Married Thrice to Salted Fish

ner as he performed everything without the slightest breach of etiquette.
It looked as though both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely. 

“I heard that that one at Qingdai Pavilion still refuses to come out to see anyone.”

“In the end, he’s just the son of the second wife.
Creating such a scandal, it’s only natural he wouldn’t have the face to see anyone.”

“As they say, ‘ there is a knife above the character for lust ‘.
Our ancestors didn’t lie to us…”

Lin Qingyu saw how Lu Wancheng’s lips carried a smile but the impatience in his eyes was almost impossible to hide any longer.
He suddenly realized what fun it was to tease salted fish. 

Perhaps sensing his scrutiny, Lu Wancheng glanced back.
In an instant, the impatience in his eyes turned into a refreshing breeze and no trace of it remained.

One of Lu Wancheng’s cousins said, trying to flatter him, “I think Young Master Hou’s complexion looks very good.
Maybe in just a few days, you’ll be able to make a full recovery.”

Lu Wancheng smiled and said, “I accept your blessing.”

“As soon as you’re healthy, you should turn your attention to the matter of producing an heir.
What are your plans?” 

The one who spoke was the eldest son of the Lu family, Lu Baishuo’s eldest brother.
The words were so obvious that Lu Baishuo couldn’t help frowning, warning aloud, “Dage, this is a private matter for Young Master Hou and his people.
We shouldn’t concern ourselves with this.”

The Lu Family’s eldest son was apparently not the sharpest tool in the shed and he said, “This is a matter for the Lu Family and it is closely related to us.
What wrong is there in me asking? I heard that Young Master Hou is preparing to take a concubine?”

Lin Qingyu finally spoke for the first time.
“Where did you hear that?”

The Lu Family’s eldest said with a smile, “Don’t take offense, Shaojun.
It is perfectly normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
Although Young Master Hou is ill, he is still a man and as a man, he possesses seven emotions and six desires…” 

Lu Wancheng spread out his hands.
“What ‘seven emotions and six desires’ can I possibly have with this body? Even if there was, I have given it all to Qingyu.” He turned to catch Lin Qingyu’s gaze, his eyes seemed to contain an expanse of spring water, “Qingyu is my entire passion.”

Lin Qingyu almost choked on his sip of tea – What is wrong with Lu Wancheng?!

The guests looked at each other in dismay and then let out heartfelt sighs.

“What was I saying? Lin Shaojun is of startling talent, with the grace of the wind, a celestial being among men, how can anyone else catch Wancheng’s eyes?” 

“Oh, they are very much in love, the very picture of marital harmony.
Oh how we envy you!”

“May grandfather and grandmother be of one heart forever.
May you live a long and happy life together…”

Lin Qingyu’s forehead twitched.
The instigator of this fuss seemed rather guilty and didn’t dare look at him.
Holding a teacup to cover his face, it was like he was saying, ‘I can’t hear anything’.

Lin Qingyu interrupted the chatter of these cheap grandsons.
“Young Master Hou, it’s time to take your medicine.” 

Everyone wanted to get close to the two of them, but as soon as these words came out, they couldn’t be so shameless as to continue to impose on them.
They got up one after the other and took their leave.

After the guests left, without waiting for Lin Qingyu to say anything, Lu Wancheng made a “hiss” sound, wrapped his arms around himself and began to rub wildly.
“Save me, I’m so greasy.”

Lin Qingyu didn’t know what “greasy” meant, but after connecting it with the actual situation just now, he formed a vague understanding.
He sincerely agreed, “Indeed.”

That evening, Nan’an Hou hosted a banquet in the mansion to entertain the guests.
Lu Wancheng didn’t attend, citing physical discomfort, and Lin Qingyu excused himself saying that he would be staying in the Blue Wind Pavilion to look after him. 

The twilight clouds had dispersed, leaving the moon and some scattered stars.
The light was bright but silent.
Laid out on the stone table in the courtyard were moon cakes, water chestnuts, dates and pomegranates.
There was even a pot of sweet osmanthus wine.
However, whether it was the moon cakes or the sweet osmanthus wine, Lu Wancheng couldn’t have any of it.
He could only look to satisfy his cravings.

After looking at the moon cakes for a while, he turned his eyes towards Lin Qingyu beside him.
Looking at a beauty at night had its own distinct flavor.  Long hair like a waterfall, clothes like frost; the tear-shaped mole at the corners of his eye looked particularly moving under the moonlight.
It was a pity a dark quality suffused the space between the beauty’s brows, it seemed he had something on his mind.

A worry on one’s mind during the Mid-Autumn Festival could not be anything but homesickness.
Lu Wancheng said, “There are so many people in the mansion now and it can really be quite annoying.
How about we go stay at the Lin Residence for a few days and come back once they leave?”

Lin Qingyu said, “Your guests are already here and you, the host, still want to slip away?” 

“I have already given them enough face today.
It’s enough, it’s enough.”

Lin Qingyu declined to comment.
Holding a wine cup in his hand, he lowered his eyes and asked, “How did you recognize Lu Baishuo?”

Lu Wancheng said indifferently, “I guessed.
I remember that Sixth Brother and ‘I’ are on good terms.
You brought Lu Baishuo by himself so his relationship with ‘me’ must not be simple.
So I guessed that he was that Sixth Brother – And, sure enough.”

Lin Qingyu nodded.
He poured himself another cup of wine and didn’t ask anything else. 

“Qingyu, this is the first Mid-Autumn Festival we’re spending together and it’s also our last.” Lu Wancheng looked at the bright moon in the sky and smiled lightly, “At next year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, will you…will you still remember me?”

Lin Qingyu raised his head and looked at the same bright moon Lu Wancheng was looking at.
He said, “Although you and I started off in an ill-fated relationship, as we’ve kept each other company, I have grown to regard you as a confidant and a close friend.
Money is easy to obtain, but friends are hard to find.
I-… will always remember Lu Wancheng.”

Always remember… Lu Wancheng?

Lu Wancheng was silent for a long when.
Then, he suddenly said, “Last time at Changsheng Temple, you asked me if I had any other name and I said no.” 

Lin Qingyu’s hand tightened.
“En.”

“I lied to you.
I still have another name.” Lu Wancheng said in a deep voice, “I hope you can remember this name.”

Lin Qingyu’s eyes flashed.
He seemed to be a little nervous.
Lu Wancheng wanted to make the atmosphere lighter, so he started spouting nonsense in a serious sounding tone, “My surname is Zhu, and my name is Dazhuang.
Besides ‘Wancheng’, you can also call me ‘Big Brother Dazhuang’.”

Lin Qingyu immediately lost all expression and he got up to leave. 

Stubborn and unchanging; he must be losing his mind to take someone like this seriously.

Lu Wancheng smiled and stopped him, “Okay, okay.
I’ll stop teasing you.
Actually, my surname is Jiang, and my name is…”

Before he could finish his words, Hua Lu interrupted their conversation with an urgent shout: “Young Master Hou, Shaojun, there’s someone from the palace!”