The Villains Must Win-Chapter 31: Han Feng

The following days, the empire awoke to earth-shattering news: the Emperor, Han Feng, had decreed the gravest of punishments upon Lady Yue Lan and her clan.

For her heinous crime of attempting to poison his beloved future Wang Fei, Xue Li, she was to be executed by Lingchi, the Death of a Thousand Cuts.

This was one of the harshest forms of punishment reserved for serious crimes like treason or regicide. The person would be executed through a prolonged and excruciating process, serving as both a physical punishment and a public deterrent.

This punishment, rarely invoked and reserved for only the most abominable acts of treason, sent shockwaves through the imperial court and the common people alike. Whispers of horror and disbelief swept through the streets, markets, and tea houses.

Even more chilling was the proclamation that the entire Yue Clan—every man, woman, and child—would face annihilation for treason. The accusation was dire: Duke Yue himself was said to have conspired to usurp the throne, using poison as a means to eliminate the Emperor’s chosen consort, and intending to place one of his own daughters in Xue Li’s place to manipulate the imperial lineage.

Duke Yue, once a pillar of nobility and influence, appealed desperately to the Emperor for clemency. He begged for an audience in the Hall of Radiant Virtue, pleading with tears in his eyes that his family was loyal and that this was a grave misunderstanding.

"Your Majesty," he declared, bowing until his forehead touched the cold marble floor, "this is a fabrication meant to destroy my clan. I have served the empire faithfully for decades. Yue Lan’s actions were reckless, you can do whatever you want with her. But surely, they do not warrant such a harsh sentence to the rest of us."

At the side, Lady Yue Lan stood trembling, tears streaming down her face, her once exquisite makeup now smeared and ruined. Clad in tattered, beggar-like robes, she looked less like a noble lady and more like a lowly servant, a shadow of her former self.

"F-Father . . . Father, p-please . . . don’t abandon me!" she begged, her voice cracking with desperation.

But the Duke did not spare her so much as a glance. His silence was a blade sharper than any word, cutting deeper into her already shattered heart.

Han Feng’s response was colder than the winter winds sweeping the palace courtyard. Seated upon the Dragon Throne, his expression was unreadable, but his voice thundered with imperial authority.

"Duke Yue, your protests would hold merit were they not already weighed against the evidence of your betrayal. Shall I remind you of the poison used—a substance so rare it could only be procured by a master poisoner with significant wealth and influence? Shall I speak of the letters uncovered in your study, detailing plans to undermine the imperial court and plant your offspring within the palace? You dare claim innocence when the truth lies bare before Heaven and Earth?"

At that moment, the court officials, many of whom had once aligned themselves with Duke Yue, lowered their heads. They dared not speak in his defense, for Han Feng had already taken precautions to dismantle the Duke’s power.

His allies had been exposed, their illicit dealings brought to light, and their positions stripped. The once-mighty Yue Clan stood isolated, abandoned by former friends who now scrambled to distance themselves from the impending calamity.

The Duke’s protests grew desperate. "Your Majesty, I implore you to reconsider. The evidence must be false, planted by those who seek to tarnish my name. Have mercy, for the sake of the years I have served under your illustrious reign!"

Han Feng rose from his throne, his dragon robe trailing behind him. His gaze pierced through the Duke. "Mercy? You speak of mercy when you dared plot against the very foundation of this empire? The lives of my people, the sanctity of the throne, and the well-being of my future Wang Fei—these are not matters to be trifled with. Your crimes have shaken the heavens themselves. To grant you mercy would be an affront to justice and the divine mandate I hold as Son of Heaven."

At his words, the hall fell silent, save for the trembling breaths of Duke Yue and his daughter. The Emperor gestured to the Chief Eunuch, who stepped forward with a scroll in hand.

"The decree has been issued. Lady Yue Lan shall face execution by Lingchi for her attempt to harm the imperial household. The Yue Clan shall be eradicated to the last descendant, their lands and titles seized, and their names erased from the annals of history. Let this serve as a warning to all who harbor treacherous intentions."

The court was frozen in awe and terror. Han Feng’s swift and decisive actions left no room for doubt about his authority. Among the gathered officials, there was no one who dared utter a word of dissent.

=== 🖤 ===

Outside the palace, the news spread like wildfire. The commoners, who had long resented the Yue Clan’s arrogance and corruption, whispered among themselves. Some expressed pity for the innocents within the family who would share in the Duke’s fate, while others declared it divine retribution.

Back in her quarters, Xue Li sat serenely, a faint smile playing on her lips. She had heard of the Emperor’s decree and knew that Han Feng had acted not only to protect her but also to secure his empire.

Lady Yue Lan’s attempt to poison her had backfired spectacularly, and now the once-proud Yue Clan was crumbling under the weight of imperial wrath.

"Lady Yue Lan thought she could eliminate me with a bowl of soup," Xue Li murmured to herself, her voice soft but edged with steel. "She underestimated the Emperor’s devotion—and my 30 years worth experience of playing games, reading novels, and watching dramas."

Her attendants glanced at her nervously, sensing the undercurrent of satisfaction in her tone but saying nothing.

Xue Li dismissed them with a wave of her hand and turned her gaze toward the window, where the morning sun cast a golden glow over the palace gardens.