Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 62

TL: Hua

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“Good.” Yin Yanjun gazed at the young master’s delicate face, nodding slightly, a strong emotion flashing in his eyes.

There were many items in the large box. Aside from the Heying Jade, which was an old item that had always been with Yin Yanjun, the other things were small trinkets Yin Yanjun had slowly accumulated after his ascension to the throne.

They were all piled up in Yin Yanjun’s private treasury, rarely seeing the light of day. It was only because of the young master that these precious gold, silver, and jade artifacts had a chance to see the outside world.

There were simply too many items sent. Xu Yanqing looked for a while and felt his eyes ache. He was too lazy to look through other items. With only the Heying Jade hanging around his neck, he pulled Yin Yanjun back to the arhat bed.

Lazily leaning on the arhat bed, Xu Yanqing gently tugged at Yin Yanjun’s sleeve. “It was unwise for Taoist master to come to Marquis Wu’an’s mansion today under the guise of delivering gifts. Without any disguise, I’m afraid Father and Mother might have already recognized your identity.”

Otherwise, if the person sent by the emperor to deliver gifts hadn’t returned for so long, his parents would have already sent someone to cautiously inquire.

Yin Yanjun skillfully stroked the young master’s hair. “I did not conceal my visit from Marquis Wu’an and Madam. And I indeed have matters to discuss with Marquis Wu’an.”

“Government affairs?” Xu Yanqing slightly raised his head, casually asking.

Yin Yanjun chuckled, “Marquis Wu’an’s current responsibilities are not yet that heavy. It’s just some private matters.”

Yin Yanjun didn’t explain in detail, so the salted fish young master didn’t continue to inquire. He simply changed to a more comfortable position, lying on the Taoist master’s lap. He reached under the bed with his right hand, casually pulling out a book from who knows where, and handed it to the Taoist master, saying he wanted to hear the Taoist master read him a story.

The storybooks hidden in Marquis Wu’an’s mansion had all been read to boredom, and even listening to them was uninteresting. But Xu Yanqing had just woken up, and he was still listless, just wanting to cling to the Taoist master.

Yin Yanjun naturally had no intention of refusing. He opened the storybook and read slowly, word by word. This time, the young master wasn’t hypnotized by the Taoist master. Instead, he enthusiastically pulled the Taoist master into discussing the plot of the story.

It wasn’t until Marquis Wu’an sent someone to invite them that the salted fish young master slowly climbed off the Taoist master and went with him to his father’s study.

However, as soon as Xu Yanqing stepped into the study, his elder brother grabbed his wrist and pulled him out, muttering, “Father and His Majesty are discussing important matters of the state. Don’t you, a child, get involved.”

Alright, the salted fish shrugged helplessly. If he had to wait outside the study, the young master really couldn’t sit still, so he pulled his brother along to play chess with him.

Young Master Xu himself was a terrible chess player, but facing his brother, who was even worse, the young master surprisingly felt a bit smug. He had played under the Taoist master’s tutelage for a long time before he could show off his skill.

As expected, Xu Yanqing won two out of three games, which was much more interesting than the previous draws between two terrible chess players.

After three games of chess, the people inside still hadn’t come out. Xu Xianzhi couldn’t help but look up and ask, “Are you really not curious?”

Xu Yanqing gathered the mixed chess pieces on the board. Hearing this, he shook his head. “Why should I be curious? Didn’t you just say that adult matters have nothing to do with me, a child?”

“That was just talk. Now that you even have a little prince with the emperor, do you really have no other thoughts?” Xu Xianzhi’s words were a very obvious probe. Pretending not to understand would be akin to feigning ignorance despite knowing the truth.

So Xu Yanqing put all the chess pieces he had gathered in his palm back into the chess box, one by one. “Of course I still have thoughts, but I genuinely don’t have much curiosity. And at the moment, I’m getting along exceptionally well with the Taoist master. He is probably just talking to Father about me entering the palace.”

The salted fish young master was exceptionally clear about this matter.

Xu Xianzhi’s expression became even more complex. “Then what are you truly thinking? Although you and the emperor now have a child, do you truly want to stay with him for the long term?”

Xu Yanqing rested his chin in his hand and nodded. “I am naturally overjoyed with such a good man as the Taoist master. This has nothing to do with gender or yin and yang. However, there has always been a knot in my heart that I haven’t been able to untie.”

“Ah Qing, no matter whether it was you who provoked the emperor or the emperor who provoked you, you must make a definite decision. Otherwise, I will not feel at ease even if you really enter the palace.” Xu Xianzhi has only one younger brother. He has loved him from the bottom of his heart since he was a child. Naturally, he couldn’t bear to see his brother suffer for the rest of his life.

Xu Yanqing nodded. “I understand what you mean, brother. I’m not a child anymore. I can decide my own future.”

Since the conversation had reached this point, Xu Xianzhi relaxed slightly. “As long as you understand in your heart, then your brother, father, and mother can be at ease about you.”

The discussion in the study lasted a long time. By the time Yin Yanjun emerged from the study, the sky had gradually darkened. Therefore, Marquis Wu’an did not keep the emperor any longer and personally escorted him out of the mansion gate.

Just after Yin Yanjun was escorted out, Marquis Wu’an returned and immediately called the young master into the study.

“The emperor brought up the matter of the little prince’s custody today, and also your future,” Marquis Wu’an said, signaling Xu Yanqing to sit in the chair opposite him, his tone unusually gentle.

Xu Yanqing didn’t rush to reply, letting his father continue speaking wherever his thoughts led him.

“In short, the emperor had a difficult past. He’s accustomed to the intrigues and coldness of the imperial city, so he would definitely not follow the example of the late emperor and do such a ridiculous and immoral thing. Now it depends on your attitude.” Clearly, Marquis Wu’an fully indulged the salted fish young master’s wishes.

Xu Yanqing nodded slightly. “Taoist master told me many times before, but at that time, I had an emotional hurdle I couldn’t overcome, so I deliberately avoided his words. I naturally trust his character, and now I have come to terms with a lot of things.”

The salted fish choosing to ‘lie flat’ wasn’t about feigning ignorance. He simply didn’t want to get involved in too many disputes.

But now, he no longer wanted to ruin his current life because of some unpleasant memories from his past life.

Marquis Wu’an nodded. “Alright, I understand what you mean. All subsequent matters will naturally be handled by the emperor and by your father and mother to help you.”

This matter was temporarily settled. Marquis Wu’an didn’t dwell on his son’s emotional knot. Instead, he repeatedly urged his eldest son to take his younger son out for a stroll, considering it a way to relax.

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When Yin Yuanshuang brought Tuoba Jinshu to visit, Xu Yanqing was bored, nestled in his small courtyard, carving a wooden hairpin from a fine piece of wood. Xu Yanqing had made many delicate trinkets before, but this wooden hairpin felt unfamiliar and awkward in his hands.

However, the salted fish young master wasn’t too rushed. It wasn’t a holiday, so to avoid the Taoist master feeling too surprised when receiving a gift, the young master slowly worked on the piece of wood.

As Yin Yuanshuang and Tuoba Jinshu walked into the young master’s courtyard, the salted fish young master was sitting on the steps outside the room, slowly carving a rough shape of the hairpin.

“Young Master Xu is becoming more and more skilled now. You can even carve wooden hairpins,” Yin Yuanshuang couldn’t help but tease.

Tuoba Jinshu had spent a lot of time with Yin Yuanshuang recently, and it was clear their relationship had grown closer. Although Yin Yuanshuang had taken Tuoba Jinshu to the imperial palace once, in the end, her connection with the salted fish young master was only a couple of brief encounters. They didn’t really know each other’s personalities.

So, after Yin Yuanshuang teased the young master, a hint of apprehension instantly appeared on Tuoba Jinshu’s delicate, timid face, fearing that Young Master Xu would be angry with Yin Yuanshuang because of this.

Xu Yanqing naturally didn’t take Princess Jing’an’s playful words seriously, mainly because he often engaged in verbal sparring with her.

“This is going to be for the Taoist master. If you want one, hurry up and find yourself a prince consort, and let him make you a hairpin,” Young Master Xu said shamelessly, continuing to carve the small item in his hand.

This wood was quite hard, making it difficult to carve. When Xu Yanqing got tired, he simply tossed the item aside, clapped the dust off his hands, and said, “It’s cold outside; let’s go in quickly.”

The weather had been very warm today, so Xu Yanqing had been sitting on the steps by the door with a soft cushion Mu Yu had prepared for him early that morning.

But shortly after he sat down, the courtyard began to get windy, and the weather suddenly turned cold.

The three walked into the room. Mu Yu had already prepared hot tea and refreshments, which he brought out and offered to Princess Jing’an and Princess Jinshu.

The tea was imperial tea bestowed by the palace. Xu Yanqing couldn’t distinguish good tea from bad. It was only after drinking more that he realized the tea sent by the Taoist master had a sweeter aftertaste.

In contrast, Princess Jinshu was clearly more familiar with the art of tea. Despite being a princess of the Xiling Kingdom, Tuoba Jinshu’s understanding of Daliang’s customs was no less than that of Daliang’s common people.

This led Xu Yanqing to praise Princess Jinshu repeatedly, and gradually, as they chatted and laughed, the initial unfamiliarity Tuoba Jinshu felt towards the salted fish young master slowly faded away.

“By the way, Princess Jing’an is someone who only visits when she needs something. What brings you to the marquis’s mansion at this time?” Xu Yanqing deliberately glanced at Yin Yuanshuang, subtly hinting at her tendency to embrace the new and neglect the old.

Yin Yuanshuang scoffed and playfully bantered with the salted fish young master for a while before explaining, “I have a hot spring estate under my name that Mother transferred to me. Although it’s not too cold right now, my elder brother’s wedding is in half a month. Since Young Master Xu is also outside the palace, I thought perhaps we could all gather at the hot spring estate.”

“Young Marquis Yin is getting married so soon?” The salted fish young master was a bit surprised, but when he thought about it, it made sense. These past few days, besides taking a couple of strolls with his brother, he had been cooped up in Marquis Wu’an’s mansion all day, too lazy to even step out the door. It was normal not to be aware of all the situations.

“Yes, originally, we didn’t want to rush before the emperor, but the auspicious date was set early, and there’s been no movement from the emperor’s side, so we could only let my brother get married first,” Yin Yuanshuang said, secretly glancing at the salted fish young master again.

The salted fish young master grinned. “You’re right. Taoist master has even fallen behind his own nephew now.”

“Then why don’t you hurry up and pick up the emperor, lest some other messy people keep thinking about him?” Yin Yuanshuang’s expression suddenly turned a bit ugly, as if she had just remembered something. However, in an instant, she turned her head and started talking about other topics.

The salted fish young master didn’t pay much attention to the question. He simply followed Yin Yuanshuang’s topic and said, “If Taoist master could really be ‘picked up,’ I would have already carried him off in my pocket.”

When Yin Yuanshuang and Tuoba Jinshu left the young master’s courtyard, they happened to run into Xu Xianzhi, who was carrying a lot of food and walking towards the young master’s courtyard.

One always exchanged a few pleasantries with a younger sibling’s friends. Xu Xianzhi directly gave half of the food in his hand to Princess Jing’an and Princess Jinshu, then stood up and walked inside.

To go to the hot spring estate, everything needed to be prepared in advance. This kind of thing could be directly handed over to Mu Yu. However, Xu Yanqing did not forget to send a verbal message to the Taoist master’s side.

…

In the Imperial Palace, Yin Yanjun sat at his desk, reviewing memorials. Without the salted fish young master, the entire Imperial Study felt a few shades more oppressive.

Originally, the emperor’s eyes would occasionally show a faint smile, but ever since the screen in the Imperial Study was removed, the pressure around him had undergone a very noticeable change.

The various ministers speculated about the identity of that noble person who had only appeared at a palace banquet once and who had such a profound influence on the emperor.

The noble person behind the screen had indeed not been there for several days, but the infant was still occasionally brought into the Imperial Study by the emperor. However, the child seemed to fuss more often than before.

Several ministers emerged from the Imperial Study and coincidentally ran into a guard holding a letter walking into the Imperial Study.

The salted fish young master’s scrawled letter was delivered to Yin Yanjun. Yin Yanjun, holding the little cub in his arms, opened the letter. It was about the salted fish young master wanting to go play at the hot spring estate with Yin Yuanshuang.

Yin Yanjun, who was “alone in an empty room,” felt both amused and exasperated after reading the young master’s letter, but in the end, his heart was full of indulgence. “Go find out which hot spring estate they’re going to tomorrow. Make all arrangements in advance. Nothing can go wrong.” After all, Yin Yanjun’s identity was special, and the young master was like the apple of his eye, so Yin Yanjun had to be on guard.

The guard who delivered the message was naturally not an ordinary guard. After receiving the order, he quickly withdrew.

The little cub cooed a couple of times and then started to get sleepy. Yin Yanjun simply handed the baby over to the wet nurse.

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Meanwhile, at Marquis Wu’an’s mansion, Mu Yu finished packing the luggage for tomorrow’s trip to the hot spring estate and then withdrew, leaving his master alone in the room, continuing to work on the wooden hairpin.

The Taoist master’s hairpin style was exceptionally simple, so Xu Yanqing wanted to make a more special design for him.

The design was already drawn in advance and affixed to the roughly carved hairpin. Then, he slowly carved the details with a slender carving knife.

However, before Xu Yanqing could even finish carving one of the patterns, Mu Yu’s knocking on the door sounded again from outside.

“Young Master, the emperor has sent more rewards,” Mu Yu’s voice carried an irrepressible joy.

Xu Yanqing instantly understood Mu Yu’s unspoken meaning. So, this time, he didn’t even leave the room, directly telling Mu Yu to bring the person in.

When Yin Yanjun entered the young master’s room, he was, just like in Xu Family Village, holding a carving knife and fiddling with a small object in his hand.

Not clearly seeing what the young master was holding, Yin Yanjun took a few steps forward and sat beside him.

Xu Yanqing raised his hand and presented the half-finished item in his palm to the Taoist master, raising an eyebrow slightly with a smile. “Do you like it?”

“Naturally, I like it,” Yin Yanjun nodded without hesitation.

“Then are you happy, Taoist master?” Xu Yanqing’s lips curved, his eyes shimmering with laughter.

Yin Yanjun gently removed a piece of wood shaving from the young master’s hair, his heart softening. “Naturally, I am happy.”

“Why did Taoist master suddenly come over?” Xu Yanqing simply put down his carving knife, propped his head with one hand, and tilted his head slightly to look at the Taoist master sitting beside him.

Yin Yanjun gazed at the young master’s eyes, as bright as stars, feeling a fervent emotion rise within him, gradually filling his entire chest. He couldn’t help but lean forward, getting closer and closer to the young master.

Xu Yanqing tilted his head back slightly, his whole body almost pressing against the small tea table behind him. Yin Yanjun reached out and grasped the young master’s slender waist. With that, Xu Yanqing’s entire upper body was completely pressed against the small tea table.

Warm breaths intertwined. Yin Yanjun finally couldn’t resist leaning in, his lips soft and feverish, like the intense longing he had felt for the young master these past few days.

Their chests drew closer and closer, so much so that they could clearly feel each other’s heartbeats. Xu Yanqing felt his heart pound fiercely, and this emotion was transmitted through his heartbeat to the Taoist master.

And so, with his breath coming in rapid gasps, Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but pull at the Taoist master’s clothes, responding slowly, tenderly, and gently.

Until long after, the two slowly calmed down from that fervent emotion. The half-finished hairpin lay on the arhat bed. Yin Yanjun raised his hand, holding the hairpin and slowly caressing it.

“I heard that Yuanshuang was here today?” Perhaps because of the previous palpitations, Yin Yanjun’s voice was a little hoarse.

Hearing Yin Yuanshuang’s name, Xu Yanqing instantly recalled the scene in Hanliang Palace that night when the Taoist master, in a hazy state, was wildly jealous. He immediately understood why the Taoist master had come today.

The young master had only given birth to a child for the Taoist master due to his special physical condition, but in his bones, he was still a dignified man.

Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but chuckle and turned around to hold the Taoist master’s strong waist, his knees resting on the Arhat bed. He looked down at the Taoist master, whose face was like jade, his fingers slowly caressing the Taoist master’s noble jawline. “So, are you jealous again, Taoist master?”

Due to the angle, Yin Yanjun could only look up at the young master straddling him. His Adam’s apple subtly bobbed up and down, and a faint blush appeared on his handsome face.

Xu Yanqing didn’t wait for the Taoist master’s answer. He slowly leaned down, his slightly moist and soft lips brushing across his forehead, slowly moving to the tip of his nose.

Leaving faint, slightly damp traces along the way, he finally stopped at the Taoist master’s lips. The young master, instead, paused and slowly, deliberately asked again, “Taoist master, are you jealous?”

“Yes…” Yin Yanjun let out a faint sound from his throat, carrying an increasingly intense emotion. A thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Having received the answer he wanted, the young master’s eyelashes curved, and he finally pressed his lips against the Taoist master’s.

…

A long time later, the two sat on the arhat bed. The small tea table had been moved aside. Xu Yanqing lay directly on the Taoist master’s lap. His lips were moist and red, and his exquisite, beautiful face had a sense of relaxed ease.

Yin Yanjun’s fingertips slowly caressed the young master’s slightly reddened nape, where he had once again bitten, leaving a red tooth mark.

His entire ear felt as if it were burning with a fervent heat. Yin Yanjun slowly spoke, “You sent a letter saying Yuanshuang invited you to her hot spring estate, right?”

“Yes. She said Young Marquis Yin is getting married in a little over a month. Tomorrow’s gathering at the hot spring estate won’t just be me and Princess Jing’an.” The salted fish young master turned slightly, his whole body seemingly buried in Yin Yanjun’s wide sleeve.

The Taoist master’s cool scent seemed to have permeated him, making the young master feel as if he had been marinated.

“Mm, I know,” Yin Yanjun said, naturally unable to admit he was jealous of his own nephew and niece. He simply slowly twirled the young master’s dark hair in his hand. Xu Yanqing didn’t expose the Taoist master’s facade, only chuckled softly a couple of times. A moment later, he saw the Taoist master raise his hand and take out a stack of land deeds from his sleeve.

“These are all the land deeds under my own name in the capital, including a few hot spring estates. If you like them, you can naturally take your friends there to play,” Yin Yanjun coughed lightly, his tone subtly tinged with a hint of awkwardness.

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