Chapter Forty-Nine: Palace Scandals

“Han Yue, is there something you’re hiding from me?” Feng Yewu let out a cold laugh, rising to her feet and looking down at Han Yue with a questioning gaze.

“I don’t know what Your Majesty refers to. I have nothing to conceal from you,” Han Yue replied, confusion painted on her face as she lifted her eyes to the angry sovereign, though inwardly she was already considering the possibilities.

Seeing her expression, Feng Yewu recalled the words of the little palace maid from earlier and, unwilling to dance around the issue any longer, confronted Han Yue directly. “Some days ago, did a young palace maid really kill herself for Lu Jue?”

The chill in Feng Yewu’s voice was unmistakable. As soon as Han Yue heard this, she instantly understood the reason for her anger.

This rumor had been circulating among the servants for days; she had, of course, heard whispers but hadn’t pursued the matter, administering only a light reprimand before letting it drop. At the time, Feng Yewu was still recovering from her injuries, and Han Yue hadn’t wanted to trouble her with affairs concerning Lu Jue, so she’d kept silent. Later, overwhelmed by other matters, she’d simply forgotten.

“Your Majesty, indeed a maidservant died because of Young Master Lu, but the reason is not as you have heard,” Han Yue hurried to explain.

“Oh? So, it seems I was misinformed?” Feng Yewu stared at Han Yue, a sorrowful heaviness settling in her chest. She hadn’t expected the corrupting power of the court to be so insidious—Han Yue, who had followed her faithfully for two lifetimes, was now keeping things from her.

Han Yue, still kneeling, saw the suspicion in Feng Yewu’s eyes and felt wronged. She recounted every detail of what had happened that day.

After hearing her out, Feng Yewu fell silent, her earlier displeasure melting away.

“Your Majesty, Eunuch Mingde is also aware of the events of that day. It was he who arranged for the replacement maid at my request.”

Feng Yewu summoned Eunuch Mingde and soon realized she had wronged Han Yue.

Guilt chilled her heart; she had never expected that within the palace walls, rumors could be so fearsome, twisting the truth into something monstrous.

“It seems I’ve been too lenient of late. The inner palace needs to be cleansed once more,” she said with a cold laugh.

“Your Majesty, you mustn’t!” Eunuch Mingde pleaded urgently.

“And why not?”

“If the palace is purged again, what will Young Master Lu think? And how will the ministers regard you? It could damage your reputation.”

After much earnest persuasion, Feng Yewu’s eyes remained frosty, but she relented. She had to admit, her feelings for Lu Jue had deepened; she could not help but consider his response in all things. Yet, uncertain of his own heart, she had been angered by the rumors.

Now, thinking calmly, she felt a pang of regret.

While Feng Yewu’s thoughts churned, on the other side, Lu Jue had just set down his sword.

With Feng Yewu preoccupied by state affairs and his own illness only recently abated, Lu Jue had been unwilling to idle indoors, choosing instead to practice his skills. He had just finished when he sensed movement behind him—someone had slipped into his room.

He surveyed his surroundings; finding no one else, he turned and entered.

“My lord!”

A masked figure knelt and saluted him with respect.

“No need to call me that. I am no longer the general’s son I once was,” Lu Jue replied with a bitter smile, self-mockery lacing his words.

“There’s no need for such sorrow, my lord. We all believe that one day, the general’s injustice will be righted,” the man said earnestly.

“Let’s not speak of that. You risked much to come here—what news do you bring?”

The visitor was one of the soldiers who had once served under Lu Jue’s father. Lu Jue had instructed them to keep a close watch on the new Minister of Revenue, for the matter of the Penglai Pavilion was far from settled. While all evidence pointed to the King of Pingyi, none of it was conclusive.

“Yes, in recent days we’ve discovered that the new Minister of Revenue is indeed connected with Penglai Pavilion,” the man reported.

Lu Jue’s brow furrowed ever so slightly at this.

“I understand,” he said after a moment’s thought.

The man departed soon after, leaving Lu Jue deep in contemplation, thinking he should first discuss this with Feng Yewu.

In the imperial study, Feng Yewu received Lu Jue’s message and was instantly delighted. “Is this true?” If so, with evidence of the Minister of Revenue’s connection to Penglai Pavilion, she might finally be able to trace the threads back to the King of Pingyi.

But just as she was rejoicing, Lu Jue surprised her with a request to go himself.

“No!” Feng Yewu refused at once.

Lu Jue had only just recovered from his wounds and Penglai Pavilion’s members were all assassins—if anything happened, she would not allow such a risk to be taken again.

“Your Majesty, the people of Penglai Pavilion are masters of assassination and espionage. If I do not go myself, I fear my subordinates may make a misstep,” Lu Jue insisted.

As long as the threat of Penglai Pavilion hung over Feng Yewu, Lu Jue could not rest easy. He did not wish to let this opportunity slip by.

“This matter is not up for debate. You are to remain in the palace and recover,” Feng Yewu’s tone was equally unyielding.

“Your Majesty!” Lu Jue persisted.

With a bang, Feng Yewu threw her scrolls to the floor, eyes blazing with anger. “I said, this matter is not to be discussed further.”

The commotion drew Han Yue and the guards outside to rush in, their eyes falling at once on Lu Jue.

Though Feng Yewu had not pursued the matter of Lu Jue wounding her, her attendants had been on edge ever since, terrified of a repeat incident.

“Lu Jue, will you obey the king’s command or not?” Feng Yewu ignored the guards’ questions, her gaze severe as she looked at Lu Jue, her anger ready to explode at the slightest refusal.

Han Yue, uncertain what had occurred, could only look anxiously between the two, not daring to speak.

“Your Majesty, I’m afraid I must defy your order this time,” Lu Jue replied, more resolute than ever.

“In that case…” Feng Yewu’s voice paused as she looked at him, as though waiting for something. In the very next instant, she continued, “Men, expel Lu Jue from the palace. Without my command, he is not to set foot inside the palace again!”

Lu Jue felt a stab of pain but did not resist.

No one dared oppose the furious Feng Yewu; soon, Lu Jue was escorted away.

Watching him leave without so much as a backward glance only fueled the blaze in Feng Yewu’s chest.

“This…” Han Yue glanced between them, thoroughly bewildered.

Even after everyone had left, Feng Yewu remained where she was, her gaze fixed on the direction Lu Jue had been taken.

“Your Majesty, what has happened between you and Young Master Lu?” Han Yue could not help but finally ask.