Chapter X - The Man Beneath the Armor
The wedding was five days away.
By now, half the capital had become obsessed with Prince Rui and Shen Li.
Every tea house discussed them. Every noble family watched them. Even palace servants whispered endlessly behind sleeves.
Some called it romance blessed by fate.
Others called it dangerous.
Because the more Prince Rui openly protected Shen Li—
the more obvious his weakness became.
And powerful men were never allowed weaknesses peacefully.
—
Early that morning, Shen Li received an invitation from Madam Liang.
Qingyu looked hesitant while presenting the card. “Miss wishes to go?”
Shen Li studied the elegant handwriting quietly.
After everything that happened, Madam Liang still continued treating her sincerely.
She could not refuse.
“Prepare the carriage.”
—
Liang Manor looked strangely quiet beneath winter skies.
Gone was the lively atmosphere Shen Li remembered from years before.
The servants now moved cautiously, speaking in lowered voices as though afraid of disturbing someone’s temper.
She understood why almost immediately.
As Shen Li entered the inner courtyard, raised voices echoed from a nearby hall.
“…You embarrassed the Liang family completely!”
Madam Liang’s furious voice carried sharply through the corridor.
Liang Wenxuan answered bitterly: “So now Mother truly treats Shen Li as your daughter instead of me?”
“You dare compare yourself to her?”
Silence followed.
Then footsteps.
The doors opened suddenly.
Liang Wenxuan stepped out first—
and froze completely upon seeing Shen Li standing beneath the snow-covered corridor.
For one suspended moment, neither spoke.
It had only been days since they last met.
Yet the distance between them already felt enormous.
Liang Wenxuan’s gaze instinctively moved over her figure.
The pale silver robes. The calm posture. The silver plum blossom hairpin.
Prince Rui’s hairpin.
His expression darkened immediately.
“You still wear that.”
Shen Li understood his meaning instantly.
But before she could answer, Madam Liang emerged behind him.
The older woman’s expression softened immediately upon seeing Shen Li.
“Li’er.”
Liang Wenxuan’s face stiffened hearing the familiar nickname again.
Madam Liang ignored him completely and stepped forward to hold Shen Li’s hands warmly.
“You came despite the snow.”
“This daughter did not wish to disappoint Madam.”
Liang Wenxuan laughed quietly beside them. “She still calls you Madam now.”
The bitterness in his voice was impossible to miss.
Madam Liang’s face cooled instantly. “And whose fault is that?”
Liang Wenxuan fell silent again.
Because he had no answer.
Not anymore.
—
After entering the inner hall, servants quickly served hot tea and pastries.
Madam Liang spent most of the conversation asking about wedding preparations, health, and whether Prince Rui’s estate treated Shen Li properly.
The concern was genuine.
So genuine that Shen Li’s chest tightened faintly.
Perhaps because somewhere deep down—
she had truly once viewed this place as her future home.
Madam Liang suddenly lowered her voice. “Has Prince Rui treated you well?”
Shen Li paused slightly.
Then, unexpectedly—
she smiled.
Small.
Soft.
Real.
“Yes.”
The single word silenced the room.
Because for seven years, Madam Liang had rarely heard Shen Li answer so honestly about Liang Wenxuan.
The older woman’s expression became complicated immediately.
Relief. Sadness. Regret.
All together.
At the side table, Liang Wenxuan’s fingers tightened hard around his teacup.
He had noticed it too.
Shen Li looked happier now.
Not dramatically.
Not loudly.
But lighter somehow.
As though years of invisible exhaustion had finally begun fading from her shoulders.
And Prince Rui was the reason.
The realization made jealousy crawl violently through his chest.
Suddenly he stood abruptly. “I need air.”
Then left before anyone could stop him.
Madam Liang sighed heavily. “He finally realizes pain only after losing something.”
Shen Li lowered her gaze quietly.
No matter what happened now—
some things could never return to how they once were.
—
When Shen Li finally prepared to leave Liang Manor, snow had begun falling again.
A servant hurried toward her anxiously.
“Miss Shen!”
Qingyu frowned. “What happened?”
“The young master…” the servant looked embarrassed, “he drank again.”
Shen Li closed her eyes briefly.
Of course he did.
Before she could refuse, Madam Liang spoke tiredly: “Please check on him once. Otherwise he will continue causing trouble.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Li agreed.
Not from lingering affection.
But because she wished for proper closure.
—
The western courtyard pavilion stood quiet beneath drifting snow.
Liang Wenxuan sat alone beside a stone table littered with wine jars, dark hair messy from the wind.
For the first time in years—
he looked genuinely miserable.
Hearing footsteps, he laughed bitterly without turning around. “So Mother sent you.”
“She worried you would freeze to death.”
Liang Wenxuan finally looked up.
Then went still.
Because Shen Li stood beneath the lantern glow wrapped in Prince Rui’s black fur cloak again.
Prince Rui’s scent. Prince Rui’s warmth. Prince Rui’s protection.
Everywhere.
Liang Wenxuan suddenly felt unbearable irritation.
“You wear his things often now.”
“He worries about the cold.”
The casual answer struck harder than intended.
Liang Wenxuan stared at her for a long moment before laughing softly. “You really like him already.”
Shen Li did not answer immediately.
Snow drifted between them silently.
Then she said quietly:
“Your Highness is a good man.”
Liang Wenxuan’s smile disappeared completely.
Because Shen Li once used to look at him with that same quiet certainty.
Now she spoke those words about another man.
About his uncle.
The humiliation twisted viciously inside him.
“He’s dangerous,” Liang Wenxuan muttered coldly. “You know nothing about him.”
“Then tell me.”
He froze.
Shen Li stepped closer slowly. “You say His Highness is dangerous.” Her eyes remained calm. “But in all these years, he has shown me nothing except respect.”
Liang Wenxuan clenched his jaw.
Shen Li continued softly:
“Meanwhile the person who hurt me most was never Prince Rui.”
Silence crashed heavily between them.
Liang Wenxuan looked suddenly pale.
Because no accusation could compare to simple truth.
For seven years—
he truly had been the one hurting her.
Not once. Not accidentally. But repeatedly.
And she endured it quietly every single time.
Something ugly and painful cracked open inside his chest.
“Shen Li…” His voice roughened slightly. “Did you ever really love me?”
The question lingered beneath falling snow.
Then Shen Li answered honestly:
“I did.”
Liang Wenxuan’s breath caught.
But before relief could appear—
she continued gently:
“That was why waiting hurt so much.”
The words destroyed him completely.
Because he finally understood.
Shen Li had not stayed seven years because she was weak.
She stayed because she truly loved him.
And he ruined it anyway.
Liang Wenxuan lowered his head slowly, laughing bitterly into the snow.
Meanwhile Shen Li looked at him quietly.
And for the first time—
she felt nothing except distant sadness.
No lingering love. No longing.
Only closure.
Then sudden footsteps approached rapidly.
A black-clad guard appeared at the pavilion entrance and bowed immediately.
“Miss Shen.”
Shen Li recognized the silver wolf insignia instantly.
Prince Rui’s guard.
The man looked faintly uncomfortable seeing Liang Wenxuan present.
But still spoke respectfully: “His Highness requests this subordinate escort Miss Shen home immediately.”
Shen Li blinked slightly. “At this hour?”
The guard hesitated. “There was… an incident near the eastern district.”
Liang Wenxuan frowned immediately. “What incident?”
The guard answered coldly: “An assassin entered the capital tonight.”
The pavilion fell silent.
Then the guard added carefully:
“The target may be connected to Prince Rui’s upcoming marriage.”