Nong Nu Jiao

Yan Chenghui got into the carriage, glanced back at her, and said, "Get in."

"This servant is of lowly status and cannot ride with Your Highness."

Cen Lingyi lowered her eyelashes and blurted out a refusal.

"Then walk over there."

Yan Chenghui coldly uttered a sentence and bent down to enter the carriage.

Cen Lingyi hesitated for a moment, but still decided to get into the carriage.

She hasn't recovered yet; if she walks there, won't she get tired and injured again?

No matter what, you can't go against your own body.

She looked around, trying to find a small stool to stand on so she could get onto the carriage.

"Young lady, please help me."

Yun Que stepped forward and extended his hand to her.

Cen Lingyi raised her hand, about to put it on his arm, when the curtain in front of the carriage was suddenly lifted, and Yan Chenghui's handsome and indifferent face appeared in her sight.

Cen Lingyi froze involuntarily.

Yun Que quickly lowered his arm as well.

Yan Chenghui glanced at Yun Que and then reached out his hand to Cen Lingyi.

Cen Lingyi placed her hand on his arm, through his sleeve.

She dared not touch him lightly, lest she accidentally anger him again and be met with another round of sarcastic remarks.

Once inside the carriage, she consciously sat down in a corner.

Outside the carriage, Yun Que wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, jumped onto the carriage, and cracked his whip to urge the horse on: "Giddy up!"

The carriage stopped in front of the palace gate.

Yan Chenghui was the first to lift the curtain and lean out.

"This humble official greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

The commander of the Imperial Guards quickly stepped forward and saluted.

No need for formalities.

Yan Chenghui casually waved his hand and was about to get off the carriage.

"Your Highness need not alight from the carriage." The commander of the Imperial Guards hurriedly said, "Her Imperial Concubine has obtained His Majesty's decree that since you are injured, the carriage can proceed directly to Ninghe Palace."

"it is good."

Yan Chenghui agreed and turned back into the carriage.

Yun Que raised his whip and urged the horse on again.

Yesterday, when His Highness entered the palace, he spoke to His Majesty about the fire at Fahua Temple. However, the Imperial Concubine did not allow His Highness to enter the palace in a carriage.

Today, since Miss Cen has arrived, the Imperial Concubine went to His Highness to request an imperial decree. I'm afraid it's not because she cares about His Highness, but because she cares about Miss Cen.

Those unaware of the situation might mistakenly believe that Miss Cen is the Imperial Concubine's biological daughter.

*

Ninghe Palace.

Wangyue waited anxiously outside the vermilion-lacquered, copper-studded door.

Upon seeing the carriage in the distance, she hurried over to greet it.

"This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

She curtsied and peered into the carriage.

Cen Lingyi bent over and got out of the carriage.

"Miss Cen."

Wangyue called to her with a smile.

The Imperial Concubine had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the young lady since early morning.

"Sister Wangyue."

Cen Lingyi smiled at her as well.

"I'll help you up."

Wang Yue stepped forward and reached out to help her.

Cen Lingyi took her hand and got off the carriage.

Consort Jia was waiting in the corridor when she saw Cen Lingyi and went to greet her: "Sixth Sister."

"This servant greets Your Highness, the Noble Consort."

Cen Lingyi stopped and curtsied.

"You're always so polite, child."

Consort Xiao stepped forward and took her hand, her face full of reproach.

Yan Chenghui stood aside, looking at his mother who hadn't even glanced at him.

"Let your aunt check on you, are you alright?"

Consort Xiao led Cen Lingyi toward the main hall, glancing at her from head to toe with a hint of worry in her eyes.

I heard that Cen Lingyi didn't sleep well all night after the fire at Fahua Temple.

Before dawn, he sent a message to Yan Chenghui, asking him to bring Cen Lingyi to the palace so that he could see her.

"It's nothing serious, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."

Cen Lingyi shook her head and smiled at her with her eyes curved.

"Don't try to comfort me. You don't look well at all. I specially invited Chief Physician Gu to wait here and take your pulse."

Consort Xiao led her across the threshold.

Gu Meishu was indeed waiting inside the hall. Upon seeing the group enter, she quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."

"Come, let me take her pulse."

Consort Xiao helped Consort Cen sit down on an octagonal stool by the table.

"Your Highness, this servant is of lowly status, how could I...?"

Cen Lingyi was getting restless.

Gu Meishu is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy. He would probably feel resentful if he were to examine the pulse of the daughter of a disgraced official like her.

If the news gets out then, it will only cause more trouble.

"Don't worry, young lady, I'm not a gossip."

Gu Meishu stroked his beard and offered her a word of comfort.

He was also taken aback when he first saw Cen Lingyi.

He was acquainted with Grand Tutor Cen and had examined Cen Lingyi's pulse several times, so he recognized her.

However, they were unaware that Cen Lingyi was now in the Eastern Palace.

How many people in the capital don't know about Cen Lingyi's past with His Highness the Crown Prince?

His Highness the Crown Prince actually tolerated her.

He could vaguely guess what the child was worried about, so he offered words of comfort.

Thank you.

Cen Lingyi felt a little relieved and then placed her hands on the table.

Gu Meishu placed three fingers on Cen Lingyi's pulse, lowered her eyes to calmly diagnose her, and after a moment raised her hand to look at Cen Lingyi's face.

"how?"

Consort Xiao asked from the side.

"The young lady fainted during the fire, with thick smoke accumulating in her lungs and toxic fumes penetrating her lungs. May I ask if she has a burning throat, frequent coughing, dizziness, tinnitus, or general weakness?"

"I am a skilled physician, just like you. But I am better than yesterday."

Cen Lingyi pursed her lips and replied softly.

"It's nothing serious. I'll prescribe a dose of Jade Stream Soothing Throat Drink, which is specially formulated to relieve dryness and irritation caused by smoke and fire, and nourish the lungs. The young lady should take it for three days and she will recover. Please send someone with me to the Imperial Hospital to get the medicine."

Gu Meishu quickly wrote down the prescription.

"Wang Yun, send someone to go with them."

Consort Xiao gave the order.

"Yes."

Wang Yun took the silver and intended to follow Gu Meishu away.

Gu Meishu put down her pen and looked at Yan Chenghui. "Since Your Highness is here, why don't you let me take your pulse again and see how bad your injuries are?"

Yan Chenghui was about to nod.

Consort Xiao said, "No need. He is strong and healthy, and he has taken medicine. What could possibly happen to him? Imperial Physician Gu, you may go now."

"Yes."

Gu Meishu stroked his beard, not daring to insist, and got up to take his leave.

This Imperial Concubine is really something, caring so much about the Cen family's daughter, yet she doesn't seem to care about her own son.

However, remembering that the mother and son had been in the cold palace before...

It's not surprising that Consort Xiao treated His Highness the Crown Prince this way.

"Wangyue, you go out too, and close the door from the outside."

Consort Xiao gave an order.

"Yes."

Wangyue went out and closed the door.

Inside the main hall, only Cen Lingyi, Yan Chenghui, and Consort Xiao remained.

For a moment, no one spoke; all around was quiet.

Cen Lingyi, unaware of Consort Xiao's intentions, turned to look at her.

"Yan Chenghui, kneel down before me."

Consort Xiao turned to look at him and suddenly rebuked him.

Yan Chenghui didn't say a word, took two steps forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down on the ground.

Cen Lingyi quickly stood up and moved aside.

Yan Chenghui could kneel before the Imperial Concubine, but not before her.

She needs to move further away.

I wonder what Yan Chenghui did to anger the Imperial Concubine?

Consort Xiao stepped forward, standing before Yan Chenghui, looking down at him with furrowed brows. "I ask you," she said angrily, "when the Fahua Temple caught fire yesterday, why didn't you save Xiao Liu, but instead went to save Sun Peihuan?"

She had heard about what happened at Fahua Temple yesterday.

Emperor Shengwu also praised her, saying that the Crown Prince was sensible and knew the bigger picture.

Cen Lingyi was the daughter of a disgraced official; her death was no big deal.

Sun Peihuan's father and brothers were fighting for their kingdom at the border. If something happened to Sun Peihuan at this time, it would be difficult to explain to his family.

Upon hearing this, Consort Xiao was immediately filled with anger.

Xiao Liu has already suffered enough; out of all the people in the mansion, she is all alone.

Yan Chenghui still treated her like this!

"Your Highness, how could I possibly deserve His Highness risking his life to save me? Please help His Highness to get up..."

When Cen Lingyi heard that this was the reason Yan Chenghui had knelt down, she quickly stepped forward to try to dissuade her.

Yan Chenghui loathed her to the extreme; if he didn't want to humiliate her to vent his anger, he would rather she were dead.

Why would he risk his life to save her?

She had never dared to have such a wish.

"Never mind him, let's see what he has to say."

Consort Xiao pushed her away and looked coldly at Yan Chenghui.

"Sun Peihuan's father and brothers are fighting bravely at the border. I cannot let anything happen to her. Besides, she is from my own household, so I should save her."

Yan Chenghui knelt upright, his face expressionless.

He was annoyed when she said "how could you be worthy of me?" and his tone became harsh.

"Sun Peihuan can't get into trouble? What about Xiao Liu?"

Consort Xiao raised her voice.

"She was just Huai Jiao's wet nurse."

Yan Chenghui's eyes were filled with indifference.

"You heartless, ungrateful wretch..."

Consort Xiao's expression changed drastically, and she raised her hand to strike him.

"Your Highness, please calm down. His Highness is right."

Cen Lingyi quickly grabbed her.

"Xiao Liu, he treated you like this, and you're still going to speak up for him?"

Consort Xiao turned to look at her, her anger still lingering.

"This servant is of lowly status and not worth mentioning. Your Highness, please don't let this servant's sake ruin your relationship with His Highness."

Cen Lingyi felt a pang of sadness, but she nonchalantly helped her sit down in a chair.

How could she not be heartbroken?

But what else could she do but silently endure it?

"Yan Chenghui, let me tell you, if anything happens to Xiao Liu, I'll go with her."

Consort Xiao looked at Yan Chenghui, her hand on her chest, her eyes reddening.

Yan Chenghui stiffened, lowered his head, and pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"Your Majesty, please don't say that."

Cen Lingyi felt a lump in her throat, and her voice was muffled.

Although she knew that Consort Xiao was good to her, she still felt flattered when she heard Consort Xiao say this.

Why is the Imperial Concubine so good to her?

"Why are you still kneeling? Just looking at you makes me angry."

Consort Xiao glared at Yan Chenghui.

Yan Chenghui then stood up and remained motionless.

"The medicine will be back soon. Go and prepare it for Xiao Liu."

Consort Xiao angrily gave him her orders.

"Your Majesty, no need, I..."

Cen Lingyi wanted to stop it.

"Don't worry about it, let him go."

Consort Xiao interrupted her.

Yan Chenghui remained silent and turned to leave.

Consort Xiao pulled Cen Lingyi aside and spoke for a while.

You don't look well. Are you tired?

Consort Xiao asked her.

"fine."

Cen Lingyi smiled, her face pale, which made her appear even weaker.

"Go and rest in my bedchamber for a while."

Consort Xiao led her into the bedchamber.

"Come, lean against me." Consort Xiao placed a pillow under her and then insisted, "Don't refuse."

Helpless, Cen Lingyi had no choice but to sit down on the edge of the bed.

"If you really want to thank me, call me Auntie whenever you see me in the future."

Consort Xiao raised her hand and tidied the stray hairs at her temples.

"aunt."

Cen Lingyi raised her eyebrows and called out to her.

She was unfortunate; such a thing happened to her family.

But she was also lucky, having Consort Xiao who loved her dearly, and friends like Song Mingchi and Princess Taihe who helped her in every way.

"Good child, that's a good girl. You rest for a while, I'll go check on the medicine."

Consort Xiao touched her face, pulled the thin quilt over her, got up and went out.

Just then, Yan Huaijiao brought the medicinal soup into the main hall.

"Xiao Liu is inside, take him in."

Consort Xiao stopped and pointed towards the sleeping quarters.

Yan Chenghui then carried the medicine inside.

Consort Xiao followed, pulled the door shut from the outside, and locked it with a copper lock.

"Mother..."

Yan Chenghui turned his head and heard the sound of the copper lock latch.

"If Xiao Liu doesn't forgive you today, don't come out."

Consort Xiao snorted and brushed off non-existent dust from her hands.