Nong Nu Jiao

Cen Lingyi heard the outside quiet down.

Yan Chenghui did not answer Consort Xiao's question immediately.

She raised her hand and covered her chest.

It seems he wants to protect Xia Qinghe?

"I have my own decision on this matter."

At this moment, Yan Chenghui's clear and cold voice rang out.

Cen Lingyi was somewhat surprised.

Did she not expect that he would protect Xia Qinghe and not help his beloved Sun Peihuan avenge her?

"What decision do you have? Don't you have any evidence? I've already taken action against Sun Peihuan's father and brothers who are stationed at the border, so what's a little Xia Qinghe? If you can't bring yourself to do it, then let me do it."

Consort Xiao couldn't bear to listen any longer and abruptly stood up.

"There is no need for Mother Consort to worry about matters concerning the Crown Prince's Palace. Father Emperor has instructed me to oversee the repairs of the temporary palace. If Mother Consort has nothing else to attend to, I will take my leave now."

Yan Chenghui bowed to her.

"Yan Chenghui, you..."

Consort Xiao couldn't help but raise her voice.

Cen Lingyi withdrew her hand from the door, and the clasp fell off with a "click".

She was startled.

Consort Xiao was interrupted and turned to look towards the bedchamber: "Has Xiao Liu woken up?"

"Aunt, Your Highness."

Cen Lingyi opened the door and came out, bowing casually.

"Let's go."

Yan Chenghui glanced at her.

"Yan Chenghui, I'll give you one month."

Consort Xiao spoke from behind.

Yan Chenghui did not turn around, but paused for a moment.

Cen Lingyi pretended not to know what they were talking about and silently followed behind him.

His decision not to touch Xia Qinghe might be due to considerations for the peace and tranquility of the Eastern Palace's inner quarters, or perhaps for Xia Qinghe's family.

In short, he never imagined that she would also almost be burned to death in that fire.

Even if he were burned to death, he probably wouldn't care.

She made the right decision to leave; she should have left as soon as possible.

After leaving the palace, Yan Chenghui got off the carriage and asked Yun Gong to drive it back.

He then rode his horse to the outskirts of the imperial palace to oversee the repair work.

Yun Gong stopped the carriage in front of the side hall before calling out to her, "Miss, we've arrived."

Cen Lingyi got off the carriage and nodded to him: "Thank you."

"Don't be so polite, young lady."

Yun Gong grinned and drove off in the carriage.

Cen Lingyi entered the side hall.

"aunt."

Several maids, who were usually lowly servants, saw her and quickly bowed.

Cen Lingyi nodded slightly.

"Miss, you're finally back! The young prince asked me to take him to you; he's cried until his voice is hoarse."

Hearing the commotion outside, Lingzhi carried Yan Huaijiao out and hurriedly went down the steps to greet her.

"Mommy, Mommy, hug me..."

When Yan Huaijiao saw Cen Lingyi, she called out to her in a childish voice, stretched out her little hand, and leaned outward to greet her.

"Your Highness, you should talk about the wet nurse."

Cen Lingyi reached out and hugged him, earnestly correcting him.

"daughter."

Yan Huaijiao didn't care. He hugged her neck, buried his face in hers, hummed and rubbed against her, kissed her face, and cuddled her affectionately.

Are you hungry?

Cen Lingyi felt a surge of warmth in her heart, smiled and kissed him, then carried him toward the side hall.

"I'm not hungry, but I ate quite a lot today. The little prince just has a strong craving for milk; he wants to have a couple of bites whenever he sees a girl."

Lingzhi followed with a smile.

Cen Lingyi smiled too. The little guy felt heavy in her arms, a feeling that was hard to describe—warm, comforting, and soothing. She suddenly felt much more at ease.

"I'll wash up. Your Highness, please go to Lingzhi first."

Cen Lingyi walked to the washstand and then turned to give Yan Huaijiao to Lingzhi to hold.

Her face turned slightly red.

In the Imperial Concubine's bedchamber, Yan Chenghui grasped and ate it.

I need to wash it before feeding the little one.

"Hmm..."

Yan Huaijiao refused and held her tightly, refusing to let go.

He was afraid she would leave again.

"Then Your Highness will stand."

Cen Lingyi put him on the ground and let him hold onto her trouser leg.

He was a little over eleven months old, and his legs were strong enough that he could stand on his own.

She should be able to walk soon.

"Well……"

He was quite obedient, holding her leg and standing beside her, looking up at her with a smile.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but glance at him again.

The way this little guy smiles is just like Yan Chenghui.

She turned to the side and bent over to wipe it with clean water.

"Young lady, what's that around your waist? Why is it red and patchy?"

Lingzhi was afraid that Yan Huaijiao would fall, so she supported him from the side. When she looked up, she happened to see the marks on Cen Lingyi's waist.

"Yes... I don't know what I ate wrong..."

Cen Lingyi's ears burned from her question, so she made up an excuse.

Yan Chenghui's kisses were so forceful that she didn't even have time to check her clothes.

I forgot to make the Ganoderma lucidum avoid it.

She quickly put down her clothes.

"It looks quite serious. Should we try to get some medicine prescribed? By the way, is your throat any better, young lady?"

Lingzhi believed it to be true and was very worried, so she asked her again.

"I took the medicine from the Imperial Concubine and I'm feeling much better. I'm fine; it doesn't hurt or itch. Could you please get me some hot water? I'll take a bath after His Highness has eaten."

Cen Lingyi picked up Yan Huaijiao again and walked behind the screen.

"Okay, I'll go prepare some hot water."

Lingzhi agreed and went.

"Is our little prince crying to his wet nurse? Poor thing." Cen Lingyi stroked the soft hair of the little one in her arms, her eyes filled with pity. "His voice is hoarse from crying. Don't cry next time. Even if the wet nurse isn't here, there are still many people who love the little prince."

"Well……"

Yan Huaijiao swallowed the milk, raised his dark eyes to look at her, and responded with soft humming, as if he understood her words.

Looking into his clear, glassy eyes and at his dependence on her, Cen Lingyi sighed softly.

She really couldn't bear to part with this little one she had raised; he was her only remaining attachment to the Eastern Palace.

However, Yan Huaijiao is the son of Sun Fengyi and Xia Qinghe, so what can't he have?

After she leaves, the little one will forget about her after a while and grow up healthy and safe.

His life was destined to be smooth sailing.

She and he may never have the chance to meet again, or he may not even recognize her if they do meet again.

She gave a wry smile. There was no need to be reluctant to part with this little guy. He was Yan Chenghui's eldest son. What hardship could he possibly suffer?

Yan Huaijiao cried for most of the night and then for half the morning. Finally, when she returned, her eyelids started to droop as she ate, and she soon fell asleep in her arms.

Cen Lingyi got up and placed him in the cradle, with Lingzhi watching over him. She went behind the screen and took off her clothes.

Only when she looked down did she see the state of her body.

Below her collarbone, there were red marks all over her body, and in the heart-shaped area, there were several rings of teeth marks from his shoving. No wonder it had been hurting faintly for so long.

He bit so hard!

Cen Lingyi blushed and cursed him in her heart before sitting down in the bathtub.

The moment I touched the bathtub, I felt a sharp pain in my lower back and hips.

She couldn't help but stand up and look back, and saw that her lower back and groin were covered with his handprints, all red and connected together.

He hated her so much that he hit her so many times. He didn't feel it at the time, but now it stings.

She turned as red as a steamed crab, and quickly sat in the water, scooping up water and splashing it on her face.

I couldn't help but recall the look on his face when he said "wait to return to the Eastern Palace." Fortunately, he had official business to attend to and did not return.

That evening, Lingzhi prepared the medicine that Song Mingchi had sent for Cen Lingyi.

She drank it, coaxed Yan Huaijiao to sleep, and then quickly fell asleep herself.

I slept very soundly.

In her sleep, someone was touching her eyelashes.

"Don't do that..."

She murmured, somewhat annoyed, pushed the hand away, turned her face to face Yan Huaijiao on the inside of the bed, and continued to sleep.

But the hand wouldn't let it go and turned her face back.

Cen Lingyi woke up with a start, realizing that she was not dreaming. She was terrified and opened her mouth to scream.

Someone broke into her home!

"it's me."

Yan Chenghui covered her lips with his large hand.

Cen Lingyi's dark eyes darted around before she could make out the person in front of the bed.

It was already dawn. Yan Chenghui was wearing a narrow-sleeved shirt and looked like he had just returned from outside, but it seemed that he had already taken a bath, as she could smell a faint trace of moisture.

His palms had thin calluses that made her lips sting slightly.

She raised her hand and pushed his hand away.

"Why has Your Highness come to my room?"

She pursed her lips, about to get out of bed and bow.

Yan Chenghui pressed her shoulder with his large hand, making her sit back down, his deep gaze fixed on her rosy lips.

"Your Highness..."

Cen Lingyi sat back on the bed, feeling uneasy.

She and he had done the most intimate things together; she wasn't an naive young girl.

There was something off about his gaze.

He must have just returned from the palace; instead of sleeping, he was thinking about coming to find her.

She knew he was indeed very lustful.

But things are different now. He has so many women in his household, why did he have to come looking for her of all people?

She didn't actually want to do that with him.

Because he had been with other women, she felt disgusted from the bottom of her heart.

But she also knew that he was the Crown Prince, and if he wanted it, she had no chance to refuse.

"Your turn."

Yan Chenghui was very direct, lifting up his robe.

Cen Lingyi's face instantly turned red from the heat emanating from it, and she subconsciously turned her face away.

"What does Your Highness want to do?"

He... he's become so shameless.

Even in the past, when I was reckless, it never came to this.

His personality has really changed drastically, how could he... how could he do this?

"Continue what you didn't finish during the day."

Yan Chenghui remained expressionless.

"This servant does not."

Cen Lingyi stubbornly resisted.

"What are you pretending to be, this virtuous and chaste woman? Didn't you ever sleep with Lu Huaiyou?"

Yan Chenghui grabbed her chin and pulled her closer, almost touching her face.

Upon hearing his humiliating words, Cen Lingyi's eyes instantly reddened. She stiffened, suppressing her instinct to push him away, and looked away.

Nothing ever happened between her and Lu Huaiyou; they didn't even touch hands.

But he, surrounded by so many beautiful women, must have picked up these unspeakable habits from one of them.

"What does Your Highness wish me to do?"

She quickly suppressed all her emotions and asked in a calm tone.

"You know what to do, open your mouth."

Yan Chenghui stared at her flushed face, his eyes swirling with emotion, and gave a hoarse command.

Although Cen Lingyi had expected it, hearing him say this still made her ears ring, and she couldn't help but raise her tearful eyes to look at him.