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ITVCFITB CHAPTER 32
Chapter 32: The Crown Princess’s Invitation
Three days had passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival.
That night’s courtesan contest ended in chaos when child traffickers stirred trouble among the crowd. Curious onlookers, eager to see the so-called number one courtesan of the capital, Liang Xian’er, pushed past the guards, flooding the stage area.
According to Shen Mingyun’s description, it was basically like a celebrity fan mob.
But Shen Mingyun himself had already left midway that night, strolling through the night market with the Fourth Prince, thinking nothing else would happen once Liang Xian’er took the stage. He had no idea that before her performance even began, the frenzied crowd nearly tore off her carefully prepared costume. She was only saved when guards rushed in to escort her backstage.
And just like that, the courtesan contest collapsed again.
For the second time in a row.
The investors who had poured money into it were practically pulling their hair out and breaking out in mouth ulcers from the stress.
Worse still, once the authorities investigated, they discovered multiple children had been abducted in the chaos. Parents flooded the magistrate’s office the next day with reports of missing sons and daughters.
The Capital Prefect immediately submitted a memorial.
Hosting such massive entertainment events in the capital was clearly a security risk—not just to the people, but potentially even to His Majesty. If shady elements kept using the crowds as cover, who knew what could happen?
Within two days, an imperial decree was issued at record speed:
[Any public gathering of more than fifty people within the capital must be registered in advance with the authorities.]
Even while “resting his injured leg,” Li Mingjin knew everything. Unlike the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince, he never underestimated the Emperor. Their father hadn’t won the empire from five rival princes by being oblivious. Old age only made him sharper, not weaker.
Try to take power from him now? You might as well try pulling a tiger’s whiskers.
These days Li Mingjin showed up at the Ministry of Justice in the mornings just to sign in, then returned home to “recuperate.” In truth, he was spending his afternoons with Luo Shuyu. The Ministry officials were more than happy to have him absent, one less temperamental prince to worry about.
Today he even stopped at a pastry shop, personally buying osmanthus cakes for Luo Shuyu.
The two sat together in the garden pavilion, sharing pastries and dried fruits.
When Luo Shuyu learned that the courtesan contest had collapsed yet again, he tilted his head curiously. Li Mingjin, tearing strips of beef jerky with his teeth, explained the new law.
Luo Shuyu was stunned. This move, it was brilliant. Using the law itself to choke Shen Mingyun’s little scheme, and no one could complain.
“On the surface, the courtesan show isn’t banned,” Luo Shuyu mused, “but enthusiasm will dwindle. The longer they delay, the colder the crowd grows. By the time the second season even starts, the novelty will be gone.”
Li Mingjin smirked. “Exactly. And the approval process won’t speed up. Too many offices involved. Meanwhile, smaller, meaningful events like martial arts contests, poetry gatherings, cooking competitions can all pass quickly. Only spectacles like Shen Mingyun’s ‘Courtesan 101’ will be tied up for months.”
Luo Shuyu couldn’t resist smiling. “Truly clever, Your Highness. No one can fault you for it.”
Li Mingjin glanced at him lazily. “Do you know which side the Capital Prefect is leaning toward these days?”
“The Crown Prince?” Luo Shuyu guessed. “He’s the only one who can openly oppose the Eldest Prince right now. And Father wouldn’t block a law that strengthens order in the capital.”
It was true. If the Crown Prince pushed for stability in the Emperor’s own city, His Majesty would only support him.
Luo Shuyu looked at Li Mingjin with new admiration. Not only was this man farsighted, he gave credit away freely, letting the Crown Prince claim the accomplishment. Truly, he was a hidden treasure.
Li Mingjin, pleased, plucked up another piece of cake. “Smart. Here, your reward.”
And he hand-fed it straight to Luo Shuyu.
…Luo Shuyu opened his mouth and chewed, a little helpless. Before he realized it, he’d been fed three pieces already, and Li Mingjin was aiming a fourth at his lips. He quickly pushed his hand away. “I’m not a pig, Your Highness. At this rate, I won’t eat supper.”
Li Mingjin only sighed regretfully, already plotting to buy more pastries tomorrow.
Later, Luo Shuyu asked softly, “The children abducted that night… were they found?”
Li Mingjin nodded. “We’d stationed men in advance. With the prefecture’s help, the kidnappers were tracked to their den. More than forty children were rescued. Some were taken that night, others who knows when.”
Luo Shuyu’s chest tightened. “But some may never find their parents again…”
“They’ll be placed in Fuxin Orphanage. The court will fund them.”
At that, Luo Shuyu’s eyes burned red. Memories of his lonely childhood, his mother’s early death, rose unbidden.
Li Mingjin panicked. “Did I say something wrong? I’m sorry.”
He remembered a general’s drunken advice: If your wife cries, apologize first. If that fails, kneel.
Luo Shuyu sniffled and wiped his eyes. “No, it’s not that. I just thought… we should send them food and clothes. Winter is coming. If they can’t survive the cold…”
Li Mingjin immediately took his hand. “Then in a few days we’ll go see the children ourselves. There’s a maple grove near the orphanage, we can enjoy the autumn leaves together.”
“Good,” Luo Shuyu said, heart easing.
As the sun dipped, they returned to the main courtyard. Steward Sun approached, leading a palace eunuch.
The eunuch bowed. “Greetings to Your Highness the Third Prince and to Your Highness the Third Prince Consort. The Crown Princess is holding a chrysanthemum banquet in a few days. This is her invitation for the Third Prince Consort.”
A chrysanthemum banquet so soon after Mid-Autumn? Interesting.
Luo Shuyu opened the invitation. He already guessed the real reason.
In his last life, he hadn’t attended, Madam Liu hadn’t taken him. Only later did he learn from books that it was at this very banquet Shen Mingyun caught the Crown Prince’s eye.
The chrysanthemum banquet was no mere garden party. It was a matchmaking stage.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess still had no children, and though the Princess remained favored, her barren womb was a problem. The Empress had ordered her to host this banquet, inviting girls and boys from respectable families. Outwardly, it was flower-viewing. In truth, it was to select concubines for the Crown Prince.
As soon as the eunuch departed, Luo Shuyu sent someone to confirm. Sure enough, all the unmarried Luo daughters and sons had received invitations, including Shen Mingyun.
It seemed Grandmother intended to send someone into the Eastern Palace. But who?
That night, Luo Shuyu and Li Mingjin played chess on the small couch.
Seeing him distracted, Li Mingjin poked his cheek. “What are you thinking about?”
“The chrysanthemum banquet,” Luo Shuyu admitted. “I think the Crown Princess means to find a concubine for the Crown Prince.”
Li Mingjin raised a brow. “The Crown Prince never seemed anxious about heirs. How can you be so sure?”
“It’s not him who’s anxious,” Luo Shuyu said. “It’s those above him. Otherwise why invite all the eligible youths of the capital to admire chrysanthemums?”
Li Mingjin wasn’t too bothered. “So what if he does? Perfectly normal.”
“But Shen Mingyun will be there,” Luo Shuyu murmured.
In the book, it was at this very banquet that Shen Mingyun first caught the Crown Prince’s attention, rambling knowledgeably about chrysanthemums, showing off his “talent.” From then on, his reputation only grew.
Would history repeat itself?
Li Mingjin only chuckled. “Let him try. Have you forgotten the poetry gathering? He plagiarized Li Bai.”
“Oh, right.” Luo Shuyu smiled faintly. That was, after all, the day he and Li Mingjin had first met in this new life.
That night, Li Mingjin pinned him down in bed, breath hot against his ear.
“Don’t you dare forget the day we first met,” he growled.
Blushing, Luo Shuyu gasped, “I’ll remember, I promise, just don’t… don’t…”
Meanwhile, at Leisure Pavilion...
Shen Mingyun gnawed a greasy chicken leg, cursing at his system. “This new regulation is total bullshit! Obviously aimed at me. If I can’t keep running ‘Courtesan 101,’ how am I supposed to make money? And now they say it was the Crown Prince’s doing? System, can’t you sabotage him for me?”
【System: Unable. If the host fails the mission within the time limit, it will count as failure.】
Shen Mingyun spat a bone onto the table. “…So I actually lost money on this?”
【System: After deducting performance costs, you earned nothing and suffered a net loss.】
“…F***!”
Just then, a servant came with a message: “Young Master, the Old Madam says you’re to remain in the residence these days. In a few days, you’ll attend the Crown Princess’s chrysanthemum banquet.”
Shen Mingyun sneered. “What’s so great about a bunch of flowers?”
The servant replied, “Not just potted ones, Young Master. The Princess had entire fields of chrysanthemums planted. They say it’s breathtaking.”
Shen Mingyun perked up. “Hmph. Then I’ll go see.”
At that moment, his system chimed:
【New mission: Become friends with the Crown Princess and earn her trust.】
Shen Mingyun nearly choked on his chicken grease. “Her husband just screwed me over, and you want me to cozy up to her? Are you insane?”
The system: 【……】
Author’s note:
Third Prince: “Did I touch you here? Or… here?”
Luo Shuyu: “…Get lost~~”
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