Thrice Married to a Salted Fish (Novel) (2025)

SCANDAL AND SLAUGHTERBeautiful, devious imperial physician Lin Qingyu has reunited with his husband, Gu Fuzhou. That leaves Lin Qingyu plenty of time to work against his archenemy, Crown Prince Xiao Cheng. Soon, Lin Qingyu uncovers Xiao Cheng’s deepest secret—one that could ruin the prince. Yet the only piece of evidence Lin Qingyu can put forward is a purple silk belt. Could such a humble item really interfere with an ascension to the throne, or will Lin Qingyu’s loathing of Xiao Cheng lead him to overplay his hand?Gu Fuzhou likewise faces a daunting choice as Great Yu continues to fight a war in the northwest, and the nation’s troops face increasingly grueling and grim circumstances. Everyone in court—and in the northwest—understands that victory is only possible if Great General Gu returns to the front. But Gu Fuzhou barely survived his last tour of duty. Does he dare leave the capital for the northwest, knowing that Lin Qingyu could be widowed again?

“IF ODD, CHANGE. IF EVEN, REMAIN THE SAME...”In the marquess of Nan’an’s household, Lu Wancheng’s death has left Lin Qingyu a young widow, and he loses no time fleeing his late husband’s hostile family to continue pursuing his dashed dream of becoming a physician. Indeed, the empire of Great Yu has never been as desperate for fine physicians—both the emperor and one of his finest generals are in such ill health as to threaten the country itself.Lin Qingyu’s medical talents are far from rusty, and soon enough, they ensure that he’s ushered into the imperial palace. There, he waits for someone to utter the secret code Lu Wancheng taught him—the code that begins “If odd, change. If even, remain the same…”When Lin Qingyu finally hears those words, the speaker isn’t the person he expected—nor are they the only person in the palace interested in Lin Qingyu. The young physician’s beauty and talent have created professional rivals and even more serious threats. The speaker of the secret code may have come too late.