Chapter XXI - The Palace Forgets Fear
The plum blossom courtyard fell silent after that.
Snow drifted softly between crimson petals while the silver wolf guard remained kneeling, not daring to lift his head.
Because everyone in Prince Rui’s estate understood one truth clearly:
When Prince Rui became truly angry—
he grew quieter.
And quiet Prince Rui was infinitely more terrifying than battlefield rage.
Shen Li looked toward him carefully.
The lantern light softened his features, yet the coldness in his eyes now resembled sharpened steel beneath calm water.
The Third Prince.
This was no longer merely harassment surrounding a wedding.
A prince involving himself meant faction warfare.
Which also meant—
she had unknowingly stepped into the center of imperial succession conflict the moment she married Prince Rui.
The realization should have frightened her.
Instead, strangely—
her first concern remained elsewhere.
“Your Highness should not reopen the wound tonight.”
The words escaped before she fully realized it.
Silence followed immediately.
The kneeling guard looked spiritually shaken.
Prince Rui turned slowly toward her.
The terrifying coldness around him softened almost imperceptibly.
“…You think I intend to kill someone immediately?”
Shen Li answered honestly:
“Your Highness currently looks very capable of it.”
For one dangerous second, silence lingered.
Then unexpectedly—
Prince Rui laughed.
Actually laughed.
Low and brief, but undeniably real.
The nearby guard nearly lost the will to continue existing.
Because moments earlier the atmosphere felt ready for bloodshed.
Now the prince was laughing softly because his wife scolded him.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
Prince Rui finally looked toward the guard again. “Continue the investigation quietly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“No movement against the Third Prince yet.”
The guard blinked slightly in surprise.
Normally Prince Rui would never tolerate repeated provocation peacefully.
Then Prince Rui added calmly:
“The wedding just ended.”
“I don’t want unnecessary blood disturbing her mood.”
The guard instantly understood.
Not mercy.
Never mercy.
Only restraint for Shen Li’s sake.
The guard bowed deeply before disappearing into the snow.
—
Afterward, silence returned to the plum blossom courtyard once more.
Prince Rui sat across from Shen Li inside the pavilion while steam rose gently from untouched tea between them.
The tension from earlier still lingered faintly beneath the quiet.
Shen Li lowered her gaze toward the snow outside. “The Third Prince will not stop easily.”
“No.”
Prince Rui’s answer came calmly.
“Then Your Highness should be careful.”
Prince Rui looked at her steadily.
Then after a brief pause:
“You worry for me often now.”
The straightforward observation nearly made her lose composure.
Shen Li pretended interest in her teacup immediately. “Your Highness is my husband.”
The moment the words left her lips—
both went silent.
Because this was the first time she had referred to him that way naturally.
Not formally. Not ceremonially.
Mine.
The dangerous implication hung quietly between them.
Prince Rui’s dark gaze softened visibly.
Then slowly— very slowly—
he repeated:
“Your husband.”
Her heartbeat betrayed her instantly.
Dangerous man.
He sounded entirely too pleased by two simple words.
Shen Li quickly changed the subject. “Has Your Highness always been involved in palace succession matters?”
Prince Rui leaned back slightly. “No.”
“No?”
“The palace involved itself with me.”
His voice remained calm, though Shen Li sensed old exhaustion beneath it.
Prince Rui continued quietly: “The Emperor trusts military authority. Court officials fear military authority.” His gaze lowered briefly toward the tea steam. “Therefore everyone fears me eventually.”
The words carried no bitterness.
Only fact.
Shen Li suddenly understood something painful.
Prince Rui stood too high.
Too powerful. Too isolated.
People feared him before they ever tried understanding him.
Perhaps that was why even his own estate once felt so cold and empty.
The thought softened her chest unexpectedly.
Then Prince Rui looked toward her again. “You should avoid entering the palace alone from now on.”
Shen Li nodded obediently this time. “Mm.”
Prince Rui paused slightly.
“…You listened very quickly.”
Shen Li nearly smiled. “Because Your Highness usually turns out correct.”
The answer pleased him far more than it should have.
—
The next morning, news spread through the capital like wildfire.
Prince Rui’s wedding night assassination attempt had become public.
And naturally—
everyone lost their minds.
Tea houses overflowed with speculation.
“The Third Prince truly dares challenge Prince Rui directly now?”
“No wonder Prince Rui sealed the estate last night.”
“I heard blood covered the streets outside Shen Manor.”
“The future Princess Rui nearly got attacked again!”
“Prince Rui personally protected her!”
At the same time, another rumor spread even faster.
Prince Rui refused to punish servants harshly during the wedding celebrations because Princess Rui disliked seeing blood.
The capital collectively became confused.
This sounded less like the terrifying war prince and more like someone hopelessly devoted already.
Meanwhile, inside the palace—
the Third Prince shattered an inkstone violently across the floor.
“Who allowed the assassin to speak?!”
The kneeling official trembled. “Prince Rui’s people used military interrogation methods…”
The Third Prince’s expression twisted darkly.
Of course they did.
No one survived Prince Rui’s interrogations easily.
What mattered now was containment.
“Did my name spread publicly?”
“Not yet.”
The Third Prince exhaled slowly.
Good.
That meant Prince Rui had not moved openly.
Which was strange.
Very strange.
Because everyone knew Prince Rui’s temper regarding threats.
Then Consort Xu finally spoke from beside the window. “He is restraining himself.”
The Third Prince frowned. “For what reason?”
Consort Xu’s expression turned cold.
“For Shen Li.”
Silence.
The realization settled heavily through the room.
Prince Rui was delaying retaliation because he did not want violence disturbing his new wife.
And somehow—
that fact made the situation infinitely more dangerous.
Because a man with nothing to lose was predictable.
But a man who finally found something precious?
Terrifying.
Consort Xu looked slowly toward the snowfall beyond the palace windows.
Then murmured quietly:
“The palace truly underestimated how much Prince Rui values her.”