The next morning dawned with a sky as clear as a washed sapphire, but for Yan Ling, it felt like the ominous calm before a world-ending lightning tribulation.
Great. Another day in this 4K historical nightmare!
Yan Ling thought while yawning. His hands reached to rub his sore temples while his mind drifted to the discomfort which was no longer there,
At least the 'Dragon Petal Vaccine' worked. I don't feel like I'm swallowing lava anymore, just a mild case of existential dread.
His breakfast was interrupted by the thunderous sound of ceremonial gongs and the rhythmic trill of suona horns—the soundtrack of a "victorious celebration" at the King's palace.
The news traveled fast through the servant's whispers, faster than a cultivator on a high-grade flying sword:
The rebels of the fallen Shen Qi Empire had been captured.
The moment the name "Shen Qi" reached his ears, Yan Ling felt a physical stab in his chest—not from the antidote, but from a phantom pain residing in the very marrow of his bones.
It was the original Yan Ling's soul, or perhaps just the lingering echoes of his memories, screaming in agony. These "rebels" were the original General's former brothers-in-arms, his family, the men who had once shared wine and blood with him under a different flag.
They were to be sentenced to death at noon, their lives snuffed out like guttering candles in front of the entire capital.
Listen, original-flavor Yan Ling, I get it. Your heart is doing the 'shattered jade' thing. But what am I supposed to do? I'm currently a prisoner-of-war with a '60-day trial' on my life!
Yet, the pain intensified until Yan Ling gasped, clutching his chest. His modern soul was being dragged by the chains of fate. He couldn't let them die.
Okay! My bad! I'm going... I'm going even though it will cost me everything.
Soon, he stood face to face with the sentinels, stationed at front. His manners remained calm and collected as he spoke,
"I need to see 'your' King. Tell him the General of Shen Qi Empire, wishes to... negotiate."
Escorted by a phalanx of iron-clad sentinels, Yan Ling was led to King's private study, without any delay. The heavy oak doors groaned open, and the "Invincible Majestic General" entered. To the guards, he looked like a fallen god; to Wei Li Feng, he was a just a debt that hadn't been fully paid yet.
King Wei Li Feng sat behind a desk of black sandalwood, his expression as unreadable as a heavenly scroll. The royal eunuch stood by his side, his face wore a mask of practiced smile that did nothing to calm down Yan Ling's drumming heartbeat.
"Your Majesty," the old eunuch whispered, leaning in with a look of extreme caution. "The General is... unpredictable. For your safety, perhaps the guards should—"
"No need." Wei Li Feng interrupted gently, his voice calm but authoritative. He held up a hand to reassure the concerned eunuch.
"The General has served his kingdom for many years," the King stated, his gaze steady and thoughtful. "We must receive him with the respect due his past station, despite current misfortunes."
What a great actor! Geez, all these handsome men are pure evil.
He paused, a flicker of resolve crossing his features. "As per General Yan's request, send the guards away. I will speak with the General alone. To understand the heart of a proud man, one must meet him not with force, but with a quiet strength. Only then can we gauge his true intentions and secure the stability of the nation."
How touching! This boy...tell me how old is he again? 9 years younger than me and the original General and acting like this?!
The eunuch hesitated, then bowed so low his nose nearly touched the floor, and scurried out like a frightened house-shrew. The heavy doors clicked shut behind him, leaving the oppressive silence.
Okay, Yan Ling. Time to use your 'Modern Negotiation Skills.'
Phase one: Don't cry.
Phase two: Please don't let him kill me!
Wei Li Feng stood with the measured grace of a hunter who had finally cornered his prey.
"General Yan," Li Feng began, his voice smooth and devoid of the 'thunder' he had once used as a boy. "I am humbled that you would grace my pavilion. For a man who once turned the snows of Wei Bing red with the blood of my kin, you walk with a surprisingly light step."
Grace my pavilion? If he lays the sarcasm any thicker, I'm going to slip on it. And "humbled"? Right. He's about as humble as a shark in a bathtub.
"Your Majesty," Yan Ling replied, his voice slightly raspy. He forced his knees to bend—a movement that felt like walking on the broken shards of a glass. The modern soul inside him was able to swallow the pride, "I am not here for pleasantries. I am here for the men captured in the northern pass. They were following orders. My orders. If you must kill someone, it should be me."
Wei Li Feng stepped down from the dais, his robes covering the floor. He stopped just few inches away from Yan Ling, his palm looking ready to claw at General's neck,
"Do you think I won't dare to kill you?!" Li Feng thundered, his eyes burning with a bone-deep enmity, flinching Yan Ling's poor soul in the process.
He stepped closer, fueling Yan Ling's instinct to retreat. Unconsciously, Yan Ling took a step back to protect his personal space.
"Then just kill me and end this once and for all," Yan Ling countered. "Dragging this out—including innocent lives because of me—does this suit the great Emperor?"
Li Feng noticed the frantic movements, and a cunning, cruel smirk formed on his lips. He closed the remaining distance, watching with a satisfied grin as the General's now-frail back touched the cold wall.
"Innocent lives?" Li Feng laughed softly, the sound devoid of warmth. "Bold of you to regard them as such. They are nothing but a bunch of rebels, and will be executed by noon."
"No! You can't do that!"
"Oh? Then watch me prove you wrong, General."
Yan Ling's shoulders trembled visibly. With his back against the cold wall, there was no space left to retreat. His eyes darted longingly toward the closed doors.
Should I attempt to run?
Yan Ling was now regretting his decision. All his plans, pretense, and elegance were flying out of the window. He wanted to escape desperately. He could handle Yan Tao's tactics, but this man's presence felt heavy, dark, and suppressive. There was something about Wei Li Feng that felt more dangerous than Long Yan Tao.
"You seem quite uneasy, General. Am I that scary?" Li Feng asked tentatively. His heavy gaze scrutinizing Yan Ling's every move—from the light tremble of his lashes to the rapid rise and fall of his chest. Watching Yan Ling standing on his toes to create a distance that no longer existed made the King more than satisfied.
Yan Ling tried to slide past, but Li Feng's arm slammed against the wall, blocking him. He tried the other side—another bridge of muscle and bone blocked his path. He was caged between the King's arms.
"T-this... is not how a King behaves," Yan Ling stammered, his face heating up from both fear and the sudden, forced proximity. "Please, watch your manners."
Li Feng leaned in until their noses nearly touched. Yan Ling flinched, turning his face away in disgust.
"This is my kingdom," Li Feng said, his hand suddenly gripping Yan Ling's chin, forcing him to look back. "You're alive because I wanted to keep you. If I don't, your comrades' blood will be on your hands before the sun reaches its peak. Now, tell me again... who needs to be in check?"
"You're just a c-coward—ah!"
A furious Li Feng suddenly pinned both of Yan Ling's wrists above his head, singlehanded-ly. The power difference was absolute. He took his sweet time leaning into Yan Ling's ear, his breath warm and terrifying,
"Thanks to your precious reaction, I know exactly what to do with you."
Wei Li Feng heard General's audible intake of breath from fear and a choked our whimper he couldn't stop. Li Feng's sinister smile only grew wider by every passing second.
"Aren't you here for pleading on behalf of those rebels? I'm ready to give them a chance, to work for me and serve this nation but...under one condition."
"W-what?"
"You have to be my empress."
"WEI LI FENG!"
"You will do it eventually," the Emperor purred, his eyes glittering with a sinister triumph. "It only benefits everyone. Your people get a protector to represent them. And you... you will get the authority over everyone in this nation. Except me."
He tightened his grip on Yan Ling's wrists, his smile widening as he watched the "proud eagle" struggle in the dirt of his own desperation. "Doesn't that sound nice, General? Far better than knocking out guards and stealing uniforms just to play-pretend at being free."
"WEI LI FENG!" The name left Yan Ling's lips as a shattered roar. "You've lost your mind. I, the General of Shen Qi, is a man and your sole enemy. Saying that you need me as your Empress, is absurd! My men would rather have their heads rolled into the dust than see me suffer such a grotesque humiliation. They have honor! They have pride!"
"Honor is a luxury for those who are still breathing," Li Feng countered, his voice chillingly calm. He didn't pull away; instead, he used his free hand to slowly, deliberately caress the line of Yan Ling's jaw. The touch was light, almost tender, which made it ten times more terrifying.
"You speak of morale and humanity," Li Feng continued, his thumb brushing over Yan Ling's lower lip. "But where was the morale when your 'invincible' self poisoned my father? Where was the humanity when you watched my brothers die? You want to talk about who is right and who is wrong? There is no such thing. Only consequences, consequences of our past actions."
"I-I am not—" Yan Ling started, but the words died. He couldn't say 'I'm not that man.' To the world, he was.
"Every deed you did in the past, has brought us to this situation," Li Feng whispered, leaning so close their foreheads pressed together.
"If the 'Time' had been in your favor, I would be the one in chains. But it's wheels has shifted. It is my ally now. Your 'good' intentions for your rebels are irrelevant because the 'Time' for mercy has passed. I have no reason to let them live. Not even a single one."
"They are just soldiers!" Yan Ling cried, his eyes beginning to sting.
"They are rebels, mere tools of a fallen regime," Li Feng corrected. He began to slowly trail his fingers down Yan Ling's neck, lingering over the pulse point that was thrumming like a trapped bird.
"I can execute them at noon and still keep you in this study, locked away as my plaything, and no one would stop me. I certainly don't need wedding vows to ruin you, Yan Ling, hope you are aware of that."
The physical proximity was becoming suffocating. Li Feng's body was a solid wall of heat and malice, pinning Yan Ling's wrists higher until the strain in his shoulders became a dull ache.
"T-this is n-not justice! They were not even in the great army of Shen Qi when I fought with Wei Bing's army for the third time! It's solely I, you must kill me and avenge them but let them g-go..."
"You think this is about justice?" Li Feng's voice was a jagged whisper against Yan Ling's ear. "You talk of 'rights' and 'humanity' now that you are the one under the heel. Where was this philosophy when you burned the granaries of my people? Was that 'right' because you were conquering?"
"I… I am not defending the past!" Yan Ling gasped, his head lolling back against the stone as Li Feng's thumb traced the vulnerable curve of his throat. The touch was slow, agonizingly light but Yan Ling was only disgusted,
"But those men in the courtyard… they are someone' father, someone's sons. If you slaughter them to spite me, you're no better than the monster you think I am!"
"I am not trying to be 'better' or 'worse,' General. I am simply the one with the sword." Li Feng's grip tightened on his wrists, forcing Yan Ling to hiss in pain. "You fought the war bravely but lost. And, now, it's payback time. You want to save them? Sure, you can...but for that you must pay with the only thing you have left. Your pride. Your name. Your very identity."
The tension in the room was palpable, thick with unspoken threats and the weight of a conquered nation's fate. Wei Li Feng's subtle touches and chilling words painted a stark reality for Yan Ling, highlighting the brutal consequences of war and the lack of moral absolutes in the face of absolute power.
"You're a coward," Yan Ling spat, though his voice trembled. He tried to twist his face away, but Li Feng's hand moved from his throat to cup his jaw, forcing him to stare into those bottomless, dark eyes. "You're using lives as leverage because you're too afraid to face me as an equal. You want an Empress? No, what you're seeking is just a puppet to dress up and humiliate. That's not what being an Emperor means. I might have miscalculated—you're still a child, far from becoming my worthy opponent!"
Li Feng's eyes didn't flare with anger; they grew colder, more focused. He leaned in until their lips were a hair's breadth apart. "An equal? You stopped being my equal the moment your 'invincible' army came crumbling into the snow, under me. You were the first to kneel, do you remember who your worthy opponent was at that time? A child would have killed you on spot to avenge the blood shed by his family and people but an Emperor makes use of his resources. And you, General, are a very precious resource."
The Emperor's control was absolute. He had no reason to spare those who had opposed him, and the idea of forcing Yan Ling into a marriage served as the ultimate act of dominance and vengeance. It was a calculated move designed to break the spirit of the enemy general and send a clear message to the conquered people.
"Think of the soldiers, Yan Ling," Li Feng murmured, his breath ghosting over Yan Ling's lips. "Every second you waste being 'noble,' the sun moves closer to the zenith. Can you hear the gongs? That's the sound of the executioner sharpening his blade. One word from you, and they walk free. One more insult, and the dirt in the courtyard turns red."
Yan Ling felt his knees buckle. The "Original General" in his soul was screaming—a deafening, bone-deep roar of agony at the thought of such a shameful union. But his modern heart was breaking for the lives at stake.
I can't. I can't let them die because I'm too proud to wear a dress. But God, being his Empress? Being trapped in this room with this... this monster forever? I'd rather swallow glass.
"Please," Yan Ling whispered, a single, hot tear finally escaping and tracking down his cheek. "Please don't do this. There has to be another way. My life—just take it and let them go."
"I already own your life," Li Feng replied, his voice dropping to a low, possessive register. He released Yan Ling's wrists, only to wrap his arms around his waist, pulling him flush against his royal robes, making his teary eyes go wider in response. "Killing you will only mean to give you the freedom you desire, and I, Wei Li Feng, refuse to let you be free ever."
The threats were clear: the immediate danger posed by Li Feng's proximity, the imminent execution of his soldiers, and the potential slaughter of the rebels. In this world, there was no external authority to appeal to. Only the King's will mattered.
Yan Ling's breath came in ragged, broken hitches. He looked at the hour glass on the wall, then back at the man holding him with such terrifying tenderness.
The "Invincible General" was gone; there was only a man cornered by a history he didn't write.
"Guard—"
"W-wait!" Yan Ling's voice broke. He squeezed his eyes shut, his hands clutching weakly at Li Feng's shoulders, trying to put some distance out of nothing. "I-I accept!" The unsaid shameful words, he couldn't dare to utter but how could Wei Li Feng let him off so easily. He probed,
"Tell me what do you accept, Yan Ling?"
"I... I'll... I'll... be your... E-Empress. Just s-stop the e-execution. P-please..." The words were a bitter poison on his tongue, but Yan Ling finally bowed his head, surrendering to the harsh reality closing in on him.
Li Feng's smile rose to his eyes—it was the smile of a man who had finally put the last piece of a puzzle in place. "Wise choice, my Empress."
.
.
.
To be continued...