Married Thrice to Salted Fish

17.

Lin Qingyu wasn’t planning on getting to the bottom of this with Lu Wancheng. It was inevitable that a person would have secrets that couldn’t be told to outsiders. Lu Wancheng didn’t want to tell him and he had no necessary reason to know. Just like the venomous thoughts that popped up in his own heart from time to time, these too were things that no one knew.

…Except for Lu Wancheng. Lu Wancheng knew everything. Not only him, Lu Wancheng seemed to see through everyone. He spent entire days acting like salted fish, eating and waiting to die. On the surface, he hadn’t a single shred of shrewdness, standing aloof from worldly affairs. Then at certain critical moments, he would wordlessly work out a solution. It made it hard to pin him down.

But how?

How did Lu Wancheng know everything about him while what he knew about Lu Wancheng was just the tip of the iceberg?

Lin Qingyu hesitated for a long time. Finally, under the pretense of tidying up the library, he asked Hua Lu to help him look for all of Lu Wancheng’s calligraphy and writing, rearranging them all again.

He didn’t know where this uncalled for unwillingness was coming from either. But since he had doubts, searching for answers was only normal. No one liked the feeling of being kept in the dark.

Hua Lu was a maid sent from Wen Guo Gong’s mansion. Madam Wen Guo Gong was concerned about how her grandson was constantly recuperating all the year round. She was afraid he’d feel bored, so she chose a maid with an innocent and artless temperament to send over. Hua Lu was not only dexterous and agile but she was also able to recognize words. She very quickly sorted out the things Lin Qingyu wanted in chronological order.

Lu Wancheng’s handwriting could be traced back to the time when he was an ignorant beginner. For the decade following, the changes in his handwriting all had traces that could be followed. By the time Lu Wancheng was fifteen or sixteen, the “shape” and “spirit” of his characters became quite fixed. The turning point was when Lu Wancheng became critically ill. At that time, Lu Wancheng was unconscious, unable to lift a pen to write. He remained dizzy and muddled for a month, only coming fully awake on their wedding night.

Since then, the “spirit” in Lu Wancheng’s written characters changed.

Lin Qingyu picked up a novel that Lu Wancheng had recently read. Leafing through it, he asked, “When did you arrive at the Hou Mansion?”

Hua Lu said, “Replying to Shaojun, I have been in the Hou Mansion for three years.”

“What kind of person was Young Master Hou before?”

Hua Lu thought back and said, “Young Master Hou talked a lot less before. He didn’t laugh much, and showed no interest in walking the birds or playing touhu.” Hua Lu smiled, “After Young Master joined the Mansion, not only did Young Master Hou’s body get better but his temperament also became a lot more cheerful. Shaojun is really Young Master Hou’s lucky star.”

Lin Qingyu refused to comment. “What did he usually do before?”

“Young Master Hou liked to read all kinds of travel notes. His body’s not too good, is it? And he’s always been trapped in the Mansion so he especially longs to go out. He used to say that if he could just go to LIn’an once, he could die hap-…” Hua Lu hit her own mouth, “Oh, this mouth of mine. Saying such unlucky things.”

That bag of lazy-boned salted fish? Longs to go out?

Lin Qingyu sneered in his heart, and asked, “He must have had a good relationship with the Madam and the Second Young Lady in the past, right?”

“Yes, yes. That’s right. The Young Master was very filial to the Madam and he cared a lot for the Second Young Lady. Whenever the Guo Gong Mansion sends anything good, he would always think of them first.”

The big change in temperament could be explained by mood changes brought about by his near death experience. Then what about Liang Shi and Lu Niantao? Could someone have visited him in a dream and told him that this pair of mother and daughter weren’t good people?

Lin Qingyu was leafing through a detective novel. He had quite the impression of this book’s title. This book was once widely circulated among the common people. When he was studying, his Shixiong and Shidi were all obsessed with it. They ended up neglecting their studies and were scolded by the master.

Lin Qingyu read two random pages. He was starting to become interested and fascinated when he turned to the third page and saw that a person’s name was circled. Next to it was a sloppily written note: This person is the murderer.

Lin Qingyu: “……”

It wasn’t difficult to see that Lu Wancheng’s words were written casually, without deliberately imitating anything. Amidst the laziness was a sense of exquisiteness that couldn’t be hidden; very much like the person himself.

“Young Master.” Huan Tong’s voice interrupted Lin Qingyu’s thoughts. “It’s time for dinner. Young Master Hou is inviting you to have dinner.”

“Okay.” Lin Qingyu said, picking up a pen and dipping it in ink, he neatly wrote the words “Get lost!” beside his comment.

May, after the spring rains, was a good season to eat fresh water fish. Today’s Ginger Crucian Carp Soup was very well done. The fish was soft and tender, and the fish soup was savory and sweet. Lin Qingyu never has much of an appetite but even he couldn’t helping himself to a bit more. On the contrary, Lu Wancheng didn’t even touch it.

Lin Qingyu asked, “You don’t like fish?”

“I like it.”

“Then how come I haven’t seen you eat any?”

Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “There are many too many fish bones in crucian carp. It’s too troublesome to eat. Forget it, the other dishes are also very delicious.”

Lin Qingyu: “……”

Hua Lu stepped forward and said, “Then I’ll help the young master pick out the fish bones.”

“No need.” Lin Qingyu said coldly, “Don’t indulge him.”

Lu Wancheng covered his lips with his hand and said to Hua Lu, “So fierce. He’s so fierce.”

Lin Qingyu said coolly, “Do you actually think you’re being quiet?”

When the two of them were almost finished eating, a young man announced from outside, “Young Master, Shaojun, Manager Zhang is here.”

Lin Qingyu put down his chopsticks: “Let him in.”

Zhang Shiquan reported to the two Nan’an Hou Mansion’s income and expenditure for April. He specifically mentioned one master — the Third Young Master of the Hou Mansion, Lu Qiaosong.

Liang Shi had given birth to Lu Qiaosong. He was a through and through legitimate son and heir. He was also the youngest master of the Hou Mansion. But most importantly, he was healthy and everyone in the Mansion knew that the title of Nan’an Hou would fall to him sooner or later.

Lin Qingyu and Lu Qiaosong had met several times around the Mansion but he didn’t know the other very well. He had only heard that Lu Qiaosong was good at songs and poems, and that he was even following the “Wanyue School”. Elegant and unrestrained, he had attracted many of the ladies from the pleasure quarters to secretly pledge their hearts to him. Despite this kind of literary talent, when it came to the imperial examinations, he still behind Sun Shan, causing Nan’an Hou to berate him and forbid him from having any more dealings with the women from the brothels. Outwardly, Lu Qiaosong has been exercising a lot of restraint; as for the actual situation, outsiders wouldn’t be able to tell.

Zhang Shiquan said that Lu Qiaosong’s page had gone to the accounting office to make a fuss yesterday, saying that the accounting office had embezzled their monthly allowance and daily stipend. In the past, Lu Qiaosong’s Qingdai Pavilion received five hundred taels a month, but now only three hundred taels were given. In the past, Lu Qiaosong had five dishes and one soup, but now there was only four dishes and one soup.

“We have followed the rules of the Hou Mansion for handling all cases of the various courtyards. We have never shortchanged them. I’m afraid that page from the Qingdai Pavilion swearing so means that it is not that we have given less, but they have taken more in the past.”

Lin Qingyu said, “It seems that Lu Qiaosong is afraid that his mother will be released by Nan’an Hou too early.”

Lu Wancheng took a bit of the crucian carp with his chopsticks, slowly picking out all the fish bones. He gave a long drawn out sigh. “Just as I have captured a few monsters, sigh, more demons have descended. Oh why are there so many evils?”

Lin Qingyu frowned. “Eat, don’t speak.”

“……Oh.”

Zhang Shiquan held back a smile and asked Lin Qingyu for instructions, “In my opinion, the Qingdai Pavilion will not let this matter go. Shaojun, what do you think should be done about this matter?”

“Naturally, we will handle matters according to the rules.” Lin Qingyu said, “If they want to make trouble, let them make trouble. The bigger the trouble, the better. It would be best if they make enough trouble to disturb Nan’an Hou.”

Unsurprisingly, a few days later Lu Qiaosong’s wet nurse, Qiu Momo, went to the accounting office to make a scene. This time she kicked up quite a big fuss. Qiu Momo lay on the ground, rolling around, crying and wailing, accusing Pan Yiniang and the Shaojun of taking advantage of the Madam’s illness to disregard the rules of the household, using their authority for personal gains, treating the legitimate heir harshly. She was even requesting for Master Hou to come out and give them justice.

When Lin Qingyu arrived at the accounting office, Pan Yiniang had also rushed over. She looked at Qiu Momo, who was acting like some mad woman in a public market. She said, at a loss, “Shaojun, this…”

Lin Qingyu walked up to Qiu Momo, and Qiu Momo’s wails became even more and more heart rendering. “I have let the Madam down! The Madam is sick and now, the Third Young Master is also sick. A majestic Hou’s Mansion does not even provide a doctor for the Third Young Master! You see that Third Young Master is in better health than the Eldest Young Master and you want to drag him down!”

Lin Qingyu asked, “The Third Young Master is sick?”

Zhang Shiquan said, “Yes, Qiu Momo says that their courtyard has no money to pay for a doctor so they are demanding that we send two hundred taels of silver. I told them that we will be calling for a doctor for them, the expenses for which will be deducted from the general account of the house. Afterwards, she became like that.”

Lin Qingyu said, “The Third Young Master is in so such better health than Young Master Hou, how could he suddenly become ill? It must be because the servants have not been serving him well.”

Qiu Momo was stunned. Glaring at Lin Qingyu, she said, “Isn’t it because the accounting office has docking our allowance! The Third Young Master can’t eat well or sleep well. Naturally, he would get sick!”

“As to why the Third Young Master has gotten sick will be known once he’s examined. If his allowance is really not enough, adding more is not out of the question. But if it’s for some other reason…” Lin Qingyu’s eyes swept over Qiu Momo, “then this would be regarded as a different matter. Go, let’s head to the Qingdai Pavilion to have a look.”

Qiu Momo gritted her teeth and said, “The Third Young Master needs to take a rest because of his illness. The Qingdai Pavilion has no time to receive Shaojun.”

Zhang Shiquan smiled and said, “Is it possible that Qiu Momo has forgotten? Our Shaojun is the best doctor.”

In the Qingdai Pavilion, Lu Qiaosong was lying on the edge of the bed. He was constantly retching, sweating heavily, getting chills and feeling weak. Lu Niantao was feeding him water and patting his back. Seeing Lin Qingyu and a large group of people coming in, his expression became even uglier. In consideration for the rules, he had to call out, “Sister-in-law.”

Lu Qiaosong could also be considered a handsome gongzi. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to capture the hearts of those women from the pleasure quarters.

Lu Niantao stood up and said, “Why is Sister-in-law here?”

Lin Qingyu said, “I heard that the Third Young Master is unwell, so I especially came to see him.”

Lu Qiaosong, like his father, gave the biggest importance to face. Having him, cutting a sorry figure due to his illness, seen by so many people, he was so angry that he spat out, “Sister-in-law shouldn’t have bothered…”

“No need to be polite, Third Young Master.” Lin Qingyu said, grabbing Lu Qiaosong’s wrist. A quick examination provided him with the general idea. “‘A light touch won’t do, this needs a heavy press. Third Young Master has a deep pulse which is…a sign of kidney weakness.”

When the words fell, Lu Qiaosong abruptly withdrew his hand and yelled, his ears turning red, “What nonsense are you talking about!” He saw everyone looking at each other; several of the pages even seemed to be holding back laughter. He clutched the quilt tightly. “Get out, get out of here!”

Lin Qingyu said lightly, “Third Young Master has been over-indulging, damaging the kidney’s qi. It would be best to practice some moderation.”

Lu Qiaosong locked his eyes onto Lin Qingyu’s face, and said viciously in a low voice, “My sickly eldest brother mustn’t have been able to satisfy you, so you came running here to me to wag your tongue about!”

Lin Qingyu’s eyes darkened and he couldn’t stop the venomous thoughts from frantically rising. What need was there to let a person like this live?

When all was said and done, Lu Niantao was still an unmarried girl, after all. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but shout, “Third brother, stop talking.”

Lu Qiaosong was in the middle of a fit of anger; how could be possibly listen to his sister? His expression twisted and he said, “It wasn’t enough for you to frame my mother. Now, you’re planning to not let even me off!”

“Yes,” Lin Qingyu smiled faintly, “Now, I… Don’t plan on letting you off.”

At this time, a page arrived with a doctor they had called from outside the Mansion. “Let us leave the rest to that doctor.” Lin Qingyu mocked, “Let us hope that doctor is an expert on andrology.”

As Lin Qingyu was exiting the room, he happened to meet the doctor.

The doctor was about Lin Qingyu’s age. He had an impressive bearing and was filled with heroic spirit. Rather than a doctor, he was more like a young general coming from the army barracks. When he saw Lin Qingyu, his eyes lit up and he called out excitedly, “Shixiong!”

Lin Qingyu was startled, surprised, “Shidi?”

This person was a junior who studied under the same mentor, Chang Yang. He completed his apprenticeship a year earlier than Chang Yang, afterwards, returning to the capital to prepare for the exam. Chang Yang continued to travel with their mentor, roaming the land and seeking knowledge. Lin Qingyu had no idea when he had returned to the capital.

Chang Yang said, “I heard that you had married into the Nan’an Hou Mansion. I was wondering whether I was going to run into you today…”

Lin Qingyu could see from out the corner of his eye, Lu Niantao staring at the two of them. He interrupted loudly, “It’s important that you see the patient. Quickly go in. We’ll talk later.”

Chang Yang was a little disappointed. He said with a smile, “I shall listen to my Shixiong.”

Lin Qingyu returned to the Blue Wind Pavilion. Lu Wancheng had already eaten lunch and was about climb into bed for a nap. He’d heard the news from Hua Lu and while burrowing under the quilt, he said, “I heard that Lu Qiaosong is sick. What’s his illness?”

Lin Qingyu washed his hands. “Aren’t you all-knowing? Have a guess.”

Lu Wancheng didn’t even think about it. “Based on his personality, it’s probably kidney weakness.”

Lin Qingyu: “……”

“Did I get it right? Sigh, these fools simply don’t know how to follow the path of sustainable development. Seven times a night, fighting it out til dawn. Lu Qiaosong is one and that crown prince is another.” Lu Wancheng shook his head in disapproval, “It’s because of these kinds of people who have no regard for their bodies and forcibly cause malicious competition, that people who can’t go at it seven or eight times a night are seen as having no qualifications to be protagonists.”

“Why do you always mention the crown prince? And even know about these secret things.” Lin Qingyu narrowed his eyes, “Could it be that you and the crown prince…”

“Stop.” Lu Wancheng seemed disgusted to the core, “I’m going to throw up.”

Lin Qingyu nodded. “That’s right, you’re not gay.”

Lu Wancheng hesitated for a moment. “Yes.”

Lin Qingyu didn’t want to talk more about these unsavory things. “By the way, I just saw my Shidi in the mansion.”

“Shidi?” Lu Wancheng’s ears twitched, “A younger brother under the same mentor?”

“En.” Lin Qingyu’s tone carried a tone of reminiscence, “He and I traveled with our teacher for six years. I haven’t seen him for two years now. He… has grown a lot.”

Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “Oh, our Doctor Lin’s Shidi has grown taller again. We had better call him Gao Shidi.”

Lin Qingyu didn’t feel like paying him any attention. He thought for a while, and said, “Speaking of, my Shidi’s ancestral home is in Lin’an. You two could be regarded as fellow townsmen.”

Lu Wancheng raised his eyebrows. “So?”

“Once your body’s a bit better, would you like to go to Lin’an?”

“I don’t want to.” Lu Wancheng replied decisively, “Long journeys are tiring. You can’t eat well or sleep well on the road. I’ll go looking for hardship when I go crazy.”

Lin Qingyu’s eyes darkened slightly. “Is that so?”

Translator’s notes:

Completely unrelated to the story and even BL in general, but any Vtuber fans out there? If there are, I just want to say — Luxiem.