Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 163
Chapter 163 – The Empress of Jing?
Prince of North – Prince Zhenbei – Northern Garrison Prince are same person (Jun Xuanxiao)
Rain poured relentlessly, filling the potholes on the main road with water. Splashes scattered as the carriage wheels rolled through the pools.
The coachman, clad in a straw raincoat and hat, struggled to see through the rain and darkness. The horses stumbled frequently, forcing him to use all his strength to steady them.
“My lord, we can’t go any further! The rain is too heavy!” the coachman shouted.
Chu Ling frowned. Though the carriage windows were shut, wind still blew raindrops into the cabin.
“How far are we from the next relay station?” Chu Ling asked loudly.
“About ten li. We’re only halfway there, but the road ahead is steep and slippery,” the coachman replied.
“Alright, stop here and wait for the rain to ease.”
The horses had barely halted when a cold arrow tore through the rain and pierced the side of the carriage. Chu Ling moved instantly, pulling Shen Yu down and covering him protectively.
Shen Yu’s face was pressed against Chu Ling’s jaw. The warmth of Chu Ling’s skin brought a sliver of comfort to Shen Yu’s soaked body. Chu Ling’s usual refined demeanor was replaced by a sharp vigilance, a cold and commanding aura.
However, Shen Yu had no time for such thoughts. He pointed at the arrowhead.
“An assassin?”
“Don’t be afraid, Yu’er.”
Chu Ling reached into a corner of the carriage and drew a sword. Shen Yu hadn’t even noticed it was there.
Outside, apart from the patter of rain, there were faint hoofbeats approaching.
Chu Ling severed the arrow shaft with a swift strike and examined the eagle feathers at the arrow’s tail.
“Huns…”
Before Chu Ling could process further, the trembling voice of the coachman broke through the rain.
“M-my lord… bandits…”
A loud, coarse laugh followed.
“Sir Mokil, why not show yourself?”
“Yu’er, stay here. Don’t move or make a sound,” Chu Ling said.
His gaze sharp, he rose from Shen Yu and lifted the carriage curtain slightly.
Through the gap, Shen Yu saw a group of men on horseback blocking the road ahead, with more likely surrounding the carriage from the rear.
“Uliang Yu?”
Chu Ling recognized the man. He had seen Uliang Yu, a trusted aide of the Hun chieftain, during a diplomatic mission to the Huns.
“You dare venture into Jing?” Chu Ling said calmly.
Uliang Yu burst into hearty laughter. His voice was rough, and he spoke with mockery. “We’re just barbarians, Sir Mokil. Without your cunning strategies, we have no choice but to resort to desperate measures.”
Chu Ling held up the arrow feather with his slender fingers and tossed it to the ground in front of the carriage.
“What is the meaning of this, Uliang Yu?”
“Nothing much,” Uliang Yu sneered. “I’d simply ask that you bring the person in the carriage out to meet us.”
His gaze was sharp, radiating hostility. Rain dripped from his beard, and the wolfskin eyepatch over his left eye gave him a fearsome look.
“What makes you think there’s anyone in my carriage?”
Chu Ling deliberately lifted the curtain, ensuring Shen Yu remained in Uliang Yu’s blind spot. With the heavy rain and darkness, Uliang Yu’s one good eye could see nothing clearly.
“Don’t play games with me!” Uliang Yu snapped. He hated Chu Ling’s scheming ways, finding them frustrating and underhanded—qualities Huns typically lacked.
“The Empress of Jing, is it?” Uliang Yu grinned. “Sir Mokil, either you hand him over, or we’ll resolve this another way.” He waved the broad blade in his right hand menacingly.
Chu Ling shouted, “Uliang Yu! Don’t forget that the Huns and Koryo are allies. If you kill me, Koryo will immediately side with Jing. Where will the Huns get their provisions then? Do you think the chieftain would spare you?”
Uliang Yu laughed boisterously. “Sir Mokil, do you think the chieftain truly trusts Koryo? A Jing empress is far more valuable than the grain you provide. If I take him back to the Huns, the chieftain will reward me handsomely! I advise you not to meddle. After all, in a place like this, killing someone leaves no trace. Even the blood will be washed away by the rain. Then we can blame it all on Emperor Xuan, setting Koryo and Jing against each other.”
Chu Ling’s brows furrowed deeply. Huns were like wolves of the plains—cunning and ruthless, as treacherous as anyone.
“Oh, I see now,” Chu Ling said, his tone steady. “You think he’s the Empress of Jing and plan to use him as a hostage against Emperor Xuan? Ha! If he were truly important to Emperor Xuan, would he have been cast out of the palace and handed over to me?”
Uliang Yu hesitated for a moment before his expression darkened. “Lucky for me, I got a heads-up. Otherwise, I might’ve fallen for your tricks.”
He had learned of Emperor Xuan’s affection for Shen Yu—and even the secluded residence prepared for him outside the palace—from Shen Ruofei. Uliang Yu had been lying in wait for days, biding his time for this rare opportunity.
Chu Ling contemplated briefly, glanced at the terrified coachman, then suddenly struck the horse with the flat of his sword.
“Go!”
