Nong Nu Jiao

"This servant, Xiangdun'er, is unable to serve Your Highness because her arm has not yet recovered. Please forgive her."

Cen Lingyi withdrew her hand, and the back against his chest tensed up again. Her respectful tone was tinged with a hint of defiance.

"What would happen if you didn't talk like that?"

Yan Chenghui got angry when he heard her speak to him like that, so he looked up and asked her.

Cen Lingyi snorted and moved half an inch further into the bed, not wanting to be touched by him.

If we don't speak like this, how should we speak?

After being humiliated like that, does she expect him to speak to her politely?

Yan Chenghui followed her closely, leaning in and taking her hand.

Cen Lingyi struggled, but couldn't break free, so she gave up.

She didn't want to make a futile struggle.

Yan Chenghui also fell silent.

He rolled up the sleeve of her undergarment, placed his warm palm on her forearm, and gently kneaded it.

Cen Lingyi realized what he was doing and froze in place as if she had been frozen.

Her dark eyes darted around, wondering if she was already asleep and dreaming.

But the warm touch on her arm told her that everything was real.

Even so, she still dared not relax.

He is unpredictable and his temper is unpredictable; who knows if he might suddenly turn on you?

The bedroom quieted down, with only the patter of rain outside. The little one beside me was breathing evenly and sleeping soundly.

Nestled in his warm embrace, she finally succumbed to her instincts and her tense body gradually relaxed.

She didn't want to sleep, but before she knew it, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and she drifted off to sleep.

Yan Chenghui gently tucked her hand under the blanket, put his arm under her neck, placed his other arm around her waist, and gently nuzzled her head with his chin before slowly closing his eyes.

His head still throbbed slightly, but it was much better than before he came to see her. Feeling the even, long breaths of the person in his arms, he felt a strange sense of comfort and slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Mother, mother."

Early in the morning, Cen Lingyi opened her eyes to Yan Huaijiao's repeated, childish calls.

The little guy, dressed in thin clothes, was sitting beside her. When he saw her open her eyes, he laughed and pounced on her.

"You're awake, and you won't let anyone sleep." Cen Lingyi tucked him into the blankets. "Aren't you cold?"

"Walk……"

Yan Huaijiao struggled to sit up and pointed outside with her little finger.

As he grew older, he became increasingly restless indoors, wanting to go outside to play as soon as he opened his eyes each day.

"You haven't gotten dressed, washed up, or eaten breakfast yet, so you can't go out."

Cen Lingyi sat up, hugged him, and kissed his forehead with a smile.

Seeing my son's smiling face every day when I open my eyes is truly one of life's greatest joys.

At this moment, she is very happy.

He even felt that enduring the humiliation inflicted by Yan Chenghui was worthwhile.

At least, my son is right in front of me, so I don't have to worry about him anymore.

Only then did she remember what had happened the night before, and she turned to look at the outside of the bed.

The place was deserted.

Last night, he massaged her arms, and she fell asleep while he was massaging them. She didn't know when he left.

It's better that he left; otherwise, she wouldn't know how to face him now.

Perhaps, he will turn his back on her again and humiliate her.

"Never mind him, let's get up, okay?"

She took the little guy's clothes and dressed him.

"Miss, it rained last night, and it's still a bit chilly outside. You should get some more sleep. I'll take care of the young prince and take him for a walk."

Lingzhi pushed open the door and came in, reaching out to help.

Cen Lingyi's fingertips touched the back of her hand, which was icy cold.

"Later, when you take him to the garden, if you see any maids chatting, tell them that His Highness the Crown Prince came to the side hall last night and complained that I didn't turn on the floor heating in the side hall, and that he was going to make the little prince freeze."

Cen Lingyi taught Yan Huaijiao how to tie her belt.

"I see."

Lingzhi looked at her and nodded.

Consort Sun dared to bully the young lady, but she didn't dare to bully the young prince too openly.

The young prince is nominally the eldest son of the prince and the crown princess. If he were to fall seriously ill from the cold, how could Consort Sun possibly compensate him?

*

The rain has stopped, and the weather is fine now.

After finishing the morning court session, Yan Chenghui, looking radiant, entered the Mingde Hall.

"Yun Que, brew tea."

He sat down at his desk and began to examine the official documents closely.

Yun Que responded and placed the small copper kettle on the stove.

"Have someone send some charcoal to the side hall so we can light the underground heating system."

As he held the pen, the cold touch reminded him of Cen Lingyi's icy feet from the previous night.

He scoffed inwardly. Wasn't she supposed to be so capable? How come she didn't even know how to fight for charcoal?

"Consort Sun has already sent someone to deliver charcoal to the side hall today."

Yun Que lowered his head and replied.

"Oh?"

Yan Chenghui looked at him.

"Lingzhi was in the garden this morning with the young prince, and she mentioned to someone that there was no charcoal in the side hall, saying that you had inquired about it last night..."

The palace gatekeepers reported this in a low voice.

Yan Chenghui snorted lightly, "Cen Lingyi is a master of using someone else's power to intimidate others."

Yun Que glanced at his prince, hesitated for a moment, and then knelt down: "Your Highness, I have concealed something. Please punish me."

He didn't dare mention the jade thumb ring yesterday because of the rain, but he should talk about it today.

After all, he had never hidden anything from His Highness, and he dared not hide this matter for too long.

"What is it?"

Yan Chenghui looked up from the official documents, his brows furrowing slightly.

He knew the true nature of everyone under his command.

Yun Que must have something to hide, and there must be a reason for it.

Yesterday, Miss Cen went to the market with Princess Taihe. She not only got some silver notes, but also bought a jade thumb ring.

As Yun Que spoke, he took out the jade thumb ring that Cen Lingyi had carefully selected from his sleeve.

"Bring it here."

Yan Chenghui put down the official document in his hand.

Yun Que got up and walked over, presenting the white jade thumb ring to him with both hands.

Yan Chenghui took it and examined it closely.

This jade thumb ring has a delicate texture, with a subtle shimmering light inside, making it lustrous, translucent, and spotless.

Its edges are polished smooth and rounded, and its entire body is covered with a faint luster, exuding a noble and understated air.

"How so?"

Yan Chenghui stroked the jade thumb ring, already having some guesses in his mind, and the pressure around him instantly plummeted.

Yun Que explained, "Princess Taihe told Miss Cen that General Song's birthday is in the twelfth lunar month. General Song asked Princess Taihe to convey to Miss Cen that he wanted a jade thumb ring as a birthday gift. The young lady chose this one, but I intercepted it halfway and bought a similar one to take to him."

He is always prudent in his actions, and if he stops this jade thumb ring, he will naturally handle the follow-up matters properly.

"Why is this only being reported today?"

Yan Chenghui's gaze darkened, his lips pressed into a straight line, and he pressed his fingertips hard, almost crushing the jade thumb ring.

Great! She bought this especially for Song Mingchi!

Song Mingchi has already gone to the border, but she still can't forget him and gives him whatever he wants. She's really very good to him.

Last night, he only asked her to rub his forehead, but she made excuses every time.

Buying a thumb ring for Song Mingchi is no trouble at all!

"It rained yesterday, Your Highness, and you have a headache. Your subordinate..."

Yun Que wanted to explain.

"Go and receive ten strokes of the military rod."

Yan Chenghui suddenly stood up, causing the chair behind him to creak.

"Yes."

Yun Que bowed his head in response.

Yun Gong, standing at the door, grimaced in disbelief.

Yun Que is truly audacious.

If it were him, he wouldn't dare hide it from His Highness, not even if it were raining knives!

Well, ten strokes of the cane aren't heavy, but it'll still hurt for a few days.

Yan Chenghui passed by him like a gust of wind.

"Your Highness, how about we attack Yun Que tonight?" Yun Gong said, mustering his courage. "If you attack him now, who will go out with you?"

He could follow, but he doesn't have Yun Que's abilities. He can't read the prince's mind and can't guess what the prince is thinking.

Yan Chenghui ignored him and went straight outside.

"Hurry up and follow us!"

Yun Que urged him on.

"Your Highness seems angry. What are you going to do? What should I say?"

Yun Gong looked completely bewildered.

"They're definitely going to find Miss Cen. When you get there, ask her where she went. Once His Highness sees Miss Cen, you stand guard at the door."

Yun Que gave him instructions.

"Oh well."

Yun Gong followed with a bitter face.

The master and servant entered the gate of the side hall courtyard one after the other.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

In the courtyard, a maidservant performed the court banquet ceremony.

Yan Chenghui glanced at them.

"Where is Miss Cen?"

Yun Gong glanced at his prince's retreating figure, remembered Yun Que's instructions, cleared his throat, and asked a question.

"Aunt Cen is in the bedroom. Lingzhi took the little prince, Da Chen, Xiao Chen's wet nurse, and several maids to play in the garden. They haven't returned yet."

A maidservant immediately replied.

Yun Gong looked at her own prince again, unsure of what to ask next.

"Don't let anyone in."

Yan Chenghui left a message and walked straight toward Cen Lingyi's bedroom.

"Yes," Yun Gong replied loudly, waving to the maids, "You all step back a bit."

This is something he excels at.

Inside the bedroom, Cen Lingyi was woken up by Yan Huaijiao. Just as she was about to fall back asleep, someone outside said that someone had brought charcoal.

After she looked at the charcoal and lit the heating, it wasn't so easy for her to fall asleep again.

She closed her eyes and thought for a while. The charcoal that Sun Peihuan had sent would only last a few days.

She didn't want Huai Jiao to suffer from the cold, and simply being the "aunt" of this side hall was clearly not enough.

Sun Peihuan's management of the inner quarters is unlikely to last long, and Xia Qinghe's health has not yet recovered.

This might be a loophole she can exploit. She doesn't need to manage the inner quarters for long; she can just wait until this winter is over.

As she was thinking, drifting between sleep and wakefulness, she suddenly heard the door be kicked open from the outside with a loud bang.

"Who?"

She woke up with a start and instinctively sat up, only to see that Yan Chenghui, who had been missing since early morning, had returned.

However, Yan Chenghui's expression at this moment was truly unpleasant.

He stared at her, his dark eyes sharp and intense, filled with boundless rage. His jawline was taut, veins bulging on the side of his neck; though he remained silent, he exuded an aura of impending fury.

"Your Highness..."

Cen Lingyi didn't know why he was so angry, and subconsciously moved to the inside of the bed.

His appearance was frightening.

"What is this?"

Yan Chenghui raised the white jade thumb ring towards her.

Cen Lingyi immediately recognized what was in his hand, and her heart tightened, a sense of annoyance rising within her.

"This was a gift I gave to Jing Xiao, how did it end up in His Highness's hands?"

She frowned as she looked at him.

This white jade thumb ring was a birthday gift she had carefully selected at a jewelry shop yesterday, which she had entrusted to Princess Taihe to have Song Mingchi's men take to the border. Now, it had unexpectedly appeared in Yan Chenghui's hands.

He's been keeping an eye on things?

Did he also know about his father's letters?

No, he probably doesn't know.

If he knew, he wouldn't let her off easily; he would definitely use her family as leverage.

"Jing Xiao?"

Yan Chenghui's eyes were bloodshot as he took a step closer, staring intently at her.

Jingxiao, you call him that so affectionately!

Cen Lingyi straightened up and snatched the jade ring from his hand, saying, "This servant did not sell herself to the Crown Prince. Whom I associate with is my own business and has nothing to do with Your Highness. Please return the ring to me."

He's meddling far too much in her relationship with Song Mingchi.

Why would Yan Chenghui easily return the thumb ring to her?

He suddenly raised his arm.

Cen Lingyi straightened up, grabbed his arm, and continued to snatch it.

She could always reach his hand when she stood on the bed.

Yan Chenghui, however, slipped the jade thumb ring onto his thumb and clenched his fist.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pry open even one of his fingers.

"It's just a jade thumb ring. Your Highness can have as many as you want. Why snatch it from someone else?"

Cen Lingyi was no match for his strength and was panting heavily as she clung to his arm.

Yan Chenghui's chest heaved as he stared at her moving lips for a moment.

He couldn't hear what she was saying; his eyes were only on her lips and her longing for Song Mingchi. Suddenly, he forcefully pushed her down onto the bed and leaned down to kiss her.

All her affections were for others.

First it was Lu Huaiyou, then Song Mingchi.

He never held even a single place in her heart!

Jealousy consumed all his reason, suffocating him and causing a pain in his chest. He pressed his lips against hers forcefully, penetrating deeply and conquering her territory.

"Yan Chenghui, let me go!"

In her terror, Cen Lingyi struggled desperately.

She could clearly sense that he had gone mad, that he was about to go mad again.

Ever since that incident in the valley, he's been making demands all the time.

She doesn't want to.

She was afraid—afraid of his endless torment, and also afraid of getting pregnant.

She used all her strength and desperately tried to break free.

The more she struggled, the more intense Yan Chenghui's anger became.

She resists Song Mingchi because of him!

His anger, mixed with a strong possessiveness, intensified, and his kisses became increasingly fierce and domineering as he tore open her undergarments once more.