Chapter XXXII - The Morning After the Storm
The snowstorm passed by dawn.
Soft winter sunlight filtered through the plum blossom courtyard while servants quietly cleared fresh snow from the stone pathways outside.
Inside the inner chamber—
Prince Rui had not slept well at all.
Because Shen Li remained curled lightly against his chest for most of the night.
Warm. Trusting. Completely unaware how dangerous that felt for him.
Meanwhile Shen Li slept peacefully for the first time in days.
Which made moving away impossible.
Prince Rui stared silently at the canopy above the bed while one arm remained around his wife carefully.
This marriage truly was becoming difficult.
Very difficult.
Beside him, Shen Li shifted slightly in her sleep.
The movement brought her closer instinctively.
Prince Rui closed his eyes briefly once.
Dangerous woman.
Even unconscious, she seemed capable of testing his restraint perfectly.
Then softly— almost unconsciously—
Shen Li murmured against his robes:
“…Your Highness.”
Prince Rui’s gaze lowered instantly.
She was still asleep.
Yet somehow hearing his title spoken so softly from her lips tightened something painfully warm inside his chest.
His fingers brushed gently along her hair.
Careful not to wake her.
Then quietly:
“Mm.”
Shen Li relaxed further afterward, breathing evening out again.
Prince Rui stared at her for one long moment.
Then finally understood something clearly:
He was already far beyond saving.
—
Unfortunately, peace never lasted.
A sharp knock suddenly echoed outside the chamber doors.
“Your Highness!”
Prince Rui’s expression cooled instantly.
The knock came again—urgent.
“This subordinate requests immediate audience!”
Shen Li stirred faintly against him.
Prince Rui immediately lowered one hand gently against the back of her head.
Protective instinct.
“Quietly,” he warned toward the door.
The guard outside lowered his voice immediately. “Forgiveness, Your Highness. Palace news arrived.”
Shen Li slowly opened her eyes afterward.
For one sleepy second, confusion lingered softly across her expression.
Then she realized:
the warmth beneath her cheek,
Prince Rui’s arm around her,
how closely they slept.
Her heartbeat instantly lost control.
Prince Rui noticed immediately.
The corner of his mouth lifted faintly.
Dangerous man.
Shen Li quickly tried sitting up—
only for Prince Rui’s arm to tighten slightly around her waist before releasing.
Just enough.
As though he did not entirely want to let go yet.
The atmosphere became quietly awkward.
Warm awkward.
Then Prince Rui spoke calmly toward the doors: “What happened?”
The guard answered immediately:
“The Third Prince woke during dawn.”
“And requested audience with Your Highness personally.”
The chamber cooled instantly.
Shen Li looked up toward Prince Rui quietly.
The softness from moments earlier faded slowly from his eyes.
Politics again.
Danger again.
Prince Rui remained silent for several long seconds before answering: “This prince will enter the palace shortly.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The footsteps retreated.
Silence returned.
But the atmosphere had already changed.
Shen Li lowered her gaze slightly toward the blankets.
Then softly:
“The Third Prince is moving quickly.”
“Yes.”
“He wants to regain control before suspicion spreads further.”
Prince Rui looked at her steadily.
Then unexpectedly:
“You understand court politics well.”
Shen Li nearly smiled faintly. “This daughter survived noble society for seven years.”
A different battlefield.
But battlefield nonetheless.
Prince Rui’s expression softened again.
Then he reached up suddenly— and brushed loose hair gently away from her face.
The movement felt almost natural now.
Dangerously natural.
“You should continue sleeping,” he said quietly.
Shen Li blinked slightly. “And Your Highness?”
“I’ll return before evening.”
Again.
Promises of return.
As though he understood she would wait now.
Shen Li’s chest softened painfully.
Then suddenly she noticed something else.
Prince Rui looked exhausted.
Truly exhausted.
The shadows beneath his eyes had deepened after nights of interrupted sleep and endless palace pressure.
Without thinking, Shen Li reached toward him.
Her fingers touched lightly beneath his eye.
Prince Rui froze instantly.
The room became very quiet.
“You barely rested,” she murmured softly.
Prince Rui looked at her silently.
Then after one dangerous pause:
“This prince rested enough.”
The lie sounded terrible.
Shen Li frowned faintly. “Your Highness is lying.”
Prince Rui almost smiled.
Because no one spoke to him like this.
No fear. No excessive politeness.
Just quiet concern.
Then Shen Li said something even more dangerous.
Very softly.
“I’ll wait for you tonight too.”
The words settled heavily through the chamber.
Prince Rui stared at her.
Something dark and warm shifted visibly through his gaze.
Then slowly—
he caught her wrist gently.
The same wrist he kissed last night.
His thumb brushed once against her pulse again.
Shen Li’s heartbeat betrayed her instantly beneath his touch.
Prince Rui noticed.
Of course he noticed.
His voice lowered dangerously.
“Princess Rui.”
“Do you truly intend for this prince to survive court properly today?”
The atmosphere exploded again.
Shen Li immediately tried pulling her hand back in embarrassment.
Prince Rui let her go this time.
But not before pressing one final slow kiss against her fingertips first.
Soft. Intimate. Deliberately devastating.
Then he stood calmly afterward as though nothing happened.
Meanwhile Shen Li sat frozen beneath blankets wondering whether Prince Rui secretly enjoyed destroying her composure intentionally now.
The answer was probably yes.
Before leaving the chamber, Prince Rui paused near the doorway once.
Then looked back toward her beneath morning winter light.
And for one suspended second—
the terrifying prince looked unbearably reluctant to leave.
Then quietly:
“Eat breakfast properly.”
“And don’t wait outside in the cold again.”
Only after the doors closed behind him did Shen Li finally bury her face into the blankets silently.
Dangerous man.
Impossible man.
And worst of all—
she was beginning to love him.