Chapter 16: The Fall of the Iron Lady
The imperial court doors opened in unison. Silk brushed stone.
For the first time since his ascension, Li Feng entered the Grand Court with the Empress Wan Qing at his side. Not a step behind, not half a pace ahead. Beside him.
Her posture was calm, dignified, her fan folded in her hand—a fragile truce bought by a jade pendant and a sleepless night of jealousy. The ministers noticed the restored union.
They ascended the steps together. The Empress took her seat. Li Feng sat upon the Dragon Throne. The archaic jade pin securing his topknot caught the morning light, a hard, silent reminder of the power he had invoked.
His voice carried, steady and unnaturally calm.
Li Feng:
"The court begins."
The jade bells rang. Silence followed.
Li Feng (mental): This is the hard part. The political bloodletting. I hate this.
Only then did a minister step forward—an older man, his robes worn, his eyes cautious. One of the few men who had once been genuinely loyal to the Empress Dowager Liu Yan.
Minister:
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing. "It has been a week. Has the administrative verification regarding Her Highness the Dowager concluded?"
A ripple passed through the hall. The Dowager stood among the ranks, face composed, hands hidden within her sleeves.
Li Feng did not look at her immediately.
Li Feng:
"Yes," he said calmly. "It has concluded."
The Dowager's fingers tightened.
Li Feng:
"The verification shows that certain funds under the Dowager's administration were diverted toward personal projects without proper cross-ministerial approval."
A murmur rose. The Dowager's eyes widened—just slightly. When did I ever consult the Emperor? she thought, looking up instinctively.
Li Feng finally met her gaze. He did not accuse. He did not glare. He maintained the calm demeanor of a judge delivering a verified fact.
Li Feng:
"The Dowager has since consulted with me and acknowledged lapses in judgment."
The Dowager's lips parted—then closed. She said nothing. She couldn't, because she had indeed signed for funds believing she could manage the crisis, and because the persuasive ghost of the Second Prince Li Ren's touch still lingered in her memory.
The Knives in the Back
The Second Prince stepped forward, seizing the opportunity Li Feng had provided.
Second Prince Li Ren:
"Your Majesty," he said, bowing deeply, his tone expressing pain rather than victory. "It pains me to say this, but the Dowager's mismanagement has gravely harmed the Southern Dam and the army supply routes. For the sake of the people, I must formally request accountability."
Behind him, his bought faction followed. Then came the final, devastating betrayal: even ministers who once stood beside the Dowager stepped forward, their voices trembling but resolute, reciting facts from the audits Li Ren had planted.
Li Feng (mental): The cost of their silence yesterday is their loud noise today. The Dowager never stood a chance against an attack on her own accounts.
The Dowager stood straight. She did not scream. She did not beg. But inside, her political weight—built over decades as the late Emperor's most capable consort—collapsed in moments.
When the ritualistic accusations ended, the hall felt colder.
Li Feng exhaled quietly, the movement barely perceptible.
Li Feng:
"Enough."
All voices fell silent.
Li Feng:
"For the stability of the dynasty, the Dowager's assets shall undergo audit and redistribution according to ministerial jurisdiction."
The Dowager closed her eyes, accepting the political death sentence.
Li Feng:
"Her administrative authority will be suspended. She will remain under questioning—not interrogation. This is not a trial; it is a verification."
The Second Prince's eyes narrowed slightly at the distinction. Li Feng was limiting the severity, preventing full political collapse.
The Dowager bowed once and turned to leave—earlier than protocol allowed.
Before she reached the doors, Li Feng spoke again, his voice clear, his tone shifting from judgment to imperial remembrance.
Li Feng:
"Today, the Dowager will not be humiliated."
She stopped, her back to the throne.
Li Feng:
"We will not erase her past contributions for her present failures. Whether this was age, poor foresight, or misplaced trust—the dynasty remembers her service."
The final phrase, misplaced trust, was a direct barb at Li Ren, and a kindness to the Dowager. For a brief moment, her back trembled. She did not turn around.
That single sentence—spoken by the man she once plotted against—was the only thing that kept her from collapsing. She walked out of the hall, stripped of power but still retaining her name.
The court moved on.
As ministers dispersed, the Grand Deputy Chancellor, Lord Zhang, lingered, watching the young emperor. He looked specifically at the archaic jade pin in Li Feng's hair.
Lord Zhang (to himself, a dry rasp):
"He did not use the Iron Hand Edict against her. He offered mercy and preserved the Dowager title. That is the way of the Inner Court of Ten."
He smiled faintly.
"Different. This one is different from the last two. That old lad," he added softly, nodding toward the pin, "would be pleased."
And walked away. The Ghost of Sia had asserted his legacy through restraint.
The political landscape is now completely changed. The Second Prince has eliminated his primary rival, but Li Feng exposed the Dowager's corruption while simultaneously gaining her emotional debt. Li Feng must now deal with the military threat before the Prince uses his gained momentum. Should he A.
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