Nong Nu Jiao

"He is my son, why can't I see him?"

Emperor Shengwu still wanted to go to the inner palace.

He doesn't want to see you.

Xiao Yulou is closing the door.

"Even the Crown Prince himself hasn't said anything, how do you know?"

Emperor Shengwu raised his hand and pushed the door open.

Cen Lingyi stood to the side, bewildered, watching them argue like two children.

"Jiaojiao..."

Yan Chenghui, who was on the bed, was awakened by the noise and opened his eyes to call out to her.

Cen Lingyi walked over quickly and whispered, "His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine have arrived."

Yan Chenghui looked past her and toward the door.

Xiao Yulou was still pushing the door open, preventing Emperor Shengwu from entering.

"Mother."

Yan Chenghui called out.

Hearing his voice, Xiao Yulou turned around and asked, "Yuan Zhao, you're awake?"

"Let Father Emperor in."

Yan Chenghui weakly propped himself up.

Cen Lingyi helped him up and leaned against the headboard.

"Look, even the Crown Prince let me in."

Emperor Shengwu was quite pleased with himself.

Xiao Yulou was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore, so she opened the door and walked to the bedside.

"Yuan Zhao, how are you?"

"Mother, I am fine. Thank you for your concern."

Yan Chenghui rallied his spirits.

Cen Lingyi watched from the sidelines, feeling heartbroken.

He still has arrows in his body, so how come he's alright?

He told everyone he was fine, especially to her.

As the crown prince, he was considerate in every way, but he disregarded his own needs.

"You said you were fine." Xiao Yulou sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at him. "You've become so thin, tanned, and haggard. You almost died."

Yan Chenghui's complexion has changed since he left the capital so long.

"The winds are strong at the border; it's common for it to turn black."

Yan Chenghui said calmly.

"The Crown Prince is more manly than before."

Emperor Shengwu, standing behind, made conversation even when he had nothing to say.

"Father, please forgive me for not being able to get out of bed to perform the proper etiquette."

Yan Chenghui looked up at him.

Emperor Shengwu waved his hand, about to speak.

Xiao Yulou turned to him and said, "Having an arrow stuck in your back makes you even more of a man. This spirit is yours, do you want it?"

"That's not what I meant..."

Emperor Shengwu touched his nose and explained.

"Alright, shut up." Xiao Yulou said bluntly, "Since we're all here today, let's get this straight. Yuan Zhao went to the border for several years, risking his life to earn military merits, all for the sake of using those merits to get His Majesty's approval to reopen the Cen family's old case and clear Cen Qingshan's name. Your Majesty, please make a statement."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chenghui looked at Emperor Shengwu.

Cen Lingyi's eyelashes fluttered slightly, her heart filled with surprise.

Back then, before she left the capital, the Imperial Concubine was the one who took her to the palace for the last time.

At that time, the Imperial Concubine only told half of what she had said, saying that Yan Chenghui went to the border for...

Yan Chenghui interrupted her, saying that it was his own idea to go.

Now, according to the Imperial Concubine, Yan Chenghui insisted on taking command at the border in order to exonerate her father.

His goal was the same as his brother's.

But my brother is my father's biological son.

At that time, she had not yet found Huai Jiao, and it was when she hated Yan Chenghui the most.

He didn't hold a grudge against her at all, and was always thinking of her in every way.

Looking back now, she really was... ungrateful.

However, the Imperial Concubine's actions also surprised her.

She always felt that Emperor Shengwu, as an emperor, was extremely majestic, and that one had to speak to him in a roundabout and cautious manner.

Unexpectedly, the Imperial Concubine brought up such a big matter in front of His Majesty.

She looked down at what was in front of her, but her ears perked up, wondering if Emperor Shengwu would nod in agreement.

"The Crown Prince fought valiantly on the battlefield, wholeheartedly devoted to the country. This is a matter of state, and he is a man of great understanding. How could he possibly use his military achievements to blackmail me into reopening old cases? The Crown Prince could not possibly have such an intention. Consort, if you do not understand, please do not speak nonsense."

Emperor Shengwu glanced at Yan Chenghui on the bed.

His meaning was clear—he didn't want to reopen the Cen family's case.

The thought of bringing Cen Qingshan back, standing in the imperial court, and having to face Cen Qingshan's face every morning court session was unbearable.

He simply refused.

Back then, didn't Cen Qingshan win over the Imperial Concubine's heart with just his handsome face?

The fact that he didn't kill Cen Qingshan was already an extraordinary act of mercy.

Did he really think Cen Qingshan was hiding somewhere he didn't know?

He could tolerate the concubine's unreasonable behavior.

However, the Crown Prince is a reasonable person and shouldn't make things difficult for him.

Since he has made it so explicit, it's unlikely that Yan Chenghui would go against his wishes.

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi glanced at Yan Chenghui, her eyes dimming.

His Majesty still refused.

She didn't want Yan Chenghui to insist, lest he anger Emperor Shengwu, and she didn't know what he might do.

Unexpectedly, Yan Chenghui replied without hesitation, "Father, I have this idea."

As soon as he finished speaking, the inner hall fell silent.

Cen Lingyi looked up at him and gestured with her eyes that he should not speak to Emperor Shengwu like that.

When Emperor Shengwu gets angry, he's capable of anything.

She cared deeply for her family, but was even more worried about his safety.

At least my parents are still safe and sound, and can live peacefully in Hexi.

Having angered Emperor Shengwu, Yan Chenghui had no idea what would happen to him in the next moment.

Xiao Yulou looked at him approvingly.

Yan Chenghui is indeed her son; he should do this and explain things to Emperor Shengwu face to face.

Thinking of this, she turned to look at Emperor Shengwu, a hint of smugness in her eyes.

Now, Yan Chenghui said that he went to the border because of the injustice done to the Cen family.

What else could this tyrannical ruler say?

The emperor's face darkened, all traces of warmth vanished, and his eyes were filled with oppressive power.

"Has the Crown Prince grown too big for his britches and dared to defy my will?"

He didn't believe it, and Yan Chenghui didn't understand what he meant.

"Father, I fought on the border, partly to defend the country, and partly to use my military achievements to clear the name of the Cen family," Yan Chenghui said. "In addition, there is another matter I would like to ask for your forgiveness, Father."

"What is it?"

Emperor Shengwu lowered his eyebrows, clearly displeased.

"Behind my father's back, I transferred Cen Qingshan's son, Cen Lingzhi, to the border. He fought alongside the army for several years and made great contributions." Yan Chenghui's back ached, and sweat dripped from his forehead, but he continued, "Cen Lingzhi is willing to use his military merits to join me in requesting that Your Majesty reinvestigate the Cen family's case. I beg Your Majesty's permission."

He spent years on the border, surviving several brushes with death, all for the sake of seeking justice for Jiao Jiao's father.

At this time, he was seriously injured, which was the moment when he could most shake his father's resolve.

If the Emperor doesn't respond at this point, then this path is blocked.

He has to think of another way.

The emperor scoffed coldly, his eyes flashing with anger: "You've certainly thought things through. You unauthorizedly appointed the son of a disgraced official, exceptionally ordering Cen Lingzhi to join the army and command troops—overstepping your authority. I've already shown leniency by not punishing you out of consideration for your serious injuries. And yet you've gone too far, using military merit to threaten me?"

His face turned ashen, and his chest heaved with anger.

"Your Majesty, I have no intention of threatening you."

Yan Chenghui's eyes dimmed.

If the Emperor doesn't agree, then so be it; he'll find another way.

"Don't mention this matter again."

Emperor Shengwu's face was grim, his expression cold.

The inner palace fell silent once more.

Cen Lingyi sighed inwardly.

After so many years, and despite the sacrifices made by his brother and Yan Chenghui, Emperor Shengwu still refuses to give in.

Is there no hope for this?

Alternatively, they could only wait until Yan Chenghui ascended the throne to overturn their father's case and clear his name...

However, Emperor Shengwu is still vigorous in his old age, and is about the same age as his father. Will his father be able to live to see that day?

"Xiao Liu, where's Huai Jiao?"

Xiao Yulou suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the hall.

Her expression seemed no different from usual, as if nothing had happened.

Cen Lingyi perked up and said with a smile, "They're in the side hall."

"Have someone bring him over here so I can see him."

Xiao Yulou also smiled.

"Yes."

Cen Lingyi responded and turned to give the instructions.

Emperor Shengwu stood aside, frowning as he looked at the smile on Xiao Yulou's face.

Something's not right with the Imperial Concubine.

Normally, if he refused like this, she would definitely fly into a rage.

Is it because the Crown Prince and Cen Lingyi are present today that the Consort is willing to give him some face?

No, when has the Imperial Concubine ever considered his feelings?

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Lingzhi led Yan Huaijiao to the door.

"Mother."

He saw Cen Lingyi and stepped forward to greet her.

The little guy is already studying at the Imperial Academy, and he's been learning some etiquette these past few days, which is already proving useful.

"Come here." Cen Lingyi smiled slightly when she saw her son, took his hand and whispered, "Your imperial grandfather and the Imperial Concubine are here. Remember to bow and be respectful when you go in."

"Okay." Yan Huaijiao obediently agreed, "Mother, I remember."

The mother and son entered the inner hall.

"Grandson greets His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Imperial Concubine."

Yan Huaijiao immediately knelt down.

"Don't mention it, just call me Grandmother." Xiao Yulou helped him up and pulled him into her arms: "Let Grandmother take a good look at you."

"grandmother."

Yan Huaijiao smiled when he saw her kind and approachable manner.

This smile reveals the innocence that a child should have.

"Our Huai Jiao is really beautiful."

Xiao Yulou looked him over, her joy evident in her eyes.

The little guy is tall and thin, and has lost his baby fat from when he was a child. He has delicate features, and his eyebrow and eye contours are becoming more and more like Yan Chenghui, but he also has the beauty of Cen Lingyi.

Duanduan has a rare and beautiful appearance.

This was the first time she had looked at the child so carefully.

Previously, she had always assumed that the child was Xia Qinghe's, and had never treated him well.

Later, Xiao Liu brought the child to the palace. She found him somewhat pleasing to the eye, but she didn't particularly like him—the child she had always wanted was one of both Xiao Liu and Yan Chenghui.

Looking back now, she was really foolish. This little guy's eyebrows and eyes looked exactly like Xiao Liu's when he was little, but she didn't think much of it.

Yan Huaijiao smiled as he heard his grandmother praise him.

"Huai Jiao is beautiful."

Emperor Shengwu interrupted from the side.

Xiao Yulou, however, acted as if he didn't exist and completely ignored him.

She took Yan Huaijiao's hand, took off the gold bracelet from her wrist, and put it on his arm.

"Grandmother came in a hurry and didn't bring anything. This is for Huaijiao. Mother can pawn it later and buy you something you like."

She gave the instructions.

Yan Huaijiao couldn't help but turn to look at Cen Lingyi.

My mother said I shouldn't take things from other people without permission.

Can I keep my grandmother's things?

Before Cen Lingyi could react, Xiao Yulou removed the red gold hairpin, red gold hair ornament, and red gold earrings from her hair...

In a short while, she took off all her jewelry and handed it to Yan Huaijiao.

"Auntie, one is enough, please stop picking them."

Cen Lingyi was somewhat frightened by what she saw.

What's wrong with the Imperial Concubine?

She turned around and looked helplessly at Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui shook his head, his brows furrowed with exhaustion.

"Your Highness, what are you doing?"

Emperor Shengwu's expression finally changed.