Chapter 11: The Frame That Should Not Hang
The Second Prince, Li Ren, stopped beneath the eaves of the imperial corridor, his gaze lifting toward the main court hall. His eyes narrowed.
That portrait was still there.
Hanging high above the hall's inner pillars—dark wood, old lacquer, untouched by time—was the intimidating portrait of the dynasty's founding ancestor, the Great Emperor.
His lips curled.
Second Prince Li Ren:
"Why is the dead ghost still hanging in the imperial court?"
The attendant stiffened immediately, lowering his head.
Attendant:
"Your Highness... that is the portrait of the Great Emperor."
The Second Prince let out a short laugh, sharp and humorless.
Second Prince Li Ren:
"The Great Emperor?" He scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "Yes, yes. Very great. Great enough to haunt us for two centuries."
His gaze lingered on the frame for a heartbeat longer—a cold flicker in his eyes—then he turned away, dismissing the unsettling presence of the past.
The Empress's Fury
Elsewhere in the inner palace, porcelain shattered.
Empress Wan Qing stood rigid, fragments scattered at her feet, her chest rising and falling far too fast.
Empress Wan Qing (low, trembling with fury):
"A witch. A shameless little witch."
Servants knelt with their heads pressed to the floor, terrified to breathe. The Empress's fingers tightened around her fan until the ribs creaked.
She had seen it. The entire intimate, low-lit meeting in the Annex.
She had seen him. And she would not forget.
The Emperor's Game
Li Feng (the Emperor), meanwhile, walked leisurely through the garden paths, hands clasped behind his back, his expression unusually relaxed.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian (whispering in his mind):
> "You look pleased. That's either brilliance or extreme denial."
>
Li Feng:
"I messed up. Confirmed. I should've spoken to the Empress later. Court stability comes first."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "How responsible of you. I'm impressed. The jealousy is delicious, but the political fallout would be disastrous."
>
Li Feng: "Shut up, old ghost."
There was a pause. Then laughter echoed faintly in his mind.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "You drop formality fast."
>
Li Feng: "Only with you. It's comforting."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "I hate you."
>
Li Feng: "Liar. You'd be bored without my incompetence."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "I will trouble you twice as much when you need me most. Just for that sentiment."
>
Li Feng: "I look forward to suffering."
As they spoke, Li Feng passed beneath flowering trees, utterly unaware of the figure standing just beyond the path.
The Empress, hidden behind a bloom-heavy branch, watched him walk past without so much as a glance. Her nails dug into her palm.
He turned toward the path where she was hiding.
Her breath caught—
—and then he veered away, continuing down the opposite path.
Her jaw trembled. She stepped forward, then stopped, fury burning hot and silent in her chest.
The Divine Emperor noticed the intense energy spike.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "...You didn't see that?"
>
Li Feng: "See what? I'm walking, not sightseeing."
The laughter that followed was unrestrained.
The Consort and the Confirmation
The music pavilion was quiet when Li Feng arrived. Consort Mei Lian rose immediately, bowing with grace.
Consort Mei Lian:
"Your Majesty."
He gestured for her to sit.
She played for him again—the same melody, gentle and steady, carrying something warm beneath the notes. When the final string faded, she confirmed her readiness for the next steps in the investigation.
Li Feng listened. Then he smiled.
Li Feng:
"You've done well."
She blinked, surprised—then smiled back, softly.
He reached out, cupping her cheeks briefly, gently, as though the gesture were the most natural thing in the world. He was reinforcing her loyalty with deliberate kindness, cementing her position as his ally.
Li Feng:
"Thank you, little Consort."
He turned and left.
From the shadows beyond the pavilion, the Empress watched the entire exchange. Her breath came sharp. Her vision burned.
This time, she did not shout. She did not shatter porcelain.
She smiled—a slow, controlled, dangerous smile. The game has changed.
The Emperor's New Look
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Tie your hair properly. Not the soft style you usually wear."
Li Feng: "Properly how? Like the old days?"
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Like the founding days. Tie it high, with the Great Emperor's jade pin. It's a symbol. It's a look that reminds people of a certain someone, though you don't know who yet."
The Divine Emperor chuckled softly.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"You will have a very interesting surprise tomorrow. Just trust the styling advice."
Li Feng sighed, resigned.
Li Feng: "Fine. Black robe, old pin. I hope this fashion statement is worth the risk."
The mirror reflected a knowing smile forming on the Divine Emperor's lips, reflecting the dramatic weight of the history Li Feng was about to embody. So what is it