Chapter XIV - Listening to Her
The carriage became very quiet after that.
Too quiet.
Shen Li stared at Prince Rui across the dim lantern glow while his last words echoed dangerously inside her chest.
“I prefer listening to you.”
How could someone say such things so calmly?
As though he had not just shattered the remaining distance between them with one sentence.
Prince Rui, meanwhile, appeared completely composed after drinking the medicine. Only the slight paleness beneath his skin revealed the lingering effects of blood loss.
Shen Li lowered her gaze slowly toward the empty medicine bowl.
Her heartbeat remained entirely uncooperative.
Outside the carriage, snow continued falling heavily while silver wolf guards escorted them through deserted streets.
The capital had gone silent after the assassination attempt.
But Shen Li understood clearly—
by morning, tonight’s events would spread everywhere.
Prince Rui suddenly spoke again.
“You are angry.”
Shen Li blinked slightly. “…At what?”
“That I entered danger while injured.”
The accuracy startled her.
Prince Rui watched her steadily. “You’ve frowned at the wound seven times since entering the carriage.”
Silence.
How did this man notice everything?
Shen Li finally sighed softly. “Your Highness treats injuries too carelessly.”
“They are common.”
“That does not make them insignificant.”
Prince Rui seemed to consider her words seriously.
Then asked:
“Would you worry every time?”
The question came unexpectedly.
Not teasing. Not flirtatious.
Simply genuine curiosity.
As though he truly wanted to know.
Shen Li’s fingers tightened faintly around the gloves still resting in her lap.
Would she?
The answer arrived far too quickly inside her heart.
Yes.
Dangerously yes.
Which frightened her more than palace schemes ever could.
Before she could answer, the carriage suddenly halted.
Every guard outside instantly became alert again.
Prince Rui’s expression cooled immediately.
“What happened?”
A guard’s voice sounded from outside: “Your Highness, the eastern bridge is blocked.”
Blocked?
The atmosphere sharpened dangerously.
Prince Rui reached for his sword instinctively.
Shen Li noticed the slight tension pulling against his injured shoulder.
Without thinking, she caught his wrist lightly.
“Your wound.”
Prince Rui stilled.
Their eyes met quietly in the lantern light.
Then he looked down toward her hand resting against him.
Warm. Soft. Trusting.
For one suspended moment, neither moved.
The atmosphere inside the carriage changed again.
Closer.
Far too close.
Prince Rui’s gaze darkened subtly.
Shen Li realized suddenly what she had done and tried withdrawing immediately—
but Prince Rui’s fingers closed gently around hers before she could pull away.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop her.
Her breath caught softly.
Outside, the guards still discussed the blocked road, completely unaware their terrifying prince had become distracted inside the carriage by a single touch.
Prince Rui looked at her quietly.
Then, very slowly—
he turned her hand over within his palm.
His thumb brushed lightly across her cold fingertips.
Once.
Carefully.
The movement was devastatingly gentle.
Shen Li’s heartbeat became impossible to control.
Then Prince Rui murmured softly:
“Your hands are cold again.”
The excuse was terrible.
Both of them knew it.
Yet neither pulled away.
For several dangerous seconds, the world outside disappeared completely.
Until—
Qingyu’s voice shattered everything from outside.
“Miss? Are you alright?”
Prince Rui released her hand immediately.
Too immediately.
As though suddenly remembering himself.
Shen Li turned away toward the carriage window, trying desperately to calm her breathing.
Meanwhile Prince Rui looked unusually silent.
Then finally he spoke toward the guards outside: “What blocked the bridge?”
“A collapsed merchant cart, Your Highness.”
“Clear it.”
“Yes.”
The carriage resumed moments later.
But the atmosphere inside had already changed completely.
Because now both of them knew something undeniable:
The distance between them was disappearing far too quickly.
—
When they finally arrived outside Shen Manor, several servants rushed out anxiously.
Madam Shen herself appeared moments later looking pale after hearing rumors of the attack.
“Li’er!”
Shen Li quickly stepped down from the carriage. “Mother, I’m unharmed.”
Madam Shen visibly relaxed only after checking her daughter personally.
Then she noticed Prince Rui exiting behind her.
And the blood staining his shoulder.
The older woman nearly lost color again. “Your Highness is injured!”
“It’s minor.”
Nobody believed him anymore when he said that.
Madam Shen immediately ordered servants to prepare hot medicine and bandages despite Prince Rui clearly intending to leave soon.
Shen Li looked toward him quietly. “Your Highness should rest before returning.”
Prince Rui’s gaze settled on her face.
Then he nodded once.
Simple.
Obedient.
The nearby servants exchanged increasingly emotional looks.
Because their terrifying prince only seemed willing to listen when Miss Shen spoke.
—
Inside Shen Manor’s guest hall, the physician changed Prince Rui’s bandages properly while Madam Shen anxiously supervised everything.
Shen Li sat nearby preparing fresh tea silently.
The atmosphere felt strangely domestic despite the blood and military guards surrounding them.
At one point, the physician sighed dramatically: “His Highness must avoid unnecessary movement tonight.”
Prince Rui answered calmly: “Impossible.”
“Then at least avoid stress.”
Prince Rui’s eyes drifted instinctively toward Shen Li.
The physician followed the gaze.
Then immediately looked deeply exhausted.
“Not that kind of stress.”
Qingyu nearly choked trying not to laugh.
For the first time all evening, even Shen Li looked visibly embarrassed.
Prince Rui, however, appeared completely serious.
As though he genuinely had no idea why everyone suddenly reacted strangely.
Dangerous man.
Truly dangerous.
—
Much later, after the physician finally finished treatment and Madam Shen retired reluctantly, the hall quieted completely.
Only Shen Li and Prince Rui remained near the lantern light while snow drifted softly beyond the windows.
Prince Rui prepared to stand.
Then paused slightly from the wound pulling again.
Shen Li noticed immediately.
Before thinking, she stepped closer to steady him lightly.
Prince Rui looked down at her.
Very close now.
Too close.
The faint scent of plum blossom incense lingered between them.
Neither moved away.
Shen Li suddenly became aware of everything:
the warmth beneath her fingertips,
the scar near his jaw,
the exhaustion hidden behind his calm expression,
the way he looked at her now.
Not politely.
Not carefully.
But with something quieter. Deeper.
Prince Rui’s gaze lowered briefly toward her lips.
Then upward again.
The atmosphere became dangerously still.
One more second—
just one more—
and something irreversible might happen.
Then sudden thunder cracked outside.
The moment shattered instantly.
Both stepped back slightly.
Shen Li lowered her gaze first.
Prince Rui remained silent for a long moment before finally saying quietly:
“You should sleep.”
Her heartbeat still hadn’t recovered.
“…Your Highness too.”
Prince Rui looked at her one final time beneath the warm lantern glow.
Then said softly:
“It becomes difficult to leave when you look at me like that.”
And walked away before Shen Li could breathe properly again.