Chapter XXXVII - Stay Beside Me
The fever began before dawn.
At first, the physicians believed Prince Rui merely exhausted himself from blood loss and reopened wounds.
Then his temperature rose sharply.
By sunrise, the entire inner residence had descended into panic again.
Servants rushed through corridors carrying medicine while physicians argued beside the bed in hushed, urgent voices.
“The wound became inflamed.”
“His Highness pushed himself too far.”
“He should never have fought in that condition!”
Meanwhile Prince Rui remained half-conscious beneath heavy blankets, dark hair damp against his forehead while fever flushed normally pale skin.
And through all of it—
Shen Li never left his side.
Not once.
The physicians stopped trying to persuade her hours ago.
Because Prince Rui only calmed when Shen Li remained nearby.
The old physician sighed quietly while preparing another bowl of medicine. “His Highness has frightened this old servant into losing ten years of life.”
Qingyu looked exhausted too. “Our princess consort hasn’t slept all night.”
Shen Li barely heard either of them.
Her attention stayed fixed entirely on Prince Rui.
His breathing sounded uneven.
Too warm.
Too weak.
Every time his brows tightened faintly from pain, something inside her chest twisted painfully.
Dangerous man.
How dare he protect her this recklessly?
Then suddenly—
Prince Rui stirred against the pillows.
The room quieted immediately.
His eyes opened slightly beneath fever haze before unfocusing again.
Then softly— roughly—
he murmured:
“…Shen Li?”
Shen Li moved instantly closer. “I’m here.”
The tension in his expression eased immediately afterward.
The physician paused briefly watching.
Amazing.
Prince Rui normally tolerated injuries in terrifying silence.
Yet now—
he unconsciously searched for Shen Li first while feverish.
The old physician suddenly understood something dangerous:
Their prince had already fallen far too deeply.
Meanwhile Prince Rui’s hand shifted weakly against the blankets.
Searching.
Without hesitation, Shen Li caught it gently between both of hers.
Warm. Burning with fever.
Prince Rui’s fingers tightened faintly around hers afterward.
Then he drifted asleep again almost immediately.
The physician looked emotionally exhausted. “He truly listens only to Princess Consort now.”
Shen Li lowered her gaze quietly toward their joined hands.
And for the first time—
she did not deny it.
—
The fever worsened by afternoon.
Rain replaced snow outside while thunder rolled faintly across dark skies.
Inside the chamber, medicine bowls accumulated endlessly beside the bed.
Prince Rui barely woke fully anymore.
But whenever he did—
his gaze searched for Shen Li first.
Always first.
Once, during a particularly restless fever dream, he suddenly tried sitting upright despite the injuries.
The physicians nearly panicked.
“Your Highness cannot move!”
Prince Rui ignored everyone completely.
His breathing roughened sharply while his unfocused gaze moved frantically through the room.
Then:
“Where is she?”
The room fell silent.
Shen Li immediately stepped forward. “I’m here.”
Prince Rui looked toward her instantly.
The tension left his shoulders immediately afterward.
As though merely hearing her voice anchored him back to reality.
Then suddenly— before anyone expected it—
Prince Rui caught her wrist weakly.
And refused to let go.
The physicians looked helpless immediately.
“Your Highness must rest.”
Prince Rui closed his eyes again slowly.
Yet his grip around Shen Li’s wrist tightened faintly instead.
Possessive even while feverish.
Dangerous man.
Shen Li sat carefully beside the bed afterward rather than forcing him to release her.
The old physician wisely pretended not to notice.
Because at this point, the entire estate already understood:
Prince Rui became calmer whenever Shen Li stayed close.
So if holding hands prevented him reopening wounds again—
then everyone would protect those hands with their lives.
—
Night fell slowly beyond the rain-covered windows.
Most servants had been dismissed to rest temporarily while Shen Li remained alone beside Prince Rui beneath warm lantern light.
The fever finally began lowering slightly.
Not enough. But better.
Shen Li exhaled quietly in relief for the first time all day.
Then Prince Rui stirred again.
This time, when his eyes opened—
they focused properly.
Clearer than before.
Shen Li leaned closer immediately. “Your Highness?”
Prince Rui looked at her silently for several long seconds.
Then his gaze lowered toward their joined hands.
Still intertwined.
A faint softness entered his exhausted expression afterward.
“…You stayed.”
The simple words nearly hurt.
Because somehow— Prince Rui sounded genuinely surprised.
As though he still expected people to leave eventually.
Shen Li’s chest tightened painfully.
She adjusted the damp cloth against his forehead gently. “Your Highness frightened everyone.”
Prince Rui watched her quietly.
Then very softly:
“Did I frighten you most?”
Shen Li froze slightly.
Because the answer was obvious now.
Dangerously obvious.
After a long moment, she answered honestly:
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Rain tapped softly against the windows while warm lantern light reflected across Prince Rui’s tired features.
Then slowly— very slowly—
he lifted their joined hands slightly.
Enough to press his lips weakly against her knuckles.
Soft. Lingering. Exhausted.
Yet somehow more intimate than anything before.
Shen Li’s heartbeat softened painfully.
Prince Rui rested back against the pillows afterward, eyes never leaving her face.
Then quietly— like confession hidden beneath fever—
he admitted:
“When I woke earlier…”
“This prince thought he died.”
“Because you were crying.”