Chapter 46: Lu Jue Imprisoned

The two jailers exchanged glances, fully aware of Hanyue’s identity, and hurriedly unlocked the gates of the death cell.

Once inside, Hanyue found that the interrogators had long since left. Lu Jue was hanging from a cross, his entire body covered in marks from whips and branding irons, his appearance barely recognizable as human.

“Lu… Young Master Lu! You… how did you…”

Though Hanyue had expected that Lu Jue would suffer in the death cell, she could never have imagined he would be tormented to such a state.

“Hanyue? Heh, you’re here. His Majesty… how is His Majesty now?”

Hearing someone call his name, Lu Jue slowly raised his head, a faint smile appearing at Hanyue’s look of shock. He voiced the question that had lingered in his heart—indeed, it was the first thing he had spoken since entering the death cell.

“Rest assured, Young Master Lu. His Majesty is no longer in mortal danger and is currently resting, wishing to see you.”

Hanyue, still just a young girl, could not help but feel tears welling up at the sight of Lu Jue’s wounds.

“What are you looking at? Hurry and set Young Master Lu down!” she angrily rebuked the jailers on either side.

“To see me?”

Lu Jue’s bloodless face softened as he heard Hanyue’s words. Learning that Feng Yewu was out of danger, he finally allowed himself to relax. But upon hearing he was summoned, a hint of hesitation flashed across his face.

“I have no face to see her. I cannot even forgive myself.”

Lu Jue spoke dejectedly, his eyes flickering with distress. He had never shown such an expression, not even under the Ministry of Justice’s cruel torture, but when it came to Feng Yewu, he simply could not steel himself.

No matter how strong his heart, Lu Jue could not maintain a façade of composure before her.

Hanyue understood that Lu Jue still blamed himself deeply. Yet, given the gravity of his injuries, if he did not receive treatment, it would only be a matter of time before either he or Feng Yewu succumbed.

After escorting Lu Jue back to a resting place, Hanyue summoned the imperial physician. Once Lu Jue’s wounds were bandaged and tended to, both he and Hanyue, concerned for Feng Yewu, hurried to the palace.

“Your Majesty, Lu Jue has arrived,” Hanyue announced softly at Feng Yewu’s bedside.

“Let him in,” Feng Yewu replied, finally able to set her mind at ease upon hearing Lu Jue had come.

She turned her gaze to Lu Jue as he entered slowly. Though he strove to appear as normal as possible, not wishing Feng Yewu to worry for him, the severity of his injuries made every step arduous. His awkward gait did not escape Feng Yewu’s notice, nor did the wounds marring his face.

“Your Majesty, your servant is here.”

Lu Jue approached the bed, hastily averting his gaze to hide his injuries, tilting his head to avoid Feng Yewu’s scrutiny.

“I have not blamed you for my injury—why do you torment yourself so?” Feng Yewu smiled faintly, easily discerning that Lu Jue’s suffering stemmed from self-reproach and the coercion of his tormentors.

“I failed to protect Your Majesty’s life. That is guilt enough. And now, it is because of my sword that Your Majesty has endured such torment—my crime deserves a thousand deaths.”

As soon as he finished, Lu Jue dropped to his knees, bowing his head deeply.

“Enough—stand up, I command you to rise!” Feng Yewu’s brow furrowed in displeasure at the sight of him kneeling.

“Throughout the court, those who covet my life are too numerous to count. I have yet to punish them all, let alone someone who risked his life to save mine.”

Looking at Lu Jue, who still maintained the decorum of ruler and subject, pained Feng Yewu most of all. In the end, he saw her only as his sovereign. Perhaps, in his heart, it was all for loyalty’s sake.

Lu Jue’s overwhelming guilt loomed large in Feng Yewu’s mind, only adding to her vexation. She replied coldly.

Hearing her words, Lu Jue finally stood, though the guilt of having harmed Feng Yewu still gnawed at him, refusing to let go.

Several days later, Feng Yewu’s injuries had improved somewhat. With Hanyue’s aid, she could walk about for daily matters. That night, she ordered a thorough investigation into who had tried to extract a confession from Lu Jue by force while he was imprisoned.

Soon, Eunuch Mingde brought forth a list.

“Your Majesty, here is the list,” he said respectfully, presenting it.

Feng Yewu glanced at it coldly, then tossed it back to him.

“Your Majesty, these people…” Mingde ventured cautiously.

“Send them to the border. I do not wish to see them again,” Feng Yewu replied curtly, resuming her review of state documents.

Such a simple remark brimmed with imperial authority. In her past life, Feng Yewu might have relented, but now, her outlook had changed. The so-called bonds between ruler and subject were illusions she had long since seen through.

“By the way, why is it that since Lu Jue’s release, I have seldom seen him?” In recent days, Feng Yewu had not found Lu Jue by her side. After their initial meeting, she too had felt petulant—if he would not come, she would not summon him.

But after some time, she could not help but inquire.

Hanyue, aware of Feng Yewu’s thoughts, merely smiled behind her hand, choosing not to reveal them.

“I imagine Young Master Lu is recovering from his injuries. Would Your Majesty like to see him?” Hanyue asked with a charming smile.

At first, Feng Yewu intended to refuse, her pride prompting her to act indifferent. But she suddenly recalled the severity of Lu Jue’s wounds. In the past days, lost in her own resentment, she had forgotten that he, too, was gravely hurt.

Could it be…

Her worry mounting, Feng Yewu finally nodded. “Go and check on Lu Jue. Make sure his injuries haven’t worsened and that nothing untoward has happened.”

Hanyue departed to carry out the order. Sure enough, she found Lu Jue bedridden, coughing incessantly and his face ashen—his injuries clearly aggravated.

Alarmed, Hanyue rushed out to fetch the imperial physician, who arrived just in time to save his life.

Meanwhile, as she waited in vain for Hanyue’s return, Feng Yewu’s concern grew ever deeper.