ITVCFITB CHAPTER 100

Chapter 100 – Add Fuel to the Fire

Did Luo Shuyu drop that “cut-sleeve” story on purpose? Of course he did, planting a thorn right in Shen Mingyun’s heart.

Shen told himself he didn’t care. He’d crossed worlds, married the Fourth Prince, built a family, two children now (three, if counting the one he lost). Weren’t transmigration tales always about the beloved staying true to the protagonist? He had a system; the Fourth fell for him at first sight; their love was solid. Obviously.

If the “guard” Luo hinted at was actually Zhou’s Second Prince in disguise, then Luo was just sowing discord, had to be. Zhou Er had liked him first, after all, before teaming with the Fourth. How could those two end up liking each other? Impossible. A misunderstanding!

He smacked his own forehead and forced the doubt down… but the seed was planted.

Zhou Er shadowed the Fourth daily now. The Fourth had martial training but not Li Mingjin’s battlefield ferocity; Zhou Er’s skills made him a convincing “bodyguard,” close at hand. Shen said he wasn’t bothered yet every time he watched the pair leave and return together, his stomach knotted. Zhou Er used to trail him. When had that changed? And when was the last time the Fourth shared his bed? The last time they sat alone and simply talked?

He refused to chase the thought to its darkest end. The Fourth, in his mind, remained the gentle, learned man who had once doted on him, a contender for the throne only to survive. The Fourth would not betray him. He clung to that.

Still, by morning, curiosity won. He watched the elder boy finish lessons, then asked after the Fourth’s whereabouts. No court today, the Emperor still bedridden, so where had he gone so early? He hadn’t even slept in their room; another night in the study, as if old habits hadn’t needed revising now that Shen had slimmed down.

Panic flickered. He wanted to know the truth.

The estate guards took orders from both masters. Shen pinged the system first: “Any tracker in the shop? I need to follow someone.”

“Apologies, host,” the system said smoothly. “No tracking devices. Too advanced for this world. If you want someone’s movements, send men to tail him.”

Logical… and yet strange, given some of the “props” the system had offered before. Was it refusing because it knew whom he wanted to track? Shen shook it off. Fine, use people.

Near dusk the Fourth returned. Shen, uncharacteristically meek, waited in the dining hall to eat together. The Fourth hadn’t expected a single hint from Luo Shuyu to set all this in motion.

Zhou Er had his own bolt-hole in the capital; after the Fourth dropped by, the “guard” didn’t come back to the prince’s mansion, leaving husband and husband alone for once.

“Busy today?” Shen asked casually.

“Very. With Father ill, Third Brother and I are handling a great deal,” the Fourth said, easy, practiced. In truth, he’d been tangled up with Zhou Er all day and was pleasantly exhausted. The stolen sweetness had become an addiction: a perfect fit in mind and body, a shiver down to the soul. It made avoiding Shen that much easier. Once he’d liked Shen; now that he’d tasted “true love,” he craved time with Zhou Er.

Shen made small talk and believed the answers. After dinner he brought the child to the study and found the Fourth freshly changed, sprawled, drowsy and a red mark peeking at the nape of his neck.

“Why not sleep in our room? You’ll catch cold in here,” Shen suggested, eyes fixed on that mark.

The Fourth’s mind snapped awake. Too careless with Zhou Er… He scratched lazily at the spot. “Mosquitoes. Been biting me. I was going to come back last night, but I nodded off.”

Relief loosened Shen’s shoulders. “I’ll have salve sent in.”

“Come, let’s walk the grounds with the children. Help digestion,” the Fourth said, steering the conversation away.

Shen loved a family stroll; suspicion melted in the warm air. That night the Fourth bathed the little ones, tucked them in, then feigned instant sleep himself, “too tired” and Shen let it pass.

At dawn the Fourth slipped out again. This time, the shadow Shen had assigned followed “for the prince’s protection,” he’d told the guard, so it wouldn’t feel like betrayal. By evening the report was tame: official calls, meetings, nothing amiss. Still, Shen ordered continued “protection.” He told himself it was prudence. The Fourth remained blissfully unaware he was being watched.

Li Mingjin’s side, meanwhile, already had a dossier on the Fourth’s private chaos. They only needed the right moment to let Shen see.

---

Duanwu, the Dragon Boat Festival.

The Emperor dozed and woke by medicine’s rhythm. Mei Consort sat frowning, so many years of vigor, and now old age in a breath. Freedom was coming; she wanted only for her son to seize the realm.

“What are you thinking, beloved?” the Emperor asked, blinking awake.

Mei’s expression smoothed in an instant. “The cabbages in my garden. I’ll fry you a plate tonight.”

“Let’s have the Third and his spouse to dine. I miss Chongchong,” he said.

They came; they ate; Li Mingjin never once raised the heir question. To the Emperor, it felt like the Third truly had no desire for the throne.

Chongchong laughed for anyone, but in his grandfather’s arms he promptly warmed Li Mingjin’s hands with a little accident. Li Mingjin’s face froze. “Did you just pee?”

Two soft hmphs later, Luo Shuyu and Mei stole off to change the pad while a maid brought hot water for Mingjin to wash. The Emperor chuckled. “He likes you.”

“He’s done that too many times,” Mingjin grumbled, drying his fingers.

“You watch him yourselves at night?” the Emperor asked.

“Mm. We sleep better with him close.”

“Good. He’ll grow close to you.” The Emperor had many sons; not one truly close. Regret was useless.

Mingjin leaned in. “Any wisdom for raising a teen? Shu-yu says there’s a rebellious phase.”

Flattered, the Emperor launched into fatherhood talk. Whether Mingjin used any of it later hardly mattered. An hour on, with Chongchong fast asleep, the young family withdrew.

Back home, after washing up, Luo Shuyu murmured, “Mother said Father has begun drafting the succession edict several times. He can’t finish.”

“I know. He hesitates,” Li said.

“Shall we… add a spark?”

“Naturally.” He caught Luo Shuyu’s hand and tugged. “But first, there’s a fire right here that needs tending.”

“…I’m being serious,” Luo said flatly.

---

The spark caught.

After nearly a month of tailing, Shen Mingyun’s man finally delivered a new address the prince had been visiting.

“Who went in with him?” Shen asked.

“The mysterious ‘guard,’ Your Highness.”

So that’s where they “conspired.” Perfect for a surprise visit.

He smiled, already imagining the look on the Fourth Prince’s face.

---

Author’s Note:

Third Prince: Darling, surprise! Look, big, right?

Luo Shuyu: …

(We’ve officially hit 100 chapters! Woosh~~)

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