Ch 41: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

The two of them returned home.

Qin Zhao placed the soaked oil-paper umbrella under the eaves and turned around, only to find that the vibrant red figure was no longer in the room. He shook his head helplessly and walked into the inner chamber of the bedroom.

The boy was sprawled out on the bed, his face buried deep into the blanket, with a few bright red scales visible on the back of his hand, standing out sharply against the pale inner garments and his skin.

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but laugh softly, “Get up and change your clothes.”

The rain had been too heavy; even though they had an umbrella, their clothes still got wet as they walked back home.

“Just… just wait a little longer,” came the muffled voice from under the blanket, sounding somewhat sullen.

Jing Li kept his head buried in the soft blanket, feeling that Qin Zhao was still standing behind him. He mumbled, “Don’t look at me…”

“Alright, I won’t look at you.” Qin Zhao took out a set of clean clothes from the wardrobe and placed them by the bed. He couldn’t resist giving Jing Li’s soft head a gentle pat, feeling the boy shudder slightly under his touch.

He straightened up and left the bedroom with his own clothes.

It was a while before Jing Li finally lifted his head.

His clear and handsome face still had a faint blush, with tiny red scales appearing at the corners of his eyes, adding a certain allure to his appearance.

So embarrassing…

It was just a kiss, how could he get so nervous that he almost reverted to his original form?

Have some dignity!

Jing Li, feeling frustrated, touched the scales at the corner of his eye.

Even more troublesome was that he didn’t know how to change back.

“Ugh…” Jing Li turned over on the bed and pulled the blanket over himself.

The fish was sulking.

Qin Zhao quietly changed his clothes and retrieved a herbal prescription from his wet garments.

This was the prescription given to him by the old doctor, Mr. Xue, earlier that day.

The prescription listed six or seven different herbs.

Healers usually guarded their secret formulas closely and wouldn’t easily share the complete recipe. Mr. Xue was no different.

The prescription in Qin Zhao’s hand was obviously incomplete.

According to Mr. Xue, he had been working on this formula for some time. However, due to the rarity and expense of the herbs required, he had not yet had the opportunity to test the formula.

If Qin Zhao could gather all the herbs listed, Mr. Xue would prepare the medicine for him.

Qin Zhao skimmed over the list, his brows furrowing slightly. He put the prescription away and headed to the study.

By the time Jing Li finally managed to get rid of the scales and arrived at the study, Qin Zhao was engrossed in a thick medical book.

Hearing him enter the room, Qin Zhao looked up, “Are you back to normal?”

Jing Li pursed his lips, still unsure how to face Qin Zhao. He quickly changed the subject, “Did you find what you were looking for?”

Qin Zhao didn’t answer immediately; instead, he beckoned Jing Li over. “Come here.”

The previous owner of this small courtyard was likely a scholar with a love for books, as the study was filled with numerous collections, making it convenient for Qin Zhao to conduct his research.

Several medical texts lay open on the desk, and a piece of rough-edged paper in front of Qin Zhao was densely covered with notes—mostly herbal remedies he had copied from the books.

Jing Li walked over and stood beside Qin Zhao, who then shifted slightly to the side, making room for him on the chair.

Jing Li hesitated.

Qin Zhao looked up at him. “Sit down, won’t you?”

After a moment of silent hesitation, Jing Li reluctantly sat down.

The chair was one of those wide, armrest chairs, spacious enough, but still a bit cramped for two grown men. Jing Li’s back was stiff, and he couldn’t avoid brushing against Qin Zhao’s body.

The scent of herbal medicine lingered beside him, and Jing Li felt like the fish scales he had barely managed to hide were about to start reappearing.

Qin Zhao noticed his tension, smiling slightly but saying nothing. Instead, he pointed to the prescription on the table. “I’ve been studying this prescription carefully. Some of the herbs should be available here in the county, but…”

“But what?” Jing Li’s attention was immediately drawn to the topic.

Qin Zhao explained, “Most of these herbs are rare and expensive. Even if we can find them, we might not be able to…”

…afford them.

“Just have that guy, Pei, buy them for us,” Jing Li said, now unbothered by financial concerns. “Didn’t he promise to reward us generously?”

“That’s what I was thinking too,” Qin Zhao replied.

Pei An, who was almost willing to do anything for Qin Zhao, wouldn’t find it difficult to exchange the reward for medicinal herbs.

“I’m not worried about finding herbs that are commonly available in the market,” Qin Zhao continued. “The trouble is that some of these herbs are extremely rare and hard to come by.”

If it were just a matter of money, Mr. Xue wouldn’t have gone through the trouble of writing out a prescription for them to search for the herbs themselves. He could have just asked for payment.

The difficulty lay in the fact that some herbs couldn’t be bought, no matter the price.

Now even Jing Li started to worry.

After pondering for a moment, Jing Li suggested, “Let Pei handle the search.”

Qin Zhao fell silent.

Jing Li explained, “Think about it, we’re unfamiliar with this place and hold no official position, so finding herbs ourselves will be difficult. Since we have officials at our disposal, why not use them? It’s much easier to have them search for the herbs on our behalf.”

Qin Zhao smiled and lightly pinched Jing Li’s cheek. “You’re pretty sharp when it comes to this.”

Jing Li froze, only then realizing that he had unintentionally leaned completely against Qin Zhao.

His fingers curled slightly on his lap, and he discreetly tried to move away, only for Qin Zhao to gently pull him back by the waist.

Though separated by clothing, Jing Li felt as if Qin Zhao’s touch was burning him, making him flinch involuntarily.

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, and Jing Li’s heart began to race as the warmth from where Qin Zhao touched him seemed to intensify.

“Qin… Qin Zhao…” Jing Li whispered.

“What is it?” Qin Zhao’s hand on Jing Li’s waist relaxed slightly, but his expression remained unreadable. “Relying on the officials to search for the herbs is indeed the most time-efficient method, but it all hinges on the success of the flood control efforts.”

He spoke with such seriousness that it felt like a routine discussion. Jing Li forced himself to focus back on the matter at hand. “The flood control… the flood control will surely be fine.”

“I don’t think it will be that easy,” Qin Zhao said slowly. “If they still refuse to agree to my plan…”

Before he could finish speaking, a knock came from the courtyard gate. “Master Qin, are you home—?”

Qin Zhao paused.

Jing Li finally found an opportunity to escape, and he quickly stood up. “I-I’ll go get the door!”

His retreating figure almost looked like he was fleeing in haste.

Qin Zhao watched his back as he left, feeling both exasperated and amused.

He ran away pretty fast.

This little guy.

The visitor was indeed Pei An.

Completely unaware that the two inside had been discussing how to make use of him just moments before, he eagerly began speaking as soon as he entered the room, “Master Qin, the county magistrate has agreed to your plan, and we’ll start diverting the river tomorrow!”

Qin Zhao gave Jing Li a surprised look.

He couldn’t help but think that this little koi fish was becoming more powerful.

Jing Li had wanted the flood problem to be resolved smoothly, and the next day, Qin Zhao had been forced to set out for the county himself. If he hadn’t come personally, perhaps he wouldn’t have been asked to stay, and the flood issue in Linxi Village wouldn’t have been resolved so easily.

He wanted Qin Zhao to get better, and then they encountered that old doctor, Mr. Xue, in the county, who provided a new prescription.

And now, just when they were worrying about how to push the flood control forward, Pei An brought good news.

However… even though it was good news, the timing wasn’t exactly ideal.

Qin Zhao shifted his gaze back and spoke calmly, “Didn’t the county magistrate say yesterday that such a plan would be too costly and laborious, and that he absolutely wouldn’t agree? Why the sudden change of heart today?”

“Yesterday, the magistrate indeed had some reservations. But today, after we reviewed the case records of water control in Liangguang from a few years ago, we found that the method used back then was also river diversion,” Pei An explained with a smile. “With those records as evidence, proving the effectiveness of the method, the magistrate naturally had no further concerns.”

“The magistrate sent me here in a hurry to find you, to discuss the final details of the construction.”

Business was important, and since they still needed the magistrate’s support, Qin Zhao could only nod. “Please, have a seat.”

Pei An and Qin Zhao ended up talking for nearly an hour.

Seeing that it was already past mealtime, Jing Li, bored, sat under the eaves and peeked inside.

They were still talking.

He was so hungry.

His stomach growled, and Jing Li rubbed his belly, sighing softly.

Inside, Qin Zhao suddenly paused in their conversation. “Perhaps we should stop here for today.”

Pei An was puzzled. “But… but we’re not finished yet,” he said. “Are you tired, Master Qin? How about we take a break for a cup of tea?”

Qin Zhao shook his head. “No, it’s just that at this time, I should be preparing a meal for my husband.”

No one should go hungry, especially not his little fish.

Pei An was momentarily speechless. “You… cook?”

Qin Zhao replied, “Is there a problem with that?”

Pei An stammered, “Isn’t cooking supposed to be the husband’s job?”

Qin Zhao calmly stated, “My husband doesn’t know how to cook.”

Pei An was left at a loss for words. Was this really about whether or not he could cook?

Isn’t a husband supposed to serve the head of the household? Why does it feel like this man is treating his husband like a precious treasure?

Helpless, Pei An suggested, “No matter. I brought some attendants with me; I’ll have them get some food from a restaurant in town.”

“That works too,” Qin Zhao agreed, then called out toward the door, “Xiao Yu, come here for a moment.”

(T/N: Xiao Yu is the Chinese pronunciation of little fish. It could a real name and people wouldn’t think he’s calling Jing Lin a fish.)

Jing Li walked inside.

Qin Zhao said, “Master Pei is sending his attendants to the restaurant in town. Why don’t you go with them?”

Pei An, not daring to give orders to someone Qin Zhao held in such high regard, quickly interjected, “There’s no need, I’ll have the attendants handle it directly—”

Qin Zhao continued, “…Order whatever you want.”

Pei An was taken aback, “Pardon?”

Qin Zhao turned to him and asked, “Does Master Pei have any dietary restrictions?”

“None…none at all.”

Qin Zhao nodded and instructed Jing Li, “Go ahead, and be careful; the roads are slippery after the rain.”

Jing Li blinked, understanding the implication behind Qin Zhao’s words—might as well make the most of the situation.

“I got it, I’ll be back soon,” Jing Li replied.

Pei An called for his attendants and gave them brief instructions before sending them off with Jing Li.

Qin Zhao watched Jing Li’s departing figure until he was out of sight, then turned back to Pei An, “Shall we continue…Master Pei?”

Pei An snapped out of his thoughts, “No, no problem…”

But he couldn’t help feeling a bit exasperated.

Jing Li quickly returned with the food, and the three of them ate while chatting in the reception room in the front courtyard.

“Eat your meal first; save the pastries for later,” Qin Zhao said calmly when he noticed Jing Li reaching for another piece of pastry.

Jing Li paused, obediently placing the pastry back, “Okay…”

Qin Zhao placed some food on Jing Li’s plate, “Good.”

Pei An was left feeling somewhat invisible.

As the county yamen’s adviser, Pei An was usually treated with respect wherever he went, even the county magistrate had to show him courtesy.

But this was the first time he had been so thoroughly ignored.

Had he somehow offended this person today?

Pei An cleared his throat, forcing a smile, and said, “Master Qin mentioned earlier that you plan to take next year’s imperial examination?”

Qin Zhao’s previously gentle expression turned a bit more reserved as he nodded, “Yes.”

Pei An continued, “The county exam is the first of the imperial exams, consisting of five rounds, and I will be the one setting the questions, with the county magistrate overseeing the process. Did you know that, Master Qin?”

Qin Zhao replied, “I am aware.”

“Only those who pass the county exam can proceed to the provincial exams in the capital. In past years, less than 30% of candidates from our county have passed. However, with your knowledge, Master Qin, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Qin Zhao set down his chopsticks and took a sip of water, “If Master Pei has something to say, feel free to speak directly.”

Pei An smiled, “It’s nothing much. The county magistrate mentioned to me earlier that with your extensive knowledge, if you were to attain a scholarly rank and choose to serve in the county yamen, you would surely be of great assistance to the magistrate.”

Qin Zhao’s gaze shifted slightly, but he shook his head, “My aspirations do not lie in that direction, so there’s no need for Master Pei to be concerned about it.”

“It’s still too early to say, Mr. Qin, you needn’t…” His words faltered, and he suddenly understood the implication in Qin Zhao’s tone. His expression stiffened. “Mr. Qin, you must be joking. What would I have to worry about?”

“Nothing at all?” Qin Zhao replied calmly. “Then let’s consider it a joke.”

A county yamen typically has more than one adviser, but there’s always a hierarchy among them. Whoever has greater knowledge and can better advise the magistrate will gain more favor.

It wasn’t surprising that Pei An might be concerned about his position being threatened.

With Qin Zhao’s assurance, Pei An finally relaxed, his posture becoming more at ease. “Mr. Qin, you’re a straightforward man. I’m glad to count you as a friend. Once this matter is settled, you should focus on preparing for the imperial examination. As long as you pass the preliminary exam, when it comes time to recommend candidates for the provincial exam, your name will surely be on the list.”

The registration process for the provincial exam differs from that of the preliminary exam. For the preliminary exam, anyone can participate as long as they have a recommendation from a scholar and a few fellow townsmen. However, to take the provincial exam, one must be nominated by the county.

The provincial exam is held every three years, and the number of candidates from each county is large, so not everyone can be nominated.

Pei An’s promise was a significant enticement for a scholar.

However, Qin Zhao replied, “Thank you for your kind offer, Master Pei, but I likely won’t need it.”

“Why?” Pei An asked. “You’re not planning to take the provincial exam?”

Qin Zhao explained, “I remember that if one places in the top three in the county, prefectural, and academy exams, they automatically qualify for the provincial exam without needing a recommendation from the county.”

Pei An was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. “Good, very good, excellent!”

He repeated the word “good” three times and said, “I thought Mr. Qin was gentle and mild-mannered, but it seems my judgment was off. This is the ambition a scholar should have—bold and proud!”

Pei An raised his cup to Qin Zhao. “I toast to you with tea instead of wine, Mr. Qin, and wish you success in the imperial exams!”

Qin Zhao raised his cup and drank with him.

After setting down his cup, Pei An sighed. “A talent like yours, Mr. Qin, shouldn’t be buried in this small county. You have no idea—today, while reviewing the records with the magistrate, we found that the official sent by the court to manage the waterworks in Liangguang took three months to come up with the idea of diverting the water flow.”

“To this day, the people of Liangguang are still grateful to that official, singing his praises. If you ask me, they just hadn’t met you yet, Mr. Qin.”

“If you had been there, you could have solved it in less than half a month!”

Qin Zhao’s gaze shifted slightly, meeting Jing Li’s eyes. He asked, “Do you know the name of that official, Master Pei?”

“This… I don’t know,” Pei An admitted. “I only heard that the official was appointed by the Emperor himself and was a top scholar. After successfully managing the waterworks, he was called back to the capital and is now a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Works. Why do you ask, Mr. Qin?”

Qin Zhao pondered for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

After dinner, Pei An continued discussing the water diversion plan with Qin Zhao in the study. By the time he finally took his leave, it was already very late.

Jing Li entered the study, carrying a bowl of herbal medicine.

Qin Zhao was reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, resting. Hearing Jing Li’s footsteps, he opened his eyes and said, “Why are you just standing there? Come over.”

Jing Li didn’t move.

…it was this herbal medicine that caused Qin Zhao to become like this.

But he didn’t say anything. Jing Li lowered his head as he walked over, placing the herbal medicine on the table.

Without any hesitation, Qin Zhao picked up the bowl and drank it down.

“Don’t be like this. Not drinking it will only make things worse,” Qin Zhao said softly, noticing what Jing Li was thinking. “Don’t doubt it. Chen Yan’an has seen me in that state. He still thinks I used to be a dealer of illegal drugs and that the medicine messed up my mind.”

As he said this, his tone was light, and he even chuckled a bit, as if recalling something amusing.

But Jing Li couldn’t bring himself to smile.

He couldn’t imagine what Qin Zhao looked like when the poison flared up, nor did he want to.

Jing Li didn’t bring it up again and said instead, “It’s okay, just a few more days. Once the county magistrate finishes the river diversion, they’ll be able to help you find the medicine.”

Before Pei An left, Qin Zhao had already listed the needed herbs and handed the list to him, asking for his help in locating them.

Pei An didn’t know much about medicine, and since the prescription wasn’t complete, he couldn’t tell what it was for. He only knew it was for treating Qin Zhao’s illness, so he didn’t refuse.

“Let’s get some rest,” Qin Zhao said, standing up, but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and almost fell.

Jing Li quickly stepped forward to support him.

Qin Zhao was taller, and his weight bore down on Jing Li, causing him to stumble and lean against the edge of the desk.

It looked as if Qin Zhao had pulled Jing Li into his arms.

Jing Li tried to help him up, but Qin Zhao didn’t move, just quietly holding him.

Qin Zhao turned his head, his slightly hoarse voice whispering in Jing Li’s ear, “This is the last time.”

Jing Li asked, “What?”

Qin Zhao’s voice was low, carrying a hint of threat: “This is the last time. If you ever appear troubled or downcast in front of me again, every time I see it, I’ll kiss you.”

Jing Li’s ears turned a bit red, and he asked quietly, “Is this to distract me?”

“No,” Qin Zhao replied. “It’s a punishment.”

With that, he patted Jing Li’s back, released him, and headed toward the door. “It’s late. Go to bed.”

The river diversion proceeded smoothly.

Thanks to Qin Zhao’s thorough preparation, the entire project took less than half a month, finishing just before the flood season arrived.

As for the herbs Pei An had promised to help find, those that could be bought directly from the pharmacies were no problem. However, some of the rarer herbs, which had no set price, could only be found by posting notices and offering rewards to the public. It would take time to gather them all.

Qin Zhao was mentally prepared and wasn’t in a rush.

All in all, they had been away from the village for nearly a month. Now that the flood issue had been resolved, they planned to return to the village and wait for further news.

Before leaving, Qin Zhao also asked Pei An for something.

“How are we supposed to carry all these medical books back home?” Jing Li sighed as he sat in the carriage arranged by the county magistrate, flipping through the stack of medical books that had nearly formed a small mountain beside him.

The small courtyard they had stayed in within the county was well-stocked with books, and Qin Zhao had almost brought all the medical books from there with him.

Qin Zhao said, “I’ve already sent a letter to the village chief, asking him to find a few people to help.”

Jing Li still didn’t understand. “But why did you bring back so many books?”

Qin Zhao replied, “I have my reasons. You’ll understand in time.”

Jing Li hummed in response, not pressing further.

Qin Zhao had always been decisive, and his decisions were never wrong.

However…

“Are you really going to take the imperial exams?” Jing Li suddenly asked.

Qin Zhao paused in organizing the books and looked up at him. “Why do you ask?”

“I’m not worried, really, it’s just that…” Jing Li’s voice grew quieter as he spoke. “I’m a little concerned about your safety.”

Ever since learning about the poison in Qin Zhao’s body, Jing Li had been more attentive to Qin Zhao’s identity.

He couldn’t believe Qin Zhao would willingly take such a dangerous poison—someone must have been trying to harm him. In that case, staying in the village was the safest option for him.

Even though some villagers still didn’t fully accept Qin Zhao, the small village was peaceful, and the people were kind-hearted.

But outside the village, it was a different story.

They still didn’t know who Qin Zhao was in the past, nor who might want to harm him. What if they encountered those people again in the future?

Without his memories, Qin Zhao couldn’t even be on guard.

“Xiao Yu, I did once consider hiding from danger,” Qin Zhao said. “These three years in Linxi Village weren’t just because of my illness. I knew nothing of my past, but I instinctively felt that danger and insecurity lurked outside the village.”

“So I stayed in the village for three years, not making enemies with anyone, just wanting to live quietly like this.”

“…But by now, you should know me well enough. I’m not someone who can be content living like this forever.”

Jing Li looked at Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao’s tone was still calm, but the efforts of the past days had taken a toll on him. He appeared even more gaunt, the little color that had returned to his face now completely gone.

He sat by the window, the sunlight casting deep shadows on his face, his skin so pale it was almost translucent.

He still looked frail, pale, and as fragile as when Jing Li had first met him.

But he had indeed changed.

Qin Zhao lifted the carriage curtain and looked out the small window into the distance. “I want to leave this place. I want to know my origins, and I want the person who made me like this to pay the price.”

“You understand me, don’t you?”

Of course, Jing Li understood.

That was Qin Zhao’s innate nature.

It was an indomitable spirit that years of illness couldn’t break.

“And besides…” Qin Zhao let the curtain fall and said softly, “Taking the imperial exams is for the sake of providing for a certain little fish, isn’t it? That county magistrate used the excuse of finding us medicine but didn’t give us a single copper coin in the end. If I don’t come up with something, how am I supposed to support my little fish?”

Jing Li: “…”

Am I really that hard to take care of?