Chapter 5
After taking good care of himself for a few days, Lu Wancheng looked much better on the surface, no matter how he felt inside. Lin Qingyu thought he could try to get out of bed and take a few steps. Lu Wancheng listened to his advice, got out of bed, took two difficult steps, felt weak in his limbs and whole body, and lay back down again, saying with peace of mind: "Nothing is difficult in the world as long as you are willing to give up. I choose to give up."
Lin Qingyu asked him: "Are you planning to lie in bed for the rest of your life?"
Lu Wancheng: "What's wrong with this?"
Lin Qingyu: "...No, just lie down."
Lin Qingyu, who believed in hard work and perseverance, couldn't bear to see Lu Wancheng's half-dead appearance, so he didn't step into the room all day - out of sight, out of mind.
This day is the day when the bride returns home.
Lin Qingyu was unwilling to admit that she was a "new bride", but he did miss his family. It was only a few days since he left home, but it felt like several years.
Early in the morning, Liang sent a steward to Lanfeng Pavilion. With the help of the steward, the servants brought in two boxes of gifts, saying that the lady had asked Shaojun to take them back to her parents' home.
Hualu is young and speaks out directly: "What? It's just two boxes. Madam, it would cost more than this to marry a maid back home."
The steward smiled and said, "Miss Hualu, you don't understand. How much gift a new bride brings back home depends on how much dowry she brought when she got married. Since the young master brought little dowry into the mansion, the gift she brings back home will naturally be less.
This is true. When his parents were preparing a dowry for Lin Qingyu, he strongly requested that it be as little as possible, preferably nothing at all. He didn't take any of the antique collection and precious porcelain prepared by his father, or the gold, silver, jewelry and deeds to fertile land prepared by his mother. Bringing these to the Nan'an Marquis' Mansion would only dirty the things in their Lin Mansion.
Lin Qingyu knew very well that his parents never cared about these material things, and all they wanted was for him to be safe and happy. He said, "You don't need to take these two boxes."
The steward was stunned, thinking he had misheard: "Young Master, what you mean is..."
"Save it for the Marquis' wife to use slowly."
Although Hualu is not married yet, she knows that it is a matter of face for a bride to return home. She advised Lin Qingyu: "Young Master, please take at least a little. If the bride really returns to her parents' home empty-handed, she will definitely be gossiped and criticized by others."
"Hasn't the Lin family been criticized enough?" Lin Qingyu said calmly, "Let them point fingers at us."
Male homosexuality is prevalent in this dynasty. The families of high-ranking officials and nobles all have a few male concubines. Even the emperor has one or two male concubines in his harem. But men are men after all, and since they cannot have children, they cannot be the legal wife.
According to the laws of Dayu, one man and one woman can have one wife and multiple concubines. If it wasn't for saving Lu Wancheng's life and what the Imperial Master said, the Emperor wouldn't have violated ancestral rules and granted the marriage between the two men.
Lin Qingyu was the first male wife to be granted marriage. This fact alone was enough to make the small Lin family famous in the capital and become a topic of conversation among the powerful and wealthy in the capital.
The steward was muttering in his heart, and then he heard Lin Qingyu ask him: "Is the car ready?"
"It's ready. There's one more thing. Madam asked me to tell Young Master." The steward cleared his throat and said, "Madam said that Young Master is not fully recovered yet. It's cold outside. Young Master might not be able to bear it. So he doesn't need to accompany Young Master back to his parents' home."
Lin Qingyu said calmly: "Don't worry, I don't plan to take him back."
Lin Qingyu got on the carriage alone. The Nan'an Marquis Mansion and the Lin Mansion are separated by most of the capital city, and it takes more than half a day to go back and forth.
When passing Yongxing Street, Lin Qingyu asked the coachman to stop and said, "Wait here."
Yongxing Street is the most prosperous street in the capital, with shops lining both sides of the street: silk shops, porcelain shops, wine shops, tea shops, etc. Lin Qingyu walked into a tavern and ordered two pots of the best girl's red wine, then went to the dim sum shop next door and bought a few pounds of candied snacks. This is enough for him to take home.
The Lin family knew that Lin Qingyu would return home today, so they opened the door early in the morning. When the time was almost up, Lin's mother took her youngest son and the servant who had followed Lin Qingyu since childhood and stood at the gate of the mansion waiting.
As they were about to reach home, Lin Qingyu pushed open the window and saw a little child jumping and waving at the carriage from afar.
This is his six-year-old brother, Lin Qinghe.
Lin Qingyu's heart, which had been tense for many days, finally relaxed a little.
As soon as Lin Qingyu got off the carriage, his younger brother threw himself into his arms: "Brother!" Lin Qinghe was at the age of changing teeth. He was missing two front teeth and his voice was leaking when he spoke.
"Young Master!" The servant Huantong was extremely excited, as if his young master had not returned from the Nan'an Marquis' Mansion, but from the battlefield.
Lin Qingyu touched his brother's head and looked at the gentle woman beside him: "Mother."
Mother Lin had tears in her eyes and said, "I'm glad you're back." She looked towards the carriage and said nervously, "Is the young marquis still in the carriage?"
Lin Qingyu said: "The young marquis is ill in bed and cannot go out. He asked us to treat him as dead."
Mother Lin was shocked: "This..."
Lin Qingyu smiled soothingly: "I won't mention anyone else at home - where is my father?"
"One of your father's students is visiting your house today, and he is entertaining guests in the living room."
Lin Qingyu asked: "Which disciple?"
Mother Lin said, "Tan Qizhi."
Lin Qingyu's smile faded slightly: "She really knows how to pick a good day." She didn't come earlier or later, but just came when he returned home.
The Tan family runs the largest medicine shop in Beijing. Tan Qizhi is Lin's father's disciple, and Lin Qingyu has some friendship with him. But friendship is friendship, and if we only talk about likes, Lin Qingyu doesn't want to have too much contact with this person. This person is always competing with others unilaterally, and it's really annoying when it happens too often. Compared with Tan Qizhi, even Lu Wancheng seems lovable.
In any case, Lin's mother was relieved that Lu Wancheng didn't come. She and her husband only think about their son, and if their son-in-law came, their family would feel reserved. "Don't stand at the door, come in, mother has prepared your favorite plum cake."
Lin Qingyu asked: "Did your mother make this herself?"
Mother Lin smiled and said, "Of course, what others do is not to your taste."
Lin Qingyu smiled faintly, and the coldness around him seemed to turn into a spring breeze, which made the coachman of the Marquis's Mansion stunned - is this still their young master who ignored everyone and had a cold face to everyone all day long?
As soon as Lin Qingyu entered the door, he saw Tan Qizhi coming towards him: "Brother Qingyu, I finally waited for you to come!"
Tan Qizhi has a handsome appearance and scholarly temperament. At first glance, he looks like a young talent.
Lin Qingyu nodded slightly to Tan Qizhi, then bowed to the man in the main seat: "Father."
Father Lin was not like Mother Lin, who showed his emotions on his face. He only said with a twinkle in his eyes, "You're back."
Tan Qizhi looked outside the door and asked, "Why are you alone? Where is the young marquis?"
Lin Qingyu said coldly: "He didn't come."
Tan Qizhi looked surprised: "I have never seen a bride return home without her husband."
"Really? Then you see it now."
Father Lin considered and said, "I think the young marquis is still ill and it is not appropriate for him to go out."
Even if he is still ill and cannot go out, how come he doesn't even have a visiting card?
Tan Qizhi looked at Lin Qingyu without any concealment. Lin Qingyu was wearing a plain white dress today. He was thin to begin with, with a breeze blowing through his sleeves and a slender waist. It is beautiful, but too pretentious. A male wife always acts superior. How can her husband like her?
He almost understood that Miss Lin was not pleasing her husband and her in-laws.
"Brother Qingyu is still as handsome as ever, and his appearance is better than that of a girl." Tan Qizhi said with a smile, "However, you are already the young master of the Marquis' Mansion, why do you still dress so simply?"
Lin Qingyu glanced at Tan Qizhi from head to toe: "Of course I can't compare with Brother Tan. Brother Tan is wearing a bright purple dress, with rings and pendants around his waist, and he looks very noble. Who can look more like a rich man's wife than you?"
Tan Qizhi's face twisted, but soon recovered: "Brother Qingyu, you are joking. Speaking of high-ranking families... Where is Brother Qingyu's return gift? Bring it out quickly, so that I can see the wealth of the noble family."
Lin Qingyu picked up the two pots of daughter's red wine in her hand: "Here."
Seeing this, Lin's father looked at him and smiled.
Tan Qizhi's eyes widened: "This... is gone?" Even if Lin Qingyu had fallen out of favor, she was still the male wife married to the Marquis's mansion in a formal ceremony. How could the return gift be so shabby?
"There are also a few pounds of candied fruits and snacks," Lin Qingyu said in a light tone, "Brother Tan, would you like to try some?"
When Lin Qinghe heard there was candied fruit, he said excitedly: "I want to eat candied fruit, thank you brother."
Tan Qizhi said jokingly, "Brother Qingyu, are you hiding all the good things and don't want to give them to the teacher and mistress?"
Father Lin said, "I think this is a good idea. Madam, please warm up the wine. Qingyu, Qizhi and I will have a few drinks later."
Tan Qizhi said in embarrassment: "Teacher, this is probably against the rules."
Father Lin asked, "How is it against the rules?"
Tan Qizhi hesitated to speak: "Brother Qingyu is already a married woman, how can you drink with me, a man from another world?"
Father Lin's face darkened. Even though his eldest son was handsome and married into a marquisate as a man, he still regarded him as an upright man. But others may not think so. The Nan'an Marquis' Mansion has strict rules. It is questionable whether a male wife can meet a man outside her family, let alone drink at the same table with him.
"It's indeed against the rules." Lin Qingyu appeared calm and composed, but in fact he was already thinking about what kind of poison would be worthy of Tan Qizhi's mouth, "Then what are you waiting for, Brother Tan? Goodbye."
Tan Qizhi was speechless, obviously he didn't see anything good and didn't want to leave for the time being. He laughed dryly and said, "To be honest, I came to your house this time not only to greet Master, but also to ask for a favor..."
Before he could finish his words, a steward came hurriedly to report: "Master and Madam, the son-in-law is here!"
Lin Qingyu said coldly: "Who is the son-in-law? Why are you calling him that?"
"It's the young marquis!" Huan Tong, who was following the steward, said, "It's the young marquis of Nan'an Marquis's Mansion who has arrived!"
Why is Lu Wancheng coming to the Lin Mansion at this hour instead of sleeping in bed?
Lin Qingyu restrained his emotions and said, "I'll go take a look."
Father Lin said in a deep voice: "We will go too."
After all, Lu Wancheng is of noble status. If they don't go out to greet him and neglect him, it will give someone with ulterior motives an excuse and then the news will be reported to the Nan'an Marquis Mansion. Lin Qingyu's situation will probably become even more difficult.
Tan Qizhi rolled his eyes and followed.
As soon as Lin Qingyu arrived at the yard, he saw Lu Wancheng sitting in a wheelchair, pushed in by a servant.
The two looked at each other.
Lu Wancheng smiled with his lips curved, looking very elegant and modest, "Qingyu, you went back to the Lin Mansion without me." Seeing Lin Qingyu's touching expression, he lowered his voice and said, "No way, why are you angry again... Why are you angry in your own home?"
Lu Wancheng's face has regained some color these days, but his skin is still paler than that of ordinary people. He held an exquisite heater in his hand, and wore a scarlet robe, a snow cape on the outside, and snow-white fox fur on his legs. However, he did not look bloated at all, but rather luxurious and handsome, with a jade-like and gold-like appearance.
When Lu Wancheng was lying on the bed, he was like a pickled salted fish, but when he got out of bed... he looked like a decent human being.
Before Lin Qingyu could say anything, his parents came out. Lu Wancheng glanced sideways, and the servant behind him understood what he meant. He took the heater and fox fur in one hand and helped him up with the other. After Lu Wancheng stood firm, he bowed to Lin's father and mother and said, "Greetings to father-in-law and mother-in-law. I am late."
His manners are graceful, generous and decent, which is exactly the demeanor that a noble man should have.
Lin Qinghe hid behind his brother and stared at Lu Wancheng with big eyes: "Brother, this person is so good-looking."
Lin Qingyu watched coldly: "Illusion."
Father Lin said, "Young Lord, there is no need to be so polite. You are ill, so please sit down."
Lu Wancheng sat back in the wheelchair and looked at Tan Qizhi: "Who is this?"
"Greetings, young marquis." Tan Qizhi stepped forward and said respectfully, "I am Tan Qizhi, a student of Lin Yuanpan. The 'Chang Xihe Pharmacy' in the capital is owned by my family."
Lu Wancheng smiled: "Hmm? What is Chang and?"
Tan Qizhi hurriedly said: "Chang Xihe."
Lu Wancheng asked again: "What Xihe?"
Tan Qizhi vaguely realized that he seemed to have been fooled. However, the other party's identity was not ordinary, no matter how he played tricks on him, he could only greet him with a smile: "It's Chang Xihe."
"Chang Xi what?"
...what is going on here?
Lin Qingyu interrupted them: "The wind is cold and bleak. Father and mother, you go into the house first. I will take care of the young marquis."
Mother Lin stretched out her hand towards Lin Qinghe: "Qinghe, stop sticking to your brother and come to mother."
After his parents left, Lin Qingyu lowered his voice and asked Lu Wancheng: "Did you take the wrong medicine?"
Talking to Lin Qingyu alone, Lu Wancheng was too lazy to pretend anymore. He lowered his eyebrows and looked tired: "I'm here to support you, Doctor Lin."
"No need." Lin Qingyu frowned, "You usually don't get up at this time."
"Yes, I tried several times before I succeeded in getting up." Lu Wancheng smiled, "I did this for you just to repay you for feeding me medicine and acupuncture. How about it, are you touched?"
Lin Qingyu said coldly: "Not really."
Lu Wancheng raised his eyebrows: "Then I'll leave?"
Lin Qingyu thought for a moment and said, "Okay, find an excuse to go back to the Marquis' Mansion."
Lu Wancheng choked and suddenly felt that the world was not worth it: "...That's too much, brother."
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Salted Fish Gong: Oh my god, I actually got up early for him...
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