Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 33

TL: Hua

The clanging sounds outside did not diminish the salted fish young master’s high spirits for reading his storybook at all. The holy monk, like a snow lotus in the high mountains, and the charming Hehuan Palace Master were really interesting.

Emperor Yanjun, without the young master to grind ink for him, could only temporarily put down his vermillion brush and take over himself. While reviewing memorials, he would occasionally glance up at the young master on the reclining chair.

The gloom that had lingered on the young master’s brow for days had finally dissipated significantly. Emperor Yanjun slowly breathed a sigh of relief. He was, after all, much older than the young master and sometimes found it difficult to understand what young men nowadays enjoyed. He could only explore little by little through clumsy trial and error.

Fortunately, the young master was transparent in his thoughts, and all his emotions were visible on his face, making him easy to understand. Emperor Yanjun slowly lowered his head and continued reviewing the memorials on his desk.

Wen Jing directed a group of craftsmen in a major construction project in the courtyard. They dug four deep pits, then filled them with four thick, sturdy pillars, pouring in clay and meticulously building them up brick by brick.

At this time of year, grapes were already ripe, making transplanting difficult. So, Wen Jing sent many people to specifically find month-prior ripe grapevines and quickly transplant them.

Iron netting was reinforced on top of the pillars, and Wen Jing also ordered a layer of fine gauze to be laid over the netting to prevent branches and dust from falling down.

This whole endeavor took half a day. Finally, they had people move in the newly crafted reclining chair and tea table, and this carefully constructed grape trellis was finally complete.

Wen Jing and Aunt Zhao swiftly tidied up the disturbed courtyard. Now, looking at it, the courtyard felt small, but it has everything one could ask for.

Wen Jing took a breath, then turned and knocked on the door to invite the person. Xu Yanqing turned a page, reading the story of the holy monk who saved all living beings and the evil and arrogant palace master, constantly entangled with each other, almost letting out an auntie smile.

Just then, Wen Jing’s knocking sound came. The salted fish chose to automatically ignore it, pretending he heard nothing. Then he heard the Taoist Master’s clear, cold voice: “Come in.”

The salted fish young master, with his ears perked up, instantly wiped the strange smile off his face, folded a mark in the inner book, then secretly swapped it, placing it beside him, and “concentrated” on reading another detective story.

Emperor Yanjun saw all of the young master’s little actions. A faint smile curved his lips. Just then, Wen Jing entered and suggested to the young master, who was reading in the reclining chair, “Young Master has been reading for a long time. You should relax your eyes appropriately. Would you like to go out for a walk?”

It was a hot day outside, and the salted fish, who had already sprawled out, had no desire to go out and get a tan. So, Xu Yanqing slightly lifted his eyelids and resolutely refused: with a storybook in hand, going out was absolutely impossible.

Wen Jing looked up at the emperor somewhat helplessly. He saw the emperor put down his vermillion brush, slowly rise from his desk, walk to the young master’s side, and gently take the storybook from the pretentious young master.

The young master looked up to see Taoist Master Xuanchen extending a hand towards him, softly saying, “I’m a bit tired from reviewing memorials. Why don’t you accompany me for a walk, Young Master?”

Suddenly, Xu Yanqing remembered the task he had set for himself. Oh, right. He had originally thought that his recent mood swings were causing Taoist Master Xuanchen to work tirelessly for him, so he had specially planned to repay the Taoist Master today and “serve him diligently.” Why was he back to nestling in the reclining chair and reading storybooks?

The salted fish was confused by this and, overwhelmed with self-reproach, decisively placed his hand into the Taoist Master’s palm, intending to sacrifice his salted fish life to sweat under the sun and get a tan with the Taoist Master.

However, it was clear that the Taoist Master didn’t give him a chance to sweat or get a tan. As soon as they stepped out of the room, the summer heat enveloped them. Just as the salted fish was about to turn back and slip into the room, he seemed to be drawn by something, turning his head back, his gaze falling on the grape trellis in the courtyard and the new reclining chair underneath it.

“How about it? Want to sit there for a while?” Emperor Yanjun’s eyes were gentle with a hint of teasing.

Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows and look at Taoist Master Xuanchen, silently sighing in his heart. Could it be that he had teased the Taoist Master too many times, leading to the usually pure and serene Taoist Master also learning to tease others? Furthermore, was he now bringing trouble upon himself?

But it didn’t matter. The salted fish young master had a very thick skin anyway, so he openly walked under the grape trellis. Wen Jing had ordered three grapevines to be transplanted there. Their dense branches and leaves covered the area like a canopy, allowing only faint slivers of light to filter through. The temperature under the grape trellis was also much cooler than elsewhere. Xu Yanqing strode to the new reclining chair and skillfully settled in.

One had to admit, new things were always more appealing. This new reclining chair was covered with a soft, cool mat, seemingly woven from some kind of leaves, and its cool touch on the skin was very comfortable.

This made the fickle salted fish young master very satisfied. Moreover, the two armrests of the reclining chair were wrapped with embroidered patches with patterns to prevent slipping. The color of the embroidery matched the reclining chair, so it didn’t look out of place. Most importantly, it felt quite nice when the salted fish gripped it.

Due to the young master’s posterior uterine position, although he didn’t show pregnancy as much as ordinary women, his waist would experience significant discomfort due to the pressure of the fetus. Therefore, Emperor Yanjun specially had Aunt Zhao make an exquisite and soft lumbar pillow.

Raising his hand, Emperor Yanjun placed the lumbar pillow behind the young master’s waist. He then sat beside the tea table and poured himself a cup of water. “How is it? Do you feel any discomfort? If you’re uncomfortable, we can have the craftsmen come and adjust it again.”

The salted fish young master comfortably nestled in the reclining chair. Hearing this, he shook his head with great satisfaction, indicating that he was very pleased with everything.

In the afternoon, Aunt Li brought some recently dried preserved vegetables from her own home. Aunt Zhao took some to inspect them and repeatedly praised how well Aunt Li had dried them.

Qi Chen, with nothing to do, would wander around every day. He had just returned from the mountains after picking herbs. Setting his basket down, he saw Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao washing the preserved vegetables, so he couldn’t help but say, “Why don’t we make preserved vegetables and lean pork buns!”

Aunt Li nodded, “That’s exactly what I planned to make. Does Young Doctor Qi want to eat buns too?”

Hearing Aunt Li’s teasing, Qi Chen couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s because Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao’s cooking is so good! I’ve gained so much weight eating your food, I’m afraid my parents back in the capital won’t even recognize their chubby son.”

Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao exchanged glances, amused by Qi Chen’s words, and couldn’t help but laugh.

The dough had already been kneaded by Aunt Li and left to rise. When the afternoon sun wasn’t as strong, she and Aunt Zhao directly moved the cutting board to the courtyard and started chopping meat with a clatter.

The filling was seasoned by Aunt Zhao, who was very experienced in this area. The filling she prepared was fresh, fragrant, and delicious, and everyone liked it very much.

Once the filling was ready, Aunt Li rolled out the wrappers while Aunt Zhao wrapped the buns. Xu Yanqing quietly sidled over, his eyes sparkling as they fixed on the already wrapped buns on the cutting board.

“Young Master, are you hungry?” Aunt Zhao moved a chair for the young master to sit on, asking respectfully and gently.

Xu Yanqing shook his head. He pointed to the buns on the cutting board and said, “Aunt Zhao’s buns are all so pretty!” They were plump, with beautiful pleats, and looked very appetizing.

Aunt Li smiled happily, “Do you want to try, Young Master? Wrapping buns is very simple.”

“Can I?” Xu Yanqing looked up at Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao, his round eyes brightening even more.

The customs of the Daliang Dynasty were open. Men generally married a few years later than in previous dynasties. By age, Young Master Xu was just at the age where he could marry, yet he was now bearing immense pressure, pregnant with the emperor’s child.

Therefore, Aunt Zhao’s gaze towards the young master was filled with even more tenderness. “Of course, you can. Young Master, wait here. I’ll go get water for you to wash your hands.”

Before Xu Yanqing could speak, Aunt Zhao nimbly got up, brought a basin of clean water from beside the water vat, and attended to Xu Yanqing’s handwashing.

Before Xu Yanqing even began to wrap buns, Emperor Yanjun also slowly walked over. Aunt Zhao rose and bowed.

Aunt Li still found it all quite new. Aunt Zhao had once told her that before this Taoist Master Xuanchen became a monastic, he was the young master of her former household. Judging by Aunt Zhao’s excellent skills, it was clear that her former household must have been extraordinary. It’s hard to understand why a wealthy and noble young master, who was so revered, would choose to become a Taoist monk. Indeed, the thoughts of rich people are incomprehensible to the poor.

However, Aunt Li was actually a bit intimidated by this Taoist Master Xuanchen. Although he never showed a master’s temper in daily life, that cold and dignified aura inexplicably made her feel a chill from the bottom of her heart.

Emperor Yanjun himself pulled over a small stool and sat beside the young master. His tall and handsome figure, perched on such a small stool, created a subtle sense of disparity. However, it was clear that the noble Taoist Master Xuanchen didn’t mind, simply looking at the young master beside him with a warm gaze.

Xu Yanqing had suddenly developed a tiny bit of interest in wrapping buns. He had woken up and originally intended to sit outside for a bit, but he saw Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao wrapping buns in the courtyard.

That scene reminded him of some childhood memories he had almost forgotten, so he unconsciously walked over. He figured Taoist Master Xuanchen hadn’t seen him in the room, which was why he had come looking.

So, Xu Yanqing glanced at the basin of water placed nearby, motioning for the Taoist Master to wash his hands first. Once the other had washed his hands, the young master deftly placed a soft, doughy wrapper into the Taoist Master’s hand, lightly raising an eyebrow. “Has Taoist Master ever wrapped buns before?”

Emperor Yanjun shook his head. “Never.” He was, after all, the legitimate son born to the empress, and as the crown prince of Daliang, no matter how little he was valued by the late emperor, his servants dared not openly insult him. Even when he was later “recuperating” in the Taoist temple, he had never entered a kitchen.

Xu Yanqing blinked, smiling cheerfully. “Then today, Taoist Master can learn to wrap one!”

Aunt Zhao, fearing that Young Master Xu might anger the emperor, cautiously looked at the emperor’s expression with a hint of nervousness. To her surprise, the emperor’s usually solemn face bore an imperceptible smile, and he gently nodded and responded to the young master, “Good.”

That “good” was gentle and soft, astonishing Aunt Zhao, who had accompanied the emperor for many years, for a brief moment.

The Emperor had truly changed.

“Young master, look at my hand.” Aunt Zhao came back to her senses. Seeing Young Master Xu still full of enthusiasm, she couldn’t help but smile, yet she taught him very seriously, “We put the filling in the dough wrapper, then place the wrapper on the fingers of your left hand, and gently hook it with your fingers to prevent the wrapper from falling off.”

Xu Yanqing watched Aunt Zhao’s movements, placed the dough wrapper on his fingers, then looked up at Aunt Zhao with sparkling eyes.

Aunt Zhao nodded repeatedly, meticulously teaching the young master what to do next.

This step was too difficult. Xu Yanqing felt that his mind had already memorized how Aunt Zhao pinched the pleats, so he enthusiastically planned to practice. However, as soon as he started, he completely forgot everything, a perfect illustration of “My brain says I’ve got it, my hand says I haven’t.”

In contrast, Emperor Yanjun, who was beside the young master, learned perfectly. He slightly lowered his gaze, his movements flowing smoothly, complementing his cool and elegant demeanor. Under his hands, wrapping buns seemed to become a sophisticated art.

The young master held his pitiful, shapeless bun up to Taoist Master Xuanchen, saying with a bitter face, “Taoist Master is truly amazing. Could I trouble you to help me?”

Emperor Yanjun glanced at the young master, saying blandly, “It was Young Master who wanted to learn to wrap buns. You can’t give up halfway like this.”

The salted fish was tired of being defeated. No, even a salted fish has moments when he refuses to admit defeat. So, the young master, with wide, round eyes, stubbornly tackled the dough wrapper in his hand.

Following Aunt Zhao’s method, Xu Yanqing slowly rotated the dough wrapper in his hand. Gradually, a hint of pleats began to appear under his fingers. The young master turned his head to look at Taoist Master Xuanchen, a smug expression appearing on his face.

Unfortunately, the bun in his hand didn’t allow him to be smug for long. Just a little distance from finishing, the dough wrapper in the young master’s hand tore directly open, and all the preserved vegetable and meat filling spilled onto the cutting board.

The young master’s face instantly fell in dismay. He never expected that he, a provincial top scholar in his previous life, would be so clumsy, unable to even wrap a bun. It was simply… enough to make one shed tears. But the Taoist Master was also wrapping buns for the first time, so why could he learn so quickly and so perfectly? So, the teary-eyed young master held up the “bun” that had met its demise in his salted fish hand for the Taoist Master to see.

Emperor Yanjun looked at the young master with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, placing the young master’s ruined “bun” aside:

“This bun will be steamed for the young master to eat later.”

The salted fish young master’s eyes widened: So, you’re that kind of Taoist Master!

Emperor Yanjun chuckled, took two dough wrappers, one in his own hand, and handed the other to the young master, a faint hint of playfulness in his eyes.

A salted fish who was always determined would never admit defeat. So, Xu Yanqing bitterly took the dough wrapper handed to him by the Taoist Master, planning to humbly learn from the successful one, hoping to learn enough to surpass his master and render him obsolete.

However, it was clear that Taoist Master Xuanchen didn’t give his apprentice the chance to surpass him. He meticulously pinched the pleats with his long, fair, and well-defined fingers, gently rotating, and soon, a delicately shaped and beautiful bun was freshly made.

“When pinching the pleats, don’t actively push the dough forward with your right hand. Instead, gently push the dough onto your right hand with your left hand. This way, the dough won’t tear,” Taoist Master Xuanchen precisely pointed out the young master’s problem.

Xu Yanqing listened very carefully. He leaned his head close to the Taoist Master, meticulously pinching the pleats according to the Taoist Master’s instructions, occasionally looking up at the Taoist Master, and only after receiving the Taoist Master’s approval did he lower his head to continue his work.

Thus, a “bun” resembling a white dough ball was created by the young master. The entire dough looked like a steamed bun with a topknot, nothing like a real bun.

This time the dough didn’t tear, but where were the pleats that belonged to a bun? Could they have grown legs and run away?

The salted fish blinked, doubting himself even more.

“No rush, let’s try again.” Emperor Yanjun very patiently placed another dough wrapper in the young master’s hand. Once the young master had completed all the preparatory work, he slowly began to move: “Young master, just extend your right index finger about one joint length. Maintain this posture when pinching the pleats.”

Taoist Master Xuanchen’s cool yet gentle voice, combined with his patient and accommodating attitude, was purely soothing, immediately calming Xu Yanqing’s slightly impatient heart.

This time, the young master successfully wrapped a normal-looking bun. Although it still wasn’t as pretty as the bun in the Taoist Master’s hand, the young master expressed great happiness and felt a strong sense of accomplishment.

The somewhat addicted young master took another dough wrapper on his own and continued wrapping, showing off to Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao as he did so.

Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao watched with great amusement, especially Aunt Zhao, who was filled with emotion. She recalled how when Young Marquis Yuancheng grew up by the emperor’s side, he never received the treatment the young master was getting now. If you didn’t learn, you have to keep learning; acting spoiled was utterly useless.

Now, the emperor had poured all his patience and gentleness onto the young master. Aunt Zhao had none of Wen Jing’s useless and superfluous worries. The current emperor was more like an understanding and sensible ordinary person, not the emperor or immortal seated on a high platform.

Emperor Yanjun turned his head, looking at the young master who was completely absorbed in wrapping buns, and couldn’t help but smile. Then, he casually took a few dough wrappers and kneaded them in his hands, only slowly continuing with other movements after he had kneaded the dough until it was particularly firm.

Xu Yanqing put down the increasingly exquisite bun in his hand, turned his head triumphantly to look at the Taoist Master beside him, only to see the Taoist Master kneading a piece of dough in his hand, slowly shaping it into an adorable little dough doll.

It was a chubby lucky doll[mfn][/mfn. Although it wasn’t colored, one could still see the doll’s endearing clumsiness.

“Well, well, so Taoist Master has this skill too,” Xu Yanqing clapped the flour off his hands, ran into the kitchen, and got two black beans, pressing them onto the lucky doll’s eyes. This made the lucky doll even more lifelike.

—

In the evening, Aunt Li and Aunt Zhao steamed three large pots of buns. They sent some to the village chief’s family and some to the guards next door. The rest were all brought to the main hall, where everyone gathered to eat buns. “No, why is this thing so out of place?” Qi Chen picked up a round “steamed bun” by its small knot. “It doesn’t look like Aunt Li’s or Aunt Zhao’s work. Mu Yu, did you make this?”

Mu Yu, munching on a bun, honestly shook his head. “I didn’t make it.” He had gone to town that morning, and when he returned, all the buns were already steaming.

Xu Yanqing snatched the filled “steamed bun” from Qi Chen’s hand and placed it in front of Taoist Master Xuanchen, saying seriously, “This was made by the Taoist Master.”

Qi Chen: I’d be possessed if I believed you.

However, Qi Chen instantly figured it out. That bun must have been wrapped by the young master. But considering the young master’s remaining bit of face, he wisely didn’t expose him.

The salted fish pretended to take a bite of the bun, and once the topic shifted, he gave Taoist Master Xuanchen beside him a flattering smile.

Emperor Yanjun picked up the filled steamed bun and took a bite. Although its appearance was a bit ugly, it didn’t affect the taste.

Xu Yanqing ate two buns that evening, then saw Aunt Zhao bringing a bowl of soup and placing it in front of him: “Preserved vegetables are, after all, pickled vegetables and used a bit too much salt. Young master, don’t eat too much. Drink a bowl of soup to help your stomach.”

Although he was still a bit reluctant to part with the buns, Aunt Zhao’s soup made the salted fish young master decisively abandon the preserved vegetable and lean pork buns.

Aunt Zhao’s skill in making soup was simply a blessing for soup lovers. Xu Yanqing heartily finished a bowl of soup, drinking until his belly was even rounder.

So that evening, Emperor Yanjun didn’t need to coax or lure the young master to go for a walk. The young master, full from eating, actively strolled slowly in the courtyard.

Aunt Zhao shook her head with a helpless yet doting smile. At least he had only drunk too much soup; a walk and a few more trips to the latrine would help him digest it.

Later on, Mu Yu attended to his young master’s bath and settled him on the bed, reaching for the towel to dry his hair.

The salted fish comfortably sat on the bed, taking a breath. His gaze shifted, and he pulled out the storybook of the holy monk and the palace master from under his pillow, continuing to read.

Due to a sudden fight, the holy monk accidentally swallowed the blood of the Hehuan palace master, binding the two together. Thus, they were forced to journey together. Of course, only the holy monk was forced; the Hehuan palace master wished he could cling to the holy monk day and night.

Xu Yanqing read with great relish, turning a page. His hand, however, didn’t go down but instead lightly scratched his slightly protruding belly a few times.

Mu Yu tidied up the bathtub and stood by the bed, diligently drying his young master’s hair. He didn’t notice the young master’s small movements, but Emperor Yanjun, who entered the room, frowned slightly.

Mu Yu dried the young master’s hair and meticulously combed it, then carried the basin out of the room. His only guess as to why Taoist Master Xuanchen was in his young master’s room so late was that Taoist Master Xuanchen must be fond of his young master, so much so that he didn’t mind the shocking fact that his young master, a man, was pregnant.

Mu Yu had no intention of stopping this whatsoever. Taoist Master Xuanchen seemed like a thoroughly good person and cared for his young master so much. If Taoist Master Xuanchen could truly be with the young master in the future, it would be a good thing. In short, as a supporter of both the young master and Taoist Master Xuanchen, Mu Yu was happy to see it happen.

Xu Yanqing suddenly closed the storybook. He had been so engrossed that he hadn’t noticed when Mu Yu left or when the Taoist Master arrived.

Fortunately, Taoist Master Xuanchen’s attention wasn’t on the storybook at the moment, so the young master let out a big sigh of relief, secretly stuffing the storybook under his pillow.

“What did Taoist Master say?” Xu Yanqing blinked, his eyes full of innocence.

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