Chapter XLII - Poisoned Tea
The hall froze.
Not metaphorically.
Actually froze.
Even the palace musicians in the distance stopped playing.
Tea dripped slowly across the table while Prince Rui's hand remained firmly around Shen Li's wrist.
Protective. Possessive. Cold enough to terrify everyone watching.
The palace maid carrying the tray immediately collapsed to her knees shaking violently.
"T-This servant-"
Prince Rui did not even look at her.
His eyes remained fixed entirely on the teacup before Shen Li.
Then slowly- very slowly-
he lifted the cup himself.
And brought it near enough to smell.
The atmosphere became suffocating instantly.
Because everyone in the hall suddenly realized one terrifying possibility:
Someone attempted poisoning again. Inside Longevity Palace itself.
The Empress Dowager's expression darkened sharply. "What is the meaning of this?"
Prince Rui lowered the teacup calmly.
Then answered in the same terrifyingly quiet tone:
"Nightshade residue."
Silence crashed through the hall.
Several noblewomen went pale immediately.
Nightshade.
A slow poison. Painful. Difficult to detect beneath floral tea blends.
Consort Xu's face lost color for one dangerous second before composure returned instantly.
Prince Rui noticed.
Of course he noticed.
Then suddenly- without warning-
he shattered the teacup against the floor.
The sound echoed violently through the hall.
Everyone flinched.
Everyone except Shen Li.
Because Prince Rui still held her wrist gently despite the terrifying coldness radiating from him.
Protecting her even while furious.
The Empress Dowager stood immediately. "Investigate this at once!"
The kneeling maid collapsed fully sobbing. "This servant knows nothing!"
Prince Rui finally looked toward her.
And the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
His expression remained calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm preceding executions.
Then softly:
"You carried the tea."
The maid began trembling violently.
Meanwhile Shen Li quietly touched Prince Rui's sleeve lightly beneath the table.
A tiny movement.
Yet Prince Rui noticed immediately.
His gaze shifted toward her.
Only briefly.
But enough.
Enough for Shen Li to see the terrifying fury beneath his restraint.
Because this was different now.
Not assassins in dark streets. Not military attacks.
Someone attempted poisoning directly before him.
Against her.
Inside the palace.
The realization clearly pushed Prince Rui dangerously close to losing control.
Shen Li lowered her voice slightly. "Your Highness."
Prince Rui looked at her fully now.
And somehow- the coldness in his eyes softened immediately.
Just for her.
Dangerous man.
Shen Li's fingers tightened faintly against his sleeve.
"Please don't reopen your wound from anger."
The room became deathly silent.
Because somehow- inside a palace poisoning crisis-
Princess Rui's first concern remained Prince Rui injuring himself again.
And Prince Rui...
actually listened.
Everyone watched the impossible transformation happen in real time.
The terrifying killing intent surrounding him eased slightly.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Prince Rui exhaled softly once before covering Shen Li's hand with his own beneath the table.
Warm. Steady. Reassuring.
Then he finally addressed the hall again.
Coldly. Controlled.
"Seal Longevity Palace."
"No one leaves."
The palace guards immediately obeyed.
Chaos erupted afterward.
Noblewomen panicked. Servants cried. Officials rushed through corridors.
Yet through all the noise-
Prince Rui remained seated beside Shen Li.
Not moving. Not leaving her side.
As though the entire palace mattered less than confirming she stayed safe.
The Empress Dowager noticed everything.
And suddenly- for the first time-
she felt genuine unease.
Because Prince Rui's attachment to Shen Li had already surpassed reason.
That kind of devotion could destabilize empires.
-
Hours later, after investigations began and physicians confirmed the poison traces, Shen Li and Prince Rui finally returned toward the estate beneath heavy guard escort.
The carriage atmosphere remained unusually quiet.
Prince Rui had barely spoken since leaving the palace.
Shen Li noticed immediately.
Because his silence now felt dangerous.
Not calm.
Controlled fury.
The kind that frightened entire armies.
Then suddenly Prince Rui spoke.
Without looking at her.
"This prince should have checked the tea before you touched it."
Shen Li blinked softly.
"...Your Highness."
"I became careless."
The self-blame inside his voice startled her.
Prince Rui's jaw remained tense beneath dim lantern light. "They attempted poisoning directly before me." His fingers tightened faintly against his sleeve. "And I noticed too late."
Shen Li stared at him quietly.
Because this terrifying prince- who survived wars and political conspiracies-
now looked genuinely upset for failing to protect her perfectly.
The realization touched her chest painfully.
Without thinking, Shen Li moved slightly closer inside the carriage.
Then gently caught his hand.
Prince Rui froze immediately.
Their eyes met quietly beneath dim lantern light while snowfall drifted beyond the carriage walls.
Shen Li's voice softened.
"Your Highness noticed before I drank it."
"You protected me."
Prince Rui looked at her silently.
Then quietly:
"Not fast enough."
Something inside Shen Li hurt hearing that.
Because Prince Rui truly believed he failed simply because danger reached near her at all.
The standard he held himself to regarding her safety had become terrifyingly high.
Then Shen Li did something reckless again.
Very reckless.
She lifted his hand slowly.
And pressed a soft kiss against his knuckles.
The world stopped.
Prince Rui stared at her completely motionless.
Even Shen Li herself realized what she had done only afterward.
Too late now.
Warmth spread violently across her face.
But before embarrassment could fully destroy her-
Prince Rui suddenly caught her waist.
And pulled her directly against him.
Shen Li gasped softly.
The carriage became far too small instantly.
Prince Rui's arm remained tight around her while his forehead lowered briefly against her shoulder.
Breathing rougher now.
Less controlled.
Then very quietly- dangerously honestly-
he admitted:
"Shen Li."
"This prince may truly become unreasonable because of you."