Married Thrice to Salted Fish

6.

Lu Wancheng’s expression revealed enormous grievance, as though he had gone up a mountain of swords, down into a sea of fire, suffered through untold dangers and hardships to come to the Lin Residence.

Seeing it, Lin Qingyu wanted to laugh. Lu Wancheng just got up an hour earlier than usual, left the house and got onto a carriage. He then got out of the carriage and sat on a wheelchair — what was there to feel wronged over?

Having Tan Qizhi was already bad enough. And just as he was about to drive him out, Lu Wancheng just had to come join in the fun. He just wanted to have a good meal with his family. Why was it so difficult?

Seeing that Lin Qingyu was unmoved, Lu Wancheng was compelled to feel relieved. Lu Wancheng had come, he’d even brought gifts and he’d pretended to be a little serious, which gave Lin Qingyu a lot of face. He had probably already repaid Lin Qingyu for giving him the medicine and acupuncture treatment. Going back home to sleep sounded good too. Also, it was really cold outside and it was tiring to pretend to be good.

Lu Wancheng shrugged, “Alright, then I’ll say that something urgent came up.”

Before Lin Qingyu could reply, a little head poked out from the inner room. “Gege, why aren’t you coming in yet?”

Lin Qinghe asked, casting a curious look at Lu Wancheng. Lu Wancheng smiled back at him.

Lin Qingyu said, “We’re coming”. He then said to Lu Wancheng: “Then, you…”

Lu Wancheng said, “According to the etiquette, shouldn’t I go bid good-bye to your parents?”

Lin Qingyu snorted coldly, “Aren’t you the expert on etiquette? Why are you still asking me?”

Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “Hearing Doctor Lin say that, it seems that my acting just now was pretty good.”

Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng into the house. The Lin Family had already reserved a place for Lu Wancheng.

The charcoal brazier is burning in the hall, it was a lot warmer than outside without making people feel oppressed. The fragrance of wine was diffused into the air and two winter bamboo bonsais were placed in the corners, adding a sense of elegance and freshness. The Lin Family’s tastes leaned towards mild and the dishes on the table were mainly lightly flavored ones. There was also a plate of white cakes interspersed with light red; it looked like ardent red and white plums intertwined in one spot. Lu Wancheng couldn’t help glancing repeatedly at it.

Father Lin said, “Young Master Hou, please, over here.”

Lu Wancheng paused and said with a smile, “I won’t be joining you for this meal. I’m here to bid goodbye to Father-in-law and Mother-in-law.”

“Oh?” Tan Qizhi glanced at Lin Qingyu, his eyes filled with deep meaning. “Why is Young Master Hou leaving right after he has just arrived? And without even having eaten any food.”

Lu Wancheng let out a couple of muffled coughs and said, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold on for long. I must go back and lie down…It is a most laughable situation.”

Mother Lin said, “It will take a couple of hours to get to the Nan’an Hou Mansion from here. The carriage would bump and jolt on the road. It would be better for Young Master Hou to rest here first and then set off once you’re feeling better.”

Lu Wancheng said, sounding embarrassed, “This… Qingyu, what do you think?”

Lin Qingyu looked at the somewhat joking look in Lu Wancheng’s eyes.

Lu Wancheng hadn’t used a last-minute emergency as his excuse. Rather, he said he felt unwell and wanted to go back to rest. Anyone with a brain could see his intentions.

This was the Lin Residence. His father was the yuan pan of the Imperial Hospital. Although the post was not high, he was still a member of the Emperor’s inner ministerial circle. He was in charge of taking care of the Son of Heaven, of the Empress and of the Imperial concubines within the palace. There was no need to doubt his medical expertise. To say that he was the best doctor within Dayu would not be an overstatement. Saying that you are unwell in front of him was already a clear indication.

Lin Qingyu saw through through his plan but didn’t expose him. “It’s up to you.”

Only then did Lu Wancheng say, “Then, I accept for deference is no substitute for obedience.”

Before taking his seat, Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng to the side to wash his hands. He said, “After dinner, let my father examine your pulse for you.”

Lu Wancheng found this to be inessential. “That’s not necessary. I’m terminally ill, there’s no cure for this.”

Lin Qingyu sneered, “Don’t pretend. Isn’t this what you stayed for?”

Lu Wancheng washed his hands slowly, and said calmly, “No, I just want to have a taste of the plum cake. It looks delicious and I’m a little hungry.”

Were it anyone else, Lin Qingyu would never have believed this kind of nonsense. But he actually believed that what Lu Wancheng said was true. For a lazybones, save for sleeping, eating was naturally the most important.

Lin Qingyu turned around and saw that Tan Qizhi was still there. He no longer felt up to going round the curves and skirting corners with him. He said bluntly, “You can’t drink at the same table with me, right? Then why have you not left yet?”

Tan Qizhi seemed to have been prepared for a long time. He smiled. “Today I have had the honor to witness Young Master Hou’s graceful demeanor with my own eyes. I personally think that Young Master Hou’s noble and benevolent character, his broad-mindedness, sets him apart from some of the more pedantic sort and would not be so strict with Qingyu Xiong. I merely wish to offer a few glasses of wine to salute the Teacher. Young Master Hou surely wouldn’t mind?”

Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “Of course. We are all men here. There is no need to be so restrictive.”

Lin Qingyu swept a cold glance at Lu Wancheng, regretting that he hadn’t stuck a few more needles in him when he’d given him acupuncture that night. This man was unable to accomplish anything but liable to spoil everything. Lu Wancheng was very skilled at looking for trouble for him.

Before Tan Qizhi could take his seat, Lu Wancheng suddenly asked, “Is Tan Xiong perhaps already married?”

Tan Qizhi said, “Answering Young Master Hou, I have already been married three years.”

Lu Wancheng let out an “Ah” and said regretfully, “Then would your wife not be angry if she were to find out that you had been drinking at the same table with us?”

Everyone around the table looked helplessly at each other. Tan Qizhi asked, puzzled, “Why would my wife be angry?”

Lu Wancheng said, “You would be drinking at the same table with a male wife and a man who has married a male wife. This does not seem to be in compliance with customs.”

Lin Qingyu glanced at him, only to feel that evil tricks were brewing in this man’s eyes.

Tan Qizhi could hardly keep the smile from falling off his face. “Young Master Hou jests. How could my wife be angry over this?”

“We cannot be certain of that.” Lu Wancheng chuckled lightly, “For the harmony of Tan Xiong’s home, in my opinion, it is best to forget about partaking wine with us today. Next time, next time surely.”

Lu Wancheng’s dismissal of the guest was so obvious that even the six-year-old Lin Qinghe could hear it, let alone these adults. Lin Qinghe raised his head and asked Mother Lin, “Mother, is this person leaving?”

Mother Lin said awkwardly, “This…”

Tan Qizhi prided himself on being a scholar. With how embarrassing the scene has become, no matter how thick-skinned he was, he was left with no choice but to find a graceful exit for himself. “Today is Qingyu Xiong’s first visit to his family after his marriage. It really is a bit improper for an outsider like me to be here. I shall take my leave first, and come to visit Teacher and Young Master Hou some other day.”

Father Lin didn’t have him stay and ordered Huan Tong to the guest out.

Tan Qizhi walked to the door and heard Lu Wancheng’s voice floating from behind, “I almost forgot. Qingyu left in such a hurry today that he forgot to take with him the five carriages of gifts. Fortunately, I discovered it in time and ordered someone to bring it along. Right now, the carriages are stopped at the gate of the Lin Residence.”

Tan Qizhi gritted his teeth and tore off the jade pendant around his waist.

According to seniority, Father Lin sat at the head of the table. Mother Lin took the seat next to him. Lin Qingyu and Lu Wancheng sat together. They were the very picture of newlyweds, a young married couple joined at the hip. They were gathered close together, one whispering softly and the other listening, looking as though they were speaking confidences that they could not allow outsider to hear. Seeing this, Mother Lin and Father Lin exchange a complicated look.

Others, though, could hardly have imagined that their dialogue went like this:

Lin Qingyu: “Who asked you to bring those things here. Take them back later.”

Lu Wancheng: “I know you think that the things from the Nan’an Hou Mansion are dirty, but these things can be sold for money. Why put yourself at odds with money? Wouldn’t it be fun to see them weeping and wailing over my grave when I die and you take the Lu Family’s money to eat delicious food, drink hard liquor, and live in a plush house with your concubine?”

Lin Qingyu imagined this scene for a moment. He narrowed his eyes, turned his head and ordered the servant. “Tell someone to move those things into the house.”

Lu Wancheng happily stretched out his hand to grab the plum cake he’s long been salivating over. “That’s right.”

After the meal, Father Lin took the initiative to say, “I have heard a little about Young Master Hou’s condition. If Young Master Hou finds me trustworthy, may I be allowed to take a look?”

Lu Wancheng put on a pleasantly surprised expression, “It would be my pleasure.”

Father Lin nodded and said, “Then Young Master Hou, please come with me.”

Lin Qingyu pushed Lu Wancheng to Father Lin’s study. After Father Lin washed his hands, he took out a wrist cushion made of a warm jade and placed it under Lu Wancheng’s wrist. He closed his eyes to probed his pulse.

For a while, the room was silent. Nothing could be made out from Father Lin’s expression. After exploring his veins, Father Lin asked Lu Wancheng a few more questions, and Lu Wancheng answered them one by one.

Father Lin said, “The root of Young Master Hou’s disease is innate. It is easy to treat the symptoms but difficult to cure the root cause. You must recuperate carefully. Avoid any mental or physical stress.”

Father Lin’s words were ambiguous, but they were nothing more than platitudes. Lu Wancheng, unexpectedly, didn’t ask much. He simply showed a tired smile and said, “Sorry to have bothered Father-in-law.”

“The guest room has been prepared. Young Master Hou can go to take a nap.” Father Lin said, “Qingyu, stay for a bit.”

Lin Qingyu nodded, and let the servant push Lu Wancheng out first.

Once Lu Wancheng had left, Father Lin asked, “Have you examined Young Master Hou’s illness?”

“I have.”

“And what are your thoughts?”

Lin Qingyu said, “Lu Wancheng is already lucky to have reached nineteen years old. Now he is hanging on by a breath. Once this breath dissipates, that will be the end of him.”

Father Lin nodded in agreement and asked, “How much time do you estimate he still has?”

“Half a year.”

Father Lin pondered for a long time and said, “I have a method that may save his life for a year. But the side effects are so great that it may aggravate the patient’s pain.”

Lin Qingyu said without taking the time to think it through, “What method?”

“I will write the prescription for you later.” Father Lin looked into Lin Qingyu’s eyes, “The question is, do you want him to live for half a year more.”

Was there any need to ask? The sooner Lu Wancheng died, the sooner he would be free. Half a year was long. He didn’t have the patience to wait for half a year.

So, naturally, he… didn’t want to.

Lin Qingyu absently walked out of the study. He came face to face with Mother Lin who was on her way to give Father Lin his after-meal tea and cake. Mother Lin told him that Lu Wancheng was already resting in the guest room.

“Are you going to see him?” Mother Lin asked.

Lin Qingyu said, “No, let him rest.”

Mother Lin hesitated and asked, “Qingyu, Young Master Hou… Is he being good to you?”

“It doesn’t matter whether he’s good or bad,” Lin Qingyu said lightly, “After all, it’s nothing more than a half-year long ill-fated relationship.”

Using his return to his home this time, Lin Qingyu was planning to take another box of medical books with him to the Nan’an Hou Mansion. When he arrived in his study, he saw Tan Qizhi and Huan Tong looking around by the gate. Frowning, he asked, “Why have you not left yet?”

Huan Tong explained, “Tan Gongzi said that his jade pendant was lost in our mansion. I am looking for it with him.”

“You should be searching by the front hall. That you have come to my study specifically, must mean that you have something to say.

Tan Qizhi did not refute, “Sure enough, there is nothing that can be hidden from Qingyu Xiong. To tell the truth, I suddenly remembered an important matter. As it was not appropriate for me to go back and disturb you, I made use of the loss of the jade pendant to stay in the residence and wait.”

Lin Qingyu loathed having to exchange with this kind of person a single word more than was necessary. “Say it.”

Tan Qizhi’s face showed a bitter expression. “Qingyu Xiong must also know that the Imperial Medical Office’s examination is getting closer and closer and I harbor no confidence that I shall pass.”

Lin Qingyu knew that Tan Qizhi wanted to touch his inverse scale and pierce his heart with a knife. He had to admit that this move was brilliant. The Imperial Medical Office’s examination has always been a thorn in his heart and the mere touch of it depressed him.

But this didn’t mean that anyone could just take this matter and use it as a show of might, a display of power in front of him.

“You already failed the examination once three years ago. It’s only right that you harbor no confidence.”

Tan Qizhi was poked in his sore spot. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile, “For this examination, I am studying hard day and night.”

Lin Qingyu praised, “The clumsy bird flies early and diligence cures clumsiness. You’re doing a good job.”

Tan Qizhi finally couldn’t bear it. His face grew as black as the bottom of a pot.

Lin Qingyu’s every word of praise seemed like ridicule. A man like Lin Qingyu, one favored by the gods, with outstanding aptitude, could never understand how much ordinary people had to pay just to catch up with him the tiniest bit.

“At least I can take the exam again this year.” Tan Qizhi stared at Lin Qingyu’s face, “I know that Qingyu Xiong has a vast collection of medical books. Since you can no longer use it, why not let me borrow a few? If I am able to pass the exam in the future, you will have my deepest thanks.”

Lin Qingyu raised his eyes and asked, “Can you even understand what is written in my books?” After saying so, he flicked his sleeve and turned around, “Huan Tong, see our visitor out.”

In the blink of an eye, the sky grew dark. The coachman from the Hou Mansion came to inform them that it was the time to return to the mansion.

Mother Lin put the prepared snacks into the food box and had Lin Qingyu take it back. “Just now, during the meal, I saw that Young Master Hou also likes the plum cakes, so I packed a few more. If the weather stays cold like today, the cakes won’t spoil so easily even after a long time.”

Lin Qingyu said, “There’s probably nothing that he doesn’t like to eat.”

Mother Lin smiled softly, “Young Master Hou hasn’t gotten up yet. You go and call him.”

Lin Qingyu went to the guest room and saw that Lu Wancheng was awake, lying on the bed in a daze. He asked, “When did you wake up?”

“Half an hour ago.”

“Then what are you still doing here?”

Lu Wancheng wrapped himself in the quilt, showing only his eyes to look at Lin Qingyu. Voice muffled, he said, “I’m having a lie-in. It’s so cold outside, I don’t want to get up. I want to be a blanket.”

Lin Qingyu stopped talking nonsense. He grabbed a corner of the quilt and flung it away with force. Tone cold, he said, “I am not your personal maid, this trick won’t work on me.”

Lu Wancheng very slowly got up. He wasn’t angry at having his quilt removed. “What trick? I wasn’t using any trick on you…” He saw that there was something wrong with Lin Qingyu’s expression, he asked, “Didn’t Tan Qizhi leave already? Who provoke you again?”

“No one.”

Lu Wancheng blinked. “Oh.”

Lin Qingyu was silent. Then he was silent again. Finally, he couldn’t hold back, “Tan Qizhi is preparing for the examination of the Imperial Medical Office and he tried to borrow my books.”

Lu Wancheng laughed. “That’s it?”

Lin Qingyu’s eyes were like knives and blades.

Lu Wancheng tried to reason with Lin Qingyu, “Tan Qizhi can’t even compare to a single strand of your hair. If you take him seriously, you would be lowering your identity. Just treat him as a joke, something to tease, to have some fun with.”

“How can I possibly not know that?” Lin Qingyu laughed at himself. “But a few years ago, Tan Qizhi, this mediocre person who couldn’t even tell a Tian Kuizi from a Red Nut Sedge, can still take the examination of the Imperial Medical Office, while I can’t. —It’s ridiculous.”

Lu Wancheng said helplessly, “Yes, yes, it’s all the Nan’an Hou Mansion’s fault. I will try to die early and let you be a widow before the Imperial Medical Office’s examination, okay?”

Lin Qingyu closed his eyes and said nothing, his long and thick lashes trembling slightly.

Lu Wancheng stayed with Lin Qingyu in silence for a while. He then suddenly said with a smile, “Okay, don’t get angry. Being able to go home is such a rare occasion. Cheer up a bit. Smile more, en?”

Lin Qingyu was indifferent. “I don’t like to smile by nature.”

“Sigh, why are you getting more and more angry? I have a nine word mantra that serves as my motto. It may be helpful to you. Do you want to hear it?”

“No.”

“Just listen, it won’t cost you anything.”

Lin Qingyu pressed his brows. “If you’re going to say it regardless then just say it. What’s use of spouting so much nonsense as a preamble?”

Lu Wancheng’s eyes were filled with sincerity. “Behave with integrity, try not to compete with others.”

Lin Qingyu: “…”

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Lin ‘The Great Beauty’ Qingyu: Everyday, I wish to live in widowhood.