Chapter Twenty-Seven: Gathering Storms

After the court had been dismissed, not a single official lingered to exchange the customary pleasantries of old. One after another, they quickened their steps and hurried home, for all those who held office at court had already guessed what kind of evidence Feng Yewu had uncovered against the Minister of Revenue. To sentence him to death on the spot—such a display of iron-handed authority sent a chill down their spines.

After all, when the princes had once resided in the capital, these officials, too, had exchanged no small number of letters with them. Should Feng Yewu, on the morrow, throw further evidence before them as she had today, the fate of the Minister of Revenue could very well become their own. Just as Feng Yewu and Lu Jue had surmised, her actions at court that morning sent shockwaves through the ranks of the regional princes. The Princes of Pingyi, Changwu, and Beichang, who had already been halfway back to their own domains, turned around and returned to the capital.

This time, Feng Yewu’s methods were so swift and decisive that the three, troubled by uncertainty, halted all plans to leave. Outside the city, white pigeons soared through the skies, and messengers scurried tirelessly between all quarters. For a time, the capital was abuzz once more.

The following day, when Feng Yewu heard from her attendants that all the regional princes had returned to the capital, a cold laugh escaped her. As she had suspected, each harbored their own schemes. Had she not been prepared, letting the tigers return to the mountains, this life would likely have repeated the mistakes of the last.

“Attend me!”

With a gesture, Feng Yewu dismissed her confidants, then stepped outside her chambers to summon Eunuch Mingde.

“I hear the princes have all returned to the capital once again. As I am their junior, I shall host a banquet for them tonight. Go and inform them.”

Though she entrusted Eunuch Mingde with this task, another plan was already forming in her mind.

“Your Majesty wishes to host a banquet?” Han Yue, who had been standing nearby, asked with obvious worry as soon as the eunuch departed.

“Yes, it is a matter of propriety,” Feng Yewu replied with a soft smile, seeing the hesitation on Han Yue’s face, but she offered no further explanation.

Looking at Feng Yewu’s confident smile, Han Yue pondered for a long time before voicing her concerns.

“Your Majesty, the assassination at the last banquet still weighs heavily on my mind. Now you wish to host another…”

Feng Yewu, hearing Han Yue’s words, understood her worry for her safety and smiled reassuringly.

“Do not fret. This time, the assassins will not succeed so easily.”

Hearing her reply, Han Yue felt there must be some special preparation already in place.

“Your Majesty, I will go find Master Lu. Having an extra person is always safer. Should anything befall you…”

Before Han Yue could finish, Feng Yewu cut her off: “You should indeed go to Lu Jue, but not for the banquet. Go now, and say I have something to ask him.”

She glanced at the sky—it was already well past midday. Her confrontation with the Minister of Revenue in court had, in truth, been a means to buy time. No doubt, by now, Lu Jue would have completed his task at the capital’s music house. At this thought, a cold gleam flashed in her eyes.

“Yes, Your Majesty!” Han Yue, catching the look in Feng Yewu’s eyes, hurried off without another word.

Meanwhile, Lu Jue, carrying Feng Yewu’s personal command, had long been waiting outside the palace gates for the return of the troops. Before long, the main force appeared on the horizon. Among them, he spotted a group of music house girls, their elegant attire now in disarray, their former splendor utterly lost.

“By order of Her Majesty, I will personally interrogate these prisoners,” Lu Jue announced, displaying his token of authority to the leading general once the group arrived at the palace gate.

“Yes, sir!” The general accepted the token, verified its authenticity, then gave orders to the captain of the guard.

“Leave a squad to guard the prisoners and accompany Master Lu into the palace. The rest, return with me.”

Watching his men bring the captives to Lu Jue, the general added a word of caution: “Master Lu, among these prisoners are many death-sworn guards. To prevent suicide, I have already had their jaws dislocated.”

“Thank you, General.” Lu Jue bowed in gratitude. Once the general had departed with his men, Lu Jue led the remaining group into the palace’s interrogation chamber.

After a lengthy interrogation, some results were finally obtained. Emerging from the chamber, it was already past noon, and he happened to encounter Han Yue.

“Master Lu, Her Majesty has sent me to summon you. There is something she wishes to ask.”

Han Yue bowed slightly as she spoke.

“Miss Han Yue, your timing is perfect. I was just on my way to report to Her Majesty.”

With that, the two proceeded together.

“What have you learned?”

Feng Yewu, long since waiting, heard movement outside and, before Han Yue could announce them, had already risen and walked to the door. Upon seeing her, Lu Jue bowed, then glanced around.

“Rest assured, all have been dismissed. You may speak freely,” Feng Yewu said. Now, only the three of them—Feng Yewu, Lu Jue, and Han Yue—remained in the chamber. Feng Yewu had long since come to regard Han Yue as one of her own.

“Your Majesty, we have indeed made some progress,” Lu Jue said as he and Feng Yewu entered deeper into the chamber.

“Was the last assassination attempt the work of the Penglai Pavilion?”

Feng Yewu walked to her bedside, fingers brushing the white gauze draped there, as she asked.

“It was. However…” Lu Jue nodded, but then hesitated.

“What is it?” Feng Yewu pressed, seeing his troubled expression.

“Among these assassins, the master of Penglai Pavilion was not present,” Lu Jue replied, then continued, “According to the guards who escorted the prisoners, the entire music house was in chaos at the time. The master of Penglai Pavilion wounded several men, but did not linger in battle, and managed to escape.”

“I see…” Feng Yewu, hearing this, felt a tinge of regret but did not blame her people. After all, Penglai Pavilion was a shadowy sect of the martial world, and its master was bound to be no ordinary foe.

“Your Majesty, please look at this,” Lu Jue said, presenting a booklet. Feng Yewu took it, and inside found a list of names, all unfamiliar.

“What is this?” she asked, astonished. She had never imagined that a clandestine society, vanished for years, would be so entangled with so many of the current court’s ministers.

In her previous life, she had been woefully ignorant. Such matters had unfolded right under her nose.