The Villains Must Win-Chapter 46: Han Feng

Gathered beneath the night sky were kings and queens from neighboring realms, their regal figures draped in silks and jewels, their expressions carefully measured as they exchanged pleasantries. High-ranking nobles and esteemed officials of the Han court stood among them, their faces reflecting both admiration and calculation as they observed the Emperor in his element. It was a rare moment, a night of peace amidst the ever-turning wheel of politics and power.

Yet, amidst the laughter and refined conversation, there was one whose mind was not on celebration, but on opportunity.

Rui Hua.

Her time in Han was coming to an end. The storms that had kept her confined within the imperial palace had passed, and with the roads now clear, she knew that any day now, Liang Wei would arrive to reclaim her.

She could not allow that to happen.

Tonight was her last chance. Her last chance to capture Han Feng’s attention—to make him look at her the way he looked at Xue Li.

For days, she had watched, waiting for an opening, but the Emperor barely acknowledged her presence. He treated her with cold indifference, as if she were nothing more than a mere guest awaiting her inevitable departure. But tonight, in the presence of so many esteemed guests, she had an opportunity.

If she could just make Han Feng notice her, if she could just remind him of the kind of woman she was—a woman unlike any other—then perhaps she could change her fate.

Throughout her stay in the palace, Rui Hua had scarcely spared a thought for Liang Wei. Her mind was consumed by only one thing—Han Feng.

She longed for the fierce, unwavering love that he bestowed upon Xue Li, a love so absolute that it overshadowed all else. The devotion in his eyes, the way he cherished his Empress above all—Rui Hua wanted that for herself.

Liang Wei, once the center of her world, had become nothing more than a distant memory. Now, her every thought, every desire, revolved around the Emperor of Han and the love she was determined to claim as her own.

Straightening her posture, Rui Hua adjusted the flowing sleeves of her gown, ensuring that every movement exuded grace. With her head held high and a poised smile upon her lips, she stepped forward, ready to claim the stage that she believed should have been hers all along.

The female lead was, indeed, the female lead.

The moment Rui Hua rose to her feet, all eyes instinctively turned to her. With the poise befitting a princess, she commanded attention effortlessly, her presence radiant beneath the soft glow of lanterns.

With a graceful smile, she addressed the gathered nobility. "Honored guests, as a token of gratitude for His Majesty’s generosity and the kindness of the Han people, allow this princess to offer a humble performance on the guzheng."

At her words, attendants swiftly brought forth a guzheng—a grand zither of polished wood, its strings gleaming under the candlelight.

Rui Hua stepped forward, her every movement fluid and elegant. Seated before the instrument, she let her fingers hover lightly over the strings before beginning to play.

The first note rang out, clear and resonant, followed by a cascade of melodies that wove through the air like silk flowing in the wind. The music was captivating—rich yet delicate, powerful yet refined. The notes shimmered like ripples upon a still lake, each one drawing the listeners deeper into her world.

Rui Hua played with confidence, for she had long mastered the guzheng. Many had fallen under the spell of her music before, entranced by the way her fingers danced across the strings. It was an art she wielded like a weapon, and tonight, she played with only one purpose—to capture the heart of the Emperor of Han.

Seated beside Han Feng, Xue Li remained silent, watching with an expression unreadable. Rui Hua had not addressed her in her speech, but Xue Li did not mind. Instead, she simply listened, allowing herself to appreciate the beauty of the performance.

Truly, the female lead was the female lead. freewebnøvel.com

As Rui Hua’s melody filled the garden, the crowd was mesmerized, drawn into the depths of her song. She played not just for them, but for him—the man whose attention she so desperately sought. And yet, as she stole glances toward the Emperor, her heart dropped as Han Feng was busy feeding grapes to Xue Li.

As the final note of Rui Hua’s performance faded into the night, the applause that followed was polite yet subdued.

The princess, sensing the lingering admiration in the air, turned her gaze toward the Empress, her lips curving into a poised smile.

"I have heard that the Empress is also skilled in music," Rui Hua said, her tone deceptively light. "If it is not too much to ask, this princess would love to hear Your Majesty play and exchange pointers."

The garden fell into silence.

Every gaze immediately turned toward the Emperor.

Everyone knew how fiercely Han Feng doted on Xue Li, how protective he was of his Empress. Some even feared that the mere suggestion of a performance might be taken as an insult—an attempt to embarrass her.

Would the Emperor take offense? Would he, in his infamous ruthlessness, punish the princess for overstepping and cut her tongue like all others before her?

Rui Hua’s words, on the surface, were harmless. But she had forgotten one thing.

She was not speaking to just any noblewoman. She was addressing the Empress of Han—the woman whom the Emperor treasured above all else.

And worse, her tone lacked the respect due to an Empress. It was not outright insolent, but there was an unmistakable air of arrogance, as if she were speaking to an equal rather than to the one who sat beside the ruler of Han.

Han Feng’s expression darkened instantly. His fingers clenched on the armrest of his seat, his eyes narrowing with unmistakable displeasure. The air around him grew heavy, thick with the weight of unspoken fury.

Several nobles lowered their gazes, unwilling to witness the Emperor’s wrath unfold before them. The servants standing nearby trembled, fearing that the Princess of Liang had unknowingly sealed her fate.

Would the Emperor order her tongue cut out for speaking out of turn?

Would she be cast out before Liang Wei could even arrive?

Would there be war after all?

Just as Han Feng was about to speak, a gentle hand covered his own.

Xue Li.