Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 100
Chapter 100 – Embrace
Prince Zhenbei led his troops southward. Although the Emperor Ye had made preparations and dispatched troops and generals early on, with one side attacking and the other defending, and few city walls and passes for defense, coupled with the ferocious nature of the Zhenbei Army, they swiftly reached the north bank of the Yellow River by mid-April, encamping on the spot. After a brief rest, they prepared to crush the Jing Army and enter the heartland of the Central Plains.
Emperor Ye was extremely anxious. He had long known that the Zhenbei Army was honed to be fierce and adept in battle in the harsh cold, but he never expected his own army to be so vulnerable.
The eunuchs and palace maids in the palace served nervously, fearing to accidentally provoke the lord. A few days ago, a young eunuch accidentally broke a teacup and was directly beheaded by Emperor Ye.
Amidst the palace’s atmosphere of tension and fear, there was one in the Qilin Pavilion who acted unconventionally, showing neither warmth nor coldness towards Emperor Ye. Yet, Emperor Ye accompanied him daily, trying every means to make him smile.
When Empress Jiang saw Emperor Ye personally feeding Shen Yu medicine in the Qilin Pavilion, her face darkened instantly. Perhaps what Shen Ruofei said was true. Shen Yu had refused with a cold face, yet Emperor Ye, disregarding his imperial dignity, tirelessly sought to please him!
If not for being enchanted by Shen Yu, how else could this be explained?! Emperor Ye had never been so considerate to his concubines, let alone her, the Empress!
“Your Majesty.”
Empress Jiang entered the Qilin Pavilion with a respectful salute, but her eyes didn’t land on Xiao Xieye. Instead, they focused on Shen Yu’s face. It was indeed as Shen Ruofei described, a man with features even more delicate than a woman’s! Though lacking the demonic charm she imagined, dressed in white, he exuded an aura of scholarly elegance. But Empress Jiang had already concluded that he was a reincarnation of a demon. Since he was a monster, he could surely bewitch men in countless ways…
“Why have you come?” Xiao Xieye moved several books, including “Zizhi Tongjian,” which Shen Yu had finished reading. Fortunately, the Qilin Pavilion had tens of thousands of books in its collection; otherwise, it wouldn’t withstand Shen Yu’s browsing.
“I haven’t seen Your Majesty visit the Huajiao Chamber for a long time, so I came to see if there’s anything pressing on Your Majesty’s mind. I heard that Prince Zhenbei has rebelled and his army is heading south, but Your Majesty seems quite leisurely,” Empress Jiang said with a hint of jealousy in her tone.
Xiao Xieye detected the jealousy in her tone and said angrily, “I’ve just finished court, discussing strategies with several generals. Whose slander did you listen to, making you think I’m idle?”
Reprimanded, Empress Jiang felt wronged, tears welling up. She and Emperor Ye had always been deeply affectionate and respectful to each other, and Emperor Ye had never spoken to her in such a tone before.
“Is this the Shen Yu you brought back to the palace, Your Majesty?” Empress Jiang looked at Shen Yu resentfully.
Shen Yu stood up and saluted. He could sense Empress Jiang’s inexplicable hostility towards him. She was dressed in magnificent attire, indicating her status as the Empress. Although he had never seen her before, he could feel her animosity.
Empress Jiang scrutinized Shen Yu freely. There was a warmer on his desk, truly a charming habit. On this sunny day in April, why would a man always carry a hand warmer and wear a fur-lined cloak?
Either he was a reincarnation of a demon, or he was just like those men from the male brothels who needed the yang energy of men to survive!
“Has Master Shen Yu achieved any academic success?” Empress Jiang asked.
Shen Yu shook his head. He had only been studying and learning to read for less than half a year, let alone participating in the imperial examinations.
“Then, whose disciple is he among the Grand Secretaries?” Empress Jiang asked again.
Shen Yu hesitated for a moment before shaking his head again.
Empress Jiang chuckled and said, “Since you’re not a scholar, why does Master Shen Yu live in the Qilin Pavilion and pretend to read books? Master Shen Yu should learn more about makeup and how to please men, shouldn’t he?”
“Your Majesty!”
Xiao Xieye coldly interrupted her from continuing to insult Shen Yu.
“Your Majesty, forgive me for my indiscretion,” Empress Jiang pursed her lips and then said, “But I have no ill intentions. It’s just that with so many concubines and women in the palace, it’s inconvenient to have a man around. Since Your Majesty favors Master Shen Yu, why not arrange a residence for him outside the palace to avoid idle gossip in the harem?”
As long as this demon was driven out of the palace, Emperor Ye wouldn’t be bothered by him every day. Over time, Emperor Ye would naturally forget about him.
Xiao Xieye saw through Empress Jiang’s thoughts and asked with narrowed eyes, “Who gave you these ideas?”
Empress Jiang was a little flustered, “I speak from the bottom of my heart, and I haven’t…”
“You didn’t use to be so scheming. I won’t blame you this time; just consider yourself misled by evil people,” Emperor Ye said coldly. “If you have time to worry about me, why not take care of Dai Rou? How has she been lately?”
Empress Jiang felt annoyed at the thought of that madwoman. She couldn’t even take care of her own child, let alone have time to manage Dai Rou. She was probably still going mad in her own palace.
Empress Jiang initially visited her twice, but later, seeing her disheveled appearance and occasional fits of madness, she didn’t want to see her anymore.
Uh… the imperial physician said her emotions had stabilized somewhat, and she had fewer episodes of palpitations, but whether she would fully recover was uncertain… Your Majesty, since Prince Zhenbei treated the princess like this, why don’t you expose his crimes to the public and let the world condemn him?
Xiao Xieye glanced at Shen Yu and realized he wasn’t sensitive, so he said, “Jun Xuanxiao isn’t afraid of public criticism. Besides, such scandal would tarnish the royal dignity, and we can’t allow any rumors to spread among the palace people!”
“Oh… Your Majesty, if you have time, go and see Yu’er. He’s been ill for a month and hasn’t improved. He coughs up blood at night, and I’m really worried…”
Empress Jiang wiped away her tears, her motherly love sincere and profound…
“Yu’er? He’s sick? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Xiao Xieye asked anxiously…
Your Majesty never asked about me and our son… Empress Jiang said with a hint of resentment…
Xiao Xieye felt a little guilty. These days, he had been focused on Shen Yu and the war, neglecting the Empress…
“What kind of illness has Yu’er had for a month?”
“At first, I thought it was just a cold, but it hasn’t improved, and the physicians are helpless.”
Xiao Xieye pondered for a moment and said, “I understand. I’ll go see him tomorrow.”
Even his most beloved son fell seriously ill, and he just said, “I’ll go see him tomorrow.” Empress Jiang was certain that Emperor Ye was enchanted by the demon…
Leaving the Qilin Pavilion, Empress Jiang lingered to listen to Emperor Ye’s tender words to that demon…
“Don’t take the Empress’s words to heart,” Shen Yu gently shook his head. If he were to dwell on insults and seek life or death, he would have hanged himself long ago when people in the Shen family called him a mute monster.
Xiao Xieye breathed a sigh of relief, put his arm around Shen Yu, and said, “Yu’er, you’re truly understanding. It’s my fortune to have you.”
Shen Yu frowned and avoided Xiao Xieye’s affection. Except for Prince Zhenbei, he didn’t want to have any contact with any other man. Xiao Xieye’s eager attempts every time made him feel nauseous.
He wasn’t understanding; he just didn’t love Emperor Ye. Without love, he naturally wouldn’t care…
Shen Yu didn’t hate Emperor Ye, but he couldn’t accept him either…
