Chapter 71

Chapter 71

After Gu Fuzhou wrote the letter of guarantee, he solemnly handed it to Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu took a look. True to Gu Fuzhou’s usual style, it was written entirely in casual speech. Whenever Gu Fuzhou wrote letters to others or wrote his reports to the emperor, he often used refined, graceful words. His literary talent was not particularly remarkable, he was still a head above his military peers. Only when writing something for him did Gu Fuzhou write in whatever way he felt most comfortable. He would even occassionally include a few doodles.

Reason told Lin Qingyu that any promise or a guarantee was nothing more than wishful thinking on their part. When bad luck comes, how can a piece of paper be able to stop it? But for now, his heart was soothed by Gu Fuzhou’s promise and guarantee.

Whether it was Lu Wancheng or Gu Fuzhou, no matter how much this person tended to ignore his proper duties, he has never let him down. Lin Qingyu was willing to believe him.

Lin Qingyu put away the letter of guarantee. “I’m fine.”

Gu Fuzhou breathed a sigh of relief. But at the same time felt a little regretful. A sensitive, vulnerable beauty with eyes rimmed red is truly a rare sight to behold. Being looked at so tenderly by Lin Qingyu, he felt for a few moments that he was in danger falling into inextinguishable burning heat. It seemed that Lin Qingyu only need to say it and he would give him anything, even if it was getting up early for him for the rest of his life.

Lin Qingyu was also feeling embarrassed because of his brief loss of control. He pretended to be calm and collected and said, “Let’s go to sleep.”

“Alright.” Gu Fuzhou lifted the quilt, helped Lin Qingyu to lie down and then lay down himself.

Lin Qingyu’s eyes widened slightly. “You...”

Gu Fuzhou’s cheeks grew hot and while spurning his shamelessness, he covered both himself and Lin Qingyu with the quilt and said, sounding all natural, “I’ll coax you to sleep before I head up.”

“You? Coax me to sleep?” Lin Qingyu said with a smile, “And who is it who falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow?”

When Gu Fuzhou asked the carpenter to make the bunkbed, he hadnt’t considered that he would be sleeping with Lin Qingyu in General Gu’s body. Two teenagers in the bottom bunk was just right. Now, it was obviously cramp and crowded. He had changed bodies and Lin Qingyu also grew a bit. The ill-tempered little beauty of the past had turned into a deep-thinking great beauty. No matter how bad his temper, he knew when to restrain himself, finding a way behind their backs to take those people’s lives. Only in front of Gu Fuzhou would he unscrupulously expose his malice.

Gu Fuzhou laughed and leaned in closer to Lin Qingyu. Their long hair lay scattered on the pillow, intertwining.

“Want to hear a bedtime story?” Gu Fuzhou asked.

Lin Qingyu said: “Tell me about your hometown.”

“You seem to be quite interested in this.”

“I’m interested in everything about you.”

Gu Fuzhou smiled. “Then let me tell you about the mobile phone. The mobile phone is a very important tool in my hometown. If one day, you go to my hometown and you get separated from me, you can use the mobile phone to find me. You just have to record down this string of numbers first...”

As Gu Fuzhou spoke, his voice became fainter and fainter and it didn’t take long for him to fall completely silent. To be honest, Lin Qingyu was already surprised that he managed to last so long before falling asleep. Lin Qingyu tucked in the quilt and beside Gu Fuzhou’s pillow, closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, when he felt that Lin Qingyu’s breathing had turned slow and even for a long time, Gu Fuzhou cracked open one eye and after confirming that Lin Qingyu was indeed asleep, he opened the other one.

Gu Fuzhou’s eyes were clear, without the slightest sign of drowsiness. He and Lin Qingyu were lying face to face. Their faces were so close together he couldn’t even see the other’s entire face. And yet, even this much was enough to send his heart shaking. He couldn’t help reaching out his hand, plucking Lin Qingyu’s long silky hair from his forehead and tucking it behind his ear. He said, a quiet whisper, “Good night, Qingyu.”

The next day was Lu Wancheng’s death anniversary. After Lin Qingyu saw Gu Fuzhou off to court, he took Huan Tong and Hua Lu to the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion.

Not long ago, in October, Pan Shi had given birth to a healthy baby boy . The lifelessness was swept away from the Nan’an Hou’s Mansion and it once again radiated with vitality. The happy event put heart into Nan’an Hou and thrived in the imperial court. Not only has he tightened his grasp over the Ministry of Revenue but the Emperor also placed great importance in his opinions.

When Lin Qingyu arrived at the Hou’s Mansion, Nan’an Hou was at morning court and it was the Pan Shi who received him.

“I was wondering just yesterday whether Doctor Lin would be coming today.” After giving birth to her child, Pan Shi was in relatively good spirits; merely that she had gotten a bit more plump. Although she still remained a concubine, the servants of the Hou Mansion already regarded her as their mistress. When Pan Shi got pregnant, Nan’an Hou probably felt that he was still young and took in several concubines, on and off. Since nothing stirred in the bellies of these concubines, they dared not yet stir trouble in front of her.

Pan Shi had no intention of competing for favor. So, child in hand, she spent her days managing the household and living a good life.

Lin Qingyu said, “It’s Young Master Hou’s death anniversary. Of course, I would come. How is Young Master Hou’s little brother?”

Pan Shi said with a gentle smile, “The little young master is fair and plump. He’s a little heavier for babies his age. At the end of last month marked the end of the little young master’s first month. I wanted to send an invitation to the General’s Mansion,” Pan Shi smile waned a little, “But Master Hou said...”

The word “expose” made Na’nan Hou, long versed in court struggles, shudder in fright. “You...”

Lin Qingyu went on, “Unfortunately, the little young master has just reached his first full month. Once this matter is exposed, who knows whether he’ll live to see his hundredth day?”

Nan’an Hou spoke irresponsibly, “Poisonous woman, actually threatening me with the life of an innocent child!” Nan’an Hou had lost his sons one after another and had this child in his old age. He regarded this child as more important than anything else. He was desperate to save this child.

“Threat?” Lin Qingyu smiled almost sympathetically, “Master Hou misunderstood. I simply kindly reminding Master Hou.”

Zhang Shiquan said, “Master Hou, it is your wife’s family who is behind this matter. For the sake of Young Master Hou’s face, the General’s wife has kept quiet regarding this matter, enabling you to return to court and regain His Majesty’s favor. If I were you, I would be thanking the General’s wife. How could you be making unscrupulous charges against him?”

Nan’an Hou’s officialdom had not been for nothing. Lin Qingyu concealing this matter and suddenly bringing it up now, meant that there was something he needed him to do. What he hated most was being controlled by others, but for the Lu Family’s glory and for the sake of his newborn child, he had to give in, “Say it. What do you want?”

Lin Qingyu smiled with satisfaction. “Don’t worry, Master Hou, I won’t have you do anything that would offend against Heaven and reason nor would I have you do anything that goes against your loyalty to the Emperor. I simply ask that you write a letter and asking the Emperor to confer to the Fourth Prince his title as feudal king.”

The Marquis of Nan’an was taken aback. “The Fourth Prince?”

“Exactly.”

It wasn’t only to the Emperor that Xiao Jie had a low sense of presence; the same went for the court ministers. If Lin Qingyu hadn’t mentioned it, Nan’an Hou would not have even remembered that this title had yet to be conferred.

Nan’an Hou asked suspiciously, “Is it that simple?”

“For now... it’s that simple.”

Nan’an Hou was feeling indecisive. The Fourth Prince was already of age; he had also already left the palace. It was reasonable that he be named feudal king. The granting of this title though would risk the Crown Prince’s displeasure. He asked again, “Why not have General Gu do this himself?”

Lin Qingyu snorted. “Has Master Hou been scared stupid?”

Nan’an Hou’s anger flared. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

“The Emperor and the Crown Prince are suspicious of the General and I do not wish for the General to be implicated.” Lin Qingyu said calmly, “Does Master Hou understand what I mean?”

No matter how reluctant Nan’an Hou was, he could only say, “I... I understand.”

With regards to the matter of Xiao Jie’s title as feudal king, Nan’an Hou would bring it up in court but they would also need someone from the harem to provide support; only them would this be foolproof. The first one Lin Qingyu thought of was the Empress. The Empress used to take good care of him, but ever since he married Gu Fuzhou, she had obviously turned cold towards him. He had gone several times to Fengyi Palace only be rebuked.

The Empress’ love and righteousness was reserved only for her own family. In her eyes, Lin Qingyu remarrying someone else before his period of piety expired justified her turning against him.

Fortunately, aside from Lu Wancheng, there was one other person in the Empress’ family and for her, he was the most important.

On this day, Lin Qingyu had just finished examining the Emperor’s pulse. He went to the library of the Imperial Medical Office together with Hu Ji, who had just finished his rotation. Lin Qingyu went straight to the innermost area, where there was a locked iron door. He had previously obtained the Emperor’s permission to access this room on the grounds that he “wished to see all the Emeperor’s medical records ever since he began suffering from headaches”. The library’s guard opened the door. After the two entered, Hu Ji asked curiously, “Doctor Lin, what are you looking for?”

Lin Qingyu said: “The Sixth Prince, Xiao Li’s medical records.”

The author has something to say: An Irresponsible Little Theater

Gu Fuzhou: If you go to my hometown one day, you can find me using a mobile phone. This is my mobile phone number...

And then the great beauty transmigrated from the past to the present.

One day, while Classmate Jiang was playing a game, about to get five kills, a message popped up on his phone.

Unknown number: Your wife got lost and borrowed my phone from me. He’s asking you to quickly come and pick him up.

Classmate Jiang: ?