Chapter Fifty-Eight: Discord

Only now did Wei Nanxi finally voice her true concern.

After a brief silence, Feng Yewu responded with a faint, composed smile.
“If his feelings were genuine, how could he be so calculating?”

Simple as her words were, they rang with undeniable truth.

Outside the imperial study, Lu Jue had just arrived and happened to overhear the conversation among the three. The rumors had reached his ears as well; recently, Feng Yewu had been preoccupied with criminal cases, and the two of them had barely spoken. Though Lu Jue couldn’t fathom why she had grown so absorbed in such cases, he had always quietly supported whatever she chose to do.

To say that he had no feelings on the matter would be false. Yet now, this fleeting exchange had completely eased his worries.

Without entering, Lu Jue left quietly with a gentle smile.

Yes, if my heart is true, then I would not be so petty.

As he walked, Lu Jue couldn’t help but sigh, a wry smile tugging at his lips. When had he become so cautious?

By the time everything had concluded in the study, evening had fallen. Upon returning to her chambers, Feng Yewu did not find Lu Jue there.

Usually, at this hour, Lu Jue would be standing at the entrance, waiting for her. Feng Yewu would often ask, “Why don’t you come with me?”
Lu Jue always replied with a gentle smile tinged with sorrow in his eyes, “I am but a servant with past offenses. When no one at court supported Your Majesty, I remained to protect you. Now, with loyal ministers and valiant generals, I need only wait by your side when you are alone.”

But tonight, after Feng Yewu had entered her chambers and Han Yue had tidied up her attire, there was still no sign of Lu Jue.

A hollow feeling crept into her heart.

“Where is Lu Jue?”

Even after her bath, Feng Yewu could not suppress her curiosity and finally asked Han Yue.

“Your Majesty, Young Master Lu said he was feeling unwell and retired early to rest.”

Hearing this, Feng Yewu felt a pang of disappointment, but said nothing more. Before sleeping, she merely instructed Han Yue to check on him.

These days, the affairs of state and the countless cases from the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court had left Feng Yewu utterly exhausted. She fell asleep almost as soon as she lay down.

In the days that followed, Lu Jue did not appear.

Meanwhile, under Feng Yewu’s careful guidance, Sun Changxi and Wei Nanxi gradually became familiar with the workings and divisions of the two departments.

One afternoon, having finished her reviews early, Feng Yewu felt a rare moment of ease. Suddenly, she realized that she had not seen Lu Jue for several days.

“Han Yue?”

She called Han Yue over and asked about Lu Jue.

“A few days ago, Lu Jue said he was unwell. Has he recovered now?”

Han Yue, upon hearing this, grew flustered and didn’t know how to respond.

Seeing Han Yue’s uneasy expression, Feng Yewu immediately sensed something was amiss and rebuked her sternly, “Have you stopped listening to my words?”

At this, Han Yue dropped to her knees, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.
“Your servant dares not deceive Your Majesty, but… but Young Master Lu forbade me from telling you.”

Feng Yewu’s brows knitted in concern, but she did not blame Han Yue further. Instead, her mind swirled with confusion—what exactly was Lu Jue doing?

“Get up,” Feng Yewu said, rising and heading straight for Lu Jue’s quarters.

Before long, she reached his door. Before she could enter, the sound of metal striking wood rang out from the courtyard, deepening her confusion.

She pushed open the door and saw Lu Jue, drenched in sweat, chopping away at a block of wood.

Wood shavings were strewn all about; clearly, he had been at this for days.

Seeing her enter, Lu Jue scrambled to tidy up, hurriedly stood, and bowed with a smile.
“Your Ma… Your Majesty, what brings you here?”

There was a hint of evasion in his tone.

Feng Yewu surveyed the mess and Lu Jue’s appearance, her anger swelling.

Their family’s vengeance remained unfulfilled, the culprit still at large. She had set aside affairs of state, had hardly slept or eaten, all to help him uncover the truth. Yet Lu Jue had spent these days sequestered away, absorbed in such trifles.

In that instant, her gaze turned frigid, her heart heavy with regret for having misjudged him.

“You’ve spent these days… occupied with this?”
She pointed coldly to the ruined scraps of wood piled nearby.

Sensing her displeasure, Lu Jue nodded sheepishly, not knowing what else to do.

To his surprise, Feng Yewu merely let out a cold laugh.
“How refined, Young Master Lu. You’ve neglected to appear these days just for these meaningless things?”

Only then did Lu Jue realize she had misunderstood. Seeing the coldness in her eyes pained him, but he could not explain—not yet. After a struggle, he chose to remain silent.

Feng Yewu, seeing his response, could only assume he was still troubled by those recent rumors, that a rift had formed between them.

Her disappointment deepened.

She said nothing more, only instructing Lu Jue to come to her that evening, then turned and left.

After she was gone, Lu Jue quietly retrieved the object he had painstakingly carved.

It was a birthday gift for Feng Yewu.

Her birthday was only a few days away. Ever since overhearing the conversation between Feng Yewu and Wei Nanxi outside the imperial study, Lu Jue had wanted to surprise her.

He had not expected Feng Yewu to catch him at work, and so, unable to offer any explanation, he had kept silent.

At dusk, as a gentle breeze drifted by, Feng Yewu waited in her chambers for a long while, but Lu Jue did not appear.

She recalled his demeanor that afternoon and grew even more vexed.

Since they had met, she had always believed Lu Jue to be gentle and magnanimous; she never imagined he could be so petty.

As she brooded, Han Yue’s voice came from outside:
“Your Majesty, Young Master Lu is here.”

“Let him in.”

Feng Yewu rose and moved to stand by the window, her back to the door.

“Your Majesty, your servant has come,” Lu Jue announced, hurrying in and bowing deeply.

He had been so engrossed in his carving that he had nearly lost track of time; only when the moon hung over the willow branches did he remember.

“How busy you are, Young Master Lu—making me wait so long,” Feng Yewu said coldly, her eyes filled with resentment.

Lu Jue, knowing he was at fault, immediately dropped to his knees in apology.
“I was preoccupied and lost track of time. I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Lost track of time?

Feng Yewu’s anger flared at the memory of his workshop that afternoon.

“To think you’ve become so obsessed with trifles!”
She spun around, her glare icy with disappointment.

“Your Majesty…” Lu Jue knew she misunderstood, and tried anxiously to explain, but if he revealed the truth, all his careful preparations would be in vain. He forced himself to remain silent.

“What, am I wronging you?”
Feng Yewu, seeing his aggrieved expression, let out a bitter laugh.