Chapter XVII - The Wedding Night
By the time the wedding procession reached Prince Rui's estate, the capital had already descended into madness.
Firecrackers exploded endlessly through snow-covered streets while nobles crowded outside the prince's residence just to witness a glimpse of the ceremony.
Because this was no ordinary marriage.
This was the feared war prince finally taking a wife.
And everyone wanted to see whether the cold Prince Rui could truly become gentle for someone.
The answer became obvious the moment he stepped from the carriage.
Prince Rui turned immediately-
not toward palace officials, not toward the ceremonial attendants-
but toward Shen Li.
And before anyone could react, he extended his hand personally to help her descend.
Gasps spread instantly through the crowd.
An imperial prince personally assisting his bride in public was already shocking enough.
But Prince Rui's movements were impossibly careful.
As though she were something fragile beneath all the layers of gold and crimson.
The palace matrons exchanged emotional looks immediately.
Meanwhile, hidden among the distant crowd, Liang Wenxuan watched silently.
Watching another man do effortlessly what he himself never learned.
-
The wedding ceremony itself passed like a dream.
Heaven and earth worship.
Ancestor rites.
Formal bows before the imperial decree.
Everything blurred beneath layers of incense smoke, drums, and endless crimson silk.
Yet through all of it-
Shen Li remained strangely aware of Prince Rui beside her.
His presence.
His warmth.
The calm steadiness in every movement.
Even when kneeling together before the ceremonial altar, he subtly adjusted position once after noticing the heavy robes pulling painfully against her shoulders.
Tiny things.
Always tiny things.
Things nobody else noticed.
By the time the final ceremony ended, night had fully fallen across the capital.
Snow drifted softly beyond glowing red lanterns while attendants escorted Shen Li toward the bridal chamber.
And suddenly-
for the first time all day-
nervousness truly arrived.
Because now the ceremonies were over.
Now they would finally be alone.
Qingyu whispered excitedly while fixing the last layers of Shen Li's sleeves: "Miss must not be afraid."
Shen Li almost laughed weakly. "That advice is somewhat late."
The maids immediately dissolved into giggles.
Then the doors opened.
And Prince Rui entered.
Silence swallowed the room instantly.
Tonight he had removed the heavy outer ceremonial robes, leaving dark crimson garments embroidered with silver threads beneath loose black silk. Without armor or military cloaks, he looked less like the empire's war god-
and more dangerously like a man.
A very handsome man.
One palace maid nearly forgot how breathing worked.
Prince Rui's gaze crossed the room quietly before settling entirely upon Shen Li seated beneath the bridal veil.
Then, calmly: "Leave us."
The attendants bowed quickly before fleeing with impressive speed.
Even Qingyu looked seconds away from screaming emotionally before disappearing outside.
The doors closed.
Silence remained.
Only candlelight flickered softly around the bridal chamber while snow tapped faintly against distant windows.
For one suspended moment, neither moved.
Then Prince Rui stepped forward slowly.
Shen Li's heartbeat became impossible to ignore.
The crimson veil hid her expression, yet somehow she still felt his gaze resting steadily upon her.
Prince Rui stopped directly before her.
Then gently lifted the bridal veil.
The world sharpened instantly.
Candlelight illuminated Prince Rui's face softly while his dark eyes reflected pure gold beneath the wedding lanterns.
And for the first time tonight-
they truly looked at each other.
No crowds. No ceremonies. No palace politics.
Only them.
Prince Rui's gaze lingered silently across her features.
Then lower.
Toward the gold phoenix crown weighing heavily against her head.
A faint crease appeared between his brows. "...It looks painful."
Shen Li blinked in surprise.
That was his first concern?
Before she could answer, Prince Rui carefully removed the crown himself.
The heavy gold ornaments loosened slowly from her hair one piece at a time beneath his scarred hands.
His movements remained unbelievably gentle.
Shen Li sat very still while strands of loosened hair gradually fell around her shoulders.
Too close.
Far too close.
Prince Rui's fingers brushed the back of her neck accidentally-
or perhaps not accidentally at all.
Her breath softened faintly.
The atmosphere warmed instantly.
When the final ornament finally disappeared, Shen Li released a small breath unconsciously.
Prince Rui noticed immediately.
"Better?"
"...Much."
A faint softness appeared briefly within his eyes.
Then silence returned again.
Dangerously quiet silence.
Prince Rui remained standing close enough that Shen Li could smell cedar and winter cold lingering against his robes.
For several long seconds, neither spoke.
Then finally, Prince Rui said quietly:
"If you regret this marriage..."
"I can request separate residences from His Majesty."
Shen Li stared at him.
Even now-
even on their wedding night-
he still offered her choice.
The realization struck painfully deep.
For seven years, Liang Wenxuan delayed her endlessly without once asking what she wanted.
Yet Prince Rui continued placing her comfort before his own wishes again and again.
Something warm ached quietly inside her chest.
Then Shen Li answered softly:
"Your Highness delayed me less in one sentence than another man did in seven years."
Prince Rui froze slightly.
Then-
very faintly-
he smiled.
Not cold. Not mocking.
Real.
And devastatingly handsome.
Shen Li's heartbeat nearly stopped.
Because the terrifying Prince Rui smiling softly at her beneath candlelight felt more dangerous than battlefield rumors ever could.
Prince Rui lowered his gaze quietly after a moment. "You should rest early. Today was exhausting."
Shen Li nodded slightly.
Then realized another problem immediately.
The wedding robes.
The layers alone were impossible to remove without assistance.
An awkward silence spread slowly through the room.
Prince Rui noticed her hesitation instantly.
His gaze moved briefly toward the complicated silk fastenings at her back.
Then back toward her face.
Understanding appeared.
And suddenly the atmosphere became unbearably intimate.
Prince Rui's voice lowered slightly.
"May I help you?"
The question itself nearly destroyed her composure.
Shen Li lowered her eyes slowly.
"...Mm."
Prince Rui stepped behind her carefully.
The warmth of his presence approached immediately.
Then his fingers touched the fastening cords at her back.
Slow. Steady. Careful.
One knot loosened.
Then another.
Each small movement sent warmth spreading higher along Shen Li's neck.
The room became impossibly quiet except for:
rustling silk,
candle flames,
and their breathing.
Prince Rui's hands paused briefly once against the edge of her shoulder.
Not inappropriate.
Not rushed.
Yet the restrained gentleness somehow felt infinitely more intimate.
Shen Li's fingers tightened softly against her sleeves.
Then Prince Rui murmured near her ear:
"You're trembling."
Her heartbeat nearly collapsed completely.
"...The room is warm."
The excuse was terrible.
Prince Rui knew it too.
Because after one long second of silence-
a low, quiet laugh escaped him.
The sound was soft enough to disappear beneath candlelight.
Yet Shen Li felt it directly in her chest.