Chapter LI - Someone Waiting at Home
Those words followed Shen Li for the entire day.
“How could I not come home?”
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
Even while reviewing estate ledgers later that afternoon, she found herself staring at the same page repeatedly while Prince Rui’s voice echoed softly through her mind.
Because somehow— he made promises sound sacred.
Not dramatic. Not exaggerated.
Only calm, steady certainty.
As though returning safely to her had already become instinctive.
Shen Li lowered her gaze quietly toward the plum blossom paperweight resting beside the ledger.
And realized something terrifying.
Prince Rui no longer felt like part of her life.
He felt like the center of it.
The realization softened and frightened her simultaneously.
—
Meanwhile, inside the military training grounds behind the estate, Prince Rui looked distracted.
The silver wolf guards noticed immediately.
Their prince normally sparred like a battlefield storm: precise, cold, merciless.
Today—
he paused twice during strategy review.
Twice.
The guards nearly looked spiritually damaged.
One younger captain finally gathered courage carefully. “Your Highness appears… in good spirits.”
Prince Rui looked up coldly. “This prince is holding a sword.”
The captain immediately regretted existing.
Yet after a long pause—
Prince Rui quietly added:
“Princess Rui slept poorly because of military matters.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The captains stared in disbelief.
Their terrifying prince truly skipped directly from battlefield strategy to worrying about whether his wife slept properly.
Hopeless.
Entirely hopeless.
Then Prince Rui frowned faintly toward the training reports. “The northern deployment should be delayed if possible.”
The guards exchanged glances instantly.
Because that sentence alone was shocking.
Prince Rui never delayed military action for personal reasons.
Ever.
Yet now—
the possibility of leaving Shen Li clearly affected him deeply.
Dangerous woman.
Very dangerous woman.
—
Back inside the inner residence, Shen Li received unexpected visitors.
Several noble ladies arrived under the excuse of “welcoming Princess Rui after recovery troubles.”
In reality—
they came to investigate rumors personally.
Because the entire capital currently obsessed over one question:
How deeply had Prince Rui fallen already?
The answer became obvious almost immediately.
Tea had barely been served when one noblewoman smiled delicately. “The capital says Prince Rui nearly destroyed Longevity Palace over poisoned tea.”
Another added softly: “His Highness treasures Princess Rui greatly.”
The hidden jealousy beneath the compliments was obvious.
Shen Li answered calmly: “Your Highness simply dislikes unnecessary danger.”
The women exchanged glances.
Because Shen Li herself still understated everything.
Another noblewoman sighed dramatically. “Princess Rui truly became fortunate after marriage.”
The words carried hidden meaning: fortunate after being abandoned.
Shen Li noticed. So did Qingyu. So did every servant nearby.
Before the atmosphere sharpened further—
footsteps echoed outside the hall.
Then silence fell instantly.
Because Prince Rui had returned earlier than expected.
Still wearing black training robes, traces of snow dusted faintly across broad shoulders while cold winter air followed him inside.
And the moment he entered—
his gaze found Shen Li immediately.
Always immediately.
The noblewomen noticed everything:
how his expression softened,
how he walked directly toward her first,
how naturally Shen Li looked up toward him in return.
Dangerous intimacy.
Prince Rui stopped beside Shen Li’s chair quietly. “You didn’t nap.”
The hall froze.
Shen Li blinked softly. “…Your Highness returned early.”
“You were tired this morning.”
The noblewomen nearly stopped breathing.
Because Prince Rui remembered whether his wife slept well enough to nap later.
Impossible.
Then Prince Rui noticed the untouched tea beside Shen Li.
His expression cooled faintly. “Cold already.”
Without hesitation, he replaced it himself with fresh warm tea from the servant tray nearby.
Natural movement.
Familiar movement.
The noblewomen silently realized the rumors understated everything.
Prince Rui did not merely cherish Shen Li.
He centered his entire attention around her constantly.
One noblewoman finally forced a careful smile. “His Highness and Princess Rui truly appear affectionate.”
Prince Rui answered before Shen Li could.
Calmly. Directly. Without shame.
“This prince’s wife deserves affection.”
Silence crashed across the hall.
The noblewomen nearly spiritually collapsed.
Because:
no prince spoke this openly,
no man this powerful admitted devotion so casually,
and Prince Rui said it like obvious truth.
Meanwhile Shen Li’s heartbeat softened painfully beside him.
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
Then Prince Rui looked toward the gathered women again.
And somehow— the warmth vanished instantly.
Cold prince returned.
“You’ve seen Princess Rui healthy now.”
The dismissal was obvious.
The noblewomen immediately stood.
No one dared linger under Prince Rui’s increasingly territorial gaze.
Once the hall emptied entirely, Shen Li finally looked toward him helplessly.
“Your Highness frightened them.”
Prince Rui appeared entirely unconcerned. “They spoke too long.”
The shameless honesty nearly made her laugh.
Then suddenly Prince Rui stepped closer slightly.
Close enough that only she heard his next words.
His voice lowered softly:
“This prince returned early because he missed you.”
“Yet they occupied you first.”