Nong Nu Jiao

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Lingzhi looked at the magnificent gate of Kunning Palace with a joyful expression, followed by a group of palace servants.

Now, she is Cen Lingyi's aunt in charge of things.

"Has His Majesty...returned?"

Cen Lingyi asked the palace servants guarding the gate, and almost addressed Yan Chenghui as "Your Highness the Crown Prince" again.

"Not yet, but His Majesty sent word that if Her Majesty the Empress is tired, she may go to sleep first."

The palace maid bowed her head and replied respectfully.

"Your Majesty, please go inside first."

Lingzhi pushed open the door and helped Cen Lingyi step over the threshold.

The Kunning Palace was decorated festively, with vibrant red everywhere.

The ground was covered with red felt, which was soft to the touch and made no sound when stepped on.

Gilded "double happiness" characters were pasted on all four windows. On the long table in the center, a pair of tall, dragon-shaped red candles were burning. Neatly arranged in the center were layers of steamed buns, dates, chestnuts, peanuts, and other wedding cakes, their sweet aroma filling the air.

"Your Highness, please go in by yourself. I will stay outside and keep watch."

When they reached the door of the bridal chamber, Lingzhi stopped in her tracks.

Cen Lingyi stepped inside.

The curtains were made of bright red brocade woven with phoenixes and dragons, with tassels hanging down.

The bed was covered with a brocade quilt depicting dragons and phoenixes, and the bedding was embroidered with twin lotus flowers. The golden silk threads shimmered under the candlelight.

The table was also laden with fruit and wedding cakes, and there were also prepared scales and nuptial wine.

She sat down on the bed, sighed, and looked around.

From now on, this will be her place of residence.

She had put a lot of effort into decorating the East Palace's sleeping quarters, but she didn't get to stay there for the entire night.

That's how she became empress.

Even now, she still feels that everything is somewhat unreal.

She leaned against the headboard, lost in thought. The bridal chamber was silent, the aroma of wedding cakes lingering in the air. Yan Chenghui would probably be back soon.

She forced herself to stay awake, thinking that she still had so much to say to him.

But she had experienced too much that day, and she had gotten up early and was exhausted. In the end, she couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep on her pillow.

After midnight, Yan Chenghui entered Kunning Palace.

He pushed open the door to the inner hall, which was completely silent.

The moment his gaze fell on the bed, he slowed his steps.

Cen Lingyi leaned against the headboard, her body tilted to one side, her eyes closed, fast asleep.

Yan Chenghui approached and looked at her.

Her face had soft contours, long eyelashes drooped down, and the flickering warm light fell on her fair profile, making her look like a well-behaved and serene cat.

Yan Chenghui's eyes were full of affection and pity.

He went over and gently helped her lie down, intending to cover her with a blanket so she could sleep well.

With a slight movement, Cen Lingyi's eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes—today was her wedding day with Yan Chenghui, and she had suddenly become the Empress; she had many things on her mind and hadn't slept soundly.

She woke up as soon as Yan Chenghui touched her.

"You're back."

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw his tall figure standing in front of the bed, his shadow falling on her against the light.

She raised her hand to rub her eyes.

"I woke you up."

Yan Chenghui sat down on the edge of the bed.

"I didn't want to sleep either." Cen Lingyi sat up to look at him, then remembered and said, "You're the emperor now, Your Majesty."

His Majesty.

Calling him that feels a bit unfamiliar.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Yan Chenghui teased her.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, let me familiarize myself with the titles first."

Cen Lingyi smiled and called him several more times.

"Yes, my queen."

Yan Chenghui nodded in agreement.

The two looked at each other and couldn't help but chuckle.

"We drank nuptial wine."

Yan Chenghui made the suggestion.

"it is good."

Cen Lingyi naturally had no objection.

Yan Chenghui got up and brought out the nuptial wine. The vessel was a gourd cut in half, tied with a red thread, and with a peace and good fortune knot hanging from the bottom.

The two men each held one end of the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

"It's fruit wine."

Cen Lingyi pursed her lips; it was quite sweet.

Yan Chenghui placed the dressing table, one face up and one face down, under the bed.

Why was it placed like that?

Cen Lingyi was curious.

"The official in charge of rites taught me."

Yan Chenghui walked back and sat down next to her.

"How was your visit to Mother today?"

He asked her.

You'd never guess.

Speaking of this, Cen Lingyi perked up.

She glanced at the doorway: "Did you send them all away?"

"They're all outside the gate; they can't hear us."

Yan Chenghui put his arm around her.

"My mother's illness was feigned."

Cen Lingyi went straight ahead.

She was going to give him a big scare.

"Um."

Yan Chenghui nodded.

"Why aren't you surprised?" Cen Lingyi leaned closer to look at him. "I told you Mother's illness was feigned, why do you look like that?"

She was a little disappointed and kept asking him questions.

"I guessed it."

Yan Chenghui moved even closer to her.

"When?"

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but move closer to look at him.

As they talked, they unknowingly snuggled together.

Yan Chenghui's gaze fell on her rosy lips, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. He leaned over and kissed her before saying, "The first time I visited my mother."

"How did you figure that out?"

Cen Lingyi thought about it carefully.

She was there at the time, and she saw that her mother looked seriously ill, but there was nothing wrong with her.

"My mother's shoes were messy, which made it easy to tell that she had gone to bed in a hurry, and her hair was neatly styled, which didn't look like someone who had been lying down for many days."

Yan Chenghui explained it to her in detail.

"If you can tell, then Father Emperor should be able to tell too, right?"

Cen Lingyi thought for a moment and said.

"Father is just too worried to think straight."

The banquet was held in Huizhou.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? I've been worried about Mother for so long, and you just stood by and watched?"

Cen Lingyi frowned and complained to him.

"If I told you, Father would have already figured it out."

Yan Chenghui explained.

"All right."

Because she was indeed not as good as him at keeping her feelings to herself.

"Then how do you know that Father will choose to abdicate in your favor?"

She was curious and kept asking him questions.

When she previously said that Emperor Shengwu would not voluntarily abdicate, he confidently replied that he would.

"Because I am the same kind of person as my father."

Yan Chenghui pecked her lips again.

If it were him, he would also choose her over the throne.

"That……"

Cen Lingyi was about to speak again.

"Stop talking, Jiaojiao."

Yan Chenghui covered her lips with his large hand.

Cen Lingyi subconsciously looked up at him.

Their eyes met, and the air inside the hall seemed to suddenly become warmer.

The slivers of light fell into his dark pupils, reflecting her beautiful face. He looked at her, unwilling to look away even for a moment.

Her eyes were tinged with a faint red, and her clear pupils reflected his image, so full that no one else was there.

Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, like hooks, making everyone's heart itch.

There seemed to be invisible threads connecting their gazes, their eyes locked and intertwined, conveying more than a thousand words without uttering a single one.

Yan Chenghui raised his hand, gently brushed away the stray hairs that had fallen across her cheek, and cupped her face in his hands.

His warm fingertips brushed against her delicate skin, and the next moment, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers.

From the time he went to the border to today's wedding, he has not touched her for several years.

He had waited so long for this day; he really missed her.

"Well……"

Cen Lingyi didn't expect him to be so enthusiastic right away, so she couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

This was more like an encouragement to him.

His kisses grew increasingly fierce.

It wasn't enough to just kiss her lips; he kissed her cheeks, eyes, nose, ears, neck... He kissed every part of her body with devotion, from head to toe, not wanting to miss a single spot.

"Yan Chenghui..."

Cen Lingyi called out to him impatiently.

"Jiaojiao, call me husband."

Yan Chenghui bit her earlobe and rubbed against her.

"My husband..."

Cen Lingyi's face was flushed, and she murmured to herself.

"My darling is so good, your husband loves you so much, do you miss your husband?"

Yan Chenghui kissed her lips, his gaze fixed on her face.

She was so well-behaved and incredibly beautiful.

"Hmm, I want to..."

Cen Lingyi couldn't speak, so she bit his shoulder.

In a daze, she remembered that they were not the same as before, and she could no longer bite him like that.

She relented.

"Jiaojiao, bite me, bite me."

Yan Chenghui coaxed her in a hoarse voice.

He liked it when she bit him, leaving her unique mark on his body.

He likes it this way.

Cen Lingyi obeyed, not only biting him but also scratching him.

"Jiaojiao, do you love me?"

Yan Chenghui pressed his forehead against hers and asked.

"I love you... I love you..."

Cen Lingyi shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes and flowing everywhere.

She was in a daze and could only agree with what he said.

"Whom do you love?"

Yan Chenghui pressed for further details.

"My beloved husband..."

Cen Lingyi sobbed, her forehead covered in fine beads of sweat.

"My darling, so good."

Yan Chenghui kissed her again.

The candle flame flickered, and red tears slowly dripped down the candlestick.

A bright moon shines outside the window, seemingly peeking into the tender scene inside. It quietly hides its light, shyly concealing itself behind the thick clouds.

Before we knew it, it was already past midnight.

After taking a bath, Yan Chenghui changed the bedding on the bed before lying down with Cen Lingyi in his arms.

"Don't hold me, I want to sleep."

Cen Lingyi knew he was up to no good and tried to escape from his embrace.

She is very tired now.

"One more time, the last time."

The banquet was still not over.

"No way!" Cen Lingyi pushed him away, angrily retorting, "Are you a wolf?"

"I haven't touched you in years."

Yan Chenghui harbored deep resentment.

"That won't work either. Don't you even know what 'there's plenty of time' means?"

Cen Lingyi pushed away his hand that was on her waist.

"Didn't you want a daughter?"

Yan Chenghui changed his excuse again and placed his hand over once more.

"I'm not in a hurry," Cen Lingyi twisted her waist to avoid him. "I have to get up early tomorrow; there are many things to do. My mother also said that we'll be leaving the capital tomorrow. Everyone in the harem will be promoted."

For example, an empress dowager can be promoted to grand empress dowager, and the same applies to imperial concubines.

On her way back from Ninghe Palace, the palace servants told her that she should get up early the next day to dress up, go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship her ancestors, and also go to Taiji Palace to pay respects to the Emperor Emeritus.

Yan Chenghui presided over court for the first time.

She was not required to attend court, but she was required to receive congratulations from ladies of the court, both inside and outside the palace.

In the afternoon, they would receive an audience with members of the royal family. In the evening, a private banquet would be held in the palace.

One thing after another.

"Then tomorrow night..."

Yan Chenghui then approached again.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow night!"

Cen Lingyi angrily pushed him away: "If you keep making a fuss, you can't sleep here anymore."

Only then did Yan Chenghui give up, but he still stubbornly reached out and pulled her into his arms before he could fall asleep peacefully.