Chapter XXIII - Sleeping Beside Him
The thunder did not stop.
Even deep into the night, storms continued rolling across the capital while snow lashed violently against Prince Rui's estate.
Inside the plum blossom courtyard, servants hurried nervously between corridors relighting extinguished lanterns.
Meanwhile Shen Li sat perfectly still beside Prince Rui-
trying very hard not to think about what he had just said.
"This prince will stay awake too."
Dangerous man.
Extremely dangerous man.
Across from her, Prince Rui appeared entirely calm while continuing to review military reports as though suggesting they spend the night together because of thunder was perfectly reasonable.
Which somehow made everything worse.
Another loud crack split the sky.
Shen Li flinched faintly before controlling herself instantly.
Prince Rui noticed anyway.
Of course he did.
He lowered the report slowly. "The storm will worsen before dawn."
"...Mm."
Silence settled again.
Then Prince Rui suddenly stood.
Shen Li blinked slightly. "Your Highness?"
"Come."
The single word carried quiet certainty.
Shen Li followed instinctively through the dim lantern corridors while snowstorm winds echoed beyond the estate walls.
Eventually Prince Rui stopped before the inner chamber doors.
Their chamber.
Shen Li's heartbeat immediately lost composure again.
Prince Rui opened the doors calmly before stepping aside for her first.
Warmth greeted them instantly from burning charcoal braziers while candlelight flickered softly across dark wood furnishings.
Everything inside still carried traces of their wedding night:
plum blossom incense,
crimson silk curtains,
candle wax lingering faintly near the bedside.
Dangerously intimate.
Prince Rui removed his outer robe slowly. "You should sleep before dawn arrives."
Shen Li stood very still beside the doorway.
Because the problem was obvious.
The bed.
One bed.
Prince Rui seemed to realize her silence moments later.
Then immediately:
"This prince can sleep elsewhere."
The answer came too quickly.
Almost as though he feared making her uncomfortable.
And strangely-
that thought touched her chest unexpectedly.
Because despite being married, despite sharing kisses, despite already calling her his wife-
Prince Rui still behaved carefully around her.
Still restrained himself constantly.
Shen Li lowered her gaze briefly.
Then softly:
"There is no need."
Prince Rui stilled.
The room became very quiet.
Outside, thunder rolled faintly through the storm while candlelight flickered warmly across the chamber walls.
Shen Li moved first toward the bedside, pretending composure she absolutely did not possess.
Behind her, Prince Rui remained motionless for one dangerous second too long before finally following.
The atmosphere shifted immediately afterward.
Closer. Warmer. Impossible to ignore.
-
Much later, after servants withdrew and candles dimmed lower, silence settled softly around the chamber.
Shen Li lay beneath embroidered blankets facing the inner curtains while Prince Rui rested beside her on the opposite side of the bed.
Not touching.
Yet close enough that she remained painfully aware of everything:
his breathing,
the warmth beside her,
the faint cedar scent lingering against the pillows.
Her heartbeat refused to calm.
Another rumble of thunder echoed outside.
Prince Rui's voice sounded quietly through the darkness. "You're still awake."
"...So is Your Highness."
A pause.
Then:
"You're nervous."
Shen Li closed her eyes briefly in defeat.
How did he notice everything?
Before she could answer, Prince Rui spoke again.
Softly.
Carefully.
"You don't need to fear me."
The words pierced unexpectedly deep.
Because he truly believed her nervousness came from fear of him.
Not from the dangerous awareness growing between them.
Shen Li slowly turned toward him within the darkness.
Moonlight filtered faintly through storm clouds, illuminating part of Prince Rui's face beside her.
Even lying down, he looked composed. Controlled.
Only his eyes remained fully awake.
Watching her quietly.
Shen Li hesitated briefly before answering honestly:
"I'm not afraid of Your Highness."
Prince Rui stilled slightly.
Then:
"...No?"
"No."
The answer came softer this time.
More certain.
Something unreadable shifted through Prince Rui's gaze.
Outside, thunder rolled again.
This time, Shen Li did not realize she moved slightly closer until afterward.
Only a little.
Barely noticeable.
But Prince Rui noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His voice lowered almost dangerously.
"Shen Li."
Her pulse quickened instantly.
"Yes?"
Prince Rui looked at her silently for several long seconds.
Then finally:
"If you move closer again..."
"This prince may misunderstand."
The atmosphere exploded instantly.
Shen Li froze completely.
Warmth rushed violently across her face while Prince Rui remained lying beside her looking entirely too calm for someone who just said something so devastating.
Outside, the storm raged harder.
Inside, Shen Li forgot how breathing worked.
Then unexpectedly-
Prince Rui reached toward her slowly.
Her heartbeat nearly stopped.
But instead of anything scandalous-
he simply adjusted the blanket higher around her shoulders carefully.
"You dislike cold wind while sleeping," he murmured.
The tenderness nearly hurt.
Because even while teasing her-
he still worried about whether she felt cold first.
Shen Li looked at him quietly beneath dim moonlight.
Then, after one dangerous moment of courage-
she whispered softly:
"Your Highness misunderstands too."
Prince Rui's hand paused against the blanket.
"...What does this prince misunderstand?"
Shen Li's heartbeat became impossible to control now.
But still-
she answered honestly.
Very quietly.
"Perhaps I moved closer because I wanted to."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the thunder outside suddenly felt distant.
Prince Rui stared at her.
Truly stared.
As though something inside him had finally snapped completely.
Then slowly-
very slowly-
he reached up and brushed his fingers gently along the side of her face.
Warm. Careful. Reverent almost.
His voice when he finally spoke sounded rougher than before.
"You should not say such dangerous things before sleeping."