ITVCFITB CHAPTER 36

 Chapter 36: Caught in the Act

Luo Shuyu didn’t need anyone to explain what those little porcelain bottles were for. Any ger's first time required them.

He quietly pulled Li Mingjin’s robe back over the stash and pretended he hadn’t seen a thing.

He’d known this day would come sooner or later. Lately, even lying side by side at night, he could feel the difference in Li Mingjin’s eyes: hotter, hungrier. In the daytime too, they were practically glued together, as if Li Mingjin might swallow him whole at any moment.

In their past life they’d never gone with the flow like this, so Luo Shuyu had little experience. But refuse? Not likely.

“All changed. Let’s go,” Li Mingjin said, stepping out from behind the screen. He’d just spent several deep breaths tamping down his impatience, head full of thoughts he probably shouldn’t be having and now did his best not to look like a man in a hurry.

“Mm.” Luo Shuyu had seen him in only underclothes before; seeing him now, broad chest, a body far more solid than a ger’s, set his heart thumping. If he hadn’t glimpsed those porcelain bottles, he might not have reacted so strongly.

Luo Shuyu wore thin underclothes too, with a light outer robe thrown over to ward off the chill.

They slid open the side door to the bathing chamber. Steam rose in soft clouds; the spring burbled and gurgled.

Testing the water with his toes, Luo Shuyu heard a splash. Li Mingjin had already shed his clogs and stepped down with a clean whoosh.

Water beaded his skin; he ran both hands over his face. Droplets traced his chest as he sank to the pool’s bench and reached out. “Yu’er, come here.”

Luo Shuyu hesitated on the edge, then shrugged off the draped outer layer.

The water was perfect. He could feel Li Mingjin’s gaze roam over bare skin like flame. And he hadn’t even soaked yet—heat pricked everywhere. He kept his wits and sat down opposite him.

“Yu’er,” Li Mingjin murmured again, voice rough. “Come here.”

Luo Shuyu only smiled, back pressed to the pool wall and shook his head.

But Li Mingjin had been “prepared” for days. The moment those pale shoulders showed he’d already been holding on by a thread. What was left of his reason snapped like a reed; he pushed off the bench, slid through the water, and settled at Luo Shuyu’s side. If the mountain won’t come to me…

A flick of water to the chest. “Li Mingjin, promise me, soak properly.”

At this point, there was no promising anything. He caught Luo Shuyu’s wrist, one big palm closing at his waist. A gentle tug and Luo Shuyu toppled into his arms, ending up astride him whether he liked it or not.

“I don’t want to soak properly,” Li Mingjin said low. “And I’m not interested in playing Gentleman Liu.”

Luo Shuyu drew a steadying breath, gathered his courage, turned to face him and straddled properly, hands braced on his shoulders. “Don’t want to soak? Then what do you want?”

His eyes lit. “To finish the wedding night we never truly had.”

Luo Shuyu met his gaze, felt a firm something under him, and slid back a little. “Here?”

Li Mingjin’s hands curved under his thighs as he rose from the water. “Nowhere better.”

Luo Shuyu looped his arms around his neck in a panic. “Li Mingjin!”

“Don’t be afraid.” His voice warmed. “They say a ger’s first time isn’t so painful. I’ll be careful.”

Whether from steam or those words, Luo Shuyu’s face burned. He tucked himself into the crook of Li Mingjin’s neck and only then saw the low couch at the pool’s edge, padded and waiting.

You really came prepared.

After that, there was no room to think. Li Mingjin’s mouth found his, gentle at first, and they were swept into the long-delayed tide.

…

By late afternoon, Luo Shuyu’s voice was hoarse. Only when his fingers could no longer curl did Li Mingjin finally relent. Sated, he carried Luo Shuyu back into the pool for a perfunctory soak, rinsed them both, then took him to bed.

Drowsing off, Luo Shuyu had one last wry thought: if a man invites you to hot springs, don’t believe him. He only wants to complete the wedding night.

Curled around him, Li Mingjin drifted contentedly. Huh. He hadn’t even needed those porcelain bottles. Maybe that book wasn’t so accurate after all.

When Luo Shuyu woke, the sky was already dark, a single candle filling the room with gold.

Li Mingjin was propped at the headboard with a book. The instant Luo Shuyu stirred, he set it aside. “Awake?”

Luo Shuyu took his hand to lever himself up, stretched lazily. Strange how after crossing that line, something between them had eased. He wasn’t even especially shy.

“I’m hungry,” he said, voice soft from sleep, a hint of a whine sneaking in.

Li Mingjin kneaded his waist. “I’ll have dinner brought.”

Luo Shuyu leaned into him, encouraging the massage. “What time is it?”

“Just about You Hour¹.”

He lifted his gaze and realized Li Mingjin’s line of sight was not exactly… proper. He glanced down and saw his under-robe gaping open. Everything on display and a few flushed marks at his collarbone.

He fumbled to tie it. Li Mingjin moved faster, nudging him back and bending down again.

Luo Shuyu palmed his head away. “Li Mingjin, I’m really hungry.”

He glanced up, eyes smoky. “So am I.”

“Sit. Still,” Luo Shuyu ordered, climbing out of bed, mouth twitching despite himself.

Li Mingjin lay there a beat longer, then rolled up with a sigh and let himself be dragged to the hall.

For all that it was his first time, youth bounced back quickly; after a nap, Luo Shuyu looked fresh again. Dinner was light, at Luo Shuyu’s request, but there was still plenty of meat. Li Mingjin never pretended not to love it.

Halfway through, a stalk of greens landed in his bowl.

“Your Highness,” Luo Shuyu said, smiling. “Not only meat.”

Li Mingjin ate the vegetables like they were braised pork. Today, everything tasted good.

After dinner, they had two chairs carried into the courtyard to chat under the stars. The night was cool; there was no wind. Wrapped in Li Mingjin’s oversized outer robe, Luo Shuyu was perfectly comfortable.

He peeled a tangerine and handed half to Li Mingjin. They ate and talked.

“Tomorrow, let’s take some of these back,” Luo Shuyu said. “We can send oranges into the palace for Mother Consort.”

“Mm. Good.”

“Are we going back at first light?”

“Unless you’d like to stay another day.”

“You won’t go to court?”

Li Mingjin’s answer was breezy. “Father won’t mind.”

“That’ll make others jealous,” Luo Shuyu said, meaningfully.

They both knew who “others” meant.

“They’d prefer it this way,” Li Mingjin said frankly. He swallowed a sweet segment, then more tentative “Yu’er, do you want me to keep living like this?”

The tangerine paused in Luo Shuyu’s fingers. “Do you want to?”

He didn’t. Not truly. Keep drifting like this and he feared they’d slide toward the same ending as last time. He’d never found the right opening to talk about the future, wary of sounding like he was pushing. But Li Mingjin had brought it up. After giving his body, he could give his heart.

Li Mingjin tipped his head back to the stars. “I don’t know.”

Luo Shuyu set the fruit aside and crouched in front of him. Startled, Li Mingjin hauled him up and settled him on his lap. “Don’t crouch. It’s uncomfortable.”

Warmth ran through Luo Shuyu’s chest. He cupped that familiar face and brushed their mouths together. “Your Highness, whatever you decide, I’ll stand with you. That’s me, not the Luo family, not any faction. I’ve no rare treasures or mountains of gold, but I hope what’s in my head will help if you want it.”

Li Mingjin thought he meant his wit and clear mind. He tightened his hold and kissed him back. “Thank you, Yu’er. I never learned how to speak to those closest to me. Now, the closest person I have is you.”

“And the closest person I have, the one I trust, is you,” Luo Shuyu said simply.

“Good,” Li Mingjin said. “Then I’ll believe you.”

That single word believe wasn’t easy. In their last life, he’d never heard it from Li Mingjin’s lips.

Breaths mingled; Li Mingjin scooped him up and carried him inside. Round two began. Day into night; the whole day belonged to them.

And yes, exhausting.

—

He woke to full daylight, yesterday’s scenes replaying in his mind.

He touched his stomach. They were young and reckless; they hadn’t used… precautions.

Let their little treasure come later, he hoped, when life was steadier and then find Father and Daddy.

Li Mingjin rose earlier than he did. By the time Qingwang had finished dressing Luo Shuyu, the fruit was already packed to take along.

After breakfast, they headed down the mountain. At Luo Shuyu’s request, Li Mingjin had the kitchen make extra flatbreads to send into the palace too.

“Mother Consort likes flatbread?” Luo Shuyu asked.

“She misses her home country,” Li Mingjin said. “I heard her mention it once. If she likes it, she’ll eat. If not, she’ll reward it away.”

“She has it hard,” Luo Shuyu murmured. He guessed the distance had been to protect the child she was raising in a complicated place.

“Perhaps,” Li Mingjin said.

Personally, Luo Shuyu didn’t think relations between Mei Consort and Li Mingjin were as cold as people claimed.

Because of last night’s… exertions, Li Mingjin stayed in the carriage with him during the return, afraid his sleeping beauty would catch a chill.

Near the city gate, Luo Shuyu glanced out and froze at a familiar face.

He tugged Li Mingjin’s sleeve. “Your Highness, isn’t that the Fourth Prince?”

Li Mingjin lifted the curtain, eyes narrowing. “It is. And the one beside him looks… familiar.”

“Who?” Luo Shuyu leaned forward. “Shen Mingyun?”

He’d been wondering how to let Li Mingjin see the Fourth’s special interest, that single-minded, irresistible pull. Well. Heaven was very kind today.

Li Mingjin was puzzled too. He knew the Fourth appreciated Shen’s “talent,” but… “Why are the two of them getting out of the same carriage at dawn?”

“This won’t do,” Luo Shuyu said, tone suddenly severe. “I’m going to have a word. That’s our family name he’s dragging through the muck.”

Li Mingjin agreed. Others’ reputations were their own affair; his consort’s was not.

Their carriage pulled alongside. Li Mingjin hopped down, hand brushing the whip at his waist, and leveled a dark stare at his brother.

Two words: flat and sharp: “Explain. Now.”

The Fourth Prince actually startled. Seeing Li Mingjin there of all places, and Luo Shuyu peeking out behind him, there weren’t enough tongues to talk his way clear.

Shen Mingyun, who had no sense of the difference between “man” and “ger,” stared openly at the pair, curiosity written all over his face. He hadn’t expected to run into the perpetually grim Third Prince here.

The carriage tracks made it obvious: the couple had just returned from outside the city.

Luo Shuyu stepped down. Li Mingjin steadied him by the waist. Luo Shuyu pointed at Shen Mingyun, who was crouched on the step, and let anger flare. “Shen Mingyun! You bear the Luo name. You don’t spare a thought for your unwed younger siblings, and spend the night out with a man. What kind of example is that? Are you trying to ruin their chances? In the countryside, this is pig-basket justice²!”

In Great Xia, it wasn’t forbidden for an unmarried man and ger or girl to go out together for festivals, but slipping out at midnight and failing to return? That was another matter entirely.

Shen remembered being rescued by Luo Shuyu at the Crown Prince’s villa and swallowed any backtalk. “We didn’t do anything,” he said stiffly. “Don’t misunderstand. We were just stargazing. Ask him if you don’t believe me.”

Put on the spot, the Fourth Prince blanched. “Third Sister-in-law, it isn’t what you think.”

Oh, this is rich, Luo Shuyu thought. Fresh from “release” by the Fourth Prince, and they immediately went stargazing till dawn? Nothing to confess, hmm?

In the book, they were always slipping out together and no one knew, so their courage grew. Night trysts became the norm; thrilling, secret, even doing that under the open sky before marriage. Wild didn’t begin to cover it.

Perhaps they’d never imagined getting caught.

He turned his ire on the Fourth. “Your Highness, my cousin is foolish, but you’ve read the Classics. How could you? If some gossip-monger saw you, my cousin would never marry. In the countryside, they’d drown him in a basket! Are you trying to make our Luo family die on your doorstep?”

Li Mingjin backed him to the hilt, voice like iron. “If it were some alley blossom we’d keep out of it. But this is your Third Sister-in-law’s family name at stake. You don’t even care about his reputation? You disappoint me, Fourth Brother.”

Cornered beneath their one-two blows, the Fourth Prince finally gritted out, “Third Brother, I will go to Luo Minister and propose marriage. I won’t let the Luo name or Third Sister-in-law’s be smeared.”

Luo Shuyu flicked his sleeve, stepped onto the stool Qingwang had set down, and climbed into the carriage without a backward glance.

Li Mingjin gave the Fourth one last chilling look and followed.

Only then did Shen Mingyun unfreeze. “Wait...what? Your Highness, what are you talking about?” he yelped, scrambling upright. “Propose what?”

Inside the carriage, Luo Shuyu pitched forward into Li Mingjin’s arms and buried his face in his shoulder, his shoulders shaking violently.

Li Mingjin patted his back, heart aching. “Don’t cry, Yu’er. I’ll make this right for you.”

Author’s note:
Third Prince: “Wife cried again… I must be too amazing.”
Luo Shuyu: “…”

IsitRo?: I was going to explain this the first time Yu’er showed up, but I thought it’d fit better here since I tend to ramble. Yu’er is almost definitely taken from Lou Shouyu’s name, which is super common in Chinese nicknames. It’s a sweet, affectionate way of calling him. So yep, your boy Mingjin is being affectionate with Shouyu here. Hehe!

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