Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 130
Chapter 130 – The Assassin
Prince Zhenbei never visited the side palace again. There were rumors in the palace that the Emperor had taken a new concubine, and thus, the one in the side palace had fallen out of favor.
On Duanwu Festival, the palace maids were busy hanging calamus and wormwood, scattering realgar to ward off insects, as if they had forgotten the side palace, leaving it neglected. Such behavior, where people in the palace fawn over those in power and neglect the fallen, was common.
Shen Yu was drenched in cold sweat, his pupils slowly recovering focus. His skin still showed an unhealthy flush, and his clothes were soaked with sweat.
Bian Shisi muttered while removing the silver needles from Shen Yu’s body, “The intervals between episodes are indeed getting shorter. It’s only been a month, and the poison has flared up again, even earlier than I expected…”
Shen Yu’s body was covered in tiny needle marks, with some spots oozing blood. Bian Shisi could only use acupuncture to alleviate the pain caused by the poison but couldn’t prevent its frequent recurrence.
Shen Yu weakly sat up, taking a long time to recover from the pain and exhaustion caused by the poison.
After packing up the silver needles, Bian Shisi asked, “This is the fourth time, and there are three more left. It seems to be getting worse. If you don’t want to die…”
Shen Yu waved his hand, interrupting him.
“Stubborn as a mule,” Bian Shisi couldn’t help but say. “In two or three months, I’ll have to prepare your funeral. Where do you want to be buried?”
Shen Yu smiled and signed, “Cremating me would be more convenient. If Physician Bian has the chance to travel south, please take my ashes and scatter them at Yunmengze, or bury them wherever you see fit. Just don’t leave me in the palace, or I won’t rest in peace.”
“I don’t have that kind of free time,” Bian Shisi paused, then reluctantly nodded in agreement.
“Could you help me deliver a letter to the Emperor?” Shen Yu took out a letter from his sleeve. It was crumpled from being held for so long.
As Bian Shisi left the side palace, he scratched his head, feeling that Shen Yu seemed to be making his final arrangements. He resisted the urge to open the letter and delivered it to Prince Zhenbei in the Jinluan Hall.
Jun Xuanxiao held the letter, raising it to the candle flame but stopped just an inch away. He snorted coldly and quickly opened it.
“The Imperial Tombs in the Western Suburbs…”
Shen Yu’s letter invited him to visit a new grave in the western suburbs. Jun Xuanxiao was filled with doubt. He had left Shen Yu in the side palace for so long, and now Shen Yu was reaching out to make peace?
Jun Xuanxiao thought it unlikely. With Shen Yu’s gentle but resilient nature, he would probably hold a grudge for a lifetime. How could he easily compromise?
“The handwriting is indeed his…”
Jun Xuanxiao pondered for a long time, even doubting if the letter was truly from Shen Yu. In the end, he ordered his black horse to be brought and galloped out of the palace towards the western suburbs.
If Shen Yu had indeed come around, he couldn’t miss this opportunity. Even if there was something suspicious, he had to investigate.
The black horse galloped swiftly through the streets of the capital, reaching the western suburbs in just an hour.
When Jun Xuanxiao saw the lone grave, his eyes sharpened.
Shen Yu’s mother’s grave had been dug up, the yellow earth exposed, and even the coffin was missing.
“Yu’er…”
Jun Xuanxiao murmured anxiously. He dismounted and walked to the grave, looking around, but there was no sign of Shen Yu. He grew worried that someone might have taken Shen Yu away.
Several arrows shot out from the shadows, aiming at Jun Xuanxiao’s vital points. He quickly rolled to avoid them.
The archers, having missed, revealed their positions. Jun Xuanxiao grabbed an arrow from the ground and threw it like a dart, eliciting two groans from the bushes.
Then, about twenty figures emerged from their ambush, surrounding Jun Xuanxiao.
“Whose orders are you following?” Jun Xuanxiao stood in the center, unarmed but shouting sternly. These assailants were highly trained and skilled.
“No delay, finish this quickly!” The masked leader ordered, and all the assassins charged at Jun Xuanxiao with deadly intent, attacking from all angles.
Jun Xuanxiao kicked the nearest assassin, his powerful strike breaking the assassin’s ribs and collapsing his chest. Seizing the opportunity, Jun Xuanxiao broke out of the encirclement to avoid being attacked from all sides.
“Black Feather(Hei Yu) Camp…” Jun Xuanxiao sneered. “Xiao Xiye is still only good at these underhanded tricks. I trained the Black Feather Camp myself, and you think you can kill me with these mere underlings?”
“Scoundrel! You have no escape today!”
Jun Xuanxiao’s eyes locked onto the leader. “Where is Shen Yu?”
The leader laughed, “If you want to see him, surrender now. Otherwise, we wouldn’t mind tasting your favorite concubine.”
Jun Xuanxiao’s eyes turned cold, and he suddenly counterattacked, charging at the leader.
“Since you have a foul mouth and seek death, I’ll send you on your way first!” Jun Xuanxiao moved swiftly, his fist like thunder, quickly closing the distance to the leader.
“Capture him! Whoever cuts off this scoundrel’s head will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver from the Emperor!” The assassins, though slightly panicked, quickly adjusted their formation. They were death warriors, ready to die.
Jun Xuanxiao fought fiercely, his blows either fatal or bone-crushing. The leader, seeing the unfavorable situation, shouted, “Scoundrel! If you stayed in the capital, we wouldn’t have a chance to kill you! Thank your concubine!”
Jun Xuanxiao knew the leader’s words were deceitful, but his body still hesitated for a moment. An opportune blade pierced his abdomen…
