Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 87

“Yu’er! Run! Don’t worry about me! As long as you’re alive, I’ll have no regrets!”

Sun Lao Liu stood in front of Shen Yu, as if he didn’t fear death and was determined to protect him.

Shen Yu just wanted to retrieve his bundle; the red beans were already lost, leaving only the remnants of the Bodhi dice. He couldn’t afford to lose them again.

“Run? None of you can escape! Catch them!”

The Queen Consort’s eyes were sharp, unable to contain her excitement. She had exhausted all means, and even the Prince couldn’t bear to kill Shen Yu. This time, he had no way out!

Shen Yu didn’t even consider escaping. If he did, wouldn’t it confirm the Queen Consort’s suspicions and cement the accusation of eloping with Sun Lao Liu? Besides, where could he run to? The Queen Consort and her servants were watching him closely, leaving him no room for escape.

Several house servants quickly subdued Sun Lao Liu, pinning him to the ground. Sun Lao Liu kept shouting “Yu’er” from his mouth.

“Sun Lao Liu! When did you collude with the Imperial Concubine? You’d better confess your affair with her truthfully! If you tell a lie, I’ll have someone break one of your legs!”

Sun Lao Liu was forced into the ground, struggling to lift his head.

“It has nothing to do with Yu’er! I’ll take all the blame myself!”

Shen Yu’s breathing stagnated, his throat tightened with pain. If Sun Lao Liu tried to shift the blame onto him to clear himself, maybe the Prince would become suspicious. But now, Sun Lao Liu was only defending himself, and even if the Prince didn’t believe him, he might still have doubts…

Shen Yu saw the Prince’s scrutinizing gaze, mixed with ruthless suspicion…

“What a stubborn servant!” The Queen Consort refused to give up. “Your words alone won’t absolve Shen Yu! I advise you to tell the truth, to avoid suffering physical pain!”

“It’s… it’s me! It’s my lustful desires! Not Yu’er…” Sun Lao Liu kept insisting, “That day, when the Prince brought Yu’er to the Warm Spring Manor, I… I fell in love with Yu’er. I never thought there could be someone so beautiful in this world. Since then, I’ve been thinking about him day and night. But Yu’er belongs to the Prince, how could I dare to covet him?…”

“I never had any improper thoughts. I just hoped that the Prince would take Yu’er to the manor again, and I could see him from a distance, and that would be enough for me! But later, when Yu’er didn’t come again… I heard that Yu’er was not doing well in the Prince’s estate, and even lost the Prince’s favor. Worried about him, I plucked up the courage to secretly visit the Prince’s estate…”

Shen Yu stumbled for a moment, almost unable to stand steady. Sun Lao Liu and he had no grievances or grudges, so why did he describe it so vividly, as if it were true?

The Queen Consort continued to inquire, “So, after a few visits, you and the Imperial Concubine got involved? The Imperial Concubine was feeling lonely and neglected. How could she be interested in someone like you? She’s too indiscriminate!”

The Queen Consort looked directly at Shen Yu, feeling confident in her victory.

“No! The Imperial Concubine didn’t have any feelings for me. Our relationship is pure! He’s like a celestial being, how could he possibly be interested in someone like me… I was just delusional. Yu’er was just grateful for my company when he was bored… My Lord! I swear, the Imperial Concubine and I really didn’t do anything obscene! I visited him secretly several times, and it was I who had impure thoughts. The Imperial Concubine always rejected me! I beg you not to blame Yu’er…”

Sun Lao Liu’s tears flowed, his expression full of remorse and self-blame…

The more Sun Lao Liu explained on behalf of Shen Yu, the deeper their affection seemed to be.

“Oh,” the Queen Consort understood, “So you still have some sense of propriety, not going all the way. Then how could the Imperial Concubine agree to elope with you, engaging in such depravity?”

“Not… not eloping… Yu’er was lonely and mistreated in the Prince’s estate. He told me that the Prince was heartless and wouldn’t let him leave… So I found an opportunity when the Prince wasn’t at home, and quietly took him away. I couldn’t bear to see Yu’er suffer in the Prince’s estate. I would do anything for him! So I agreed…”

Shen Yu hugged his bundle tightly, which conveniently became evidence of his attempt to elope. Sun Lao Liu crawled in front of him, expressing his regret and affection…

“Yu’er… forgive me for not being able to help you escape from the Prince… I’ve let you down… I’m not regretful to die for you! Sun Lao Liu has also met his fate, but it’s a pity that I’ve implicated you, I’m sorry… Here, take this back to you…”

Something fell from Sun Lao Liu’s chest, and Shen Yu’s pupils contracted, his mind went blank…

“How… how is this on him…”

Shen Yu felt a wave of despair. Not to mention that he couldn’t speak, even a hundred mouths wouldn’t be able to explain this.

“What’s this! Quickly pick it up and show it to the Queen Consort!”

The Queen Consort looked at it and said, “Isn’t this the jade pendant that the Prince always wears?…”

Indeed, it was the dragon-patterned jade pendant that the Prince had given to Shen Yu. Shen Yu’s mind went blank at the sight. When the Prince gave him the jade pendant, all the sweet words seemed to still be echoing in his ears, and he carried it with him wherever he went. Later, he lost it when he was unconscious in the wolf’s den on Xushan Mountain. Now, it had become the thing that would cost him his life.

At the moment the Prince saw the jade pendant, his eyes finally filled with murderous intent, and the chill pierced Shen Yu like a needle.