Although Lin Qingyu didn’t completely understand Lu Wancheng’s words, he thought he roughly understood what the other meant. For Lu Wancheng to be able to talk so lightly about his limited days, could it be that he really wasn’t afraid of death?
When all was said and done, Lu Wancheng was someone ill. Being able to hold on till now was already his limit. He lay down on the bed and said, “Beauty, you…”
Lin Qingyu said sternly, “Stop with that inconsiderate name-calling.”
Because of his appearance, when Lin Qingyu had been pursuing his studies on the road, he was often harassed by lechers. Towards these people who called him “beauty” or “baobei” at every turn, he wanted nothing more than to stuff their mouths with the potion he’d mixed himself that could force them to shut their mouths.
However, although Lu Wancheng called him a beauty, he didn’t stare blankly at him like a frivolous person. He wasn’t completely hopeless.
“How fierce. Aren’t you happy being praised for your good looks?” Lu Wancheng closed his eyes and said. “Whatever, I’m going to rest. Just do as you please.”
After all that waste of time, it was already past zishi. There really was nothing else to do except to go to bed.
The servant girl just now had helped Lu Wancheng take off his clothes. She had also wiped his arms and face. While on the other hand, Lin Qingyu was still wearing the dress and crown he had used to the wedding. A huadian had been painted between his brows and he still hasn’t washed off the makeup on his face.
Yes, he had on makeup today. Due to his strongly worded request, the matron of honor had only painted his brows and lips. However, because of the cold and aloof beauty of his face, after using even just this little bit, his lips appeared as red as flames and his brows appeared as though they’d been drawn from a painting. This look made others praise him without cease but for him, it alarmed his heart and sent his body leaping. What he had pursed between his lips seemed not to be rouge paper but shackles that imprisoned him. And the ones who placed these shackles on him was this entire Nan’an Hou Mansion as well as…the Imperial family.
He would remember this hatred.
There was that matron of honor too who had to forced him use ointment and made that certain some place feel extremely uncomfortable. He would remember her too.
As for his ignorant “husband”… If what Lu Wancheng said was true, they truly could spend the next six months together in peace. Husband and wife in name but not in truth. He could barely force himself not to harbor any hatred against Lu Wancheng.
He was a man on the verge of death, nothing more. What need was there to bother with him?
Naturally there couldn’t be two beds in the bridal chamber. The only bed was occupied by Lu Wancheng. Lin Qingyu decided to spend the night on the luohan.
At this time, it was shortly after the Lantern Festival. The days had yet to warm up. You were sure to catch a cold sleeping on a bare luohan. Lin Qingyu saw that there was an extra quilt on marriage bed. The servants of the Hou Mansion must have deliberately prepared it, afraid that their precious Young Master Hou wouldn’t be used to sharing the same quilt with someone else.
In that case, Lin Qingyu had no wish to be polite.
Even in sleep, Lu Wancheng could not escape the torment of illness and pain; and his brows were lightly furrowed. Lin Qingyu’s movements when taking the quilt had been very light but Lu Wancheng still woke up.
When Lu Wancheng opened his eyes, Lin Qingyu was in the middle of bending over. His hair hung before his chest and fell on the other’s cheeks, making it a little itchy.
The two locked eyes with each other. Without waiting for Lu Wancheng to speak, Lin Qingyu said first, “I’m taking the quilt.”
Lu Wancheng smiled. “Take it.”
Lin Qingyu carried the quilt to the luohan and spread it out. Just as he was about to lie down, Lu Wancheng said, “Aren’t you going to undress before going to bed?”
Although the wedding dress worn by a male bride wasn’t as complicated and cumbersome as that of a woman’s, it was still a loose corseted thing covered in layer upon layer of robes. It was far less convenient and comfortable than wearing ordinary clothes. Just looking at it made Lu Wancheng feel tired for him.
Lin Qingyu said calmly, “Naturally, I’m going to take it off.”
Turning his back to Lu Wancheng, he raised his hand to undo the outermost buckle. The coat fell from his shoulders and slid to his ankles. Piece after piece of clothing were removed, and after a while, he was just like Lu Wancheng, dressed only in close-fitting night wear.
After taking off his clothes, he turned around and glanced at marriage bed. — Very good, Lu Wancheng had fallen asleep again.
Early the next morning.
Lin Qingyu had always been a light-sleeper and a quiet cough from Lu Wancheng was enough to wake him up. On the bed, Lu Wancheng was lying on his side, his side profile was mostly blocked by the scattered strands of his hair. His sleeping posture was haphazard, without the slightest bit of dignity.
As soon as Lin Qingyu got up from the luohan, there came a knock on the door. “Young Master, Shaojun, it’s time to get up. According to customs, you must go serve tea to Master Hou and Madam Hou.”
Lu Wancheng showed no sign of waking up. Lin Qingyu opened the door and let them in. The maid walking in front was Feng Qin who was Lu Wancheng’s personal maid. She entered the room, carrying in hot water. When she saw the soft quilt on the luohan, a strange expression momentarily stole over her face.
Half of the maids who came were there to assist Lin Qingyu to freshen up. The remaining half went to get Lu Wancheng up. Lin Qingyu changed into a snow-blue robe. His long hair was simply tied up with a jade crown. On him these ordinary clothes seemed graceful and full of elegance. However, compared with yesterday’s wedding attire, it was less bright and more dignified.
Feng Qin wanted to put on makeup for Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu said, “No need.”
Feng Qin said, “But I saw that Shaojun had on makeup yesterday.”
“And as you said, that was yesterday.” Lin Qingyu’s eyes fell on the dressing case on the table and he said irritably, “Take this out.”
Lin Qingyu had finished putting on his clothes but Lu Wancheng was still asleep. A few maidservants had gathered around the bed, calling him softly.
“Young Master, it’s time for you and Shaojun to serve tea to the Master and Madam.”
“Young Master…”
Lu Wancheng remained motionless, his expression calm, his hands folded on his chest, looking like a Buddha statue.
Feng Qin said uneasy, “It can’t be that Young Master Hou has fainted again?”
Lin Qingyu stepped forward and carefully observed Lu Wancheng. He said, “No, he just died in his sleep. You can force him to wake up.”
Feng Qin asked, unable to understand, “Shaojun, how are we to ‘force’ him?”
“Shout louder or take off his quilt.” Lin Qingyu said, “But don’t forget. He is ill. So unless you want his condition to get worse, don’t disturb his rest.”
Feng Qin said, “But Master Hou and the Madam…”
Lin Qingyu interrupted her, “He’s already this sick and you want him to serve tea? Are the rules more important than his life?” In Dayu, it was the newly married husband and wife together who serve tea to the parents on the day after their wedding. If Lu Wancheng doesn’t go, then he probably won’t have to go either.
Originally, before the Empress had ordered this marriage, Nan’an Hou’s wife, Liang Shi, had sent someone to visit Lin Qingyu’s home and propose a marriage. When he decisively refused, she then asked the Empress, thus putting the Lin Family in a state of either marrying or dying. Not to mention treating the Nan’an couple as “in-laws”, he didn’t even want to pay any attention to them.
Feng Qin didn’t dare decide on this matter. She sent a servant girl to report to Liang Shi. Not long afterwards, the momo by Liang Shi’s side came to give her answer, “The madam says that since it is rare for the young master to sleep so peacefully, we should let him continue to sleep. She and Master Hou will drink tea served by Shaojun alone.”
Lin Qingyu sneered, “Sure enough, Madam loves her son like life.”
Living in the Hou Mansion, he was given no choice but to follow. No matter how reluctant, Lin Qingyu could only put on a snow cape and follow the momo to the front hall.
Along the way, the momo prattled on and on about the rules of the Hou Mansion’s inner house. Lin Qingyu took her to be talking utter rubbish, automatically cutting her voice out of his ears. Yesterday, he’d been wearing the bridal veil and he could only see the few steps under his feet. Today he was able to see the true appearance of the Nan’an Hou Mansion. Although he had never been to the palace, he had gone to the prince’s mansion with his father. The magnificence of the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion was not inferior to that of the prince’s mansion. With its carved beams and painted buildings, gorgeous and noble, it showed that Nan’an Hou’s status in the court was extraordinary.
In the front hall, Nan’an Hou and Liang Shi were seated upon the seat of honor. Nan’an Hou was nearing buhuo, taciturn and with a resolute and steadfast face. Liang Shi, though getting on in the years was still attractive, with a kindly face. She looked like a good-natured upper-class lady.
Lin Qingyu took the tea handed to him by the momo. He couldn’t help imagining himself putting poison in it.
What poison could he give that would let them have the taste of losing their freedom?
The two drank Lin Qingyu’s tea. Liang Shi said with a smile on her face, “Qingyu, did you sleep well last night?”
Lin Qingyu recovered and said, “It was satisfactory.”
“From now on, the Hou Mansion will be your home. If there is anything you are not used to, just tell mother.”
“Thank you, Madam.”
The momo said, displeased, “Why is Shaojun still using ‘Madam’? Just like Young Master Hou, you are to call her ‘mother’.”
This momo was really obsessed with this matter of changing terms of address. He was simply going to call her ‘Change-your-title Momo’. If she wanted so much for Liang Shi to be called that, then why doesn’t she just call Liang Shi that herself?
Lin Qingyu lowered his eyes and said, “It is force of habit. It may take a while for me to change my terms of address. I hope Madam Hou will forgive me.”
Nan’an Hou looked displeased. Liang Shi said graciously, “There is no harm done. There will be plenty of time for that. The first few months after I married into the Hou Mansion, I also often forgot to correct myself.”
Nan’an Hou said, “Despite that, you must still to get used to it as soon as possible, so as not to be a source of amusement in the eyes of others.”
Lin Qingyu thought of his parents and endured silently. “Yes.”
Liang Shi took another sip of tea and said, “Your Eight Characters and Wancheng’s are a match made in heaven. Master Hou and I also fancied this point, so we asked his Majesty to bestow this marriage. Qingyu, in the future, you must put your husband first in all matters. Wait upon him by his sickbed and let your good fortune rub off on Wancheng.”
Lin Qingyu nodded, stupefied.
Nan’an Hou said, “Speaking of which, you are the son of the pan guan of the Imperial Hospital. You have also studied under a famous teacher. Your medical skills are definitely not bad.”
Lin Qingyu’s chest filled with a burst of oppression.
Yes, his medical skills were not bad. Before all this, he could have practiced medicine or pharmacy to help the people; he could have helped the dying and healed the injured. Now, he was locked up in the inner house, forced to be a male wife who was to be content with his own lot. And the main culprit even had the gall to say, “Although Doctor Zhang is in charge of looking after Wancheng’s condition, you can also watch over him a bit. Do not waste your medical skills.”
Nan’an Hou worked as the Minister of Revenue. He had many responsibilities and he left after saying these words. Liang Shi gave a jade bracelet to Lin Qingyu. She said, “This was part of the dowry I brought from my birth family. I had planned on giving it to Wancheng’s son in the future. But now…” Liang Shi paused and smiled again. “No matter, you keep it.”
Lin Qingyu could not have failed to understand Liang Shi’s intention. She took so much effort to get Lu Wancheng a male wife but and didn’t forget to disdain the male wife for being unable to bear children.
They were all worthy of being members of the Nan’an Hou Mansion. Each was worse than the other. It was only Lu Wancheng who he’s barely able to tolerate.
Lin Qingyu returned to the Blue Wind Pavilion where Lu Wancheng lived. He threw the brocade box containing the jade bracelet to Feng Qin. Feng Qin said, “Shaojun, welcome back. Young Master Hou hasn’t woken up yet. He’s been sleeping for so long, is there really nothing the matter…?”
Lin Qingyu stopped walking towards the study. “I’ll take a look.”
What he wanted to see was not Lu Wancheng, but the Lu Wancheng’s once-in-a-century pulse. Doctor Zhang, who had diagnosed Lu Wancheng’s pulse last night, as he understood, was indeed a well-known doctor with real ability and talent. It would be a pity not examine the pulse that even Doctor Zhang had never seen before.
When Lin Qingyu walked into the inner room, Lu Wancheng was still asleep. He was even still in the same posture he had before Lin Qingyu left. He stood by the bed, looking down upon Lu Wancheng. He had to say that Lu Wancheng didn’t look like his parents very much. His appearance was much more refined than that of Nan’an Hou and his wife.
Lin Qingyu rolled up his sleeves and stretched out his fingertips. He had yet to touch Lu Wancheng’s pulse when his hand was caught without warning. A loose, careless voice spoke, “Sneaking up like that, what were you going to do, Lin Qingyu?”
Lin Qingyu’s hand stiffened. “Let go.” Given Lu Wancheng’s body, he was afraid that Lu Wancheng would faint if he tried even a little bit of force to break free.
Lu Wancheng let go. His eyes were closed, but the corners of his lips curled up. “Don’t get excited, I don’t like men. You don’t have to be so guarded towards me.”
Lin Qingyu’s eyes widened. “You don’t like men?”
“That’s right. As I remember, even though male homosexuality was in vogue during the Dayu dynasty, not everyone was a cut-sleeve.” Lu Wancheng opened his eyes and said, “What about you? Are you?”
Lin Qingyu choked.
It has been a month since he was forced into this marriage and no one has ever asked him this question. Anyway, he was going to marry a man. What difference did it make if he liked men or women?
“I… Naturally, I’m not one either.”
Lu Wancheng covered his lips and coughed a few times. He then said sympathetically, “Then you must feel extremely wronged at being married to me for a Chong Xi?”
Lin Qingyu’s brows were gloomy. “What nonsense. If you were to be given to me in Chong Xi, wouldn’t you feel wronged?”
“That’s why I said I would make it up to you.”
“To say it is easy. What exactly will you do to compensate me?”
“My inheritance.”
Lin Qingyu sneered. “Your inheritance that I have to fight for.”
Lu Wancheng asked, “Then what compensation do you want? As long as it’s not troublesome or strenuous, I will give it to you.”
He wanted to take the examination of the Imperial Medical Office. He wanted to leave the Nan’an Hou Mansion. He wanted to do what he wanted to do. But he knew it was almost impossible. The marriage between him and Lu Wancheng was bestowed by the Emperor. Even if Lu Wancheng agrees for him to leave, he would still need his Majesty’s approval.
Lin Qingyu was silent for a while. He said, “Give me your hand.”
Lu Wancheng held his wrist in his other hand, and said warily, “Eh? What are you doing?”
Lin Qingyu said impatiently, “I’m going to check your pulse.”
“You should have said so earlier.” Lu Wancheng raised his hand and presented his wrist, “Doctor Lin, please.”
A charcoal brazier was burning in the room and Lu Wancheng’s entire body was covered under the quilt. His wrist though remained cold. Feeling the beating of his pulse, Lin Qingyu frowned.
Lu Wancheng’s body was better, but the disease was not eradicated. He could feel the “sudden vitality” that Doctor Zhang said but Lu Wancheng’s body was like a bottomless pit, consuming this vitality little by little. Unless the root of the illness was eradicated, Lu Wancheng’s vitality would be exhausted and he would still not survive past half a year.
There was no cure for Lu Wancheng’s disease.
Seeing Lin Qingyu’s face sinking like water, Lu Wancheng asked, “Am I saved?”
Lin Qingyu asked, “Why would you think so?”
“Because you don’t look happy.” Lu Wancheng looked as though this all had nothing to do with him, “If I were in your place, I should think that you would want me to die sooner.”
Lin Qingyu couldn’t help asking, “Do you really not care about your life or death?”
“There’s nothing to care about.” Lu Wancheng smiled, “My fate is not in my hands, it’s in Heaven’s. Don’t worry, my widow, you're sure to be one.”
Lin Qingyu: “…”
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Salted Fish Lu: My fate is not in my hands, it’s in the author’s. I’m dead [Lying Flat.jpg]