ITVCFITB CHAPTER 27

 Chapter 27: The Show Begins

In recent days, Li Mingjin had deftly redirected the blueprint Luo Shuyu gave him into the Crown Prince’s hands. The Crown Prince was no pushover and stirred things up enough that the Eldest Prince could hardly sleep. Bit by bit, the trace of suspicion Li Mingjin harbored toward Luo Shuyu waned.

From the start, he’d found Luo Shuyu’s sudden kindness a little too odd. Crying the first time they met, then taking the initiative to deliver the blueprint. He’d kept a cautious mind. But after Shadow Three’s investigation and the Crown Prince’s personal verification of the plans, there seemed to be no harm intended. His consort was trustworthy. More importantly, he couldn’t find a single fault: outstanding in every way, kind-hearted, exactly his type, and with an excellent temper.

When Luo Shuyu asked about Chen Rong, Li Mingjin also watched his expression. The question was natural; there was nothing off in his eyes.

Li Mingjin finished the millet cake, tugged Luo Shuyu to sit where he’d been, and asked, “Why the curiosity about his background?”

Luo Shuyu had only taken notice upon seeing Chen Rong because the sight of someone connected to the book brought the plot back to him. He didn’t want to miss a single useful thread.

Bringing millet cakes to the study had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. He hadn’t prepared a neat cover like he had for the blueprint. With the sudden question about Chen Rong, he lacked a tidy reason until a thought struck. Since Shen Mingyun always waved around an “old foreign gentleman” to explain his endless novelties, he could just as well invoke his own previously fabricated “trustworthy, mysterious informant.”

“Do you still remember the mysterious person I mentioned to you?” Luo Shuyu asked.

“I remember,” Li Mingjin said. He’d never met this supposed figure likely someone Luo Shuyu had encountered before the imperial betrothal.

“I’ve heard a great deal from him,” Luo Shuyu continued smoothly, simply personifying the book he’d once read. It wasn’t really a lie. He kept his tone earnest. “He once mentioned a certain Mister Chen brilliant and resourceful, a rare talent. I wondered if that might be the same Mister Chen in our residence. That’s why I asked.”

“So that’s it.” There was no need to hide a retained adviser. “Chen Rong approached me himself,” Li Mingjin said. “His ancestors produced a Zhuangyuan; after the dynasty changed, the family moved south. Clean background. Odd man, though no interest in the imperial exams, but as you said, sharp and farsighted. I’d had recommendations before and ignored them, figuring any true talent would choose the Crown Prince or Eldest Prince. To my surprise, he offered himself to me. I asked why the Third Prince. He said he wanted safety. I’m not sure what he meant.”

“Perhaps only what it sounds like,” Luo Shuyu said.

“In any case, it’s just one more mouth to feed. No harm done.”

Luo Shuyu smiled. “True enough.”

Now wasn’t the time to broach “that seat.” The Eldest Prince and Crown Prince were already at each other’s throats. Why not watch them fight to the death and toss in a stick or two as kindling now and then? Far more entertaining.

Li Mingjin brought up another matter instead. “We return to your family tomorrow. Need we add to the gifts?”

“Follow the rules; no more,” Luo Shuyu said. He felt no attachment to the Luo household, only dislike. If not for the Prince’s face, he wouldn’t keep even this formality.

Li Mingjin already understood the grievance between Luo Shuyu and Madam Liu. Luo Shuyu had never stained his hands with blood; sending Liu to a nunnery was, to him, already a heavy penalty. To Li Mingjin, weeds must be pulled up by the roots. Once Liu entered the nunnery, he would make sure she learned that was only the beginning of punishment. His consort should not be sullied; such work was a husband’s to shoulder.

On the second day of their marriage, they stayed in to cultivate feelings, Li Mingjin couldn’t leave the residence anyway.

That night, the wind shifted and autumn in the air. Li Mingjin practiced kissing again, leaving Luo Shuyu’s face flaming before he let him go. He was improving and finding that “eating mouths” in bed was maddening, the urge to go further stronger each time. If only his body weren’t betraying him. He regretted that foolish stunt days earlier more times than he could count. Too young, too dumb.

The third day was the return visit to Luo’s. Li Mingjin insisted on accompanying him. Luo Shuyu eyed his foot, but Li Mingjin held firm, and in the end Luo Shuyu capitulated. Even so, they left late.

More important than getting to Luo manor was tending Li Mingjin’s leg. They set out only after changing his poultice.

At dawn, Luo Renshou had sent the steward to wait by the gate and told the old madam to be ready, no loss of face before the Third Prince. She told him to hurry to court. “What, is the Third Prince going to eat me?”

It was barely an hour before noon when the couple arrived at the Luo gates.

The steward, who’d been standing there since morning, nearly had his brains blown cold by the wind and his knees turned to water. Seeing the Third Prince’s carriage, he was moved to tears and promptly fell to his knees.

Luo Shuyu: … The dog-eyed steward kneeling so quickly, now that’s rare.

Li Mingjin, leaning on his consort’s arm, hobbled into the Luo manor. Greeting them was the eldest son, Luo Shumo. Facing the brother who was about to consign his mother to a nunnery, Luo Shumo still wore an amiable smile. Luo Shuyu found it too fake and marveled at his elder brother’s inhuman level of endurance.

“Greetings, Your Highness, Third Prince Consort. Father will return to dine with you both at noon. He sent me ahead to receive you.”

Li Mingjin’s face was its usual impassive mask. Luo Shumo sensed his displeasure and kept smiling.

“Eldest Brother, there’s no need to stand on ceremony,” Luo Shuyu said coolly and politely. On the walk to the main hall, he noticed unusual commotion. Servants were whispering, faces full of excitement. Clearly it had nothing to do with his visit. “A happy occasion in the house today?”

Luo Shumo’s polite mask slipped, and pride crept in. “There’s a competition outside today. The servants want to go join the fun, probably gossiping about it.” Thinking of Cousin Shen’s idea, he couldn’t help feeling pleased for him, though he didn’t plan to tell Luo Shuyu what Shen Mingyun was up to.

A competition? Luo Shuyu thought.

He’d been enjoying himself these past two days and had almost forgotten the start date for “Courtesan 101.” He glanced at Li Mingjin; the latter patted his arm twice, face dark, patience thin. “Weren’t we seeing Grandmother? Move. We have business after lunch.” His “patience” next to Luo Shumo’s was like heaven and earth.

Which suited Luo Shuyu fine, an excuse to leave early. Staying here only curdled his stomach.

He smiled inwardly. “Yes, Your Highness.” Likely eager to see the courtesan contest.

Luo Shumo didn’t understand their silent exchange. Hearing Li Mingjin’s chilly tone to Luo Shuyu and seeing Luo Shuyu smiling along, he’d think the Third Prince was his debt collector and Luo Shuyu owed him tens of thousands in gold. He guessed his third brother wasn’t having an easy time in the Third Prince’s residence. But wasn’t that inevitable? Who could ever rein in the Third Prince? It had only been two days.

Because of his leg, Li Mingjin sat in the front hall while Luo Shuyu went alone to pay a token visit to the old lady. After this, he likely wouldn’t need to deal with the Luo household for a long time.

He and the old lady had little grandparental affection. She wasn’t overly warm when he arrived, she only asked why the Third Prince hadn’t come in. Luo Shuyu said he was unfit to enter the inner courtyard. She relaxed, then, noting that Luo Shuyu looked well, asked if the Third Prince treated him properly and urged him to produce a royal grandson as early as possible.

Why that “reminder” about a grandson?

Everyone knew: although His Majesty had many sons, each one a standout, his luck with grandsons was thin. The Eldest Prince’s household had produced two daughters. The Crown Prince’s was worse that he’d even taken on two side consorts, yet, including the crown princess, the bellies remained still after two years. Who knew why.

If Luo Shuyu produced the first imperial grandson, his standing would soar above other princes’ consorts. Mother by child ennobled: the firstborn grandson would draw far more favor than the second.

They say one cannot presume to read the sovereign’s will; yet everyone tried, expertly.

Luo Shuyu listened and took note. Sometimes other people’s words pointed the way. The old lady had shot blindly and hit the mark. He had no wish to stand out before the Emperor. It was a turbulent time, and the Emperor still hale. He didn’t want their child to come too soon.

He feared the suffering that would bring.

In his last life, by the time their child came, the Emperor already had a royal grandson, the Crown Princess’s. At the full-month banquet, the Emperor named the child Crown Grandson, a sign of immense favor. But the boy was frail, whether by thin fate or being born too early and died before the age of two.

Later, the second to bear a royal grandson was Shen Mingyun, married to the Fourth Prince. The Emperor, still grieving, heaped rewards upon them. For a time, the Fourth Prince and Shen Mingyun were unmatched in glory.

Because of the Crown Grandson’s precedent, the Fourth Prince’s household didn’t hold a lavish full-month banquet. They said they’d save it for the first-birthday “catch-the-lots” ceremony instead since too much blessing was heavy for a tiny child. Very low-key, which made the Emperor remember that son he’d long neglected and he began to rely on him more.

This return visit hadn’t been in vain.

After sitting a while, Luo Shuyu went back to the front hall so Li Mingjin wouldn’t be bored.

Just outside Fortune-and-Longevity Hall, he ran into Luo Shuyao, who was on his way out. The latter spotted him as well, face twisted with resentment, but seeing the burly matrons at Luo Shuyu’s side, didn’t dare mouth off.

As Luo Shuyu passed, he hissed, “You just wait, someone’s going to deal with you.”

Luo Shuyu heard it clearly. He stopped, turned, and stepped toward him. “Who’s going to deal with me?”

Startled by the pressure of his approach, Fifth stammered, “…You misheard.”

“Luo Shuyu,” the consort said coldly, “you’ll pay for that mouth of yours one day.”

In the book, Shen Mingyun hadn’t tormented him much, but after declaring in public that his temper was like a fishwife’s, the Fifth’s marriage prospects plummeted. He ended up as a second wife to a man with a legitimate heir already. With Madam Liu still around then, that man treated him sincerely enough; beyond that, Luo Shuyu knew little.

Having properly spooked him, Luo Shuyu pondered the threat. The Fifth spoke without thinking; all his emotions showed on his face, straightforward, quick-tongued, and fond of trouble.

Back at the main hall, Luo Renshou had returned and was talking at Li Mingjin, who nodded politely now and then. Anyone else would have snapped long ago; good thing Luo Renshou could swallow it.

Lunch was prepared to honor esteemed guests. It had been a while since Luo Shuyu had eaten this well in his natal home. It only cooled him further toward them.

Before leaving, he reminded Luo Renshou, “Father, is Madam Liu still in the manor?”

The minister’s face darkened. “I will see to it. You, be at ease and do your duty as Third Prince Consort.”

“Then I hope Father will move quickly before Mid-Autumn,” Luo Shuyu said.

Only then did Luo Renshou sense how ruthless he could be. Before Mid-Autumn, wasn’t that tomorrow?

His breath caught. He was about to speak when Li Mingjin urged, “We’re going.”

Without a backward glance, Luo Shuyu followed him out, while Luo Renshou posed at the doorway with feigned reluctance.

They didn’t go straight home but drove to Yunsheng Avenue.

“Where are we going?” Luo Shuyu asked, realizing the hint at Luo manor had been genuine. “To watch the courtesans’ contest?”

“Of course. You’ll enjoy it.” Li Mingjin had said he’d handle “Courtesan 101.”

A full cleansing of the flower districts was impossible since too many nobles and officials were entangled with the brothels, but stopping the contest itself was doable.

Luo Shuyu didn’t press, he’d see soon enough.

The scene was packed: men of letters and dandies in tiered seating; hundreds more “live audience” below, each waving wooden placards inked with slogans “support signs,” as Shen Mingyun called them in the book.

Li Mingjin led Luo Shuyu to a private room in a restaurant with a perfect view of the stage.

From there, Luo Shuyu could see Shen Mingyun chatting and laughing with two or three people, men and women. In his excitement he even clapped a man on the shoulder, laughing loud and carefree. He’d plainly forgotten his “ger” persona, but understandable since at heart Shen Mingyun was a man, and a man who liked men.

Following Luo Shuyu’s gaze, Li Mingjin said, “He’s smart. A show everyone can watch without paying looks like a loss, but he’s using the crowd’s hearts. They’ll open their purses without knowing it.”

“His way of thinking isn’t like others,” Luo Shuyu said. Not that it was his idea, just a copy from elsewhere none of us have seen.

“No wonder Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother praise him. Good ideas make good coin,” Li Mingjin said. Who wouldn’t want a walking money bag?

Shadow Three had shadowed them up.

“How far along is the competition?” Li Mingjin asked.

“Over halfway, Your Highness. Sixteen brothels remain,” Dark Three reported.

“Mm.”

Luo Shuyu diligently poured tea for him. “Your Highness, what exactly did you bring me to see?”

Li Mingjin’s mouth tugged, his version of a confident smile. “Give it a bit. The better show starts any moment.”

Luo Shuyu couldn’t help it, he smiled.

“What are you laughing at?” Li Mingjin asked, inexplicably miffed.

“You,” Luo Shuyu said.

“What about me?”

He chose his words. “Mm… you look quite handsome.”

“…” So his wife thought he looked handsome when he smiled.

The sweetness in the booth didn’t last. Just as he was savoring being called “handsome,” a roar rose from below.

Li Mingjin bounced to his feet, tugging Luo Shuyu to the window. “The show’s begun.”

Luo Shuyu looked down toward the performance grounds. Chaos reigned across the entire venue!

---

Author’s Note:
Third Prince: Wife, do you prefer “heh-heh-heh” or “hey-xiu hey-xiu”?
Luo Shuyu: …滚 (scram).

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Little note(s):
Hey-xiu hey-xiu: It’s an onomatopoeia in Chinese that mimics the rhythmic sound of physical exertion, especially doing the deed.