Chapter Sixty-Eight: Korona Arrives

The next morning, after court, Lu Jue accompanied Feng Yewu for breakfast, and once they had finished, they went together to the imperial study. Feng Yewu sat quietly inside, reviewing memorials, while Lu Jue, as always, stood guard at the door.

Suddenly, a figure approached with light, unhurried steps. “Young Master Lu!” The figure, upon spotting Lu Jue, quickened her pace and called out loudly. It was none other than the barbarian princess, Gunaro.

Lu Jue could only smile wryly to himself. Of all the nobles in court and the entire palace, she alone dared to shout outside the imperial study.

“Princess, please lower your voice!” Eunuch Mingde rushed forward, trying to hush her.

“Oh!” Gunaro quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, though her eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Where’s His Majesty?” She reached Lu Jue, playfully lowering her voice and craning her neck to peer inside.

Before Lu Jue could reply, a voice sounded from within. “You little imp, if you didn’t know I was inside, would you come here at all?”

Feng Yewu’s calm words cut straight through Gunaro’s feigned ignorance. Hearing this, Gunaro stuck out her tongue and shrank back her head, following Lu Jue inside.

“How did Your Majesty know it was me? Could you, like our tribe’s shamans, foretell the future?” Gunaro, irrepressible as ever, sidled up to the stern-faced Feng Yewu, teasing.

Seeing Gunaro’s childlike, innocent smile and hearing her wild comparisons, Feng Yewu couldn’t help but laugh softly. She was well aware of the barbarian rituals—those old shamans, every one of them ancient as the hills—yet Gunaro compared her to such elders.

“Is that really how I appear in your eyes?” Feng Yewu, stifling her laughter, pretended to be annoyed.

“Of course not, of course not! In my eyes, Your Majesty is as beautiful as a celestial maiden! Young Master Lu’s statue stands as proof!” Gunaro hurriedly swore her innocence, glancing at Lu Jue beside her, clearly hoping he would speak up in her defense.

Sensing Gunaro’s plea for help, Lu Jue quickly turned away, pretending not to notice.

“Hmph! Such a villain—you see if I help you again!” Gunaro, frustrated by his refusal to help, stamped her feet and pouted, muttering complaints under her breath.

“Oh? If he’s a villain, why did you help him?” Feng Yewu, watching Gunaro’s petulant little expression, found her all the more endearing and pressed her further.

“I only did it to fulfill the love between Your Majesty and him,” Gunaro declared boldly, unafraid to speak aloud the very sentiment that was taboo in the solemn halls of court.

Lu Jue and Feng Yewu both felt awkward at her words, and a faint shyness colored their faces.

Gunaro, sharp-eyed, instantly caught their reaction and stared at them in disbelief, covering her mouth. “No way! You two—you two haven’t confessed your feelings yet?”

Her exclamation deepened their embarrassment; Lu Jue coughed and turned to face the door, while Feng Yewu shot Gunaro a reproachful glance, signaling her to stop.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry! It’s entirely my fault,” Gunaro, seeing their expressions, realized the truth and felt a surge of remorse.

Feng Yewu, however, was puzzled. “Why blame yourself? If not for you, Lu Jue and I might still be unable to let go.”

She smiled gently, her fondness for Gunaro stemming from the events of the recent banquet—how could she harbor any blame?

“Oh, it’s my fault. It never occurred to me that neither of you had spoken your hearts. By saying that, I must have ruined Young Master Lu’s intentions.” Gunaro looked utterly contrite, as though she’d committed a grave error. In her eyes, Feng Yewu and Lu Jue were already a couple.

Hearing her words, Lu Jue felt a pang in his heart. He silently lamented that his feelings might never be made clear.

“His Majesty and I are, after all, sovereign and servant, Princess. You misunderstand.” With ears everywhere in the palace, Lu Jue would never allow anyone to speak ill of Feng Yewu. He immediately bowed and explained.

Feng Yewu, though she had felt a sweet shyness at Gunaro’s earlier words, now felt a touch of sorrow at Lu Jue’s reply. She cared nothing for rank, not even for the empire itself—she could let go of past grievances, if only Lu Jue would nod his head.

Though she understood, his words still left her feeling lonely and disappointed.

“You’re so dull! After all you’ve done for Her Majesty, is it only out of duty?” Gunaro, dissatisfied with Lu Jue’s answer and indignant on Feng Yewu’s behalf, could not let it rest.

Lu Jue, faced with her questioning, was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing his discomfort, Feng Yewu decided not to let Gunaro press further and changed the subject. “You said you helped him just now?”

Gunaro, distracted by the question, forgot her earlier indignation and immediately straightened with pride. “Of course! For His Majesty to receive such a stunning gift, I deserve much credit!”

Her bearing suggested she herself had carved the grand statue.

“Then why not tell me all about it?” Feng Yewu was amused by her manner. She coaxed gently, glancing at Lu Jue to reassure him.

As their eyes met, Feng Yewu gave a subtle nod; Lu Jue understood her meaning.

Gunaro, oblivious to their exchange, launched into her tale with enthusiasm.

As Feng Yewu and Lu Jue listened to Gunaro’s animated recounting, Zheng Tianlan arrived at the study’s entrance. Feng Yewu’s expression grew serious; she gave Lu Jue a meaningful look, signaling him to take Gunaro away.

Lu Jue caught her intent, smiled at Gunaro, and found an excuse to lead her out.

“Your Majesty, according to our spies, last night the Prince of Beichang visited the Prince of Pingyi’s residence,” Zheng Tianlan reported once Gunaro had gone.

So, things had begun to move.

A cold gleam flashed in Feng Yewu’s eyes, and she gave a soft snort.

“Your Majesty, the Prince of Pingyi is already in decline. The Prince of Beichang’s visit may not signify anything of importance,” Zheng Tianlan ventured, though he hesitated.

“In decline? The Prince of Pingyi’s power will flourish as long as I am gone.” Feng Yewu, recalling past events, dared not take the meeting between the princes lightly.

Just then, Lu Jue returned, having seen Gunaro off, and overheard Feng Yewu’s words.

“What does Your Majesty intend to do?” Lu Jue asked from the doorway, already sensing the gravity of the situation.