Nong Nu Jiao

"What's wrong?"

Yan Chenghui opened his eyes.

After he finished his work, he came to pick her up.

His mother said she was asleep and insisted that he come in and rest for a while.

He didn't want to sleep.

It was her who insisted on seducing him with her sweet sleeping face and dependent manner.

Of course he wasn't asleep; he was just lying next to her with his eyes closed, trying to rest.

She came over to him on her own, hugged him, and nuzzled and kissed him in his arms.

"fine."

Cen Lingyi realized he was beside her, raised her hand to cover his side, and was on the verge of tears.

Only then did she realize that her abdomen felt heavy—her menstrual blood had come without her noticing while she was asleep.

She was happy.

This means she wasn't pregnant with his child, and she escaped another disaster this month.

But at the same time, she was also depressed.

It was bad enough that she was dirty herself, but the bed and he were also covered in it.

Blame him!

When she was fourteen, her period started two days early, and when it came, the pain was excruciating. At its worst, she couldn't get out of bed and would vomit while lying on the edge of the bed.

He found a doctor from the imperial physician and prescribed a formula to treat her for more than half a year, using hot compresses, dietary supplements, and many other methods.

Later, her menstrual cramps completely disappeared, and she only felt a slight sensation in her abdomen each time her period came.

When I'm asleep, I don't even feel anything.

Yan Chenghui sat up.

"Don't look."

Cen Lingyi covered his side with her hand and then pulled the blanket over herself.

What should I do?

This isn't a side hall, and she hasn't even had her period yet.

Yan Chenghui frowned and pulled her hand away.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but look over, her heart filled with unease.

On the white undergarment, the mottled red stains were particularly eye-catching, and outsiders said that it was something unclean.

Although Yan Chenghui had told her before that all women are like this, it is a common thing.

But things are different now; he must despise her to death now.

"Excuse me, please take it off, I'll wash it for you."

Cen Lingyi reached out to untie his belt.

Yan Chenghui placed his large hand on her abdomen, the warmth of his palm seeping through her thin undergarment.

She was surprised, her eyelashes trembling.

What does he mean by that?

"All that hard work last night was for nothing."

Yan Chenghui said calmly.

"you……"

Cen Lingyi blushed and bit her lip, kicking him.

He was saying that she wasn't pregnant with his child.

How on earth did he manage to say such inappropriate things with such an arrogant expression?

Yan Chenghui withdrew his hand, got up, put on his clothes, and walked outside.

"where did you go?"

Cen Lingyi watched his retreating figure, hesitated for a moment, and then prepared to get out of bed.

"Don't move."

Yan Chenghui suddenly turned around and gave an order.

"oh."

Cen Lingyi didn't understand what he meant, so she obediently stopped what she was doing.

A moment later, Yan Chenghui returned, carrying a small package.

Upon opening the package, inside was a light purple undergarment and two brand-new menstrual belts.

"Where did it come from?"

Cen Lingyi blushed.

The last time he was so considerate to her was before the Cen family's misfortune.

"Just use it."

Yan Chenghui turned his back, unwilling to say anything more.

He complained that she was arrogant and fickle, yet he still prepared all these things for her.

Sometimes he doesn't even know what he's thinking.

Cen Lingyi changed her clothes silently and got out of bed.

He's so cold now, he's not as bad as he was when he was saying those inappropriate things.

She overstepped her bounds by asking that unnecessary question.

He couldn't have prepared this on the day she had her period.

She turned around, gathered the bed sheet, and hugged it to her chest.

"Your Highness, please change out of your undergarments; I'll wash them with you."

As she passed by him, she spoke softly, respectfully and distantly.

Yan Chenghui remained silent, loosened his belt, took off his undergarment, and handed it to her.

Cen Lingyi carried the bedding out of the room.

"Xiao Liu, what are you doing?"

Xiao Yulou was resting his chin on his hand, flipping through a sketchbook. When he saw her come out, he stood up.

The main hall has been cleaned up and looks brand new.

"Aunt, I've soiled the bedding. I'll go wash it."

Cen Lingyi blushed and explained to her.

"No, it's so cold, how can you touch cold water? Leave it here, someone in my palace will wash it."

Xiao Yulou immediately understood what she meant and grabbed her arm.

"Auntie, please ask them to boil some water for me," Cen Lingyi said softly. "These clothes... I'd better wash them myself..."

She was shy, and before, when she was in the Cen family, her personal maid helped her with washing.

After her fall from grace, she was merely the daughter of a disgraced official, and now she was a servant in the Eastern Palace, so she had to wash her own clothes.

She really couldn't accept it if other people washed it.

Xiao Yulou naturally understood her concerns.

Just then, Yan Chenghui came out of the room.

"Give it to him, let him go wash it."

Xiao Yulou pointed at Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui stopped in his tracks.

"No, Auntie, I'll wash it myself, it'll be quick..."

Cen Lingyi instinctively refused.

Did Yan Chenghui help her wash?

This was something that had never happened even when they were at their best.

"Give it to him."

Xiao Yulou took the bedding and their undergarments from her arms and stuffed them into Yan Chenghui's arms.

Yan Chenghui stood there, without making a move.

"Aunt, let me do it. His Highness..."

Feeling bad, Cen Lingyi stepped forward to take it.

Even in ordinary families, no young man would be willing to do such a thing.

He is, after all, a prince.

The Imperial Concubine is his mother, so she can treat him however she wants.

She doesn't have that kind of guts.

No, no, I can't let him wash it.

"Don't worry about him." Xiao Yulou pulled him back and said to Yan Chenghui, "Aren't you going yet?"

Yan Chenghui remained silent and actually carried that pile of things out.

"aunt……"

Cen Lingyi looked at his retreating figure, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"It's alright." Xiao Yulou pulled her over and sat her down on the soft couch. "You're on your period, so you should eat something hot to warm yourself up. I'll have someone make you some brown sugar bird's nest soup."

She looked at Cen Lingyi and smiled quietly.

Yuan Zhao still has feelings for Xiao Liu.

He just couldn't get over what happened back then, which is why they were always at odds.

However, as long as he has it in his heart, he will compromise sooner or later.

*

Time flies, and it's already December.

Yan Chenghui became busy, as the palace needed to prepare for ancestral worship and the spring hunt after the New Year.

Cen Lingyi also got busy.

The Eastern Palace is a large place, and at the end of the year there are many accounts to settle, many things to buy for the New Year, and social obligations to consider.

In addition, there's that little Yan Huaijiao, who always pesters her for no reason.

She could only stay up late at night to finish her tasks for the day.

Fortunately, with the help of cinnabar, it wasn't too tiring.

Inside the side hall, the underfloor heating was working well, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

A velvet carpet was laid on the ground, and Cen Lingyi sat on it.

"Do it, do it."

Yan Huaijiao nestled in her arms, pressing her hand onto the nine-linked rings, indicating that she should untie them.

"You're too young, how would you know how to play this? Even if I solve it, you still won't be able to learn."

Cen Lingyi hugged him, picked up the Nine-Linked Rings, and patted his head with amusement.

This little kid, who can't even speak properly yet, is already thinking about learning how to solve the Nine Linked Rings puzzle.

"Wet nurse".

Yan Huaijiao turned her small face and called to her.

Cen Lingyi smiled and answered crisply and loudly.

"alley."

Yan Huaijiao pointed to the nine-linked rings in her hand, gesturing to her again.

"Okay, okay, stretch out your little hand, I'll teach you."

Cen Lingyi smiled and agreed.

She used to be the most impatient person, but now she shows no impatience towards her son.

Yan Huaijiao obediently stretched out her little hand.

Cen Lingyi held his soft, white hand, knowing full well that he was too young to learn, but still taught him little by little.

"Look, it's untied!"

Cen Lingyi raised the nine-linked rings and pointed them at the little guy.

Yan Huaijiao became happy, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter, and she clapped her hands.

"What should we play?"

Xia Qinghe suddenly walked in.

Looking at the two similar faces, one big and one small, with eyes that curved into the same shape when they smiled, she became even more certain of her guess—Yan Huaijiao was Cen Lingyi's child!

"Your Highness the Crown Princess." Upon seeing her, Cen Lingyi immediately suppressed her smile, rose, and bowed, "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Princess."

"Sister Cen, you're too kind. There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to greet me."

Xia Qinghe smiled warmly, appearing very kind and gentle.

"Your Majesty is kind, and this servant cannot be ignorant of etiquette."

Cen Lingyi smiled as well.

She knew very well that Xia Qinghe harbored ill intentions towards her.

That's why she had to act as if she was completely unguarded, so that Xia Qinghe would think she was oblivious and thus better perceive Xia Qinghe's purpose and malice.

"Huaijiao, come to your mother."

Xia Qinghe bent down and coaxed the child with a smile.

Yan Huaijiao stepped back, hugged Cen Lingyi's leg, and stared at Xia Qinghe with wide, wary eyes.

"Your Highness, quickly call her Mother."

Cen Lingyi pulled the little guy over and gently taught him.

She didn't want Huai Jiao to become too distant from Xia Qinghe, worried that Xia Qinghe might take Huai Jiao away from her out of jealousy.

How is she supposed to go on living?

"hug."

Yan Huaijiao stared at Xia Qinghe, then grabbed Cen Lingyi's trouser leg and climbed up.

Cen Lingyi picked him up and taught him, "Little Prince, this is your mother."

"Mother."

Yan Huaijiao listened to her, rested her little head on her shoulder, and called out timidly.

"Good boy."

Xia Qinghe smiled and touched his face.

He frowned and turned his head away to avoid it.

"The young prince has grown up and is now much more shy than when he was a child."

Cen Lingyi found an excuse for him.

"It's also my fault. I haven't been able to visit him much while I've been recovering from my injury."

Xia Qinghe sighed, a hint of melancholy in his eyes.

"Has Her Majesty's arm recovered?"

Cen Lingyi's eyes showed concern.

She noticed that Xia Qing's arm was no longer dangling under her neck, so she must have recovered quite well.

"I've recovered more than halfway, but the imperial physician said I can't exert myself too much and need to rest and recuperate some more."

Xia Qinghe explained with a smile.

"That's good." Cen Lingyi hugged Yan Huaijiao and stepped back. "Your Majesty, please have a seat."

"I have come today to discuss something with you."

Xia Qinghe sat down and looked at her with a kind expression.

"Your Majesty, please feel free to give any instructions. This servant will obey without question."

Cen Lingyi lowered her head and said.

Xia Qinghe spoke politely, using the word "discuss." What could a Crown Princess like her possibly discuss with a servant?

She knew her own limitations and didn't think she had the right to oppose Xia Qinghe.

"well……"

Xia Qinghe remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly, seemingly finding it difficult to speak.

At this moment, Lingzhi brought in tea.

Xia Qinghe took the teacup, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Everyone in the Eastern Palace knows that His Highness has been very busy lately. Consort Sun and the others have brought up this matter with me several times."

"As the year draws to a close, Your Highness has indeed become quite busy."

Cen Lingyi's expression remained unchanged, but a sense of vigilance arose in her heart.

Xia Qinghe doesn't say things without a reason.

Why did she suddenly bring up Yan Chenghui's busy schedule?