?

After some spot of trouble, the stranger finally managed to bring the great beauty to meet Jiang.

Stranger: …Okay, alright, I give. You two talk. I’ll be going first.

PS: The romance plots of the supporting roles were made completely for the two protagonists. I won’t be derailing from the main plot to write about them. The extras will have only Lu Wancheng, Gu Fuzhou, Xiao Li, Classmate Jiang X Qingyu.