ITVCFITB CHAPTER 21

 Chapter 21 — A Smooth Wedding

Year 15 of Yuansheng, eighth month, tenth day. Clear skies.

On this day, the capital of Great Xia would bear witness to a grand imperial wedding: the Third Prince was to wed Luo Shuyu, the legitimate son of Minister Luo Renshou of the Rites Ministry.

In the Luo residence, the principal mistress was currently confined to the ancestral hall, yet not a single misstep showed in the great matter at hand; lanterns and festoons hung everywhere.

Luo Shuyu rose early to wash and dress, changing into an intricate set of azure-green wedding robes.

A ger’s bridal makeup differed from a woman’s: where women favored richer color, a ger’s was more restrained. Luo Shuyu usually wore none at all, but today they sat him before the mirror to shape his brows, dust on powder, and touch the lightest blush to his cheeks. Pale to begin with, he looked altogether different once finished.

Qingwang, serving as the page who would follow him to the prince’s household, watched and couldn’t help praising, “Young Master, you look truly handsome today. His Highness will be stunned.”

Luo Shuyu didn’t answer. Since Luo Shuyu’s tantrum in the Ruyi Court, every master in the residence knew the Third Prince had met with “an incident” and would nine times out of ten not appear at the wedding today and that someone else would come in his stead.

Feng Momo shot Qingwang a warning look, and he wisely fell back. She briskly changed the subject. “This is just right, Young Master. Even I’m moved looking at you. The title of ‘capital’s first beauty’ should rightly be yours.”

Luo Shuyu pulled a small smile; the powder on his face covered the shadow in his eyes.

Nanny Feng brought some pastries and murmured, “Eat a little first, it’ll be a while yet.”

He nodded and took a few bites.

No matter who came to fetch him today, he would not be afraid.

With Li Mingjin’s fate uncertain, he couldn’t exactly rejoice at the altar either.

How had he gotten through his wedding day last time?

Back then, likewise, they dragged him up at dawn to wash and dress. Compared to today, he’d worn a face full of worry.

Now, perhaps because it was his second time at this dressing table, and looking at his painted reflection felt oddly familiar, he was unexpectedly calm.

Others could insist the Third Prince would never return; he believed that Li Mingjin would. He held to it.

They hadn’t joined hands yet to topple Shen Mingyun. How could he leave this world first?

While Luo Shuyu moved from turmoil to stillness, Shen Mingyun, lingering over breakfast in Tranquil Cottage, was in a very different mood.

He was all smiles, waiting for the system to drop his 200 mall coins any minute. Just thinking of it made him giddy.

On a whim, he decided to go stand by the gate and watch the ancient wedding customs, thinking it would be fun to see. He was certain the one at the head of the procession would not be the Third Prince. To watch the fruits of his labor up close, what a delight.

Luo Renshou had sent his two elder sons, Luo Shumo and Luo Shuhan, to escort the bride. Though estranged from Luo Shuyu, they were family; for the clan’s sake they had to be there.

The wedding women were already set up in his courtyard; all waited for the imperial procession.

The auspicious hour arrived.

In the front hall, every member of the Luo household had their own thoughts. Old Madam Luo sat in the place of honor, waiting for Luo Shuyu to come bow and take his leave.

In the front hall, every member of the Luo household had their own thoughts. Old Madam Luo sat in the place of honor, waiting for Luo Shuyu to come bow and take his leave.

Shen Mingyun and Luo Shuyao were seated together, the former elated, the latter unsettled.

Fifth scoffed, “Cousin, if the Third Prince doesn’t show, third brother’s joy will be for nothing.”

Shen Mingyun nodded. “Exactly.” From a cliff that high, who could say if he still had a life to come fetch his beauty? “Fate is fickle.”

As the two chatted with their own agendas, a shout came from outside: “Master! The Third Prince’s wedding procession is here! The Third Prince’s procession is here!”

Fifth craned his neck to see just who had come to fetch the bride. Shen Mingyun wore the air of someone utterly certain the Third Prince would never appear. What he really wanted now was a smoke while he happily awaited his task reward.

He was about to go gawk at Luo Shuyu’s wedding attire when his stomach cramped. In his good mood he’d overeaten; he had to give up the gossip and hurry to the back to find the latrine.

With the procession’s arrival, the Luo household bustled into motion. Up front, Luo Shuhan led a gaggle of “talents” to block the main gate.

Everyone knew the Third Prince likely wouldn’t show, but appearances were appearances; the rite of blocking the door had to be played out, especially for an imperial wedding.

Excitement swept the crowd at the gate. Who would stand in for the Third Prince? Would it be the Fourth Prince, or some other clansman? The gossiping flames burned bright.

As Luo Shuhan and company whispered about what riddles to pose first, the groom rode up on a big bay horse with a scarlet flower at its bridle. Dressed in crimson wedding robes, the man looked familiar. If he was dressed as the groom, who else could he be? Luo Shuhan had the answer in his heart but didn’t dare say it.

This was the groom, not a stand-in.

Luo Shuhan was dumbfounded. Wasn’t the Third Prince missing? Then who is it?

At that moment, iron-blooded guards helped the groom down and handed him a cane.

As the second brother, Luo Shuhan stepped forward to conduct the ritual blocking. Swallowing hard under the chilling gaze of the man who looked as if he’d returned from hell, he said, “Your Highness, our family’s ger is a paragon of talent and beauty. You must answer our questions to our satisfaction before we allow you in to fetch your consort!”

The cousins behind chimed, “Y-Yes, now, the questions!”

Helper One: “Which porcelain is dearest in Great Xia?”

Helper Two: “Why must one not share a boat with one’s auntie?”

Helper Three: “Q-Question number…”

Li Mingjin stared, cold and silent. He answered nothing. The courtyard fell dead quiet—this had to be the least enthusiastic groom in door-blocking history.

Luo Shuhan dropped his voice, trying for a gentle, negotiating tone with the man whose aura could freeze marrow. “M-Maybe we…try a couplet?” Cousin Shen’s questions were truly too idiotic; not even a mosquito would buzz at them.

Li Mingjin’s face didn’t change. Cane or not, his presence was crushing. His gaze pinned Luo Shuhan where he stood.

Another sweep of those eyes and Luo Shuhan’s hands went cold. He stammered, “Very well, perfect pass! His Highness’s literary grace is indeed unmatched!”

Everyone: …

---

Once word came that the procession had arrived, the front grew lively. In back, the wedding women helped the veiled Luo Shuyu from his room into the hall.

Though marrying Li Mingjin a second time, he still had to be turned and positioned at others’ hands. So many steps, so many rules, his head spun. He wished he could skip straight to the bridal chamber and rest; they’d only just begun and he was already tired.

There’d been no news yesterday either; he truly didn’t care who came to fetch him. If it had to be a rooster at the altar, he’d grit his teeth and bow.

There were plenty of rites before meeting the groom. He still had to be put through them before even seeing a shadow.

The groom’s men were still being “blocked” up front. In back, Qingwang had to stick to him and couldn’t run around for news.

Feng Momo and the others waited nearby.

He went to bow farewell to “the high hall”: Old Madam and Luo Renshou. With his birth mother gone, many of the weeping steps were skipped.

Up front, the “blocking” lasted less than a quarter hour before they gave up. A servant came to say the groom would be entering.

Luo Shumo crouched before him. “Third brother, I’ll carry you to the sedan.”

In the last life, Luo Shumo had carried him out too. But after reading the book, Luo Shuyu had no wish to rely on him, least of all to be carried on his wedding day. He wanted as little entanglement with the Luo family as possible.

In that awkward beat, a crimson figure leaning on a cane appeared before him. Light brown eyes, cool as winter water, cut past the half-crouched Luo Shumo.

Everyone started. Wasn’t this against the rules?

“Li Mingjin.” The name slipped from Luo Shuyu before he could stop it, the man had just…appeared.

Seeing no arm or leg missing, he relaxed, though why the cane? His eyes grew wet.

Li Mingjin’s face was stormy, but the instant he saw Luo Shuyu, it gentled.

“My man doesn’t need you to carry him,” he told Luo Shumo, newly returned from “disappearance.”

He lifted a hand. A guard led up a handsome short chestnut horse with a scarlet ribbon. He reached his other hand toward the veiled bride and, in a tone that allowed no refusal, said, “Come.”

Luo Shuyu looked at him and quickly placed his hand in his. His lips moved, and as Li Mingjin drew him close he whispered again, “Li Mingjin.”

“I’m here. Don’t be afraid,” Li Mingjin said.

Days of tight-wound worry loosened at those words. The tears he’d forced back spilled over.

Li Mingjin tightened his grip and, low enough for only the two of them, said, “I’m taking you home.” He didn’t know why, but the words leapt out. What he least could bear now were Luo Shuyu’s tears; out those days, the one he’d most wanted to see was him.

“Mm,” Luo Shuyu answered.

Behind them, Luo Renshou shook his head. He couldn’t interfere. The Third Prince’s overbearing nature was no secret; he’d even flaunt it at his own wedding.

Luo Shumo read his father’s thought and stood. Looking up again, he saw Luo Shuyu’s hand firmly in Li Mingjin’s without hesitation at all. It was as if he’d never known this third brother. Had he yielded too fast?

The wedding women didn’t dare squeak. They could only paste on smiles. Proper or not, right now the Third Prince was propriety.

Li Mingjin helped Luo Shuyu onto the little horse and took the rein to lead him out.

Smiles blossomed all around as the crowd sent Luo Shuyu to the sedan with cheers.

At the gate, in front of the sedan, Luo Shuyu was about to dismount on his own when Li Mingjin suddenly lifted him down. The unexpected move made him start, not because of being carried (in the last life, heavily pregnant, he’d been carried more than once), but because of that ankle.

“Careful with your foot,” he whispered.

“The bride can’t touch the ground,” Li Mingjin replied softly.

Luo Shuyu’s lips parted, but he let it go.

The Third Prince did as he pleased; no one dared query him. Only when Luo Shuyu was settled safely in the sedan did everyone breathe again. The imperial household officials and attendants wiped sweat from their brows, the Prince’s antics were terrifying. They half-feared he’d haul the bride straight home and skip the altar entirely.

Was he avoiding hassle or just impatient?

No one dared speculate. Who wanted to die? Drawing blood on a wedding day would be inauspicious indeed.

The fetching went smoothly.

From the eastern quarter, the procession rolled straight to the Third Prince’s manor, drums and gongs thunderous, firecrackers crackling—a joyous din.

On the main avenue the crowds pressed in, children clamoring to see the “bride and groom,” townsfolk lining both sides.

“Which Prince is getting married? This feels grander than the Crown Prince’s wedding!”

“You don’t know? It’s the Third Prince! A friend of mine, her cousin’s sister-in-law’s elder cousin, serves as a second maid in the Ministry of Justice Vice Minister’s home. She said the Third Prince is marrying the Minister of Rites’ legitimate gongzi.”

“I heard the Third Prince is a fiend, three heads, six arms. By day he looks normal, but at night he turns into a monster. His right hand becomes a whip, his temper swings like a door. That delicate Luo ger, sending him is like sending vegetables to the chopping block. Will he even live past Mid-Autumn?”

“Then Minister Luo is truly ruthless, how can he throw his own son into a tiger’s den?”

“It’s the Emperor’s decree. Who dares defy it?”

“Gives me gooseflesh just thinking about it! Poor Third Young Master Luo…”

Inside the sedan, Luo Shuyu adjusted the weighty headpiece.

The firecrackers outside drowned out all talk. He heard none of it, only felt how different his heart was now.

Last time, riding in the sedan had been like ants biting him alive. This time, there was no fear of the days to come, only longing.

Swaying and swaying, until at last the sedan halted.

A hand lifted the curtain, strong and steady. Luo Shuyu knew it was Li Mingjin’s. His nails were always trimmed neat and even, his fingers clean.

He paused, set his own hand atop that palm. It was wide and warm, not too hot even in summer. He let Li Mingjin guide him down.

Their gazes met. Luo Shuyu lowered his head, focused on the warmth in that palm, and felt a wash of emotion, he was not only back, but truly, smoothly wed to Li Mingjin.

Behind the veil, a faint smile curved his lips; charm gathered at his brows. Li Mingjin nearly forgot himself staring.

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Author’s Note: First update.

Third Prince: My wife’s hand is so soft~ fits perfectly.
Luo Shuyu: …And just where are you putting my hand?

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