Married Thrice to Salted Fish

15.

Recently, the atmosphere in the Blue Wind Pavilion was different from usual. The Hwamei no longer sang. The Mynah no longer called out “Doctor Lin” and Young Master Hou…withered.

His wilting was not only physical, but also emotional. There was no more bird walking, no flower viewing, no arrow throwing. His eyes were closed; his body, paralyzed. He was cut off from all worldly desires.

All the remaining servants of the Blue Wind Pavilion liked their master very much. Young Master Hou was charming and generous. He often found fun things which he enjoyed with the servants. With his wilting, the courtyard became gloomier and gloomier, and not the slightest cheer could be heard.

Hua Lu and Huan Tong were the closest to the masters and they felt the changes most acutely. They all agreed that Young Master Hou and Shaojun seemed to be quarreling. And now, they were both ignoring each other.

Huan Tong was certain. “Young Master Hou must have provoked our family’s Young Master.” Based on his observation, Young Master Hou was unable to control his tongue in front of his family’s Young Master, causing his Young Master to frown. He would then pull at his sleeve with a smile and apologize. Huan Tong couldn’t understand what was with that.

Hua Lu sighed, “They say husband and wife quarrel at the head of bed and make peace at the foot. I hope they reconcile soon.”

Huan Tong bared the truth with one remark. “Though they’ve never slept on the same bed.”

Lin Qingyu knew that Lu Wancheng was depressed, but he really didn’t understand why. That he hadn’t given advance notice to Lu Wancheng about the side effects of the medicine was his slip, but if he didn’t use this medicine and instead, used the one originally written on his father’s prescription, Lu Wancheng would have to suffer unbearable pain after taking the medicine. Compared to that, what was a little erectile dysfunction? The most important point was, even if Lu Wancheng could get it up, he was in no position to make use of it — He himself said that he was too lazy to move.

If only Lu Wancheng could quickly realize it and cheer up.

After raining for almost half a month, a musty smell appeared in the study, affecting people’s mood to read. Lin Qingyu prepared some incense which had the effect of removing dampness. He asked the servants to light them in each room. He then ordered several servants to take out the moldy books from the bookcases and spread them out in front of the fire to dry.

The study was bustling with activity. Lin Qingyu was in no mood to read and simply joined the servants in cleaning. He casually opened a copy of “Lin’an Travel Notes” and saw comments written in ink in the margins. He asked, “This is Young Master Hou’s book?”

Hua Lu looked over and said, “Yes, Young Master Hou read this book all the time last year. He even told me he wanted to go to Lin’an to see the scenery south of the Yangtze River.”

Lin Qingyu frowned, “Was he also the one who wrote these notes?”

“Most certainly.”

Lin Qingyu took a closer look at that line of characters. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that something was wrong.

The characters in Lu Wancheng’s earlier letter to Wen Guogong were similar in shape and appearance to his calligraphy last year. But it didn’t look at all alike in spirit. It looked like…like he was deliberately imitating it. Of course, the shape of the characters could be imitated, but a character’s grace and charm reflected a person’s mood and character. No matter how similar the “shape” there would always be a difference in “spirit”.

Lin Qingyu pondered for a long time and asked, “Is Young Master Hou up yet?”

Hua Lu said, “He got up half an hour ago. Master Guo Gong has ordered for a few maids and stewards to be sent over here. The Eldest Young Master is talking with them in the main room.”

Lin Qingyu walked to the door and was about to enter when he heard Lu Wancheng’s voice. “You are the people sent by my maternal grandparents. I can trust you. I think there’s no need for me to say it. You should know what to do.”

An unfamiliar voice said, “Young Master Hou need not worry. We will do our very best to share Young Master Hou’s worries and tribulations.”

“Wrong. It’s not my worries you’ll be sharing, it’s the Shaojun’s.” Lu Wancheng said lightly, “I won’t be able to last until next winter anyway. When I go, Shaojun will go back to the Lin Residence. It is my wish that when he leaves, he be able to bring most of the Hou Mansion’s family property with him without the Hou Master and Madam making things difficult for him — Do you understand what I mean?”

After a short silence, several people said in unison, “Young Master Hou and Shaojun serve as our sole guide.”

Lu Wancheng was quite satisfied. “After the matter is done, you will be handsomely rewarded.”

Lin Qingyu felt his heart constrict somewhat. He couldn’t help closing his eyes and sighing.

Lu Wancheng sent the people off. He picked up the tea cup from off the table and had just taken a sip of when he heard, “Greetings, Shaojun” coming from outside. His hand paused. Pretending not to hear, he went on drinking his tea.

Lin Qingyu walked in and said, “Young Master Hou.”

Lu Wancheng gave a reserved “en”. After Lin Qingyu called out to him, he said nothing more, as though he were considering his words.

Lu Wancheng had no intention of compromising so quickly about this matter concerning his dignity as a man. It was embarrassing enough that he wasn’t able to carry this great beauty and now, the great beauty has directly taken away his dignity as a man. How could he possibly tolerate this?

He didn’t blame Lin Qingyu. How could he not know that Lin Qingyu did this to save him? But couldn’t he have warned him about it in advance? It’s scary, alright? He admitted that he was lazy, but he was still a man, after all. How could he be indifferent to this kind of thing?

Hehe, he’s wilted anyway. What was he doing coaxing some great beauty? Great beauties should be left to the male protagonists who go seven times a night to coax. He should just lie down and wait to die.

Lu Wancheng put down the tea cup and said, “If you’re here to apologize, you don’t have to.”

Lin Qingyu said, “You’re thinking too much. I’m not here to apologize.”

Lu Wancheng: “…” Yes. How very strong.

Lin Qingyu muttured to himself irresolutely, “How about we make a bond as sworn brothers?”

Lu Wancheng was startled. He then laughed out of anger. “You’ve already castrated me and now I’m going to be sworn brothers with you? You must think I’m cheap.”

Lin Qingyu said, restraining his temper, “I didn’t castrate you. Your inability was only caused by the drug. A few acupuncture needles and you’ll be fine.”

Lu Wancheng was a little comforted. However, he still showed a sneer on his face. “No need to change it. I think this prescription is good. I can’t use that anyway so I shouldn’t care about it.”

“Stop being difficult.” Lin Qingyu leaned in close. Voice light and slow, he said, “Didn’t you always want us to call each other 'brothers'? ”

The word “brother” made Lu Wancheng raise his eyes and look at the beauty standing in front of him, like a plum blossom unyieldingly defying the snow.

If he could get Lin Qingyu to call him “Gege” then selling himself cheap didn’t seem so out of the question.

Lu Wancheng raised his eyebrows. “Are you serious?”

Lin Qingyu nodded. “You have my word as a gentleman.”

Lu Wancheng covered his lips and coughed. He said, “Then… Let’s make another bond.”

Neither of them had ever experienced becoming sworn brothers, so Lu Wancheng just did it according to how it was portrayed in the books he read. He asked Huan Tong to prepare an incense burner, a dagger, apricot wine, and praying mats. He also ordered for a small table to be placed under the eaves. The rest of the things were then symmetrically laid out.

Hua Lu had never seen such a situation before. She asked curiously, “What are Young Master and Shaojun up to?”

Huan Tong was delighted. “Can’t you see? They’re going to be sworn brothers.”

Hua Lu’s eyes widened and she suddenly said in alarm, “Become what?”

“Become sworn brother — ‘With this cup of wine, we brothers go together’. That kind.”

Hua Lu’s big eyes were filled with even greater confusion. “But, they’re already married!”

Lu Wancheng picked up the dagger and said hesitantly. “The book says that when swearing brotherhood, it should be done by taking an oath with your lips smeared with blood……”

Lin Qingyu took on the mentality of someone accompanying their younger brother to play house. He said, ” One's body, hair and skin are all received from one's parents. So long as it is done with sincerity, smearing or not smearing one’s lips with blood isn’t important.”

“You’re right.” Lu Wancheng lit three incense sticks and inserted them into the incense burner, “Let’s just swear the oath.”

The two clasped the cup of wine in their hands and they both knelt down on the praying mats. Lu Wancheng said ceremoniously, “With the gods of Heaven and Earth as our witness. Today, we, Lu Wancheng and Lin Qingyu, although of different surnames, come together as brothers. We seek not to be born on the same day, in the same month and in the same year, but…” Lu Wancheng paused. He changed his words with a smile, “For the long future ahead, we will share the same boat; even stones will be steamed buns to eat. We will work as one without heed for riches; even plain boiled water will be taken with gladness.”

Lin Qingyu: “……”

The two of them together drank the wine for the ritual and Lin Qingyu called Huan Tong to help Lu Wancheng get up. Seeing Lu Wancheng’s smiling, Lin Qingyu said coolly, “Are you happy now?”

The corners of Lu Wancheng’s lips ticked up into a smirk. “I just got myself a good brother. Of course, I’m happy. What about you, Qingyu Didi?” After saying so, he looked expectantly at Lin Qingyu.

Lin Qingyu said lightly, “I’m fine, Wancheng Xiong.”

Lu Wancheng’s smile froze on his face. “No, no, no, I called you ‘Qingyu Didi’, so you should call me ‘Wancheng Gege’. That’s only fair.”

“‘To call each other brothers”, if not “Xiong” then what?”

Lu Wancheng suddenly felt like he’d been hit by a bolt from the blue. “…Lin Qingyu, you have no heart.”

Lin Qingyu laughed and said, “You’ve been making such a fuss for so long. Just stop already. Let’s go back. You have to drink your medicine. After you drink it, I’ll perform acupuncture for you and bring back your dignity as a man.”

It was the middle third of April, the rain finally stopped. The horizon cleared up. There was no cloud in the sky. A warm breeze blew into their sleeves. It was a good day to travel. Lin Qingyu no longer delayed. He prepared to set out for Changsheng Temple.

Before leaving, he went to see Lu Wancheng. Lu Wancheng had actually already woken up but he still remained lying on the bed, thinking of who knows what. He seemed to be in a good mood and he gave him a lazy greeting.

Lin Qingyu immediately understood and he said with a smile that was yet not a smile, “As they say, ‘joy puts heart into a man’. It seems that the acupuncture treatment worked.”

Lu Wancheng: “…Eh.”

“Perfect timing. Let me have a look.”

Lu Wancheng was stricken with panic and he wrapped the quilt tightly around him. “Have a look at what?”

“You’re asking what?” Lin Qingyu said lightly, “There’s nothing people who’ve been studying medicine hasn’t seen. You don’t have to be shy.”

Lu Wancheng said quietly, “Qingyu, I find that you’re getting worse and worse.”

Lin Qingyu’s lips curled up. “Didn’t Young Master Hou say that he liked it best when I do bad things?”

Lu Wancheng’s eyes darkened and he chuckled softly. “Indeed. If Doctor Lin wants to see it, of course, I have to acquiesce. But I don’t feel like moving, so I’ll have to trouble you to take a look at it yourself.”

Lin Qingyu then joked, “Then, just forget it. There’s nothing to see anyway.”

Lu Wancheng still wanted to retort but was interrupted by Huan Tong, “Young Master, the carriage is ready.”

Lin Qingyu looked out the window. Spring was in full bloom, the sunshine was just right. He asked, “Young Master Hou, would you like to go out to relieve your boredom?”

“Go where?”

“Changsheng Temple.”

Lu Wancheng thought for a while. He then smiled and said, “Alright.” It just so happened that there was someone he wanted to see.

And so, Lin Qingyu together with Lu Wancheng and Huan Tong rode the carriage to Changsheng Temple in the suburbs of the capital.

Changsheng Temple was the foremost temple in the Empire. Its interior was tranquil and solemn, thoughtful and contemplative. There was an endless stream of pilgrims. Ordinary people could only burn incense and worship in the front hall. The rear courtyard was reserved for receiving high-ranking officials or members of influential families. It was exactly here that one of Lin Qingyu’s sworn enemies, the Dayu’s National Teacher, who wrote his Eight Characters for the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion, resided and cultivated.

Lin Qingyu has always wanted to ask how the National Teacher calculated his Eight Characters to be beneficial to Lu Wancheng. Was it actually the Will of Heaven of was it done deliberately? Did the National Teacher know that this line of characters he had written almost ruined an innocent person’s life?

It was a pity that the National Teacher was in constant closed-door retreat. Apart from the Emperor, it wasn’t easy even for the Empress or the Crown Prince to see him, let alone others; let alone him who was nothing more than the male wife of a Hou’s Mansion.

After the monk who greeted them found out their identity, he respectfully said, “It’s Young Master Hou and Shaojun. Please come with me. Master Hou’s ever-burning altar lamps are in the side hall.”

Lin Qingyu said, “It will suffice for just Young Master Hou to see the ever-burning altar lamps. I will stay here in the front hall to burn incense and pray for blessings.”

Lu Wancheng said indifferently, “Alright.”

Lu Wancheng’s illness was temporarily suppressed but when all was said and done, he was still a debilitated person and couldn’t be left without someone beside him. Lin Qingyu asked Huan Tong to accompany him.

Lin Qingyu walked to the Buddha statue and asked the monk for three incense sticks. After lighting the incense, he knelt on the prayer mat, closed his eyes, cleared away all thoughts and brought his family to mind.

Then, when he inserted the incense into the burner, he suddenly remembered that farce of becoming sworn brothers from a few days ago. For some reason, he wanted to laugh.

Lu Wancheng seemed to be taking a long time. There were many people coming in and out of the front hall. The monk then asked him to go to the rear courtyard to wait. Lin Qingyu followed a little monk to the back wing. Compared to the front, there were a lot less people here. A winding path led to quiet seclusion. It was elegant, suitable, quiet and delicate.

Lin Qingyu has always been fond of quiet. At this time, he couldn’t help but wish to walk by himself, to calm his mind. He asked the little monk to go on ahead and leave first. He then took an aimless stroll along narrow the path by himself. Unexpectedly, the end of the path actually led a blooming peach grove.

Amidst the fragrance and dappled shadows was a stone table. Two men sat opposite each other with the table between them. One was a handsome young man dressed in crimson, Lu Wancheng. The other was clothed in blue, with a temperament as though he were apart from the world, pure and fresh, handsome and light-hearted. Lin Qingyu had a feeling that this person should be the Dayu’s National Teacher, Xu Junyuan.

Xu Junyuan was admittedly a rarely-seen handsome man, but not only was Lu Wancheng not the least bit inferior, he even somewhat had the upper hand.

Seeing his languid and carefree posture, sitting under the peach blossom tree with flowers falling behind him like rain, he was the very picture of a graceful son of nobility, as clear and bright as a jade tree before the wind.

And he had obviously been like a stranded salted fish in bed just a couple of hours ago.

This person was simply too good at pretending. As long as there were outsiders present, Lu Wancheng always appeared to be the most dazzling one, like a brilliant gem, reflecting all the light.

It was only in front of him that he lost all decency.

Lin Qingyu couldn’t help thinking, if only Lu Wancheng usually had even a tenth of his manner now, just how much weight could be taken off his mind?

Xu Junyuan lifted up his sleeve and personally help Lu Wancheng steep a cup of tea. “And what brings Young Master Hou here despite being in poor health?”

Lu Wancheng nodded lightly. He smiled, polite but disaffected, “I have a matter that I wish to have the National Teacher’s wise opinion on.”

Xu Junyuan smiled and said, “Young Master Hou may as well ask.”

Lu Wancheng said slowly, “In this world, is there a resurrection from the dead, or… A transferring of the soul to another body?”

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