Nong Nu Jiao

"My parents were kind enough to take you and your son in. The Cen family provided you with shelter, food and clothing, and allowed you to study at the clan school. They gave you your only way to survive. In what way have they wronged you?" Cen Lingyi stared at him. "Now it seems that we really shouldn't have taken you in. A small favor is appreciated, but a large one breeds resentment. This saying is absolutely true."

She never imagined that the Cen family would raise an enemy.

If she had known this would happen, she would have preferred that her parents hadn't been so kind.

Yan Chenghui tenderly pulled her into his arms.

"Everyone tells me I should be grateful to the Cen family, and you think so too. But only I know that all my suffering was caused by the Cen family. You owe me this, and you should have taken care of me!"

"You've made me live a life of dependence since childhood, relying on others and having to be subservient to them. Your Cen family is a prestigious and powerful clan, while I am just an ant clinging to life on your pity. I never needed to live like this!"

His eyes were fixed on Cen Lingyi, filled with years of pent-up infatuation and obsession, as he roared in resentment.

"When I was young, I could often see you from afar. Back then, you were the center of attention, bright and charming, as noble as the moon in the clouds. You were the apple of everyone's eye, as if all the good things in the world revolved around you."

"And what about me? I'm utterly pathetic. Even just glancing at you from afar is considered presumptuous! I only looked at you, and they defended you like that. Why?"

"From that moment on, poison and hatred took root in my heart. We were both born as human beings, so why was I born lowly while you were high above, untouched by the dust of the world?"

"I desperately want you, but you only have eyes for him!"

He suddenly raised his finger and pointed at Yan Chenghui.

"I watched you two go everywhere together, watched you two be so affectionate, watched him kiss your forehead under the moonlight, watched you get engaged, and watched you prepare for the wedding together. Jiaojiao, do you know how much my heart ached at that time?"

Lu Huaiyou clutched his chest, his eyes bloodshot, his expression crazed.

Seeing him like this, Cen Lingyi felt disgusted and horrified, and couldn't help but shrink back.

She never knew that Lu Huaiyou harbored such feelings for her.

Luckily she didn't know early on, otherwise, she would have been disgusted for many more days.

"Jiaojiao, don't be afraid."

Yan Chenghui tightened his grip on her hand.

Cen Lingyi held onto his clothes and felt the warmth emanating from him, which calmed her heart once again.

"Since I can't have you, I'll destroy you with my own hands! That's why I've allied myself with the Second Prince, helping him frame Cen Qingshan and personally bringing down the entire Cen family. I want to watch this prestigious family crumble, watch you, the moon, fall from the clouds to the dust, and watch everything be under my control!"

"When you were bewildered and crying, pleading with me for help at the brothel, do you know how happy I was? That was the happiest moment of my life!"

"I redeemed you from your servitude, watching with my own eyes as the once pampered and noble eldest daughter of the Cen family fell to become the most lowly person in the world. I crushed all your pride bit by bit, watching you grovel before me, fawning over me at every turn, treating me like a good person. Do you know how ridiculous you looked...?"

He finished speaking and then burst into laughter.

"I did it! I did it! Hahaha..."

"You succeeded, but the price you paid was your life." Cen Lingyi said calmly, suppressing her anger and disgust. "And my father will soon be reinstated, and our Cen family will soon regain its former glory. People like you and your father are like rats in the gutter or poisonous snakes in the grass; you deserve to end up like this."

Upon hearing her words, Lu Huaiyou was filled with hatred. The veins on his neck bulged, and he shook the bars frantically. The chains clanged against the bars, his eyes were bloodshot, his face was contorted, and he roared fiercely.

"What will become of me? So what if I end up like this! I've witnessed the collapse of the Cen family mansion, and I've seen you fall into the brothel..."

"Cen Lingyi, do you know what I regret most? I regret keeping my promise too much, taking you too seriously, and not sleeping with you while we were faking our marriage..."

"I'm tormented day and night, regretting this every day. If I had slept with you back then, I would have no regrets in this life..."

"Jiaojiao, don't listen."

Yan Chenghui covered Cen Lingyi's ears and walked outside.

After taking a few steps, he stopped and ordered Yun Que, "Cut out his tongue."

Saying such foul language is disgusting, even to his beloved daughter.

Soon, heart-wrenching screams echoed from inside the prison.

Cen Lingyi had already walked out of the prison and was breathing in the fresh air outside.

"Jiaojiao, don't be sad."

Inside the carriage, Yan Chenghui held her hand and comforted her.

"My father didn't do anything wrong, he just misjudged the person, right?"

Cen Lingyi was still very sad.

Such good people as parents saved such a jackal, almost harming their whole family.

Yan Chenghui sighed and pulled her into his arms: "It's all in the past now."

Cen Lingyi nestled in his arms and nodded.

Everything is starting to get better.

*

As autumn deepens, the trees in the courtyard begin to shed their leaves.

Cen Lingyi counted the days on her fingers every day, wondering when her parents would arrive in the capital.

"How many days left?"

Yan Chenghui noticed that she was sitting in a daze, so he went over to tease her.

"They didn't say exactly when they'd be back." Cen Lingyi looked up at him and said, "Maybe seven or eight days, ten days at most."

Yan Chenghui smiled and took her hand: "Come with me."

"Where to?"

Cen Lingyi asked him.

"Go try on the wedding dress; there's still time to alter it if it doesn't fit."

Yan Chenghui led her outside.

"Isn't that something I have to prepare myself?"

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but ask.

She remembered that daughters were supposed to embroider their own wedding dresses.

Forget about her; she can't embroider anymore, but she can buy it.

"I'll take care of everything; you just need to send someone."

Yan Chenghui looked at her with a smile.

The two entered the embroidery workshop, where the embroiderers were busy at work.

Upon seeing the two, they both stood up and bowed.

"Your Highness, Miss Cen."

"No need for such formalities."

Yan Chenghui waved his hand.

He led Cen Lingyi into the house.

Dasheng wedding attire emphasizes red for the groom and green for the bride.

The Crown Prince's wedding attire was bright red, embroidered with gold dragons, and adorned with a jade belt, its brilliance subdued.

Cen Lingyi's wedding dress was a dark blue silk skirt.

The skirt is embroidered with phoenixes singing in harmony and peonies all over the ground with gold thread on a green background, making it luxurious and eye-catching.

She wore an overgarment of emerald green, with a string of full pearls hanging from the end. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with vermilion brocade, the red and green colors complementing each other, creating a solemn and elegant look, which was the formal wedding dress of the Crown Princess.

"So beautiful."

Cen Lingyi's fingertips landed on the phoenix on her skirt, her eyes filled with amazement.

"like?"

A hint of a smile appeared in Yan Chenghui's eyes.

"Hmm, I'll give it a try."

Cen Lingyi was eager to try.

"I'll help you."

Yan Chenghui picked up the wedding dress and went forward to help her change.

Her slender figure was wrapped in a deep green silk skirt, with gold threads shimmering in the light. A green shawl hung down, and pearl pendants swayed and tinkled with her movements.

"Jiaojiao, turn around."

Yan Chenghui helped her up.

Cen Lingyi slowly turned around to face him.

Yan Chenghui paused, taking a deep breath.

This outfit suits her perfectly. Her skin is like jade, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes are sparkling, her eyelashes are long and thick, and her lips are like a touch of cinnabar. Having experienced the vicissitudes of life, she has shed the naivety of her youth, and her eyes and brows are bright and beautiful, so beautiful that they dazzle the eyes.

"It seems just right."

Cen Lingyi blushed under his gaze and looked down at her clothes.

"No need to change it, just wear it like this after the wedding."

Yan Chenghui snapped out of his daze, his voice a little hoarse.

"Let me take it off."

Cen Lingyi reached out to undo her belt.

Yan Chenghui stepped forward to help.

Cen Lingyi suddenly remembered and asked him, "Has His Majesty agreed? Let's get married."

Judging from Emperor Shengwu's attitude, she doubted he would readily agree.

"We'll go to the palace together later to speak with Father."

Yan Chenghui said calmly.

Will he agree?

Cen Lingyi's hand stopped moving involuntarily.

"Yes, we have the imperial edict."

Cen Lingyi paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "You mean Auntie is a royal sword?"

That's true; Consort Xiao was specifically designed to bring misfortune to Emperor Shengwu.

Despite Emperor Shengwu's tight-lipped stance on his father's matter, Consort Xiao managed to pry it open.

"That is our mother."

Yan Chenghui helped her put her clothes back on.

"It's not time to change our tune yet."

Cen Lingyi retorted with a smile.

"Don't worry, even if Father Emperor disagrees, we will still get married."

Yan Chenghui hugged her.

Cen Lingyi leaned against him, breathing in his familiar scent, and felt incredibly at ease.

She nodded: "I believe you."

After trying on the clothes, Yan Chenghui took Cen Lingyi directly into the palace.

Emperor Shengwu stood in the Imperial Garden, gazing absently at a cluster of flowers.

"Father."

The banquet was held in Huizhou.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Cen Lingyi followed him by bowing, her heart pounding with trepidation.

Although she trusted Yan Chenghui, she still couldn't help but feel intimidated when she saw Emperor Shengwu.

After all, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, and Emperor Shengwu was a very difficult person to get along with, and he was also very suspicious.

Emperor Shengwu walked forward with his hands behind his back, examining the two of them.

Cen Lingyi became even more uneasy under his gaze.

"You two, once Cen Qingshan returns, hurry up and get the wedding done."

Emperor Shengwu suddenly spoke.

These words came out of nowhere, and Cen Lingyi was a little stunned. She subconsciously looked at Yan Chenghui.

Weren't they here to ask Emperor Shengwu for their blessing? Why is Emperor Shengwu taking the initiative to propose that they get married?

"Your subject obeys the decree."

Yan Chenghui agreed immediately.

Regardless of his father's reasons for saying this, he agreed first.

Emperor Shengwu did not speak again, but sighed and took a few steps forward.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but look at Yan Chenghui again. Emperor Shengwu was sighing and looked like he had something on his mind.

An emperor who has just won a battle and made the Northern Di a vassal state, what else is there to worry about?

"When you have some free time, go and visit your mother."

Emperor Shengwu turned around and slowly spoke.

"What's wrong with Mother?"

Yan Chenghui frowned.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but prick up her ears.

No wonder Emperor Shengwu seemed preoccupied; it turns out it was related to the Imperial Concubine.

"It turns out she has a quick temper. When she gets annoyed, she throws plates and smashes cups, daring to confront me to my face. I was annoyed back then, thinking I should teach her to be more docile." Emperor Shengwu said with a troubled expression, "Ever since you were recuperating in the Eastern Palace, she's seemed to have lost her spirit. Now it's even worse. She's listless and slumped on the soft couch all day. She ignores me when I visit and doesn't even utter a word of scolding. I regret it now. If I had known she would become like this if she had become more docile, she would be much more lively and energetic than before."

He's overwhelmed with lawsuits and is nearly driven to despair.

Cen Lingyi rarely saw him speak like this; he didn't seem like a high and mighty emperor, but rather seemed more human.

She wondered to herself if the Imperial Concubine's symptoms indicated that she was ill.

"Did Father Emperor summon any imperial physicians to treat Mother?"

Yan Chenghui asked.

"She has been diagnosed." Emperor Shengwu sighed again. "The imperial physician said it's due to emotional distress and internal injury from the seven emotions. She has no physical ailments, but it's a mental illness. She needs to calm her mind and soothe her emotions to gradually resolve the knot in her heart. It cannot be cured by medicine. Therefore, I think you should hold the wedding as soon as possible. Once she's in a better mood, she might recover."