Chapter 121: The Transformation of Lu Jue

Facing the inconsolable Wang Jia, Chen Pingwu let out a soft sigh, his eyes filled with helplessness.

"Given the ups and downs of Prince Pingyi's life, this ending can be considered a decent conclusion."

He understood clearly that charges of rebellion, assassinating the monarch, and colluding with the enemy were grave matters. Had the Prince truly remained alive, his death alone would never have sufficed to resolve such crimes. Even if Feng Yewu had spared his life, he would have faced endless torture and cruelty upon returning to the capital. The Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court would have subjected him to wave after wave of interrogations, and those officials who had once been so polite to Wang Changgeng would have been desperate to distance themselves from him. In the end, the walls would have crumbled, and everyone would have pushed him down; even Wang Jia would have been deeply implicated.

Living his life in the public eye, Wang Changgeng had to consider both his own dignity and the plight of Wang Jia. Only by dying could he ensure that Feng Yewu would stop his pursuit and seal the mouths of the many court officials. However, Wang Jia could not understand all of this—at least, not yet.

Watching Chen Pingwu beside her, Wang Jia found herself leaning on him even more. Having survived life-and-death trials together, that subtle affection had become her only strength to carry on. Sensing her gaze, Chen Pingwu, out of concern, gently held her. He did not realize that in this moment, his gesture had transcended the simple, dependent familial bond she had once felt, evolving into something far deeper in her heart.

"Report!"

Suddenly, an officer ran over, looking flustered. Feng Yewu frowned and asked softly, "What happened?"

The officer bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, the... the Princess Consort has committed suicide by poison in her chambers."

Another death?

Feng Yewu subconsciously glanced at Wang Jia, fearing that this young girl, still so inexperienced in the ways of the world, would completely collapse upon hearing of the successive deaths of her kin. But this time, after hearing the officer's words, Wang Jia’s eyes merely dimmed slightly; she showed no violent emotional reaction.

"Understood. Have the Princess Consort buried alongside Prince Pingyi." Feng Yewu replied softly and waved the officer away.

The Princess Consort was not Wang Jia’s biological mother. Though they had lived together in relative harmony, it had always been out of respect for Wang Changgeng; Wang Jia had no deep emotional attachment to her. Chen Pingwu, also worried that she might be grieving, noticed a trace of confusion on her face and asked softly, "Jia'er? What is wrong? The Princess Consort was deeply devoted to the Prince and chose to follow him in death; you must not grieve too much."

Hearing his comfort, a hint of warmth touched Wang Jia’s heart. She struggled to pull a smile onto her lips, though it looked all the more sorrowful. "Don't worry, Brother Wu. It is just that Jia'er is a bit puzzled."

Their conversation was overheard by Feng Yewu and Lu Jue. Puzzled? When Wang Jia expressed confusion regarding the death of the Princess Consort, everyone’s attention shifted to her.

"Lady Wang, could it be that the Princess Consort’s feelings for your father were not as deep as they seemed?" Lu Jue asked with a frown.

Suddenly under the scrutiny of everyone, Wang Jia felt a bit flustered, but since they were clearly waiting for an answer, she sighed softly, shook her head slightly, and said, "Jia'er did not have much contact with the Princess Consort, but her feelings for my father were, I suppose, sincere." Her eyes were hesitant; after all, it had only been a passing thought she had shared with Chen Pingwu.

"Then why are you puzzled, my lady?" Lu Jue pressed, his gaze piercing, which only made Wang Jia more frantic.

"Enough! Prince Pingyi has just died. Jia'er is merely distressed and spoke a passing thought. Why must you be so aggressive, Master Lu?"

Ever since their brush with death, Chen Pingwu had shed his former gentle and mild-mannered demeanor. Seeing Wang Jia trembling with fear under Lu Jue’s questioning, he quickly stepped in front of her and spoke to Lu Jue with indignation.

Lu Jue, chided by Chen Pingwu, felt a sudden pang of regret. After all, Wang Jia had been instrumental in saving both him and Feng Yewu, and his recent behavior had been uncalled for. Lu Jue had been feeling strange lately; ever since his skirmishes with Yang Guang, his temperament had become increasingly restless. Even earlier, when fighting the Dongyi warriors, his final strike, which had sliced through several throats with clean, efficient precision, had felt entirely devoid of emotion.

Silently, Lu Jue retreated behind Feng Yewu and stood there, lost in his own thoughts.

"Don't be like this."

Watching Chen Pingwu standing before her, the sense of security provided by his tall back made the sorrow she had felt moments ago dissipate significantly. She reached out and gently tugged on the corner of Chen Pingwu’s robe, signaling that it was unnecessary, as she did not believe Lu Jue to be a bad person.

"It’s alright. It’s getting late, and you are still injured. Let us head back; you should get some rest." Sensing the tug on his robe, Chen Pingwu turned and said, his voice warm.

Wang Jia nodded slightly and, accompanied by Chen Pingwu, requested leave from Feng Yewu. Once they had stepped outside the Prince's estate, Wang Jia said softly, "Brother Wu, Master Lu is not a bad person. Jia'er was indeed just confused; perhaps I thought too much into it."

Hearing the hint of self-reproach in her voice, Chen Pingwu paused for a moment before turning to look around. He then asked in a low voice, "Jia'er, what exactly did you find wrong?"

Taken aback by the question, Wang Jia was stunned; she had thought the matter finished, but Chen Pingwu had brought it up again. She didn't overthink it, but looking down, she contemplated for a moment before saying, "Although Jia'er did not spend much time with the Princess Consort, I always felt she was not the type of person to easily commit suicide."

The Princess Consort’s daily demeanor and speech suggested she was someone who cherished her own life dearly. When the officer arrived saying she had poisoned herself, Wang Jia had initially felt a sense of loss—after all, she knew few people, and with her father gone, losing another was hard. But after the initial sadness, the more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

That was the source of her confusion.

Chen Pingwu listened to her words without adding anything. A flicker passed through his eyes before he put on a smile again and said, "Let's not think about it. I will take you to the inn to rest early."

Seeing his smile, Wang Jia felt a touch of shyness. She nodded gently and continued on her way back with him.

Poisoned?

Beneath his seemingly calm smile, Chen Pingwu pondered silently, harboring his own suspicions.

...

Inside the Prince's estate, the others were busy searching the vast grounds, which was proving to be a difficult task. Feng Yewu watched Chen Pingwu and Wang Jia depart, sighed softly, and turned to look at Lu Jue.

"What has been going on with you lately?"

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue had been together day and night for some time. Since they had confessed their feelings to each other in Yanwu Town, he could clearly sense that something was wrong with Lu Jue. Seizing the moment while no one else was around, Feng Yewu asked softly, his eyes filled with concern.