The Villains Must Win-Chapter 28: Han Feng

The wedding drew nearer, yet Han Feng’s insatiable desire for Xue Li only intensified with each passing day.

There was scarcely a moment when their bodies were not entwined, the emperor’s passion for her burning as fiercely as her own yearning for him.

Over time, Xue Li had grown accustomed to the depth and intensity of his love, though it was far from the delicate affection she had once imagined. In truth, her body now craved him daily, a need that overshadowed all other thoughts.

She had believed, at least for a moment, that life would be free from worry, full of bliss and gentle peace. But fate had other plans.

One day, while Han Feng was away on his monthly journey to the territories of his empire, Lady Yue Lan came to Xue Li’s chambers bringing food. Her presence, though often masked by kindness, always carried an undercurrent of something darker.

"Mei-mei," Lady Yue Lan cooed as she entered, her smile honeyed with false sweetness. "I’ve brought you nourishment, rich with nutrients to support your well-being. I’m certain you are with child now, considering the emperor’s nightly visits to your bedchamber."

Xue Li’s heart twisted. She knew the meaning behind Yue Lan’s words, the way she spoke with such hidden malice. Yue Lan was as cunning as a serpent, and her intentions was never lost on Xue Li, no matter how gentle her voice sounded.

The younger woman turned her head, feigning innocence, though inside, her heart hardened. She had no interest in such manipulations, yet she knew well that silence in the face of Yue Lan’s words could be equally damning.

"I have not yet conceived," she replied softly, her eyes downcast as she took the offered food.

Yue Lan’s gasp seemed exaggerated, as if Xue Li’s admission had shocked her to the core. "I see . . . How strange," she said, her voice laced with feigned surprise. "I had assumed, with the emperor visiting you every night, that you must surely be pregnant by now. And with your wedding day fast approaching . . . I imagined he would stop offering you that concoction—the one that prevents conception."

The air in the room thickened with tension. Xue Li’s fingers tightened around the bowl in her lap, though her expression remained composed. The soup—she had been drinking it for months, designed to keep her from bearing a child. It had always been a matter of the emperor’s will, not hers.

"I still drink the soup," she confessed, her voice barely a whisper. It was a simple admission, one that seemed trivial on the surface, yet beneath it lay the deep truth that she had no real desire for a child—not yet, at least.

She would not rush Han Feng. The time for children would come, but only when he was ready, when he chose it.

Her gaze drifted toward the window, her thoughts distant. She had no longing for motherhood at this moment, no yearning for the ties of a child to bind her more tightly to the emperor.

What mattered to her was winning this game.

Lady Yue Lan leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Xue Li . . . my dear little sister, you are his favorite now. He elevated you to the esteemed position of Wang Fei in such a short time, and yet you remain untouched by the emperor’s true desires. He may have given you the title, but does he give you his heart? Does he love you, or merely possess you?"

Xue Li blinked away the threat of tears, her voice steady, though the words caught in her throat. "Perhaps the emperor . . . is not yet ready to have a child," she said, her voice softer now, as if the mere thought of the subject unsettled her.

Xue Li’s eyes narrowed as she caught glimpse of Lady Yue Lan’s venomous smirk while she feigned wiping away her "tears." She knew the woman’s game all too well.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy, until Yue Lan spoke again, her tone suddenly casual, almost dismissive. "Anyway, do not worry about such things," she said, her voice betraying nothing. "Let us eat first."

The servants quickly moved to arrange the dishes, but Xue Li noticed something amiss. No silverware was placed before her. In the palace, all food served to high-ranking individuals was presented with silver to prevent poisoning, a custom to safeguard against assassination attempts. The lack of silver was a clear signal: Yue Lan had no fear of being caught.

Xue Li inwardly sneered though outside, she portrayed the perfect naïve, innocent girl who didn’t know a thing. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

This was not a simple visit, nor a friendly gesture. Yue Lan had brought food laced with poison, and the lack of silverware was proof of her confidence.

It must be a slow-acting poison, one that would not reveal itself immediately, and certainly not before she had left Xue Li’s chambers. By the time the effects began to show, Yue Lan would already be beyond suspicion.

The Duke of Yue was a man of immense power, with connections that reached deep into the emperor’s court. His backing would ensure that no one questioned Yue Lan’s actions, and being one of the Emperor’s backers, it seemed that Yue Lan felt invincible.

If Xue Li were to die, another woman would take her place—a woman who might capture the emperor’s heart, a woman who might hold his favor more securely than Xue Li ever could. And the Duke have many daughters to present.

If Yue Lan wished to hasten her demise, then so be it. Xue Li would accept the woman’s gift with grace, as if it were no more than a token of kindness.

With a practiced smile, she lifted her spoon and addressed her would-be assassin. "Thank you, Lady Yue Lan," she said sweetly. "This food looks truly delicious. Xue Li is sorry for troubling you."

Yue Lan’s smile stretched, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You are no trouble at all," she cooed, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "We are practically sisters now. You are soon to be my Queen, after all. So please, eat to your heart’s content."