The Villains Must Win-Chapter 42: Han Feng

Rui Hua’s thoughts shifted quickly as she observed Han Feng’s interaction with his Empress. Xue Li stood beside him, her posture regal and poised, his hand never leaving hers, her presence a constant beside him.

A flicker of jealousy stirred in Rui Hua’s chest as she watched the way Han Feng seemed to listen intently to his Empress, his eyes kinder to her, and only her.

She was married to Liang Wei, the Crown Prince, but in all those months, she had never experienced the closeness or the attention that Xue Li seemed to command so effortlessly.

Though Rui Hua had been raised to be a dutiful wife, her heart had always been torn between duty and desire. Her position as the Crown Prince’s wife had granted her power, but it had also come with restrictions—her every action scrutinized, her every word judge.

She had been indulged by her parents, but once in the palace, she had been forced to adhere to strict protocols and expectations, never allowed to truly live as she wished.

She was not even allowed to step foot in court, her presence deemed unnecessary for matters of state. Furthermore, she was forbidden from holding hands with Liang Wei in front of important guests, ministers, and court officials. Such an act was considered beneath her station as a woman, a reminder of her restricted role within the rigid confines of royal protocol.

Though she was the Crown Princess, her power was symbolic at best, her actions always scrutinized, her every move dictated by the unspoken rules of decorum that stifled her every desire for action.

And now, seeing Xue Li and Han Feng together, Rui Hua couldn’t help but feel the sting of her own situation. Her husband, Liang Wei, had recently taken a concubine, as was customary for a man of his stature, but it had still wounded her deeply.

She had accepted it, knowing it was part of politics, but the pain lingered. Liang Wei had promised never to touch his concubines, yet his acceptance of them was enough to leave a bitter taste in her mouth.

It was this very frustration, this gnawing sense of betrayal, that had driven her to run away from the palace. But fate had cruelly led her into the hands of mercenaries, and from there, into Han Feng’s grasp.

She had never imagined her life would take such a turn, but now, standing in the Emperor of Han, she wondered if it was fate or simply another twist in the game she had never fully understood.

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Days passed, and Rui Hua’s stay in the Empire of Han had been peaceful, but it was a peace that unsettled Xue Li. She could feel the tension brewing beneath the surface, like the calm before a storm.

Every interaction, every quiet moment, seemed to hold an undercurrent of unease, as if something was about to shatter the fragile calm.

As expected, news of Rui Hua’s presence in the Han Empire quickly reached Liang Wei, and he moved swiftly to retrieve her, eager to restore his reputation and reclaim his wife.

It was whispered in hushed tones throughout the palace that Liang Wei was unable to satisfy his wife in bed, a rumor that, though unspoken in public, had spread like wildfire behind closed doors.

Many speculated that this was the true reason behind Rui Hua’s departure from Liang Wei’s side, her retreat from his court seen by some as a desperate attempt to escape the humiliation of a marriage unfulfilled.

Now, with Rui Hua’s whereabouts finally uncovered, Liang Wei sought not only to reclaim his wife but also to quell the degrading rumors that had tarnished his reputation.

The rumors had wounded his pride deeply, and he was determined to retrieve her—to restore his honor and silence the whispers that had followed him.

Of course, the desire to have Rui Hua back by his side was also driven by his own affection and the desire to reassert his control over her, but it was the need to put an end to the gossip that burned most fiercely within him.

However, the harsh winter storms and the treacherous weather conditions made it impossible for him to travel immediately, forcing him to delay his journey. So, Rui Hua remained within the imperial palace of Han, untouched and undisturbed, for weeks as the storm raged outside the gates.

In those days, Rui Hua’s time in the Han court became a quiet observation of the world she had entered. It was a world that, while foreign and alien to her, held an intriguing allure.

She soon learned that Han Feng had eradicated his harem, casting aside any women who once held the title of consort, all for the sake of his Empress. This revelation stirred a mixture of awe and jealousy within Rui Hua’s heart.

She had heard the whispers in the palace, the quiet praise of the Emperor’s love for his Empress. It was said that Han Feng’s devotion to Xue Li was unmatched, a fierce and unwavering affection that transcended the realm of politics or duty.

Everywhere Rui Hua went, she overheard servants and officials alike speaking of the Emperor’s tenderness toward his Empress—how he showered her with gifts and attention and how he never miss a meal with his Wang Fei.

Rui Hua couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy, a deep longing to experience a love like that. She had always been loved, of course, but never with such devotion.

She had always loved Liang Wei, and she had married him because of that love, knowing he cared for her deeply as well. Yet, as she observed the bond between Han Feng and Xue Li, Rui Hua couldn’t help but draw a painful comparison.

It was like comparing a boy to a man.

Liang Wei’s affection, though genuine, felt tentative and incomplete in contrast to the fierce, unwavering love Han Feng showed to Xue Li.

Han Feng’s love was all-encompassing, powerful, and unshakable, while Liang Wei’s, despite his best intentions, seemed softer, more uncertain—lacking the same intensity and depth.

The difference was undeniable, and it stirred a quiet ache within her heart.