ITVCFITB CHAPTER 47

 Chapter 47 – Danger!

Luo Shuyu had long since figured out what Li Mingjin’s frantic hints were about.

He was a winter baby of course he was hinting that his nineteenth birthday was almost here.

Before he and Luo Shuyu were engaged, birthdays hadn’t mattered much to Li Mingjin. But now, with Luo Shuyu here and every day together feeling good, he naturally wanted attention, wanted to spend every festival with him.

Deciding Luo Shuyu hadn’t caught on, Li Mingjin went gloomy two days before his birthday, even ate one bowl less at meals.

Luo Shuyu, however, went on as usual: reading, sketching, checking accounts.

The day before his birthday, Li Mingjin stopped hovering and shut himself in the study, spirits low.

Behind him, Luo Shuyu’s lips curled.

Their Highness was too cute. His face these two days practically screamed “my birthday is coming.” How could Luo Shuyu not know? He’d never forgotten and had prepared a gift early.

Young men didn’t throw big birthday banquets; they’d celebrate quietly at home.

He remembered: in the last life, Li Mingjin never hosted birthday feasts. On the day, he’d just accept what the palace sent and whatever other gifts arrived. Luo Shuyu had never even seen him eat longevity noodles. Back then, he hadn’t known his habits and never prepared them.

Thinking of his past self, he wanted to go back and smack him. Back then Li Mingjin must’ve wanted him to cook a bowl of longevity noodles.

Li Mingjin spent the whole day in the study, afraid his rotten mood would rub off on Luo Shuyu.

Which suited Luo Shuyu fine. Left him free to quietly set up tomorrow’s surprise, and to stash away the gifts and letter Mei Consort had sent. He’d bring them out tomorrow.

He’d learned this from the book, Shen Mingyun loved using “modern” tricks to surprise Li Mingchun. Some of those tricks weren’t bad; used on Li Mingjin, they’d be fun so long as both were happy.

He was going to give Li Mingjin a truly happy nineteenth birthday.

This was their first year married, he meant to make every day feel like an anniversary.

That night, Li Mingjin clung to his busy spouse and nipped him for a good while to vent. When he finally decided to tell Luo Shuyu tomorrow was his birthday, he found Luo Shuyu already fast asleep.

He wanted to punch the mattress. He shouldn’t have let him go so early, should’ve bitten a few more times.

If he still didn’t get the hint tomorrow, he’d just say it outright. It would sting, though his spouse not knowing his birthday after so many hints!

---

Birthday

When Li Mingjin woke, Luo Shuyu got up too.

He had morning court. Before leaving, he looked complicatedly at Luo Shuyu, who was fastening a jade pendant to him.

“Yuer,” he reminded, “think carefully, what important day is it today?”

Luo Shuyu pretended to search his memory. “Ah, if you hadn’t reminded me, I’d have forgotten Winter Solstice is the day after tomorrow.”

“…” He meant today.

Thus, Li Mingjin went to court in a mood.

Face like ice at dawn, he stood beside Fourth Prince Li Mingchun, also in a foul temper, and assumed he’d found a fellow sufferer.

“Third Brother, you’re in a bad mood too?” Li Mingchun ventured.

“Who says I’m in a bad mood? You blind,” Li Mingjin said darkly.

“…” With a face that long?

After court, Li Mingjin still checked in at the Ministry of Justice and didn’t return home. If his spouse didn’t remember his birthday, seeing him would sour his mood.

Meanwhile, Luo Shuyu was very busy at the residence.

He’d ordered fireworks days ago and sent Qingwang to confirm delivery.

Then he went to the kitchens to learn a dish, hoping Li Mingjin could taste meat he’d made with his own hands tonight.

A pity the plum-blossom wine he’d brewed wasn’t ready yet or he could’ve offered it to Li Mingjin’s lips this evening.

“Is the salt and soy just right?” Luo Shuyu asked the cook.

“It is, Third Prince Consort.”

“Good. We’ll slow-braise it in the jar. His Highness should like it.”

He rarely visited the kitchens; today he stayed most of the day, grabbing a casual lunch.

He spent the morning learning to braise meat, the afternoon learning noodles. He was going to cook longevity noodles.

Toward dusk, he sent someone to watch the gate and report the moment Li Mingjin returned.

Li Mingjin got back right at You hour, but headed straight to the study.

Clearly still brooding that his spouse “didn’t know” his birthday. Luo Shuyu cooked a bowl of noodles, then carried it to the study.

He knocked.

Inside, Li Mingjin was holding a book and pretending to read, joy nowhere on his face.

“Your Highness, are you busy?” Luo Shuyu called softly.

“Not busy.”

“Hungry?” he asked.

“Manageable.” Truthfully, he hadn’t eaten much at noon.

Luo Shuyu tipped his chin at the steaming bowl. “Want noodles? I made them.”

“I'll eat,” Li Mingjin blurted. Hearing he had cooked, how could he refuse? He forgot to be mad.

Luo Shuyu brought the bowl over; Li Mingjin stopped him. “Too hot, I’ll take it.” He noticed Luo Shuyu’s fingertips were red. “Burned or chilled?”

Luo Shuyu glanced at them and hid his hands behind his back. “I’m fine. Quickly, or it’ll get cold.”

Li Mingjin looked at him, then the noodles.

“Aren’t you going to ask why I made you noodles?” Luo Shuyu teased. He’d waited days, now he didn’t even ask.

Li Mingjin came around the desk and hugged him, bringing those fingers to his lips for a light kiss, eyes stinging. “I… didn’t dare ask.”

“Want me to tell you?” Luo Shuyu looped his arms around his neck.

“Tell me.” Li Mingjin tightened his hold, wishing he could press them into one person.

“You’ve been hinting so hard these days,” Luo Shuyu said, pecking the corner of his mouth.

“You were pretending?” Li Mingjin’s smile climbed and climbed.

“How else could I surprise you? I made you longevity noodles. Eat them now or they’ll cool.”

He let go reluctantly, sat obediently, and slowly finished the bowl his spouse had made.

“Good?” Luo Shuyu asked, watching him savor it.

Slurping down the last strand, Li Mingjin dabbed his lip. “It's fragrant. Did you add sesame oil?”

“I did. You like that note.” He did know him; his Highness was easy to read.

“Come on,” Luo Shuyu tugged him up. “Let’s eat in the main hall.” Once they finished, it would be fully dark, time for fireworks.

Li Mingjin, entirely satisfied, would do whatever his spouse said.

Two days of gloom vanished with one bowl of noodles.

Led into the main hall, he could smell rich meat even through the thick curtains.

Sitting down, he was stunned.

Every dish was one of his favorites.

He reached for his chopsticks, but Luo Shuyu pressed his hand. “Guess first, which dish did I make?”

“Can I guess while tasting?”

“You can.” Luo Shuyu poured him wine. “My own plum wine isn’t ready, but try this one. Guess where it’s from?”

He tasted. “Not bought outside…” Another sip; a blink. “Mother Consort?”

Luo Shuyu nodded. “Mm. She sent it last night. Good?”

“Good. Sweet and mellow.” He licked his lips, regretting the big swallow.

No time to linger, Luo Shuyu placed a piece of red-braised pork in his bowl. “Try this.”

He had no hobbies but this meat in all forms. Especially easy to please.

“This one is yours,” he said at once.

“How can you tell?” Luo Shuyu laughed.

“The cook’s red-braised pork runs salty. Today’s is on the sweet side. If it’s not hers, it must be yours.”

“Smart, Your Highness.”

“Didn’t know you had this skill,” he praised.

Luo Shuyu just smiled. He’d practiced for days and threatened An San’s stipend to keep quiet.

The menu looked homely, but it was packed with care.

They ate slowly, sipped a little wine. By the end, Li Mingjin had that pleasantly tipsy glow.

Just then the courtyard suddenly bloomed with light.

They stepped outside.

In the snow-swept center, red candles formed seven characters:

【祝殿下生辰快乐】— Happy Birthday, Your Highness.

And then the night sky was replaced by fireworks.

Li Mingjin gripped Luo Shuyu’s hand tight.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four…

Nineteen bursts. When the last faded, Luo Shuyu murmured, “Happy birthday.”

The next instant, Li Mingjin crushed him into an embrace and Luo Shuyu wrapped him back.

He was too choked to speak, everything collapsed into two words: “Thank you.”

All this, for his birthday.

His mother had forgotten his birthday for years; being able to drink her plum wine this year was surely thanks to Luo Shuyu.

And longevity noodles, cooked by his spouse.

He’d truly believed Luo Shuyu didn’t know. The act had been flawless.

On top of that, fireworks. Every detail thawed a heart that had grown colder year by year.

That night, moved beyond words, he took Luo Shuyu to the clouds more than once. After, he held him and kissed his brow. “Yuer, you’re too good to me.”

“You were good to me first,” Luo Shuyu said, nestled against him. “I’m only returning it.”

A hand wandered under the quilt. “Then let me keep being good to you?”

A palm braced to his chest. “No. I’m sleepy.”

He lifted those flushed fingers and kissed them. “All right. No teasing. Sleep.”

Luo Shuyu found a comfortable spot and drifted off.

Li Mingjin, after a day of highs and lows, couldn’t sleep right away. He stared at Luo Shuyu’s face for a long time before drowsiness finally came.

Nineteen years, and this was the happiest. May next year be the same.

---

He also received the palace’s customary gifts. His brothers sent presents too, but none outshone Luo Shuyu’s. Many had seen the fireworks over the Third Prince’s residence and knew the consort kept him company that night. The capital’s husbands were green with envy. What more could a man ask?

By now everyone in the capital knew the Third Prince had married well.

Storytellers retold the fireworks night again and again. Without anyone noticing, the Third Prince’s public image had shifted.

Households even started rethinking taking gers as primary spouses. With Luo Shuyu as an example, a well-bred ger could hardly be a bad choice.

His mother Chen-shi had been born to a great house. The Chens were once famed in the capital, only exiled after a crime. With that pedigree, Luo Shuyu had hardly “dragged down” the Third Prince. They were well matched.

For all his rising name and the Third Prince’s favor, none of that benefit flowed to Luo Renshou.

His status had climbed on Luo Shuyu’s coattails, but the Shen Mingyun mess kept the city watching their sons and daughters.

By now, the Luo household’s past had been dug up beyond recognition.

Lately nothing went right for Luo Renshou. Liu-shi’s death remained unresolved, and because of a promise to Luo Shuyu, her funeral couldn’t be grand. She was buried quietly, known only to father and two sons.

Worse, Luo Shumo drank himself stupid over Shen Mingyun’s move into the Fourth Prince’s residence and recently redeemed a courtesan from such-and-such pavilion, making noisy nights in his courtyard. Luo Renshou nearly died of anger.

On top of that, he’d failed to satisfy the emperor on some business and was scolded. Everyone said he’d sired a fine ger, but he hadn’t enjoyed a drop of the luck.

After work, Luo Renshou went drinking with colleagues and didn’t come home, comfort found in soft fragrance and warm jade.

After Winter Solstice, more things happened.

The Crown Princess, coddled like a pearl, miscarried. The fetus couldn’t be saved. The Crown Prince was despondent for days.

Over at the Eldest Prince’s, there was schadenfreude.

---

Luo Shuyu didn’t need to leave home to know the world.

Still, when the weather cleared, he did go out.

Year-end neared; he wanted to buy New Year supplies, stroll a bit, look for novelties. Rumor said Shen Mingyun had opened a fried chicken cutlet shop. It's quite popular.

Li Mingjin had an old case to review and couldn’t accompany him. He went alone, planning to bring back a sauce-braised pork knuckle from Fu Man Lou.

He had no interest in rouge and powder, so he skipped those shops and wandered.

At a jade shop, he’d barely stepped in when he saw a slogan on the left wall:

“Prince Consort’s Favorite: Mutton-fat Jade Bracelet. Your Top Choice!”

On the right:

“Same-Style Love Token as the Third Prince’s Gift to His Consort!”

“…” Since when had he received a whole collection of “love tokens”?

Worse, customers crowded the counter, picking through them. Whose idiotic idea was this?

He left only to find the same elsewhere…

This place sold “the consort’s favorite pastries,” that place “the Third Prince’s favorite fan.”

Fans. In midwinter.

After a circuit, he could barely stand the titles “Third Prince” and “Prince Consort.”

It was cold outside; he decided to head straight to Fu Man Lou for the knuckle and some hot tea.

No sooner had he sat than loud shouts and a rush of feet echoed from the street.

Someone was yelling “Catch the assassin!”

He pushed open the window and looked down, just in time to see Li Mingjin on horseback, whip in hand, face like iron, directing officers.

“Seal this street!” he ordered, voice cold. “No one leaves! Search and bring me the assassin!”

Luo Shuyu quietly admired that stern, focused Li Mingjin.

Below, Li Mingjin suddenly looked up, meeting Luo Shuyu’s gaze. Luo Shuyu gave a small wave.

Li Mingjin saw his spouse and a shadow flicker behind the curtain.

His brows snapped down. He swung off the horse at once.

Yuer is in danger!

---

Author’s Note:
Third Prince: Wife, let’s play cops and robbers tonight! You’re caught! Strip, face the wall!
Luo Shuyu: …

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