ITVCFITB CHAPTER 18

 Chapter 18 — Something Happened!

The moment Luo Shuyu turned away, he knew: Shen Mingyun was testing him.

“Heavenly King covers the tiger; the pagoda suppresses the river demon” these two lines had appeared in the book before. He remembered Shen Mingyun using them as a passphrase to make contact with people. So he was using this coded line now to probe Luo Shuyu’s origins. Too bad Luo Shuyu wasn’t from that era of theirs and wouldn’t automatically supply the countersign upon hearing the first half.

Shen Mingyun’s eagerness to jump out and try him was duly noted; it would be useful later. Truly, thanks for the reminder.

Back in Ruyi Court, after supper Luo Shuyu sat down to write Li Mingjin. His mood was poor today, so there was only a single sentence.

By now, exchanging a letter after dinner had become their habit; without one, neither slept well.

Keeping Lady Liu in a nunnery was already the greatest punishment for her. As for Liu Yong and Ping’er, now that they were in prison, the rest of their lives were more or less set. If they wanted to spend their days idling in clothes and reaching out for food, they’d best try it in their dreams.

The Lady Liu matter had come suddenly and been dealt with swiftly.

Even after drinking the calming soup Feng Momo sent, he lay down but couldn’t sleep. His head was full of Liu Yong and Ping’er’s words from earlier. He wanted nothing more than to kill Lady Liu to vent his hatred, but he still had to think of Li Mingjin and their future child; he had to accumulate virtue. May his mother’s spirit in Heaven protect their whole family to live out this life in peace.

The old madam had heard that afternoon that Luo Shuyu had fought with Lady Liu again, but never imagined that, just days before the wedding, he would uncover the truth of Madam Chen’s death and that it had been Lady Liu’s poison. Lady Liu had served at her side for years; when the old madam first heard, a chill ran through her. She summoned Luo Renshou to Fushou Court and scolded him roundly.

“Shou’er, I was the one who begged for Chen back then. She served me for ten years. I know she looked down on this rough old woman, but she was your wife in name and in truth. How could that Liu woman be so heartless! Vicious to the bone, a heart made of poison! And I trusted her! I’ll make sure she truly repents!”

“Mother, don’t anger yourself. If Shuyu hadn’t run into that scoundrel Liu Yong acting wild in the garden today, I wouldn’t have known either.”

“You dare say you didn’t know Liu Yong? I’ve heard plenty about Lady Liu’s subsidies to him. Used to come to the Luo estate every few days even before he was ‘proper’ kin, and now that he is, he treats the Luo home like his own!” The old madam pressed a hand to her chest. “What sin has our Luo family committed to end up with such relations?”

“Mother, have some ginseng tea.” Luo Renshou stroked her back. “Please be at ease; I bear responsibility for this.”

“If you don’t bear it, who will?” she snapped. “Shuyu’s got you by the handle now. And look at us, he’s thrown the house into chaos right before his marriage!”

Just then, Luo Shumo and Luo Shuhan asked for an audience outside.

The old madam dabbed away tears. “What sins, for my grandsons to suffer like this.”

No time had been heavier on Luo Renshou’s heart. The two brothers returned late, still stunned to hear that their third brother had clashed with their mother and that their mother had suddenly become a murderer who poisoned Madam Chen, admitted by her own mouth. Had they heard such from gossiping tongues, they would have beaten the messenger.

Too sudden! Far too sudden!

They had come to beg the old madam to plead with Luo Shuyu, but she only cried and cried, so in the end Luo Renshou took them to his study. He would not let the old madam go entreat Luo Shuyu.

“Father,” Luo Shumo asked, “is there some mistake? Why so sudden? How could Mother do such a thing to First Madam?”

Hot-tempered Luo Shuhan burst out, “Someone framed Mother! Father, Luo Shuyu must be slandering her!”

Their back-and-forth made Luo Renshou’s head throb. “Your uncle’s tryst with a maid was overheard by Shuyu. There are witnesses and physical evidence. They found more in that Ping’er’s room this afternoon! What argument do you have? Do you want to drag this to court with Shuyu? The proof is iron. When your mother confessed, she was perfectly clear-headed. Or do you think handing your mother to the magistrate would be better?”

There was nothing he could do; Luo Shuyu laid the evidence out and waited. Options were few; there was no room left to rescue Lady Liu, unyielding and merciless.

Then again, if Lady Liu had had no such handles, Luo Shuyu wouldn’t have gone this far. In the end, it was her greed.

The dowry matter alone had given him a headache. Now his wife would take the tonsure, how much gossip would the Minister of Rites bear?

Luo Shumo considered and asked, frowning, “If Mother isn’t here, what of Shuyu and Shuyue’s marriages?”

“Your grandmother will preside,” Luo Renshou said. “Go rest. I’m tired.” Since the decision was made, it couldn’t be changed. Besides, Luo Shuyu had the Third Prince as a shield; that was the main reason he couldn’t save Lady Liu.

After leaving their father’s study, Luo Shuhan went straight to the ancestral hall to see Lady Liu. Luo Shumo, however, hesitated between returning to his own quarters and going to Shen Mingyun’s and chose Youyou Cottage.

Shen Mingyun was in the courtyard devouring watermelon without a shred of decorum, spitting black seeds onto the ground.

“Pfft! Lowering a watermelon into the well is the best, just like iced! Big Cousin, what brings you? Come have a slice, it's so sweet!”

“No,” Luo Shumo said. “I’ve something to discuss.” Seeing Shen Mingyun’s careless ways sent a tremor through his heart. “Eat, but as a ger you should avoid too many cold foods.”

Shen Mingyun wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “What do you want to discuss?”

Leaning close, Luo Shumo whispered, “Do you remember you asked me the other day how to delay the Third Prince and Shuyu’s wedding? I’ve suddenly had an idea.”

Shen Mingyun’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

Looking into those eyes brimming with feeling, Luo Shumo reached out and brushed away a watermelon seed at the corner of Shen Mingyun’s mouth. “Naturally.”

---

The Lady Liu affair was smoothed over by Luo Renshou; in the coming days, all were to prepare for Luo Shuyu’s wedding, so no one was allowed to mention it. Liu Yong and Ping’er had been sent to the yamen to await judgment. That was Luo Renshou’s calming token to Luo Shuyu.

Over the next two days, Luo Shuyu’s attention was split between bridal preparations and tracking Shen Mingyun’s movements, eager to know how he meant to sabotage the wedding but lately, there’d been no sign.

He was clumsily stitching an ugly little sachet when, not watching his hand, he pricked his finger. Needlework really wasn’t for him. He set it aside and poured himself some water.

Just as he rose with the cup, Qingwang, who had been so steady of late, came rushing in, breathless. “Young Master, a message from the Third Prince’s residence, His Highness… something’s happened!”

The cup fell straight from Luo Shuyu’s hand and shattered at his feet. His heart clenched tight. What was bound to come… had come!

Author’s Note:

Third Prince: If my wife learns I’m in trouble, he’ll be heartbroken~~ He just loves me that much.

Luo Shuyu: …Not that heartbroken.

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