Married Thrice to Salted Fish

Stepping back into Qinzheng Hall after a few days of absence, Lin Qingyu hesitated in front of its doors. Xiao Songzi asked, “Master Lin, is something the matter?”

Lin Qingyu pulled himself together and said, “No, let’s go in.”

As soon as Lin Qingyu entered the hall, the gathered ministers in the hall who had been sitting and drinking tea stood up and saluted him. Even those with higher official positions than him also saluted him with equal respect. Lin Qingyu returned the salute and took the lead in asking the Chief Justice of the Imperial Court, “How goes the investigation of Xixia’s agents?”

Xiao Songzi served tea to Lin Qingyu. Seeing him discuss official matters in a calm and indifferent tone, his worried heart was finally put at ease. Master Lin’s condition during the past two days had been terrifying to watch. He couldn’t imagine what great joy and great sorrow there could have been to stimulate Master Lin to the point of being sick in bed. Fortunately, Master Lin pulled through in the end.

Lin Qingyu had missed the morning court and all he political discussions of the past few days resulting in matters that needed attention that was several more time the amount than usual. In the beginning Lin Qingyu listened to them patiently but towards the end, he became more and more absent-minded. He looked towards the door from time to time, as if he were in a hurry to confirm something.

A couple of hours later, Lin Qingyu couldn’t sit still anymore and said, “That is it for today. The rest shall be discussed tomorrow.”

Everyone filed out but Li Chan made to exit last. Lin Qingyu could see that he was dawdling on purpose probably because he wanted to speak to him alone.

“Master Li?”

Li Chan said, “Master Lin, it hasn’t been long since His Majesty ascended to the throne and the position of prime minister remains vacant. We are a cabinet without a head. In my humble opinion, would it not be best for Master Lin to rise to this position early? By sitting in this highest of official positions, overseeing the court and managing government affairs would officially be part of your duties. In this way, the imperial censors won’t gossip in private about how Master Lin is overstepping his authority, arbitrarily deciding on matters of heaven and earth.”

Lin Qingyu said indifferently, “These aren’t the only things the imperial censors gossip about me in private. Let them talk. After all, all they ever dare to do is talk about it in private.”

Li Chan hesitated and said, “But…”

“There is no need to rush this matter. When the time is right, I will make my own plans.”

After simply looking at him for a while, Li Chan couldn’t help talking about private matters, “I heard that Master Lin has been ill these past few days. Are you… all right?”

“I’m fine.” Lin Qingyu said politely, “There is no need for Master Li to worry about me.”

Hearing the sense of distance in Lin Qingyu’s words, Li Chan forced a smile, “That’s good then.”

Lin Qingyu hurried all the way back to Xingqing Palace. He asked the eunuch guarding the door, “Is His Majesty still inside?”

The eunuch replied, “Yes. An hour ago, the Empress Dowager came to visit the Emperor. Seeing that the Emperor was sleeping soundly, Her Highness left.”

Lin Qingyu walked into the bedroom. He saw no sign of Jiang Xing on the bed, only a bulging ball.

Probably because he heard his approaching footsteps, Jiang Xing poked his head out of the quilt. Quilt draped over his head, his messy short hair squashed flat, sleepy and handsome, with the cloth strips still tying his hands together, he yawned. “I waited for you, so long.”

It was impossible for Xiao Li to have this kind of temperament. No matter how big the world, only Jiang Xing himself could infuriate Lin Qingyu and also make him want to pamper him.

Lin Qingyu’s shoulders imperceptivity relaxed. “You were waiting for me?”

“Wait for you.” Jiang Xing added, “I’m hungry.”

There was something cute about a Jiang Xing who couldn’t quite speak fluently. Lin Qingyu smiled lightly and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Jiang Xing frowned and thought for a while. He then spread open Lin Qingyu’s palm and wrote the word “plum blossom” on it.

Lin Qingyu said, “We haven’t got any made by Mother. Only one made by the Shangshi Bureau. Will that do?”

Jiang Xing thought for a while and said, “Yes, I’ll make do.” As he spoke, he raised his tied hands and motioned for Lin Qingyu to help him untie them.

“No.” Lin Qingyu opened the door and ordered the maid to prepare the food. He then sat down beside the bed and said, “Let me ask you, how did Gu Fuzhou die?”

He had asked this question once before. At that time, he was distraught and Jiang Xing brushed aside the questions with a perfunctory answer. When he had calmed down and thought about it, if Jiang Xing really had done as he had promised, staying behind the line and involving himself only in planning strategies then how did Gu Fuzhou find himself dying ont he battlefield as they recovered Yongliang?

Jiang Xing was startled, lowered his hands and sighed, “Back to normal Qingyu is so fierce.”

Just before Lin Qingyu left, he wasn’t quite in control of himself and so had tied it a little too tight. Jiang Xing’s current body wasn’t as use to abuse as Gu Fuzhou’s and he was used to being pampered. After a couple of hours of being up like this, a mark had appeared on his wrist. Lin Qingyu stroked the two pink marks and said, “If you tell me the truth, I will untie it for you.”

Jiang Xing said, “It’s long. Can’t say it.”

Lin Qingyu took a pen and paper and untied the cloth strip from around Jiang Xing’s wrists. “Then write.”

Jiang Xing knew he was doomed. Even if he doesn’t write it now, Lin Qingyu will still know everything when news from the Northwest reaches the capital.

Jiang Xing took the brush. Lin Qingyu thought he was going to write on the desk, but this person lay down on the bed and started writing under the quilt, like a student who nromally didn’t seem to put in any effort but secretly worked hard whilst in bed in the middle of the night.

As soon as Jiang Xing stopped writing, Lin Qingyu took the paper away. Lin Qingyu’s eyes skimmed across the paper. His brows furrowed and his face turned frighteningly cold. Jiang Xing felt like a student whose teacher was checking his homework.

“You used yourself as bait…” Lin Qingyu chuckled, “So, you never had any intention of keeping your promise, did you, Jiang Gongzi?”

Jiang Xing laughed as though mocking himself. “Unjust accusation.”

“If you did, how could you have put yourself in danger?”

Jiang Xing was unable to explain it. In retrospect, he also felt that at the time, the whole thing had gone to his head. Now, if he could redo his choices, he might not do it. But at that time, having been in the Northwest for a year, witnessing the deaths of thousands of his brothers under the walls of Yongliang, he was somewhat overwhelmed.

However, telling these things to Lin Qingyu was useless. He decided to adopt the simplest and crudest solution. He knelt on the bed, put his hands together and said loudly: “I was wrong! Next time, don’t dare!”

Lin Qingyu was unmoved and said indifferently, “I believed you when you promised me before. You think I’ll believe you again?”

Jiang Xing was dumbfounded.

Lin Qingyu chuckled lightly. “From now on, I’m done trusting you. I will only trust myself.”

He won’t let Jiang Xing leave his control. He won’t let Jiang Xing go anywhere he couldn’t see. He was fed up with that feeling.

Jiang Xing smiled and wrote: [Then Baobei, please protect me. Don’t let me go to war, it’s scary. 】

Lin Qingyu was silent and then asked, “Were you…were you scared?”

“It was alright.” Jiang Xing wrote casually. He lifted open the brocade quilt and invited Lin Qingyu, “Come in, sit.”

Lin Qingyu hesitated for a moment before getting into the quilt. A familiar breath instantly surrounded him.

When he was with Xiao Li before, he never felt this breath. This was something Jiang Xing brought with him. Whether he was Lu Wancheng, Gu Fuzhou or Xiao Li, the feeling Jiang Xing gave him would never change.

Not long after, Xiao Songzi brought in the plum blossom cake. Seeing the emperor’s short hair Xiao Songzi was horrified. “The emperor — the emperor’s hair…”

Lin Qingyu said, “His Majesty toyed with his hair and cut it off. It’s no great matter. Do not make a fuss over nothing.”

Jiang Xing looked in the mirror and couldn’t bear to look at himself straight. He picked up the scissors and trimmed it, finally making it into something more presentable. Looking at the short-haired boy in the mirror, he couldn’t help sighing with feeling, “I feel like I’m back.”

Lin Qingyu had to admit that short hair on men seemed more refreshing and convenient compared to long hair. If given the chance, he would also like to give it a try.

Lin Qingyu said, “Look up.”

Though perplexed, Jiang Xing nevertheless raised his head. Lin Qingyu touched his Adam’s apple, “You in the dream had a mole here too.”

Jiang Xing was surprised: 【You don’t remember my appearance in the dream so how do you still remember this mole? 】

“Because from my perspective, I can always this part of you here.”

Jiang Xing carefully savored Lin Qingyu’s words. He put his chin against his cheek and smiled, “Huh? I don’t understand.”

Lin Qingyu glanced at him. “His Majesty is still young. When you grow up, you’ll understand.”

Since Jiang Xing begun speaking, the Empress Dowager was obviously not as concerned about court affairs as before. Most of her energy was poured into taking care of Jiang Xing. Every day, she would stay in Xingqing Palace for most of the day, personally teaching Jiang Xing to speak. It seemed that to her, Jiang Xing truly was as a babbling child.

“Li’er, you are the emperor. You should call yourself ‘Zhen’.” The Empress Dowager said, “Come on, follow Mother and say, ‘Zhen’.”

Jiang Xing looked at Lin Qingyu helplessly, hoping that Lin Qingyu could help him send the Empress Dowager away. Lin Qingyu pretended not to see and calmly opened another report.

The empress dowager who did not get any response from her son continued her efforts, “Li’er, say ‘Zhen’…”

Jiang Xing had no choice but to say “Zhen”. The empress dowager was immediately overjoyed. “Li’er is so amazing and smart.” Based on this level of fuss, it was as though Jiang Xing had composed a masterpiece that had never been seen before or ever will be since, “Qingyu, don’t you think so?”

Lin Qingyu responded flatly. “Yes.”

Seeing that he was busy with official matters, the empress dowager wondered, “Qingyu, if you want to read those reports, why don’t you go to Qinzheng Hall?”

Lin Qingyu was somewhat startled and said softly, “I…”

He knew it wasn’t right but he couldn’t help it.

Jiang Xing said, “Mother, I want him stay.”

In front of her talking son, the empress dowager threw all her principles out the window. “Of course, Qingyu shall accompany the emperor.” She paused and added, “However, after General Gu returns, the emperor can’t be so clingy to Qingyu anymore, alright?”

Just as the empress dowager mentioned Gu Fuzhou, Xiao Songzi ran in, panting, “Your Majesty, Your Highness, Master Lin, a messenger from the Northwest is here!”

The empress dowager hurriedly said, “Quickly, quickly! Have him come in!”

Jiang Xing looked at Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu seemed calm but his fingers clutching the report had gone white.

Fortunately, Lin Qingyu already knew. Otherwise, he really couldn’t imagine the madness Lin Qingyu would experience hearing the news of Gu Fuzhou’s death from someone else.

Jiang Xing quietly tugged on Lin Qingyu’s sleeve and mouthed “Baobei”. Lin Qingyu shook his head, indicating that he was fine.

After a while, Shen Huaishi walked in.

It was already a year since he last saw him. Shen Huaishi had become thinner, more tanned. He was travel-stained, and his eyes were bloodshot. It was easy to see that he had ridden here without stopping for rest.

Shen Huaishi knelt down in front of them and said in a hoarse voice, “We’ve secured victory in the Northwest. Yongliang is once again ours.”

The empress dowager breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Gu Fuzhou has lived up to everyone’s expectations. As soon as the emperor ascended the throne, he pacified the Northwest. He is worthy of his name as a Commander General of the country. Qingyu, you have married a good husband.”

Lin Qingyu asked, “If we’ve won a great victory, why can’t I see any joy on your face?”

Shen Huaishi raised his head and looked at Lin Qingyu, his voice was choked with sobs, “Imperial Physician Lin, I’m sorry. General Gu…” Shen Huaishi slammed his head against the floor and said as though shedding tears of blood, “General Gu…died in battle!”

The empress dowager’s eyes went round and she staggered to a sit in a daze. Several of the palace maid covered their mouths as their gasped. Xiao Songzi, who had admired the general for a long time, immediately burst into tears.

Xiao Songzi’s sobs echoed in the hall. Lin Qingyu glanced at Jiang Xing, who had on a complicated expression. And then he said, “I see.”

Shen Huaishi: “…?”

The author has something to say: The new emperor: General, go with peace of mind, I will take good care of the beautiful little widow.