Chapter VII - The Empress Dowager
The imperial palace beneath snowfall resembled a beautiful cage.
Golden roofs disappeared beneath white frost while rows of palace lanterns glowed dimly through winter mist. The deeper the carriage traveled into the inner palace, the quieter the world became.
Even the sound of wheels against stone seemed subdued here.
Shen Li sat calmly across from Prince Rui, though her fingers hidden beneath her sleeves had slowly tightened since entering the palace grounds.
The Empress Dowager’s summons before the wedding could not possibly be casual.
Beside her, Prince Rui noticed immediately.
Without speaking, he reached across the carriage table and moved the warm tea closer toward her side.
The gesture was natural.
Wordless.
Yet somehow more intimate because of it.
Shen Li looked up slightly.
Prince Rui’s expression remained composed as ever. “The palace uses stronger charcoal during winter. Drink more water.”
Again.
Tiny details.
Tiny considerations.
As though caring for her had already become instinctive.
The carriage finally stopped before Longevity Palace.
Snow-covered palace maids knelt outside immediately.
“This servant greets Prince Rui, greets Miss Shen.”
The chief palace maid looked visibly nervous seeing Prince Rui personally accompanying Shen Li.
Because everyone knew one thing clearly:
Prince Rui rarely entered palace politics willingly.
And he never escorted women.
Not even imperial princesses.
Yet now he stood beside Shen Li beneath the palace lanterns like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The chief maid bowed lower. “Her Majesty is waiting inside.”
Prince Rui looked toward Shen Li briefly.
“Remember what I said.”
She met his gaze quietly.
Do not fear.
Strangely enough—
she truly didn’t anymore.
—
The interior of Longevity Palace was suffocatingly warm.
Heavy incense drifted through the golden hall while noble ladies seated below the Empress Dowager exchanged subtle glances the moment Shen Li entered.
Some curious.
Some mocking.
Some openly jealous.
At the highest seat, the Empress Dowager watched silently.
Though over sixty, she remained imposing beneath layers of dark phoenix robes. Years within the palace had sharpened her gaze into something colder than winter steel.
Shen Li knelt gracefully.
“This daughter greets Her Majesty.”
Silence lingered deliberately.
A palace tactic.
Pressure through waiting.
Many noble daughters panicked beneath it.
Shen Li remained still.
Finally, the Empress Dowager spoke lazily: “So this is the Shen family daughter.”
Not warm. Not approving.
Merely evaluating.
Shen Li lowered her eyes politely. “Yes.”
The Empress Dowager studied her openly. “Raise your head.”
Shen Li obeyed calmly.
A faint flicker crossed the older woman’s eyes.
Beautiful.
No wonder matters had become troublesome.
The Empress Dowager had originally intended for Lady Xu to marry Prince Rui eventually. The Left Chancellor’s family remained politically useful, while Shen Li—
Shen Li possessed no powerful backing beyond respectable reputation.
Worse—
Prince Rui himself appeared unusually attentive toward her.
That made her dangerous.
One noblewoman smiled sweetly from below. “This concubine heard Miss Shen was engaged for seven years before this marriage.”
Several ladies immediately hid smiles behind their sleeves.
Cruel.
But intentional.
The Empress Dowager did not stop it.
Instead, she sipped tea quietly while observing Shen Li’s reaction.
Everyone expected embarrassment.
Humiliation.
But Shen Li simply answered gently:
“This daughter was fortunate His Majesty granted a better fate in the end.”
The room fell silent instantly.
Not defensive.
Not emotional.
Yet impossible to mock further.
Even the Empress Dowager’s gaze sharpened slightly.
Interesting.
Another lady laughed softly. “Miss Shen speaks well. Though marrying Prince Rui must still feel frightening.”
Shen Li finally lifted her eyes fully.
And for the first time since entering the hall—
her calmness carried unmistakable firmness.
“Why should this daughter fear the man protecting the empire?”
Silence crashed across the room.
Even the noble ladies looked startled.
No timid hesitation. No embarrassed modesty.
Shen Li defended Prince Rui naturally.
As though she genuinely respected him.
The Empress Dowager’s expression cooled slightly.
Because this was becoming increasingly troublesome.
Before anyone could continue, footsteps suddenly echoed outside.
A palace eunuch hurried inward.
“Prince Rui has arrived.”
The atmosphere froze.
Several noblewomen nearly lost composure entirely.
“He came inside?”
“His Highness entered Longevity Palace personally?”
The Empress Dowager frowned instantly.
Prince Rui almost never attended these gatherings.
Especially not voluntarily.
Yet moments later—
the tall figure in black entered the golden hall.
The temperature itself seemed to drop.
Prince Rui wore dark formal robes embroidered with silver dragons, his expression unreadable beneath candlelight. Snow still clung faintly to his shoulders from outside.
Every noblewoman immediately lowered her gaze.
No one dared stare openly at him.
Prince Rui walked directly across the hall without hesitation.
Then stopped beside Shen Li.
Not near.
Beside.
Protective.
Claiming.
The meaning could not have been clearer if spoken aloud.
The Empress Dowager’s voice became colder. “Prince Rui seems unusually free today.”
Prince Rui bowed minimally. “This minister came to escort his future wife home safely.”
Future wife.
Again.
Openly. Publicly.
The older noblewomen exchanged glances instantly.
Because this no longer resembled a political marriage forced by decree.
Prince Rui was making his position terrifyingly obvious.
The Empress Dowager’s fingers tightened slightly around her teacup. “She entered the palace unharmed.”
“Yes,” Prince Rui agreed calmly. “But unnecessary words can also injure people.”
The hall became deathly silent.
Several noble ladies went pale immediately.
Because everyone understood: Prince Rui had heard enough to know Shen Li was being targeted.
And now he was warning them openly.
The Empress Dowager’s gaze sharpened dangerously. “Prince Rui speaks as though this palace mistreated her.”
Prince Rui finally looked toward the throne directly.
“No one would dare.”
His tone remained calm.
Respectful.
Yet somehow the pressure behind the words made breathing difficult.
Because hidden beneath them was another meaning entirely:
No one would dare— because he would not allow it.
For one suspended moment, tension stretched sharply across the hall.
Then suddenly—
the Empress Dowager smiled.
Not warmly.
But thoughtfully.
“Very well,” she said slowly. “Since Prince Rui treasures Miss Shen so greatly, this dowager naturally wishes the marriage harmony.”
The noblewomen immediately relaxed slightly.
The confrontation had ended.
Or at least paused.
Prince Rui lowered his gaze briefly. “This minister thanks Your Majesty.”
Yet Shen Li noticed something strange.
The Empress Dowager kept watching her.
Carefully.
Calculating.
As though reconsidering something important.
A chill crept faintly down Shen Li’s spine.
Because palace women rarely abandoned schemes so easily.
And the Empress Dowager had ruled the inner palace for decades.
She would not surrender after one exchange.
Not truly.
—
By the time Shen Li finally exited Longevity Palace, snow had deepened across the palace pathways.
The cold air felt refreshing after the suffocating tension inside.
Prince Rui walked beside her silently while guards followed at a distance.
After several moments, Shen Li spoke softly: “Your Highness did not need to come inside.”
“Yes, I did.”
His answer came immediately.
Shen Li looked slightly startled.
Prince Rui stopped walking beneath a lantern glowing warm gold against the snow.
Then he turned toward her fully.
“You are about to enter Prince Rui’s estate.” His dark eyes settled steadily on hers. “No one is permitted to humiliate you.”
The winter wind seemed to disappear for a moment.
Shen Li stared at him quietly.
Because no one—
no one—
had ever protected her so directly before.
Not her former fiancé. Not even herself.
Prince Rui noticed her silence and frowned faintly. “Did they say anything offensive before I arrived?”
Shen Li suddenly smiled softly.
Small. Beautiful. Dangerously sincere.
And Prince Rui felt his heartbeat pause unexpectedly.
“This daughter can handle such matters,” she said gently.
For some reason, that answer pleased him greatly.
Though his expression barely changed.
The palace lantern swayed lightly above them while snow drifted slowly around their figures.
Then Prince Rui noticed snow gathering upon her hair.
Without thinking, he reached forward.
His gloved fingers brushed gently against the side of her head.
Removing the snowflakes carefully.
The movement was so natural that both froze afterward.
Too intimate.
Far too intimate.
Shen Li’s breath caught faintly.
Prince Rui’s hand paused near her face for one dangerous second before slowly lowering again.
The silence between them changed instantly.
Warmer.
Closer.
And somewhere deeper within the palace shadows—
a hidden figure quietly watched everything before disappearing into the snow.