Nong Nu Jiao

A muffled thud.

Cen Lingyi was caught off guard and was pushed by Banxia, ​​causing her to crash into the rose wall.

The roses bloom in profusion, seemingly bright and gentle, but hidden beneath them are countless sharp thorns.

Cen Lingyi was already slender, and she subconsciously turned to protect Yan Huaijiao in her arms, using her own body to shield him from the sharp flower wall.

Countless sharp thorns pierced her face and body, and she groaned as the stinging pain instantly swept over her entire body.

"Miss!" Lingzhi, who was following behind her, exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this. She rushed forward to check on her condition and angrily scolded, "Banxia, ​​the young lady is still holding the little prince! Are you crazy?"

"Your Highness, I'm so sorry. Someone pushed me from behind, and I lost my balance. Are you alright?"

Banxia also looked anxious and hurriedly went forward to check on Yan Huaijiao's condition.

She dared to push Cen Lingyi, so she must have already prepared her excuse.

Sun Liangyuan said that Cen Lingyi has always doted on the young prince and would definitely not want him to get hurt.

Now it seems that this is indeed the case.

The young prince was unharmed. His Highness has always disliked Cen Lingyi, so he certainly won't punish her because of her.

"What happened?"

"Isn't this Nurse Cen from the Crown Prince's Palace and His Highness the young prince? How did they get injured?"

"It seems like it was that maid who pushed him..."

The guests who were walking out together immediately surrounded the three of them, discussing the matter animatedly.

Several fine, sharp thorns scratched Cen Lingyi's left cheek, oozing bright red blood, a shocking sight.

His body was riddled with tiny cuts from sharp thorns, and beads of blood oozed out, soaking his thin clothes.

She endured the pain, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, and a layer of physiological redness welled up around her eyes, but she didn't utter a single cry of pain.

Instead, he immediately and carefully examined Yan Huaijiao in his arms.

The little one, unaware of what was happening, babbled curiously at the people around him.

Upon closer inspection, Banxia noticed several injuries on her face and couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.

Such thorns are most likely to leave scars if they prick the face. Cen Lingyi is not a rich heiress now, so of course she doesn't have the money to buy the best scar removal cream.

So even after she recovers, Cen Lingyi will have a scar on her face, and His Highness will never look at her again.

"His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Crown Princess have arrived."

Someone shouted, and the crowd immediately made way.

Yan Chenghui stepped forward and immediately noticed the new wound on Cen Lingyi's face. His dark pupils contracted sharply as he was about to go forward to check on her.

"Lingyi, how are you? Does it hurt?"

Song Mingchi squeezed through the crowd and saw Cen Lingyi's miserable state. He quickly stepped forward.

He had already left the gates of Princess Qingle's residence, but upon hearing the news, he hurriedly returned.

"I'm fine."

Cen Lingyi answered him in a low voice, and then gestured with her eyes that Yan Chenghui was present.

Song Mingchi nodded and took half a step back.

He naturally understood what she meant. Yan Chenghui couldn't stand him talking to her, and she didn't want him to clash with Yan Chenghui in front of so many people.

He didn't want to put her in a difficult position, so he naturally listened to her.

Yan Chenghui stared at the interaction between the two, his gaze icy, his chest rising and falling slightly, his fingers curling and releasing, without uttering a word.

"What happened? How did Sister Cen get so badly injured?"

Xia Qing frowned and asked, looking at Cen Lingyi with a worried expression.

Sun Liangyuan raised her hand to cover her lips and smiled quietly.

She told Lingzhi that there was a wall of roses in Princess Qingle's residence, and told Lingzhi to wait for an opportunity to make a move.

Lingzhi really did achieve that.

Cen Lingyi's face is ruined, so she no longer needs to worry about the matter between His Highness and Cen Lingyi.

Next, we need to get the Ganoderma lucidum out of the Mingde Hall.

Cen Lingyi's face turned pale, and she was speechless for a moment.

At this moment, an overwhelming pain surged up, and all the wounds on my body burned and throbbed with excruciating pain.

"Your Highness, when Consort Cen was carrying the young prince, Banxia suddenly pushed Consort Cen from behind, causing her to crash into the flower wall and nearly injure the young prince."

Lingzhi was so angry that her chest heaved, and she wanted to slap Banxia.

She knew that the girl was only the young prince's wet nurse, and no one cared whether the girl was injured or not. Only when the young prince was almost injured would the Crown Princess pay attention.

"Banxia, ​​why did you do this?"

Xia Qing frowned even more, turned to look at Banxia, ​​and asked in a questioning tone.

Her words and actions were quite proper, and she possessed the dignity of a crown princess.

Yan Chenghui looked at Banxia, ​​his face expressionless, but a chilling glint flashed in his eyes.

"Your Highness, Your Majesty." Banxia knelt down with a thud, her face full of grievance and fear. "I was walking along peacefully when someone pushed me from behind. I lost my balance and bumped into Nurse Cen, almost hurting the young prince. I deserve to die. Please forgive me, Your Highness and Your Majesty..."

As she spoke, she began to kowtow.

"Nonsense! No one pushed you, Song Mingchi! I saw you rush up and deliberately shove Nurse Cen! You dare to lie in front of His Highness and the Empress!"

Lingzhi couldn't help but speak up and argue with her.

"This servant truly did not mean it. Even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare lay a hand on His Highness..."

Banxia continued to kowtow and argue.

Anyway, no one else saw it.

"Your Majesty, I saw it with my own eyes, Banxia really did rush up suddenly..."

Lingzhi also knelt down and spoke to Xia Qinghe.

The Crown Princess has grown up with her daughter and has always treated her well, so she should stand up for her daughter, right?

"Your Highness, this..."

Xia Qinghe turned to look at Yan Chenghui, her face showing utter bewilderment.

"Aren't matters concerning the inner quarters of the Eastern Palace the responsibility of Her Highness the Crown Princess? Why ask His Highness about such a trivial matter? This maidservant deliberately committed violence, causing Lingyi to be covered in injuries and nearly harming the young prince. Such a poorly disciplined maidservant should be severely punished to uphold the rules of the Eastern Palace. What is Her Highness the Crown Princess hesitating for?"

Song Mingchi spoke in a loud voice, his brows and eyes arrogant and unrestrained.

He stood protectively beside Cen Lingyi, speaking with conviction, his demeanor exuding the arrogance and spirit of a young man.

Xia Qinghe has always been like this since she was little; she likes to be aloof and reserved, and it's the hardest thing to talk to her.

The onlookers nodded in agreement, not because they favored Cen Lingyi, but because the young prince of the Eastern Palace was of noble status.

Whatever her reason, this maid named Banxia nearly harmed the young prince and should be punished.

"Then drag him back to the East Palace and give him thirty strokes of the cane..."

As Xia Qinghe spoke, he looked at Yan Chenghui again, seemingly undecided and needing Yan Chenghui's decision.

Lingzhi knelt on the ground, trembling.

Sun Liangyuan covered her mouth and smiled quietly again. Now that the Ganoderma lucidum had been dealt with, she no longer needed to take action.

Cen Lingyi stared at the ground with a dim look in her eyes.

She didn't need to look up to know that Yan Chenghui wouldn't punish Banxia.

He would protect anyone who harmed her and encourage them to do so in various ways.

Moreover, Song Mingchi spoke up for her, so he would not allow Xia Qing to punish Banxia.

"No need."

Yan Chenghui glanced at her and abruptly interrupted Xia Qinghe.

Cen Lingyi pursed her lips, then gave a bitter smile. She had guessed right.

She hugged Yan Huaijiao tightly in her arms, her breath caught in her throat, and her face grew even paler. The pain in her body was far less intense than the pain in her heart.

All eyes were on Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui remained indifferent and said coldly, "It was just an accidental collision. Huai Jiao was not injured. There's no need to make a fuss about it."

Cen Lingyi felt as if her heart was being torn apart, with a surge of bitterness and pain.

Yan Huaijiao was not injured, so Banxia did not have to be punished.

In Yan Chenghui's eyes, she wasn't even a person.

She bit her lip hard, forcing herself to maintain her usual calm and submissive demeanor, and kept staring at the ground in front of her, refusing to let herself cry.

"Your Highness, as the Crown Prince, should govern the army and manage the household according to the law. It is the most basic rule to hold those who make mistakes accountable and punish those who commit crimes! This maid has acted so recklessly and arrogantly. Is Your Highness so lenient towards her because of your own selfish desires?"

Song Mingchi's clear and bright eyes were instantly filled with anger, and his words were sharp and merciless.

His gaze swept over Cen Lingyi's injured face, filled with resentment.

How could Yan Chenghui have become such a scoundrel?

"Whether to indulge or not is my decision. The affairs of the Crown Prince are none of the business of outsiders."

Yan Chenghui stared directly at Song Mingchi, who was protecting Cen Lingyi, his tone cold and unyielding.

This matter is now settled.

Banxia breathed a sigh of relief, a faint excitement rising within her.

She injured Cen Lingyi, and the Crown Princess wanted to punish her. However, General Song argued so strongly for Cen Lingyi that even the Crown Prince couldn't bear to punish her.

It's clear that her earlier assumptions were correct; she had caught the Crown Prince's eye, but Cen Lingyi was constantly interfering.

From now on, without Cen Lingyi standing in the way, His Highness will eventually take her into his harem.

Song Mingchi's chest heaved violently; he wanted to say more.

Cen Lingyi gently tugged at his sleeve: "Stop talking."

If she continued, Yan Chenghui would only escalate the situation, and might even humiliate her, saying that she deserved to be treated this way by Banxia.

"Lingyi, take this medicine and use it first. It's for stopping bleeding and relieving pain."

Suppressing his anger, Song Mingchi took out a palm-sized jade gourd from his sleeve and placed it in her hand.

Thank you.

Cen Lingyi thanked her quietly.

His medicine was always much better than the wound medicine bought from the pharmacy, and since she was in a lot of pain, she naturally wouldn't refuse it.

If she doesn't cherish her own body, who will?

"Return to the palace."

Yan Chenghui stopped looking at the two of them, turned around and strode away with a flick of his sleeve.

Once he left, naturally no one stopped to watch, and everyone dispersed.

Cen Lingyi was helped into the carriage by Lingzhi.

"Girl, let me apply the medicine for you."

Seeing the blood all over her face, Lingzhi felt heartbroken and shed tears.

"Let's go back and use it then." Cen Lingyi's voice was a little hoarse. "We need to clean it up. Jingxiao's medicine powder is good stuff; we can't waste it."

"Doesn't it hurt?" Lingzhi choked back tears. "His Highness the Crown Prince is so heartless, actually protecting Banxia..."

She never imagined that Yan Chenghui, who cherished her daughter so much, would treat her like this.

Who would disregard past relationships to this extent?

Your Highness is so cruel.

"It hurt a little at first, but it doesn't hurt much now." Cen Lingyi smiled at her. "Don't worry."

"You can still laugh...?"

When Lingzhi saw her smile, she cried even harder.

"Mmm..."

When Yan Huaijiao saw Lingzhi crying, she pouted and imitated her crying.

"Your Highness is making fun of you, please stop crying."

Cen Lingyi was amused by the little guy's adorable appearance.

Her smile caused her facial injury to throb with pain, and she immediately stopped smiling.

"Your Highness, you're imitating me! The young lady was so badly injured because of you. What will happen if she gets a scar on her face?"

Lingzhi wiped away her tears, looking worried.

"Fine, I'll stay then. I'm not planning on getting married anyway."

Cen Lingyi didn't seem to care much.

At that moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the carriage.

"Orderly ceremony."

Song Mingchi's voice came into the carriage.

"Jing Xiao, how did you catch up with me?"

Upon hearing the sound, Cen Lingyi lifted the curtain of the carriage window and looked out.

"I'm bringing you something."

Dressed in a smart outfit, Song Mingchi rode alongside the carriage. In the night, the young man was unrestrained and spirited.

"What is it?"

Cen Lingyi blinked curiously and tilted her head to look at him.

"Here, the Spring Rejuvenation Fragrance for scar removal. I just got it from the manor. Use it as soon as you get back."

Song Mingchi handed her a round vermilion porcelain box.

"This is too expensive, I can't..."

Cen Lingyi hurriedly tried to decline.

This time, Chunxiang is incredibly expensive. I heard it contains dragon's blood from the Qilin, coral from the South China Sea, and white sheep marrow oil that can only be refined in the twelfth lunar month.

The entire jar of ointment takes half a year to prepare, involving three decoctions and three filtrations. At most, only four or five boxes can be prepared in a year, and all of them must be offered as tribute.

This item is extremely rare and expensive, even for ordinary people. Even royalty cannot purchase it without His Majesty's bestowal.

This box of Spring Return Incense from the Song family must have been a gift from His Majesty to Song Mingchi's father for his military achievements.

"No matter how valuable something is, it's worthless if no one uses it." Song Mingchi insisted on giving her the Rejuvenating Incense, and then instructed her, "If anything happens, come find me, or have someone send me a message. I will take care of those two things you mentioned as soon as possible."

"Okay, thank you."

Cen Lingyi pursed her lips and nodded in agreement.

They grew up together, but looking at Song Mingchi and then thinking about Yan Chenghui...

She looked down at the Spring Return Fragrance in her hand, her heart aching with a bittersweet feeling, and she could barely hold back her tears.

Yan Chenghui returned to Mingde Hall first.

The hall was pitch black. He stood at the entrance, facing the courtyard gate, motionless.

"Your Highness, would you like me to go in and light the lamps?"

Yun Gong asked cautiously.

"No need."

Yan Chenghui replied to him in a calm voice.

Yun Que quietly tugged at Yun Gong's sleeve, signaling him to be quiet.

His Highness was still worried about Miss Cen and wanted to watch her enter the courtyard.

Yan Chenghui stood quietly for about fifteen minutes when there was movement at the courtyard gate.

"His Highness is sleepy, let's give him a bath later."

Cen Lingyi's voice came through.

Lanterns were lit at the courtyard gate, but the area where Yan Chenghui was located was pitch black; it was impossible to see anyone in the darkness from the lit area.

Therefore, Cen Lingyi and Lingzhi did not notice that Yan Chenghui and the others were standing under the corridor.

"And what about your injury?"

Lingzhi asked, still uneasy.

"We'll deal with it after His Highness falls asleep."

Cen Lingyi glanced in the direction of the main hall and saw that it was pitch black and no lights were on.

Has Yan Chenghui not returned yet?

Realizing that she was thinking about him again, she immediately snapped out of her reverie.

Whether he comes back or not is none of her business.

She didn't want to think about it anymore, so she hugged Yan Huaijiao and hurriedly went into the side room.

Yan Chenghui saw the light in the side room come on and stood there for a while.

He turned and went into the main hall, lit the candles, and opened the drawer of his desk.

Inside lay a round, vermilion porcelain box, also containing a box of Rejuvenating Incense, exactly the same as the one Song Mingchi had given to Cen Lingyi.

He took out the round box, held it in his palm and examined it for a moment, then got up and walked out.

Before he even reached the door, he turned back and stood by the desk, lost in thought.

Yun Que and Yun Gong had no idea what their prince was doing; they only saw him pacing back and forth in the main hall, sometimes moving to a different spot to stand still.

After a long while, Yan Chenghui opened the door.

"Your Highness."

The Cloud Palace and the Cloud Pavilion bowed in unison.

Ignoring them, Yan Chenghui gripped the round box in his hand and walked towards the side room.

Yun Gong glanced at Yun Que, winked at him, and whispered, "Should we follow them?"

Yun Que waved his hand repeatedly.

At this moment, even the slightest mistake could ignite His Highness's anger.

It's better if they don't do anything wrong.

Even so, the two still stood side by side, looking in the direction of their prince, in case the prince had any needs and they could not respond in time.

Yan Chenghui stopped in front of the side room door, rubbing the round box in his hand with his fingertips, about to lift the curtain.

From inside the side room, Lingzhi's voice could be heard.

He tilted his head and peered into the room through the gap in the curtain.

Cen Lingyi was half-dressed in a thin undergarment, revealing her trembling abdomen. Her bare arms were white, and the wounds from the sharp thorns were particularly noticeable.

She was tilting her head to the side as Lingzhi applied medicine to her face. Half of her sweet face was bathed in the warm candlelight, and her long, curled eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyes.

Her eyes should have been bright and clear, but now they seemed to be veiled by a layer of dim mist.

"Today, we are truly grateful to General Song. Not only did he speak up for you, young lady, but he also went back to his residence to fetch this Spring Return Incense for you. Otherwise, what would have happened if you had been left with a scar on your face?"

Lingzhi carefully applied the medicine to her hands, speaking softly as she did so.

I get angry just thinking about what happened today, but I also feel scared. What if that thorn had actually pierced the girl's sensitive spot?

"Song Mingchi is an excellent person." Cen Lingyi's eyebrows curved slightly, and a warmth filled her heart: "He is upright, fair-minded, and thorough in his work."

She always thought Song Mingchi was a good person; he had always been like that since he was a child.

"Yes, General Song is indeed very sincere towards the young lady."

Lingzhi strongly agreed.

"I will remember this kindness."

Cen Lingyi glanced at the Spring Fragrance in her hand, her voice soft and gentle, yet full of sincerity.

Yan Chenghui stared at her serene and gentle face, his hand gripping the round box tightly, his bones aching from the pressure.

He turned around abruptly and strode back.

Yun Que and Yun Gong had no idea what had happened. They only saw their lord stand at the door of the side room for a while before turning back to the main hall.

However, his pace was much faster than when he went there, as if he was carrying anger.

The two lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

Yan Chenghui, his robes billowing in the wind, swept past the two men, stepped into the main hall, and slammed the door shut with a bang.

Yun Gong quickly looked up at Yun Que. Who had offended His Highness?

Yun Que shook his head; he didn't know either.

As the two stared at each other, a sharp crack suddenly came from inside the main hall, as if something had been smashed.

All of Yan Chenghui's restraint collapsed the moment he closed the palace door.

He suddenly raised his hand and slammed it down.

The red porcelain box in his palm slammed heavily onto the gold bricks on the ground, shattering into pieces instantly.

The incomparably precious ointment, mixed with porcelain shards, was splattered all over the floor, creating a mess, but the aroma of the medicine filled the entire main hall for a moment.

He stood there, his face ashen, his chest heaving violently.

"What should we do?"

Yun Gong dared not utter a sound, but only mouthed the question to Yun Que.

Yun Que waved his hand, stood there for a moment and thought about it, then turned and walked towards the side room.

Your Highness probably still wants to see Miss Cen, right? Or perhaps you're worried about her?

He knocked on the door of the side room.

Cen Lingyi had just lain down on the bed when she heard the sound and couldn't help but raise her head.

"Who is it?"

Lingzhi, who was sleeping on the outside of the bed, asked a question.

"Miss Cen, His Highness broke some things. Would you please go and clean them up?"

Yun Que touched his nose and spoke in a low voice.

Without realizing it, he started using honorifics with Cen Lingyi.

"Wait a minute, let me get dressed."

Cen Lingyi responded and sat up.

She certainly heard the commotion in the main hall, but since no one called her, she naturally didn't bother to inquire.

Yun Que had already come to summon her, so she had no choice but to go and serve him.

"You're still injured, this is just making things worse for you..."

Lingzhi got up to help her get dressed, and couldn't help but whisper.

She really felt sorry for the girl.

"Don't talk nonsense, walls have ears."

Cen Lingyi quickly covered her mouth, interrupting her.

Lingzhi fell silent and sighed.

Why is this girl so unlucky?

After dressing, Cen Lingyi casually tied her hair into a low bun in front of the bronze mirror before leaving the side room.

The Spring Return Incense that Song Mingchi gave her was indeed a good thing. After applying the medicine, the wounds on her face and body felt cool, with only a slight pain, which was within her tolerance range.

"Your Highness, Miss Cen is here to clean up the floor."

Yun Que knocked on the door and spoke cautiously.

"No need for her, let Banxia come in and tidy up."

Yan Chenghui's voice was cold and his tone was harsh.

Cen Lingyi's long eyelashes fluttered.

Why is he angry?

She's the one who's been wronged, but he's becoming increasingly unreasonable.

"Miss Cen, you should go back and rest..."

Yun Que Chao Cen Lingyi bowed.

He felt deeply sorry for the girl; she was already so badly injured, and he had to wake her up from bed.

"Did I let her go?"

Yan Chenghui questioned him in a cold voice.

Yun Que fell silent and looked apologetically at Cen Lingyi.

"It's alright, I'll just stand here."

Cen Lingyi smiled at him.

Over the years, she had grown accustomed to Yan Chenghui's unpredictable moods.

Banxia entered the main hall with a delighted expression: "This servant greets Your Highness."

His Highness has even remembered her name now, but she has never liked this kind of servant's name. Once His Highness favors her, she will beg His Highness to change her name.

"Close the door."

Yan Chenghui coldly gave the order.

"Yes."

Banxia closed the palace door.

Cen Lingyi stood with her head bowed. As the palace doors closed, she caught a whiff of the rich fragrance of spring.

This ointment is amazing! How come the fragrance gets stronger and stronger after I apply it to the wound?

Banxia was busy cleaning up the mess on the ground.

Yan Chenghui sat down at his desk and looked up at the palace gate.

Candlelight filtered through the window screen, casting her slender, graceful figure as she stood quietly, serene yet captivating.

He couldn't see her face, but he could imagine her expression, using obedience and calmness to mask her stubbornness.

His eyes gradually reddened.

"Your Highness, I'm all ready."

Banxia spoke to him in a high-pitched voice.

His Highness specifically asked her to come in and tidy up, so it must be more than just tidying up the floor, right?

Yan Chenghui withdrew his gaze, not looking at her, but simply got up and walked towards her.

As Banxia watched his tall figure slowly approach, her face gradually turned red, and her heart began to pound.

Your Highness, would you... would you please her tonight?

Three steps, two steps, one step... His Highness walked up to her!

She was filled with excitement, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui did not see her, walked straight past her, and opened the palace door.

Cen Lingyi was waiting at the door when it suddenly opened, and she couldn't help but look up.

Yan Chenghui's dark eyes were cold and unfathomable as he stared straight at her, his lips pressed into a thin line.