The Villains Must Win-Chapter 20: Han Feng

The grand banquet table was a sight to behold, laden with delicacies of every variety—dishes so exquisite and unfamiliar that Xue Rou could hardly believe her eyes.

The spread before her was more sumptuous than any feast she had ever attended, a display of wealth and indulgence that both astonished and enticed her. She had never known such richness, nor tasted such rare foods, and she marveled at the abundance laid out before her.

And seeing the Emperor tenderly place food in Xue Li’s bowl, even feeding her with his own chopsticks on occasion. Every action, every gesture of his toward Xue Li, spoke volumes of the affection he held for her.

Xue Rou’s heart swelled with both jealousy and vindication. The rumors were true—the emperor, Han Feng, truly favored her daughter above all others.

Seeing her opportunity, Xue Rou smiled sweetly and bowed her head slightly, her voice laced with humility as she addressed the emperor. "Your Majesty," she began, her tone carefully measured, "This lowly subject humbly requests to remain in the presence of my daughter, if it pleases you. Xue Li is so young and alone in this vast palace, and as her mother, I wish to offer what little comfort I can. We are all that remains of family to each other."

The soul inside Xue Li suppressed the sneer that threatened to rise. Her face adopted the carefully crafted mask of a submissive, dutiful daughter. She lowered her gaze and, with a soft voice that betrayed nothing of the pain beneath, spoke as though she were the very picture of helplessness.

"Mother," she murmured, her tone almost pleading, "You need not trouble yourself on Xue Li’s behalf. Xue Li know how busy you must be with your own affairs, and there is no need for you to worry over you daughter. After all, Xue Li have been alone for so long, and grown accustomed to solitude. It is not a burden that Xue Li cannot bear."

Xue Rou’s wanted to lash out at her, but she dared not show it. Why must she be against her moving in here now? Xue Rou, ever the practiced manipulator, merely smiled, her eyes glistening with a false softness.

"Xue Li," Xue Rou began, her voice laced with feigned sorrow, "I know that I had to leave you alone, but it was because your mother had to toil for the both of us. I only wished to provide you with a better life."

Xue Li opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Xue Rou swiftly turned to address the Emperor, her words trailing off as she did so.

"Your Majesty. This lowly subject, though humble in station, has but one wish. It is not only my maternal duty but my deepest longing to remain by my daughter’s side during her time here. You see, Your Majesty, the weight of such an esteemed position can be quite heavy on one so young. Xue Li is surrounded by many in this grand palace, but she must feel the absence of her family. It is only natural for a mother to desire to care for her child, even in such a place as this."

Han Feng’s gaze remained fixed on Xue Li, her meek, downcast face a silent plea for respite. His eyes, however, held no warmth as he finally spoke, his tone carrying the weight of authority.

"If you can answer me truthfully, then I will consider granting your request," Han Feng said.

Xue Rou’s expression brightened, her eyes gleaming with hope. "What is it, Your Majesty?"

Han Feng’s gaze narrowed, his eyes turning to slits as he turned his attention back to Xue Rou. "There are scars on Xue Li’s back—old ones, deeply etched into her skin. Tell me, and answer me honestly, are you the one who caused them?" His words were slow, his tone cold and unforgiving, like a tiger waiting to pounce.

Xue Rou’s heart tightened in fear, her voice trembling as she stammered, "O-of course not, Your Majesty. It must have been the other servants!" Desperation filled her eyes as she turned to Xue Li, pleading, "Xue Li, tell His Majesty that your mother would never harm you. Tell him it wasn’t me!"

But Xue Li merely kept her head lowered, saying nothing. The silence was deafening, and Xue Rou’s unease grew with every passing second.

Frustration overtook fear, and for a moment, Xue Rou forgot herself. She stepped forward, grasping Xue Li’s hand roughly. "Xue Li, didn’t I teach you to look at me when I’m speaking to you?!"

Xue Li flinched visibly at her mother’s harsh grip, her eyes welling with tears as fear made her tremble. Before Xue Rou could do more, Han Feng was upon her, his movement swift as the wind. He pulled Xue Li into his protective embrace, swatting Xue Rou’s hand away with contempt.

"How dare you lay a hand on my Xue Li!" Han Feng thundered, his voice echoing through the hall like a crack of lightning in the still night.

Realizing the gravity of her mistake, Xue Rou fell to her knees in a panic, her head pressed to the cold floor as she begged, "Forgive me, Your Majesty! I meant no harm! It was merely a mother disciplining her child."

Han Feng’s eyes narrowed, his tone cold and laced with disdain. "Discipline, you say? Is that what abuse is called now?"

Xue Rou trembled, unable to meet the emperor’s gaze, her head still bowed in submission. "Your Majesty, please! I swear, it won’t happen again. I love Xue Li with all my heart! I was only concerned for her well-being."

Han Feng remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, his voice rang out, calm yet commanding, carrying the weight of final judgment. "Very well. As the mother of my Xue Li, I will grant you leniency. I shall pardon your transgression and fulfill your request."

Relief washed over Xue Rou’s face, and a smile began to bloom in her heart. But before it could fully take root, Han Feng’s next words turned her world upside down.

"You will have your own quarters and be well taken care of for the rest of your days . . . in the Elderly Village of Fang."

The Elderly Village of Fang was no ordinary place of exile; it was a forsaken corner of the empire, shrouded in bleakness and despair. Nestled in the shadow of jagged mountains, its barren terrain was parched and cracked, unable to yield even the humblest crop. The wind that howled through the desolate village carried with it the sting of sand and dust, scratching at the skin like an unrelenting scourge.

The village was a crumbling collection of thatched huts and mud-brick hovels, their walls eroded by years of neglect. The air reeked of decay and stagnation, the remnants of a time long past when life might have once thrived there.

Now, it was inhabited by the castaways of society—those too old, too infirm, or too forgotten to contribute to the empire. Their hollow eyes spoke of a resigned acceptance to the pitiless hand fate had dealt them.

In the Elderly Village of Fang, survival was a daily trial. Food was scarce, often reduced to thin gruel made from withered roots and wild herbs. Water had to be drawn from a single, brackish well. Winter brought bone-chilling winds that seeped through the gaps in the walls, while summer scorched the earth and the souls of those who lived there.

There was no temple to pray for mercy, no scholars to bring enlightenment, no healers to tend the sick. Those who lived there were left to fend for themselves, their days passing in monotony and silent suffering. It was a place of no return, where people went to fade from the world’s memory, their voices swallowed by the endless expanse of wilderness that surrounded them.

For Xue Rou, who had been accustomed to silken robes, fine delicacies, and the attention of the nobles, the very mention of the Elderly Village of Fang was a nightmare come to life. It was not merely exile—it was a sentence to a slow and anguished oblivion.

Xue Rou’s head snapped up, her face pale with horror. "E-elderly Village . . . Fang? Y-Your Majesty, that’s a desolate and remote place! What would I do there?!"

"To live out your days in peace and contentment," Han Feng replied indifferently. "Guards! Take her away."

"No! Wait, Your Majesty!" Xue Rou cried out frantically, her voice growing shrill with despair. She struggled against the guards as they moved to escort her away.

Turning her desperate gaze to her daughter, she wailed, "Xue Li! Xue Li! Speak to the emperor! Tell him you want me to stay with you! Tell him I’m sorry! Don’t let them banish me to that forsaken place! Xue Li!"

Her cries echoed through the corridor, growing fainter as the guards dragged her away. Yet, no matter how pitifully she called, Xue Li remained unmoved, her head resting gently against Han Feng’s chest.

Han Feng’s arm encircled her protectively, his hand softly stroking her hair. His voice, though low, carried the warmth of reassurance. "Do not worry, my Xue Li. She will never hurt you again."

Nestled in his embrace, shielded from the world, Xue Li allowed a faint smirk to play on her lips, hidden from all but herself.