Chapter 18: Night of Broken Treaties
The palace lanterns had already been dimmed when the knock came.
It was urgent—controlled, but urgent. Three knocks. A pause. Two more. The signal for extreme urgency from trusted factions.
Li Feng lifted his head from the stack of memorials, his eyes narrowing.
The Divine Emperor Xuan Tian, who had been reclining lazily atop a beam, straightened slightly.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "That's not a good knock," the old ghost muttered. "Open it."
>
Before Li Feng could respond, the door slid open.
Six men entered. All of them bowed deeply. Among them were faces Li Feng recognized: one from his loyalist faction, two from neutral noble houses, and—most unexpectedly—one elder minister who had once been aligned with the deposed Empress Dowager Liu Yan. The presence of the Dowager's former loyalist made Li Feng's internal alarm bells ring.
Li Feng:
"Speak."
The eldest minister stepped forward, sweat glistening at his temples despite the cool night air.
Elder Minister:
"Your Majesty… Tang has betrayed us."
Silence.
Li Feng blinked once.
Li Feng:
"...Tang? Who betrayed us?"
The word felt alien on his tongue. He glanced sideways instinctively, as if the Celestial Being could project the map in the air.
Loyalist Minister:
"Your Majesty, Tang is not a unified empire. The Tang Emperor controls the capital and central provinces, but the northern and western regions are ruled by two Ducal Houses—hereditary warlords with semi-autonomous authority."
Elder Minister:
"Those two houses have mobilized troops. Border fortresses report attacks on supply lines and forward outposts on the Xia northern border."
Li Feng's fingers tightened against the armrest of his simple wooden chair.
Li Feng:
"And the Tang Emperor?"
Loyalist Minister:
"He denies involvement, Your Majesty. Claims it is a rogue action by the Dukes."
A long beat of silence.
Then, quietly—
Li Feng:
"So he is weak."
It was not anger, nor fear. Just a flat political assessment.
Li Feng (internal): At least Xia is united, even if it is fractured by my half-brother.
The Divine Emperor drifted down beside him, his expression unusually serious.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "Careful now. This is where Emperors are judged. If you show panic, the court will collapse around you."
>
Li Feng didn't respond aloud, focusing on the ministers.
The Elder Minister continued, his voice heavy with fear.
Elder Minister:
"Those Ducal Houses believe Xia is vulnerable. They think internal struggles will paralyze the court."
The Divine Emperor leaned close.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "Act furious. Anything less will look like crippling indifference or fear."
>
Li Feng understood immediately. He needed to project authority, not strategy.
He exhaled once.
Li Feng:
"Furious?"
His voice rose, sharp as steel striking stone.
Li Feng:
"They dare? They sent a delegation to my coronation two weeks ago. They bowed. They praised peace. And now they bare their fangs?"
The ministers stiffened, genuinely intimidated by the sudden, controlled rage.
Li Feng:
"Those Tang rats think treaties are paper toys? Whether the Tang Emperor ordered it or not, the banners advancing on Xia's borders are Tang banners."
He turned sharply.
Li Feng:
"Have reinforcements been dispatched?"
Loyalist Minister:
"Only local garrisons, Your Majesty. No General has yet been appointed. The court did not wish to act without Imperial decree."
Li Feng nodded once, his eyes cold and assessing.
Li Feng:
"Good. We will not rush blindly. Send a trustworthy General—one who knows delay, not reckless glory. His mission is to stabilize the border. Hold. Observe. Do not escalate."
He paused, letting the cold menace settle in the room.
Li Feng:
"If they want war, they will bleed for every step. But the decision will be made by the Xia court."
The Elder Minister bowed deeply, his fear now mixed with awe.
Elder Minister:
"Your Majesty intends—?"
Li Feng:
"Summon the Imperial Court. Tonight."
A ripple of shock went through the room. A night session was reserved for disasters.
The ministers bowed as one.
All:
"Your Majesty's will is law."
As they withdrew, the room felt colder. When the doors closed, the Divine Emperor laughed softly.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "Not bad for a so-called powerless Emperor. You turned fear into resolve."
>
Li Feng didn't smile.
Li Feng:
"A war is coming. And the Second Prince will try to profit from it."
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "Oh, it already has. You're already ahead of him."
>
The Shadow Decree
Later That Night
The palace corridors were quiet. Li Feng stood near the window, staring into the darkness.
A soft footstep approached. The trusted eunuch—old, thin, and invisible to most of the court—bowed low.
Trusted Eunuch:
"Your Majesty summoned this servant?"
Li Feng turned. His voice dropped to a barely audible whisper.
Li Feng:
"This does not go through the court yet."
The eunuch's back stiffened slightly, understanding the danger of the private order.
Trusted Eunuch:
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Li Feng:
"Send a letter to the Jin Clan immediately. Inform them and the surrounding northern border clans that His Imperial Majesty will appear soon."
The eunuch's eyes widened just a fraction. The Emperor travelling to the border in wartime was unheard of.
Trusted Eunuch:
"But… the court will need time to organize the protection detail—"
Li Feng:
"The court will know when it must. Send the message. I will personally travel to the North in two weeks."
Silence. Then—
Trusted Eunuch:
"This servant will ensure the message reaches only those it should, Your Majesty."
Li Feng's gaze hardened, watching the eunuch vanish into the shadows.
The Divine Emperor drifted beside Li Feng once more.
Divine Emperor Xuan Tian:
> "So… running to your favorite Consort's clan when the fighting starts?"
>
Li Feng stared into the night, a faint smile touching his lips.
Li Feng:
"If war is coming to the borders, and the Second Prince is planning a coup in the capital…"
Li Feng:
"...then the Emperor should arrive first at the fighting. It's the one place the Second Prince cannot touch me."