Nong Nu Jiao

Time flowed by slowly, and before long it was New Year's Day. Cen Lingyi gradually adapted to her role as Empress.

She handled the trivial matters of the imperial harem with ease.

In Yan Chenghui's harem, she was the only one; everything was at her disposal, and everyone obeyed her commands.

Apart from the Empress Dowager being a bit difficult to please, I had almost no worries.

She is very perceptive.

The Empress Dowager disliked her, so she simply avoided going there altogether.

Even if it was absolutely necessary to go, they would wait for Yan Chenghui to go with them.

With Yan Chenghui blocking her way, the Empress Dowager couldn't bully her at all.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has arrived."

Lingzhi rushed in to report.

"Go and invite His Majesty."

Cen Lingyi put down the seal in her hand and looked outside. Yan Chenghui should be finishing his morning court session soon.

She washed her hands and walked out of the inner palace.

"Greetings, Empress Dowager."

She curtsied.

"No need for formalities."

The Empress Dowager stood there with a dignified expression, leaning on her cane, but her expression softened upon seeing her.

Qin Luoshui supported her from the side, and the scar on her face from Sun Peihuan's injury was clearly visible.

"Please have a seat."

Cen Lingyi straightened up, muttering to herself.

The Empress Dowager had never been kind to her, but today she was acting all friendly, so she must need her help with something.

"Luoshui, why haven't you paid your respects to Her Majesty the Empress?"

The Empress Dowager reminded Qin Luoshui.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

Qin Luoshui gritted her teeth and knelt down in worship.

She was unwilling to accept it.

If Cen Lingyi hadn't monopolized Yan Chenghui's favor, she wouldn't have been driven out of the Eastern Palace.

If she could have stayed in the Eastern Palace, she would be a concubine by now, how could she have ended up in this state?

But when you're under someone's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head.

No matter how unwilling she was, she had to put it aside and obediently bow to Cen Lingyi.

"Miss Qin, you're too kind. No need for formalities."

Cen Lingyi smiled and raised her hand.

After returning to her family home from the Eastern Palace, this grandniece of the Empress Dowager had been asked to marry into many families.

Because of the scar on her face, she was too picky about her partner and her marriage was delayed. She is still single now, so naturally she should be called a young lady.

Seeing her graceful demeanor and the air of an empress, Qin Luoshui felt even angrier.

The Empress Dowager sat down in the main seat and slowly said, "I brought her here today to ask you to grant me a favor."

"Please speak, Empress Dowager."

Hearing her say that, Cen Lingyi understood what was going on.

Qin Luoshui took a liking to Grand Secretary Gu's eldest grandson.

The man, who had recently lost his wife over a year ago, was considering remarrying.

Given Qin Luoshui's situation—neither too good for high-class nor too bad for low-class—remarrying wouldn't be a bad thing.

Because of this matter, the Empress Dowager summoned Yan Chenghui and asked him to arrange a marriage between Qin Luoshui and the eldest grandson of the Gu family.

Yan Chenghui had always disliked using imperial power to oppress others, so he refused.

The Empress Dowager is still not giving up; she's come to her, hoping she'll persuade Yan Chenghui.

"This is not the Luo River, because your marriage has been delayed, and you are still not married."

The Empress Dowager immediately placed the hat on Cen Lingyi's head.

Cen Lingyi smiled but remained silent.

She didn't want to waste her breath arguing with the old lady, as it would only cause trouble if she angered her and she started making a scene.

"Isn't this because Grand Secretary Gu's grandson lost his wife and now intends to remarry?" The Empress Dowager sighed. "Luoshui is of age and can't be delayed any longer. Have the Emperor draft an edict to grant them a marriage, which can be considered a way to make up for the trouble you left behind."

She looked at Cen Lingyi with an air of self-righteousness.

"That's easy to say," Cen Lingyi replied with a smile. "I've already asked His Majesty's opinion on this matter."

She directly passed the matter on to Yan Chenghui.

He dealt with his grandmother.

However, this Empress Dowager is really something else. When she asks someone for a favor, she shifts the responsibility onto them, and she does so with such self-righteousness.

"Why are you asking him? Doesn't he always listen to you? You might as well just draft the imperial edict and have him stamp it with the imperial seal for you."

The Empress Dowager knew in her heart that Yan Chenghui was unwilling, and was naturally dissatisfied with her reply.

"The Empress Dowager is joking. His Majesty is the ruler of the country; how could he possibly listen to everything I say? Besides, the imperial seal is not a toy; how can it be stamped so casually?"

Cen Lingyi smiled and seemed very easy to talk to, rejecting her request completely in the course of their conversation.

"So, you're saying you're not going to help?"

The Empress Dowager stood up.

"I said I would convey this to His Majesty, why are you saying this?"

Cen Lingyi lowered her long eyelashes and asked her a question that was perfectly tactful.

"Cen Lingyi, the Luo River has been delayed because of you, which is why it's in this state. You owe me an explanation!"

The Empress Dowager tapped her cane.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." After a moment's thought, Cen Lingyi said, "How about this, I will ask the Gu family for their opinion. If the Gu family is willing, I will ask His Majesty to grant them a marriage."

The implication was that if the Gu family was unwilling, then she couldn't be blamed.

The Empress Dowager stared at her for a moment, then snorted, "As soon as possible."

Now that things have come to this point, if she insists that Cen Lingyi ask Yan Chenghui to bestow a marriage upon her, it would seem as if Qin Luoshui is rushing to marry someone else.

She didn't want to say anything more.

"Respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager."

Cen Lingyi bowed to her.

"Your Highness, are you really going to get involved in this matter?"

Lingzhi asked from the side.

"It's just a matter of asking a few questions. Send someone to inform the Gu family to bring in a woman who can speak."

Cen Lingyi didn't take the matter too seriously.

In the afternoon, the Gu family members entered Kunning Palace.

"This humble woman pays her respects to Your Majesty the Empress."

She bowed deeply to Cen Lingyi.

"Is it you?"

Cen Lingyi picked up the teacup and then put it down again.

Isn't this Gu Zhuoqing?

"This humble woman has come to report to Your Majesty on behalf of my younger brother."

Gu Zhuoqing said respectfully.

"sit."

Cen Lingyi nodded slightly, understanding.

The young man Qin Luoshui had chosen turned out to be Gu Zhuoqing's younger brother.

"It's been a long time, Your Majesty, you still look as radiant as ever."

Gu Zhuoqing sat down and said with a smile.

"You haven't changed at all," Cen Lingyi said with a smile. "Since we're old acquaintances, there's no need for formalities. Be at ease."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Gu Zhuoqing relaxed a lot.

"You probably already know why I summoned you to the palace, right?"

Cen Lingyi looked at her and asked.

"Yes," Gu Zhuoqing said, "My family is willing to accept this marriage."

"willing?"

Cen Lingyi was somewhat surprised.

Qin Luoshui did try to harm Huai Jiao back then.

It's not unusual for a woman confined to her home to be cunning and resourceful, but to harm such a young child is far too cruel.

Such a person's character is truly worrisome. Gu Zhuoqing should know Qin Luoshui's character well, so why doesn't he mind?

"My younger brother lost his wife and left behind a daughter who is being raised by my parents. He was heartbroken and went out drinking, where he fell and injured his leg. He's recovered now, but one leg is a little..."

She didn't continue.

Cen Lingyi naturally understood that the only thing worth mentioning was that her leg injury was irreparable and she was already unable to walk properly.

In that case, it would indeed be difficult to find a lady from a prominent family in the capital.

From this perspective, he is quite a good match for Qin Luoshui.

"Since your family is willing, I will petition His Majesty to issue an imperial decree to grant the marriage."

Cen Lingyi was quite decisive.

If both families are willing, why shouldn't she be?

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Zhuoqing smiled and said, "Your Majesty is still as kind-hearted as ever. No wonder His Majesty has been devoted to you for so many years."

"What do you mean by that?" Cen Lingyi laughed upon hearing this: "If they were truly devoted, there wouldn't be so many people living in the inner quarters of the Eastern Palace."

She was just being modest.

Gu Zhuoqing, however, was a meticulous person: "So what if so many people live here? Even if it's full, so what? His Majesty hasn't touched any of us."

She shrugged and gave a light scoff.

Cen Lingyi covered her mouth and laughed: "You can only guarantee yourself, how can you guarantee others? I've seen with my own eyes that Sun Peihuan's neck is covered in marks."

She said she believed Yan Chenghui had never been with anyone else, and that she hadn't thought about those people and things from the past for a long time.

"Her?" Gu Zhuoqing chuckled. "She's the most ridiculous. Those marks on her neck were from the maids scraping her skin. She beats up the maids at the drop of a hat. Hasn't Your Majesty heard? When His Majesty was in their room, he even gave them acupuncture with silver needles. As soon as the needles were inserted, they screamed..."

She stopped abruptly at this point, covering her mouth.

She used to be somewhat aloof, but now that she's married and has children, she's become increasingly outspoken.

How could you say such a thing in front of the Empress? It's so vulgar.

"It's alright." Cen Lingyi smiled, pursing her lips. "Did her maid tell you all this?"

"Hmm." Gu Zhuoqing thought for a moment and said, "No wonder Your Majesty didn't know. After the Sun family was executed, the maidservant by her side escaped and sold all her secrets to a storyteller in order to get some money. A few years ago, when you and His Majesty were not in the capital, these stories were known to everyone in the capital."

"I was at the border at that time."

Cen Lingyi thought for a moment and smiled.

Gu Zhuoqing's words corroborated what Yan Chenghui had said earlier.

He also said he would give them acupuncture.

"Indeed." Gu Zhuoqing said with some emotion, "No wonder Your Majesty is so lucky. His Majesty is devoted to you, and you are the supreme ruler. How wonderful."

"Isn't your husband also very devoted?"

Cen Lingyi asked with a smile.

"Him? He's useless. He spends all his time studying inscriptions and rubbings, and doesn't even bother to take a concubine."

As Gu Zhuoqing spoke, a smile appeared on her face, indicating that she was satisfied with her husband.

How many children do you have?

Cen Lingyi became curious.

"I have two sons, and the youngest is a daughter."

When talking about his children, Gu Zhuoqing's smile deepened.

"You're a sane person, you deserve to live well."

Cen Lingyi's eyes showed approval.

When she first encountered Gu Zhuoqing having an affair with her husband, she felt that Gu Zhuoqing was clear-headed and brave.

Isn't this seizing your own happiness?

"I also want to thank Your Highness for keeping it a secret for me, and His Majesty for his magnanimity."

Gu Zhuoqing felt a little embarrassed.

As she spoke, she carefully examined Cen Lingyi's face and asked with a smile, "Is Your Highness pregnant?"

"Me?" Cen Lingyi looked down at herself, then looked up at her. "No."

"No," Gu Zhuoqing shook his head, "Your Majesty has signs of pregnancy on your face, you must be pregnant."

"Pregnancy signs, what are those?"

Cen Lingyi was curious.

She is definitely not pregnant.

My period came last month, and this month it seems like it'll be due in the next couple of days.

"It's hard to describe, but I can tell. Your Majesty, why don't you call the imperial physician to take your pulse?"

Gu Zhuoqing didn't know what to say.

"His Majesty."

Outside, the palace servants all bowed in unison.

Cen Lingyi peeked out and saw that Yan Chenghui had finished his official duties and arrived.

"Your Majesty has arrived. This humble woman will take her leave."

Gu Zhuoqing stood up, bowed, and quickly walked out. When she encountered Yan Chenghui, she curtsied to him.

She didn't want to face His Majesty; it was too awkward.

"Come visit the palace when you have time."

Cen Lingyi gave her instructions from behind.

Talking to Gu Zhuoqing is quite interesting.

Yan Chenghui stepped forward.

Cen Lingyi was looking down at her flat stomach.

"What are you looking at?"

Yan Chenghui teased her, leaning over to look down at her waist.