Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 138

Chapter 138 – Awakening

After bathing and changing clothes, Hong Lian pushed open the door and saw Song Qing sitting dazedly in the rain pavilion, looking as though he’d lost his soul. Hong Lian tiptoed up behind him and noticed a red bean resting in his palm.

“A lovesickness bean?”

Hong Lian curled his lips. He knew what this symbolized, but he didn’t know who had given it to Song Qing. Seeing him in such a daze, he must be missing some little vixen…

“Oh, what’s that? Let me see…” Hong Lian suddenly reached out. Song Qing, caught off guard, had the bean snatched away and angrily stood up.

“What are you doing?! Give it back to me!”

“Why does Lord Song have such a girly thing?” Hong Lian hid his hand behind his back and said, “Tell me first, who gave you this token of affection?”

Song Qing glared at him. He had found the red bean in the prince’s manor and originally intended to return it to Shen Yu. However, after Shen Yu was heartbroken, Song Qing decided not to return it and kept it as a memento.

Song Qing did have some feelings for Shen Yu, but knowing there was no hope, he had never acted on them.

“It’s none of your business!”

Song Qing didn’t want to reveal the bean’s origin, fearing that if anyone found out, it would only bring unnecessary trouble for both of them.

“Oh~ I see, it’s from that lover in the palace, isn’t it?” Hong Lian said mischievously. “I knew it, you two have been flirting all day long, you must have hooked up early on. Luckily, I’m smart and have been keeping an eye on you.”

Song Qing snorted and said, “Aren’t you in the business of selling your body? Why do you care what your clients do?”

“I’m afraid of losing business to others.” Hong Lian said shamelessly. “Besides, I’m watching out for you on behalf of the prince.”

Song Qing, growing impatient, said, “Mind your own business and give me back the bean!”

“Catch it then!”

Hong Lian tossed the bean as far as he could. The bean was small, and Song Qing couldn’t even see where it went.

“What are you doing?!”

Song Qing anxiously spun in circles, but the courtyard was large, with rockeries, plants, and even a pond—where could he find it?

“…I might have thrown it too hard; it seems to have fallen under that crabapple tree. Go look for it there.”

Song Qing, in a panic, began searching under the crabapple tree, parting the weeds.

Hong Lian watched him search frantically, grinning wickedly. He opened his hand to reveal the red bean—it had a name inscribed on it: “Jun Xuanxiao.” Then, without hesitation, he threw it into the flowerbed.

After searching for a long time, Song Qing grew suspicious.

“Did you hide it somewhere?”

Hong Lian feigned innocence: “I really threw it to you. I didn’t expect to have such great strength; it just went too far…”

Song Qing stared at him intently. This guy was too crafty—Song Qing didn’t believe a single word he said.

Feeling uneasy under the gaze, Hong Lian, with a guilty conscience, said, “It’s just a bean. I’ll buy you a pound later! No, ten pounds, so you can roast and play with them at home.”

Song Qing was exasperated by Hong Lian’s shamelessness but had no choice but to sit dejectedly on the stone steps.

Seeing that Song Qing wasn’t even angry anymore, Hong Lian scooted over and sat next to him.

“How about… another pound of sunflower seeds?”

Song Qing didn’t want to banter with him and muttered, covering his forehead, “I just got word… Yu’er has been poisoned and is in critical condition.”

Hong Lian was taken aback. He was much more perceptive than Song Qing, and remembering how Shen Yu had sought them out for a drink, he realized Shen Yu must have foreseen something and deliberately set things up between him and Song Qing.

“I’ll go find out more,” Hong Lian said, patting his chest confidently.

Song Qing looked at him sideways, unsure whether Hong Lian was genuinely concerned or had another scheme in mind.

“But don’t forget the favor I’m doing for you.” Hong Lian’s eyes glowed mischievously. “If I run out of money one day, I’ll come to you.”

Hong Lian’s carriage was at the palace gate when it coincidentally crossed paths with Bian Shisi on his way in.

Bian Shisi lifted the curtain and saw Hong Lian, dressed flamboyantly and peeking out of the carriage, with a look of disdain on his face.

Hong Lian called out first, raising his voice: “Bian Shiw!”

Bian Shisi’s brow twitched. He really didn’t want to deal with this shameless fox. Not only had he dared to call him by name, but he had also gotten it wrong—probably on purpose.

“Ignore him! Move along.”

Bian Shisi urged the driver to go faster, but Hong Lian had already jumped off and hopped into his carriage without invitation.

“Get out! Don’t stink up my carriage!”

Bian Shisi couldn’t keep his cool whenever Hong Lian was around.

“My carriage isn’t allowed in the palace, so give me a lift—it’s on the way.” Hong Lian squeezed in beside Bian Shisi and got straight to the point. “Tell me, how is Shen Yu?”

Bian Shisi sniffed the air, frowning. “He took a lethal poison, tried to commit suicide. He’s barely alive…”

If it weren’t for Shen Yu’s body still being warm, Bian Shisi would have suspected he was already dead.

“Did you give him the poison?!” Hong Lian glared at him. “You’re the only one in the palace with access to that kind of poison.”

Bian Shisi didn’t respond.

“I knew it! You’re a quack who plays with people’s lives.”

“Shut up!”

The carriage shook violently as the two began to bicker and tussle. Soon, both were red-faced and panting like two roosters in a fight.

“You call yourself a man? Fighting by scratching my face?” Bian Shisi yelled angrily.

“You pulled out a lock of my hair—what do you say to that?”

Neither had much strength left, so they fought to a draw, each coming out worse for wear. Bian Shisi had a scratch on his face, and he was holding a tuft of Hong Lian’s black hair. The scuffle finally ended when they reached the Prince Zhenbei’s sleeping quarters.

Jun Xuanxiao, seeing Bian Shisi, was overjoyed and exclaimed, “Yu’er has woken up! He’s awake! Shisi, go see him quickly!”

—

**Author’s Note:**

It’s Sunday today, and it seems like the recommendation list has been pushed up by you guys. There will be extra chapters tomorrow~