Chapter Fifty: Lu Jue's Ordeal

Upon hearing her words, Feng Yewu withdrew her gaze without answering directly, only quietly asking, “Has everyone dispersed?”

Hanyue walked to the doorway, glanced outside, and then gently closed the door behind her.

“Your Majesty, everyone has left.”

A silence settled over the room; neither spoke further. Feng Yewu sat down again, picking up the scroll Hanyue had retrieved from the table.

“No matter what happens, Young Master Lu holds Your Majesty in his heart. Every decision he makes is for Your Majesty’s sake,” Hanyue said softly, watching Feng Yewu, who had not turned a single page for some time.

Feng Yewu tightened her grip on the scroll, sighing inwardly. This time, indeed, all was for her. But had she not considered his welfare as well?

After Lu Jue was expelled from the palace, he showed not the slightest sign of dejection. Alone, he made his way, as if well-accustomed, to an empty house near the palace.

News of Lu Jue’s expulsion by Feng Yewu spread swiftly among the various factions. One after another, envoys arrived under various pretexts, seeking an audience. Some wished to verify the truth of the matter; others hoped to test Lu Jue’s intentions. All knew how favored Lu Jue had been by the Emperor. To be cast out so abruptly filled them with suspicion and curiosity.

“Young Master Lu, word is you openly defied the imperial will today—truly admirable!” After seeing off countless visitors, a mocking voice sounded behind Lu Jue.

“Who would have thought the Heir Apparent would be so interested as to visit my humble abode today?” Lu Jue turned to see the Heir Apparent surrounded by his retinue, his tone and expression unmistakably gloating.

Lu Jue’s face was pale, bearing the look of one barely recovered from illness. Indeed, his condition seemed to have worsened since his expulsion from the palace.

Observing Lu Jue’s frail state, the Heir Apparent felt all the more confident in the information he had received. Since leaving the palace, Lu Jue had presented himself as weak and unwell—an act, perhaps, to mislead those who came to probe. Noting the certainty in the Heir Apparent’s eyes, Lu Jue felt somewhat reassured.

“My lord, I am truly unwell today. I must refrain from further conversation. Let us speak again another time,” Lu Jue said, coughing as he turned to return to his room.

“Hmph! Wretched dog, how dare you brush me off so lightly! Do you still think yourself sheltered by the Emperor in the palace?” The Heir Apparent seethed with anger at Lu Jue’s apparent indifference.

“You’re nothing but a dog at the Emperor’s side, yet you truly believe yourself important. One careless word and look at the miserable state you’re in now.”

Lu Jue paused at the words but said nothing, retreating to his room. Soon, the sound of violent coughing drifted from within. The Heir Apparent scoffed, convinced Lu Jue had been frightened into illness by his words and dared not retort. Satisfied, he departed.

Back in the palace, Feng Yewu received a message from the domain of Prince Pingyi, delivered by carrier pigeon. Upon reading its contents, the cold severity in her features softened, a faint smile touching her lips.

It appeared that while her agents were covertly observing Prince Pingyi, they had stumbled upon a secret. Prince Pingyi’s consort had lately grown brazen, taking advantage of his illness to openly consort with a young lover, even bringing him into the residence. The affair was eventually discovered by Wang Changgen himself.

The incident was now common knowledge in the fiefdom, and Prince Pingyi’s reputation lay in ruins.

“Your Majesty, what could bring you such happiness?” Hanyue asked softly.

Feng Yewu lowered her gaze, folding the letter carefully and holding it to the burning candle nearby, watching as it turned to ash.

“Prince Pingyi cannot even manage his own consort—what a spectacle he’s made of himself in his own domain,” she remarked, her eyes bright with a sudden inspiration.

“Hanyue.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Hanyue’s smile quickly faded, and she bowed her head.

“I have a task for you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Find me some illustrated collections of marriageable ladies in the capital,” Feng Yewu commanded with a smile. Noticing Hanyue’s puzzled look, she offered no explanation, but continued, “Select the best among them and send them to Prince Pingyi.”

Puzzled, Hanyue nonetheless obeyed.

“And send a letter as well.”

With that, Feng Yewu took up her brush and began to write. Hanyue bowed and departed to arrange for the portraits.

When she finished, Feng Yewu regarded her letter with satisfaction, nodding as though pleased with her calligraphy—or perhaps with the message itself.

“Your Majesty.” Just as she slipped the letter into its envelope, a voice sounded from outside.

“Enter.”

Recognizing the voice, Feng Yewu knew Zheng Tianlan had arrived and bade him enter.

Zheng Tianlan stepped in and bowed to Feng Yewu.

“What is it?” she asked once he straightened.

He approached her side. “Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue’s residence has become quite a hub of activity lately. We’ve discovered a number of remnants from Penglai Pavilion among the visitors.”

At this, Feng Yewu’s eyes darkened. So her recent display with Lu Jue had indeed had an effect. Clearly, these people believed she and Lu Jue had truly fallen out, and now acted with greater impunity.

“Have you determined who these people are?” she asked.

Feng Yewu knew that to eradicate Penglai Pavilion completely, she must strike at the root. After the last incident with the musicians’ hall, Penglai Pavilion’s rapid resurgence could only be attributed to its master, Zhao Xiyan. As long as Zhao Xiyan remained, Penglai Pavilion would never be fully uprooted.

“Your Majesty, we’ve done our utmost, but they are ever on their guard. Each time they leave the Minister’s residence, their movements become elusive. We’ve not dared pursue for fear of exposing ourselves.”

Feng Yewu nodded, showing no displeasure. The people of Penglai Pavilion were indeed cunning. If they were alerted, finding another opportunity would be nigh impossible.

“There is no need to rush. If we wish to capture them all, we must not act rashly,” she instructed Zheng Tianlan. “Continue to focus on the Minister of Revenue’s residence. For now, it is the only place where these remnants feel secure enough to lower their guard.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I have already arranged for our men to keep watch in shifts, day and night. Should there be any news, I will report immediately.”