<div> Chapter 34: Han Feng 34 
 Months slipped by in a haze for Xue Li, each one a blur of anticipation and unease.
 She paced back and forth in her room, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts. The wedding with Han Feng was rapidly approaching, yet it was not the union itself that troubled her. No, there was something far more pressing on her mind.
 Rui Hua—she had known to expect her arrival this week, but as the days stretched on, there was no word. No news, no whispers in the court, nothing. Not even a rumor of the kidnapped daughter of a Duke from the Liang Empire.
 For a fleeting moment, Xue Li allowed herself to feel a quiet sense of relief.
 Had her plan worked? Was Rui Hua truly not going to make it to the palace after all? The notion seemed too perfect to be true, yet Xue Li dared to hope.
 If Rui Hua didn’t meet Han Feng, then perhaps, just perhaps, the tragic fate that loomed over him could be avoided. The Emperor—her Emperor—could live out his days in contentment, basking in the warmth of her embrace.
 A perfect ending, a peaceful life, a perfect ending. If she say so herself.
 But as the days dragged on, the weight of uncertainty gnawed at her. It was too quiet. Too still. And just as she began to think her fears had been unfounded, a letter arrived—a missive sealed with the emblem of her father, the Baron.
ƒrēewebnovel.com Xue Li’s heart sank as she broke the seal, unfolding the paper with a mixture of curiosity and dread. Her father, of all people, had sent her an invitation to visit his home.
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 </div> At first, she couldn’t quite comprehend what it meant. What could her father possibly want with her now, after all this years?
 She had expected a response from Rui Hua, or perhaps even news of some new crisis or scandal to disrupt her peaceful life. But this—this was an invitation to visit a man who had long since distanced himself from her.
 Her brow furrowed as she read the letter again, as though it might reveal some hidden meaning or cryptic message she had missed.
 Was this some new form of torment? Her father had never been one for sentiment, nor did he particularly care for formalities. So why this sudden invitation? And more importantly, why now?
 With her wedding to Han Feng nearing, she thought it must be the reason why.
 The Baron must have been eager to rekindle his ties with her, his discarded daughter, in a bid to gain favor with the Emperor.
 The thought was almost laughable—his desperation, the sudden shift in tone, as if he could simply erase the years of neglect with a few carefully chosen words.
 A smirk tugged at the corner of Xue Li’s lips, a cold and calculating expression that matched the turmoil brewing inside her. "So, he finally remembers his daughter," she muttered to herself, the irony not lost on her. "Very well, let’s pay a visit to dear Father."
 === 🖤 ===
 Xue Li had no memories of the Baron’s mansion, nor did she harbor any emotions toward it. It was merely a place of stone and wood, holding no significance in her heart.
 Even the man sitting at the head of the long dining table, gazing at her with unreadable eyes, was nothing more than a stranger.
 Baron Wei Zhen.
 She had only heard his name from her mother’s lips—spoken not with longing, but with quiet, weary resentment. He had cast them out before she was even born, severing all ties as if she had never existed.
 Now, as she stood in his grand hall, she took in the man who had discarded her like an unwanted burden. He was plump but still carried the remnants of a once-handsome face, though the years had softened his sharpness.
 Time had been kind to his stature but cruel in other ways—there was a stiffness in his posture, a flicker of unease in his eyes as he looked at her, the daughter he had long abandoned.
 Seated beside him was his main wife, draped in fine silks and adorned with glittering jade, a picture of noble elegance. Yet, her expression was guarded, her lips pressed into a thin line.
 On either side of them sat his children—his firstborn son, who carried himself with arrogance, and two daughters, delicate and refined in their noble attire.
 Their beauty was undeniable, but Xue Li could see it—the barely concealed adoration flickering in their eyes as they sized up Han Feng.
 She almost laughed. Of course. Han Feng could lunch a thousand ships with his handsome face alone.
 It didn’t matter that she was their father’s long-lost daughter, nor did they care about the reason behind her presence here. Their gazes weren’t on her—they were locked onto Han Feng, the Emperor, the man who held absolute power.
 Xue Li’s lips curled into an amused, almost imperceptible smirk.
 Let’s see how this little reunion turn out.
 The grand hall was silent, save for the flickering of lanterns casting long shadows against the carved wooden pillars. Baron Wei Zhen sat at the head of the table, his expression warm yet betraying a stiffness around the eyes.
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 </div> "My daughter, Xue Li, how have you been?" he asked, his voice gentle—but not enough to mask the strain beneath. It was the voice of a man forcing himself to utter words that felt foreign on his tongue.
 Xue Li met his gaze, her lips curling into a practiced, flawless smile. A smile befitting a noblewoman who had learned to wield civility like a blade.
 "I am well, Baron Wei Zhen."
 A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face at her deliberate use of his title. He cleared his throat, adjusting his sleeves.
 "Please, call me father," he urged, his voice thick with feigned affection. "And if it pleases you, I would like you to carry my name as well."
 Ah.
 There it was. The true reason behind this sudden display of paternal concern.
 Xue Li resisted the urge to scoff. How laughable. He had abandoned her before she had even drawn her first breath, yet now, standing on the cusp of marrying the Emperor, he wished to drape his name upon her like an ill-fitting robe. A father in name only, now eager to claim her for the prestige she would soon bring.
 Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a deep, commanding voice cut through the air.
 "Why don’t we dispense with these pleasantries, Baron, and get straight to the point?"</div>
 

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Chapter 34: Han Feng 

Chapter 34: Han Feng 34 Months slipped by in a haze for Xue Li, each one a blur of anticipation and unease. She paced back and forth in her room, her mind a whirlpool of thoughts. The wedding with Han Feng was rapidly approaching, yet it was not the union itself that troubled her. No, there was something far more pressing on her mind. Rui Hua—she had known to expect her arrival this week, but as the days stretched on, there was no word. No news, no whispers in the court, nothing. Not even a...

The Villains Must Win

Chapter 34: Han Feng

The Villains Must Win - Chapter 34: Han Feng