The Villains Must Win-Chapter 29: Han Feng

Xue Li did not hesitate. She picked up the lobster broth, the scent of it wafting up as she took a delicate sip.

Yue Lan watched her with a certain satisfaction, pleased to see Xue Li take the poisoned offering, unaware that the young woman had already set a plan into motion.

As the meal continued, Xue Li waited, her mind calculating. She could feel the poison’s presence, its cold fingers creeping through her veins, but she knew it would take time to take effect. This would ensure that the poison wouldn’t trace back to Lady Yue Lan, giving her ample time to dispose of any evidence and escape unscathed.

She had taken every precaution, knowing that by the time the effects manifested, she would be far from suspicion, leaving no trace of her treacherous act behind.

Lady Yue Lan was smiling from ear to ear, unaware that Xue Li had already knew what she was plotting.

Soon after the meal had concluded, Lady Yue Lan bid her farewells with a sweetness that only added to her deception. Of course, she was untroubled by the poison she had so carelessly served—she had prepared herself with the antidote in advance, ensuring her safety while leaving Xue Li to suffer. With a final, false smile, she departed, confident that her plan was set in motion.

Once the servants began cleaning, Xue Li gave a subtle signal. "Could you please request some ginger tea from the kitchen?" she asked politely. "I have eaten too much, and I wish to aid my digestion."

The servants exchanged glances, hesitant at first, for Lady Yue Lan had instructed them to clean everything thoroughly, leaving no trace.

But Xue Li’s apparent discomfort—her delicate expression and slightly flushed face—made them reluctant to refuse. Without a word, they moved to fetch the tea.

As soon as they were out of sight, Xue Li’s fingers deftly worked to hide the remaining lobster broth in a small bowl, tucked away carefully from view.

She had no intention of allowing Yue Lan to poison her without leaving any trace behind. The poison would take days to show its full effects, and by that time, Yue Lan would have wiped out all the evidence, but it didn’t mean that she had to wait.

After all, she might die if she waited for the poison to show its effects.

=== 🖤 ===

Han Feng arrived in the early hours of the morning, his figure cloaked in the fatigue of a journey ridden hard.

He should have returned the following day, but urgency quickened his pace. His duties had been completed in a single day, leaving his body weary but his mind restless.

The first thing he did upon dismounting was to visit Xue Li.

She lay peacefully asleep, her delicate frame rising and falling with the rhythm of her breath. Moonlight spilled across her face, lending her an ethereal glow that made her appear even more angelic.

Han Feng’s tired eyes softened as he gazed at her. Unable to resist, his fingers brushed against her cheek in a tender caress before he leaned down to plant the gentlest of kisses on her skin.

Xue Li’s eyelids fluttered open at the touch, and she quickly moved to a seated position, her expression one of quiet elegance.

"This humble one greets His Majesty," she said softly, her tone respectful yet warm.

Han Feng smiled faintly. Despite the affection and favor he showered upon her, Xue Li never overstepped her boundaries. She carried herself with dignity and grace, never once using his feelings as leverage.

This quality endeared her to him, yet it also stirred frustration. Did she not know he wished for her to lean on him more, to claim more for herself?

"I’ve disturbed your rest," Han Feng said, his voice laced with exhaustion.

"Your Majesty could never disturb Xue Li," Xue Li replied, rising to her feet. Concern flickered in her eyes as she took in his wearied appearance. "Are you hungry? Allow Xue Li to have the kitchen prepare something for you."

Before Han Feng could utter the teasing words forming on his tongue, his stomach betrayed him with a growl. He chuckled softly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Thank you, Xue Li."

"It is no trouble at all, Your Majes—Feng," she corrected herself hurriedly when she noticed the slight narrowing of his eyes.

Xue Li wasted no time, moving to arrange a late meal for him. Han Feng took the opportunity to rest, leaning back and closing his eyes. Though his body was heavy with fatigue, the sight of Xue Li moving about with such care lightened the weight on his heart.

Before long, the table was adorned with steaming dishes, their rich aromas filling the chamber.

"Come," Han Feng said, gesturing to the seat beside him. "Accompany this emperor as I eat."

Xue Li hesitated briefly but complied, sitting demurely beside him. Her time in the palace had been kind to her—her once frail figure now bore the soft curves of health. Though she maintained her slender form through careful exercise, there was a newfound vitality in her appearance that Han Feng could not help but admire.

"You must eat more, Xue Li," he said firmly. "You are still far too thin."

Xue Li smiled gently, though inwardly her heart rejoiced. The imperial palace offered food of unparalleled quality—rich in flavor and free from restraint. She had savored every meal, balancing indulgence with discipline to maintain her figure. Else Han Feng might lose interested in her.

As Han Feng reached for the bowl of bird’s nest and abalone soup, his hand froze midair. A faint discoloration had begun to spread through the liquid, turning it an unnatural shade of purple where the silver spoon rested. His brows furrowed, and his tone was sharp as he asked, "What is this?"

Xue Li’s expression was one of mild confusion, though an imperceptible smirk tugged at the corners of her lips. "That is the soup Lady Yue Lan graciously sent me this morning," she said with feigned innocence. "But why does it turn purple?"

Her wide-eyed curiosity only served to deepen the shadow darkening Han Feng’s face. His hand clenched the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening as fury bubbled beneath the surface.

"You’ve consumed this?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.