Chapter 12 : When the Ghost Walked Again
The path toward the Grand Court Hall felt heavy, weighted not by distance, but by the imposing black robe Li Feng wore.
Above him, lounging in the air like a lazy cloud, the Divine Emperor Xuan Tian circled lazily, hands tucked behind his head.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"The court will be suppressed today," he said lightly.
Li Feng glanced upward. "You sound unusually confident, old ghost."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"I said nothing more. You'll understand soon, my dear boy."
Li Feng: "Tch. Always about your entertainment."
He walked on.
And then—he saw her.
The Empress Wan Qing stood beneath a flowering pavilion, arms crossed, cheeks puffed, lips pressed tight. She was clearly pretending not to see him while blocking his path.
Li Feng stopped.
"...Still on strike?" he asked internally.
She turned away with an exaggerated hmph.
Li Feng stepped closer, reached out, and brushed aside a loose strand of hair resting against the back of her neck.
Li Feng:
"Mrs. Ripened Tomato Rabbit Lady, why are you always so hungry?"
She froze.
Li Feng:
"I'm the Emperor," he continued, adjusting his sleeves. "I will have many people around me. But you—" he leaned slightly closer, voice low, "—have a special place."
Her ears practically steamed.
Before she could respond, he straightened and walked past her.
Behind him, the Empress stood rooted, face burning red, mind spiraling.
"...S-special…?" she whispered.
She let out a flustered sound and fled in the opposite direction.
From above, the Divine Emperor laughed.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Oh, that one's going to explode. Textbook critical hit."
Li Feng: "Shut up."
The laughter followed him all the way to the court gates.
The Second Prince's Plot
Elsewhere, within a quieter corridor shadowed by incense smoke, the Second Prince Li Ren stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
The loan documents bearing the Dowager's signature were circulating. The dam project was delayed. Supplies were burning. Rumors were spreading: The Empress Dowager is incompetent.
The Second Prince smiled faintly.
Second Prince Li Ren:
"Speed it up. If she falls, let it be before she realizes she's falling."
His attendant bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."
Outside, the palace bells rang. Court was about to begin.
The Ghost Walks Again
Li Feng stopped before the entrance to the Grand Court Hall. The Divine Emperor finally descended, floating beside him.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Before I go," he said lazily, "a final thought."
Li Feng: "You're about to say something useless, aren't you?"
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
"Extremely. If you pull too hard, ropes snap. If you loosen them too much, prey escapes. Sometimes… you just let the knot sit there." He shrugged. "Figure it out. Or don't. I get entertainment either way."
"Wait—!" Li Feng reached out, but the deity was gone.
Li Feng: "…Damn it."
Then the doors opened.
The court froze.
Black robes. Hair tied in the archaic Tang topknot of the Grand Emperor.
The Grand Deputy Chancellor, Lord Zhang—a relic who had served the founder's descendants—bowed deep, his expression awestruck and terrified.
The foreign envoy from Tang stiffened—then bowed far deeper than protocol demanded.
The whispers, the memory of the two-century-old unified dynasty, had been triggered.
The Second Prince Li Ren's fingers tightened inside his sleeve.
Li Feng walked forward, took the throne, and broke the silence.
Li Feng:
"The court begins."
Debate erupted soon after, weak and hesitant. When the Jin Clan was mentioned, murmurs rose.
The Second Prince stepped forward smoothly. "Brother, perhaps—"
Li Feng interrupted, using the new aura of power granted by the black robes.
Li Feng:
"My dear brother, do you believe that the dignity of the imperial line has fallen so low that a loyal border clan may starve without answer? No amount?"
The ministers exchanged fearful glances. The historical weight of the question was too heavy.
Reputation mattered. Always had.
"...A standard aid package," someone murmured, capitulating.
Li Feng nodded. "Then let it be so. Grain. Supplies. Emergency silver."
"And," he added, following his vague instinct from the Divine Emperor's riddle, "the Dowager's permits for the Southern Canal project… will be reviewed."
Nothing more. Nothing less. He didn't expose the loan; he merely tightened the leash. The knot sat.
The Second Prince hesitated—then bowed. "As Your Majesty wishes."
As court adjourned, the Deputy Chancellor watched the young Emperor descend the steps and thou
ght: So this is what they meant. The dragon's blood does not run thin. What will our emperor do ?