Chapter III - Prince Rui Returns to the Capital
The first sight of Prince Rui after seven years away from the capital came with the sound of war drums.
Before dawn, thunderous hoofbeats rolled through the city gates like an approaching storm. Citizens abandoned breakfast stalls and tea houses, rushing toward the main avenue despite the freezing wind.
“The northern army has returned!”
“Prince Rui is back!”
“Move aside—move aside!”
Snow swirled beneath iron horse hooves as black-armored cavalry entered the capital in perfect formation. Crimson banners snapped violently against the winter sky, embroidered with the silver wolf emblem of Prince Rui’s army.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
The capital loved gossip.
But it feared Prince Rui.
Because unlike pampered nobles raised within silk-curtained mansions, this prince had carved his name into the empire through bloodshed.
At sixteen, he entered battle.
At eighteen, he defended three northern cities surrounded by enemy forces.
At twenty-five, foreign kingdoms feared hearing his title alone.
Now, at thirty-two—
he finally returned home victorious.
Inside Shen Manor, Qingyu nearly burst into Shen Li’s chambers without breathing.
“Miss! The army has entered the city!”
Shen Li looked up from the account books spread before her.
“So quickly?”
“The streets are packed already. Everyone says Prince Rui rode at the front himself.”
Qingyu hesitated before whispering dramatically: “They say he killed three enemy generals personally during the last campaign.”
The younger maids nearby shivered visibly.
Stories about Prince Rui had become almost mythological over the years.
Some said he slept beside his sword.
Some claimed he never smiled.
Others insisted he once executed corrupt officials directly within the palace halls while still wearing bloodstained armor.
To many noble ladies, marrying Prince Rui sounded less like romance and more like entering a tiger’s den.
Yet Shen Li only closed the ledger calmly.
“Prepare my cloak.”
Qingyu blinked. “Miss wants to go outside?”
“The army will pass through Vermilion Street.”
Which overlooked Shen Manor’s eastern tower perfectly.
And for reasons Shen Li herself did not entirely understand—
she wanted to see the man she would soon marry.
—
The city had descended into complete chaos.
Citizens crowded every balcony and rooftop along Vermilion Street despite the cold. Flower petals mixed with falling snow while excited voices echoed endlessly through the avenue.
When Shen Li reached the tower balcony, she immediately noticed another problem.
Liang Wenxuan stood there already.
Dressed in crimson robes, handsome as always, smiling lazily while surrounded by several young noblemen.
The moment he saw Shen Li approach, his expression shifted strangely.
For years, Shen Li had always sought him first in any crowd.
Today, she barely spared him a glance.
“Miss Shen,” one nobleman greeted awkwardly.
Shen Li inclined her head politely.
Liang Wenxuan studied her carefully. “You came to watch the procession too?”
“Yes.”
His smile stiffened slightly.
Before he could continue, sudden cheers erupted from below.
“The prince has arrived!”
Everyone turned instantly.
Black cavalry poured into the avenue like dark waves beneath falling snow.
Disciplined.
Silent.
Terrifyingly imposing.
At their center rode one man.
Prince Rui.
Even among thousands of soldiers, he dominated attention effortlessly.
He wore black armor edged in silver, a dark fur cloak draped across broad shoulders dusted with snowflakes. His features were sharp and severe, more striking than handsome, while the coldness in his expression carried the weight of countless battlefields.
This was not a man raised comfortably in court.
This was a blade forged through war.
The crowd’s excitement quieted unconsciously as he passed.
No one dared become too loud before him.
Then suddenly—
Prince Rui looked up.
Directly toward Shen Li’s balcony.
Everything seemed to stop for one suspended breath.
Their eyes met across falling snow.
Shen Li’s fingers tightened slightly around the railing.
His gaze was not cruel.
Not cold.
Only tired.
Deeply tired.
As though years of endless war still lingered behind his eyes.
Something in Shen Li’s chest stirred unexpectedly.
Before she could understand it, Liang Wenxuan suddenly stepped forward beside her and waved casually.
“Uncle!”
Prince Rui’s expression cooled instantly.
The prince guided his horse to a stop below the tower while soldiers halted behind him with perfect precision.
The pressure became suffocating immediately.
Every nobleman on the balcony straightened nervously.
Liang Wenxuan laughed lightly, pretending none of the tension existed. “Welcome back to the capital, Uncle.”
Prince Rui’s gaze moved from him… to Shen Li.
Then back again.
Only then did he speak.
His voice was low and calm, carrying easily through the winter air.
“You seem very free lately.”
Liang Wenxuan’s smile faltered slightly.
Everyone in court knew Prince Rui disliked useless nobles.
And Liang Wenxuan’s reputation for leisure was infamous.
Still, he forced a laugh. “The northern campaign ended successfully. Naturally this nephew came to welcome Uncle home.”
Prince Rui said nothing.
That silence somehow felt more oppressive than criticism.
Liang Wenxuan finally cleared his throat awkwardly and gestured toward Shen Li.
“This is Shen Li.”
The atmosphere changed subtly.
Everyone nearby held their breath.
Because technically—
Prince Rui and Shen Li had never formally met before.
Yet now they were about to marry.
Snow drifted between them quietly.
Shen Li lowered herself into a graceful bow.
“This daughter greets Your Highness.”
For a moment, Prince Rui simply looked at her.
Not hurriedly.
Not carelessly.
Carefully.
As though memorizing her face.
Then, to everyone’s shock, he dismounted personally.
Gasps spread across nearby balconies immediately.
Prince Rui almost never observed unnecessary etiquette.
Yet now he stood before Shen Li in the middle of the crowded avenue despite the snow.
Close enough for her to notice faint scars near his jawline.
Close enough to smell cold cedar and iron beneath his cloak.
“Miss Shen,” he said quietly.
His voice lacked the distance expected from a prince addressing a future consort chosen by decree.
Instead, strangely—
it sounded respectful.
Prince Rui glanced briefly toward the thin layer of snow gathering upon the balcony stones.
“The wind is strong today.”
Shen Li looked slightly confused.
Then Prince Rui removed his outer cloak.
The entire street froze.
Before anyone could react, he handed the heavy black fur cloak directly to Shen Li.
“Do not catch cold.”
Silence crashed across the avenue.
Even Liang Wenxuan looked stunned.
Because everyone understood what this meant.
Prince Rui was publicly showing consideration toward his future wife.
Toward Shen Li.
In front of the entire capital.
Shen Li herself hesitated briefly before accepting the cloak carefully.
The fur still carried traces of warmth from his body.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Prince Rui nodded once.
Then his gaze flickered toward Liang Wenxuan standing beside her.
The warmth vanished immediately.
“You,” he said calmly.
Liang Wenxuan straightened instinctively.
“Since you seem energetic enough for sightseeing, report to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow morning.”
Liang Wenxuan blinked. “…What?”
“The northern army requires funding review. You will assist.”
The young nobles nearby instantly looked sympathetic.
Everyone knew Ministry of Revenue work meant endless ledgers and sleepless nights.
Prince Rui mounted his horse again smoothly.
Before leaving, he looked once more toward Shen Li.
Snowflakes melted slowly against his dark lashes.
Then, very quietly—
quiet enough that only she heard—
he said:
“The sword I sent.
Did Miss Shen like it?”
Shen Li looked startled.
Not because of the question.
But because Prince Rui remembered.
Before she could answer, he had already turned his horse forward.
The cavalry resumed movement immediately.
Black banners disappeared gradually into falling snow while the avenue erupted into chaos behind them.
“He gave her his cloak!”
“Prince Rui actually spoke gently?!”
“Did you hear him ask about the gift?”
“Isn’t this… unexpectedly romantic?”
Meanwhile, Liang Wenxuan stood frozen beside Shen Li watching the retreating army.
For reasons he could not explain—
seeing Prince Rui beside her felt unbearably unpleasant.
Especially when he noticed Shen Li unconsciously tightening her grip around the black cloak still draped over her arms.