Chapter CX - The Matchmakers
Peace lasted exactly twelve days.
Twelve.
Prince Rui counted.
Unfortunately.
Because on the thirteenth day—
the empire developed a new national hobby.
—
Everyone became invested in his family planning.
—
The disaster began during a routine court session.
A mistake.
A catastrophic mistake.
—
Prince Rui had just finished presenting military reforms.
The Emperor approved them.
The Crown Prince approved them.
The ministers approved them.
Everything proceeded normally.
—
Then an elderly minister smiled.
A dangerous sign.
Very dangerous.
—
And asked:
"Your Highness and Princess Rui have been married for some time now."
Silence.
—
Prince Rui immediately sensed an ambush.
—
Then:
"Has there been any good news?"
The court froze.
Then exploded.
—
Not literally.
Unfortunately.
—
The Emperor nearly choked on his tea.
The Crown Prince looked fascinated.
The ministers suddenly became extremely interested.
And Prince Rui contemplated military exile.
Again.
—
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
—
Then Prince Rui stood.
Calmly.
With dignity.
Like a great prince of the empire.
—
And left.
—
The court dissolved into laughter.
—
The story spread across the capital before sunset.
Naturally.
Because gossip moved faster than cavalry.
—
By evening—
the Emperor summoned Shen Li.
—
A terrible sign.
An absolutely terrible sign.
—
Inside the imperial garden—
Shen Li arrived expecting state matters.
Political matters.
Administrative matters.
—
Instead—
the Emperor offered her tea.
Smiled warmly.
And said:
"This emperor has a question."
—
Danger.
Immediate danger.
—
Then:
"Do you like children?"
—
Shen Li nearly dropped her cup.
—
Elsewhere—
Prince Rui sneezed.
Again.
Suspiciously.
—
Unfortunately—
the Emperor was only the beginning.
—
Lady Shen joined next.
—
The betrayal hurt.
Deeply.
Personally.
—
Because one afternoon she casually presented Shen Li with a small bundle of old baby clothes.
—
Then smiled.
—
"Just in case."
—
Silence.
Absolute silence.
—
Then Shen Li realized something horrifying.
—
Her mother and the Emperor had spoken.
—
The alliance was complete.
The empire was doomed.
—
Three days later—
General Han somehow became involved.
Nobody knew how.
Nobody wanted to know how.
—
Then he approached Prince Rui during military training.
—
"Your Highness."
—
Prince Rui already looked tired.
—
Then:
"Children are excellent for character development."
—
Prince Rui stared.
—
Long.
Dangerously long.
—
Then:
"General Han."
—
"Yes?"
—
"Leave."
—
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
—
Meanwhile—
the Crown Prince proved even worse.
Because he enjoyed suffering.
—
One afternoon he casually asked Shen Li:
"If you had a son, would he resemble Prince Rui?"
—
Then:
"Or would he inherit your ability to terrify people?"
—
Interesting question.
Very interesting question.
—
The Crown Prince spent the next week hiding from Prince Rui.
For survival purposes.
—
Then everything became worse.
—
Because the palace servants started placing children's toys everywhere.
—
Coincidentally.
Supposedly.
—
No one believed them.
—
Then one morning—
Prince Rui entered his study.
And discovered a carved wooden horse sitting on his desk.
—
Silence.
—
Then Steward Zhou appeared.
Unfortunately.
—
"A gift, Your Highness."
—
"From whom?"
—
"Several people."
—
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
—
That evening—
Prince Rui finally found Shen Li laughing about the entire situation.
A betrayal.
A complete betrayal.
—
They sat beneath blooming plum trees.
The same place they always escaped to.
The same place peace still existed.
Mostly.
—
Then Prince Rui sighed.
Deeply.
The sigh of a man abandoned by his entire empire.
—
"This prince survived assassins."
—
Shen Li nodded.
—
"Yes."
—
"War."
—
"Yes."
—
"A seven-year conspiracy."
—
"Yes."
—
Prince Rui looked toward the palace.
Toward the Emperor.
Toward the Crown Prince.
Toward every traitor involved.
—
Then:
"Yet this prince was defeated by elderly matchmakers."
—
The laughter that followed was immediate.
Unavoidable.
Wonderful.
—
Then Shen Li rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
Comfortable.
Easy.
Home.
—
And after a moment—
very softly—
she said:
"This daughter thinks they mean well."
—
Prince Rui looked at her.
Then smiled.
Warmly.
Genuinely.
—
"This prince knows."
—
Silence settled between them.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
—
Then Shen Li added:
"Though they are completely unbearable."
—
Prince Rui nodded immediately.
—
"Finally."
"Something we fully agree on."
—
Above them—
plum blossoms drifted through the spring air.
And somewhere inside the palace—
the Emperor was almost certainly planning something.
Which meant trouble was coming.
Again.