Nong Nu Jiao

"Jiaojiao".

Cen Lingyi left the East Palace, rented a donkey cart, and arrived at the Lu residence.

She got off the donkey cart at the intersection and heard Lu Huaiyou's voice, so she looked up.

Lu Huaiyou was leaning against a locust tree at the intersection when he saw her and straightened up.

His white robe accentuated his refined and handsome features, but his gaze towards Cen Lingyi was somewhat complicated.

Cen Lingyi smiled at him, her eyes crinkling, "Why did you have to wait here?"

Normally, she would call him "husband".

But after hearing at the banquet at the Second Prince's residence that Lu Huaiyou was going to marry Princess Anshun, she found it hard to call him "husband" anymore.

They have never been husband and wife in reality, nor do they have the title of husband and wife now. If they continue to address each other in this way, it will only cause Princess Anshun to misunderstand.

"Jiaojiao, why are you being so distant with me?" Lu Huaiyou's eyes were filled with hurt when he heard her say that. "Is it because of Princess Anshun that you're angry?"

His gaze fell on her face.

She had lost her former radiant arrogance and wore simple clothes, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

"How could that be?" Cen Lingyi said with a smile, "This is a joyous occasion, congratulations."

She said it from the bottom of her heart.

Lu Huaiyou had helped her a lot, and she sincerely hoped he would be happy.

"What happy occasion? It's all the Second Prince's idea, you know me..."

Lu Huaiyou was heartbroken and sighed.

"How are my family members...?"

Cen Lingyi looked at him and asked.

After the incident at the Grand Tutor's residence, she thought she was forever separated from her parents and family.

Lu Huaiyou told her that her parents, brother, and sister were still alive.

She didn't believe it at first.

Lu Huaiyou arranged for her to meet her half-sister.

Her half-sister told her that everyone else in the mansion was still alive, but they were all wanted criminals of the court and had been hidden away by Lu Huaiyou in a faraway place.

If discovered, Lu Huaiyou will also be implicated.

"They're still the same as before. I've had the money you gave them delivered to them." Lu Huaiyou glanced at her and walked alongside her toward the Lu residence. "The Second Prince won't mention the child at all. I've already sent people to look for him. Maybe we'll have good news soon."

She had no feelings for him; she didn't even hear him finish explaining why he married Princess Anshun.

He thought for a long time about how to explain it to her, but she didn't care.

He secretly clenched his fist. From childhood to adulthood, Yan Chenghui was the only person in her heart and eyes.

Cen Lingyi nodded, then suddenly asked him, "Could you lend me five taels of gold?"

Leaving aside the Second Prince, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack for Lu Huaiyou's men to find a baby only a few months old.

But she also knew that because she hadn't gleaned any useful information from the Eastern Palace, the Second Prince wouldn't easily give her any clues about the child.

"I'll get it for you later. Why do you suddenly need money?"

Lu Huaiyou asked with concern.

"I'm preparing some things; I'll return them to you once I've saved enough."

Cen Lingyi casually made up an excuse to reply to him.

She didn't want to go into details. If she said she was sick, Lu Huaiyou would probably ask too many questions, and he didn't need to care about her.

Just as she was about to step over the threshold of the Lu residence, Lu Huaiyou suddenly called out to her.

"Jiaojiao".

Cen Lingyi stopped and glanced at him sideways: "Lord Lu, please don't address me like that anymore."

"Princess Anshun is inside talking to Mother. She's spoiled, so if she says anything unpleasant to you, don't take it to heart."

Lu Huaiyou looked at her for a moment before speaking, looking sad and somewhat guilty.

"Um."

Cen Lingyi nodded.

Since she was his fiancée, she naturally wouldn't care too much.

Lu Huaiyou entered the flower hall first: "Mother, Lingyi is back. Lingyi, come and greet the Princess."

He turned around and called to Cen Lingyi.

"Lingyi greets the Princess and the Old Madam."

Cen Lingyi hesitated for a moment, but still addressed Lu's mother as "Old Madam".

Previously, she had always addressed Lu's mother as "Niang" (mother), but things were different now. With Princess Anshun present, she would no longer try to flatter herself.

"Um."

Lu's mother smiled, her eyes kind.

She always presented herself in this way, with a hint of shrewdness in her smile.

She was vehemently opposed to Lu Huaiyou marrying Cen Lingyi.

Later, Cen Lingyi disrespected her, and her son divorced her, demoting her to a maid.

She felt much better and was more willing to give Cen Lingyi a friendly look.

"So you're Lu Lang's divorced wife?"

Princess Anshun was dressed in the palace attire befitting a princess, with a ruby ​​and gold peony hairpin tucked into her hair. She had a high forehead and her words and appearance were somewhat harsh.

"Yes."

Cen Lingyi lowered her long eyelashes and responded calmly.

Princess Anshun's words could not humiliate her.

Her marriage to Lu Huaiyou was merely a stopgap measure, as she was already pregnant with Yan Chenghui's child at the time.

The only reason they agreed to the marriage was to allow the child to be born legitimately.

"I came here today especially for you. Please express a cup of milk for me. My coachman has an eye ailment, and I heard that applying breast milk can help."

Princess Anshun spoke in a commanding tone, handing a teacup to Cen Lingyi as she spoke, a slight sneer and contempt playing on her lips.

When Gu Liangdi met with her, she mentioned this Cen Lingyi.

She came here specifically to humiliate this former noblewoman and Lu Lang's ex-wife.

"Princess..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Huaiyou immediately tried to stop him.

Breast milk is a woman's private matter. For the Princess of Anshun to ask Cen Lingyi to squeeze it out for a man outside the marriage, and for a lowly coachman at that, is this not a public humiliation of Cen Lingyi?

Lu's mother pulled him aside, preventing him from speaking.

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi slowly raised her eyes to look at Princess Anshun.

"Your Highness should know that as the wet nurse of the young prince of the Eastern Palace, my food, clothing, and daily necessities all come from the Eastern Palace, and naturally, this very body belongs to the Eastern Palace. Since Your Highness intends to give my breast milk to the coachman, I dare to ask: Does Your Highness look down on the Eastern Palace, believing that the young prince's wet nurse can be humiliated at will? Or does Your Highness consider your coachman to be an equal to the young prince?"

She stood ramrod straight, showing no sign of embarrassment or panic, but rather calm and composed.

Princess Anshun's humiliation was nothing to frighten her.

She was, after all, the apple of her parents' eye. Her mother had carefully taught her for many years, and she could see through the thoughts of everyone in the inner quarters.

Princess Anshun's smile froze.

She had thought that after saying these words, Cen Lingyi would feel embarrassed and ashamed.

Unexpectedly, Cen Lingyi didn't even blink, but instead pinned a huge accusation on her. She's really shameless!

"Lingyi, don't be angry. The princess was just joking with you." Madam Lu stepped forward to smooth things over, taking her arm. "Knowing you were coming back today, I specially had the servants prepare a meal. Come on."

"Thank you, Madam."

Cen Lingyi used the act of bowing to avoid her movements.

Lu's mother didn't like her, and she didn't like Lu's mother either. She was only giving Lu's mother some face because of Lu Huaiyou.

"Lingyi, please take a seat."

Lu Huaiyou stepped forward to greet him.

Cen Lingyi nodded slightly, walked to the table, and seeing that the three of them were already seated, she lifted her skirt and prepared to sit down as well.

Princess Anshun suddenly spoke up: "Wait."

Cen Lingyi looked up at her, her delicate brows furrowing slightly.

She knew that Princess Anshun, having just been outmaneuvered by her, would not give up easily.

"You are the old lady's junior, and also a servant. In terms of filial piety and etiquette, it's not unreasonable to make you stand and serve us meals, is it?"

Princess Anshun looked at Cen Lingyi with a smug expression in her eyes.

As a princess and the future mistress of the Lu family, isn't it only natural for her to order around a maid?

Cen Lingyi looked at her, a hint of coldness in her eyes, and stood there without making a move.

Lu Huaiyou told her not to hold a grudge against Princess Anshun, and she had already been very restrained.

"Someone, remove the chair behind her," Princess Anshun ordered, raising the teapot. "Pour us some tea first."

Cen Lingyi reached out to take it.

"Princess..."

Lu Huaiyou stood up, intending to speak and offer advice.

Cen Lingyi took the teapot, stared at Princess Anshun's arrogant and disdainful face, and suddenly loosened her grip.

"Clang—"

The hot water from the teapot first splashed onto Princess Anshun's skirt before falling to the ground with a sharp, piercing sound, shards of which splashed all over her skirt.

"You audacious, lowly servant! This is blasphemy!"

Princess Anshun suddenly stood up and shouted angrily.

The tea wasn't very hot, but it still stained her skirt.

What angered her even more was Cen Lingyi's attitude. How dare a mere maid treat a princess like that? She was simply outrageous.

"Is the princess alright?"

Lu Huaiyou and his mother spoke up in unison.

Cen Lingyi glanced at Lu Huaiyou from the side.

She had previously thought that Lu Huaiyou was forced onto the wrong path by the Second Prince and had no choice but to marry Princess Anshun to prove his loyalty.

Now it seems that's not the case.

Lu Huaiyou opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He wanted Cen Lingyi to apologize to Princess Anshun, but he still couldn't let go of her in his heart, and ultimately couldn't bring himself to say it.

"Lingyi, I'm not trying to be mean, but your temper is really too much," Madam Lu said reproachfully. "I'm your elder, and a princess of noble status. What good would it do if you just poured us a cup of tea? How did the Lu family treat you before? Doesn't it deserve your service?"

If Lu Huaiyou hadn't married Cen Lingyi, Cen Lingyi, like her deceased parents, would have long since vanished without a trace.

"The old lady is right; one should indeed be grateful and repay kindness." Cen Lingyi's gaze turned cold. "So, the old lady has forgotten the way she came?"

It's true that Lu Huaiyou saved her, but it was her father who helped Lu Huaiyou first.

Lu Huaiyou's father was once a retainer of the Cen family. He was expelled from the mansion by her father for embezzlement and later committed suicide.

At that time, Lu's mother, a young widow, had nowhere to go with her young son, Lu Huaiyou.

It was thanks to his kind parents that they took them in and placed Lu Huaiyou in the Cen family's private school, where he could study with the other children in the household.

After growing up, Lu Huaiyou became quite talented and achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination. It was thanks to her father's repeated recommendations that she was able to attain a high position at a young age.

It can be said that without her father, Lu Huaiyou would not be where she is today.

She is grateful, and the Lu family should also be grateful, not take advantage of her kindness.

Upon hearing this, Lu's mother's face turned extremely ugly, and her chest heaved repeatedly, clearly angered by Lu's short sentence.

No one who is successful in the past wants to be remembered for their past misfortunes.

"Guards, drag this lowly servant away and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

Princess Anshun gave the order sternly.

"Who dares?" Cen Lingyi raised her eyebrows slightly, her attire simple yet her aura imposing: "I am a member of the Crown Prince's Palace. Even if I am guilty, it should be dealt with by the Crown Prince's Palace. Is the Princess overstepping her bounds?"

"Princess, please reconsider."

The maid also whispered advice in Princess Anshun's ear.

It's not worth offending the Crown Prince just to vent your anger.

"Press her down on the ground and wipe all this tea off."

Princess Anshun raised her eyebrows and pointed at Cen Lingyi, giving her instructions.

She felt a lump in her throat, and couldn't let it out.

Since they couldn't punish her with a cane, they decided to take advantage of the crowd to humiliate Cen Lingyi and vent their anger.

"Princess Anshun has quite the air of authority."

Yan Chenghui's clear and melodious voice rang out.

Cen Lingyi was startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

Yan Chenghui stood solemnly inside the threshold, dressed in a crimson python robe in the style of a crown prince. The sunlight fell behind him, gilding his entire body with a golden glow.

He was backlit, so his expression was obscured, but his bearing was impeccable, noble and dignified, imposing and majestic, like a god descending to earth. He held the tiny Yan Huaijiao in his arms, one hand behind his back.

When Yan Huaijiao saw Cen Lingyi, whose face was still wet with tears, she grinned and waved her little hands towards her, calling out to her in simple syllables.

"Hmm..."

Cen Lingyi came to her senses, a sense of doubt rising in her heart.

Why did he bring Yan Huaijiao with him?

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Princess Anshun, Lu Huaiyou, and Lu's mother were also taken aback and quickly curtsied.

Cen Lingyi remained silent but also bowed respectfully.

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi and slowly walked forward.

His expression was cold and hard.

Yan Huaijiao, in his arms, was the complete opposite of him, rushing enthusiastically towards Cen Lingyi, babbling as if asking for a hug.

"Why has Your Highness come? Is the little prince crying terribly?"

Cen Lingyi reached out and took Yan Huaijiao from the little guy, wiped away the tears on his face, and asked softly.

"Hmm..."

Yan Huaijiao hugged her neck and pressed his face against hers, they were incredibly affectionate.

"Otherwise what?"

Yan Chenghui spoke in a cold tone.

Cen Lingyi lowered her eyes and remained silent.

She didn't expect him to give her a kind look.

She hugged the heavy Yan Huaijiao tightly in her arms, her heart feeling full.

This little one filled the void she felt for her own child.

Yan Chenghui's indifferent gaze fell on Princess Anshun's face.

"Your Highness, this is all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding..."

Lu's mother smiled apologetically, trying to brush the matter off.

Yan Chenghui's gaze fell on the mess on the ground, his expression cold and indifferent, his lips slightly pursed, revealing no emotion.

The flower hall was quiet and the atmosphere was oppressive.

"Your Highness, Consort Cen is so rude! She's just a servant. I asked her to serve tea, but she spilled it on me. Look at my skirt!" Princess Anshun pinched the stained hem of her skirt and complained to Yan Chenghui, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to teach this unruly wet nurse a lesson on behalf of Your Highness."

Cen Lingyi is a servant, isn't it only natural for her to serve her?

She didn't feel she was in the wrong at all.

"To teach me a lesson? I wonder in what capacity Princess Anshun is speaking on my behalf?"

Yan Chenghui slowly lifted his thin eyelids, his cold gaze rising from the hem of her skirt and finally landing on her face.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I spoke rashly and presumptuously. Please forgive me..."

Princess Anshun shivered involuntarily, her legs went weak, and she knelt down before him, lowering her head and not daring to look at him.

His Highness the Crown Prince appeared calm and collected, but his gaze was like a knife, making her afraid to look up.

She was so angry she lost her mind.

Under heaven, who can claim to be able to replace His Highness the Crown Prince?

With just that one sentence, His Highness the Crown Prince could punish her.

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi sideways.

Cen Lingyi stood beside him, gently rocking the little one in her arms.

For some reason, Yan Huaijiao was extremely interested in the stray hairs on her cheeks today and kept trying to catch those strands.

Cen Lingyi was in pain from his pulling, so she had to give him one of her fingers to hold.

Looking at the little guy's adorable appearance, a smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

"Princess Anshun, do you know that even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner?"

Seeing that she could still laugh, Yan Chenghui spoke again.

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi's smile froze for a moment before returning to normal.

"Even when beating a dog, one should consider its owner," implying she was the Crown Prince's dog.

right.

Aside from the master, aren't all the servants in the Eastern Palace dogs?

She also realized that his behavior towards Princess Anshun was not because of her, but for the sake of the dignity of the Crown Prince's Palace.

Princess Anshun bullied his son's wet nurse; wasn't that tantamount to slapping him in the face?

"Princess, please apologize to Nurse Cen."

Lu's mother whispered to Princess Anshun.

This is His Highness the Crown Prince; the Lu family can't afford to offend him.

"Nanny Cen, I'm sorry." Princess Anshun knelt on the ground, suppressing her resentment as she bowed her head to Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi held Yan Huaijiao in her arms, silently accepting her kowtow and apology.

Princess Anshun provoked her, and she should apologize for that.

Princess Anshun prostrated herself on the ground, begging for mercy: "Your Highness, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me and don't punish me."

A cold sweat broke out on her back, and she almost burst into tears.

Only then did she realize that His Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Prince had always been at odds, so could he be taking this opportunity to punish her?

"Get up," Yan Chenghui said calmly. "How could I let a mere servant ruin my harmony with my second brother?"

Cen Lingyi's fingers, which were being held by Yan Huaijiao, curled slightly, stung by the disdain in his words.

She lowered her long eyelashes, concealing the emotions welling up in her eyes, her expression remaining respectful and calm.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Princess Anshun breathed a sigh of relief, kowtowed, and stood up, but her legs went weak.

She was quite intimidated by Yan Chenghui's imposing aura.

Lu's mother supported her from the side.

"Has His Highness the Crown Prince had lunch yet?"

Lu Huaiyou asked from the side.

Yan Chenghui looked at the dishes on the table, pursing his lips without saying a word.

"I will immediately send someone to the restaurant to prepare a table of fine wine and dishes to entertain Your Highness."

Lu Huaiyou also felt that the dishes on the table were too meager, and immediately spoke up.

"No need." Yan Chenghui looked towards the door: "Set out the meal."

Yun Que immediately brought in several palace servants and moved the dishes from the Lu family's table to the side.

The dishes from the Eastern Palace were laid out, taking up more than half of the table.

After taking his seat, Yan Chenghui said to Lu Huaiyou and the other two, "Sit."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Lu Huaiyou, his mother, and Princess Anshun sat down at the lower end of the table opposite them.

"come over."

Yan Chenghui glanced sideways at Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi was slightly taken aback, then carried Yan Huaijiao to his side: "Your Highness."

"sit."

Yan Chenghui coldly gave the order.

Cen Lingyi lowered her long eyelashes and softly refused, "Your Highness, this is against the rules."

She couldn't help but recall that day at the Second Prince's residence, when he humiliated her by reaching under her skirt in front of many guests.

What will he do today, in front of Lu Huaiyou?

Yan Chenghui remained silent, his long arms encircling her slender waist, and with a slight pull, he drew her to his side.

Cen Lingyi, protecting Yan Huaijiao in her arms, could only sit down following his force.

Their shoulders were touching, too close for her to bear, and she could smell the crisp ebony scent emanating from him.

The flower hall was deathly silent, and the three people opposite them stared at the scene.

Lu Huaiyou clenched his fist instantly.

His sending Cen Lingyi to the Eastern Palace was a temporary measure, not a genuine attempt to push her towards Yan Chenghui, nor was it out of heartlessness towards Cen Lingyi.

He only thought that one day when he stood on high ground, he would naturally be able to bring her back to his side and protect her well.

This was the second time that Yan Chenghui had forced Cen Lingyi to sit close to him in front of him.

It’s so deceiving!

In the entire hall, only the clueless Yan Huaijiao was overjoyed. He had one arm around Cen Lingyi's neck and the other hand on Yan Chenghui's clothes. He looked around, grinning from ear to ear, forgetting to swallow his saliva, which hung from the corner of his mouth.

Cen Lingyi lifted a handkerchief and wiped his face.

The gazes of Lu Huaiyou and the other two made her feel like she was being pricked by needles, so she moved to the side.

The next instant, Yan Chenghui pulled his iron arm back, dragging her even closer.

She leaned against him almost simultaneously with Yan Huaijiao.

Yan Huaijiao was even happier, laughing out loud, and bouncing around in her arms with her little feet kicking.

"Your Highness, Lord Lu and his family are watching, please don't do this."

Cen Lingyi straightened up, suppressing her embarrassment, and whispered a reminder to Yan Chenghui.

"Wouldn't it be more exciting for him to watch?"

Yan Chenghui lowered his head and leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her earlobe. His posture was extremely intimate, and his flirtatious words were like sharp blades.

Cen Lingyi's face paled for a moment, she lowered her long, dark eyelashes, and remained silent.

He always knew what kind of words could humiliate her.

Princess Anshun watched this scene with resentment flashing in her eyes.

The current situation is that Yan Chenghui and Cen Lingyi are sitting side by side at the head of the table, while the three of them are sitting at the very bottom.

His Highness the Crown Prince is fine, given his noble status, he should naturally sit at the head of the table.

But what gives Cen Lingyi the right?

How dare a lowly wet nurse put herself above her?

Yan Chenghui picked up his jade chopsticks, glanced at the three of them, and asked, "Why isn't Lord Lu eating?"

Lu Huaiyou looked at the dishes in front of him and remained silent.

How could he eat when he saw his beloved being so close to Yan Chenghui?

"Yes, it moves. Thank you, Your Highness."

Lu's mother quietly nudged Lu Huaiyou.

Lu Huaiyou then picked up his chopsticks.

The three of them only dared to eat the dishes prepared by their own family. As for the dishes that Yan Chenghui had taken up most of the table, they naturally dared not overstep their bounds.

Yan Chenghui put down his jade chopsticks, parted the ice slices on the plate, picked up a chilled lychee, and slowly peeled it open.

Princess Anshun looked at the lychee and couldn't help but swallow.

Lychees in summer are a delicacy from heaven. They come from Lingnan, thousands of miles away. Even if they are chilled and sent to the capital by fast horse, only one in ten survives. Only the royal family can eat them.

She ate one when she was a child and still remembers its sweet and tender taste.

Lu Huaiyou and her son also witnessed this scene.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yan Chenghui held the peeled lychee and fed it to Cen Lingyi's lips.

Cen Lingyi felt a little sweet juice on her lips and instinctively backed away.

When I was a child, His Majesty once rewarded my father with ten lychees.

She received two and gave one to Yan Chenghui without hesitation.

Yan Chenghui only ate half a pill, but seeing that she still wanted more, he fed her the remaining half.

I still remember him saying that day that he would work hard and make sure she could eat her fill in the future.

Clearly, he wasn't keeping his promise; he was deliberately being intimate with Lu Huaiyou in order to humiliate her.

Tell her not to forget how she abandoned him in the first place.

Open your mouth.

Yan Chenghui's gaze fell on her glistening lips, and he pressed the lychee against them once more.

His fingers were long, clean, and white as jade. He held a translucent lychee, his fingertips glistening with sweet juice.

The glistening juice seeped from between the fingers, looking incredibly tempting.

Cen Lingyi couldn't avoid it; her eyelashes trembled slightly, but she kept her lips tightly pressed together, refusing to open her mouth.

She only gets one day off a month, a rare day of freedom and dignity, yet he refuses to let her go even for a single day. Just how much does he hate her?

"Don't feed me alone, should I have Lord Lu feed me?"

Yan Chenghui stared at her and asked slowly and deliberately.