The Salted Fish’s Political Marriage - Chapter 4

Early the next morning, in the front courtyard of the Prince Qi residence.

The spring breeze swept away the chill of the previous night and coaxed a tree of peach blossoms into bloom.

Just as the sky began to brighten, Song Mingzhi was awakened by a flurry of footsteps.

“Walk faster! Do not keep Eunuch Tao waiting too long!”

“Coming, coming…”

The voices drifted from outside the bridal chamber, low and hurried.

Always a light sleeper, Song Mingzhi opened his eyes instantly. He subconsciously held his breath and reached under his pillow for his dagger, only to find nothing there.

Song Mingzhi’s fingers curled involuntarily.

The events of yesterday began to surface in his mind, bit by bit.

Song Mingzhi: “…”

At the same time, a servant carrying a tea tray hurried past the door.

“You say, why did someone from the palace come so early?”

“I just heard that it seems they came to inquire about what happened in the bridal chamber last night!”

“What did His Highness say?”

“He said it was just a bit of marital fun and told Eunuch Tao not to spoil the mood.”

Song Mingzhi: “?”

Song Mingzhi: “!”

Marital fun?

The idle chatter outside the bridal chamber pulled Song Mingzhi’s thoughts back.

He gripped his palms tightly and sat up straight on the bed. Yesterday evening, he had not only struck Prince Qi but had also kicked him out of the bridal chamber to claim this wedding bed all for himself; it was utterly treasonous.

Prince Qi was known for valuing rites and laws and for rewarding with benevolence while commanding with authority.

Why would he not punish me severely today?

This defied all logic!

Things being abnormal suggests there is surely something suspicious afoot.

How could Prince Qi, Mu Yanzhou, the man destined to reorganize the nation’s landscape and usher in a golden age, be a playboy who ignores politics and prefers men?

Wake up, he told himself.

Song Mingzhi naturally did not believe it.

He quickly changed into the plain robes and veil hat the original owner had prepared to escape the marriage and slipped out of the residence silently.

Following his memories, he headed toward the Du residence.

Song Mingzhi was determined to see the truth for himself today!

At the hour of the rabbit, the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Located in Yongyi Ward, the Du residence was shrouded in gloom.

The imperial guards responsible for escorting Minister Du back home had not yet left.

In front of the main house of the Du residence, a servant was saying in a panic, “Madam! Minister Du’s wounds are far too deep; applying medicine directly seems completely ineffective. If this continues, I fear for the Master’s life!”

“What about the imperial physicians?” Madam Du gritted her teeth and asked. “Is there still no one willing to come?”

“No, none.”

On the rafters of the main house, Song Mingzhi, who had been lurking for quite some time, felt his gaze flicker.

The scene before him was identical to history:

The Minister of Personnel, Du Shanhui, had angered the current Emperor with his blunt remonstrations. The foolish ruler, in a fit of rage, not only had him beaten in court but also ordered him to endure it himself, causing all imperial physicians to fear treating him. Furthermore, with the imperial guards still stationed at the gates of the Ministry of Personnel residence, no one dared to act recklessly.

Du Shanhui was over seventy years old and could not withstand such a beating.

After returning home, unable to properly tend to the wounds on his back, he would succumb to blood loss and die shortly after.

Song Mingzhi lowered his gaze to look into the room.

An elderly man with white hair and sunken eye sockets lay prone on the bed, his upper body bare. On his back, several shocking wounds were still oozing fresh blood.

He muttered to himself, “This will not do.”

Song Mingzhi had not expected that Prince Qi would truly offer no help.

His heart sank.

If things continued this way, Du Shanhui’s fate would surely be the same as in history.

There was no time to hesitate.

Seeing the servants scrambling about and failing to stop the bleeding, Song Mingzhi finally leaped down from the rafters. He swiftly approached them and knocked them unconscious, then moved toward the bed. As a secret guard, Song Mingzhi was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also well-versed in medicine, particularly in treating external injuries.

Fearing complications, he immediately extended his fingers and firmly pressed the acupoints on Du Shanhui’s back, his movements precise and without a hint of hesitation.

However, just as Song Mingzhi picked up the medicinal powder, a pained cry reached his ears: “Ah!”

Du Shanhui had actually awakened from the pain.

The doors and windows of the main room were tightly shut, and the vast room was lit by only a single candle. Through the dim candlelight, Song Mingzhi saw those eyes, grown cloudy with age, slowly looking toward his position.

Trouble.

Song Mingzhi: “!”

He quickly lowered his head and retreated toward the screen.

At the same time, he steeled himself, preparing to face Du Shanhui’s questions.

Yet, to his utter disbelief, Du Shanhui only gave him a deep look, then closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

Wait. Is Du Shanhui not curious about my identity?

Song Mingzhi had been a secret guard his whole life and had never encountered such a situation.

He subconsciously tightened his grip on the medicine.

Strange.

As a three-term veteran official, Du Shanhui had always been cautious.

Had he not truly been awake, or had he known all along that someone would come to help treat his wounds?

Prince Qi’s residence, front courtyard.

The spring breeze ruffled the peach blossoms, scattering them like rain.

The flower-guarding bells under the eaves swayed gently, producing a crisp clanging sound.

In an instant, the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of flowers.

Song Mingzhi had returned to the residence without leaving a trace.

By now, it was broad daylight, and the entire household was busy moving into the new quarters. Yuan Jiu, Prince Qi’s personal attendant, led Song Mingzhi into the main hall of Huiming Hall amidst the festive atmosphere.

At the same time, he served him tea: “Reporting to the Princess Consort, the Zhuohua Courtyard has not been tidied up yet, so please rest here for a moment.”

Song Mingzhi nodded calmly.

Huiming Hall was where Prince Qi lived his daily life. It was five bays wide and luxuriously decorated; the two rooms to the west were a bedroom, while the two on the east served as a study.

This was the most common layout in the wealthy households of Chongjing City.

Song Mingzhi took the tea cup from him: “I understand.”

Simultaneously, he cast a faint glance toward the east.

In the study, an entire wall was filled with bookshelves, yet they held only a sparse collection of casual books. On the desk, however, were piles of various letters.

After serving the tea, Yuan Jiu bowed to Song Mingzhi: “His Highness said that if the Princess Consort is bored, you may look at anything inside Huiming Hall. Once he returns from escorting Eunuch Tao back to the palace, he will come here to find you.”

With that, he picked up the tea tray and exited Huiming Hall.

Opportunity knocks but once.

Song Mingzhi had never been one to give up easily.

No sooner had Yuan Jiu left than Song Mingzhi stood up, walked quickly into the study on the east side, and without a moment’s hesitation, headed straight for the desk.

In the Great Chu, princes generally lived in the capital, Chongjing, but their income still relied on taxes and agricultural levies from their fiefs. Therefore, even if they held no government post, they were expected to keep track of the politics, military, and livelihoods of their fiefs.

However, as Song Mingzhi approached, he saw that Prince Qi’s desk was piled high with letters sent from his fief. Yet, at a glance, not a single letter had been opened!

Song Mingzhi: “…”

He had no intention of prying into Prince Qi’s private correspondence.

But he truly could not help himself; he picked one up and glanced at the date.

Last year’s?

Song Mingzhi could not help but slowly furrow his brows.

Before he could put the letter down, a voice drifted from behind him: “Song Mingzhi, what are you sneaking around looking for here?”

As he spoke, Mu Yanzhou leaned in close.

Song Mingzhi: “!”

In this new life, although he possessed internal energy, his ability to conceal his presence and his awareness of the surrounding environment were far inferior to his previous life.

A slip of the horse’s hoof.

Song Mingzhi closed his eyes gently.

If this were his previous life, he would have already bitten down on a poison capsule and been waiting in line for reincarnation.

But in this life, Song Mingzhi had already done everything he should not have.

He said silently: “Why did Your Highness not have someone announce your arrival instead of sneaking in?”

Mu Yanzhou’s tea-colored eyes suddenly brimmed with amusement. He said in disbelief: “Song Mingzhi, can you play the victim just because you are good-looking?”

Saying this, he curiously looked at the desk: “Why are you rummaging through these?”

Caught red-handed, Song Mingzhi could only brace himself and ask: “Does Your Highness only read casual books and pay no attention to the great affairs of the world?”

Mu Yanzhou sat by the table and said with a smile: “Why would I read casual books?”

I knew it!

Prince Qi was definitely not an idle person.

Song Mingzhi’s nearly frozen heart suddenly warmed up a bit.

“I wonder what Your Highness reads normally?”

“I usually.”

He deliberately dragged out his tone, looked into Song Mingzhi’s eyes, and said earnestly: “I usually, naturally, do not read anything at all.”

After finishing, he could not help but laugh: “What is wrong? Why would I bother myself with the affairs of the world?”

Unlike yesterday, Song Mingzhi would not be easily fooled again.

Recalling the scene in front of the Du residence this morning, he quickly calmed down, lifted his head, and looked deeply at Mu Yanzhou: “The imperial court is already on the verge of a storm. As a prince, Your Highness cannot possibly be oblivious.”

Not long ago, someone had falsely accused an official of the Ministry of Revenue of taking bribes and used torture to force a confession.

Du Shanhui, as the Minister of Personnel, had offended the Emperor precisely by questioning this matter.

The conflicts in the court had long been out in the open.

Song Mingzhi slowly walked toward Mu Yanzhou and stated bluntly: “If this continues, Your Highness may not even be able to remain a leisurely prince.”

Song Mingzhi’s words were reasonable. Everything should be done in moderation. Mu Yanzhou had always known when to play the fool and when not to.

“Naturally.”

Mu Yanzhou turned to look out the window.

Then, he turned back, indifferent: “I know that, of course.”

Song Mingzhi could not help but press further: “Since you know, Your Highness still…”

“As the saying goes, one should know one’s own limits.”

Mu Yanzhou was entirely unfazed. He laughed casually: “I know the court situation is complex, but I know even better exactly what I am capable of. Without the diamond drill, why would I try to take on the porcelain job?”

Song Mingzhi murmured: “Knowing one’s own limits…”

He slowly sat down at the table.

Mu Yanzhou lowered his eyes to look at Song Mingzhi.

Those thick, soft eyelashes, like reeds, trembled with each breath, fluttering over those mist-blue, lake-like pupils.

Pretty and serious. Particularly easy to tease.

The smile in the depths of Mu Yanzhou’s eyes deepened again.

Seeing the other party suddenly fall silent and look dejected, he could not help but poke Song Mingzhi’s shoulder, intentionally asking: “What is wrong?”

Song Mingzhi gritted his teeth and looked up: “What if something goes wrong?”

“What if something goes wrong?”

Mu Yanzhou paused, smiled at Song Mingzhi, and feigned complete confidence: “Do not worry. Even if the sky falls, is my Imperial Father not there to hold it up? We just need to lie back and relax.”

Song Mingzhi: “!”

He, who had felt like a walking corpse a moment ago, stood up instantly.

What could that foolish ruler possibly hold up?

If we wait for him to hold it up, we might as well die together.

A breeze blew through the branches, causing the fallen petals to rustle.

Mu Yanzhou produced a cup of wine from out of nowhere and offered a concluding remark: “Enjoy the wine today, and be merry today.”

Unexpectedly, before he could finish, the wine cup was already in Song Mingzhi’s hand: “No.”

Song Mingzhi narrowed his eyes slightly and looked deeply at the other party.

Anyone in this world could live for the moment, but not Prince Qi. Even if he wanted to lie down, he would have to be dragged back up.

This world, he must be the one to hold it up.

Facing that scorching gaze, Mu Yanzhou’s heart felt a rare, ominous feeling stir within him.

It seemed he had teased him a bit too much.

Support