Nong Nu Jiao

"that is……"

Cen Lingyi took her hand off his neck and rubbed it against her lower abdomen a couple of times.

"What?"

Yan Chenghui was puzzled.

Cen Lingyi blushed and turned her head away, saying, "It seems I was injured when I gave birth to Huai Jiao, and I can't get pregnant again..."

At that time, because it was Huaijiao's first pregnancy, it was very difficult for her to give birth.

Yang Ziyun told her that her body was damaged.

However, Yang Ziyun said at the time that she would recover after half a year of recuperation, but she has not recovered yet.

Upon hearing this, Yan Chenghui chuckled: "Are you stupid?"

"How am I being silly?" Cen Lingyi pouted at him. "I'm being serious, and you're still laughing."

Isn't this a very sad thing?

Fortunately, she already had Huaijiao; otherwise, what would she have done if she couldn't have children?

"If your health is compromised, why has the imperial physician never mentioned it, despite examining your pulse so many times?"

Yan Chenghui asked her.

"Perhaps they didn't mention it because I didn't ask? Or maybe they didn't examine me?"

Cen Lingyi guessed.

"If you can have children, how many more would you like to have with me?"

Yan Chenghui lowered his head and pressed his forehead against hers.

"I don't want to have children."

Cen Lingyi's face was burning hot, as if she were standing next to a steamer, her face turning pink from the heat.

"Speak quickly."

Yan Chenghui rubbed his forehead against hers, urging her on.

"What's the point of talking about that now that we can't have children?"

Cen Lingyi started to feel sad again.

"You go first, I want to hear it."

Yan Chenghui pecked her lips again.

"I don't want too much." Cen Lingyi looked up at him, then shyly looked away. "I just want another daughter."

Childbirth is too painful, she doesn't want to have too many children.

But who wouldn't want both a son and a daughter?

As Huai Jiao grew older, he resembled Yan Chenghui more and more, always appearing very dignified.

How adorable would it be to have a sweet, chubby daughter who would cling to you and act cute?

Yan Chenghui chuckled.

"What's so good about it? You can't have children now."

Cen Lingyi squirmed in his arms.

"I can give birth, I promise."

Yan Chenghui grabbed her waist with both hands and pressed her closer to his chest.

How can you guarantee that?

Cen Lingyi looked at him, puzzled.

Yan Chenghui laughed: "Because I took a contraceptive pill before."

"What?" Cen Lingyi didn't react for a moment, and then said, "You mean, the contraceptive pills that young men take will prevent them from having children?"

"Um."

Yan Chenghui nodded with a smile.

"Why didn't you tell me you ate it? You made me sad for so long, you're so annoying!"

Cen Lingyi clenched her fist and punched him.

She even thought there was something wrong with her body. How annoying!

"You've been complaining about not wanting children, and I only ate it because I was afraid it would upset you. If I had known you wanted it, I wouldn't have eaten it."

Yan Chenghui grabbed her fist and laughed.

"Of course I couldn't accept her back then, since we had no official status or relationship."

Cen Lingyi gave a soft snort, lowered her fist, and leaned closer, resting her forehead against his collarbone.

"I'm sorry, Huai Jiao has no official status or relationship with you."

The more Yan Chenghui thought about it, the more guilty he felt, and the more he felt sorry for her.

"Why didn't Huai Jiao get married? We were engaged back then and preparing to get married." Cen Lingyi disagreed: "Besides, it was my own choice."

"Hmm." Yan Chenghui stroked her smooth hair. "This time, we'll wait until we're married before having any."

Cen Lingyi chuckled and pushed him away, saying, "No way."

Yan Chenghui patted her back lightly and smiled.

"Yan Chenghui, shouldn't you take a nap? Aren't you tired?"

It was only then that Cen Lingyi remembered.

He has been recuperating at the Eastern Palace these days, and he takes a nap every afternoon.

"Sleep with me for a while."

Yan Chenghui picked her up.

"Put me down!"

Cen Lingyi exclaimed, "Your injuries haven't healed yet! Hurry up!"

She was so anxious that she kept patting his arm.

Yan Chenghui followed her lead and bent down to place her on the ground.

"He's almost fully recovered."

He looked at her and smiled.

You scared me to death!

Cen Lingyi punched him lightly, afraid that his wound would reopen.

"Come."

Yan Chenghui led her to the bedside.

"I can't sleep. I just woke up and can't fall back asleep."

Cen Lingyi pulled her hand back.

"If you coax me to sleep, I won't be able to sleep either."

Yan Chenghui forcibly dragged her to sit down on the bed.

"If you can't sleep, then don't try to sleep."

Cen Lingyi pushed his hand away.

His health is gradually improving, and now as soon as he gets into bed, his hands and feet become restless.

"No, my wound hurts if I don't sleep."

Yan Chenghui held her hand tightly.

"Come on, don't even try." Cen Lingyi slapped his hand that was holding hers. "You're not honest at all."

"I promise I'll just hold you and won't touch you. I've been standing in the Golden Palace all day, I'm exhausted."

Yan Chenghui pulled her into his arms again.

"Oh well."

Hearing him say that, Cen Lingyi felt sorry for him and lay down on the bed with him.

Yan Chenghui kept his word and simply held her without making any physical advances as he had done before.

"Go to sleep."

Cen Lingyi looked up at him.

"You haven't asked me yet what happened to Yan Qingci."

Yan Chenghui closed his eyes, his arm around her, and he was holding her hand.

What became of Yan Qingci? What became of Lu Huaiyou?

Cen Lingyi simply asked them all at once.

"Yan Qingci was demoted to a commoner and exiled to the southern frontier, never to return to the capital. Lu Huaiyou sentenced him to immediate execution."

Yan Chenghui did not open his eyes, but told her about all the things Yan Qingci and Lu Huaiyou had done.

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi frowned and remained silent for a long time.

"What are you thinking about?"

Yan Chenghui opened his eyes and looked at her.

"I'm wondering why Lu Huaiyou would do this," Cen Lingyi said. "Yan Qingci's aim to seize your position as crown prince is understandable. But what about Lu Huaiyou? My father has been incredibly kind to their family; why would he scheme against us from the very beginning?"

She really didn't expect that Lu Huaiyou would harbor ill intentions towards the Cen family so early on.

How can there be such a bad person?

"Has your family offended him?"

He invited Huiwen to a banquet.

Cen Lingyi shook her head: "How could that be? I..."

"girl?"

There was a knock at the door; it was Yun Que.

Cen Lingyi was interrupted and couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"

"Someone from the Ministry of Justice has come and said they need to see the young lady."

Yun Que replied from outside.

"People from the Ministry of Justice? What do they want with me?"

Cen Lingyi was puzzled and turned to look at Yan Chenghui.

"Let's go take a look."

Yan Chenghui straightened up.

"Don't go, I'll go by myself."

Cen Lingyi stopped him.

She hadn't done anything wrong anyway, so she wasn't afraid when the Ministry of Justice came looking for her.

"I'll stay with you."

Yan Chenghui insisted on getting up.

Cen Lingyi couldn't dissuade him, so the two got up, changed their clothes, and left Mingde Hall together.

The Vice Minister of Justice and others were in the side hall at the front.

Yan Chenghui led Cen Lingyi across the threshold.

The official hurriedly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble official greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and the young lady."

Now everyone in the court knows that this Miss Cen is the Crown Prince's darling and will soon be his Crown Princess. Grand Tutor Cen is also about to return to the capital to be reinstated.

Therefore, everyone who saw Cen Lingyi treated her with utmost respect.

"You came to see me, is there something you need?"

Cen Lingyi glanced at him; he looked unfamiliar, she had never seen him before.

"That's how it is," the Vice Minister replied. "His Majesty has sentenced Lu Huaiyou to immediate execution, and the Ministry of Justice is about to carry it out. Before executing such a prisoner, the Ministry of Justice always asks him if he has any wishes. Lu Huaiyou's wish is to see you one more time, Miss. I have come on orders from my superior to inquire whether you would be willing to see him?"

Cen Lingyi and Yan Chenghui exchanged a glance, and without much hesitation, nodded and said, "Okay."

She was also curious as to why Lu Huaiyou would do such a thing to harm their family.

*

The Ministry of Justice prison was very cold and damp, with a putrid smell and the stench of rust.

Although Lu Huaiyou had just entered the prison, he was already shackled and sentenced to immediate execution. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes had lost their light. He had completely lost his former gentleness and looked like a different person.

Be careful.

Yan Chenghui led Cen Lingyi to Lu Huaiyou's cell and stopped.

Lu Huaiyou, who had been leaning against the wall with a blank expression, suddenly brightened up when he saw Cen Lingyi.

"Jiaojiao!"

He stood up abruptly, the chains binding him rattling.

Yan Chenghui was somewhat displeased, and his gaze turned cold.

Is that what he calls Jiaojiao?

Sensing his displeasure, Cen Lingyi gently shook his hand.

Yan Chenghui slightly softened his imposing manner, but still stood protectively by her side.

"Why did you bring him here? This is the last time you'll see me, and you've brought him with you!"

Lu Huaiyou gripped the fence with both hands, his behavior somewhat frantic.

He stared intently at the beautiful woman before him, his eyes churning with a complex mix of emotions: obsession, jealousy, inferiority, and even madness...

"My Cen family has treated you well, why did you do that? Why did you conspire with the Second Prince to frame my father?"

Cen Lingyi stared at him coldly, her eyes filled with hatred and incomprehension.

Why?

Lu Huaiyou laughed loudly, his voice filled with sorrow.

"You ask me why? Don't you know why? You may not know, but your father certainly does!"

"My father would never do anything to betray your Lu family."

Cen Lingyi said coldly.

"You wouldn't do anything to betray the Lu family? Then do you know how my father died?"

Lu Huaiyou was somewhat excited and couldn't help but raise his voice.

"I know that your father was a retainer in our Cen family. Back then, he embezzled money and was kicked out of the mansion by my father. He committed suicide out of shame."

Cen Lingyi was still young at that time, and her father and mother did not avoid talking to her.

She was playing in the house when this happened, and she overheard her parents talking about it.

"You only know the result, but not the process." Lu Huaiyou sneered, "The money my father embezzled is not even a drop in the ocean for your Cen family, yet Cen Qingshan insisted on holding a grudge against my father, driving him out in front of so many guests, disgracing my father for half his life. My father committed suicide because he was too ashamed."

"He did something wrong, and he chose to commit suicide. What does it have to do with my family?"

Seeing his self-righteous attitude, Cen Lingyi couldn't help but feel indignant.

"My father was wrong, but for such a small amount of money, did Cen Qingshan really have to publicly humiliate him?" Lu Huaiyou said resentfully. "After my father committed suicide, my mother and I wandered from place to place, homeless. All our suffering was thanks to Cen Qingshan!"

"What you're saying is utterly ridiculous." Cen Lingyi looked at him, no longer able to muster any anger, only feeling that he was both pitiful and despicable: "You and your mother had nowhere to go, so you begged my father and mother for help, and then didn't you and your mother eventually return to my home?"