Nong Nu Jiao

As Yan Chenghui's condition improved day by day, Cen Lingyi no longer found the days so difficult to endure.

More than half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

Yan Chenghui went from feeling tired after keeping his eyes open for a while and speaking with a weak breath, to no longer lying in bed all day and being able to sit, lie down, and move around freely every day.

The imperial physician is right; Yan Chenghui has a good constitution and will recover quickly.

afternoon.

Yan Chenghui's court robes were laid flat on the table, and Cen Lingyi was carefully tidying them up, ironing the parts that needed ironing.

If a court robe hasn't been worn for a long time, it must be starched and ironed before wearing it again.

She lowered her long eyelashes, focusing intently on the movements of her hands.

Yan Chenghui stood to one side, watching her for a long time, but she didn't notice.

He slowly stepped forward, opened his arms, and embraced her from behind.

"These chores can be done by servants; why do you have to do them yourself?"

Cen Lingyi paused in her movements, then smiled and said, "You're going to wear this court robe to the imperial court to speak on behalf of my father, so how can I not personally take good care of you?"

Yan Chenghui rested his chin on the top of her head, took a deep breath of her fragrance, and tightened his arms around her.

He lowered his head, his nose lightly brushing against her hair, his tone ambiguous: "What's so great about clothes? Why not serve me instead?"

Cen Lingyi stiffened, pushed away his hand that was around her waist, and scolded him with a flushed face: "How many days have you been able to walk freely? You're already thinking about something else!"

She punched him in the chest.

There really can't be any room for improvement.

"Haven't we been intimate for years?" Yan Chenghui snuggled closer to her again, nuzzling her. "It has its own thoughts, and I can't control it."

"Can't control it?"

Cen Lingyi turned to look at him, her skin as white as snow, her cheeks flushed, her beauty captivating.

Yan Chenghui's heart fluttered, and he leaned down to kiss her cheek: "Mmm."

I just can't control myself; I can't control myself when I see her.

"To achieve permanent peace through cessation."

Cen Lingyi turned back to continue tidying her clothes, and replied to him with a smile.

"How could you be so heartless to treat me like this?"

Yan Chenghui burst out laughing.

"It's not cruel of you; it's for your own good."

Cen Lingyi suppressed a laugh.

"What can you do for my own good?"

Yan Chenghui entwined himself even closer.

"If you cut it off, you'll live to be nine thousand years old."

Cen Lingyi finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The eunuch of the previous dynasty held power and was known as "Nine Thousand Years Old".

Yan Chenghui also laughed: "I don't want to live that long."

He turned her around.

"Jiaojiao..."

"No!"

Cen Lingyi placed her hands on his chest, speaking with righteous indignation.

"The imperial physician said that it will take at least three months for your body to recover its strength."

"Not within three months."

He lost so much blood, and his wounds haven't fully healed yet. How can he indulge in lust?

She wouldn't let him have his way.

"I know my own body."

Yan Chenghui put his arm around her waist and lowered his head to kiss her.

"I said no, and that's final." Cen Lingyi placed her hand on his lips. "Besides, you said you'd marry me. Who says they'll marry me before the wedding..."

She lowered her eyelashes.

Yan Chenghui recalled the past and felt apologetic.

"Everything that happened before was my fault..."

Although they consensually engaged in marital relations without being married, he ultimately couldn't control himself, causing her to become pregnant and give birth alone, suffering greatly as a result.

Ultimately, it was his fault.

"I'm not thinking about the past," Cen Lingyi interrupted him. "I just want you to get well."

Now that she has decided to let go of the past, she is not going to think about it anymore.

Why get upset over nothing?

Yan Chenghui kissed her palm, his gaze falling on her lips, his eyes shining: "Then let me kiss you."

Cen Lingyi withdrew her hand, placed both hands on his shoulders, tiptoed over, and pecked him on the lips.

"alright."

She withdrew her hand and turned to leave.

"Don't even think about getting away with this."

Yan Chenghui grabbed her.

Cen Lingyi looked up and was immediately met with his eyes, which were filled with tenderness and affection, causing her heart to skip a beat.

Yan Chenghui leaned down and covered her lips with his.

Yan Chenghui lowered his head slightly and gently covered her lips with his.

He gently traced the shape of her lips, restrainedly and tenderly prying them open.

Cen Lingyi's eyelashes fluttered wildly; this was their first kiss in several years.

She even forgot to breathe for a moment, her body stiffening slightly as he held her in his arms.

Yan Chenghui slowly deepened the kiss, patiently and gently soothing her.

All the past grievances, suspicions, and grudges slowly melted away in this intimate touch.

He held her face in his hands as if kissing a priceless treasure, lost and found again; he cherished her dearly.

Their breaths mingled, and all they could hear was each other's rapid breathing and heartbeats.

After a long while, he slowly withdrew, but his lips remained gently pressed against hers, unwilling to part.

He looked at her.

Her eyes were moist, her eyelashes were curled and upturned, and she blinked gently, as if she were bewitching his soul.

His heart was burning with passion, and he took her hand and pressed it against his heart.

Cen Lingyi pursed her lips and lowered her eyelashes, too embarrassed to look at him again.

His heartbeat, through the thin fabric, struck her palm.

"Jiaojiao, it still hurts here."

He pressed his forehead against hers and spoke with a hint of grievance.

"You still haven't told me where the wound on your chest came from?" Cen Lingyi suddenly remembered this: "And where did the whip marks on your back come from?"

She always wanted to know where his injuries came from.

But before, he didn't like her.

When she asked him, he became angry and said many unpleasant things.

She didn't dare ask anymore after that.

Now she could ask openly and honestly, and of course she wanted to ask.

"Don't you know where the wound in my heart came from?"

Yan Chenghui frowned, stepped back a little, and turned his head to look at her.

"How would I know?" Cen Lingyi asked, frowning, her expression innocent and puzzled. "Should I know?"

Why does he look at her like that?

Did she miss something she should know?

"You didn't stab me?"

Seeing her expression, Yan Chenghui was no longer so sure.

But he clearly saw her eyes; they were her eyes!

"Why would I stab you?" Cen Lingyi pulled her hand back, even more puzzled. "Why do you say that?"

"The night you left with Lu Huaiyou, I sneaked into the inn to look for you..."

Yan Chenghui's gaze was dark, and he seemed to be transported back to that rainy night.

The night was dark, and the cold rain pelted his face.

His headache flared up again.

During the day, when he saw her leave with Lu Huaiyou, he went mad.

The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became. He disregarded everything and sneaked into the inn, determined to persuade her to go with him.

Fortunately, she didn't share a room with Lu Huaiyou.

She was dressed in plain clothes, her hair loose, and sat at the table with her back to him.

He had never been wary of her before, so he stepped forward and urged her to come with him.

But the next moment, a cold light suddenly shone in her hand.

Caught off guard, and with a splitting headache, the sharp dagger plunged straight into his heart.

He looked up in disbelief and saw her cold, resolute eyes hidden in her disheveled hair.

Thinking of this, Yan Chenghui covered the wound in his heart with his hand.

He remembered that dagger ever since.

When they met again later, the wound became an unbreakable barrier between them.

He always thought that she wanted him dead, which was why he couldn't control himself, loving her yet hating her at the same time.

"After I left the Jiaofangsi with Lu Huaiyou, I didn't stay for a moment. I left the capital and went straight to where he was working." Cen Lingyi looked on with a look of reminiscence and slowly shook her head: "It was raining that night, but I followed him in the rain and did not stay at an inn. On the way, I even thought that you must have a headache with such heavy rain."

"So, the person who hurt me back then wasn't you at all."

Yan Chenghui's voice became hoarse.

Cen Lingyi was about to speak.

Yan Chenghui hugged her tightly, burying his face in her neck, his voice trembling slightly.

"Jiaojiao, I'm sorry. I've suffered for so many years, and I've resented you for so many years, but in the end, it wasn't you who did it..."

"I misunderstood you..."

His eyes were red, and he was almost in tears.

She suffered so much injustice while she was with him.

"But I have no proof," Cen Lingyi hugged him back. "Do you believe me?"

Why don't you believe me? I believe everything you say.

Yan Chenghui nuzzled against her, his voice deep and gentle.

"Alright then, I'll believe you too."

Cen Lingyi reciprocated.

"Believe me about what?"

Yan Chenghui was puzzled.

"I believe you haven't been with any other women," Cen Lingyi said matter-of-factly. "And you have no way to prove it, do you?"

"I never touched them."

Yan Chenghui raised his head, feeling utterly wronged.

"Yes, I believe you."

Cen Lingyi nodded very seriously.

"Why do I feel like you're saying you believe, but actually you don't?"

Yan Chenghui frowned, his heart filled with distress.

The Sun family members are all dead, including the maid who served in the Mingde Hall for a few days.

He really couldn't produce any evidence.

"I didn't." Cen Lingyi hugged his slender waist. "Then you still haven't told me how you got the whip marks on your back?"

"He was beaten by the Emperor for pleading for his father-in-law."

Yan Chenghui embraced her, speaking casually.

Cen Lingyi choked up and couldn't speak for a moment.

No wonder he got angry whenever she asked him this before.

That makes sense. From his perspective, she stabbed him, but his injury was for her father.

How could he not be angry when she asked him?

Knowing the source of his two injuries, many things on her mind were immediately relieved.

"It's alright, it doesn't hurt anymore." Yan Chenghui kissed her forehead: "Don't overthink it."

"Did you see who stabbed you? Was it my face?"

Cen Lingyi placed her hand back on the wound below his heart.

The injury still hurts, which shows how serious it was.

She was completely unaware of it.

How difficult it must have been for him to bear all that pain alone back then?

She felt a pang of heartache just thinking about it.

"Her hair was messy, so I couldn't see her face clearly. I could only see her eyes, and they looked a lot like yours."

Yan Chenghui said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi's heart stirred, and she suddenly opened her eyes wide, remaining silent for a moment.

She suddenly remembered someone.

It matches what Yan Chenghui said; her eyes are very similar to hers.

But what reason did he have to do that?