Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 123
In the carriage heading to the Western Suburb Imperial Mausoleum, there was only Hong Lian’s chattering, occasionally interrupted by a few impatient words from Song Qing…
Shen Yu’s mother’s tomb was located near the foot of the mountain,
In the desolate wilderness, there was only one lonely grave, starkly contrasting with the nearby imperial mausoleum…
It was a new grave, so there were no weeds or tombstones. Shen Yu calmly and methodically arranged the offerings he had prepared…
“Brother Song, you two wait for me in the carriage. It’ll only take a moment, I want to be alone with Mother for a while.” Shen Yu gestured to dismiss them.
Song Qing brought Hong Lian back to the carriage and gazed intently at Shen Yu kneeling in front of the grave. His slender figure almost blended into the wilderness, looking lonely.
“I still want to eat Four Happiness Meatballs, Hanging Oven Roast Duck, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall… Hey! I’m talking to you!”
Hong Lian sat on the shaft of the carriage, kicking Song Qing’s thigh.
Song Qing impatiently brushed off the dust, moving away from him a bit, and said, “Can’t you see Yu’er is paying respects? You’re being disrespectful by making so much noise!”
“It’s someone paying respects to their mother, and you’re as anxious as if you’re paying respects to your mother-in-law. What are you yelling for? Are you really stupid or pretending?”
Song Qing was stunned, disdainfully saying, “You insisted on following.”
Hong Lian rolled his eyes in anger. “He’s doing this to let us have some time alone, you blockhead!”
Seeing Song Qing’s clueless and stupid look, Hong Lian got frustrated. “Fine, if you’re not going to give, I’ll manage it myself.”
“Song Qing, give me a hundred taels,” Hong Lian demanded as he walked towards the depths.
Song Qing turned his head, asking, “What do you need it for?”
“Of course, to buy things,” Hong Lian said, counting on his fingers. “It’s been a while since I bought clothes. I followed you guys all the way to the capital through mountains and rivers. Am I not suffering enough? In the military camp, I almost got suffocated to death…”
“What kind of clothes cost a hundred taels!?” Song Qing raised his eyebrows.
“…Of course, nice clothes,” Hong Lian said somewhat nervously. “And for your commanding office, you need to add some things to live comfortably, right?”
Song Qing thought for a moment and said, “Everything is already there, nothing needs to be added.”
“You might be enough, but I live more refined than you,” Hong Lian said, touching the flower juice on his fingernails. “Do you give or not?”
“No, my monthly salary is only a few dozen taels. I absolutely can’t let him take advantage…”
“How can the great commanding officer have only a few dozen taels in monthly salary? Look at how stingy you are…” Hong Lian said discontentedly. “Or are you hiding money for some vixen?”
Song Qing was so angry he almost spat blood: “No one is more cunning than you!”
“I bet you wouldn’t dare,” Hong Lian pressed, “Really not giving?”
“No.”
Song Qing covered his chest, as if afraid that Hong Lian would trick him into giving away the money.
“Fine, fine.”
Hong Lian pointed at him with his slender fingers, angrily saying, “If you won’t give, I have my ways.”
Song Qing raised his eyebrows, puzzled. “What are you planning to do?”
Hong Lian turned away, muttered, “Returning to the old trade! If you won’t give me money to spend, naturally there will be men coming to give me silver! In this bustling capital, I can reopen the Qinhuai Pavilion. Business might be even better than in the Northern Capital!”
Song Qing was stunned for a moment, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable hearing this. Although he was used to Hong Lian’s flamboyant behavior, the thought of him returning to such a place and flirting with other men made him feel upset.
“You can’t!” Song Qing shouted in frustration. Hong Lian turned around, wiping away fake tears with his handkerchief, but whether what he just sang was true or false, Song Qing felt a bit reluctant.
Song Qing squeezed out from between his teeth, “No one is driving you away, I said no!”
“Really?”
Hong Lian turned back, smiling brightly, not a single tear in his eyes, and who knows if what he just sang was true or false.
Song Qing stared at him, reluctantly took out a hundred taels silver note, and felt that something was wrong. Once again, his kindness was being taken advantage of.
Shen Yu finished paying his respects and returned to the carriage. He noticed that the atmosphere between the two had changed, especially when Hong Lian took his hand, not treating him like a rival as before.
Four Happiness Meatballs, Hanging Oven Roast Duck, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Four Happiness Meatballs are a type of meatball dish made with a mixture of different meats and seasonings, symbolizing happiness and good fortune.
Hanging Oven Roast Duck is a roasted duck dish cooked in a hanging oven, resulting in crispy skin and tender meat.
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a luxurious Chinese soup dish made with various ingredients such as abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, chicken, and ham, cooked slowly to create a rich and flavorful broth. It’s considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine.
