Nong Nu Jiao

"Why would Sister Cen say such a thing out of the blue?"

Xia Qinghe opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Why would Cen Lingyi suddenly bring this up? Is it because she can't stand the hardships of the servants' quarters? Is she saying this on purpose so that Cen Lingyi will transfer her back to the side hall?

"This servant has come to the East Palace and has been fortunate to receive Your Majesty's care. Now I have other matters to attend to and will not remain in the East Palace. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request."

Cen Lingyi's eyes were smiling, her black hair and fair skin were complemented by a faint pink hue, like a pearl shimmering with light.

Xia Qing felt uncomfortable watching this, so she lowered her eyes, quickly walked up to her, and then looked up.

She took Cen Lingyi's hand, her face full of affection and understanding.

"Is the work in the servants' quarters too strenuous? Your hand is injured like this. It's really not right, Sun Fengyi. I told those servants to treat you better, but they still dared to act like this. Sister Cen, don't say such hurtful things. I'll deal with them later."

She didn't believe Cen Lingyi would leave.

Cen Lingyi came to the East Palace as a wet nurse because she was abandoned by Lu Huaiyou and had nowhere else to go, so she thought of clinging to Yan Chenghui.

However, Yan Chenghui still harbored resentment over being abandoned by Cen Lingyi, and therefore did not accept her.

But Yan Chenghui never gave up.

Given time, Cen Lingyi might reconcile with him; who knows?

"No, that's not it." Cen Lingyi smiled and withdrew her hand. "Your Highness has misunderstood. I am a servant, and it is my duty to do whatever work I am supposed to do."

"Is it because of Consort Sun? That's just her personality, it's not something that just started today." Xia Qinghe added, "When His Highness returns later, I'll try to persuade him. Huai Jiao has always liked you and even transferred you back to his side to take care of you. His Highness loves Huai Jiao, so he will naturally agree."

It wasn't that she wanted to persuade Cen Lingyi to stay, but rather that she guessed Yan Chenghui wouldn't let Cen Lingyi leave.

He would be displeased if I went against Yan Chenghui's wishes.

She cannot make decisions for Yan Chenghui yet.

Moreover, Cen Lingyi didn't really want to leave; she was probably using leaving as leverage because of Sun Fengyi and the servants' quarters.

If she readily agreed, and Cen Lingyi left only to be brought back by Yan Chenghui, she would end up pleasing no one.

She has built up such a good reputation for being "virtuous" for so long, she can't let it be ruined by Cen Lingyi.

"Your Majesty, I asked a friend to inquire about some of my family members, and I wish to visit them, so I cannot stay in the Eastern Palace."

Cen Lingyi had no choice but to say so.

Xia Qinghe probably hoped she would leave, but the reason she didn't agree was probably because she was worried that Yan Chenghui wouldn't agree.

She didn't tell Xia Qinghe about finding the child, let alone say a single word about the parents.

"That's why." Xia Qinghe glanced at her, a thought forming in his mind. He looked at her with concern and said, "Then you have to go to Wusun, which is thousands of miles away and a bitterly cold place. How can a young woman like you go there?"

There's always a way.

Cen Lingyi smiled, not wanting to say anything more to her.

Xia Qinghe remained silent, seemingly in a difficult position.

"Your Highness, please nod your head. The young prince is all grown up now. If the people in the side hall can handle him, then I will leave. The young prince may cry for a couple of days, but he will naturally forget about me later."

Cen Lingyi spoke softly and gently, and every word she uttered was reasonable and logical.

"I'm not worried about Huai Jiao." Xia Qinghe took a few steps back and sat down, looking at her with doubt in her eyes. "It's just that with His Highness, how am I supposed to explain things to him after you leave?"

"Your Highness knows that His Highness has always disliked me and wishes I would disappear."

Cen Lingyi smiled gently.

He wished she were dead.

She's gone. He no longer has to get angry whenever he sees her, nor does he have to try to humiliate or torment her.

After all, out of sight, out of mind.

"That being said, I doubt His Highness is willing to let you go."

Xia Qinghe was still hesitating.

"Your Highness refuses to let me go because you hate me. You feel that letting me go like this will only make you more resentful. Please, Your Highness, have pity on me and let me go."

Cen Lingyi lifted her skirt and knelt down before her.

Xia Qinghe said that Yan Chenghui's reluctance to let her go was a lie; what he really cared about was her past with Yan Chenghui.

At this point, only by acting subserviently and distancing himself from Yan Chenghui would Xia Qinghe agree.

"Sister Cen, why must you do this?" Xia Qinghe stood up and helped her up, her eyes full of heartache. "Seeing you like this makes me feel bad too. Since you're determined to leave, then I'll grant your request."

She straightened up and let out a long sigh of relief.

After Cen Lingyi left, she never saw Yan Chenghui again.

Sun Fengyi, that guy who relies on his father and brothers, is nothing to be afraid of.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Cen Lingyi curtsied to her and said in a low voice, "Please do not tell His Highness about this matter. If His Highness finds out, he will certainly not let me leave easily."

She knew that Xia Qinghe was waiting for her to say those words.

Only if she said these words could it demonstrate her determination to leave, and only then would Xia Qinghe believe that she truly wanted to leave.

"Alright." Xia Qinghe's brows relaxed, and he instructed, "Niannian, go to the second drawer of the dressing table and take out a one-hundred-tael silver note for Sister Cen."

"No need, Your Highness, I have money."

Cen Lingyi took half a step back and waved her hand in refusal.

She wouldn't owe Xia Qinghe any favors.

"Take it with you," Xia Qinghe advised. "You're a woman traveling alone; how can you manage without some money?"

As long as Cen Lingyi is willing to leave, it's worth giving her more money to get rid of her.

"This servant has money, Your Highness really doesn't need to take it. Princess Taihe gave me a lot." Cen Lingyi curtsied to her: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. This servant will take her leave now, pack her things, and will leave about the day after tomorrow."

After she finished speaking, she walked out without waiting for Xia Qinghe to reply.

As she turned around, Xia Qinghe happened to be looking at her. In that fleeting glance, she saw the crimson behind Cen Lingyi's ear, even more vibrant than rouge, like a red peony in full bloom.

Her eyes welled up with tears, and with a soft "snap," the fingernail she was gripping the table leg broke.

At the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, Yan Chenghui invited her to go see the lantern festival, but in reality, he was using her as a pretext.

Once outside the East Palace, he alighted from the carriage and let her explore on her own.

He walked away.

She knew that Cen Lingyi had gone out of the front hall and then onto the street.

At that time, she guessed that Yan Chenghui might have gone after Cen Lingyi.

Looking at the mark behind Cen Lingyi's ear now, it is clearly the mark of her son. Who else could it be but Yan Chenghui?

"Your Majesty..."

Sui Sui took her hand, examined the broken fingernail, and hesitated to speak.

"You saw it too?"

Xia Qinghe turned to look at her, took a deep breath, and felt a surge of frustration.

"She's leaving soon, Your Highness, please pretend you didn't see her."

He advised people to follow the Way every year.

Xia Qinghe nodded, glanced in the direction Cen Lingyi had left, and suppressed the jealousy burning in her heart.

It would be best if Cen Lingyi really left and never came back.

*

Before Cen Lingyi even stepped into the side hall, she heard Yan Huaijiao's loud crying.

"Your Highness, please stop crying. I promise, when the young lady returns in a little while, I'll carry you to see her, okay?"

Lingzhi was at her wit's end, sweating profusely as she tried to soothe the crying little one in her arms.

The two wet nurses, Da Chen and Xiao Chen, stood by helplessly, while the other maids were even more unable to help, exchanging bewildered glances.

Yan Huaijiao didn't care about the Mid-Autumn Festival at all; she just kept wailing until her voice was hoarse.

"Mother...waaaah..."

He already knew who "mother" represented, and while crying, he stretched out his little hand and pointed outwards, indicating to Lingzhi to take him to find his mother.

"My dear darling, the young lady has left the East Palace..."

Lingzhi was so exhausted by him that she could barely hold him.

"Aunt Cen is back!"

A sharp-eyed maid saw Cen Lingyi return and quickly called out to her.

"aunt."

The maids hurriedly bowed to Cen Lingyi.

After Consort Xiao appointed Cen Lingyi to manage the side hall, these people no longer treated her with the same disdain as before.

Whether they agree or not, they will bow to her and call her "Auntie" when they see her.

No need for formalities.

Cen Lingyi climbed the steps.

"Girl, you're finally back."

Lingzhi, as if seeing a savior, hugged Yan Huaijiao and stepped over the threshold to greet her.

"Waaah..."

As soon as Yan Huaijiao saw Cen Lingyi, her crying subsided, and she stretched out her little hand and leaned far out.

"Your Highness, why are you crying like this? You're so old, yet you still can't be separated from your wet nurse."

Cen Lingyi hugged him, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.

She was leaving the Eastern Palace, and perhaps she would never see this child again.

This is the child she raised herself, and she is very reluctant to part with him.

But she had no choice.

"Well……"

Yan Huaijiao felt extremely wronged and buried her face in her neck, whimpering softly.

"Good baby, it's your fault, wet nurse. You can't cry like that again next time."

Cen Lingyi gently patted his back and whispered comforting words.

Yan Huaijiao seemed to understand, and hummed twice before stopping her crying.

"How about I wash up and then I breastfeed you?"

Cen Lingyi carried him into the side hall.

When Yan Huaijiao heard her mention breastfeeding, she remembered it and snuggled into her arms affectionately.

Cen Lingyi quickly washed herself, sat on a low stool, and began to breastfeed him.

"Girl, what happened behind your ear? It's all red!"

Lingzhi asked in confusion from the side.

"I tried on some rouge, and somehow it...it's a little itchy..."

Cen Lingyi's face flushed, as if someone had steamed a basket of buns in front of her.

Yan Chenghui treated her so badly, completely disregarding her feelings!

"I know, it's because there was pollen in that rouge, right? The pear blossoms in our old lady's courtyard used to be like that; they would get hives on their faces whenever they touched cosmetics. Luckily, yours isn't that bad, Miss."

Lingzhi was simple-minded and didn't think that much about it.

"Um."

Cen Lingyi nodded perfunctorily.

Yan Huaijiao cried and made a fuss many times that day in order to see Cen Lingyi, and was already exhausted.

Having eaten her fill, she nestled in Cen Lingyi's arms and quickly fell asleep.

Cen Lingyi got up, intending to place him in the cradle.

"Miss, shall I hold him? I'll also take the little prince to sleep over there with you, otherwise he'll cry again tonight."

Lingzhi reached out her hand as she spoke.

"No need, I'll be here tonight."

Cen Lingyi placed Yan Huaijiao in the cradle, covered him with a thin blanket, and carefully tidied him up.

"His Highness has allowed you to return?"

Upon hearing this, Lingzhi was overjoyed.

Cen Lingyi didn't say anything, but walked over and opened the cabinet.

"What are you looking for, young lady?" Lingzhi rocked the cradle. "I'll help you find it in a moment."

Although she wasn't a master or servant, she still packed most of the girl's things.

"Need not."

Cen Lingyi responded softly.

She took out the purse that Princess Taihe had given her and walked back to Lingzhi.

"What's wrong, young lady?"

Lingzhi noticed that something was wrong with her.

"Come."

Cen Lingyi pulled Lingzhi's hand and poured the gold ingots from her purse into her hand.

"Girl, what are you doing? Why are you giving me so many gold ingots?"

Lingzhi instinctively pulled her hand back.

Why is the girl acting so strangely? Why would you give her this out of the blue?

"I forgot to bring you something while I was out on the street. Here, take this and go buy it yourself later."

Cen Lingyi insisted on giving her half of the gold ingots from her purse.

"This servant doesn't want to, what does the young lady want to do?"

Lingzhi's eyes reddened.

She noticed the girl's unusual behavior and looked at her uneasily.

"The child has been found. I'm leaving now."

Cen Lingyi put the remaining gold ingots into her sleeve, turned around and went to the wardrobe to quietly pack her things.

Actually, it was nothing much, just a few old clothes she had worn when she arrived.

I won't stay here; I'm getting in other people's way.

"Are you leaving, young lady?" Lingzhi's tears fell instantly: "I want to go with you too."

She took a step forward and tugged at the hem of her dress.

"Don't talk nonsense." Cen Lingyi turned around to wipe away her tears and gently comforted her, "I don't even know where we're going yet. You'll only suffer if you follow me."

She has already suffered enough; why drag Lingzhi down with her?

"This servant is not afraid of hardship."

Lingzhi was very determined.

"Your indenture is in the Eastern Palace; you can't leave." Cen Lingyi sighed softly. "The young prince can't do without you either. If I leave, he'll be crying enough; if you leave too, won't he be heartbroken?"

Lingzhi was doing quite well in the Eastern Palace, and Yan Chenghui never targeted her.

She can't even take care of herself, how can she take care of others?

"But what will happen if the girl goes out alone?"

Lingzhi wept bitterly.

"My sister is still alive."

Cen Lingyi leaned close to her ear and whispered something to her.

Upon hearing this, Lingzhi immediately stopped crying and stared at her with wide eyes: "Really? You're not lying to me, miss?"

Why would I lie to you?

Cen Lingyi smiled at her and continued to pack her things.

"Is that girl going to see the second young lady?"

Lingzhi leaned closer and asked.

"Um."

Cen Lingyi did not explain to her that she did not know where her second sister was.

Telling her would only make her worry, there's no need for that.

"I can't bear to part with the girl..."

Lingzhi hugged her and started crying again.

"Silly girl." Cen Lingyi patted her. "If I can get Father's case overturned, I'll come back for you."

Lingzhi cried even harder.

The Emperor himself adjudicated the lord's case; who can overturn it?

The girl was just trying to comfort her.

*

Mingde Hall.

Silver moonlight bathed the entire courtyard, casting a faint golden veil over the upturned eaves.

Yan Chenghui stood under the corridor, but instead of admiring the moon, he gazed in the direction of the side room.

It was pitch black there.

The people who lived there had moved out long ago.

"Your Highness, shall I apply some medicine for you?"

Yun Que retrieved the medicine and carefully began to speak.

That evening, he went out with His Highness and followed Miss Cen for a long time before His Highness suddenly sent him back first.

He had no idea what had happened between His Highness and Miss Cen on the street.

When His Highness returned, he stood silently under the eaves, lost in thought.

"No need."

Yan Chenghui clenched his fist, a sharp pain shooting through him.

Yun Que stood to one side with her head down, sighing inwardly.

His Highness clearly felt sorry for the young lady; seeing that her hand was injured, he refused to apply medicine himself.

Then bring the girl out of the servants' quarters.

Why bother?

"Has Yun Gong not returned yet?"

Yan Chenghui asked in a low voice.

"They should be back soon, right? Or should I go and urge them?"

Yun Que looked towards the courtyard gate.

Upon His Highness's return, he immediately sent Yun Gong to inquire about Miss Cen's whereabouts.

It's been so long, they should be back by now.

Yan Chenghui remained silent.

Yun Que dared not speak again.

At that moment, Yun Gong entered through the courtyard gate.

"Your Highness," Yun Gong stepped forward and bowed, "After Miss Cen returned, she went to the Crown Princess's place and stayed for about fifteen minutes before returning to the side hall. When I went down there, Lingzhi was holding Miss Cen and crying, while the young prince was asleep."

Yan Chenghui frowned as he looked at Yun Gong.

"Why is Lingzhi crying?"

Yun Que asked the question on his behalf.

"I am unaware."

Yun Gong shook his head.

Why didn't you ask?

Yun Que rebuked him.

Yun Gong scratched his head: "His Highness instructed me to inquire about Miss Cen's whereabouts, but not about anything else..."

That stupid thing.

Yun Que glared at him, disappointed in him, then turned to Yan Cheng and said, "Your Highness, I will go and find out."

Yan Chenghui nodded slightly.

Yun Gong dared not speak and silently stood in the corner. When he turned around, Yun Que was about to scold him for not being able to apply what he had learned to other situations.

Yan Chenghui looked up at the full moon in the sky.

A thin cloud drifted by, bathed in moonlight, its colors like the flowing hem of someone's skirt.

Yun Que returned quickly.

"Your Highness," he stepped forward cautiously and said, "Miss Cen went to the Crown Princess's residence to resign."

"Resignation?"

Yan Chenghui put his hands behind his back and snorted coldly.

She thought she could still abandon him as easily as before, and leave whenever she wanted.

"Yes."

Yun Que lowered his head, not daring to utter a sound.

Yan Chenghui stared at the door of the side room, his eyes dark and cold, as if he wanted to stare a hole through it.

*

The servants' quarters.

After a busy half-day, Cen Lingyi finally received her lunch and returned to her room to sit down at the old table.

In order not to arouse Yan Chenghui's suspicion, she returned to the servants' quarters to do her work as usual today.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is over, and the work has become a little easier, but it is still very tiring.

But it doesn't matter, tomorrow's events in the Eastern Palace will be none of her concern.

"Aunt Cen."

A maid from the side hall rushed over and greeted her.

"Meixiang, is something the matter?"

Cen Lingyi was somewhat surprised to see her.

"Lingzhi is ill. His Highness has instructed you to return to the side hall to take care of the young prince."

Plum Blossom Road.

"The Ganoderma lucidum is sick? When did this happen?"

Cen Lingyi didn't even bother to eat; she put down her chopsticks, got up, and headed towards the side hall.

At noon, Lingzhi brought Yan Huaijiao over to nurse, saying she would come back after lunch and asked Lingzhi to help coax Yan Huaijiao to take a nap.

How could you have fallen ill in less than an hour?

"It was a sudden acute illness. I don't know what happened. I suddenly started vomiting, said it hurt my chest, and felt cold and shivering. It looked like a cold."

Meixiang followed up and explained.

"How can a cold develop so quickly?" Cen Lingyi quickened her pace. "Has she eaten anything?"

"I have no idea."

Meixiang shook her head.

Where is she now?

Cen Lingyi was extremely worried.

Servants are not masters; if they fall ill, there are no good doctors, and they might even die.

"The Crown Princess has had her carried out. She should be able to get the doctors from the Eastern Palace to examine her. However, Lingzhi looks like she's about to faint. She's barely breathing and doesn't seem like she can hold on much longer."

Meixiang answered her.

Cen Lingyi felt a chill in her heart upon hearing this. Was Lingzhi's illness really that serious?

When the masters of the Eastern Palace fell ill, they were treated by imperial physicians.

The doctors they employ treat both people and livestock, but they only prescribe the most basic remedies; how can they actually diagnose illnesses?

As she stepped into the side hall, she heard Yan Huaijiao's wailing.

"Oh, Sister Cen, you're finally back!"

Xia Qinghe, covered in sweat, quickly approached and placed Yan Huaijiao in her arms.

The child's wailing gave her a headache and made her feel uneasy.

Cen Lingyi took the child, took a half step back, looked up at Xia Qinghe, and felt a little surprised.

Why is Xia Qinghe so heavy-handed?

Shouldn't she cherish her own child and carefully hand it over to someone else?

If she hadn't been used to carrying Yan Huaijiao and had a lot of strength, she would have almost dropped the child.

"Hmm..."

Yan Huaijiao hugged Cen Lingyi's neck with both hands, immediately stopped crying, and buried her face in Cen Lingyi's shoulder.

"Sister Cen, Huaijiao can't live without you, what should we do?"

Xia Qing wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling somewhat annoyed.

After Cen Lingyi left, Lingzhi also fell ill. As Yan Huaijiao's nominal biological mother, she couldn't just abandon him.

Yan Chenghui would think she was heartless.

But the thought of taking care of this incessantly crying child made her temples throb.

It's not like it's her biological child; she doesn't have Cen Lingyi's patience.

"It's alright, Your Highness will adapt gradually." Cen Lingyi held Yan Huaijiao in her arms, her eyes pleading, "Your Highness, I have some money here. Could you please go to the market and fetch a doctor for Lingzhi?"

She was anxious.

Lingzhi's sudden illness didn't seem like a good one, and she was very worried about her.

"I'm afraid that won't work." Xia Qinghe shook his head and added, "The Eastern Palace has rules that outsiders are not allowed to enter at will. Besides, I've already sent a doctor, so don't worry too much."

Xia Qing patted her shoulder and started to walk away.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid these ordinary doctors are no match for them..."

Cen Lingyi bent her knees, intending to kneel down before her.

Lingzhi and she were like sisters, and it was rare that after the Cen family suffered a disaster, she still treated her the same as before.

No matter what, she had to save Lingzhi's life.

"Don't kneel." Xia Qinghe helped her up, looking helpless. "You know it won't work. This is the Eastern Palace."

She was just a maid, and a maid who was loyal to Cen Lingyi at that. It's better that she died.

She wouldn't break the rules of the Eastern Palace for a mere maid; it wasn't worth it.

Cen Lingyi took a step back, watched her leave, and stumbled to sit down in a chair.

Lingzhi's condition is so serious; if she delays any longer, it might cost her her life.

She calmed herself down, undressed, fed Yan Huaijiao, and coaxed him to sleep.

"Grandma Chen, please look after the young prince. I'm going out for a bit."

After settling Yan Huaijiao in, Cen Lingyi turned and walked out.

"Aunt Cen, Lingzhi has been moved to the outer courtyard; you can't get out."

Little Chen, the wet nurse, reminded her.

"I'm not going to see her..."

Cen Lingyi looked somewhat flustered and almost tripped over the threshold when she went out.

Before she even left the courtyard, she hurriedly turned back, went into the inner hall to wash herself with cool water, and then styled her hair into the same droopy bun that Yan Chenghui used to love the way she wore.

After leaving the side hall, she went straight to the Mingde Hall where Yan Chenghui was.

Having been refused by Xia Qinghe, she had no choice but to turn to Yan Chenghui for help.