Nong Nu Jiao

A sliver of warm candlelight peeked through the window, illuminating Cen Lingyi's fair, almost translucent face.

The wound has been cleaned, and now you can see the crisscrossing marks left by the rose thorns, each one red and swollen, already covered with a thin scab.

Like a flawed piece of fine mutton fat jade, broken and weak, yet cold and stubborn, it evokes more pity than tears and wailing.

Cen Lingyi noticed his gaze and felt embarrassed. She turned her head slightly, trying to avoid his eyes.

The scars on her face are unsightly; seeing them will only make him dislike her more.

With her long eyelashes lowered, she remained docile and respectful, as if the injury was insignificant to her, as quiet as a lifeless jade sculpture.

Yan Chenghui's fingers tightened slightly on the door, his knuckles turning pale.

His gaze traveled down her slender, white neck, her arms, her side...

A faint bloodstain seeped through her thin shirt; the rose thorns had scratched more than just her face.

Her evasive posture ignited a fire within him.

A deathly silence fell over the room; the atmosphere was tense, and no one spoke first.

Although they were only a step apart, it felt as if there was an insurmountable chasm between them.

"Your Highness, Niannian, who serves the Crown Princess, requests an audience."

Yun Gong stepped forward to report, breaking the silence.

Yan Chenghui withdrew his gaze, glanced at him, and nodded slightly.

Yun Gong went to call Niannian forward.

"This servant greets Your Highness." Nian Nian bowed and respectfully presented the jade cup in her hand. "The Crown Princess personally stewed Kudzu Flower Dew to relieve hangovers, added top-quality snow swallow, and mixed it with honey water. She asked this servant to bring it to Your Highness so that it can relieve the turbidity accumulated by Your Highness from drinking at the banquet."

Cen Lingyi raised her dark eyes and glanced at her.

The light honey-colored broth is served in an exquisite jade cup, with the blood bird's nest solidified into translucent flocculent particles, like tiny ice flowers floating in the soup, glistening and translucent.

She knew this soup; it was used to sober up.

Xia Qinghe was very attentive to Yan Chenghui; even so late at night, he personally brewed a hangover remedy and had Nian Nian deliver it over.

They were indeed a loving and harmonious couple.

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi's unmoved expression, then turned to the hall and said, "Here you go."

Every year, I couldn't help but look up and glance at it.

Her Majesty put so much effort into making this, how could Your Highness just casually give it away to someone else?

Banxia was taken aback upon hearing this, then overjoyed, her eyes welling up with tears of excitement. She walked to the door, knelt down, and thanked Your Highness: "This servant thanks Your Highness for the reward."

"Let's eat here."

Yan Chenghui gave the instructions in a low voice.

"Yes."

Banxia reached out and took the jade cup, knelt down at his feet, and began to eat it in small bites.

Two blushes rose on her cheeks, and she made soft chewing sounds. Every now and then, she would look up at Yan Chenghui, her eyes filled with shyness and gratitude.

This was the first time in her life she had ever eaten something so precious, and it was a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince himself.

Isn't this enough to show that His Highness the Crown Prince favors her?

Cen Lingyi looked at Banxia as if she had found a treasure, and it felt like an invisible knife was cutting into her heart. The wounds on her face and body were far less painful than the bitterness and dull pain surging in her heart.

"Your Highness, I've finished eating. This is the first time in my life I've ever tasted something so delicious."

Banxia blushed and returned the jade cup in her hand to Niannian.

"This servant takes her leave."

Every year, he bowed and withdrew.

Yan Chenghui ignored them and his gaze fell on Cen Lingyi's face again.

Cen Lingyi lowered her eyes slightly, having already concealed all her emotions, as if everything happening before her eyes had nothing to do with her.

Yan Chenghui's chest heaved slightly.

"Oh dear, Nurse Cen's face is so badly injured! I didn't mean to." Seeing this, Banxia broke the silence and kowtowed, saying, "I beg Your Highness to grant Nurse Cen a bottle of medicine. If it leaves a scar, it will all be my fault..."

Banxia, ​​unwilling to be ignored, spoke up in a sweet voice.

Why isn't Your Highness looking at her? What is he doing, standing at the door watching Cen Lingyi?

Cen Lingyi's face is ruined. Does His Highness feel good about it?

I have never heard of His Highness treating any maid so well before.

Regardless, His Highness treats her differently from others, and she must strike while the iron is hot tonight.

"No need, it's just a minor injury, Your Highness need not trouble yourself."

Cen Lingyi glanced at Banxia and sneered inwardly; Banxia was pretending to be a good person.

Before Yan Chenghui could speak, she spoke first in refusal. She lowered her eyelashes and looked at the ground in front of her, her voice soft.

Banxia hurt her, and Yan Chenghui not only stopped Xia Qing and punished Banxia, ​​but also ordered Banxia to come into the main hall to serve after returning to Mingde Hall. Now, in front of her, he deliberately gave Banxia the Gehua Anti-Hanging Blood and Bird's Nest Soup.

Isn't this just like him promoting Sun Liangyuan's rank, rewarding Banxia for taking action against her?

She felt a tightness in her chest.

He would have preferred her to be more seriously injured, so why would he give her medicine?

She'd better be sensible.

"First it was Lu Huaiyou, then Song Mingchi, it could be anyone, right?"

A hint of anger flickered in Yan Chenghui's narrow, dark eyes, and his words were laced with biting sarcasm.

He pictured her expression when she mentioned Song Mingchi—gentle eyes, soft voice, "Song Mingchi is excellent"...

He gave her the ointment because he thought it was "unnecessary"?

"Click..."

He cracked his knuckles softly.

The sharp words pierced her heart like blades, causing Cen Lingyi to hold her breath and clench her fists tightly under her sleeves.

"Yes, if Your Highness doesn't mind, that's fine too."

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly suppressed them. When she spoke, her tone was calm and her expression was unperturbed.

It was simply that she met Song Mingchi once in the corridor, and after she was injured, Song Mingchi stood up for her, so she felt that she and Song Mingchi were also in cahoots.

Let him think what he wants; in his heart, she's a woman who's available to anyone.

She betrayed him, abandoned him, and there's no way to deny it.

"I find it dirty."

Yan Chenghui's face was ashen, his dark eyes fixed on her calm face, and he seemed to squeeze out three words through clenched teeth.

Cen Lingyi stood upright, her expression calm and composed, displaying only the expected respect and humility.

She knew he would say that; he had said it before. She was prepared to hear those three words.

Yan Chenghui took half a step back, stepping on Banxia's hand as she knelt there.

Banxia subconsciously pulled her hand back, opened her mouth, but endured the pain and dared not make a sound.

Yan Chenghui looked down at her, a hint of annoyance in his voice: "Come in and serve me."

"Yes."

Banxia looked up and saw that he was walking towards the inner hall, and she was overjoyed.

His Highness is about to favor her!

She turned around and gave Cen Lingyi a smug look.

Sure enough, it was the right thing to do to Cen Lingyi today; now her good fortune has arrived!

Cen Lingyi lifted her eyelids and gave her a cold look.

She wanted to take revenge on Sun Liangyuan.

Banxia pushed her, causing her to slam against the rose wall, leaving her covered in bruises. Naturally, she wanted revenge.

However, Yan Chenghui seems to be quite fond of Banxia, ​​so this matter needs to be put on hold for now. If she acts too quickly, Yan Chenghui will notice, which will only harm her.

Banxia's heart skipped a beat when she saw Cen Lingyi's gaze. Even though Cen Lingyi had fallen to such a state, she still had such a terrifying look in her eyes.

She quickly realized what was happening, snorted, got up, slammed the door shut, and locked Cen Lingyi out.

"I'm going back to my room now."

Cen Lingyi spoke softly to Yun Que.

Yun Que and Yun Gong stood not far away, both of them hesitant to speak.

He wanted to comfort her, but couldn't find the words.

How can anyone advise someone like that?

Cen Lingyi, however, seemed unconcerned and took a step to leave.

The door beside me suddenly opened.

Yan Chenghui's handsome and indifferent face reappeared before her eyes.

He coldly ordered, "Stand outside."

Cen Lingyi stopped in her tracks, placed her hands in front of her, bowed her head, and replied, "Yes."

Last time, he favored Consort Sun, and it wasn't enough for her to hear it from outside.

Today, he used the same trick again, making her listen to him favor Banxia.

She tugged at the corners of her lips, feeling both ridiculous and pathetic.

You get used to hearing these kinds of things so often that you become numb to them.

The door slammed shut, sending up a gust of cold wind that was bone-chilling.

Cen Lingyi raised her head and stood there blankly, only her tightly pursed lips revealing a hint of stubbornness.

Yun Que and Yun Gong looked at her with pity, but they couldn't say anything to comfort her. They could only sigh.

Banxia followed Yan Chenghui into the inner hall.

She glanced around. Last time, she sneaked in, only to be shoved aside by His Highness and thrown onto the footboard in front of the bed. Her back still ached a little.

But this time it won't be like that. She can lie openly on His Highness's bed and sleep in His Highness's arms. Just thinking about it makes her heart flutter.

Besides Cen Lingyi, no other woman has ever entered His Highness's inner palace. She is the second one!

Even the Crown Princess has never set foot here.

This is a tremendous honor.

She could already picture the fawning and fawning the maids would show her when she left Mingde Hall the next day.

"Kneel down."

Yan Chenghui suddenly turned around and gave a low command.

Banxia was startled. She quickly lifted her skirt, obediently knelt down, and looked up at the head of the table, adopting a weak and vulnerable posture.

Yan Chenghui sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at her coldly.

The image of Cen Lingyi's swollen and red scars flashed before my eyes; her sickly face was breathtakingly beautiful.

A hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes.

"Crawl over here."

He gave an order.

Banxia immediately knelt down and crawled to his feet with a fawning expression before straightening up.

"Your Highness..."

She let out a soft cry, her eyes filled with seductive allure, and deliberately pulled her collar down to reveal a hint of cleavage.

She wanted to reach out and put her hands on Yan Chenghui's legs, but because of what happened last time, she hesitated and didn't dare to reach out.

"Call me."

Yan Chenghui looked down at her and gave her instructions in a low voice.

"What does Your Highness want me to call you?" Banxia paused for a moment, then leaned forward, adopting a pleading posture: "I don't know, Your Highness, please have mercy on me..."

She didn't quite understand why His Highness suddenly wanted her to call him that. Did he have some kind of special fetish?

"Won't?"

Yan Chenghui tilted his head and looked at her face, as if searching for something on her profile.

"Yes, Your Highness, please instruct this servant..."

Banxia blinked, striking a charming pose, but her heart tightened.

Why are Your Highness's eyes so terrifying?

Yan Chenghui didn't speak, but opened the drawer of the bedside table and took out a silver needle.

The silver needle was longer than his finger and gleamed coldly in the dim candlelight.

"Your Highness..."

Banxia's face suddenly turned pale.

Wasn't she supposed to come in and serve me? Why is Your Highness using silver needles? Are you going to prick her?

Yan Chenghui stared at her profile expressionlessly.

Now, Banxia finally knew what he was looking for.

His Highness is watching, wondering where to insert the needle to prick her face.

"Please, Your Highness, forgive me! I know I was wrong..."

She immediately begged for mercy and tried to kowtow.

"Don't move."

Yan Chenghui gently parted his lips.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was intimidating enough.

Banxia was terrified, but dared not make the slightest movement. She could only look up, her body stiff, and watch helplessly as the silver needle in his hand approached.

Yan Chenghui remained indifferent as he precisely inserted the silver needles into the acupoints on her cheek.

Banxia twitched in pain, her eyes brimming with tears, but she dared not utter a sound.

"Say it out."

Yan Chenghui slowly twisted the silver needle with his fingertips, deliberately increasing the pressure.

"Ah...it hurts so much! Your Highness, this is going to split open...Please, Your Highness, please spare me..."

Banxia's voice changed from pain.

A sharp, piercing pain spread throughout her body along her meridians. She shuddered, and cold sweat rolled down her cheeks.

Is Your Highness treating her this way because she pushed Cen Lingyi?

But isn't Your Highness the one who hates Cen Lingyi the most?

Before she could think any further, another wave of excruciating pain struck, and she cried out in agony once more.

Another silver needle was inserted into a vital meridian on her forearm.

"Your Highness, please pull it out! I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again..."

She lay on the ground, wailing uncontrollably, her body writhing in pain, almost fainting.

Yan Chenghui then took another silver needle.

"No... Your Highness, please don't... Ah..."

Banxia's voice trembled uncontrollably, a mixture of pain and fear.

Cen Lingyi stood frozen in front of the palace gate.

Perhaps he deliberately left a crack in the door, because every soft cry of Banxia from inside the inner hall could be clearly heard.

All the sounds irresistibly drilled into her ears and into her mind, uncontrollably taking shape before her eyes.

She could almost picture how he treated Banxia.

He was always insatiable, so it was normal for Banxia to make such a fuss.

A chill seeped through the crack in the door, coursing through her limbs and finally gripping her heart, causing a sharp, throbbing pain.

She stood quietly in place, the night wind blowing through the corridor, ruffling the stray hairs at her temples, and the light in her eyes gradually and silently faded away.

*

For several days after that night, Yan Chenghui did not summon Cen Lingyi to serve him in the main hall.

It must have been Banxia who was helping him with his washing and dressing.

Cen Lingyi was happy with this arrangement, as out of sight, out of mind.

She then devoted herself entirely to taking care of Yan Huaijiao, staying quietly in the side room.

Even when they went out, they would only take Yan Huaijiao for a walk in the garden, and then come back after a short while.

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and things have been peaceful.

Cen Lingyi sat on a small stool and gently rocked the cradle.

Yan Huaijiao had finished eating and was taking a nap.

"Miss, the Crown Princess has arrived."

Lingzhi lifted the curtain and spoke to her in a low voice.

Cen Lingyi gestured for her to be quiet and come forward.

Lingzhi went into the side room and took over her work, gently rocking the little one's cradle.

Cen Lingyi tiptoed out of the side room and headed towards the courtyard gate.

It was almost the beginning of autumn, but it was still a bit hot after lunch, and a noisy chirping of cicadas came from the trees in the distance.

Despite the sweltering heat, Xia Qinghe still wore a heavy blue robe and stood outside the door with the air of a crown princess.

"This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Princess."

Cen Lingyi stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Sister Cen, you're too kind. Where is Huai Jiao?"

Xia Qing asked her with a smile.

"Your Highness, the young prince has just finished eating and fallen asleep."

Cen Lingyi smiled and remained respectful.

She sensed Xia Qinghe's dislike for her and became wary.

But if Xia Qing doesn't break off relations, she naturally won't provoke her.

Besides, Xia Qinghe will still be useful to her in the future.

"I heard that His Highness hasn't needed your service these past few days?"

Xia Qinghe smiled and asked her softly.

"Yes, recently, Banxia has been taking care of His Highness's daily life and clothing."

Cen Lingyi lowered her eyes and replied softly.

Would Xia Qinghe's hostility towards her be less in this way?

She had already been humiliated by Yan Chenghui in every way, and couldn't understand why Xia Qinghe would treat her that way.

It was probably because of her past with Yan Chenghui that Xia Qing felt uncomfortable.

"That's good, at least you can get some rest."

Xia Qinghe seemed quite pleased.

"Your Majesty is right."

Cen Lingyi followed her words.

Xia Qinghe came all this way, surely it wasn't just to say these few words to her?

However, Yan Chenghui was not present, and Xia Qinghe could not enter the courtyard without his permission.

There's probably something he needs to talk to her about.

Xia Qinghe was about to speak again.

"Why has the Crown Princess come?"

It's Yan Chenghui who's back.

He had just met the Minister of Revenue and the Vice Minister of Works in the front hall, and there was a faint sign of fatigue in his eyes.

The autumn floods in Jiangnan have breached several dikes, and funds are urgently needed for disaster relief.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Cen Lingyi curtsied, her long eyelashes drooping as she did not look at him.

She hadn't seen him for several days, which was actually good; there was no need for them to meet.

If he could put her back in the side hall, back to her former residence, it would be better for her.

Yan Chenghui's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a flash of disgust crossing his eyes.

After eighteen days, her facial injuries had healed considerably, and the marks were almost invisible.

She must have used the Spring Return Incense that Song Mingchi gave her quite a bit.

"If Your Highness has nothing else, this servant will take her leave."

Cen Lingyi could naturally sense his disgust and didn't want to stay here and get in his way.

"Sister Cen, don't worry, I have something to do."

Xia Qinghe quickly called out to her.

"Your Majesty, please give your orders."

Cen Lingyi complied.

She was somewhat surprised. What could Xia Qing possibly want with her?

Yan Chenghui also looked at Xia Qinghe.

"Isn't it almost the beginning of autumn? The palace has sent over a batch of newly presented brocade fabrics from Jiangnan, as well as pearl jewelry."

Xia Qing smiled and waved to the maid behind her.

Sui Sui stepped forward carrying a piece of cloth.

Cen Lingyi was not surprised. During festivals and seasonal changes, the palace would bestow new cloth upon the Crown Prince and members of the imperial clan, and have palace servants prepare autumn clothes. This was called the reward of clothing.

But what does this have to do with her?

"Your Highness, please look at this piece of cloth."

Xia Qing greeted Yan Chenghui with a smile.

Yan Chenghui glanced sideways at the cloth in Sui Sui's hand.

The extremely rare smoky-colored brocade shimmered with a pale golden light under the sun, rippling like water, radiant and dazzling.

"Your Highness, the fabrics bestowed by the palace this time are all of the finest quality, and I have already distributed them to my younger sisters. Sister Cen has worked hard to nurse Huai Jiao for us, and I think this color suits her very well. How about we reward her with this fabric to make a new dress, and also give her a pearl hairpin? She is Huai Jiao's wet nurse; this favor is a way of showing her respect. What do you think, Your Highness?"

Xia Qinghe looked at Yan Chenghui beside her with gentle eyes and discussed the matter with him in a soft voice.

Every year, she would also take the pearl hairpins and hold them in her hands.

"You are the Crown Princess, in charge of the Eastern Palace's inner court. You are the one to make these decisions."

Yan Chenghui didn't care much and stepped past Cen Lingyi to walk inside.

When I passed by her, I didn't even glance at her, as if she didn't exist.

Behind her came Cen Lingyi's soft voice.

"This servant thanks Your Highness the Crown Princess for your kindness, but I am merely the wet nurse of the young prince, of lowly status, and truly unworthy to receive such a reward. I beg Your Highness to rescind your order."

Cen Lingyi lowered her head and bent her knees, her back straight, her tone respectful and humble.

She didn't know what Xia Qinghe meant by this, but she knew her own status well. Even if she accepted the reward, she would never actually make a dress for herself and wear the expensive pearl hairpins to flaunt in the city.

What's the point of having something that can only be looked at?

"Sister Cen, His Highness has already agreed, so why bother..."

Xia Qing spoke gently, offering her advice.

Yan Chenghui stopped in his tracks, turned around, and his indifferent gaze fell on Cen Lingyi's slender back.

"She is indeed unworthy."

He spoke coldly.

That short sentence struck me like a thunderbolt.

She had already refused, and he had already left, yet he still came back just to humiliate her in public.

With this action, he clearly told everyone that in his eyes, she was not worthy of even a piece of cloth or a pearl hairpin.

Cen Lingyi clenched her fingers, then relaxed them.

He loathed her so much.

That's fine. He probably won't refuse when she asks.

"Your Highness, Sister Cen, she..."

Xia Qing looked at the two of them from the left and right, making a gesture as if she was about to persuade them, but stopped after saying only half a sentence.

"These two items are a reward for Banxia."

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi again and gave instructions.

"Banxia, ​​aren't you going to thank me?"

Every year, when Banxia stood under the eaves, she would greet her, then glance at her mistress's expression.

This summer, she has been spending every day by His Highness the Crown Prince's side, and she is quite the center of attention.

"This servant thanks Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess for their generous gifts. Your Highness the Crown Princess, please rest assured that this servant will serve Your Highness wholeheartedly from now on."

Banxia stepped forward, took the cloth, held it in her arms, knelt down, and kowtowed to express her gratitude.

For the past two weeks, His Highness has been extremely kind to her, bestowing upon her all sorts of good things. Now, as soon as she leaves Mingde Palace, all the servants of the Eastern Palace swarm around her to curry favor. They even say in private that even the most favored Consort Sun has to avoid her limelight.

Aside from the one time His Highness pricked her with a needle, he never touched her.

However, she was too embarrassed to talk about such things. There was plenty of time in the future. With His Highness's favor, how could she not wait until that day came?

Xia Qinghe's smile froze for a moment after hearing what she said.

Sui Sui snorted inwardly. Banxia didn't even know what kind of person she was, yet she dared to dream of serving His Highness the Crown Prince in place of her mistress.

The room fell silent for a moment.

"Your Majesty, I have a request."

Cen Lingyi raised her dark eyes, looked at everyone, and spoke softly.

"Sister Cen, please feel free to tell me anything. There's no need to be so formal."

Xia Qinghe's expression returned to its usual gentle and mild manner. She stepped forward and looked at her with a smile in her eyes.

"Your Highness, Banxia is already serving you in Mingde Palace. This servant would like to move back to the side hall to take care of the young prince. There are Granny Wang and the others there who can lend a hand."

Cen Lingyi's long, curled eyelashes fluttered slightly as she spoke slowly and deliberately.

Her request was reasonable, and it would save Yan Chenghui from feeling disgusted by her; they would probably agree.

Upon hearing this, Yan Chenghui's eyes immediately turned cold, a hint of malice surging within them.

She tried every possible way to get away from him.

Entering the Eastern Palace was also for Lu Huaiyou's sake.

Okay, she's really good!

Xia Qinghe smiled and looked at Yan Chenghui: "Is Sister Cen short of manpower? Your Highness, perhaps..."

She said this while waiting for Yan Chenghui's decision.

Yan Chenghui asked Cen Lingyi to stay, and she then suggested transferring Wang Mama and others to work there.

If Yan Chenghui were to let Cen Lingyi leave, that would be ideal. Directly transferring Cen Lingyi back to the side hall would make her feel better.

The surroundings fell silent for a moment, awaiting Yan Chenghui's decision.