Nong Nu Jiao

Xiao Yulou's only response to Emperor Shengwu was a cold snort.

"Young lady of the Cen family, I ask you, in your father's case, do you believe there was a miscarriage of justice?"

Emperor Shengwu held onto the armrests of his chair, leaning slightly forward, his eyes fixed on Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat, and she dared not speak for a moment.

Of course, there was a miscarriage of justice in my father's case.

Her father was definitely not a corrupt official or a person who was misled by witchcraft.

Emperor Shengwu's intervention provided her with a good opportunity to plead her case to her father.

But Emperor Shengwu and the Imperial Concubine's actions today were too strange, and she dared not speak up easily.

"Little Six, don't be afraid, just tell the truth."

Xiao Yulou moved closer to her, as if to support her.

Emperor Shengwu, sitting upright at the head of the table, said, "If you believe there is some injustice done to your father, you may speak to me, and I will send people to investigate thoroughly. If your father has indeed been wronged, I will naturally exonerate him and restore him to his original position."

He leaned back in his chair, looking coldly at Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi was deeply moved by what she heard, yet she couldn't believe it.

There's no such thing as an easy thing to do in this world. Emperor Shengwu isn't someone who's easy to talk to either.

She remembered Yan Chenghui telling her in the carriage to read his eyes and act accordingly.

So, she slightly raised her eyes and looked at Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui placed one hand behind his back and gently waved it at her.

Cen Lingyi understood.

He wouldn't let her say it.

Cen Lingyi's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her eyelashes again, speaking softly, "Your Majesty, my father's case was decided after Your Majesty sent people to thoroughly investigate it. This servant does not understand those matters and dares not speak nonsense."

She didn't want to admit her father was guilty—he was innocent.

So she just claimed she didn't understand.

"See that?"

Emperor Shengwu sat back down, raised his chin to look at Xiao Yulou, and seemed quite pleased with himself.

Xiao Yulou scoffed, "She's been raised in seclusion, and she's only seventeen this year. What does she know?"

"You mean you insist on standing up for Cen Qingshan today?"

Emperor Shengwu suddenly stood up, his anger blazing.

"If Your Majesty insists on thinking this way, I have nothing to say."

Xiao Yulou turned his head away, refusing to look at him.

Emperor Shengwu's expression softened: "Alright, isn't this girl your favorite? Now that she's here, let her keep you company."

Cen Lingyi knelt to the side, completely bewildered.

No one knew what riddle they were playing, nor why Emperor Shengwu had suddenly calmed down.

Xiao Yulou remained silent and completely ignored him.

"Cen girl, get up."

Emperor Shengwu touched his nose and looked at Cen Lingyi, his tone surprisingly kind.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Cen Lingyi respectfully kowtowed before slowly rising.

Emperor Shengwu could turn on her in an instant, so she dared not be the slightest bit negligent.

"You have an older brother, don't you?"

Emperor Shengwu looked at her, as if suddenly remembering something, and asked a question.

"Yes, I also have an elder brother."

Cen Lingyi replied.

"Oh." Emperor Shengwu feigned sudden realization and glanced at Xiao Yulou: "How many concubines did your father have?"

"two."

Cen Lingyi was baffled by his two questions.

Why is His Majesty asking her these questions?

"So, your father had one wife and two concubines, but he didn't remain faithful to one until the end."

Emperor Shengwu glanced at Xiao Yulou again, his gaze carrying a meaningful meaning.

Xiao Yulou looked away, pretending not to have heard him.

Who could be dirtier than him? There are dozens in the harem. How dare you say someone only has three in their backyard?

Does he even deserve to be compared to others?

"Yes."

Cen Lingyi didn't know how to answer, so she could only nod.

"Alright, keep the Imperial Concubine company. Crown Prince, come with me."

Emperor Shengwu got up and walked out.

Yan Chenghui silently followed.

"Xiao Liu, come in with me, it's too chaotic outside."

Xiao Yulou took Cen Lingyi's hand and led her into the bedroom.

"Your Majesty, you..."

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but be curious and wanted to ask her what was going on today.

She had never told Consort Xiao about her father's situation. How did she and Emperor Shengwu end up arguing about this?

"What did you call me?"

Xiao Yulou pulled her to sit down and interrupted her playfully.

"aunt."

Cen Lingyi sat beside her, letting her hold her hand and obediently calling her name.

"Good child, that's more like it." Xiao Yulou affectionately patted her head. "I've given you so many clothes and jewelry, why are you still dressed so plainly?"

"I think this outfit looks good."

Cen Lingyi smiled at her.

"Nonsense," Xiao Yulou said. "Do you think I don't know how much you used to love dressing up? You can fool others, but you can't fool me. Are you having some concerns?"

Cen Lingyi lowered her head.

Even if she hadn't said it, the Imperial Concubine had already guessed it.

She was just a palace maid; if she dressed too well, it would only attract gossip.

"Yuan Zhao is immature and has wronged you."

Xiao Yulou held her hand tightly.

"no."

Cen Lingyi shook her head, her eyelashes drooping to conceal her sadness.

"You don't need to concern yourself with my affair with that tyrant. He's always been mad, and this isn't the first or second time he's done this."

Speaking of Emperor Shengwu, Xiao Yulou gritted his teeth.

"Aunt, please don't say that."

Cen Lingyi was frightened and instinctively gripped her hand tightly.

Walls have ears; if someone overhears this, it could be disastrous.

"Don't be afraid, if he wanted to kill me, he would have done it already."

Xiao Yulou patted her hand reassuringly, completely unconcerned.

"Are you hungry? I'll have them bring in some food."

"it is good."

Cen Lingyi nodded.

When she left the East Palace, she only ate a piece of plum blossom cake in the carriage. Now that she felt relieved, she was naturally a little hungry.

"I didn't know you would be coming to the palace today, so I didn't prepare your favorite food. I only have what I usually eat, so please make do with this."

Xiao Yulou got up and went to the door to give an instruction, then turned back to her, smiling as he spoke.

"I'm not a picky eater."

Cen Lingyi smiled.

The bedchamber was warm and cozy. Palace servants brought silver dishes and placed them on a small table.

Honey-glazed kumquats, amber-glazed peach kernels, chestnuts coated in pine nut sugar, milk shortbread...

All five or six dishes were desserts.

Cen Lingyi picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of honey-fried kumquat, and took a small bite.

"Eat a little less, I'll have them prepare your favorite food for lunch."

Xiao Yulou sat down beside her, looking at her with affection.

Cen Lingyi nodded obediently.

Xiao Yulou looked at her and suddenly noticed a red mark on her neck, peeking out from under her collar.

She remained calm, tilted her head to examine it closely for a moment, and when she was sure she wasn't mistaken, a smile appeared on her face.

Xiao Liu is in the East Palace, so who else could have left these marks?

"You two, you've made up?"

Xiao Yulou's face was full of smiles.

Cen Lingyi was taken aback when she heard this, realizing that the other woman was looking at her neck. She pulled her collar up a little, her face turning bright red.

No, no.

Was it because the mark on her neck wasn't covered up and the Imperial Concubine saw it?

"Don't cover it up, I can see everything." Xiao Yulou tugged at her collar and smiled knowingly, "What's there to be shy about with your aunt?"

The collar fell down, revealing the intermingled blue and red marks, which were particularly noticeable against her fair skin.

She clicked her tongue inwardly. If her neck was like this, one could only imagine what her body was like.

Yuan Zhao seems like a very composed person, so why is he so careless?

They're young after all.

"They didn't make up." Cen Lingyi shook her head, too embarrassed to look at her. "He insisted on..."

It's all Yan Chenghui's fault!

If she had known she was going to the palace today, she would have rather died last night than let him get close.

He only cared about his own pleasure and didn't care about her life or death.

"That's a good thing." Xiao Yulou straightened her collar to cover the marks. "With his personality, if he didn't have you in his heart, he wouldn't have touched you."

Cen Lingyi put down her chopsticks.

Does Yan Chenghui have feelings for her? How could that be?

They had been in love before, and she knew what he was like when he loved someone.

Back then, he wanted to hold her in the palm of his hand, how could he bear to treat her like this now?

Now, he only feels hatred towards her.

"Did you ask him what he plans to do if you get pregnant?"

Xiao Yulou asked her.

Cen Lingyi gently shook her head, her eyes dimming: "He just said to give birth..."

Last night, he refused to get off her.

He whispered in her ear, "Not a single drop is allowed to leak out."

His insistence on her bearing his child wasn't because he loved her, but because he wanted to compete with Lu Huaiyou.

He believed that the child she had given birth to was Lu Huaiyou's.

He probably never thought about what kind of explanation or status he should give her after she became pregnant.

Although she didn't want it, the fact that he never considered it was hurtful enough.

"Don't worry, if you really are pregnant, your aunt will naturally make the decision for you."

Xiao Yulou took her hand.

"Aunt," Cen Lingyi met her gaze, "Is there a kind of pill in the palace that you stick on your navel to prevent pregnancy?"

"You don't want a child?" Xiao Yulou asked in surprise. "He has already given you the power to manage the palace. If you have a child, the position of Crown Princess will be yours sooner or later. Your aunt can guarantee that."

She was fairly confident that she could get Emperor Shengwu to issue an edict regarding this matter.

"I am of lowly status, and His Highness hates me. I cannot protect the child I give birth to. I beg my aunt to grant my request."

Cen Lingyi stood up and was about to kneel.

Taking Huai Jiao away is now as difficult as climbing to heaven.

She really can't have another child; she can't protect them.

"Silly child, don't kneel. What do you think that pill is?" Xiao Yulou pulled her back. "Auntie is telling you, if you take that pill, you'll never be able to have children again in this life."

Cen Lingyi stared at her blankly.

Is it possible to never have children in your life? It's not impossible.

Huai Jiao is enough for her; she has no intention of remarrying anyway.

"It's alright, Auntie..."

"No," Xiao Yulou refused firmly. "Although your aunt would very much like for you and Yuan Zhao to reconcile, if you truly do not wish to, your aunt will not force you. But even if you do not end up together, you will both eventually marry and start your own families. How can you not have children?"

Cen Lingyi couldn't hold back her tears, which streamed down her face.

Consort Xiao's words showed that she truly cared for her.

However, Yan Chenghui kept such a close watch on her, what other options did she have besides using that pill for contraception?

"Listen to your aunt, you must not harm your health. If you become pregnant, I will bring you to the palace to stay by my side. The child can also stay with me then, and I will personally take care of it. Do you trust your aunt?"

Xiao Yulou pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back.

"Of course I trust my aunt..."

Cen Lingyi choked back tears as she agreed.

Xiao Yulou had a table of imperial dishes prepared, eight out of ten of which were Cen Lingyi's favorites.

The two of them had lunch together, but Yan Chenghui still hadn't returned.

Cen Lingyi then decided to return to the East Palace first.

Xiao Yulou refused and arranged for her to take a nap in her bedroom.

Cen Lingyi had suffered and been exhausted last night, and fell asleep quickly after lying down.

When she woke up, it was already evening.

Yan Chenghui was lying next to her!

She almost cried out, but thankfully she raised her hand to cover her lips in time.

When she sat up quietly and saw the scene on the bed, she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.