Silent Lover (The Silent Concubine) - Chap 98

Outside the window came hurried footsteps, followed by a tight voice saying, “Your Majesty, it’s your humble servant, Lady Shen.”

Shen Yu recognized the person who entered, having lived under the same roof, but he only dared to sneak a few glances at Miss Shen from the Shen Family. At that time, he regarded her as a celestial being and didn’t dare to look directly at her…

Later, when his mother forbade Shen Yu from going out, his chances of seeing Miss Shen became even fewer. After a few years, Miss Shen blossomed even more, standing gracefully like jade. She wore a light red palace dress, more charming than peonies, truly living up to the title of “Dajing’s number one beauty”…

“Miss Shen, why were you sneaking around outside? Xiao Xieye is displeased. Those servants didn’t even announce your arrival…”

On the day of the Dragon Raising ceremony in February, Prefect Shen bribed the Ministry of Rites responsible for the palace sacrifices, and Miss Shen played the role of the Spring God, her beauty stunning everyone…

Xiao Xieye knew that Prefect Shen had intentions of offering his daughter, and since Xiao Xieye needed Prefect Shen’s assistance in monitoring the Prince of the North, he granted Miss Shen the title of a concubine. However, Xiao Xieye was preoccupied with various matters related to the Prince of the North and had no mood to visit Miss Shen…

Shen Yu shifted uneasily. His name was originally meant for Miss Shen.

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Miss Shen curtsied gracefully, allowing Shen Yu to take her place as a marriage proxy for the Prince of the North, while she had long changed her name to Shen Ruofei…

“I’m not sneaking around, Your Majesty. I came here specifically to see an old friend. I knew Young Master Shen prefers peace and dislikes disturbances, so I instructed the servants to keep quiet. I didn’t expect Your Majesty to be here too.”

“An old friend?” Xiao Xieye’s smile was ambiguous, “Do you mean this little servant whom you sent as a scapegoat to the Prince of the North?”

Shen Ruofei’s face turned pale as she quickly knelt down. It turned out that Emperor Ye had thoroughly investigated this matter, knowing that due to the notorious reputation of the Prince of the North, no woman dared to marry him.

But Shen Ruofei was resourceful and quickly came up with an excuse.

“I know I did wrong, but if it weren’t for my mistake, Young Master Shen wouldn’t have met Your Majesty and become Your Majesty’s honored guest. So, by a twist of fate, it was all arranged by the heavens…”

With a silver tongue and eloquence, Shen Ruofei tried to justify herself. Xiao Xieye knew she was being cunning, but he couldn’t bring himself to be angry. Indeed, if it weren’t for Shen Yu being sent to the Prince of the North’s residence, Xiao Xieye wouldn’t have met him…

“So, do I need to reward you for your contribution?”

Shen Ruofei lowered her head, “I dare not, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Xieye chuckled, “You don’t need to kneel so often. I understand your situation. The Prince of the North’s notorious reputation would mean death for anyone married to him. Your actions were out of desperation.”

Shen Ruofei looked up with surprise and gratitude overflowing in her eyes…

But Xiao Xieye didn’t look at her again, turning to Shen Yu instead. “Yu’er, during your time at the Shen residence, did she bully you?”

Shen Yu shook his head. He rarely had the chance to even see Miss Shen, let alone be bullied by her…

“That’s good,” Xiao Xieye said with unusual gentleness, “Whether you’re in the palace or elsewhere in the future, if you’re ever wronged, I will stand up for you.”

Shen Yu looked away. He had experienced such patronizing affection once before, ending up worthless in the end. He wouldn’t be moved again…

Seeing Shen Yu’s cold response, Xiao Xieye felt a bit disappointed but didn’t lose heart…

Shen Ruofei looked at the affection and care in Xiao Xieye’s eyes, feeling jealous. Although the Emperor bestowed her the title of a concubine directly out of respect for Prefect Shen, she hadn’t even received a proper glance from Xiao Xieye. Having a title of a concubine without the genuine affection from the Emperor was incomparable to this sincere love…

Fortunately, she had the sense not to say anything.

From the moment she laid eyes on the mute servant, Shen Ruofei disliked him. Not for anything else, but because this mute servant was too good-looking. Shen Ruofei had been praised as a beauty since childhood, but she felt overshadowed by a mute servant. How could she be happy?

Especially when several servant dogs fought in the mansion just to flirt with this mute servant, Shen Ruofei, in anger, punished the mute servant’s mother and ordered him to be confined to the woodshed, not allowed to show off outside…

This way, she, the number one beauty of Dajing, could sit securely…

“Your Majesty, with just a few words from you, I forgot my main purpose. I know Young Master Shen is frail and sensitive to cold, so I brought this hand warmer specially. It’s something I brought from home, and I wouldn’t bear to give it to anyone else. I believe Young Master Shen can make good use of it. Please don’t mind that it’s a used item.”

“Ah, you can put it down.” Emperor Ye waved his hand as if shooing away a fly…

Shen Ruofei’s eyelid twitched with discontent as she withdrew.

Shen Ruofei was proud and ambitious, wanting only to become the Empress. But fate had a different plan. The mute servant became her scapegoat, but he didn’t meet his end under the Prince of the North. Instead, he was transferred to the Imperial Palace by Emperor Ye. Now, she had to lower her head and couldn’t even raise it. Seeing Emperor Ye’s doting expression, Shen Ruofei felt even more unbalanced…

Could it be that this mute servant was sent by the heavens to thwart her plans?! What a narrow road to enemies!

Shen Ruofei left the Qilin Pavilion and hurried to the Huajiao Fang Palace.