Chapter 15: Two Gifts, One Storm
Morning in the inner palace arrived quietly. Li Feng stood before a low table, staring at the neatly wrapped gift box prepared for the Empress Wan Qing. Inside was a rare warming jade pendant—subtle, dignified, and unmistakably a peace offering.
Li Feng (mental): "This should be enough. I called her a hungry rabbit, and then made her jealous. I deserve at least one night of cold shoulders, not three."
Behind him, floating upside down for no particular reason, the Divine Emperor Xuan Tian hummed.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Add one more gift."
Li Feng: "Why? I'm trying to make peace, not start a war."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Balance. Politics is all about balance. Your wife is only one part of the equation."
Li Feng: "…Balance usually doesn't involve angering my wife and my most critical political ally (Consort Mei Lian's family)."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Trust me. A small courtesy gift ensures the Jin clan's loyalty feels appreciated, not taken for granted. And it makes the Empress's gift look less like a surrender and more like an official declaration of her importance."
Li Feng sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. One more. Send it to the Jin Consort's residence as a thank you for their report."
Thus, two gifts were prepared. One intention: political stability. One catastrophic misunderstanding: favouritism.
The Catastrophic Balance
The Empress discovered it by accident. She had just finished her morning tea when she saw eunuchs passing through the corridor—one carrying her gift, the other walking in a different direction entirely.
Empress Wan Qing (casually):
"Where is that one going?"
The eunuch stiffened. "...To the Jin Consort's residence, Your Majesty. A gift from the Emperor."
Silence. Absolute silence.
Her fan cracked open with a sharp snap.
Empress Wan Qing (internal): So, he sends gifts to both. Last night, he didn't return. This morning, gifts for the witch. He thinks he can placate me with status while giving his heart to the other.
The Empress's fingers tightened. She glanced down at the book resting on her lap—an old court manual titled: The Seventy-Two Strategies for Seducing an Imperial Lord.
Empress Wan Qing (muttering): "Clearly, I need to reread Chapter Three: The Art of the Irresistible Trap."
The New Player
Meanwhile, Li Feng was doing something far less romantic, and far more politically competent.
Deep within the imperial archives, Li Feng stood surrounded by stacks of old records, auditing names and service histories to identify men loyal to the throne, not the factions.
Li Feng: "This one served my grandfather... loyal to the throne, not the faction." He marked it. "This one's house declined after refusing the Second Prince's offer." Another mark.
Suddenly, Gao Ming announced a visitor.
Gao Ming:
"Your Majesty, Princess Anya of the Great Northern Steppe, Commander of the Foreign Diplomatic Corps, requests an audience."
A woman entered—tall, confident, and radiating the easy authority of a seasoned warrior and politician. Her attire was richly embroidered leather, a stark contrast to the flowing silk of the Xia court.
Princess Anya:
"Your Majesty of Xia. I come with regards from the Great Northern Steppe." Her voice was low and commanding.
Princess Anya looked Li Feng over—the black robes, the historical style—and smiled, a slow, predatory curve of her lips. She was clearly used to men falling over themselves.
Li Feng nodded, offering a charming, easy smile.
Li Feng:
"Princess Anya. A pleasure. Your skill in handling the diplomatic mission has been noted by my court. We are deeply impressed by your competence."
He stepped forward, briefly touched her armored wrist in a gesture of shared respect for power, and then instantly withdrew his hand.
Li Feng:
"I trust your stay has been satisfactory. Do please inform your delegation that we require your presence at the Imperial Hunting Competition in two days. Your skill will undoubtedly be needed."
He gave her a quick, genuine smile of appreciation, then turned back to his scrolls.
Li Feng:
"Gao Ming, escort the Princess. I must finalize these lists. We will speak on logistics at the banquet tonight, Princess."
Princess Anya watched him leave. The confident smile slipped. He hadn't flirted. He hadn't been intimidated. He had treated her like a competent equal, flirted politely, and then dismissed her to focus on his work.
Princess Anya (internal): He just complimented my competence and walked away? Every man here tries to give me gold. This one gives me an assignment.
The Unaware Plan
At the military grounds, Li Feng met the loyal General Yu Shan and spoke without hesitation, referring to the troops Li Ren had tried to buy using the Dowager's collapse.
Li Feng:
"The five hundred troops currently held under administrative review—the Dowager's former guard—integrate them immediately into the core imperial army."
General Yu Shan's eyes widened slightly at the bold, quick maneuver.
Li Feng:
"New training. Imperial weapons. Better rations. Let them feel what it means to serve the throne directly."
"Win their stomachs, Your Majesty," the general nodded.
"And then," Li Feng said softly, "win their loyalty."
He turned away, his mind shifting again to political matters.
Li Feng (mental): Hunting competition in two days. I need to appear united and strong before the entire diplomatic corps and the Xia nobility.
Li Feng (muttering): "I should make peace with the Empress before then, or the Northern Princess will use our rift as leverage."
Behind him, the Divine Emperor finally laughed—quietly, cruelly, endlessly amused.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Yes," the old ghost thought. You really should. You have no idea what your wife is planning after that double gift and your little meeting with the foreign warrior-woman. The storm is perfect."
Unaware of the fury that burned hotter than yesterday's, Li Feng walked on—completely oblivious to the fact that his "political competence" had just guaranteed his immediate marital destruction.
Li Feng is facing a major internal (jealousy) and external (hunting competition) crisis