Chapter VI - The Future Princess Rui
By the next morning, the entire capital knew exactly what Prince Rui had said outside Shen Manor.
In exquisite detail.
Tea houses erupted with excitement.
“The future Princess Rui…”
“He said it himself!”
“In front of Liang Wenxuan too!”
“I heard Young Master Liang’s face turned black immediately.”
“Prince Rui is terrifyingly possessive…”
Even court officials began discussing it beneath lowered voices before morning assembly.
After all, Prince Rui had never publicly acknowledged any woman before.
Not once.
Yet now he openly referred to Shen Li as his future princess consort before the entire capital.
The meaning behind that could not be ignored.
Inside Liang Manor, another vase shattered violently.
Liang Wenxuan stood breathing heavily beside the broken porcelain while servants lowered their heads in terror.
His closest friend, Zhao Ming, sighed tiredly. “You really brought this upon yourself.”
Liang Wenxuan laughed coldly. “So now everyone sides with my uncle?”
“No.” Zhao Ming looked at him carefully. “They side with the man acting like he actually values her.”
The words struck harder than intended.
Liang Wenxuan’s expression darkened immediately.
Because deep down—
he knew Zhao Ming was right.
—
Meanwhile, Shen Li’s morning began with complete chaos.
The palace had sent over thirty attendants to oversee final wedding preparations.
Jewelry inventories.
Ceremonial rehearsals.
Phoenix crown inspections.
Even Qingyu became dizzy from running between rooms.
“Miss, don’t move!”
“No, no—the outer robe goes above the embroidered layer!”
“The palace official says the wedding candles must face east!”
Shen Li nearly smiled watching everyone panic around her.
Compared to the storm outside, she herself felt unexpectedly calm.
Until another servant rushed inside.
“Miss! His Highness has arrived.”
The room froze.
Qingyu blinked rapidly. “Prince Rui?”
The servant nodded frantically. “He’s in the front hall with the Master.”
At once, every maid became nervous.
Because according to tradition, the groom was not supposed to visit before the wedding.
Especially not personally.
Qingyu whispered dramatically: “Miss… maybe His Highness missed you.”
The older maids instantly tried hiding laughter.
Shen Li pretended not to hear, though warmth quietly crept toward her ears.
—
Prince Rui sat calmly in the front hall while Shen Li’s father looked visibly pressured beside him.
No matter how respected the Shen family remained—
sitting alone with the empire’s most feared prince would intimidate anyone.
Especially when Prince Rui remained silent most of the time.
At last, footsteps approached.
Prince Rui lifted his gaze.
Shen Li entered wearing pale blue winter robes embroidered with silver plum blossoms. Her hair was half-pinned loosely, likely interrupted midway through wedding preparations.
For reasons he could not explain—
Prince Rui suddenly found the image strangely soothing.
Shen Li bowed gracefully. “This daughter greets Your Highness.”
Prince Rui’s eyes lingered briefly on her before nodding once.
Then he noticed faint shadows beneath her eyes.
“She slept late again.”
The room became silent.
Shen Li blinked slightly. “…Your Highness noticed?”
“You look tired.”
Her father looked increasingly confused.
How had Prince Rui become capable of noticing such tiny details?
Prince Rui himself did not seem aware anything unusual had been said.
Instead, he gestured toward several wooden boxes behind him.
“I brought wedding gifts.”
Shen Li paused.
Hadn’t he already sent enough?
The servants opened the boxes carefully.
Inside were not jewels or gold—
but weapons.
The room froze.
A beautifully crafted dagger.
Light defensive arm guards hidden beneath silk lining.
And a slender silver hairpin sharp enough to kill.
Even Shen Li looked stunned.
Prince Rui spoke calmly: “The capital is unstable lately.”
Shen Li stared at the dagger. “Your Highness is giving me weapons?”
“Yes.”
The answer came naturally. “As my future wife, you should know how to protect yourself.”
Not: Women should remain delicate.
Not: Leave danger to men.
But: Protect yourself.
Something inside Shen Li trembled faintly.
Because no one had ever spoken to her this way before.
Prince Rui picked up the silver hairpin personally.
“It appears ordinary,” he explained quietly, “but poison can be hidden here.”
The maids nearby looked horrified.
Meanwhile Shen Li watched him carefully.
This terrifying prince who frightened half the empire…
was patiently teaching her self-defense methods.
The contrast felt almost surreal.
Prince Rui stepped closer.
“May I?”
Shen Li realized he meant the hairpin.
Slowly, she lowered her head slightly.
Prince Rui’s fingers brushed against her hair as he secured the silver plum blossom pin into place.
The movement was careful despite the roughness of his scarred hands.
Very careful.
The room became deathly silent.
Even breathing felt loud.
Because Prince Rui standing behind Shen Li adjusting her hair felt far too intimate.
Shen Li herself became suddenly aware of everything:
the warmth near her shoulder,
the faint scent of cedar,
the sound of his breathing,
the calluses against her hair.
Too close.
Dangerously close.
Then Prince Rui murmured quietly near her ear:
“Good.
Now no one will dare underestimate you.”
Her heartbeat stumbled unexpectedly.
When he finally stepped back, Qingyu looked seconds away from screaming into a pillow.
Shen Li kept her composure with great difficulty.
Prince Rui, however, remained perfectly calm.
As though he had not just nearly destroyed the entire room’s emotional stability.
—
Unfortunately, peace never lasted long in the capital.
That afternoon, palace summons arrived.
The Empress Dowager requested Shen Li’s presence.
Immediately.
Qingyu’s face lost all color. “The Empress Dowager?”
Everyone knew the old Empress Dowager disliked military factions.
And Prince Rui, with his army influence and battlefield prestige, represented one of the greatest political powers in the empire.
Her sudden summons before the wedding could not possibly mean anything good.
Even Shen Li’s father looked worried. “This minister will accompany you.”
But the palace messenger shook his head politely. “Her Majesty requested Miss Shen alone.”
The atmosphere chilled instantly.
After the messenger left, Qingyu whispered anxiously: “Miss… what if the Empress Dowager intends to stop the marriage?”
Shen Li lowered her gaze thoughtfully.
Perhaps.
Or perhaps the palace simply wished to examine the woman about to marry Prince Rui.
Either way—
avoiding it was impossible.
Just as Shen Li prepared to leave, Prince Rui suddenly stood.
“I will accompany her.”
Everyone froze.
Even Shen Li looked surprised. “Your Highness?”
“The palace road is long,” he said calmly.
A simple sentence.
Yet everyone understood the true meaning beneath it.
Prince Rui intended to personally escort her into the palace.
Protection.
Support.
Warning.
All at once.
Qingyu nearly became emotional again.
Meanwhile, outside the manor gates, black carriages bearing silver wolf insignias already waited beneath falling snow.
The guards surrounding them wore expressions sharp enough to terrify assassins.
Clearly, Prince Rui was not treating this palace summons lightly.
As Shen Li stepped into the carriage, Prince Rui followed beside her naturally.
The interior suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Far too quiet.
Snow tapped softly against the carriage roof while the city passed outside.
After several moments, Prince Rui finally spoke.
“Do not fear the Empress Dowager.”
Shen Li looked toward him slightly. “Your Highness thinks she summoned me to cause trouble?”
“Yes.”
The honesty startled her into silence.
Prince Rui continued calmly: “She dislikes matters beyond her control.”
“And am I beyond her control?”
His gaze settled on her steadily.
“No,” he said quietly.
A pause.
Then—
“But becoming my wife is.”