Chapter XIX - Princess Rui
Morning arrived softly beneath winter snow.
For the first time in seven years—
Shen Li woke without dread.
Warmth surrounded her beneath heavy silk blankets while pale golden light filtered through the bridal chamber curtains. The lingering scent of sandalwood and plum blossoms drifted quietly through the room.
Then memory returned all at once.
The wedding. The kiss. Prince Rui’s voice against her forehead.
“My wife.”
Heat rushed immediately toward her ears.
Shen Li closed her eyes briefly in defeat.
Dangerous man.
Beside her, the other side of the bed was already empty.
Yet the blankets still held traces of warmth.
He had not left long ago.
A soft knock sounded outside. “Princess Consort?”
Princess Consort.
The title still felt unfamiliar.
Qingyu entered moments later carrying warm water and immediately looked ready to cry emotionally again.
“Our Miss— no, our Princess Consort—slept well?”
Shen Li tried maintaining composure. “…You should stop looking at me like that.”
Qingyu sniffed dramatically. “This servant waited seven years to see Miss treated properly.”
The older maids nearby nodded fiercely.
One palace servant even whispered: “His Highness personally carried Her Highness back to bed after the wedding banquet ended.”
Shen Li froze. “…What?”
Qingyu looked delighted. “Princess Consort fell asleep while waiting for His Highness to finish handling estate matters.”
The silence became dangerous immediately.
Because Shen Li remembered exactly none of that.
The maids continued mercilessly: “His Highness refused to let anyone else touch Your Highness.”
“He carried Princess Consort himself through the entire corridor.”
“The servants were too frightened to breathe.”
Shen Li genuinely considered disappearing permanently beneath the blankets.
Before the teasing worsened further, another servant entered hurriedly.
“Princess Consort, His Highness requests breakfast together.”
The room instantly became silent.
Because breakfast together after the wedding night carried entirely different implications.
Qingyu looked moments away from spiritual ascension again.
—
Prince Rui was waiting in the eastern dining hall when Shen Li arrived.
Morning light softened the severe lines of his face while steam rose quietly from untouched tea beside him. Today he wore simple dark robes rather than princely formal attire, though even dressed plainly he still carried impossible presence.
The moment she entered, Prince Rui looked up immediately.
And stilled slightly.
Because Shen Li no longer wore crimson wedding robes or heavy gold ornaments.
Instead, she looked softer this morning:
loose dark hair half-pinned simply,
pale winter robes,
traces of sleep still lingering gently around her eyes.
Dangerously beautiful.
The atmosphere became strangely quiet.
Then Prince Rui spoke first.
“You slept well?”
Shen Li sat across from him carefully. “Yes.”
A pause.
Then:
“Did Your Highness carry me back last night?”
The servants instantly lowered their heads harder.
Prince Rui remained completely calm. “Yes.”
“…Why?”
“You were asleep.”
As though that explained everything.
Shen Li looked down immediately toward her tea.
Meanwhile Prince Rui watched the faint redness spreading near her ears with dangerous quietness.
After several moments, he suddenly pushed one plate slightly closer toward her.
Candied plum pastries.
Shen Li blinked.
“You disliked the palace breakfast dishes during previous banquets,” Prince Rui said calmly. “These are sweeter.”
The dining hall became silent again.
How many things had this man been quietly observing?
Shen Li stared at the pastries for one long second before softly:
“Your Highness notices too much.”
Prince Rui answered seriously:
“I notice what concerns me.”
Her heartbeat immediately lost composure again.
Across the hall, several servants nearly looked emotionally unstable.
Because Prince Rui saying such things while appearing entirely unaware of their effect was genuinely terrifying.
—
Unfortunately, peace inside Prince Rui’s estate never lasted long.
By midday, the palace summoned them both.
The Emperor wished to see the newly married couple personally.
Qingyu immediately muttered: “The palace truly cannot leave people alone for one day.”
Shen Li almost smiled.
Meanwhile Prince Rui’s expression cooled faintly upon hearing the summons.
He clearly did not trust the palace after the previous assassination attempts.
Before leaving, he personally adjusted the fur cloak around Shen Li’s shoulders again.
Naturally.
Familiar now.
The nearby servants watched with increasing emotional investment.
One older maid whispered tearfully: “His Highness has become human…”
—
The imperial palace remained grand and suffocating as always.
But this time, Shen Li entered differently.
Not as a noble daughter awaiting marriage.
Not as someone vulnerable.
But as Princess Rui.
And the difference showed immediately.
Palace servants bowed lower.
Court ladies watched more carefully.
Even the guards at the palace gates straightened nervously upon seeing Prince Rui walking beside her.
Their arrival inside the Emperor’s study caused immediate laughter.
“Excellent!”
The Emperor looked genuinely delighted upon seeing them together.
Unlike the Empress Dowager, the Emperor had always found the entire marriage situation deeply entertaining.
Especially Liang Wenxuan’s regret.
“You finally look less murderous these days, Brother.”
Prince Rui looked unimpressed. “This minister was unaware Your Majesty monitored facial expressions.”
The Emperor laughed harder.
Then his gaze shifted toward Shen Li warmly. “So this is our Princess Rui.”
Shen Li bowed gracefully. “This daughter greets Your Majesty.”
The Emperor studied her for a moment before nodding approvingly.
No wonder Prince Rui lost composure.
Even he could see the difference now.
His younger brother— the cold war prince who barely tolerated human existence—
looked visibly softer beside Shen Li.
Fascinating.
The Emperor suddenly leaned back thoughtfully. “Yesterday’s incident at the estate reached this throne already.”
The room cooled slightly.
Prince Rui’s gaze sharpened. “This minister will handle it.”
“Oh, I know you will.” The Emperor sounded almost sympathetic toward whoever got caught. “That is precisely why the palace is nervous.”
Because when Prince Rui became angry—
people disappeared.
Shen Li lowered her eyes quietly.
The Emperor studied the couple before suddenly smiling again. “Still, seeing you married at last eases this throne greatly.”
Then he added teasingly:
“Especially since Brother finally learned how to look at someone properly.”
For the first time—
Prince Rui actually looked faintly embarrassed.
Shen Li noticed immediately.
And almost smiled.
The Emperor instantly noticed too.
Then nearly burst into laughter again.
Amazing.
Absolutely amazing.
The empire’s terrifying war prince was now sitting quietly beside his wife looking awkward because of one teasing sentence.
Meanwhile, outside the study hall—
hidden beyond distant palace corridors—
someone watched the newly married couple with cold, hateful eyes.