Chapter CXIII - The First Summer
Summer arrived quietly.
No one noticed the exact day.
No official announcement declared it.
The plum blossoms faded.
The air grew warmer.
The evenings lingered longer.
And somehow—
the empire kept turning.
Without conspiracies.
Without assassins.
Without war.
A shocking development.
—
Prince Rui remained suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Because after years of chaos—
peace felt like a trap.
—
Then an entire month passed.
Nothing exploded.
Nobody attempted murder.
No hidden organizations emerged from the shadows.
—
Interesting.
Very interesting.
—
One morning—
Prince Rui woke before dawn.
Out of habit.
Years of military campaigns made sleeping late almost impossible.
—
The palace remained quiet.
The gardens peaceful.
The world still.
—
Then he realized something.
Shen Li was still asleep.
—
Silence.
—
Prince Rui immediately canceled all thoughts of leaving the room.
—
Because watching her sleep felt strangely important.
—
Dangerous habit.
Very dangerous habit.
—
Unfortunately—
Shen Li opened one eye.
—
"Your Highness."
—
Prince Rui remained perfectly calm.
—
"Princess Rui."
—
Silence.
—
Then:
"Were you staring?"
—
"No."
—
Long pause.
—
"Liar."
—
Fair.
Very fair.
—
Later that day—
the Crown Prince arrived unexpectedly.
A terrible sign.
—
Because unexpected visits from the Crown Prince generally resulted in work.
Or embarrassment.
Sometimes both.
—
This time—
it was worse.
—
He brought fishing equipment.
—
Absolute silence.
—
Prince Rui stared.
—
Then:
"Why?"
—
The Crown Prince looked confused.
—
"To fish."
—
"Why?"
—
The Crown Prince blinked.
—
"Because that's what people do when relaxing."
—
Prince Rui looked deeply unconvinced.
—
Meanwhile—
Shen Li accepted immediately.
—
Traitorous behavior.
Absolutely traitorous behavior.
—
Three hours later—
they sat beside a quiet river outside the capital.
The Crown Prince looked delighted.
Shen Li looked peaceful.
Prince Rui looked like a hostage.
—
Then disaster struck.
—
Shen Li caught a fish.
—
The Crown Prince caught a fish.
—
Prince Rui caught absolutely nothing.
—
Nothing.
—
An imperial tragedy.
—
Then a nearby farmer recognized him.
Unfortunately.
—
And immediately said:
"Your Highness, try moving closer to the reeds."
—
Silence.
—
Because the Winter General was receiving fishing advice.
From a farmer.
—
Prince Rui followed the advice.
—
And immediately caught a fish.
—
The farmer looked pleased.
The Crown Prince laughed.
Shen Li laughed harder.
—
Prince Rui considered returning to military service.
—
That evening—
they returned to the capital carrying their catches.
The Emperor demanded a report.
For reasons nobody understood.
—
Then discovered Prince Rui caught the smallest fish.
—
The palace celebrated this information enthusiastically.
Far too enthusiastically.
—
The story spread.
Naturally.
Because humiliating stories about famous people always traveled fastest.
—
Three days later—
General Han sent Prince Rui a carved wooden fish.
—
No message.
No explanation.
—
Just a fish.
—
Hopeless.
Absolutely hopeless.
—
Yet somehow—
Prince Rui found himself smiling more often.
Laughing more often.
Living more often.
—
Because peace had changed things.
Not dramatically.
Not suddenly.
Gradually.
Like summer itself.
—
One evening—
as the sun set beyond the palace walls—
Shen Li found him sitting beneath a willow tree.
Watching the sky.
Thinking.
—
She sat beside him.
Naturally.
As she always did.
—
Then:
"What is Your Highness thinking about?"
—
Prince Rui looked toward the horizon.
Golden light stretched across the world.
Warm.
Endless.
Beautiful.
—
Then quietly answered:
"Nothing urgent."
—
Shen Li smiled.
Because once upon a time—
that answer would have been impossible.
—
Then Prince Rui took her hand.
—
"This prince spent years believing peace was temporary."
—
Silence.
—
Then:
"Now?"
—
A small smile appeared.
Warm.
Certain.
Home.
—
"Now this prince thinks peace might stay."
—
Shen Li rested her head lightly against his shoulder.
—
The summer breeze drifted through the trees.
The city hummed softly in the distance.
The future stretched before them.
Wide open.
Unwritten.
Theirs.
—
And for the first time in a very long time—
that was enough.