Chapter XIII - The Princes Fury
The assassin laughed.
Blood stained his teeth crimson while snow gathered across his torn black robes. Even kneeling on the frozen ground beneath drawn swords, his eyes remained fixed on Shen Li with poisonous hatred.
“You protect her well, Prince Rui,” he rasped.
The silver wolf guards immediately tightened their grips on their weapons.
Prince Rui’s expression did not change.
Which somehow made the atmosphere far more frightening.
The assassin continued hoarsely: “But how long can you keep protecting her?”
The next second—
Prince Rui drew his sword.
The blade stopped against the assassin’s throat so fast most people barely saw movement.
Cold steel pressed directly against skin.
One push further would sever the man’s head completely.
The street fell deathly silent.
Shen Li looked at Prince Rui quietly.
This was not the calm prince who carefully wrapped cloaks around her shoulders or noticed when she disliked bitter medicine.
This was the war prince whispered about across kingdoms.
Merciless. Terrifying. Untouchable.
And yet somehow—
his rage tonight existed because of her.
The realization unsettled her heartbeat.
The assassin laughed again despite the blade. “She’s only a woman.”
Prince Rui’s gaze finally darkened completely.
Then he spoke.
Quietly.
Dangerously.
“And you touched what belongs to me.”
The words crashed through the snowy street like thunder.
Several guards instantly lowered their heads deeper.
Even Qingyu nearly stopped breathing.
Because Prince Rui had never hidden his protectiveness before—
but this?
This sounded terrifyingly possessive.
The assassin noticed too.
His smile twisted mockingly. “So the feared Prince Rui finally found a weakness.”
Every guard froze.
Because no one—
no one—
ever dared say such words openly before Prince Rui.
Yet Prince Rui only answered calmly:
“Yes.”
Silence.
The assassin blinked.
Even Shen Li looked startled.
Prince Rui continued:
“Unfortunately for you…”
“I kill anyone who threatens it.”
The killing intent behind the sentence chilled the entire street.
The assassin’s confidence finally cracked slightly.
Prince Rui lowered his sword a fraction. “Who sent you?”
The man spat blood onto the snow.
Prince Rui looked entirely unsurprised.
Then slowly—
very slowly—
he smiled.
The expression carried no warmth whatsoever.
The guards nearby immediately looked sympathetic toward the assassin.
Because they recognized that smile.
It meant Prince Rui was about to become cruel.
“Take him alive,” Prince Rui ordered softly.
The assassin’s face changed instantly.
Clearly death suddenly sounded preferable.
The silver wolf guards dragged him away while his screams disappeared gradually into the storm.
Shen Li watched silently.
Then finally asked quietly: “Your Highness already knows who sent him.”
It was not a question.
Prince Rui sheathed his sword smoothly. “Yes.”
“Consort Xu?”
“Her people.”
Shen Li lowered her gaze thoughtfully.
The attack tonight had been too reckless for official palace orders.
Meaning someone acted privately.
Desperately.
Which meant the pressure surrounding the upcoming marriage was growing worse.
Prince Rui looked toward her suddenly. “You are thinking too much again.”
Shen Li blinked slightly.
How did he always notice?
Prince Rui stepped closer beneath the swirling snow.
“Tonight changes nothing,” he said calmly. “The wedding will proceed.”
His certainty steadied something inside her immediately.
Then Prince Rui frowned faintly again. “You’re still cold.”
Before Shen Li could react, he removed his gloves and placed them directly into her hands.
Warm from his body heat.
Shen Li froze. “Your Highness—”
“I don’t need them.”
“You’re injured.”
“And you dislike the cold.”
The simple answer left no room for argument.
Shen Li stared at the black gloves resting in her palms quietly.
No one had ever cared about such small things before.
Not truly.
Prince Rui always noticed.
Always remembered.
Always acted.
Dangerous man.
Dangerously kind man.
Qingyu suddenly whispered emotionally from behind: “Our future Princess Consort is truly cherished…”
Shen Li nearly lost composure entirely.
Prince Rui, meanwhile, looked completely calm despite saying and doing increasingly devastating things without realizing their effect.
—
The prince’s estate carriage eventually resumed toward Shen Manor under heavy military escort.
This time, Prince Rui entered the carriage with her directly.
No one questioned it anymore.
After tonight’s attack, nobody would dare leave Shen Li unguarded.
Inside the dim carriage lantern light, silence settled softly between them.
Prince Rui leaned slightly against the wooden wall, finally allowing traces of exhaustion to show now that the immediate danger had passed.
Shen Li noticed instantly.
His face looked paler than before.
The physician’s medicine packet still rested unopened beside him.
“You still haven’t taken the medicine.”
Prince Rui glanced at it briefly. “It’s bitter.”
Shen Li stared.
Then suddenly realized—
Prince Rui hated bitterness too.
The thought felt strangely amusing.
Before she could stop herself, a small laugh escaped her lips.
Prince Rui looked startled.
Because this was the first time he had heard her laugh freely.
Not polite.
Not restrained.
Real.
Warmth flickered briefly through his dark eyes.
Shen Li herself seemed surprised afterward.
Then embarrassed.
Prince Rui watched her quietly for a long moment before asking softly:
“Why are you laughing?”
Shen Li lowered her gaze slightly. “This daughter simply didn’t expect Your Highness to dislike bitter medicine.”
Prince Rui answered seriously:
“Disliking bitterness is normal.”
Then after a pause—
he added:
“That is why I sent candied plums with yours.”
Her heartbeat softened immediately.
Again.
Always these tiny details.
Shen Li reached toward the medicine packet calmly. “Then Your Highness should drink it quickly.”
Prince Rui frowned faintly. “You sound like the physician.”
“Does Your Highness listen to the physician?”
“No.”
“Then listen to me.”
The moment the words left her mouth, silence followed.
Shen Li froze slightly.
Because without realizing it—
she had spoken naturally. Comfortably. Almost intimately.
Prince Rui stared at her steadily.
Then slowly—
very slowly—
he took the medicine bowl from her hands.
And drank it obediently.
Qingyu, sitting outside the carriage with the guards, nearly ascended spiritually after overhearing.
Inside, Shen Li looked genuinely stunned.
“…You listened.”
Prince Rui placed the empty bowl aside calmly.
“Mm.”
“I prefer listening to you.”