BLHO Chapter 7
by VolareChapter 7 Drunken Fragrance Pavilion
The porridge was eaten, but Lin Shuangxu didn’t let him feed him after all, holding the bowl and drinking it himself.
He really wasn’t that delicate, not to the point that He Yuncheng was so alarmed.
After the porridge was finished, the medicine was also drunk. No matter how much anger hadn’t dissipated in his heart, Lin Shuangxu put it aside for the time being and said to him seriously, “The imperial decree to dispatch troops, how do you plan to deal with it?”
The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs now fears no one in the court. Li Yuliang, in the name of the Emperor, wants to weaken the He family’s military power. The Emperor can’t control him, so the He family is the one being roasted on the fire.
Originally, he thought that after marrying Princess Meng Ning, relying on the power of the Qi Dynasty would make that eunuch somewhat afraid. However, He Yuncheng’s stubborn temper refused to agree no matter what. Lin Shuangxu couldn’t think of a way out for him.
He Yuncheng looked as if he feared nothing in heaven or earth, and replied, “What’s there to deal with? I’m ignoring him. The Bei Sheng empire was built by my He family’s ancestors for the Supreme Emperor. When did it become the turn of an eunuch to climb on my head and boss me around? If Li Yuliang wants to move the He family’s army, he’s welcome to come and take my life first.”
“He doesn’t have the ability to take your life, but the tricks he uses in secret are enough for you to suffer.” Lin Shuangxu looked at him calmly and said, “A few days ago, when you weren’t in the General’s Manor, Lord Chen of the Ministry of War came.”
“Chen Chang? What did he come for?”
A timid and fearful person, he is accustomed to stirring up trouble between the court and the military camp. Getting him to do anything is more difficult than getting him to give birth. His arrival is definitely not good news.
Sure enough, Lin Shuangxu said, “The soldiers’ salaries for this year won’t be issued before the end of the year.”
He Yuncheng’s expression darkened, and he said with dissatisfaction, “What’s wrong with him? He’s greedy and full of fat, but he can’t get anything done that he’s supposed to do. If the salaries aren’t issued, how will the soldiers go home for the New Year? I’ll go find him.”
Lin Shuangxu grabbed his sleeve. “Calm down!”
He Yuncheng looked at Lin Shuangxu’s hand, and his temper instantly subsided. He sat back on the side of the bed, wanting to hold his hand, but Lin Shuangxu dodged it imperceptibly, and said to him, “You can’t completely blame him for being incompetent. Now the Ministry of Revenue is being controlled, and the national treasury is entirely in the hands of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs. If the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs doesn’t allow the allocation of military pay, no matter how Chen Chang petitions, it’s useless. There’s always an excuse to send him back.”
He Yuncheng frowned and remained silent.
Lin Shuangxu said with disappointment, “The soldiers come to the military camp to serve, leaving only the old, weak, women, and children at home, with no one to work. They rely on this little salary all year round. If it’s not issued, their livelihoods will be difficult to maintain. If it’s delayed for too long, resentment will inevitably arise. By then, the court won’t need to dispatch troops, and the morale of the army will naturally dissipate.”
He Yuncheng said sternly, “The hearts of the He family’s army are not so easily scattered. These soldiers have followed me onto the battlefield and experienced life and death. A mere year’s salary is not enough to make them have thoughts of betraying.”
“It’s precisely because they have shared life and death with you that you can’t let their hearts grow cold.” Lin Shuangxu sighed softly, pointed to the bookcase in the room, and said to him, “I’ve already counted the silver in the General’s Manor. It’s enough to pay the soldiers’ salaries for this year. Doing so is against the rules, but the most important thing right now is to let the soldiers have a good New Year. We’ll fill the deficit in the General’s Manor when the court’s military pay comes down next year.”
He Yuncheng stared blankly at Lin Shuangxu, unable to speak for a moment.
Since he was young, he had never considered the consequences of his actions. He dealt with things as they came, and if that didn’t work, he resorted to violence. Lin Shuangxu always planned and cleaned up after him. Without Lin Shuangxu, he didn’t know how many troubles he wouldn’t be able to resolve.
He looked at the face of the person in front of him and couldn’t help but smile. Not satisfied with seeing him from afar, he moved closer to look.
Lin Shuangxu glared at him, “Stop staring at me here. Take some time to think about how to apologize to Princess Meng Ning.”
He wants to call off the imperial marriage, which is to despise imperial authority. If he angers the princess and she complains to the Emperor, it will be like handing Li Yuliang another knife. He’s acting like he doesn’t want to live anymore, causing trouble everywhere.
“I know what I’m doing. You don’t need to worry about me.”
That would be best. With He Yuncheng around, Lin Shuangxu doesn’t have to worry about not shortening his lifespan with all the troubles he causes.
He closed his eyes and said wearily, “I’m tired. I want to rest. You go out.”
He Yuncheng obediently stood up. Before leaving, he bent down and stroked his forehead, his eyes full of longing and reluctance. For a moment, he didn’t know what had gotten into him, but he slowly moved closer to him.
When his lips were only two inches away from his forehead, Lin Shuangxu opened his eyes.
His eyes were full of warning.
Alright, alright, He Yuncheng smiled helplessly, didn’t kiss him, turned around and left.
–
Although he said he wasn’t that precious, during these days of recuperation, He Yuncheng didn’t even allow Lin Shuangxu to get out of bed. He would come to deliver food and medicine to him promptly every morning and evening, and would only leave after being chased away by him.
After three days, the cold was completely gone.
On the fourth day, Lin Shuangxu woke up from the bed in the morning. His head was no longer dizzy, and his throat didn’t hurt anymore. He looked at the sky and realized it was getting late. That annoying He Yuncheng hadn’t come to find him today, and he was inexplicably unaccustomed to it.
“Someone.”
A servant came in with clean water to help him wash up. “Young Master, you look much better today. You’ve recovered, haven’t you?”
Lin Shuangxu didn’t say anything else, but asked, “Where’s the General?”
“The General has gone out.”
“Gone out? Back to the military camp?”
Why did he leave without telling him?
The servant shook his head. “It doesn’t seem like he went back to the camp. This morning, the General had preparations made for a carriage, saying he was going to…”
“Ahem!” An old cough came from outside the door. The servant’s words were interrupted. He turned around and saw the steward coming in.
The steward glared at the servant, blaming him for being too talkative.
“Leave after you’ve finished serving!”
Seeing that the situation wasn’t right, the servant quickly took the bronze basin and left. “Yes.”
Lin Shuangxu knew there was a problem from the steward’s expression and asked him, “Where did He Yuncheng go?”
“Young Master, please have your meal first. The General will be back later.”
Not answering his question, what’s with the charade?
“I asked where he went?”
Lin Shuangxu’s attitude was firm. How could the steward dare to hide anything from him? Weighing his words, he replied, “A… the General’s friend invited the General to go out for a gathering.”
A gathering with friends, why so secretive and hesitant?
Lin Shuangxu’s eyes were sharp as he asked, “Where did they go to gather?”
The steward dodged his gaze and said, “Just, the place where men often go to drink and meet…”
“What place? The name.”
The steward wiped his sweat, thinking, General, don’t blame this old servant for not helping you. If you don’t do good deeds yourself, then don’t be afraid of Young Master scolding you.
“Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.”
Lin Shuangxu pondered for a moment, “A brothel?”
The steward quickly explained, “I heard that place isn’t just about fleshly business. Many scholars and refined men often gather there to listen to music and compose poems, without getting involved in trouble.”
Lin Shuangxu smiled coldly, “What kind of music would he listen to? What kind of poems would he compose?”
The young General of the He family has only liked wielding weapons since he was a child. The only books he can read are military texts. He’s too lazy to even look at anything about spring flowers, autumn moons, poetry, or songs.
The steward continued to defend He Yuncheng, “Young Master, don’t be angry. The General is at an age when he’s full of vigor, so it’s inevitable… inevitable… Besides, it’s normal for a man to visit a brothel. There’s no need to blame him…” The steward couldn’t continue to justify him. What proper young master goes to a brothel?
He was worried that Lin Shuangxu would be angry because the General had fallen into depravity, but Lin Shuangxu could guess why He Yuncheng had gone to visit a brothel.
He’s deliberately trying to ruin his own reputation, so that Princess Meng Ning will be discouraged and take the initiative to call off the marriage, so that the He family won’t be accused of disobeying an imperial decree.
What exactly is in this person’s head?
“Send someone to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.” Lin Shuangxu ordered, “Tell him to get his ass back here right now!”