ITVCFITB CHAPTER 19

 Chapter 19 — Entering the Palace

Luo Shuyu paced the room back and forth; the ice basins set all around could do nothing to cool the fire in his chest.

This had to be Shen Mingyun’s doing. Guarded against him a thousand ways and still failed to guard enough!

Right now he wanted nothing more than to storm over to Tranquil Cottage, drag Shen Mingyun out and beat him soundly, but he couldn’t. He had no proof.

His thoughts circled and circled; even his fingertips trembled. “What on earth happened?”

Qingwang fretted alongside his young master. “Shadow Nine only passed along one line that the Third Prince had met with trouble. I didn’t even have time to ask what happened before he vanished.”

Feng Momo tried to soothe him. “Young Master, don’t be too anxious. Perhaps the messenger rushed back for orders. His Highness the Third Prince will certainly be fine.”

Luo Shuyu kept pacing the room, unable to be still for even a moment.

Feng Momo added, “Young Master, a blessed man has Heaven’s favor. Since Shadow Nine could return to deliver a message, it shows there’s room to turn this around. It will be fine.”

“But the problem is what exactly happened to him?” Luo Shuyu’s anxiety spiked. Could it be something went wrong with the waterwheel drawings he’d given Li Mingjin?

Panic was useless; he had to think. “Qingwang, did you send people out to inquire?”

“I’ve already sent men to wait at the Third Prince’s residence for news,” Qingwang said. “Young Master, please wait a bit. Maybe there’ll be good news any moment.”

Luo Shuyu couldn’t sit or stand in peace; his heart seesawed up and down.

By dusk, the men he’d sent to the Third Prince’s residence returned but with no answer. The Third Prince hadn’t gone back.

“Did no one try the Ministry of Justice?” Luo Shuyu asked.

“Our people can’t get in,” Qingwang said. “And the Ministry of Justice seems to be under lockdown, if you stand outside and you’ll be questioned. Hard to guess anything.”

At this, Luo Shuyu felt his heart burn with worry. What had happened?

At this hour, Shadow Three and Shadow Nine would usually show up to deliver letters or report Shen Mingyun’s movements. Now there wasn’t a trace of either. Clearly, this wasn’t simple!

If he couldn’t find out, someone else could. There was a ready-made source in the Luo residence, Luo Renshou would certainly know!

Luo Shuyu headed straight for Luo Renshou’s study, only to find it empty. He asked a page and learned Luo Renshou was dining in Concubine Cheng’s quarters and went charging there at once.

Concubine Cheng’s maid was nearly frightened by his stormy manner and forgot to announce him.

Luo Renshou, just back at the estate, had barely swallowed a mouthful of soup when Luo Shuyu burst in; he almost choked. “Cough, cough.” Wiping his mouth, he put on a father’s airs. His wife had been “disposed of” by Luo Shuyu, and now the boy barged into a concubine’s rooms to make trouble. Smoldering, he barked, “What is it this time?”

“Father, I have something to ask, something grave.”

He truly feared him now, feared he’d haul up old scandals before a concubine. Waving a hand, Luo Renshou got up and told him to come to the study.

Servants passing in the corridor stole curious glances; it was rare to see master and third young master walking together. As if the sun had risen in the west.

Once in the study, Luo Shuyu dropped his usual composure. “Father, did you hear any word about the Third Prince at court today?”

For the moment, father and son hadn’t torn off all pretense. Luo Renshou still held some awe of the Third Prince and this marriage.

“What word?” Luo Renshou didn’t follow. “What about the Third Prince?”

“Did he attend court today?” Luo Shuyu pressed.

“He comes and doesn’t come, according to his moods,” Luo Renshou said, finally noticing his son’s off-kilter state. “What exactly are you asking?”

“He seems to have met with an accident,” Luo Shuyu said bluntly.

“An accident?” Luo Renshou’s brows lifted. “What accident?”

Though he maneuvered in court, Luo Renshou kept a low profile. He’d been quietly pleased over matching into the imperial house and was looking forward to Luo Shuyu’s entry into the Third Prince’s residence to raise his own standing. Now, hearing his son ask if the Third Prince had met with trouble, he was puzzled.

What trouble could the Third Prince have?

“I don’t know,” Luo Shuyu said, shaking his head. “That’s why I came to ask if you knew.”

“Where did you hear this?” Luo Renshou asked.

“Someone from the Third Prince’s residence told Feng Momo,” Luo Shuyu said. “He hasn’t returned home. Father, we may need to make inquiries at the Ministry of Justice.” The explanation was reasonable.

“Very well. I’ll send men to ask,” Luo Renshou said. How Luo Shuyu knew the prince’s movements he noted and tucked away. Perhaps the Third Prince truly held this boy in some regard. If there was feeling, then there was no tearing this apart in future.

Having finally glimpsed hope after rebirth, Luo Shuyu now faced sudden calamity. He couldn’t be sure whether anything like this had happened at this time in his last life, but right now he was both anxious and afraid. The images from the end of his previous life replayed in his mind; his chest grew tighter and tighter. He knew fretting was useless; he could only wait.

Just as Luo Renshou was about to send people to dig up news, the steward ran in to report that a palace eunuch had arrived, requesting to see both Luo Renshou and Luo Shuyu.

Father and son, full of questions, went to the front hall.

This eunuch served in the Empress’s palace and had come to convey her oral summons, commanding the two to enter the palace.

Luo Renshou asked why Her Majesty wished to see father and son; the eunuch shook his head, saying he was only a messenger. They need only follow him to the Empress.

For once their moods aligned; uneasy, they climbed into the carriage and entered the palace.

In his last life, Luo Shuyu had had little to do with the Empress. This sudden summons likely concerned Li Mingjin. Now, not only was he anxious to the bone, he was at a loss. What did the Empress want with them?

On the ride, struggling for calm, Luo Shuyu pinched the center of his palm until it bruised blue. Only when Eunuch Chen announced their arrival did he draw a deep breath.

Luo Renshou had nothing to say; he and Luo Shuyu had no common tongue anymore. He no longer understood this son, the boy had changed too much. He also noticed how strangely Luo Shuyu regarded the Third Prince. They’d had no dealings before; the betrothal was freshly decreed, why care so deeply? The Third Prince was capricious, could they live well together? Was there affection between them?

Looking at Luo Shuyu’s white face, Luo Renshou couldn’t help thinking of the boy’s birth mother. He’d inherited her looks, pale and fine, and her stubborn, proud spine. The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt.

The whole ride passed in silence; each was lost in his own thoughts.

By the time they reached the Empress’s Changchun Palace, lamps were being lit.

A eunuch had already gone in to announce the Luo men.

Inside, they found not only the Empress but also the reigning Emperor Tian Sheng, both seated upright, imposing in presence.

Luo Shuyu made a proper bow, unafraid. Tian Sheng bade them rise and even granted seats.

Neither sovereign bothered with pleasantries. Setting down his tea, Tian Sheng sighed, his expression troubled. “My good minister, we’ve called you in haste tonight because there is a matter we must discuss with you.”

Unease gnawed at Luo Renshou. “Your servant trembles. What would Your Majesty have me do?”

“It’s like this,” Tian Sheng said. “This morning Mingjin accompanied men from the Ministry of Justice out of the city to pursue a band of river brigands. It was very dark. When they chased to a cliff’s edge, the group disappeared. The men who returned reported that Mingjin fell from the cliff while fighting the brigands. His life or death is unknown.”

Half of Luo Shuyu’s heart froze at once; his face blanched; tears rimmed his eyes.

Why would Li Mingjin suddenly be out chasing river thieves?

He scarcely heard what Tian Sheng and Luo Renshou said next.

Until Tian Sheng addressed him: “Luo gongzi, three days hence is your wedding to Mingjin. The Empress and I have discussed this. If Mingjin has not returned in three days, there are two paths before you. One is to delay the wedding day; the other is to dissolve the engagement. We would not force you.”

Luo Shuyu quietly wiped his tears. Then his gaze firmed. “Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress, for your consideration. Since I am already betrothed to the Third Prince, whether he lives or dies, I am willing to marry him. I will wait for his safe return and will never regret it!”

Both sovereigns were moved by his resolve. They didn’t know whether the two youths had had any prior connection, but the tears that sprang to Luo Shuyu’s eyes were not feigned; his look was resolute. They had thought to cancel the match but now had to reconsider.

For Li Mingjin to gain a consort willing to follow without fear was no bad thing. Only, his life or death was still unknown; the pressure on Luo Shuyu would be great. If Mingjin truly had perished, Luo Shuyu would be left to guard a spirit tablet and never remarry. If he lived, then it would be a joyous fortune.

The Empress privately wondered why she’d never paid attention to the Minister of Rites’ ger before, snatched up by the Third Prince. The child was sensible and decent, matching him to the Crown Prince wouldn’t have been bad. Yet Luo Renshou lacked a great-clan pedigree, somewhat lacking. Still, she appreciated the boy; his character was excellent.

She asked the Emperor, “Then, Your Majesty, shall the wedding proceed as planned in three days?”

Tian Sheng sighed. “Since Luo gongzi has no objection and can wait, I shall let the ceremony continue. Luo Aiqing, you have raised a son of high virtue. I thank you on Mingjin’s behalf.”

Luo Renshou hastily knelt. “Your Majesty overpraises. This is what the child should do.”

Luo Shuyu knelt as well, wholly sincere. He had no complaint regarding the marriage. Such conduct raised him in both sovereigns’ eyes. The Empress even felt a pang of regret; he’d make a fine secondary consort for the Crown Prince. Alas, he’d been promised to the Third Prince.

When choosing a crown princess, she’d seen Luo Shuyu’s portrait; back then, his gaze had seemed too cold, and she’d tossed it into the “discard” vase. Now she felt a touch of remorse.

Unaware of her thoughts, Luo Shuyu bowed his head and pondered how Li Mingjin had fallen from a cliff.

In the book, during this period Shen Mingyun had no dealings with the Third Prince, not a single line. The story revolved around his tinkering with the waterwheel alongside Luo Shumo, and then blink, it was year’s end. So what happened to Li Mingjin in this time, Luo Shuyu truly didn’t know.

Li Mingjin, you’ll be alive, won’t you?

---

Author’s Note: Extra update—see how diligent I am.

Third Prince: Not only alive, but strong. Very useful!

Luo Shuyu: …Get out.

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Little note(s):
Luo men: Luo family/members of the Luo household. In traditional Chinese society, especially in imperial courts or aristocratic households, it was common to refer to families in this clan-style format. Luo as in the family name and men as in the household or clan.