Chapter LXV - The General and His Wife
The story of Prince Rui embracing Princess Rui in front of military generals spread through the capital before midnight.
Naturally.
Nothing survived in secrecy when nobles were emotionally unstable.
Tea houses exploded immediately.
“The terrifying Prince Rui hugged his wife before deployment discussions!”
“In front of generals!”
“I heard the military advisors looked ready to disappear.”
“Princess Rui truly bewitched him completely.”
Inside the palace, however—
the rumors felt less romantic.
And far more dangerous.
Because every faction now understood one terrifying reality clearly:
Prince Rui’s emotional weakness had become undeniable.
—
Meanwhile, Prince Rui remained entirely unconcerned about gossip.
Because he currently faced a much more serious problem:
leaving Shen Li behind.
The realization grew increasingly unbearable with every passing hour.
Inside the inner chamber later that night, military reports covered nearly every surface while Prince Rui reviewed deployment routes beneath dim lantern light.
Shen Li sat nearby quietly preparing travel medicine packages herself.
The atmosphere felt strangely domestic despite the looming war.
Then suddenly Prince Rui looked up from the maps. “What are you doing?”
Shen Li continued sorting herbs calmly. “Preparing supplies.”
“The military physicians already prepared supplies.”
“These are different.”
Prince Rui watched her silently.
Then slowly stood and walked toward her.
The moment he stopped beside her— the room felt smaller immediately.
Warm. Dangerously familiar.
Prince Rui lowered his gaze toward the carefully wrapped medicine packets. “Sleep herbs.”
Shen Li nodded softly. “Your Highness sleeps poorly after battle injuries reopen.”
Silence.
Because again— she noticed things no one else ever did.
Prince Rui’s chest tightened painfully warm.
Then quietly:
“Princess Rui remembers too much.”
Shen Li almost smiled faintly. “Your Highness notices too much too.”
Prince Rui looked entirely unconcerned by the accusation.
Instead— he reached down slowly.
And covered her hands with his own atop the medicine packets.
Warm. Steady. Possessive now without hiding it.
Then softly:
“This prince doesn’t want leaving.”
The honesty inside the confession hurt.
Because Prince Rui no longer pretended duty outweighed personal desire.
Shen Li looked toward him quietly beneath lantern light.
Then:
“But Your Highness will still go.”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
Because this was also who Prince Rui was:
protector of borders,
defender of the empire,
war prince before anything else.
And Shen Li loved him partly because of that too.
Dangerous realization.
Then Prince Rui’s gaze darkened slightly. “This prince dislikes being reasonable lately.”
The shameless honesty nearly made her laugh softly.
Instead, Shen Li squeezed his hands lightly once. “Then this daughter will remain reasonable enough for both of us.”
Prince Rui immediately looked displeased. “No.”
Shen Li blinked softly. “…No?”
“This prince prefers Princess Rui unreasonable too.”
The answer stunned her silent.
Prince Rui continued calmly:
“This prince likes when you miss him.”
The room became unbearably warm again.
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
—
Unfortunately, peace shattered again the next morning.
A palace messenger arrived before sunrise carrying emergency court summons.
The Crown Prince requested Prince Rui’s presence immediately regarding northern military command arrangements.
Prince Rui’s mood darkened instantly.
Because:
deployment timing already suspiciously rushed,
palace politics escalating,
and now command structure adjustments appearing suddenly before departure?
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Inside the carriage heading toward the palace, Shen Li sat beside him quietly.
Prince Rui looked toward her several times during the journey.
As though memorizing her expression unconsciously.
Shen Li noticed.
Then softly:
“Your Highness is staring again.”
Prince Rui answered without embarrassment:
“This prince leaves soon.”
“Naturally this prince wants to keep looking.”
The straightforwardness nearly softened her completely.
Dangerous man.
Then suddenly Prince Rui frowned faintly. “You didn’t sleep enough.”
Shen Li sighed helplessly. “Your Highness notices impossible things.”
“No.” Prince Rui’s fingers brushed lightly against hers. “This prince only notices you.”
The atmosphere inside the carriage warmed immediately.
Then suddenly— the carriage halted sharply.
Both instantly looked up.
The guards outside tensed visibly.
Prince Rui’s expression cooled. “What happened?”
A guard answered quickly: “Your Highness… someone blocked the palace road ahead.”
Silence.
Prince Rui’s eyes darkened instantly.
Then calmly:
“Move them.”
The guard hesitated briefly. “…It’s Young Master Liang.”
The carriage became very quiet.
Shen Li froze slightly.
Liang Wenxuan.
Interesting timing.
Very interesting timing.
Prince Rui’s expression turned unreadable.
Then slowly— dangerously slowly—
he asked:
“Why is he blocking this prince’s carriage?”
Outside, the guard answered carefully:
“Young Master Liang requests audience with Princess Rui.”
“Alone.”
Silence crashed through the carriage.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Because everyone— including Shen Li— felt Prince Rui’s mood change violently.
Cold. Terrifyingly cold.
Then suddenly Prince Rui laughed softly.
A terrible sound.
The kind that usually preceded bloodshed.
His gaze shifted slowly toward Shen Li afterward.
And very quietly— dangerously calmly—
he asked:
“Does Princess Rui wish to see him?”