Nong Nu Jiao

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Cen Wanrou and Lingzhi rose and curtsied.

Both of them turned pale and looked at each other in bewilderment.

They knew that Cen Lingyi and Yan Chenghui were entangled, but no one expected that after more than ten days, Yan Chenghui would travel thousands of miles to personally chase after them to such a far place.

Cen Lingyi quickly suppressed her shock, picked up Cen Chiyao, and calmly bowed to Yan Chenghui.

She didn't say anything, her eyes felt a little hot.

After all this time, after she's gone so far, is he still not willing to let her go?

He truly hated her to the core.

"Give the child to Lingzhi."

Yan Chenghui looked at her and coldly gave the order.

She was holding the child and the bouquet of flowers.

The colorful flowers stung his eyes.

"Your Highness, I am no longer the young prince's wet nurse, and my departure from the Eastern Palace was with the Crown Princess's consent. May I ask what brings you here?"

Cen Lingyi looked up at him, spoke to him in a calm tone, and maintained a respectful yet distant demeanor.

The child has been found. She's going to find her parents and won't bother him anymore.

"You don't have to give it to me."

Yan Chenghui stared at her coldly, without answering her question.

His eyes, like a hawk eyeing its prey, urged his horse slowly toward her.

"What does Your Highness want to do?"

Cen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat, and her expression changed slightly.

"Miss, please give me the young master."

Lingzhi also sensed something was wrong, spoke softly, and reached out to take Cen Chiyao away.

No matter what, we must not hurt the young master.

As Cen Lingyi let go, the bouquet of flowers in her arms fell to the ground.

"Take them away."

Yan Chenghui gave the order indifferently.

"Second Miss, please have the lingzhi mushroom."

Yun Que led a few people forward, intending to take Cen Wanrou, Lin Zhi, and the child away together.

"Where are you taking them?"

Cen Lingyi frowned as she looked at Yan Chenghui, her heart filled with anxiety.

Yan Chenghui ignored her words, rode up to her side and bent down.

His large hand gripped her slender wrist with a forceful grip.

"Yan Chenghui, what are you doing?"

Cen Lingyi frantically pushed his hand away.

No, something's wrong with him. His eyes are bloodshot, like he's about to devour someone.

She kept struggling backward, trying to escape his hold.

But Yan Chenghui was very strong, and all her struggles were in vain in front of him.

He pulled hard with his hand, and Cen Lingyi kicked off and flew into the air.

"Yan Chenghui, let me go!"

Cen Lingyi was both anxious and angry. She pulled out the long hairpin from her hair bun and stabbed it straight into his arm.

It was precise and steady, piercing straight through his flesh.

Yan Chenghui's gaze turned cold, and he loosened his grip, allowing her to touch the ground with both feet.

He glanced down at the puncture wound on his arm, where blood gushed out, staining a small patch of the blue cloth a darker shade.

"Are you going to kill me again?"

Cen Lingyi also saw the bloodstains. Her hand holding the silver hairpin trembled slightly, filled with panic and guilt.

She had always been the one who wronged him; no matter what, she shouldn't have hurt him.

But when did she ever intend to kill him?

"I'll give it back to you."

With tears in her eyes, she raised the silver hairpin in her hand again and stabbed it into her own arm.

"You dare!"

Yan Chenghui abruptly released her wrist.

Even after being stabbed by her, he didn't even flinch.

Seeing that she was about to hurt herself, his eyes immediately turned red.

Cen Lingyi's silver hairpin attempt missed its mark, and she gritted her teeth, raising her hand to try again.

But as soon as she made a move, the tall figure in front of her suddenly pressed down.

Yan Chenghui had already dismounted and approached. Before her hand could fall again, his iron arm grabbed her waist, snatched the silver hairpin from her hand, and bent down to carry her on his shoulder.

"Well……"

Suddenly feeling weightless, Cen Lingyi cried out in alarm and struggled desperately.

"Yan Chenghui, put me down!"

She clung to his shoulders, shoving his back wildly with her hands and kicking her legs incessantly.

Yan Chenghui held her legs firmly, and no matter how she twisted and struggled, she could not break free.

He caught a glimpse of the colorful bouquet of flowers out of the corner of his eye, and a dark look appeared in his eyes. He bent down, picked up the bouquet, and stuffed it into her arms without saying a word.

"You like it, right? Here you go!"

Having said that, he mounted his horse and lashed out with his whip.

The horse neighed loudly, reared up, and galloped wildly into the deep, dark forest.

"Let me go! Yan Chenghui, where are you taking me? Put me down! We have nothing to do with each other anymore. What exactly do you want to do...?"

Cen Lingyi struggled all the way.

She tried everything she could think of—punching him, pinching him, scratching him—but his body was as solid as cast iron and she couldn't budge him an inch.

After several frantic struggles, she lost all her strength and stopped moving.

Yan Chenghui grabbed her waist with one hand, abruptly pulled her off his shoulder, and pressed her down to sit in front of him.

Her back bumped against his hard, warm chest, and she was firmly embedded in his arms, unable to move.

His refreshing fragrance trapped her, making it difficult for her to escape.

"Yan Chenghui, I beg you, please let me go, okay? If you think I've done something wrong, I can admit my mistake and apologize to you..."

Cen Lingyi calmed down and spoke softly.

His iron arm was locked around her waist, and she could hardly breathe from his grip.

She had no other choice but to show weakness to him.

She didn't know where he was taking her or what would happen next.

But she knew what she had to do: she had to find her child's parents and couldn't continue to entangle herself with him.

But Yan Chenghui ignored her, as if he hadn't heard her.

"Yan Chenghui, I hate you..."

Cen Lingyi couldn't hold back her tears.

If he doesn't catch up, she can reach Longyou in a few dozen days and inquire about her parents' whereabouts. Perhaps the family will be reunited soon.

Why? Why did he chase after her? Why won't he let her go?

He was already living a very good life. He had become the Crown Prince, had many wives and concubines, and had such a lovely child as Yan Huaijiao.

What about her?

Her life was a mess; she had nothing but his child.

Can't he just let her off the hook?

Yan Chenghui stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched, a fierce glint in his eyes, and remained silent.

She hated him and loathed him.

It's been going on for more than just a day or two.

so what?

He will never let her go again; in this lifetime, she will never be able to abandon him again.

To the utmost, to stop at nothing!

He pursed his lips and brought the long whip down hard.

"Snap—"

The sharp crack of the whip shattered the silence of the dense forest.

The horse, in pain, suddenly reared up and galloped off into the deep, deserted forest.

Without asking about the road ahead, without distinguishing the direction.

He just wanted to run away, to vent, to take her away, to take her to a place where there was no one else.

The wind howled in her ears, and Cen Lingyi had no idea how long the horse had been galloping wildly through the mountains.

She had already lost all strength, her body stiff as she leaned against his strong chest, letting him carry her away, not knowing where.

The scenery gradually changed.

The deep, desolate forest faded away, and a bright and open view suddenly appeared before us.

This is a sunny valley, a place favored by sunlight.

In late autumn, while other parts of the mountains and fields have long since shed their leaves, this valley is warm and inviting, with lush green grass stretching all the way to the foot of the mountain.

The horse gradually slowed down.

Cen Lingyi heard the sound of flowing water.

She couldn't help but look up and see a clear spring forming a stream at the bottom of the valley, the water crystal clear and flowing windingly through the cracks in the bluestone.

Wildflowers bloom freely along the stream, their vibrant colors dotting the green grass. A gentle breeze stirs the blossoms, carrying with it a delicate fragrance of grass and flowers.

She was momentarily stunned; there was such a stunningly beautiful secret place in the desolate mountains and wilderness.

The road ahead was blocked by a cliff; we had reached the end.

Yan Chenghui pulled on the reins, and the horse stopped.

The mountain scenery is picturesque.

The two people on horseback were close together, yet it felt as if there were thousands of miles between them, and there was an eerie silence between them.

After a long silence, Cen Lingyi broke the silence with a slightly hoarse voice.

"What...did you do to Song Mingchi?"

Unable to suppress her worries, she finally asked.

She glanced at the bouquet of flowers in her arms. She wanted to throw it away several times, but Yan Chenghui wouldn't let her.

She couldn't fathom his thoughts at all; the bouquet had lost many petals during the bumpy ride.

Song Mingchi did many things for her, and he was here to escort her.

Looking back now, it must have been Yan Chenghui's arrangement that Song Mingchi was called away by Fang Zhuo and never returned.

Yan Chenghui can do whatever he wants with her, but she can't let Song Mingchi help her and then get implicated.

The air suddenly froze.

A short sentence, like a spark that ignites a prairie fire.

Two flames instantly ignited in Yan Chenghui's dark eyes.

"Get down!"

His chest heaved with anger, and he reached out and shoved her off in front of him.

"Thump—"

Cen Lingyi was caught off guard and fell onto the grassy field.

Fortunately, the grass was soft, and I only bumped my waist and hips, which didn't hurt much.

She supported herself by holding her waist and stood up.

Before she could even sit up, a heavy shadow fell over her.

Yan Chenghui jumped off his horse and stood in front of her, his long, dark eyes like blades, slicing down at her.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but swallow hard, and subconsciously shrank back.

"Say it again?"

Yan Chenghui grabbed her collar, pulled her up, and stared down at her intently.

Cen Lingyi's long eyelashes trembled, and a layer of mist quickly welled up in her dark eyes, but she straightened her back and met his gaze.

"I'll take responsibility for my own actions. Do whatever you want with me. Just please don't hurt Song Mingchi; he's innocent... um..."

Yan Chenghui stared at her parting lips, sneered, and looked at her with a gaze that seemed to want to crush everything.

He lowered his head and fiercely covered her lips with his.

He ruthlessly ground and plundered, venting his pent-up rage, and brutally blocked the words she was about to utter.

Last time, I went with Lu Huaiyou.

This time it's Song Mingchi's turn.

He saw it!

Seeing her accept the flowers Song Mingchi gave her, seeing her smile at Song Mingchi, seeing her let down her guard around Song Mingchi...

He traveled thousands of miles, crossed mountains and valleys, and worried day and night before finally finding her.

The first thing she said to him properly was that she was concerned about Song Mingchi.

ridiculous!

It's ridiculous that he thought she had regretted it, given in, and come to her senses, and he even bought her gifts in Hejian Prefecture.

"Do whatever you want with me. Just please don't hurt Song Mingchi..."

Her words echoed in his ears like flames, like a red-hot branding iron, searing his heart with each word, completely devouring his last shred of reason.

"Rip—"

His dark eyes were filled with nothing but frenzied lust as he grabbed her clothes and tore them open with all his might.

With a few ripping sounds, her clothes and skirt were reduced to tattered pieces in his hands, falling to the ground on the grass and by the stream.