Han Feng 12    

"Release me at once! I must have an audience with His Majesty! That lowly wench has bewitched him, seizing all of his favor! I demand to see the Emperor! NOW!"

"You can't, Mistress," one of the guards replied sternly. "The emperor has ordered that no one be allowed in while he's with Mistress Xue Li."

"Let go of me!" she shrieked, her voice rising in a frantic pitch. "I'll see him myself! You have no right to stop me!"

Xue Li felt the unmistakable menacing aura of Han Feng radiating around him as he stepped forward, his presence a commanding force. She glanced at him, noticing how his usually calm expression darkened with a chilling intensity.

It seemed that one of the emperor's other mistresses had finally reached her breaking point, unable to tolerate the fact that the emperor had been spending every night with her.

Xue Li couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction. She hadn't had to lift a finger to make her rivals vanish; they were doing it to themselves with their jealousy and desperation.

"Xue Li," Han Feng said, his voice soft and authoritative, "rest for now. I'll visit you again tomorrow night."

With a final lingering gaze, he rose from the bed, straightened his robe, and left the room. Xue Li waited until he was out of sight, then quietly moved to the door and peered into the hallway.

"What's going on here?" Han Feng's voice rang out, his tone one of controlled fury as he observed the scene unfolding before him. Guards were holding a woman by the arms, struggling to break free.

Xue Li's eyes narrowed as she recognized the woman: one of the emperor's favorites, a member of the group of four mistresses who had once been in favor. Her name was Zein Wei, and she looked every bit the part of an entitled concubine, convinced of her importance.

"My Emperor," Zein Wei spoke with a voice as soft as silk, yet laced with an undertone of scheming sweetness. She gracefully freed herself from the guards' hold, her eyes fixed intently upon Han Feng.

"This humble concubine seeks an audience with Your Majesty. It has been many days since you last graced my chambers, and this one has grown anxious in your absence. Concerned for Your Majesty's well-being, I personally ordered the kitchen to prepare your favored lobster broth."

Han Feng's gaze turned frostbound, his eyes narrowing with frigid disdain. His voice, calm yet chilling, echoed through the hall. "Guards, seize this woman and administer fifty lashes as punishment for disturbing this Emperor. Thereafter, cast her from the palace gates and dispatch her to serve the Dragon Han Battalion at the distant border."

Zein Wei's face was drained of color, and the other concubines watching in the distance looked on in stunned silence, realizing that the same fate awaited them should they step out of line. The punishment was severe, one meant to break the spirits of those who dared defy the emperor's will.

Xue Li couldn't help but think, So harsh . . . No wonder he's the villain of this story.

The Dragon Han Troops were the emperor's elite military force, stationed far from the capital in isolated, rugged outposts. They had no access to the pleasures and luxuries of the palace, so women were sent there to sate the troops' urges.

"Comfort women," Xue Li thought grimly. That's what Zein Wei will become. A tool to be used and discarded.

Zein Wei, however, was not yet willing to yield. Defiance burned in her eyes, even as the shadow of punishment loomed over her. She fell to her knees, desperation lacing her voice. "Your Majesty! This humble concubine only wished to serve you! What transgression have I committed to warrant such harsh judgment?"

Han Feng's patience snapped. He stalked toward her, grabbing her chin with a grip so tight it was almost painful. His eyes were cold, devoid of any empathy.

"Your crime," he said with chilling calmness, "is daring to disrupt the moments I spend with my Xue Li."

Zein Wei's breath caught in her throat, her confidence wavering for the first time. She clenched her fists and spat bitterly, her voice trembling with anger. "All this . . . over that lowly whore? Have you forgotten your loyal Zein Wei, Your Majesty?"

Han Feng's expression twisted into one of disgust. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and he called out, "Xin Yu!"

"Yes, your majesty?" came the immediate response from his trusted right hand man.

"Prepare an imperial decree," Han Feng commanded coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade. "For daring to insult my Xue Li with such vile words, the Zein Clan shall be stripped of their noble rank and title. Their ancestral lands and wealth are hereby confiscated, and henceforth, they shall be reduced to common folk, bearing no privilege nor honor."

The words hung heavy in the air, and an eerie silence fell over the scene. Even the soul inside Xue Li, who wasn't easily surprise, felt the weight of the emperor's decree. Her hand instinctively rose to cover her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. He's serious . . .

Zein Wei's face went ashen, her body trembling in fear. "Y-your majesty . . ." she stammered, the color draining from her face as she realized the enormity of her mistake.

Han Feng's expression turned icy. "Utter another insult against my Xue Li again, and I will decree that the women of your family will serve as comfort women for my frontier troops, while the men shall be consigned to the mines, never to see the light of day again."

Zein Wei's mouth moved, but no sound escaped. She could only clench her trembling lips, her pride broken beyond repair as the guards dragged her away, along with her servants.

Xue Li stood in stunned silence as she slowly closed the door, retreating to her bed.

It's truly dangerous to anger the villain of this story, she thought.

Xue Li had to tread carefully with Han Feng. While he seemed to favor her now, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that his affection for her might not last.

After all, Rui Hua, the true female lead of the story, was always in the background, and no matter how much Han Feng showed interest in her now, it was clear that Rui Hua was the one destined for his heart.

Xue Li couldn't afford to be complacent. She understood that as long as Rui Hua remained a potential rival, her place by Han Feng's side was not guaranteed.

It would still be months before the plot truly unfolded, giving Xue Li some time to secure her position. She knew she had to act quickly and decisively. Her beauty, her charm, and her body had already captured Han Feng's attention, but that was only the beginning.

To ensure he saw nothing but her, Xue Li needed to deepen their connection, making it impossible for him to look at anyone else.

Xue Li couldn't rely solely on her looks or body, she needed to show Han Feng that she was indispensable, the only one who could truly be by his side.