Nong Nu Jiao

"Didn't the kitchen send His Highness dinner?"

Cen Lingyi paused for a moment, holding the bowl, and then asked him.

The kitchen in the Eastern Palace wouldn't make such a mistake.

"I want to eat this."

Yan Chenghui looked at the bowl of milk dumplings in her hand and spoke calmly.

He waited all day.

She's done so much, and she's actually planning to give it all to Yan Huaijiao!

Did he agree?

Yan Huaijiao couldn't eat that much.

"This is for His Highness..."

Upon hearing his words, Cen Lingyi's dark eyes widened suddenly, and she stared at him in astonishment for several moments.

The moment she makes an expression, her whole being comes alive.

"Can't I eat it?"

Yan Chenghui's lips curled slightly.

"It's possible, but..."

Cen Lingyi was a little unsure how to put it.

How can a grown man like him fight with a child for food?

That's his son!

"I'll eat whatever I want."

Yan Chenghui took the bowl from her hand and turned to walk out.

As he passed Yun Que after leaving the house, he instructed, "Prepare the meal."

"Yes."

Yun Que smiled and hurriedly waved to Yun Gong.

The two followed one into the main hall and began to set out the meal.

Cen Lingyi frowned, walked outside the small kitchen, and instructed Da Chen's wet nurse, "Cook another bowl of milk dumplings for His Highness."

"Little sister, are you alright?"

Cen Wanrou leaned closer and asked her in a low voice.

The younger sister said that she and His Highness the Crown Prince had long since severed ties.

But in her opinion, things between the two of them weren't so simple.

"fine."

Cen Lingyi shook her head and looked towards the main hall.

The Crown Prince Yan Chenghui, enjoying endless delicacies, actually tried to snatch snacks from his own son, which is increasingly unreasonable.

"daughter."

Supported by Lingzhi, Yan Huaijiao staggered toward her and reached out to grab the hem of her dress.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't call me that."

Cen Lingyi squatted down, supported his waist to help him stand, and kissed him with a smile.

"Miss Cen, His Highness invites you in."

Yun Que and Yun Gong came out of the main hall and looked at her.

"I'll go for a bit."

Cen Lingyi handed Yan Huaijiao over to Lingzhi and got up to walk towards the main hall.

Yan Chenghui was already seated in the main seat, holding a spoon in his hand, feeding himself a spoonful of milk dumplings, and chewing with pursed lips.

He ate slowly and deliberately, with an air of unparalleled elegance.

Cen Lingyi was speechless.

Those who didn't know better would think he was eating something rare and unusual.

This was made for Yan Huaijiao; it was very bland, but he didn't seem to mind.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

She bowed and asked him softly.

"Sit down and have a meal with me."

Yan Chenghui pointed to the person opposite him.

"This servant wouldn't dare," Cen Lingyi declined, lowering her eyes, and stepped forward, saying, "This servant will serve you the food."

She shouldn't sit down.

He was in a good mood and told her to sit down and eat.

He might suddenly become unhappy and scold her for not being worthy, and might even humiliate her in front of all these people outside.

Actually, she didn't care what the people in the side hall saw; they had seen how he had humiliated her before.

She didn't want her second sister to see it.

Her second sister would feel sorry for her and would secretly shed tears for her; she didn't want her second sister to be like that.

Therefore, she told her second sister that she was living well in the East Palace, that Xia Qinghe took good care of her, and that Yan Chenghui did not mistreat her.

"Don't make me angry."

Yan Chenghui's gaze darkened slightly.

"This servant is afraid Your Highness will scold me."

Cen Lingyi shifted her body slightly, as if she were sulking.

"When did I say I was going to scold you?"

Yan Chenghui looked at her.

"Do you even need to say it?"

Cen Lingyi replied softly, and snorted inwardly.

He can curse if he wants; why would he make an appointment with her?

"What did you say?"

Yan Chenghui put down the spoon in his hand.

"I'm telling you, Your Highness, you'll say I'm not worthy again."

Cen Lingyi clasped her hands in front of her, lowered her head, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she resumed her usual obedient demeanor.

Yan Chenghui caught the fleeting look of grievance on her face.

"I told you to sit, so sit. Stop with the nonsense."

He deliberately adopted a cold tone.

Cen Lingyi lifted her skirt and sat down opposite him.

Yan Chenghui handed her the chopsticks.

She reached out to take it, her eyes welling up with tears.

When we were young, he would always hand me the bowl and chopsticks whenever we ate together.

It's commonplace and something we take for granted.

She thought they would stay like that forever, but fate played a cruel trick on them.

Now, she's leaving.

This departure may be a final farewell.

Fine, she'll have a proper meal with him as a farewell.

While she was lost in thought, a skinless chicken leg was fed to her lips.

She stared at the chicken leg meat, momentarily frozen in place.

It's the chicken leg from the chestnut stewed chicken.

He also remembered that she didn't like eating chicken skin.

In the past, every autumn, he would take her to the mountains to pick many chestnuts, and then have the kitchen stew chicken with them when they came back.

She disliked the texture and greasiness of chicken skin, so every time, he would remove the skin before feeding it to her.

Open your mouth.

Yan Chenghui spoke.

Cen Lingyi obediently ate the piece of chicken. The chef in the Eastern Palace was extremely skilled, but she felt a mix of emotions while eating it.

She remained silent, peeled some fresh river shrimp for him, placed them on a small plate in front of him, and pretended that things were still the same as before.

Yan Chenghui didn't say anything, but ate all the shrimp she peeled.

"Has Your Highness's injury healed?"

She asked him, but then regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

He's going to get angry again.

These past few days, he hasn't asked her to apply the medicine for him.

She had been concerned about this matter, but she told herself that he was the crown prince of a country and would naturally be taken care of by others, so she didn't need to worry about it.

But even as she was about to leave, she couldn't help but ask.

"It's much better now."

Yan Chenghui replied to her in a calm voice.

Cen Lingyi glanced at him with some surprise.

He didn't say anything to mock her.

Yan Chenghui lowered his eyes and remained silent. During this meal, she was not the only one who thought of the past.

Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere was not awkward at all; in fact, it was rather warm.

Cen Lingyi once thought that this was her illusion, or that she was dreaming.

"Your Highness."

Yun Que rushed in, breaking the rare moment of warmth between the two.

"What is it?"

Yan Chenghui looked up at him.

"His Majesty's decree states that the Prince of Jingyuan, who was ordered to come to the capital for an audience, has sent word that he contracted a serious illness on his journey. Upon reaching Dingzhou, he suddenly developed a high fever and fell into a coma, and is now bedridden at the post station, unable to move." Yun Que said, "His Majesty's intention is for His Highness to personally go to Dingzhou to investigate the situation. If it is true, then make proper arrangements for the Prince's recovery; otherwise, bring him back to the capital immediately."

Emperor Shengwu was suspicious, and although the Prince of Jingyuan was a branch of the royal family, he was wary of him at all times.

Cen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat.

The round trip from Shangjing to Dingzhou would take more than three days, and Yan Chenghui would need to stay in Dingzhou as well, so the journey would take at least five days.

This is a golden opportunity!

She was able to successfully lead her sister and Lingzhi away from the East Palace.

Yan Chenghui put down his chopsticks and stood up.

She involuntarily stood up, tears welling in her eyes, and stared straight at him, wanting to etch his image into her heart.

When he returned, she was no longer in the East Palace.

This is a good thing for him, right?

Out of sight, out of mind; if he can't see her, he won't be angry.

I hope he has a peaceful and smooth life for the rest of his days, and that he will never meet a woman like her who makes him feel so miserable again.

Yan Chenghui took a few steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back at her.

"Your Highness, the autumn frost in Dingzhou is biting. Remember to wear warm clothes on your journey. If it rains, take some calming medicine in advance so you can sleep well. You... take good care of yourself."

She whispered some words of advice to him, trying her best to hold back her tears.

His few words conveyed great concern.

Yun Que couldn't help but glance at the two of them. His Highness and Miss Cen, could it be that they have made up?

Otherwise, given Miss Cen's stubborn nature, why would she be willing to speak to His Highness like this?

"Stay in the side hall and don't go out unless necessary."

Yan Chenghui withdrew his gaze, uttered a cold and hard remark, and strode away.

The side hall seemed to suddenly become empty, with only the dim candlelight and the now-cold food remaining.

As Cen Lingyi watched his departing figure, large tears streamed down her face.

"Yan Chenghui, this is our farewell, and we shall never meet again..."

She murmured to herself.

"Miss, His Highness misses you."

Lingzhi carried Yan Huaijiao in.

Cen Wanrou followed along, carrying a bowl, feeding the little one milk dumplings.

"Sister, let me do it."

Cen Lingyi picked up Yan Huaijiao, let him sit on her lap, and took the bowl to feed him.

The little one ate his fill, nestled in her arms, drank some more milk, and then fell asleep peacefully.

Cen Lingyi placed him in the cradle, forced back her tears, kissed his forehead, and then called over Da Chen and Xiao Chen, giving them detailed instructions.

Da Chen and Xiao Chen looked at each other, feeling that Aunt Cen was acting strangely today, but they didn't dare to ask. They nodded and wrote down her words.

Cen Lingyi went to find Xia Qinghe.

Xia Qing couldn't wait for her to leave.

Cen Lingyi successfully led Cen Wanrou and Lingzhi out of the East Palace and headed straight for the Song residence.

Song Mingchi had already prepared everything, and the four of them boarded the carriage together.

"Where are the children?"

Cen Lingyi had no choice but to ask.

She didn't see any children after she entered the Song residence.

"I've arranged for him to be outside the city; let's go pick him up now."

Song Mingchi explained.

"Why are there four more carriages?"

Cen Lingyi looked outside and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Besides the carriage they were riding in, there were four other identical carriages in front of and behind them.

"The Crown Prince has been keeping an eye on you; this makes it easier to shake off his men."

Song Mingchi explained with a smile.

"He sent someone to keep an eye on me?"

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi felt a chill run down her spine; she had never known about this matter before.

Yan Chenghui went to great lengths to vent his anger.

"Shall we go to Longyou?"

Song Mingchi asked her.

"Yes," Cen Lingyi said, "After leaving the west gate, we picked up the child and headed northwest."

"No," Song Mingchi disagreed. "We'll take the waterway."

Why?

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but look at him.

The waterway was too slow; she wished she could get to Longyou immediately.

"Once the Crown Prince returns and finds the place deserted, he will be furious and lay a trap. All land checkpoints and post stations will be thoroughly searched by the Eastern Palace's secret guards. We will have no way to escape the search."

Song Mingchi explained it to her.

"Jing Xiao, you don't need to come with us."

Cen Lingyi looked at him and quickly said.

He has helped her so much, she has no way to repay him and doesn't want to be a burden to him anymore.

"I'm going to the Western Territory, and I'll give you a ride along the way," Song Mingchi continued. "In autumn, the river is deep and wide, and there are a constant stream of merchant ships and all sorts of people on board. The passenger ships are full of passengers, and we can blend in without attracting any attention."

He was just trying to coax her; he was specifically escorting her.

She's hardly ever traveled far from home, how could he let her go to Longyou like this?

But he didn't want her to feel burdened by it, and he was willing to protect her.

She had already suffered enough; he didn't want her to bear any more burdens.

Cen Lingyi did not speak.

She knew perfectly well that Song Mingchi was just trying to fool her.

As the carriage left the capital, Cen Lingyi lifted a corner of the curtain at the door, facing the autumn wind, and gazed at the majestic and indistinct outline of the capital's city gate in the night.

This city imprisoned her youth for over a decade, entangled all her loves and hates, held her unrequited youthful affections, and was also a place that caused her heart-wrenching pain.

This is the true farewell.

Let everything from the past go with the autumn wind.

She has lived for seventeen years and has never done anything to harm others. Could God please take pity on her and allow her to reunite with her parents and all her family members?