Chapter VIII - The Hidden Eyes in the Snow
The palace at night was a dangerous place.
Beautiful.
Silent.
Filled with secrets sharp enough to kill.
By the time Shen Li returned to Shen Manor, the snowfall had become heavier, covering carriage tracks and palace footprints beneath endless white.
Yet the strange feeling from earlier remained.
Someone had been watching them.
Not imagination.
Not nervousness.
Shen Li had lived among noble circles long enough to recognize the instinctive chill of hidden eyes.
Inside the carriage, Prince Rui noticed her distraction immediately.
“You are thinking about something.”
Shen Li hesitated briefly before answering honestly. “When we left Longevity Palace… I felt someone watching.”
Prince Rui’s expression sharpened instantly.
The warmth lingering moments earlier vanished like extinguished candlelight.
“What direction?”
“Near the western corridor.”
The moment she answered, Prince Rui knocked once against the carriage wall.
Outside, a guard appeared immediately. “Your Highness.”
“Investigate the western palace corridor near Longevity Palace. Quietly.”
“Yes.”
The guard vanished into the snow without another word.
Shen Li watched the exchange silently.
Prince Rui did not dismiss her instincts.
Did not tell her she was overthinking.
He simply believed her.
The realization settled strangely warm within her chest.
After several moments, Prince Rui spoke again.
“The palace is never simple.”
His gaze remained on the falling snow outside. “Especially now.”
“Because of the marriage?”
“Yes.”
Shen Li lowered her eyes thoughtfully.
She understood enough politics to recognize the problem.
Prince Rui already possessed military authority, public loyalty, and imperial favor. A powerful marriage alliance would strengthen him even further.
Which meant—
many people would dislike whoever became his wife.
And now that person was her.
Suddenly Prince Rui asked quietly: “Do you regret it?”
Shen Li looked up.
The dim lantern light inside the carriage softened the severe lines of his face, making him appear less like the terrifying war prince whispered about in the capital…
and more like a tired man carrying too many burdens alone.
“Regret what?”
“Marrying me.”
The directness startled her slightly.
Prince Rui continued calmly: “You still have time before the wedding.”
Outside, snow struck softly against the carriage roof.
Inside, silence deepened.
Shen Li studied him carefully.
Most men in Prince Rui’s position would never ask such a question.
Especially not a prince.
Especially not one powerful enough to force obedience from nearly anyone.
Yet here he was—
offering her a choice.
Again.
And somehow that mattered more than he probably realized.
After a long moment, Shen Li answered softly:
“Your Highness has asked me this twice already.”
Prince Rui stilled faintly.
Shen Li’s gaze lowered toward the warm tea between them.
“The strange thing is…” she admitted quietly, “you are the only person who ever asked at all.”
The words landed heavily inside the carriage.
Prince Rui’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly against his sleeve.
Because he suddenly understood something clearly:
For seven years, no one had cared what Shen Li wanted.
Not Liang Wenxuan. Not the noble families gossiping around her. Not even the court arranging her fate.
Everyone simply expected her patience.
Her obedience.
Her silence.
Something cold stirred deep in Prince Rui’s chest.
Dangerously cold.
He looked toward her steadily.
“That will not happen again.”
The promise was simple.
But absolute.
Shen Li’s heartbeat softened strangely.
Before either could speak further, the carriage stopped outside Shen Manor.
Prince Rui exited first before turning back toward her.
Then naturally—
as though he had done it a hundred times—
he offered his hand.
Shen Li hesitated only briefly before placing her fingers lightly against his palm.
Warm.
Steady.
The moment she stepped down from the carriage, sudden voices echoed nearby.
“…Prince Rui escorted her home personally again?”
“So late at night too…”
Several noble ladies exiting a neighboring residence froze upon seeing them together beneath the lantern light.
Prince Rui’s expression cooled instantly.
Without releasing Shen Li’s hand, he draped his cloak around her shoulders once more.
The movement was calm.
Possessive.
Intimate enough to leave no room for misunderstanding.
One noblewoman nearly choked from shock.
Because the feared Prince Rui—
the prince rumored colder than ice—
was shielding Shen Li from snow with his own cloak while holding her hand openly in public.
If this continued, the entire capital would lose its mind before the wedding even arrived.
Prince Rui ignored the stares completely.
Instead, he lowered his voice slightly toward Shen Li: “Go inside.”
She looked up at him. “And Your Highness?”
“I still have matters to handle.”
The western corridor investigation.
Shen Li understood immediately.
Something dangerous lingered beneath the palace calm tonight.
For a brief moment, she almost told him to be careful.
The words nearly reached her lips.
But before she could speak, Prince Rui noticed the hesitation in her eyes.
His expression softened faintly.
Very faintly.
Enough to transform him completely.
Then he said quietly:
“Do not worry.
No one in this capital can kill me so easily.”
The confidence should have sounded arrogant.
Instead, somehow—
it sounded lonely.
As though danger had accompanied him for so long that survival became ordinary.
Shen Li’s fingers tightened unconsciously around the edge of his cloak.
Prince Rui noticed.
His gaze lowered briefly toward her hand.
Then upward again toward her face.
Something unreadable passed through his eyes.
Warm. Dangerous. Restrained.
The atmosphere between them shifted once more.
Too close.
Too quiet.
For one reckless second, Shen Li became suddenly aware of:
the snow melting against his dark hair,
the warmth of his hand still around hers,
the way he looked at her as though she mattered.
Then hurried footsteps shattered the moment.
A black-clad guard appeared beside the carriage and knelt immediately.
“Your Highness.”
Prince Rui released Shen Li’s hand slowly.
The absence of warmth felt strangely noticeable.
“What is it?”
The guard lowered his voice. “We found traces near the western corridor.”
Prince Rui’s expression hardened instantly.
“Speak.”
“Someone from Consort Xu’s palace was seen there tonight.”
Shen Li froze slightly.
Consort Xu.
Mother of the Third Prince.
And aunt of Lady Xu.
The pieces connected immediately.
Prince Rui’s eyes darkened dangerously.
The guard continued carefully: “We also discovered another matter.”
“What matter?”
The guard hesitated.
Then—
“A hidden order was issued this afternoon.”
The snow around them suddenly felt colder.
“Regarding Miss Shen’s wedding procession.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Prince Rui’s voice became terrifyingly calm.
“Explain.”