Chapter LXXIX - Snow Between Them
The warning changed everything.
Not publicly.
Not visibly.
But inside Prince Rui's estate—
the atmosphere sharpened overnight.
Because someone had:
intercepted private letters,
infiltrated enemy spy networks,
returned stolen correspondence,
and somehow knew enough to warn Shen Li directly.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Yet strangely—
Shen Li did not feel threatened by the note.
She felt watched.
The distinction mattered.
—
The next morning, Steward Zhou stood inside the western study reviewing security reports.
His expression had become increasingly grim.
"No suspicious entries."
"No compromised guards."
"No missing servants."
Shen Li listened quietly.
Then softly asked:
"And the messenger routes?"
Steward Zhou hesitated.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then:
"Three couriers connected to military correspondence disappeared this month."
Silence.
The room cooled immediately.
Three.
Not one.
Not coincidence.
A network.
Someone had been monitoring communication for weeks.
Perhaps longer.
Then Shen Li lowered her gaze toward the recovered letters.
Prince Rui's handwriting filled the pages.
Warm. Ridiculous. Hopeless.
And somehow—
the thought of strangers reading them irritated her unexpectedly.
Dangerous habit.
Very dangerous habit.
—
Far north—
Prince Rui won another battle.
Unfortunately, nobody noticed.
Because the commanders were busy witnessing something much stranger.
Their terrifying general had just received a letter.
And immediately abandoned everyone.
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
One commander watched Prince Rui leave the strategy tent.
Then sighed.
"The enemy lost six thousand men today."
Another nodded.
"His Highness is still more interested in correspondence."
Both men looked spiritually exhausted.
Because unfortunately—
they were correct.
—
Prince Rui opened Shen Li's letter inside his private tent.
Immediately.
Without dignity.
Without patience.
The letter was short.
Yet somehow—
every word settled warmth into his chest.
Your Highness,
Victory reports reached the capital.
This daughter is proud of Your Highness.
Please sleep more.
This daughter suspects Your Highness is being unreasonable again.
— Shen Li
Silence.
Then Prince Rui smiled.
Actually smiled.
Again.
The guards outside pretended not to notice.
For survival purposes.
Then Prince Rui sat quietly for a long moment.
Reading.
Rereading.
Memorizing.
Dangerous man.
Very dangerous man.
Then suddenly—
a second piece of paper slipped from the envelope.
Prince Rui froze.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because Shen Li had written something else.
A private addition.
Hidden beneath the official letter.
His gaze lowered.
And he read.
This daughter misses Your Highness too.
More than yesterday.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then Prince Rui closed his eyes briefly.
As though steadying himself.
Because somehow—
those six words hit harder than battlefield victories.
—
That same evening—
the Black Sparrow watched from a rooftop.
Snow drifted across the capital below.
The city glowed beneath lantern light.
Peaceful from a distance.
Never peaceful up close.
Then a figure appeared beside her.
One of her remaining contacts.
Nervous.
Afraid.
Wise.
"You're being hunted."
The Black Sparrow remained silent.
The contact continued.
"Enemy agents know someone betrayed them."
Of course they did.
The warehouse incident had been impossible to hide.
Then:
"You should leave the capital."
Interesting advice.
Reasonable advice.
Ignored immediately.
Because the Black Sparrow's gaze had already settled elsewhere.
Toward Prince Rui's estate.
Toward the softly illuminated western residence.
Toward a woman who still waited for letters.
Then quietly she asked:
"Any movement from Consort Xu's faction?"
The contact froze.
Because that question wasn't expected.
Then slowly:
"There are rumors."
"What rumors?"
Silence.
Then:
"A second attempt."
The winter wind seemed colder suddenly.
The Black Sparrow's eyes narrowed.
Dangerously.
Then:
"Against whom?"
The answer came immediately.
"Princess Rui."
Silence crashed across the rooftop.
Because suddenly—
everything connected.
The spies. The intercepted letters. The palace schemes.
Shen Li remained the center of the board.
Still.
Even after Prince Rui left.
And someone was preparing another move.
—
Far away—
Prince Rui woke suddenly.
Again.
The nightmare.
Again.
Only this time—
it felt different.
Worse.
Because in the dream—
he heard Shen Li calling his name.
And couldn't reach her.
No battlefield frightened him.
No enemy frightened him.
But that dream?
That dream left him cold.
Then immediately—
before dawn had even arrived—
Prince Rui called for his fastest messenger.
The sleepy guard entered.
Confused.
Concerned.
"Your Highness?"
Prince Rui was already writing.
Ink moving rapidly across paper.
Then calmly:
"Take this to the capital."
The guard accepted the letter.
Then glanced down accidentally.
Only once.
Enough.
Because the first line read:
Princess Rui,
This prince had another nightmare.
The guard immediately looked away.
Emotionally exhausted.
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
Yet neither Prince Rui nor Shen Li knew something important.
The next threat wasn't coming from the battlefield.
It was already inside the capital.
And this time—
it would strike much closer than before.
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