AUBTN -Chapter 295 Confession vs Concealment

Su Hewan took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the rising panic in her chest.

She held onto Yu Qing’s trembling hand, her voice cool and steady.

“Qingqing, calm down.”

“Whatever happened, since they chose not to tell us, it means they don’t want us to get involved.”

“But…” Yu Qing still wanted to say something.

“No ‘buts.’”

Su Hewan cut her off, her gaze fixed on the tightly shut study door.

“The way Shen Jue looked at me just now—he tried very hard to hide it, but I could still see the reluctance and resolve in his eyes.”

“I choose to trust him.”

“If he doesn’t say anything, I won’t ask.”

“All we can do now is steady ourselves. We absolutely cannot cause them more trouble at a time like this.”

Yu Qing was infected by Su Hewan’s calm and sniffled, barely suppressing her panic.

“Alright… I’ll listen to you.”

The night was as dark as ink, not even a single star visible.

The study door was only slowly opened deep into the night.

In Wutong Courtyard.

Su Hewan sat under the flickering candlelight, draped in a thin outer robe.

She held an old, yellowed historical book in her hands, but her gaze had long stopped on the same line—she hadn’t turned a page for half an hour.

A faint night breeze drifted through.

There were no footsteps.

Yet Su Hewan caught the familiar cold scent of him, mixed with the chill of night dew.

The next second.

A broad, icy embrace wrapped tightly around her from behind.

The man’s arms locked firmly around her waist.

Su Hewan relaxed her body and leaned back into his chest.

Shen Jue said nothing.

He only buried his face deeply into the crook of her slender, pale neck, his breathing gradually becoming uneven.

“Shen Jue…”

She had just spoken when his kiss pressed down on her lips, cutting her off completely.

He kissed her like a prisoner at the edge of despair in the dark night—desperately, almost devoutly, as if she were his only salvation.

Su Hewan’s body softened under his kiss, drained of strength.

Without warning, Shen Jue suddenly bent down and lifted her into his arms. She let out a small gasp.

“What are you doing? Have you lost it?”

His eyes were dark, tinged with a faint, teasing smile.

“How is being affectionate with my wife considered losing my mind?”

Before she could ask anything further, he had already pressed her down onto the bed, not giving her the slightest chance to speak.

In the rising and falling haze that followed, she understood—whatever was happening was far more serious than she had imagined.

But this man refused to say anything, and she truly had no way to make him speak.

Only tears fell without warning.

Shen Jue paused. He lowered his head and kissed them away.

His voice was hoarse. “Did I hurt you?”

Su Hewan shook her head, then leaned up and whispered something into his ear. His gaze suddenly changed—and the next moment, his actions became even more intense, almost unrestrained.

It turned out he loved her far more than she had imagined.

It turned out that just one sentence from her could make him completely abandon his defenses.

Her voice broke, laced with desire: “A-Jue… A-Jue…”

“I’m here. I’m here.”

He answered again and again in her ear.

If this situation truly had no way out—if death was inevitable—then he would make sure she had the best of everything before he left.

His arms tightened around her once more.

My late-night… my late-night…

If I am destined to die in three days, even if I must descend into hell, I will drag the whole world down with me.

That night, Shen Jue was unusually clingy.

He didn’t speak, only kept holding her, feeling her presence over and over, as if only then could he confirm that he was still alive.

Meanwhile.

In the back garden of the estate…

The night wind already carried a biting chill.

Yu Qing sat carelessly on the cold stone steps, resting her chin in her hands as she stared at the half-hidden crescent moon veiled by drifting dark clouds.

Her mind was in complete chaos. She couldn’t fall asleep at all.

All she could think about were scenes of Lu Yan being torn apart by the Empress Dowager.

Suddenly, a black cloak descended from above, wrapping her tightly like a dumpling.

Startled, Yu Qing whipped her head around.

Lu Yan had appeared behind her at some point.

Under the moonlight, his sharply defined, sculpted face—usually cold and stern—now carried an indescribable softness mixed with exhaustion.

“What are you doing out here in the middle of the night, getting frozen by the wind?”

His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a tone of gentle reprimand.

Yu Qing sniffled, her nose red from the cold.

All the questions and complaints she had prepared vanished the moment she saw the deep fatigue in his eyes.

She didn’t say anything, only shifted slightly to the side to make space.

Lu Yan naturally sat down beside her.

Yu Qing leaned against his shoulder, secretly studying his hard, defined profile.

He looks so tired.

But I can’t help him with anything.

Just as her thoughts spiraled into gloom—

Lu Yan suddenly stretched out an arm and pulled her straight into his embrace.

Yu Qing’s cheek pressed tightly against his chest, hearing the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

It was the most reassuring sound in the world.

Lu Yan’s heart ached.

Silly girl… I don’t need you to help me with anything.

He simply held her quietly, resting his chin against the top of her head as he gazed at the half-moon in the sky.

And the usually lively, sun-like Yu Qing surprisingly fell silent.

Neither of them spoke.

Yet it felt more meaningful than a thousand words.

Because neither of them knew—

Whether this would be their last embrace in this lifetime.

Dawn was just beginning to break.

Shen Jue stood in front of the bronze mirror, his long fingers slowly fastening the dark clasps on his robe.

His pale face held no trace of color.

He suddenly covered his lips and let out a suppressed cough.

Had the poison already taken effect this quickly?

A faint, sticky trace showed between his fingers.

Lu Yan pushed the door open and entered, his expression equally grim.

The two men looked at each other and immediately saw exhaustion in each other’s eyes.

“Let’s go. It’s time for morning duty,” Shen Jue said.

He washed the blood from his fingertips with cold water and forced himself upright.

“How are you feeling?” Lu Yan asked.

Shen Jue walked as he replied, “I’m not dying just yet.”

Just as they were about to leave, Yu Qing suddenly rushed in like a gust of wind and blocked the doorway.

Her eyes were red—clearly she hadn’t slept all night.

“Stop right there!”

Last night, the more Yu Qing thought about it, the more something felt wrong. She trusted a woman’s intuition—these two were definitely hiding something.

“If you don’t tell us what you’re hiding from me and Wanwan today, none of you are stepping out of this courtyard!”

Lu Yan frowned slightly, instinctively softening his tone.

“Qingqing, don’t make a scene. The Jinyiwei still have duties to—”

“Bullshit!”

Yu Qing cut him off without hesitation.

“You two look like this and you’re still talking about duties? You look like you’ve just come back from a funeral—what work are you even doing?”

Behind her, Su Hewan slowly stepped over the threshold.

She stared directly at Shen Jue, her gaze clearly spelling out four words: Confess and you live.

Shen Jue, if you dare lie to me again, I, Su Hewan, will drag you down with me.

She silently swore in her heart, her hands hidden in her sleeves clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Four people stood face to face.

Two sides in confrontation.

The atmosphere was tense enough to snap.