Chapter XXIV - A Dangerous Habit
Shen Li did not sleep well after that.
Not because of thunder.
Not because of the storm.
But because Prince Rui’s fingers remained against her face for far too long afterward.
Warm. Gentle. Dangerously careful.
And because the way he looked at her afterward made her heartbeat impossible to calm.
The worst part?
Prince Rui himself seemed equally awake.
Neither moved closer again.
Neither crossed the fragile line between restraint and desire.
Yet the atmosphere between them changed completely.
The storm outside eventually softened near dawn.
Inside the dim chamber, candlelight had long since faded, leaving only pale moonlight and the quiet sound of shared breathing beneath warm blankets.
Shen Li finally drifted asleep sometime near morning.
—
When she woke again, sunlight already filtered softly through the curtains.
And Prince Rui was gone.
For one strange second, disappointment touched her chest unexpectedly.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Then she noticed something else.
The blanket around her remained tucked carefully against the cold.
And beside the pillow rested a folded note written in familiar strong handwriting.
“Court session.
Breakfast is prepared.
Do not skip it.”
Shen Li stared at the note quietly.
Then suddenly laughed softly into the empty room.
How could someone sound commanding even through concern?
Qingyu entered moments later carrying fresh robes and immediately froze.
“…Miss smiled alone first thing in the morning.”
Shen Li instantly regained composure. “You saw incorrectly.”
Qingyu looked deeply unconvinced.
Then she noticed the note.
And nearly ascended spiritually again.
“Our prince even leaves messages now?!”
Shen Li calmly folded the paper away before the maids could become unbearable.
Too late.
They already looked emotionally invested beyond saving.
—
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the imperial court remained cold enough to freeze lakes.
The moment Prince Rui entered the morning assembly hall, silence spread instantly through the officials.
Black court robes. Cold expression. Military authority sharp enough to suffocate.
The softness visible around Shen Li vanished completely here.
This was the Prince Rui feared across the empire.
Several officials instinctively lowered their heads further.
Especially the Third Prince.
Because everyone knew the failed assassination attempt now lingered between them like an unsheathed blade.
The Emperor sat watching quietly from the throne.
Interested.
Because Prince Rui looked calm this morning.
Too calm.
Which usually meant someone was about to suffer terribly.
The Third Prince finally forced composure first. “Royal Uncle appears injured.”
Prince Rui’s gaze shifted toward him slowly.
Then:
“The Third Prince appears disappointed it wasn’t worse.”
Silence crashed across the court hall.
Several ministers nearly stopped breathing.
Direct. Sharp. Without even pretending politeness.
The Third Prince’s face darkened immediately. “This prince does not understand Royal Uncle’s meaning.”
Prince Rui smiled faintly.
A terrible smile.
“Then continue pretending.”
The court atmosphere instantly became unbearable.
The Emperor quietly hid amusement behind his teacup.
Excellent.
Very excellent.
Nothing entertained him more than watching officials panic around Prince Rui.
The Third Prince clenched his jaw hard. “Royal Uncle should be careful making accusations.”
Prince Rui’s expression remained calm.
Then he answered softly:
“This prince usually prefers making examples instead.”
The hall froze completely.
Every official present understood the warning clearly.
Prince Rui knew.
And worse—
he had not retaliated yet only because the wedding had just ended.
The Third Prince finally realized something deeply unpleasant:
Prince Rui was restraining himself.
For Shen Li.
And somehow that made him infinitely more dangerous than open fury.
—
Back at Prince Rui’s estate, Shen Li spent the morning reviewing household accounts beside Steward Zhou.
To her surprise, the estate finances were extraordinarily clean.
Almost frighteningly disciplined.
No hidden corruption. No excessive luxury spending. No servant exploitation.
Everything operated with military precision.
Shen Li looked up slightly from the ledgers. “Your Highness manages the estate personally?”
Steward Zhou immediately looked emotional. “His Highness notices everything.”
That sounded familiar.
The old steward sighed softly. “The prince dislikes waste. Most estate income goes toward border soldiers and military widows.”
Shen Li paused.
“…Military widows?”
“Yes.” Steward Zhou nodded respectfully. “His Highness personally supports families of fallen soldiers every winter.”
The warmth in Shen Li’s chest deepened unexpectedly.
Because Prince Rui never spoke about these things himself.
No public praise. No political performance.
He simply did them quietly.
Dangerous man.
The more she learned about him—
the harder it became protecting her heart properly.
Then suddenly hurried footsteps interrupted the hall.
A servant entered nervously. “Princess Consort… Lady Xu requests audience.”
The atmosphere cooled instantly.
Shen Li lowered the ledger slowly.
Lady Xu.
After everything that happened— after assassination attempts— after palace schemes—
she still dared come personally?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Steward Zhou’s expression darkened immediately. “This old servant can refuse her entry.”
Shen Li remained thoughtful for a moment.
Then slowly:
“No.”
“Let her enter.”