Married Thrice to Salted Fish
chapter-102

Chapter 102

The flickering red lamp light, the lingering fragrance of ink, the hazy veil and Lin Qingyu who almost cried the entire night…they all disappeared. But physically, the feeling from the dream remained. It seemed as though he could still feel Lin Qingyu holding on to him so tightly. Lin Qingyu begging him, begging him not to leave; even cursing at him, asking him why he was lying to him again.

After a dazed moment, Jiang Xing sat up abruptly. He looked down at his chest and with trembling hands, he placed them over it.

His heart was beating fast and powerfully, again and again, unburdened by the soreness of poison or the pain of being pierced by thousands of arrows.

He wasn’t dead; he was alive. And unlike the previous two times, being in this new body didn’t feel at all strange; he even had an indescribable sense of belonging. It was as if… as if he was back in his own body.

However, the joy of having survived a disaster was short-lived. Jiang Xing didn’t have time to think about the reason why he was back from the dead again. He got out the bed and still barefooted, looked at everything around him.

Please, this has to be the Dayu. It has to be the world with Lin Qingyu in it. I beg you.

A terrifying thought flashed through his mind. What if it’s not? If it’s not, if he dies again, would he have a chance to go back?

Beside the bed was a dozing eunuch. The room was surrounded with exquisite palace lanterns, covered in soft carpets and bounded by pillars engraved with the nine-clawed dragon pattern. Hanging nearby was a black and gold dragon robe—he knew this dragon robe, only the emperor of the Dayu’s dragon robe had black and gold like this.

Jiang Xing’s limbs seemed to go numb. Before this moment, he had never dared to imagine that one day he would have such a strong feeling of regaining what he’d lost.

He had transmigrated into Xiao Jie.

It didn’t matter. He could transmigrate into anyone so long as he was still here.

Jiang Xing subconsciously raised his hand to cover his eyes. Tears spilled from between his fingers. He wanted to wipe away the tears, but the more he wiped, the more the tears overflowed. Through the blurriness, he began to have double vision leading him to wonder if this new body could bear such strong emotions.

It was impossible to bear; a normal person simply couldn’t bear it.

F*ck, talk about tormenting a person. He really thought he was going to die. He thought he would never see Lin Qingyu again. He…he even slept with Lin Qingyu. Lin Qingyu had been crying nonstop. Damn it.

Now was not the time for his legs to go numb. He had to get back to Lin Qingyu and he had to get back as quickly as possible. Lin Qingyu was still waiting for him.

In the dream, Lin Qingyu had been in Qinzheng Hall. The place he was currently in should be Xiao Jie’s bedroom. The two places weren’t that far apart.

When Jiang Xing rushed out of this sleeping chamber, he was only wearing a close-fitting robe. The wind was bitingly cold but he felt none of the cold as he stepped on the icy steps.

A palace maid was walking towards him but he had no time to stop, nor did he want to stop.

It was almost time for the emperor to wake up. Xiu Jiao momo was carrying a basin with hot water, preparing to help His Majesty wash up once he wakes up. Before she could even take a step into the bed chamber, she saw the emperor rush out from inside. The expression on his face was no longer the usual empty and numb expression, rather it was a kind of impatient eagerness. Even normal people running for their lives wouldn’t be able to match the anxiousness on his face.

Xiu Jiao momo was stunned. When the little emperor was about to fly past her, she came back to her senses. “Your-Your Majesty?! Servants, come quickly! His Majesty-His Majesty seems to have gone crazy!”

As soon as she yelled out, all the maids on duty in Xingqing Palace, the eunuchs and the guards rushed out from every directions. Jiang Xing was blocked by a few guards. He opened his mouth, wanting to dismiss them but found that he couldn’t utter a word. He tried again, but still couldn’t make a sound.

… When did Xiao Jie become mute?

“Your Majesty!” Xiu Jiao momo rushed over, still carrying the washbasin. Seeing Jiang Xing’s feet red from the cold, she said anxiously, “Why did you run out by yourself?!”

She has taken care of the emperor for a long time. She knew that although the emperor was a dullard, he was an obedient child. He was extremely slow in everything; it was unthinkable for him to move so fast now.

From out the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his own reflection on the water. Jiang Xing’s heart almost stopped beating again.

This was not Xiao Jie’s face. It seemed…it seemed to be his own face.

The young man in the reflection had long loose hair. Traces of tears had pooled at the corner of his eyes. Though not exactly the same as his original face, it was extremely similar. The slight differences were mostly due to the hairstyle and ancient fashions.

The Dayu’s emperor was Xiao Jie but this body was obviously not Xiao Jie’s.

Fear spread from his cold feet to his entire body. He had never seen any of these palace maids or eunuchs. The faces of the guards were also unfamiliar.

Who was he?

Could it be that he was still in the Dayu but not in the same time period as Lin Qingyu?

Amidst his desperation, he finally heard a familiar voice. “What’s the matter? What has happened to the Emperor!”

“Eunuch Song!” Xiu Jiao momo went to the doctor in a hurry, “There’s something wrong with the Emperor. Eunuch Song, hurry up and find Master Lin!”

When Xiao Songzi heard this, he became anxious. “Looking for Master Lin is no use. Master Lin can’t cure the Emperor’s soul loss disease. We should call for the National Teacher.”

A eunuch said, “The National Teacher has been busy praying for the war in the Northwest for the past couple of days. So he’s staying in Yanfu Hall. I’ll call him right away!”

So he’s transmigrated into Xiao Li?

At this time, no matter how well his bearing, he couldn’t help but swear, ‘What the absolute f*cking f*ck! You’re really toying with me!’

Jiang Xing pushed away Xiu Jiao momo and Xiao Songzi. He pushed all the eunuchs and maids out of his way and heedlessly rushed out of the crowd. The imperial guards could certainly stop him, but he was the emperor now. Seeing how desperate he was, who would dare to go up and stop him. In case His Majesty’s dragon’s body was injured, the empress dowager would make sure that heads would roll. They could only follow after him and protect him from every side.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty—!”

Someone yelled, “Hurry up! Go to Ci’an Palace and report to the Empress Dowager!”

Jiang Xing has lived three lifetimes but he has never run so fast, so fast that afterimages of the surrounding scenery begun to appear, so fast that a trace of blood begun to sneak out the corner of his mouth. The doors of Qinzheng Hall were getting closer and closer——

Baobei, don’t cry. You’ll ruin your eyes from crying. Your husband will be there soon.

The eunuch on duty in Qinzheng Hall felt only a gust of wind as an unknown object flew past, followed by a large group of people from Xingqing Palace. Those who didn’t know about this commotion would have thought that the Xixia had reached the capital and even broken into the palace.

The furnishings in Qinzheng Hall were exactly as in the dream, even the scrolls spread out on the table were the same.

But what about his wife? Where did his wife go!

He wasn’t in the main hall; not in the side hall either. He was nowhere to be found. Had Lin Qingyu really done something stupid?… Impossible, his Baobei wouldn’t do anything with the word “stupid”.

Xiu Jiao momo saw that he seemed to be looking for something and asked, “Your Majesty, what do you want?”

Jiang Xing has transmigrated twice, so he naturally he knew the necessity of keeping in-character. But right now, his heart was burning so badly that he had long put aside maintaining his character settings. Seeing that there were brushes and paper on the table, he ran forward without hesitation, picked up the brush and was about to write when——

Xiao Songzi had a flash of inspiration and cautiously probed, “Your Majesty, do you want to see Master Lin?”

As they all knew, the newly enthroned emperor only ever has a special reaction to just one person – He will smile only at Master Lin.

Jiang Xing nodded abruptly. Without him needing to write, Xiao Songzi said, “Master Lin has left the palace. He must have returned to the General’s mansion.”

Jiang Xing lowered his head again. He dipped the tip of the brush into the ink. A drop of sweat slipped from his forehead, smearing the paper.

“Look,” Xiu Jiao momo’s voice trembled, “Does the Emperor want to write?”

Everyone was dumbfounded. They were just about to gather around to see what would happen, when a voice said, “The National Teacher is here!”

Jiang Xing paused and looked towards the door.

Ci’an Palace and Yanfu Hall weren’t too far from Qinzheng Hall. Xu Junyuan had suddenly been summoned. Without bothering to change into more appropriate clothing, naturally he arrived faster than the empress dowager. Looking at Jiang Xing’s eyes, his face changed slightly and he ordered, “I myself will be enough. The rest of you, withdraw.”

Xiu Jiao momo hesitated, “But, the Emperor…”

“There is nothing you can do even if you stay,” Xu Junyuan smiled meaningfully, “I am the only one who can cure the emperor’s illness. If the empress dowager comes, please remember to announce her arrival.”

Xiu Jiao momo and Xiao Songzi exchanged glances then led all the palace maid and eunuchs back. Only Jiang Xing and Xu Junyuan were left in Qinzheng Hall.

Xu Junyuan saluted and said politely, “Might I ask who Your Excellency is?”

Jiang Xing frantically wrote two words: 【Jiang Xing. 】

Xu Junyuan revealed surprise on his face. He pondered for a moment and couldn’t help sighing. “So that’s how it is.”

【What do you mean? 】

Xu Junyuan smiled and said, “Jiang Gongzi’s soul has returned to his old body and his soul and body are matched. Allow me to congratulate you.”

【Why can’t I speak? 】

Xu Junyuan said, “Jiang Gongzi, do not worry. You are not mute. It is merely that this body has not spoken for seventeen years. It will take some time for the body to get used to it.”

Jiang Xing no longer concerned himself over this matter: 【Take me out of the palace. Take me to the General’s Mansion. 】

Xu Junyuan showed an embarrassed expression. “I’m afraid this is a little difficult.”

【? 】

Xu Junyuan couldn’t understand this symbol but he could guess what Jiang Xing wanted to express. “The empress dowager is coming. Does Jiang Gongzi think she will let you out?”

Jiang Xing thought about it calmly. Empress Dowager Wen loved her son like her own life. Obviously, she would not let her son run away from the palace under such circumstances.

【Then you bring Qingyu here. 】

After Jiang Xing finished writing, he added another sentence: 【Tell him first that I’m not dead. 】

“This is possible.” Xu Junyuan murmured, “But simply saying so would be no use. What evidence does Jiang Gongzi have to prove that you’re not dead?”

Jiang Xing picked up a pen and pondered. He had so many things he wanted to say to Lin Qingyu but this wasn’t the time to talk nonsense. The less time he wasted here, the less time Lin Qingyu will be sad.

He first had to let Lin Qingyu know that he wasn’t dead. He’ll save the other words of love for later.

Fortunately, they once again had a future together.

Jiang Xing wrote.

【If odd, change. If even, remain the same. For the symbols look to the quadrant. —— Jiang Xing. 】