Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 5

TL: Hua

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“What’s wrong?” Marquis Wu’an glared at his eldest son, letting out a displeased snort: “Can’t a father come to his son’s courtyard anymore?”

“If you weren’t craning your neck looking outside, I might believe you more, Father.” Xu Xianzhi scratched his head in pain: “Yanqing said he hasn’t had enough fun yet. He’ll return to the manor after a while.”

“Hmph!” Marquis Wu’an twisted his head away, feigning indifference: “I didn’t ask you for all that nonsense! Whether that brat comes back or not, I don’t care!”

Xu Xianzhi couldn’t help but mutter silently to himself. Seeing his old man glare at him, he quickly chimed in with a smile: “Yes, yes, yes, it’s that brat Xu Yanqing who’s disobedient. Let him run wild outside. When he hits a wall and cries in pain, he’ll know how warm home is.”

“Listen, listen, is that what a big brother should say?” Marquis Wu’an, who had just been righteously indignant and ready to throw his son out, was now displeased. He was practically pointing his finger and scolding Xu Xianzhi for not understanding brotherly love: “Hurry up and tell that brat to come back, otherwise I will have to loosen your muscles and bones for you!” With that, he huffed and walked away.

Xu Xianzhi shrugged. Sure enough, he was the lowest in status in the manor.

As he thought this, a maid slowly walked into the courtyard, bowing to Xu Xianzhi: “Young Lord, Madam asks you to come over.”

Xu Xianzhi made a bitter face. Great, he had just been interrogated by his father, and now he had to promptly go and receive his mother’s “care.” That brat Xu Yanqing truly brought a lot of trouble!

Marquis Wu’an’s wife came from a prestigious family. In her youth, she was a renowned noblewoman in the capital. The fact that she would fancy the crude Marquis Wu’an, who barely knew how to read and only knew how to wield a spear, was, in the eyes of the other prominent ladies in the capital, definitely “blindness” and “a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung.”

But years passed, and those prominent ladies had long since married and had children. Now, if you looked, which husband didn’t have a few concubines or mistresses? Only Marquis Wu’an had remained loyal to Lady Su all these years.

Thus, Marquis Wu’an’s wife once again became the object of envy and jealousy among those noblewomen. However, the only thing those noblewomen could criticize about Marquis Wu’an’s manor was Xu Yanqing, that one playboy.

That being said, playboys were common in the capital; you could find several on any street. Xu Yanqing wasn’t the most unconventional or outrageous one, so those noblewomen had no real reason to criticize him anyway.

In the early Si period[mfn]9-11 AM[/mfn], Marquis Wu’an’s wife was kneeling at her writing desk, reading. Her hairpins were exquisite, her skirt vibrant, and her appearance delicate and beautiful. Even though both her sons were old enough to marry, she showed no wrinkles, instead possessing a more lush and mature beauty.

Seeing her eldest son enter, she looked up, revealing a gentle smile: “Xianzhi, you’ve come.”

Xu Xianzhi walked over and knelt opposite his mother: “Son greets Mother.”

“Alright, we don’t stand on such formalities in our family,” Lady Su chuckled softly: “The shopkeeper from Jinxui Embroidery brought some fabrics today for spring clothes. See if there are any patterns you like.”

Making spring clothes was something Xu Xianzhi, a big, burly man, didn’t care about at all. His mother’s true intention was probably not about the clothes.

Indeed, seeing Xu Xianzhi’s resigned expression, Lady Su couldn’t help but poke his head: “If you’re really so impatient, hurry up and find a wife to bring home. All these complex matters will naturally be handled by your wife. And how is Ah Qing doing outside?”

Seeing that the conversation finally got to the point, Xu Xianzhi grinned, not taking the bait about finding a wife: “Ah Qing is doing well outside. He’s been very well-behaved lately. These spring clothes can wait a few days; maybe he’ll be back by then.”

After only a few words, Xu Xianzhi quickly found an excuse and slipped away, leaving Lady Su with a bewildered expression. Her two sons, oh, each gave her different kinds of headaches. Indeed, children were debts owed from a previous life.

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Xu Yanqing, at this moment, naturally couldn’t appreciate his brother’s suffering. The exquisite young man’s face was flushed. He had woken up again from a hot dream, slumped weakly in the reclining chair, somewhat doubting his life.

As a provincial top scholar who had been obedient and sensible since childhood, Xu Yanqing neither smoked nor drank, and he didn’t even read erotic novels, disdaining even the erotic videos his roommates sent him.

But now, after transmigration, he not only lost his virginity but also had endless erotic dreams every night. What on earth was going on? Especially the dignified and self-possessed face of that Taoist priest, which was becoming clearer and clearer in his dreams.

It made Xu Yanqing wonder if he had fallen in love at first sight!

Thinking of this possibility, Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but shiver. To have such sinful thoughts about a stranger, he truly was becoming more and more shameless.

Just then, Mu Yu walked over: “Young Master, the servants from Yunshui Courtyard have already sealed up that door. When shall we move over?”

Xu Yanqing sighed, staring blankly at the cloudless sky. Just now, in his dream, he was doing this and that to the owner of the adjacent courtyard, and now, for a drink, he was about to move next door. Xu Yanqing was hesitant.

The main reason was that Xu Yanqing was worried he might get overly bold and attempt to force himself upon the ethereal Taoist priest.

“Young Master, I heard the cook at Yunshui Courtyard is researching peach blossom cakes…” Seeing his young master’s expression, Mu Yu, who had been excited, now lowered his voice. Was his young master not planning to move anymore?

“Move! We’re moving today!” Xu Yanqing’s mouth began to water uncontrollably when he heard “peach blossom cake.” For some reason, he had indeed become a bit of a glutton lately. But a food lover never gives up. Anyway, that door was now blocked, and the young master wasn’t afraid.

That door was indeed thoroughly blocked, and it was done right under the nose of the adjacent owner.

After encountering the assassination attempt at the Taoist temple, Yin Yanjun moved into this small courtyard. Within two days, the poison in his body flared up, and he inadvertently had a passionate night with the young man next door.

He didn’t remember the specifics of that night very well. He had originally planned to have Wen Jing investigate the other party’s identity, but then he heard the sounds of the door being demolished and the wall being blocked next door.

Yin Yanjun was accustomed to doing evening lessons at the Taoist temple. Passing by the small courtyard, he noticed the commotion there and naturally dismissed the idea in his mind. Perhaps the other party also had no intention of getting involved with him.

The spring breeze swept through the courtyard, and peach blossoms fluttered down from a tree. Yin Yanjun sat cross-legged by the tea table, his back straight and posture elegant, like a cool and refined green bamboo.

His clear, glass-like eyes looked towards the wall. Next door, there was a chaotic hubbub of voices and footsteps.

“The young master is moving in today; hurry and get everything packed.”

“And the peach blossom wine, the Young Master has been thinking about it for a long time; everything needs to be prepared.”

Yin Yuancheng walked into the small courtyard from outside. Hearing the sounds from next door, he couldn’t help but frown slightly: “Xu Yanqing is becoming more and more delicate, a man raised like a young lady in a boudoir.”

He knelt by the tea table and raised his hand to pour tea for Yin Yanjun.

Yin Yanjun glanced at the peach tree in the courtyard. There were no ripples in his clear, cold eyes, but the usual indifference in his expression deepened slightly.

Yin Yuancheng dared not speak further, simply sitting quietly with Yin Yanjun, listening to the bustling sounds from the adjacent courtyard.

Xu Yanqing moved into Yunshui Courtyard only after dinner. After sunset in spring, it was still a bit chilly. Xu Yanqing, wrapped in a cloak, stepped out of the carriage with a trace of moisture in his beautiful, grape-like eyes.

Mu Yu stood beside him, supporting him, his face filled with worry: “Are you alright, Young Master?”

Xu Yanqing, who was prone to motion sickness, leaned against Mu Yu’s shoulder and waved his hand listlessly. At this moment, his stomach was churning, making him just want to collapse onto the bed and sleep.

Mu Yu was heartbroken and quickly helped him to his room, then got hot water for Xu Yanqing to soak his feet. Finally, he tucked the drowsy young master into bed.

Nestled in the covers, Xu Yanqing’s hair was a bit messy, and even in his sleep, his small face held a hint of pitiful grievance.

The skin on the back of his neck began to feel hot again, as if sensing some kind of aura. This heat was more intense than before and was emitting faint traces of a sweet, ripe peach scent.

Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but smack his lips in his sleep, wanting to eat a juicy peach. Unfortunately, there were no peaches at the moment. He hoped that when he woke up tomorrow, he would get to eat fragrant, soft peach blossom cakes.

Night had deepened. Wen Jing trimmed the candles in the room, making the candlelight brighter.

On the desk were memorials freshly delivered from the palace. Yin Yanjun was sitting at his desk to review it, and Yin Yuancheng dared not disturb him, quietly kneeling to one side, grinding ink for him.

More and more memorials were reviewed. Wen Jing brought in two cups of hot tea. Yin Yanjun put down his vermillion brush and picked up a teacup, taking a sip.

Through the window lattice, the swaying branches and leaves outside were visible. Yin Yanjun paused his tea-drinking, speaking somewhat abruptly: “Yuancheng, do you know the owner of the adjacent courtyard?”

A somewhat drowsy Yin Yuancheng immediately perked up upon hearing this. Although a bit strange that his lord would ask about Xu Yanqing, he still honestly replied, “The owner of the adjacent Yunshui Courtyard is the legitimate second son of the Marquis of Wu’an, named Xu Yanqing. He is a notorious playboy in the capital.”

A playboy? Yin Yanjun only remembered the young man’s tender, crying voice by his ear. He stood up and walked to the window, looking up at the dark night outside: “How old is he this year?”

“Just past the age of ‘dancing elephants’ by three years.[mfn]The age of the dancing elephant refers to boys aged 15-20. So he’s 18 years old.[/mfn]” Yin Yuancheng still remembered that lively banquet not long ago. That Xu Yanqing was definitely a true playboy in the capital. It’s just a birthday banquet in the year of dancing elephants, yet he insisted on making a fuss as if it were a grand birthday celebration.

Three years past the age of dancing elephants, meaning the young man was just eighteen, while he himself was nearing thirty. Yin Yanjun fell silent for a moment.

Looking at his lord’s figure standing by the window, Yin Yuancheng inexplicably felt a hint of loneliness and solitude emanating from him, as if they were in a bustling street market, surrounded by noise and chaos, yet he was utterly alone.

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