Chapter IV - Rumors Beneath Red Silk
After Prince Rui’s return to the capital, Shen Manor became impossible to enter quietly.
Invitation cards arrived endlessly.
Banquets. Tea gatherings. Poetry salons.
Even noble ladies who had ignored Shen Li for years suddenly remembered her existence overnight.
Or rather—
they remembered Prince Rui.
Qingyu carried another stack of invitations into Shen Li’s chambers with visible annoyance.
“The Marquis’ wife wishes to invite Miss for tea.”
“She ignored you for three years,” another maid muttered.
“And Lady Zhou suddenly sent snow lotus pastries this morning,” Qingyu added. “Yesterday she was still telling others you’d become an abandoned woman.”
Shen Li continued threading silver silk through embroidery calmly.
“That is because yesterday I was merely Liang Wenxuan’s delayed fiancée.”
“And today?”
Shen Li lowered her eyes slightly. “Today I am Prince Rui’s future consort.”
The difference changed everything.
Not because she herself had changed—
but because the man standing beside her had.
The entire capital now viewed her differently.
More carefully.
More cautiously.
Even the palace had begun sending officials personally to oversee wedding preparations.
Outside the courtyard, servants carried crimson wedding silks from room to room while tailors knelt measuring fabrics beneath lantern light.
The scale of the preparations shocked everyone.
Because this was not merely a noble marriage anymore.
This was a prince’s wedding.
And the Emperor clearly intended to honor it lavishly.
Qingyu suddenly lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“Miss… there’s another rumor.”
“There are always rumors.”
“They say Prince Rui rejected six marriage proposals from noble families over the years.”
Shen Li paused slightly.
Six?
“Why?”
“No one knows.” Qingyu leaned closer dramatically. “Some say he dislikes women entirely.”
The younger maids gasped.
Another whispered: “I heard he once frightened a princess from a neighboring kingdom into tears during negotiations.”
“That one’s true,” said an older servant passing nearby.
The room instantly quieted.
The servant continued matter-of-factly: “The princess tried sitting beside His Highness during a banquet. He looked at her and said her perfume smelled strong enough to kill cavalry horses.”
Even Shen Li nearly smiled.
Qingyu looked horrified. “That’s terrible.”
“But effective,” the older servant replied wisely.
Laughter spread softly through the room.
For the first time in many winters, Shen Li’s chambers felt unexpectedly lively.
Then a servant entered hurriedly.
“Miss, the palace seamstresses have arrived.”
—
The next several days passed beneath endless preparation.
Wedding robes embroidered with gold thread.
Jewelry selections.
Ceremonial etiquette rehearsals.
The entire Shen household became consumed by imperial marriage arrangements.
And through it all—
Prince Rui continued sending gifts.
Not extravagant treasures meant to display wealth.
But thoughtful things.
A hand warmer after hearing Shen Li’s hands became cold easily during winter.
Medical herbs for Madam Shen’s chronic headaches.
Rare books after discovering Shen Li enjoyed history.
Even Qingyu eventually whispered suspiciously: “His Highness notices frighteningly small details.”
Shen Li pretended not to hear.
Yet every time another gift arrived, her fingers lingered slightly longer upon the accompanying notes.
The messages remained brief.
Simple.
Never overly familiar.
But somehow they felt more sincere than all seven years she had spent with Liang Wenxuan.
—
Unfortunately, not everyone welcomed her approaching marriage.
Especially the noble ladies of the capital.
At a tea gathering hosted by the Minister of Justice’s wife, conversation eventually drifted toward the upcoming wedding.
“Miss Shen is truly fortunate,” one young noblewoman said sweetly. “Though… marrying Prince Rui must feel frightening.”
Several ladies exchanged glances.
Another sighed delicately. “His Highness spends more time on battlefields than in the capital. I heard he once executed prisoners personally.”
“How terrifying…”
“And his temper—”
“Enough.”
The sudden interruption silenced the pavilion instantly.
Everyone turned toward Shen Li.
She set down her teacup carefully.
Her voice remained perfectly calm.
“His Highness protects the empire at the border while others enjoy peace within the capital.” Shen Li lifted her gaze slightly. “If such a man is called frightening, then perhaps comfort has made us overly delicate.”
The pavilion became awkwardly silent.
No one dared continue criticizing Prince Rui openly after that.
But several ladies looked displeased.
Particularly Lady Xu.
Beautiful, proud, and daughter of the Left Chancellor.
For years, rumors claimed her family hoped she would eventually marry Prince Rui.
Now Shen Li had appeared instead.
Lady Xu smiled thinly. “Miss Shen speaks boldly already. One would think the wedding had already occurred.”
The hidden insult was obvious.
You are not married yet. Do not act secure too early.
But Shen Li only smiled faintly. “The imperial decree was issued personally by His Majesty.” She took another sip of tea. “This daughter naturally trusts the Emperor’s judgment.”
Lady Xu’s expression stiffened instantly.
Several older madams nearly hid smiles behind their sleeves.
A direct reminder: Questioning Shen Li’s marriage meant indirectly questioning the Emperor himself.
Clever.
Very clever.
For the rest of the gathering, no one dared provoke her further.
—
That evening, snow began falling heavily again.
Shen Li sat near the window reviewing wedding lists when sudden movement outside caught Qingyu’s attention.
“Someone’s there.”
The maids tensed immediately.
Shen Li looked up just as a shadow dropped silently from the courtyard wall.
Guards rushed forward instantly—
then froze.
Because the intruder wore black military uniform embroidered with silver wolf insignia.
Prince Rui’s personal guard.
The man knelt respectfully.
“This subordinate greets Miss Shen.”
Qingyu pressed a hand dramatically against her chest. “You nearly frightened us to death!”
The guard looked mildly apologetic but handed forward a wooden box.
“His Highness instructed this subordinate to deliver medicine personally.”
“Medicine?” Shen Li repeated.
The guard nodded. “His Highness heard Miss Shen attended an outdoor gathering today. The weather is cold, and the capital’s noble estates use heavy incense during winter banquets. He feared it may worsen Miss Shen’s cough.”
The room fell silent.
Even Shen Li looked slightly startled.
Because she had coughed only twice earlier.
Twice.
And very softly.
How had he noticed?
The guard continued seriously: “His Highness says the medicine tastes bitter, but Miss Shen must finish it entirely.”
Qingyu’s expression became increasingly complicated.
This did not sound like the terrifying war prince described in rumors.
It sounded more like…
someone quietly worrying.
After the guard left, Qingyu immediately opened the box.
Inside rested carefully wrapped medicinal packets beside a tiny paper bag filled with candied plums.
The maids froze.
Then all looked slowly toward Shen Li.
Because everyone understood what this meant.
Prince Rui knew the medicine was bitter—
so he had sent sweets with it.
Silence filled the room.
Then Qingyu whispered emotionally: “…Miss.”
Shen Li touched the candied plums lightly.
For reasons she could not explain, warmth spread slowly through her chest.
Small.
Gentle.
Dangerously unfamiliar.
Outside, winter snow deepened across the capital.
And within Prince Rui’s dark residence, the feared war prince sat reviewing military reports while one trusted guard finally gathered courage to ask:
“Your Highness… why send sweets too?”
Prince Rui did not lift his head.
“She dislikes bitterness.”
The guard blinked.
“…How does Your Highness know that?”
Only then did Prince Rui pause slightly.
Because he had noticed it during the tea gathering procession days ago—
the way Shen Li unconsciously frowned after drinking bitter tea.
A tiny expression lasting barely a second.
Yet somehow he remembered it clearly.
Prince Rui lowered his gaze back toward the military reports.
But for the first time in years—
the cold prince found the capital winter feeling slightly less empty.