Han Feng 23    

Days passed in a blur, and before Xue Li knew it, only a month remained until Rui Hua and Liang Wei would meet.

Yet, she remained untroubled. Each night, she carefully planted seeds of strategy in Han Feng's mind, subtly guiding his thoughts to ensure that he would not take any interest in the lands of Liang.

Her plans were unfolding just as she had hoped, and with each passing day, the chances of her success grew stronger.

One night, after their intense love making, Xue Li sat across from Han Feng in the dimly lit chamber, her expression calm and timid. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across her features as she spoke.

"Your Majesty," she began, her voice steady, "the snow-covered lands of Han present us with more than just an obstacle in the form of the bitter cold. The threat of hunger looms over us, and if we do not act swiftly, the consequences could be dire. The people will falter, and our authority will wane."