Pregnant Salted Fish Chapter 66

Posted by April Fox, ? Views, Released on July 14, 2025

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TL: Hua

By the time Yin Yanjun helped the young master out of the hot spring, the evening glow had already begun to paint the sky.

Perhaps from soaking for a bit too long, or for some other unmentionable reason, the salted fish young master felt utterly limp and disinclined to move. So, he pulled the Taoist master to sit with him in the courtyard and watch the sunset.

A blush of red added a splendid touch to half the sky. When Yin Yuanshuang and the others emerged from the hot spring, they saw this very scene.

So, they all sat in a row under the eaves, like newly enrolled children in a private school.

“Seriously, is the evening glow in the sky really that beautiful?” Xu Xianzhi, lacking in romantic sensibility, felt that watching the sunset was less enjoyable than riding horses in the forest.

Yin Yuancheng shook his head, sighing with emotion: “Prince, you wouldn’t understand. ‘Love can make a cup of water a feast.’ What they’re looking at isn’t the sunset, but each other.”

Yin Yuanshuang, imitating the salted fish young master, leaned languidly against Tuoba Jinshu’s shoulder: “None of that matters. What matters is, when do we eat dinner?”

After her hot bath, Princess Jing’an felt an empty gnawing in her stomach, as if all the roasted meat she’d eaten for lunch had completely disappeared.

Tuoba Jinshu gently supported Yin Yuanshuang’s body, preventing her from sliding off her shoulder, and softly said, “I just heard the servants say that dinner is almost ready. It’s all local specialties from the estate. Yuanshuang, you can have a wonderful meal tonight.”

Speaking of dinner, everyone was indeed a bit hungry. Even the two esteemed masters in the courtyard enjoying the sunset started to move towards the main hall.

By the time all the esteemed guests were seated, dinner was already laid out on the table. There was a small but thriving hunting ground behind the estate, so there was no shortage of wild fowl. The fragrant aroma was enticing, indicating the estate’s chef was skilled. Although everyone was starving, they waited until the emperor picked up his chopsticks before they began to eat freely.

Xu Xianzhi picked up several pieces of plump rabbit meat for his silly younger brother, wanting to de-bone it for him, just like when they were children.

Then, Xu Xianzhi’s chopsticks clashed with the emperor’s chopsticks above his brother’s bowl. They exchanged glances, Yin Yanjun’s expression as stern and distant as ever.

Xu Xianzhi instinctively pulled back his chopsticks, lowered his head, and obediently ate his own meal, no longer worrying about his silly younger brother, who now had someone else to care for him.

Alas, Xu Xianzhi couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. That bittersweet emotion of “my little brother has grown up” once again lingered in his heart, unwilling to dissipate.

Who raises a brother only for him to go live with someone else? The more Xu Xianzhi thought about it, the sadder he became. In the end, he could only turn his grief and indignation into appetite, picking up his chopsticks and vigorously eating. For a martial general, you had to eat a whole basin!

Yin Yuancheng, who had just lost to Xu Xianzhi in archery today, was not convinced. He didn’t believe he was inferior to Xu Xianzhi in archery, and now he was going to lose in eating too?

So Yin Yuancheng also picked up his bowl and chopsticks, silently shoveling rice into his mouth.

The salted fish young master watched, dumbfounded, and couldn’t help but say, “Don’t eat too much at night; it’s not only easy to get indigestion but also to grow a big belly! Neither of you is married yet; you wouldn’t want to have a big belly when you get married, would you?”

A fatal blow. Xu Xianzhi and Yin Yuancheng exchanged horrified glances, then hurriedly put down their utensils.

Perhaps frightened by the “big belly” from his younger brother’s words, Xu Xianzhi patted his still very firm stomach. He no longer had his previous good appetite. Winning or losing didn’t matter; a big belly was absolutely out of the question, never, ever.

—

After quietly finishing dinner, everyone wasn’t sleepy, so they sat in the courtyard chatting. Yin Yuancheng somehow got ahold of many sky lanterns and insisted on dragging everyone to release them with him.

Yin Yuanshuang mercilessly retorted to her elder brother, “It’s not a festival; why are we releasing sky lanterns? Are you perhaps overstuffed from eating too much?”

He was indeed stuffed. Yin Yuancheng’s smile was a bit stiff. Sure enough, his sister never showed him any mercy when she was correcting him.

So he could only involve the salted fish young master: “Wasn’t it Young Master Xu’s birthday a while ago? At that time, he was recovering in the palace, and we couldn’t celebrate with him. This is just a symbolic gesture.”

Upon hearing this, Yin Yuanshuang didn’t retort to her brother again. Instead, she raised her hand, took several sky lanterns, and placed them in front of Xu Yanqing: “Come on, since this is to make up for Young Master Xu’s birthday, the first sky lantern should be released by Young Master Xu.”

The sky lanterns were covered with a slightly yellowed oil paper, and the body of the lantern was blank, perfect for writing down one’s wishes.

Tuoba Jinshu slightly lifted her skirt and stood up from her seat, going to the room to fetch a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, placing them in front of Young Master Xu and the emperor as well.

Xu Yanqing took a sky lantern and pushed it towards the Taoist master, his lively and bright eyes curved in a smile: “Taoist master, make a wish!”

Yin Yanjun didn’t speak, only raised his hand to take the sky lantern the young master offered. The two sky lanterns were placed side by side on the stone table in the courtyard, and both of them picked up their brushes and meticulously wrote.

Xu Xianzhi and the others naturally dared not look at what the emperor was writing on his sky lantern. So they all crowded around Xu Yanqing, hoping to glimpse even a tiny bit of the young master’s thoughts.

Unfortunately, Xu Yanqing completely shielded his written wish with one hand while secretly turning his head to see what kind of wish the Taoist master had made.

However, just as others couldn’t see his wish, no matter how Xu Yanqing changed his angle, he still couldn’t clearly see the contents of the Taoist master’s paper. He could only vaguely make out a cold and dignified handwriting.

The sky lanterns were lit. There weren’t too many candles inside, as it was the driest part of winter, and they feared the fire from the lanterns might burn down the forest of the hunting ground.

The fire crackled, gradually lifting the sky lanterns. Xu Yanqing looked up, watching the lanterns fly higher and higher, their writing becoming increasingly indistinct.

On the other side, Yin Yuancheng and the others also released many sky lanterns. In a short while, the sky lanterns formed a lively spectacle in the sky. Although not as exaggerated as the three thousand lanterns in storybooks, it still deeply impressed everyone.

As the sky lanterns gradually rose and flew far away, Xu Yanqing subtly nudged closer to Yin Yanjun: “What wish did Taoist master make on the sky lantern just now?”

“Since it’s a wish, how can it be easily spoken?” A faint hint of indulgence appeared in Yin Yanjun’s cool eyes, and he couldn’t help but raise his hand to half-embrace the young man.

Well, the salted fish young master could only suppress the curiosity bubbling within him. He looked up again at the sky lanterns flying higher and higher in the sky, his eyes seemingly filled with a brilliant galaxy.

—

The next day, while it was still dark, Yin Yanjun opened his eyes. The young master in his arms was sleeping soundly. He didn’t wake him but quietly got out of bed, picked up the brocade robe from the hanger, and dressed meticulously.

Wen Jing was already waiting outside the door and soon saw the emperor open the door and then gently close it again.

Upon returning to the palace, Yin Yanjun first went to the side hall to see Yin Yuanchen. The little cub was nestled in his cradle, sleeping just as soundly as his salted fish father.

The Empress Dowager was older now and slept less, so when Yin Yanjun arrived, she was already dressed and sitting by the bed, watching over the little cub.

“Did Yuanchen bother Imperial Mother yesterday?” Yin Yanjun slightly lowered his voice.

The Empress Dowager’s gaze upon the little cub was filled with utmost tenderness. Hearing his question, she couldn’t help but chuckle, “Yuanchen’s temperament is very much like Your Majesty’s when you were little; both are very calm. He wouldn’t fuss and cry like other children.”

Yin Yanjun smiled faintly, raising his hand to gently touch the little cub’s plump, tender paw with his fingertip, then rose to attend court.

—

When Xu Yanqing woke up at the hot spring estate, the sun was already high enough to tan one’s backside. He reached out and felt the spot beside him; it was already cold, suggesting the Taoist master had risen and left early.

Lazily climbing out of bed, Xu Yanqing couldn’t help but lament that the Taoist master was like those “office workers” from his previous life who punched in on time; truly, it was hard work.

Being a salted fish was more comfortable. He opened the door, and the slightly cool morning sun shone on his face. After standing for a moment, the salted fish stretched with a big yawn.

Xu Xianzhi also had to go to work today, so after a quick breakfast, he rushed off in a hurry. By the time Xu Yanqing entered the main hall for his meal, only Yin Yuanshuang and Tuoba Jinshu remained at the table.

“Young Marquis Yin isn’t here?” Xu Yanqing asked casually. After all, Young Marquis Yin’s good news was approaching, and he had recently taken leave from work.

Yin Yuanshuang popped small glutinous rice balls into her mouth, casually remarking, “Mother probably called him back to discuss the wedding. Don’t mind him; let’s just eat.”

Alright, Xu Yanqing picked up his bowl of porridge and slurped a few mouthfuls, instantly feeling much more energized.

After breakfast, the three of them spent a good part of the morning relaxing at the hot spring estate before heading back home, each to their own residence.

—

Lady Su had invited a tailor again to make winter clothes for the family, so the salted fish young master, who had just returned to the mansion, was dragged off to be measured.

He didn’t know until he was measured that he had indeed grown a lot this year. He estimated that the clothes in his wardrobe would soon be unwearable.

Lady Su generously waved her hand and directly ordered several more sets of winter clothes for her silly son, including cloaks that could be used when it got colder.

After being busy for half the day, Xu Yanqing finally returned to his room and promptly collapsed into a chair.

…

In the imperial palace, Wen Jing delivered a stack of memorials to the emperor’s desk. The little cub was wide awake now, squirming and grabbing at things in his imperial father’s arms.

The cub’s full-month celebration was just a few days away. Yin Yanjun had already instructed Wen Jing to prepare invitations to be sent to the residences of various officials.

He guessed that the officials were probably quite restless right now. Yin Yanjun gently lifted one of the cub’s tiny hands and swung it back and forth with interest.