Chapter XX - Entering Prince Ruis Estate
The first snowfall after their wedding lingered across Prince Rui’s estate like white silk draped over black stone.
By the time Shen Li and Prince Rui returned from the palace, sunset had already painted the sky in pale gold and crimson. Lanterns glowed softly along the estate corridors while servants knelt respectfully the moment the carriage stopped.
“Welcome back, Your Highness. Welcome back, Princess Consort.”
The title still sounded unfamiliar.
But unlike before—
this place no longer felt foreign.
Not when Prince Rui stepped down first and turned instinctively toward her again.
Not when the guards lowered their heads toward her with genuine respect.
And not when the servants already looked at her like someone who belonged here.
Prince Rui offered his hand naturally.
Shen Li accepted it this time without hesitation.
The surrounding servants immediately noticed.
And became emotional internally.
Because their terrifying prince—who once ignored everyone equally—now waited patiently for his wife to descend from the carriage before moving even one step.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
That evening, the estate steward formally presented the household ledgers to Shen Li.
“This old servant greets Princess Consort.”
Steward Zhou had served Prince Rui for over twenty years. His hair had already turned silver from accompanying military campaigns and managing the prince’s estate during endless years of war.
Most importantly—
he was fiercely loyal.
Shen Li accepted the ledgers politely. “Steward Zhou has worked hard.”
The old steward looked carefully at her.
Before the wedding, he worried.
Everyone in the capital feared Prince Rui.
Who could truly understand him?
Who could tolerate his coldness and battlefield habits?
Yet after only one day—
the prince’s entire estate already felt different.
Warmer somehow.
More alive.
Even the servants smiled more.
Then Steward Zhou noticed something else.
Prince Rui was still standing nearby.
Listening.
Normally the prince would have left household matters immediately.
Instead, he remained beside Shen Li calmly while she reviewed estate reports beneath lantern light.
Like guarding her.
Or perhaps simply wanting to stay near her.
The old steward suddenly felt emotional.
Their prince was finally becoming human.
—
The estate itself was enormous.
Far larger than Shen Manor.
Yet strangely quiet.
No unnecessary extravagance. No excessive decorations.
Everything reflected Prince Rui perfectly:
disciplined,
restrained,
coldly elegant.
Even the servants moved silently.
Shen Li soon understood why.
Prince Rui’s estate was not merely a prince’s residence.
It was practically a military command center.
Guards rotated constantly. Secret reports arrived hourly. Messengers entered and exited through hidden corridors.
Half the estate functioned like a war camp hidden beneath noble architecture.
As they walked through the inner courtyards together later that evening, Shen Li finally asked softly: “Does Your Highness ever truly rest?”
Prince Rui looked toward her slightly. “Yes.”
Shen Li blinked.
“…When?”
Prince Rui answered calmly:
“Recently.”
The meaning settled warmly between them.
Shen Li lowered her gaze faintly.
Dangerous man.
They continued walking beneath lantern light while snow drifted softly around the quiet estate pathways.
Then suddenly, Prince Rui stopped before a small inner courtyard.
Shen Li looked up in surprise.
Plum blossoms.
An entire courtyard filled with winter plum trees blooming crimson against the snow.
Lantern light glowed softly beneath branches heavy with flowers while a stone pavilion rested quietly at the center.
Beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Shen Li stared silently.
Prince Rui watched her reaction carefully. “You like plum blossoms.”
Not a question.
A fact.
Because he remembered:
the sword sheath,
the hairpin,
the lantern,
every small detail connected to plum blossoms.
Shen Li stepped slowly into the courtyard.
Snow crunched softly beneath embroidered shoes while plum blossom fragrance drifted through cold winter air.
“When was this planted?” she asked quietly.
Prince Rui answered after a brief pause:
“Years ago.”
“But no one used this courtyard before.”
Shen Li turned slightly toward him.
Then slowly understood.
This courtyard had remained empty until now.
Waiting.
For her.
Something deep inside her chest softened painfully.
Prince Rui looked away briefly toward the falling snow. “I thought the estate felt too cold.”
The simple sentence nearly unraveled her completely.
Because after surviving endless winters emotionally alone—
someone quietly planted an entire courtyard of plum blossoms simply because he feared she might feel cold.
Shen Li’s fingers tightened faintly within her sleeves.
Then Prince Rui added calmly:
“If you dislike it, another courtyard can be prepared.”
Shen Li looked at him in disbelief.
Dislike it?
She stepped closer slowly beneath drifting blossoms.
Then answered softly:
“I like it very much.”
Prince Rui’s expression softened almost imperceptibly.
The winter wind moved gently through the branches overhead while lantern light flickered gold against snow.
And for one suspended moment—
the entire world felt impossibly peaceful.
—
Unfortunately, peace never lasted long around Prince Rui.
Later that night, while Shen Li prepared tea inside the plum blossom pavilion, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed beyond the courtyard entrance.
A silver wolf guard appeared immediately and knelt.
“Your Highness.”
Prince Rui’s expression cooled faintly. “What happened?”
The guard lowered his voice. “The palace interrogation uncovered another name.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Shen Li noticed it immediately.
The warmth disappeared from Prince Rui’s eyes as though hidden behind steel once more.
“What name?”
The guard hesitated briefly before answering:
“The Third Prince.”
Silence crashed through the courtyard.
Even the winter wind seemed to stop.
Shen Li slowly lowered the teacup in her hands.
The Third Prince.
Consort Xu’s son.
And one of the strongest candidates for succession.
If he truly became involved—
then the attacks against her were no longer jealousy alone.
This was political war.
Prince Rui’s expression became unreadable.
Dangerously unreadable.
The guard continued carefully: “The assassin claimed the Third Prince promised military promotion to anyone disrupting the wedding.”
Prince Rui laughed quietly.
The sound carried no warmth whatsoever.
Shen Li looked toward him instantly.
Because somehow—
that cold laugh frightened her more than anger would have.
The guard lowered his head deeper. “Your Highness…”
Prince Rui’s gaze drifted slowly toward the snow beyond the plum blossoms.
Then he said softly:
“Interesting.”
“It seems the palace has forgotten why they fear me.”