After Lin Qingyu got half of the power in the household, people came to him in a steady stream every day.
The story of Shaojun poisoning people spread throughout mansion. Everyone got to understand what a “femme fatale” was and they looked at Shaojun with awe. From matters as big as dispensing the mansion’s monthly allowance to matters as small as what kind of flowers to be plant in the yard, no one dared to make any arbitrary decision at all.
Lin Qingyu was pestered beyond endurance. He has never been interested in the general affairs of the mansion. Small things like what flowers to grow and what snacks to prepare in each room, he left to Pan Shi to decide upon. As for other important matters, it would be best if he could maintain a hold over those.
Lin Qingyu found a certain someone lying on a rocking chair with his eyes closed, listening to the rain. He instructed, “Find me a few more trustworthy stewards to help manage the household.”
Lu Wancheng opened his eyes and teased, “Oh? I seem to remember that you used to be quite averse to this kind of approach — ‘You can’t always rely on others for everything. Then, when you’re too lazy to eat, to sleep, or to marry a wife and make children, will you also have someone deal with it for you?'”
Lin Qingyu paused, and calmly said, “That was one situation and this is quite another.”
Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “This matter is easy to handle. I’ll just write another letter to my grandfather.”
Lin Qingyu nodded. “Alright, go write it.”
“Then help me grind the ink.”
Lu Wancheng had just said it jokingly and offhand, thinking that he would be ruthlessly rejected by Lin Qingyu once again. Unexpectedly, Lin Qingyu merely hesitated for a moment, then said, “Alright.”
Lu Wancheng was immediately overwhelmed by having been bestowed with this favor.
In the study room, Lu Wancheng stood in front of the window railing, holding a pen in his hand. Lin Qingyu stood quietly on one side, personally grinding the ink for him.
The ink gave off a dense fragrance, but Lu Wancheng could still make out the light medicinal fragrance on Lin Qingyu’s body. He couldn’t help wondering when his sense of smell became so good.
It was spring and rain was plentiful. Though it had been raining for several days already, it still showed no signs of stopping. Outside the window, the spring rain drizzled, natural and fascinating, like entwined ties of love.
Lu Wancheng wrote very slowly. It seemed that he didn’t write often, but his brush work was excellent. Letters were private things and Lin Qingyu didn’t read it deliberately, but did catch sight of it inadvertently.
They say that who a person is, is reflected in their calligraphy. Lu Wancheng’s words were energetic, like moving clouds and flowing water; free, easy and smooth. It was hard to imagine that they came from the hands of someone chronically ill.
After writing a few words, Lu Wancheng was struck with a bout of laziness. “Ah, my hands are sore. I’m so tired.”
Lin Qingyu said, “You can sit down and write.”
“That won’t work. If you write while sitting down, it won’t come out smooth and elegant at all.”
Lin Qingyu: “……”
Huan Tong came in to deliver snacks and was met with the sight of Young Master Hou writing while his own family’s Young Master acted as ” red sleeves adding fragrance “. It gave him quite the shock and it took some time to remember what he was doing there. “Young Master, the kitchens have delivered plum cakes.”
Lin Qingyu said, “You can just set it down there.”
Huan Tong put the plum cakes on the table. When he saw Lu Wancheng’s writing, he said in surprise, “Young Master Hou is so lazy, but his handwriting is actually so beautiful!”
Lu Wancheng said modestly, “You flatter me, you flatter me. It’s nothing exceptional.”
Lin Qingyu said slowly, “Looking at your handwriting, it seems that you’ve meticulously practiced it.”
“That’s right.”
Practicing one’s calligraphy is not something done in a day. Lu Wancheng’s calligraphy must have been practiced for at least several years. Lin Qingyu couldn’t help but questioned, “If you’re already complaining of a sore hand after just writing a few words, how could you have possibly practiced writing for leisure?”
“Oh, obviously, I was forced. I was too active as a child. Mama heard that practicing calligraphy could bring calm, so she paid handsomely for calligraphy tutors to teach me how to write and read ancient Chinese.” Lu Wancheng lowered his eyes, his expression a mixture of reminiscence and pain, “Mama was eager to be the best in everything. It wasn’t enough for her that she be first, she demanded that I too be a master of the four arts. I had to get first place in everything. It was so pitiful at the time. If it wasn’t one class, it was another. I couldn’t even get enough sleep…”
Huan Tong said sympathetically, “Young Master Hou must have been so miserable! You’re already so sick but you were tossed about like that. Even us servants have it better.
Lin Qingyu was indifferent. “He is talking nonsense.”
Huan Tong’s eyes widened: “Huh?”
“When did you ever hear him call Liang Shi “mama”?”
Huan Tong scratched his head. “Ah, that’s right.”
Lu Wancheng didn’t refute. He smiled and said, “Ah, I found out.”
Halfway through the letter, there was a sentence for which Lu Wancheng was unsure of the grammar. And so, he stopped writing and pondered. He pondered and pondered until his thoughts started to stray, his eyes gradually slackened and even the way he held the brush changed. But despite the careless way he held the brush, in a burst of power, he wrapped his fingers around the brush and finished it from beginning to end, all in one go.
In an instant, brush and ink flew wildly. The master-servant pair who was standing beside him received some damage. Lin Qingyu got off relatively easy, suffering only a few ink stains. It was Huan Tong who suffered more with a streak of ink marring half of his face. Moreover, because he’d been caught in surprise, he had his mouth open and unfortunately, got to have a taste of ink. Once he came back to his senses, he immediately “pah pah pah”-ed.
Lu Wancheng realized his mistake and quickly put down the brush, apologizing to them both, “I’m sorry, for a moment there, I forgot that this is a brush dipped in ink…”
Lin Qingyu said devoid of expression, “Can you act like a normal person?”
Lu Wancheng felt a little like laughing. But doing so at this time, would really be too unkind. He held back a smile and said, “It really wasn’t intentional…Here, let me wipe it for you.” He said, raising his hand.
Those few ink stains happened to fall under Lin Qingyu’s eyes, mixing with his tear-shaped mole. Just as Lu Wancheng reached out, Lin Qingyu blinked. Long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, brushed lightly over Lu Wancheng’s fingertips.
Slightly ticklish and soft.
Lu Wancheng’s hand paused. He actually froze, and even his breathing stagnated.
Lin Qingyu didn’t notice his strange actions. He pushed his hand away and said in a cool tone, “Are hands what you use to wipe away ink stains?”
“Oh, yes.” Lu Wancheng recovered his senses. He turned and ordered, “Huan Tong, get a kerchief and wipe it for your Young Master.”
Huan Tong argued, “I haven’t gotten all the ink out of my mouth yet!”
Hua Lu brought over some warm water, and Lin Qingyu used a wet handkerchief to wipe his face. At this time, Pan Shi’s personal main, Han Qiao, came to Lin Qingyu and said, “Shaojun, our yiniang requests that you go to the front hall.”
Lin Qingyu said, “I see.”
Pan Shi was woman and he was a man, distinction was made between them. Although they shared the running of the household, they rarely met each other and would simply let the servants deliver messages. Pan Shi’s sudden invitation meant that there was something that needed to be discussed in person.
Lin Qingyu said to Lu Wancheng, “I’m going out for a bit. You should finish writing that letter and send someone to the Guo Gong Mansion as soon as possible.”
Lu Wancheng absent-mindedly agreed. Going back to the window, he looked as Lin Qingyu’s opened an umbrella under the curtain of rain. He looked down at his fingertips, chuckled and said to himself, “…what the hell?”
Pan Shi had also been a lady of an official’s family. It was a pity that her family had suffered a reversal of fortune. In order to make a living, she has to submit to being a concubine. Her family had little power and she had borne no sons. That she was able to receive favor from Nan’an Hou was not only because of her appearance, but more so because of her quiet temperament. She didn’t fight or contend and she never talked indiscreetly in front of Nan’an Hou. The things in court were already disturbing enough. When Nan’an Hou returned to the mansion, he just wanted to a bit of peace and Pan Shi’s was undoubtedly the best place to go.
In order to avoid suspicion, Lin Qingyu and Pan Shi brought a lot of servants with them whenever they met, and this time was no different. Lin Qingyu had never liked the people in the Nan’an Hou’s mansion, but because of the wedding gift Pan Shi had given him and Lu Wancheng, and also because of the medicinal plasters she had given when he got a sprain, he did not loathe this person; he was simply indifferent.
Lin Qingyu patiently exchanged a few polite words with her, and said, “If Yiniang has anything important, you can just say it directly.”
Pan Shi nodded and said, “It will be Qingming in a few days. The Lu family’s hometown is in Lin’an, and the presentation of offerings is all handled by the Lu Clan’s branch family. To show filial piety Master Hou keeps two ever-burning altar lamps for his parents in Changsheng Temple in the outskirts of the capital. In the past, during this time, Master Hou’s wife would go to Changsheng Temple to pray for the ancestors’ blessing and protection. However, Madam is still yet to recuperate from her illness, and Master Hou…” Pan stopped and said nothing more.
Since Chen Guifei’s birthday, Liang Shi has rarely appeared in front of others. They say she’s in recuperation, but she was actually being confined. Nan’an Hou has always been in a high position. He was proud and arrogant and couldn’t bear the shame of being the target of deception by her schemes. Liang Shi’s fault could not be called small but neither could it be called big. However, since she violated Nan’an Hou’s taboo, she was naturally made to suffer a lot of hardships.
Lin Qingyu said, “This being the case, I will have to trouble Yiniang to pray for our blessings.”
Pan shook her head and said, “I am just a concubine. I cannot take the Madam’s place to light the incense. You are the Hou Mansion’s officially wedded Shaojun. Except for the Madam, only you can go.”
Lin Qingyu declined to comment. If they had him go and light incense for the ancestors of the Lu family, he might just directly extinguish the ever-burning lamps that Nan’an Hou has kept burning for more than ten years.
However, it would be nice if he could take this opportunity to visit the Changsheng Temple and pray for his family.
Lin Qingyu said, “Alright, I will arrange it.”
Pan Shi said, “The road has been made slippery by the rain. Young Master can wait for the rain to stop before heading out.”
Lin Qingyu nodded and took his leave. Pan Shi watched him leave and then suddenly said, “Shaojun, please wait.”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Is there anything else?”
Pan walked forward and bowed to Lin Qingyu, saying, “Ten years ago, I had yet to enter the mansion and I lived with my mother. We made a living by washing and weaving. That winter had been bitterly cold, and my mother had caught a bad cold. It wouldn’t heal even after many days and she was dying. However, with but four bare walls for a house, we couldn’t afford to pay for medical treatment and medicine. I took a few copper coins and begged for medicine at the Ever Bright and Harmonious drug store but was harassed by a passing lecher. At that time, Lin Pan Yuan was there selecting medicinal herbs. Fortunately, he came to my rescue. Lin Pan Yuan not only followed me to see my mother at home, but also paid for the medicine for us. He…is our lifesaver.” Pan Shi was also choked with sobs by the time she finished.
Lin Qingyu smiled faintly, and said, “This was indeed something my father would have done.”
Pan Shi turned to the side and wiped her tears. She said in embarrassment, “I’ve let Shaojun see something embarrassing. I just want to say, if Shoajun has any need of me in the future, I will do my best to help Shoajun in return for this life-saving grace. ”
Lin Qingyu’s slightly cold voice warmed up a bit, “Yiniang is too polite.”
Back to the Blue Wind Pavilion, Lin Qingyu ordered people to prepare for the Qingming trip. But the rain still showed no signs of stopping. With the weather not having cleared up for a long time, the house became damp. Stepping outside, you were met with rain everywhere. The peoples’ moods were also inexplicably low.
Lu Wancheng was depressed for a few days. When Lin Qingyu asked him what was wrong, he didn’t say anything and just kept sighing. Having asked once and not getting an answer, Lin Qingyu didn’t bother asking again and simply let him do what he wanted.
On this day, Lu Wancheng was once again dazed in bed. Hua Lu brought his medicine. When she called him to take it, he didn’t respond, looking as though he had nothing left to live for.
Hua Lu turned to Lin Qingyu for help. “Shaojun, this…”
Lin Qingyu said, “I’ll do it. You can go.”
After Hua Lu left, Lin Qingyu walked to the bed. Towering over Lu Wancheng, he asked, “What’s the matter with you?”
Lu Wancheng: “……”
Lin Qingyu showed his displeasure and threatened, “If you won’t say anything, I’m going to have Huan Tong take away your quilt everyday at the break of dawn.”
Lu Wancheng choked. “I’m already like this, can’t you be a little sympathetic?”
“Like what?”
Lu Wancheng hid his face with his hands, and said in agony, “I’m f*cking… it seems like I’m no good anymore.”
Lin Qingyu:?
“What do you mean by ‘no good’?”
It seemed that Lu Wancheng found it hard to speak about it. “That there is no good. In the past, every morning, as long as I wake up… you know.”
Lin Qingyu: “……”
Lu Wancheng looked down at his waist, incomparably distressed. “These past few days, it just won’t get up.”
Lin Qingyu said, “Oh, that’s normal.”
Lu Wancheng suddenly raised his head. “Normal?”
In order to improve the prescription, I added a lot of Pueraria lobata, pseudo-ginseng type herbs to your medicine.” Lin Qingyu downplayed it. He sounded like he was talking about what they were having for dinner tonight. “Long-term use of such drugs will cause… some effects on men. You don’t use it anyway. You shouldn’t care about that.”
Don’t use it?
Shouldn’t care? ?
Lu Wancheng almost spewed out a mouthful of blood. For a while, he didn’t know how to refute such rebellious words. If he got angry with Lin Qingyu, he might provoke him into anger and he’ll still have to coax him later. Maybe he could reason things out — But as everyone knows, a great beauty would never reason things out with a mere mortal.
Lu Wancheng held back for a while, before he said, “I have no use for it. But whether I use it or not is not the same as whether I can use it or not.”
Lin Qingyu begged to differ. “This is a matter of life and death. Can you pack away your useless ego? Living half a year more is more important than anything.”
Lu Wancheng was in his death throes. “But…”
Lin Qingyu said impatiently, “No buts. Young Master Hou, as a patient, the only thing you have to do is to follow the doctor’s advice — drink your medicine.”
Lu Wancheng looked down at the dark decoction. He wanted to say something but stopped, wanted to say something but stopped. Finally, he gave Lin Qingyu a thumbs up, and something Lin Qingyu couldn’t understand popped out of his mouth: “…So badass.”
Translator’s notes: For those concerned, Young Master Hou’s….ahem, condition down there is reversible.