Chapter Fifty-Nine: Helplessness

Hearing Feng Yewu's words, Lu Jue immediately fell to his knees, bowing his head in acknowledgment of his fault. Yet within his heart, a dull ache lingered, and he still could not bring himself to reveal the truth.

“I dare not,” he said softly.

Seeing Lu Jue kneeling there, his figure faintly trembling with timidity, Feng Yewu’s anger faded, replaced by a flicker of something unspoken in her gaze. She felt the distance growing between them.

Feng Yewu watched Lu Jue in silence for a long while before letting out a deep sigh, her heart heavy with resignation.

“So be it. Since you are so fond of woodworking, I will grant you your wish.”

The tone of her voice left Lu Jue momentarily dazed; he looked up at her in astonishment.

“There is a vacancy in the palace carpentry workshop. You may go there.”

With those words, Feng Yewu turned away without another glance and disappeared into the inner chambers.

Lu Jue slumped to the ground, his eyes lifeless, his heart a tangle of unspeakable emotions. Only after some time did he rise, determination settling in his chest. He bowed deeply toward the bedchamber before departing.

“Han Yue, has he gone yet?”

Though Feng Yewu had retreated to her rooms, she did not sleep. Through the billowing gauze curtains, she watched Lu Jue, his figure still visible in the distance.

She waited until he finally stood, bowing deeply in her direction, and in that moment, the last sliver of hope in her heart was extinguished.

How she wished Lu Jue would rise and voice his dissatisfaction, rail against her, refuse to be belittled so. Yet he accepted it all in silence—was he truly beyond saving now?

Then all her past investigations into the Northern Border General—what had they been for?

After Lu Jue had been gone for quite some time, Feng Yewu, still unwilling to give up, asked Han Yue at the door, “Has he left?”

“Your Majesty, Master Lu left long ago,” came the reply.

He was gone.

Feng Yewu stood in disappointment, gazing out at the bright full moon beyond the window. Bathed in its cold light, she felt as if she had returned to a former life.

The next day, Lu Jue packed his belongings, gathered the unfinished gift he had prepared, and made his way to the carpentry workshop.

Since he was acting on Feng Yewu’s orders, the workshop overseer greeted Lu Jue with a broad smile as soon as he arrived. The overseer took Lu Jue’s things and led him to a quiet courtyard nearby.

“This entire courtyard is mine?” Lu Jue asked in surprise, taking in the spacious grounds, the study, and the bedroom beside it.

“Indeed it is! All of this was arranged at Miss Han Yue’s request,” the overseer replied obsequiously.

“Miss Han Yue is most thoughtful,” Lu Jue said, surveying his surroundings. Every tool a craftsman might desire was present in this courtyard.

With Feng Yewu’s birthday approaching, Lu Jue was anxious to finish his work. Now, with such professional facilities, he was certain he could complete it in time.

“Master Lu, do you require anything else? Or perhaps some extra hands?” the overseer asked, having noticed the many large, oddly shaped items Lu Jue had brought.

“No need,” Lu Jue replied. “I have already displeased Her Majesty and stand accused—no need to trouble others on my behalf.”

He recalled Feng Yewu’s disappointed gaze from the previous night, knowing he had wounded her deeply.

Once the overseer had departed, Lu Jue set to work alone.

In the days that followed, he threw himself into his craft, while Feng Yewu was occupied with affairs of state. The two did not see each other.

As Feng Yewu’s birthday drew near, the palace was festooned with lanterns and decorations, a scene of unparalleled festivity. Envoys from various clans and vassal princes arrived from distant lands, each seeking to pay their respects.

Among the barbarian delegation, their representative was once again that willful and unruly princess, Gunaro.

Because the barbarians dwelled far from the capital and travel was difficult, many foreign guests had arrived early. As a royal of her people, Gunaro would never stay in an ordinary inn; elsewhere in the palace, Wu Muxue had made arrangements for all foreign dignitaries.

One day, with nothing better to do, Gunaro slipped away while her attendants were distracted and began wandering the palace grounds. She dared not trespass into forbidden areas, so she wandered the periphery, losing herself in the unfamiliar corridors.

Unwittingly, she found herself at the carpentry workshop. Lost, she decided to find someone to ask for directions and began to explore the place.

It was midday, and the workshop was empty. Gunaro frowned in displeasure.

“Why isn’t there a single person here?”

Suddenly, the faint sound of tinkering came from nearby. Her eyes lit up, and she ran toward the noise.

In one of the courtyards, Lu Jue was hard at work, sweat streaming down his brow as he focused intently on the piece in his hands.

“Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn’t Master Lu,” Gunaro called out with a smirk.

She cleared her throat, clasped her hands behind her back, and strode in with her head held high.

Hearing someone approach, Lu Jue finally looked up and recognized the barbarian princess.

“What brings you here?” he asked, momentarily taken aback but quickly returning to his work.

Gunaro was irritated that Lu Jue wouldn’t even look at her—she was royalty, after all. How could he, of all people, treat her so dismissively?

“How dare you! I am a princess of my people. Even if we are not of the same country, you cannot be so insolent!” she declared.

Lu Jue merely responded with a noncommittal grunt, showing no concern for her words.

“You—!” Gunaro, incensed by his indifference, was about to lose her temper when she noticed he wore the robe of a palace carpenter. Her mood shifted, and she approached him with a teasing air.

“Look at you. If you had come with me before, would you have ended up as a lowly craftsman?”

She circled him, her lips curled in a triumphant smile as she surveyed the room. In truth, she meant no harm—she was simply curious as to why Lu Jue’s status had changed so drastically since arriving at the palace. She had left before to allow true lovers to find happiness, but things had clearly not unfolded as she had hoped.

Yet her pride would not let her ask outright, so she tried to provoke him instead.

Lu Jue’s hands paused at her words, and in that unguarded moment, he remembered the look of disappointment in Feng Yewu’s eyes. He pushed himself to work even faster.

“Hey! I’m talking to you!” Gunaro, now truly annoyed, kicked his tools aside.

“What are you doing?” Lu Jue snapped, leaping to his feet, his anger plain as he glared at her.

“Oh? Do you mean to defy your betters?” Gunaro retorted, pleased at finally getting a reaction. She met his gaze with a look of smug satisfaction, thrusting out her chest with pride.