ITVCFITB CHAPTER 44

 Chapter 44: Football on Ice

The Eldest Princess Consort’s plum-viewing party wasn’t the riot of spectacle the Crown Princess’s hundred-variety chrysanthemum feast had been.

Plum blossoms value refinement over abundance. In winter, “elegance” is the whole point.

Her guest list was likewise different, mostly ladies she regularly exchanged visits with, plus a few whose households still claimed neutrality. The aim was obvious: shore up and expand the Eldest Prince’s support.

Naturally the Crown Princess didn’t attend. Those two had been daggers-drawn for ages; if they could avoid crossing paths, they would. Private gatherings hosted by the other? Almost never.

Likely she didn’t think much of Luo Shuyu either that her refusal this time was especially brisk.

With the Crown Princess absent, all eyes drifted to Luo Shuyu, more so after the city’s latest rumor that he’d mastered some formidable “husband-taming arts.”

In his last life he’d kept a low profile, rarely attending these affairs unless duty forced him, and hardly ever showing any talent.

Today, with “elegance” the theme, verse was a must. He composed a poem on “plum,” nothing earth-shattering, but neat and balanced. Perhaps his new title cast a longer shadow than he liked—praise poured in from every side until he almost floated off the ground. He kept his footing, smiled through the compliments, and found the attention rather a headache.

In the second half, he ceded every chance to perform to the other ladies. No sense lingering at the Eldest Prince’s manor too long; it would dampen the host’s mood. As for “husband-taming”… absolutely not!

On his way out, the Eldest Princess Consort, Bi Ruoyao, sidled over. “Shuyu, you’ve heard Fourth Brother recently took a concubine?”

Not just heard—he knew it was Shen Mingyun.

Outwardly, the Fourth Prince followed the Eldest; but surely Bi Ruoyao didn’t imagine that because Shen had thrown himself into the Fourth Prince’s manor, the Third Prince and the Luo clan had joined their camp?

He saw what she was probing for and chose the safe angle. “My father said Fourth Highness fell for my cousin at first sight, and my cousin admired him back, so he entered the household. It was his own decision; the family didn’t interfere.”

Bi Ruoyao smiled lightly. “No other meaning, I only heard your cousin has a knack for trade.”

“Petty ventures,” Luo Shuyu said. “Nothing to concern yourself with.”

So she knew of Shen Mingyun, and now that he was under the Fourth Prince’s roof she saw a potential tool. This was a polite overture to pull in the Third Prince, testing the waters.

By downplaying Shen’s ability, Luo Shuyu handed her a choice: trust a legitimate prince consort… or a concubine angling for favor. Let her weigh that herself.

Seeing she’d get nothing more, Bi Ruoyao let him go.

After he left, she couldn’t help muttering to her maid, “This Luo Shuyu really refuses the cup offered and waits for the punitive one. I feed and fete him and he won’t bite, clearly he and the Third Prince are two of a kind.”

Her maid soothed her. “Don’t fret, my lady. The Third Prince hasn’t taken a side for years, useful to us as well. The Third Consort doesn’t dare stick his neck out, it's understandable. Better to sound out Shen Mingyun, see if he’ll cough up another diagram or some other edge for His Highness.”

Bi Ruoyao slid a pearl hairpin free. “True. And the ice football match is in a few days. Everyone will be there. Have Fourth Brother bring Shen along to ‘attend’ him. We’ll see what face Luo Shuyu shows then, bet we can pull him to our ship.”

“Won’t that backfire?” the maid asked.

“No harm. Fourth Brother bringing a concubine has nothing to do with us. The match is under the emperor’s seal.”

Winter amusement for the imperial clan, when the snow piled deep, so did the games. Also a handy venue for sovereign and ministers to mingle.

“My lady, don’t forget,” the maid added. “The Zhou princess may attend. His Majesty hasn’t named her match yet.”

“Oh? More interesting,” Bi Ruoyao said. “His Highness told me she’s keen on the Third Prince… calls him talented in letters and arms.”

“Shame the Third Prince only has eyes for his consort,” the maid sighed.

“This Luo Shuyu’s no easy mark,” Bi Ruoyao said. “We’ll see where the princess lands come match day.”

---

When Luo Shuyu returned home, Li Mingjin arrived just after him.

They changed out of snow-damp clothes one after the other.

Cradling the hand warmer Qingwang passed him, Luo Shuyu settled on the couch. “Your Highness, will you be playing in the ice match in three days?”

“Of course,” Li Mingjin said, tugging off his boots. “Lin Haiming and I were running drills today.”

Once he’d changed, he joined Luo Shuyu and took the hot tea offered.

“Are your injuries really all right?” Luo Shuyu asked.

Li Mingjin lifted both hands. “Look, already healed. I’m fine.”

“I’m still nervous,” Luo Shuyu said. “It’s full-contact on ice. One slip and you’re hurt again.”

Since their wedding, Li Mingjin seemed to collect injuries like trinkets; how could he not worry?

“Trust my martial skills,” Li Mingjin said.

“I trust you. I don’t trust others.” He shifted topics. “The Eldest Princess Consort probed me today.”

“How did you answer?”

“I follow Your Highness,” he said simply. “But she brought up Shen Mingyun, likely she knows that last diagram came from him and she wanted to see if we’re in league.”

“A nuisance,” Li Mingjin said. “Shen moving into Fourth Brother’s manor. Father won’t comment, but others will.”

“My thought as well. I’d wager he’ll be brought to watch the match.”

In the book, Shen had gone to the winter ice match with Madam Liu. With Liu gone, he’d have missed it, but by twist of fate he’d entered Fourth Prince’s household before the first snow. With no principal consort yet, bringing a “servant” along raised no eyebrows.

This was imperial entertainment, not a foreign reception; even His Majesty would bring a few favored consorts to watch.

“Do you like watching?” Li Mingjin asked, a touch tentative despite the spark in his eyes.

“I do,” Luo Shuyu smiled.

In their first year of marriage last life, Li Mingjin had played; Luo Shuyu had tagged along, never quite catching the thrill and feeling out of place. Later years, he hadn’t seen Li Mingjin take the ice again.

Different heart, different sky. Now he wanted to see Li Mingjin on the ice, swaggering, alive.

By the time they’d chatted a bit, dusk had dropped. Winter nights fall fast; lanterns bloomed across the manor.

Supper served both: meat for Li Mingjin, clear broths and light dishes for Luo Shuyu.

Afterward they set a board on the couch for go and promptly devolved to five-in-a-row.

Li Mingjin cheated shamelessly.

“Wait, not that move,” he said.

“Your Highness,” Luo Shuyu said dryly, “no take-backs.”

“I wasn’t taking back!”

“Then put the stone back.”

“…Let me think. This move. Definitely this one.”

“All right. I’ll even spot you a stone.”

“Why did you still capture me?!”

“Perhaps,” Luo Shuyu said, “Your Highness is ill-suited to board games.”

The stone clattered back onto the grid; the little table slid aside; Li Mingjin leaned in and pinned him. “Unsuitable for chess,” he murmured against his lips, “but very suitable for other things.”

The couch was narrow and their clothes half-on; after a teasing skirmish, Li Mingjin scooped him up and carried him to bed for a second round.

Not until midnight did he relent. Luo Shuyu, boneless, thought: If he’s training, why on earth does he still have this much energy at night? He must be slacking off!

---

Three days later.

Li Mingjin took Luo Shuyu to the lake.

They arrived fashionably late—just before the emperor. Typical Third Prince.

Even if His Majesty noticed, he’d say nothing. This son was incorrigible and heedless, but it made him feel like a father, not a sovereign. For that reason alone, despite the Third’s fierce reputation, life stayed comfortable; a thin thread of fatherly feeling held.

Bright sun, bitter cold.

Carriages circled the rink in a glittering ring.

Li Mingjin settled a fox-fur hat over Luo Shuyu’s head and wrapped him in sable. When they alighted, he held him at the waist so he wouldn’t slip; their boots whispered on the packed snow as they entered the windbreak pavilion.

“I look like a snowball,” Luo Shuyu said, nudging the brim. “Can I take the hat off?”

“No,” Li Mingjin said, stern. “You were coughing last night. You will not get sick.”

Luo Shuyu pinched him through the layers. “Whose fault is that? Who kept me up half the night?”

Guilty, Li Mingjin yelped theatrically, “Ow! My mistake. I’ll let you sleep early next time. It hurts.”

“You felt nothing,” Luo Shuyu sniffed.

“…” Impossible to bluff this spouse.

Their late entrance drew a dozen glances.

His furs weren’t the showiest, but their pale, clean lines were the most pleasing. The brightest, by contrast, was the Crown Princess, robed head to toe in crimson.

Out of the corner of his eye Luo Shuyu spotted Shen Mingyun seated behind Fourth Prince Li Mingchun, also in red, matching the Crown Princess by accident. He had the lit-up look of a child, wholly absorbed; the Fourth Prince leaned back now and then to trade a few words, smiles flowing easily. Loving, on the surface. Yet Shen’s seat was behind the prince, not beside him, no one was confused about his rank.

Among this crowd, he barely registered.

Feeling a stare, Luo Shuyu glanced over. Not far away sat a dignified young woman whose clear, striking eyes were trained on… him and Li Mingjin both.

“Your Highness,” he asked, “is that the Zhou princess?”

He knew most of the ladies present; only this one in deep-toned fur was unfamiliar. A reasonable guess.

With a straight face and a sudden oath, Li Mingjin said, “Mm. I swear I have not the slightest interest!”

Where did that come from? Luo Shuyu thought. Am I a jealous little thing to you?

“I believe you,” he said aloud.

“Good,” Li Mingjin said, satisfied. “I’ll score for you later.”

“All right.” By the time he looked back, the princess had shifted her gaze elsewhere.

One puzzle nagged: in the previous life, he’d never heard of a Zhou princess sent to marry. And the Zhou prince who’d tangled with Shen Mingyun, where was he?

Judging by Shen’s syrupy smiles at the Fourth Prince, there wasn’t a second man in the wings.

Then again, Shen had always been heedless, the sky no higher than his brows, every feeling written on his face.

His Majesty arrived with a train of consorts. The empress, down with a chill, had sent Consort Lin to sit at his side; the others took their places below.

Eight teams, arranged freely, would compete for the day’s honors.

Of the eight, the four adult princes each captained one. Every match ran two sticks of incense.

Don’t let their court robes fool you: Daxia’s scholars were meant to be as able with bow and spear as with brush. Even the civil officials ran like wolves, drawing cheers from the stands.

The first match pitted two civil teams, one led by the Crown Prince, who won, unsurprisingly.

The second was Fourth Prince’s civil team, which… lost. He was gracious in defeat, congratulating the winners warmly.

He knew how to win people’s hearts; the officials who’d bested him were all smiles. Only Shen Mingyun looked stricken as the Fourth Prince returned and then launched into a torrent of “analysis,” pointing out each “mistake.” Not catching that the Fourth Prince had meant to give the win away, he only deepened the prince’s frown.

Can he not read a face? Li Mingchun wondered.

The third match brought out the military, and the rink erupted. None of the scholar’s grace here, just crunching speed and counters in kind. A point, an answer; back and forth, nail-bitingly close. Tiger Down the Mountain took it in the end which was the Eldest Prince’s team, a banner of brutes.

Fourth match: Li Mingjin’s team versus another military squad, with his friend Lin Haiming at his side.

Nerves taut, Luo Shuyu stood with his hand warmer clutched, eyes fixed on the ice.

Consort Lin noticed and teased the emperor, “Third Consort looks quite worried for him.”

The emperor hid a smile. “Newlyweds. They’re still very sweet.”

Everyone knew by now the fearsome Third Prince was happily henpecked; affection goes both ways. A consort anxious on his husband’s behalf only showed true feeling.

Consort Lin had meant to slip a barb in but it bounced. She could only smile and swallow it and think that the Eldest Princess Consort didn’t work the room half as deftly as the Third’s new spouse.

Unaware he’d become a measuring stick, Luo Shuyu kept watching.

Spurred by that upright figure on the stands, Li Mingjin found his rhythm. Three goals in a row: clean and ruthless.

When the horn blew, he skated back and lifted his stick toward Luo Shuyu, flashing a victory sign that made the emperor chuckle.

Back in his seat, he let Luo Shuyu bundle him into furs. “I was brilliant, right?”

“The best on the ice,” Luo Shuyu said without stinginess. “I counted five for you. If it were me, I couldn’t put one in.”

Li Mingjin’s entire body seemed to glow under the praise.

Next up: the Crown Prince’s team versus the Eldest Prince’s: one for the annals.

Before the faceoff, Luo Shuyu, who’d drunk extra tea earlier from nerves, slipped off to the privy.

Eyes bright, Li Mingjin nearly insisted on escorting him. Luo Shuyu denied him righteously. It’s a privy, not a moonlit tryst.

On his way out, Luo Shuyu ran into two people coming from the corridor: Shen Mingyun… and the tall, clear-browed Zhou princess.

The princess’s cheeks were flushed to the ears. Embarrassment colored her whole expression.

---

Author’s note:
Third Prince: “Wife, let’s try a thrilling winter sport: ice pushcart!”
Luo Shuyu: “…”

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