Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 152
Inside the room, only Chu Ling and Shen Yu remained; without Jun Xuanxiao by his side, Shen Yu was no longer so reserved…
“Yu’er, have you been doing well these past years?”
Whether he was doing well or not, Shen Yu had never considered. He hadn’t seen much of the world and naturally didn’t know how to compare his life with others. For him, being reunited with his mother was the happiest thing…
Shen Yu remained silent, and Chu Ling did not press further. His gaze fell on Shen Yu’s left hand, where the little finger was missing under the bandage…
“You’ve been hurt.”
Chu Ling’s expression turned serious as his hand reached to touch Shen Yu’s injury, but Shen Yu instinctively dodged; he did not want to be touched by outsiders…
“Was it North Garrison Prince who did this?”
Chu Ling knew well what the little finger meant for the descendants of the Chu clan…
Shen Yu shook his head, denying it. He had cut it off himself, causing Chu Ling to frown in pain.
“The world is insatiable; North Garrison Prince is even more ambitious. I heard he married you as a secondary consort, thinking he would protect you, but who would have thought that, for the treasures of the Chu royal tomb, he too would be unrestrained and cruelly harm you? You need not conceal this for him; I want to know how much you have suffered during this time.”
Shen Yu did not refute him; his gaze was calm. In fact, he felt neither heartache nor hatred…
“Sigh… Our ancestors’ great achievements did not foresee that they would become disasters for their descendants.” Chu Ling said slowly, “The Emperor of Dajing was infatuated with the relics of our great Chu, so after establishing his dynasty, he brutally hunted down the Chu people. Not only the Dajing royal family, but the Chu clan members also became targets for various forces. Over the centuries, the Chu clan was almost exterminated, with only a few hiding and living under false identities, barely surviving. Their experiences are mostly similar to yours.”
“In order to continue the Chu lineage, several clan elders secretly searched for the scattered descendants of the Chu clan. They received reports about hiding places, but most Chu people dared not reveal their identities. Some intermarried with outsiders, and pureblood descendants are now few and far between. In my generation, including myself, there are only two men and one woman left. Thankfully, I found you, Yu’er.”
Shen Yu could understand this feeling of mutual recognition, just as his longing for family had intensified after losing his mother.
“So, Yu’er, would you be willing to return with me to the hidden place and meet our clansmen? They would be very happy to see you.”
Shen Yu looked up, the words of agreement nearly spilling out. He certainly wanted to see his relatives, especially since he did not want to stay beside the bully, living in constant fear…
But he felt a bit lost; unknowingly, everything in his life was almost tied to Jun Xuanxiao. Finally having this opportunity to leave, Shen Yu hesitated…
He should respond decisively, but the figure of the bully loomed like a high mountain, blocking his way, instilling fear…
“Does Yu’er not want to? North Garrison Prince is so cruel to you; you need not be reluctant towards him,” Chu Ling unexpectedly asked. “Are you afraid North Garrison Prince will not agree? If you wish, I can talk to him…”
“No need to talk!”
The commanding voice echoed as Jun Xuanxiao kicked open the door and stormed in…
Jun Xuanxiao hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but he was concerned for Shen Yu’s safety, so he had remained outside the door. However, he overheard Chu Ling step by step coaxing Shen Yu, clearly intending to abduct him.
If he allowed him to continue speaking, there was no telling if Shen Yu would genuinely soften and agree!
Jun Xuanxiao could no longer hold back. He burst through the door and pulled Shen Yu into his embrace, glaring at Chu Ling.
“If I had known earlier that you were trying to confuse Yu’er into going with you, I would have killed you!”
North Garrison Prince was imposing, and Chu Ling faced him like a soldier confronting a battalion; he steadied his mind and remained unaffected…
“Your Highness, reuniting Yu’er with his family would be beneficial for him. I have no ill intentions; why must Your Highness be so vigilant?”
“Ill intentions? You plot to take him from me, which is the greatest ill intention! Do you not know who Yu’er is to me? If you want to take him away, have you obtained my permission?!”
Jun Xuanxiao barked sternly. Had it not been for Shen Yu treating Chu Ling as a family member, he would have already slain him…
Chu Ling opened his mouth and said curiously, “Your Highness, you have more than one secondary consort, not just Yu’er. You’ve had many in the past, and there will be countless more in the future. Losing one will not matter; why are you so fixated on Yu’er?”
Jun Xuanxiao’s forehead bulged with veins; he disliked being reminded of such matters, especially since he intended to change but was confronted with them in front of Yu’er…
“Yu’er is different from them,” Jun Xuanxiao stated firmly. “This king loves him!”
This unexpected confession startled Chu Ling, as Jun Xuanxiao’s furious reaction was excessively intense…
“Oh, I understand now. However, there is something I do not comprehend. Since Your Highness loves him, why do I see nothing but old wounds all over Yu’er? May I ask, Your Highness, why is Yu’er’s wrist twisted? Where did his little finger go? How did he end up with a mental block?”
Chu Ling’s tone remained calm, yet it pierced Jun Xuanxiao’s heart.
