Chapter XXXIII - Waiting for Him
The palace swallowed Prince Rui again by midday.
Cold corridors. Sharp-eyed ministers. Hidden traps behind every polite smile.
Yet for the first time in years—
Prince Rui found court increasingly unbearable for one simple reason:
Someone waited for him elsewhere now.
The realization followed him through every imperial hall like warmth he could not set aside.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
—
Inside the eastern palace chamber, the Third Prince looked significantly weaker than before.
Pale from poison. Breathing uneven. Yet his eyes remained sharp the moment Prince Rui entered.
“Royal Uncle.”
Prince Rui stood several steps away calmly. “You survived.”
The Third Prince laughed weakly. “Royal Uncle sounds disappointed.”
“No.” Prince Rui’s expression remained unreadable. “This prince dislikes unfinished schemes.”
Silence spread instantly through the chamber.
Several palace attendants immediately lowered their heads deeper.
The Third Prince studied him carefully. “You truly believe this prince poisoned himself?”
Prince Rui answered calmly:
“This prince believes someone wants us fighting openly.”
The Third Prince’s expression darkened slightly.
Because that possibility disturbed him too.
If someone manipulated both assassination attempts and poisoning—
then another hidden faction already moved beneath palace shadows.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The Third Prince exhaled slowly. “Royal Uncle still suspects my involvement regarding the wedding.”
“Yes.”
Direct. Brutal. Without hesitation.
The Third Prince almost laughed despite himself.
Only Prince Rui could accuse an imperial prince of attempted murder while sounding completely reasonable.
Then Prince Rui added quietly:
“But you are not clever enough to orchestrate this poisoning.”
The chamber froze.
The Third Prince stared in disbelief. “…Was that insult necessary?”
“Yes.”
A long silence followed.
Then unexpectedly— the Third Prince laughed.
Actually laughed.
Weak from poison but genuine.
Because unfortunately— Prince Rui was probably correct.
He was arrogant enough for assassination attempts.
But poison politics?
Too patient. Too hidden.
Not his style.
Prince Rui watched him quietly afterward.
Then finally: “Your mother knows more than you.”
The Third Prince’s laughter disappeared instantly.
There it was.
The real problem.
Consort Xu.
The older woman remained too calm through all this.
Too prepared.
The Third Prince slowly lowered his gaze. “What if I say Royal Uncle should watch her more carefully too?”
Prince Rui’s eyes sharpened faintly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Before either could continue, palace attendants suddenly announced the Emperor’s arrival.
The conversation ended immediately.
Yet one dangerous understanding already settled silently between them:
Neither trusted Consort Xu anymore.
—
Meanwhile, back inside Prince Rui’s estate, Shen Li spent the afternoon trying unsuccessfully to focus on household matters.
The problem?
She kept remembering this morning.
Prince Rui’s arms around her. His kiss against her fingertips. The way he looked reluctant to leave.
Dangerous man.
Qingyu noticed immediately.
“Princess Consort has turned the same page four times.”
Shen Li calmly closed the account ledger. “You speak too much lately.”
Qingyu looked deeply unconvinced.
Then suddenly another servant hurried into the courtyard.
“Princess Consort! Madam Liang requests audience.”
Shen Li blinked slightly.
Madam Liang?
Interesting.
—
Madam Liang arrived carrying winter robes personally.
The older woman’s expression softened immediately upon seeing Shen Li.
“Li’er.”
The familiar nickname still carried warmth.
Shen Li stepped forward quickly. “Madam should not travel through snow personally.”
“Nonsense.” Madam Liang waved her away. “This old woman became restless staying home.”
Yet beneath the casual words, exhaustion lingered visibly.
Shen Li noticed immediately.
“…Young Master Liang again?”
Madam Liang sighed heavily.
That answer alone explained enough.
Since the wedding, Liang Wenxuan had apparently become impossible:
drinking excessively,
skipping court duties,
fighting with friends,
wandering outside Prince Rui’s estate at night like a tragic scholar from terrible poetry.
The capital already gossiped endlessly.
Madam Liang looked tired beyond words. “He finally understands pain after losing something.”
Shen Li lowered her gaze quietly.
No matter how much regret arrived now—
some things could never return.
Madam Liang studied her carefully afterward.
Then suddenly smiled faintly.
“You look happier.”
The words startled Shen Li slightly.
“Happier?”
“Yes.” Madam Liang’s eyes softened warmly. “Your eyes no longer look tired.”
Silence settled softly.
Because perhaps—
perhaps it was true.
For years, Shen Li carried invisible exhaustion no one noticed.
The exhaustion of:
waiting,
enduring,
hoping alone.
Yet recently—
she laughed more. Slept more peacefully. Smiled without realizing sometimes.
And all of it began after entering Prince Rui’s estate.
Madam Liang noticed the silence immediately.
Then very gently:
“Prince Rui treats you well.”
Not a question.
A quiet certainty.
Warmth spread faintly through Shen Li’s chest.
“…Yes.”
The simple answer seemed enough.
Madam Liang smiled fully for the first time that afternoon. “Good.”
Then after a pause:
“That foolish son of mine never deserved you.”
The sadness beneath her words hurt unexpectedly.
Because despite everything—
Madam Liang truly cared for her.
Shen Li reached forward quietly and held the older woman’s hand lightly.
“You treated this daughter sincerely for many years.”
Madam Liang’s eyes reddened faintly.
Then suddenly—
another voice entered from the courtyard entrance.
Cold. Low. Familiar.
“This prince agrees with Madam Liang.”
Shen Li turned instantly.
Prince Rui had returned.
Snow still clung to his dark robes while several guards remained behind him carrying palace documents.
Yet despite clearly returning directly from court—
his gaze settled immediately on Shen Li first.
Always first.
Madam Liang noticed.
And suddenly understood exactly why her son lost.
Prince Rui walked calmly toward them before bowing slightly toward the older woman respectfully.
“Madam Liang.”
Even Madam Liang looked startled briefly.
Because Prince Rui rarely showed social courtesy willingly.
Yet now—
he greeted her sincerely because she treated Shen Li kindly.
The realization nearly overwhelmed her emotionally.
Meanwhile Prince Rui’s gaze shifted toward Shen Li again.
Then immediately: “You skipped the noon tonic.”
Shen Li blinked. “…How does Your Highness know that?”
Prince Rui looked entirely serious. “The bowl remained full when this prince left.”
Madam Liang silently stared.
Because this terrifying prince truly noticed everything regarding Shen Li.
Every small habit. Every missed meal. Every expression.
Impossible.
Then Prince Rui stepped closer slightly.
And without caring Madam Liang still sat nearby—
he adjusted the fur collar around Shen Li’s shoulders gently.
Natural. Intimate. Careful.
Madam Liang almost wanted to laugh and cry simultaneously.
Because after seven years watching Liang Wenxuan overlook Shen Li endlessly—
seeing Prince Rui cherish her so openly felt almost unreal.
Meanwhile Prince Rui noticed the slight chill lingering against Shen Li’s hands.
His expression cooled faintly immediately.
“You waited outside again.”
Shen Li looked mildly guilty.
Madam Liang nearly burst into laughter this time.
Because somehow— the feared Prince Rui now sounded exactly like a husband returning home to scold his wife gently for not dressing warmly enough.