Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 111
Chapter 111 – Lantern Talk
Chapter 111 – Lantern Talk
Xiao Xiye’s gaze shifted, seemingly in inner turmoil.
Shen Ruofei felt a surge of joy, knowing that at this moment of Emperor Ye’s guilt towards the prince, with a little embellishment, she could surely make Emperor Ye believe in the tales of demons…
“Your Majesty, my mother passed away under circumstances similar to the Third Prince’s symptoms back then, on the day Shen Yu was born,” Shen Ruofei cautiously said. “I don’t understand these things… Perhaps Your Majesty should inquire with the Qintian Observatory?”
Shen Ruofei’s words reminded Xiao Xiye, who immediately ordered for the Chief of the Qintian Observatory to be summoned…
“I ask you, is it true that there’s been trouble caused by demonic stars lately? Not a single false word allowed!”
The Chief, clad in a robe adorned with the eight trigrams, knelt down to reply.
“I reported to Your Majesty half a month ago that indeed, the northern demonic stars are surging, nearing the Celestial Star, indicating that the demonic stars have entered the capital. However, Your Majesty did not believe and severely reprimanded me. Now, the Third Prince’s demise is sufficient proof that disaster has begun to unfold.”
Xiao Xiye sat on the dragon throne, silent for a long time, lost in deep thought, his hand supporting his forehead…
“In that case, how should we avoid this disaster?”
“The best and quickest way is naturally to locate and kill the demonic stars! The calamity will naturally dissipate. However…” The Chief glanced at Emperor Ye’s increasingly cold expression and continued, “If Your Majesty is unwilling, you can try to suppress it with external means.”
Xiao Xiye urgently asked, “How to suppress it?”
“For example, building a Buddhist pagoda in the palace, having eminent monks consecrate the Buddha statue. Perhaps it could suppress and dispel the demonic aura of the stars…”
“Then proceed with this plan!” Xiao Xiye ordered without hesitation. “Allocate a hundred thousand taels of silver immediately. I want to see a new Buddhist pagoda in the palace within half a month. If it’s not done, heads will roll!”
The Chief was frightened into cold sweat but could only comply.
Shen Ruofei listened anxiously and asked, “Your Majesty… Actually, the first method may not be out of the question. After all, this concerns the fate of the Great Jing Dynasty…”
“Shut up!”
Xiao Xiye coldly snapped, not even bothering to reprimand Shen Ruofei further, hurrying back to the Qilin Pavilion.
Shen Ruofei bit her lip in frustration, angrily stomping her foot, exchanging glances with the Chief…
After plotting for so long, taking risks by adding hot medicines to the Third Prince’s treatment to prolong his illness, making him sicker until he passed away, bribing the Qintian Observatory to spread rumors, successfully shifting blame onto Shen Yu, and yet Emperor Ye showed mercy and didn’t order the bastard’s execution!
How could Shen Ruofei swallow this humiliation?
“Why didn’t you advise His Majesty just now to slay the demon to end it all?” Shen Ruofei questioned…
The Chief wiped the sweat from his brow and glared at Shen Ruofei.
“Don’t you see how His Majesty is protecting that person? If I had advised to kill him, before his head would roll, mine would be off first! Hmph!”
Shen Ruofei, feeling suffocated with anger, muttered, “Coward! You took thirty thousand taels of silver from me, yet you didn’t dare say a word?!”
The two parted ways in discord…
When Xiao Xiye returned to the Qilin Pavilion, his steps were heavy. Shen Yu was sitting with a lamp, not sleeping, quietly flipping through the books in his hand. The candlelight flickered, illuminating Shen Yu’s ink-black hair like a waterfall, and his originally flawless skin seemed almost translucent under the lamplight, giving Xiao Xiye the feeling that Shen Yu was about to drift away…
His beauty was otherworldly, just like the first time Xiao Xiye saw him on a snowy night…
“Yu’er,” Xiao Xiye called softly…
Shen Yu put down the book and smiled gently.
“Is the Empress Mother alright?” Xiao Xiye felt guilty; he had been busy with other matters and had only instructed the palace maids to take Empress Jiang back and called for the royal physician, without having time to visit her.
“Yu’er, are you genuinely worried about the Empress Mother?” Xiao Xiye asked earnestly…
Shen Yu made no attempt to conceal his feelings, gesturing with his hands, “When my mother sent me to the royal palace in a bridal sedan, she cried just as bitterly.”
Xiao Xiye’s expression turned somewhat strange, and he was stunned for a moment…
“She will be fine. I have summoned the royal physician to attend to her.”
Shen Yu nodded, then gestured to ask, “How does Your Majesty intend to deal with me?”
Xiao Xiye’s guilt deepened. He had not revealed his thoughts, but Shen Yu was no longer the ignorant Shen Yu. With his keen intelligence, he had learned to read between the lines and even see through people’s thoughts…
“Yu’er, don’t think too much,” Xiao Xiye said solemnly. “I will not believe those rumors, nor will I harm you. Have you forgotten? I promised to protect you thoroughly…”
Shen Yu interrupted him with a gesture, “Your Majesty, with a broad mind, has your own reasons. In fact, Shen Yu has a better solution.”
“What is it?” Xiao Xiye’s hopes were ignited; Shen Yu always managed to surprise him, and perhaps he had a solution that could satisfy everyone.
“Let me leave the palace. The rumors in the capital will naturally be dispelled on their own, and Your Majesty will no longer have to worry…”
