Nong Nu Jiao

"Why didn't you mention that I stopped going to Fengyu Grain Store and Ningxiangzhai to buy things, Lady?"

Cen Lingyi looked at Sun Peihuan with clear and upright eyes, showing no fear whatsoever.

She followed the rules, had a clear conscience, and naturally had nothing to fear.

Upon hearing this, Sun Peihuan immediately stopped crying and remained silent for a moment.

She knew, of course, that this was something she couldn't present, and that His Highness would definitely be unhappy if he found out.

However, His Highness did not reprimand her too much for such a significant matter as securing an official position for a relative.

It's just buying things from my own shop to earn some money; His Highness probably won't blame me for such a small matter.

"Why isn't Consort Liang speaking?" Cen Lingyi stared at her, calmly pressing for an answer: "Does she know that using her power in the palace to profit for the Sun family is beneath her dignity?"

This is Sun Peihuan's weakness.

If you want to argue your point, you have to keep focusing on her weaknesses and never let go.

"My Sun family shop offers fair prices and good quality goods. Wherever the Crown Prince buys, it doesn't matter. How can I be accused of profiting personally?"

Sun Peihuan, no longer bothering to feign pitifulness, hurriedly retorted.

"Ningxiangzhai's sandalwood is 30% more expensive than the market price, its rice is mixed with broken rice and is 10% more expensive than the market price, and its fresh vegetables are of inferior quality and are not cheaper than the market price. There are countless examples like this. May I ask, is this what you mean by fair prices and good quality, Liangyuan?"

Cen Lingyi listed them one by one, unhurriedly.

She had carefully studied Sun Peihuan's previous accounts yesterday and silently memorized them.

Sun Peihuan was deeply favored by Yan Chenghui, so Yan Chenghui needed a plausible reason to deal with her.

In this way, even if Yan Chenghui favors Sun Peihuan, she won't be bitten back by Sun Peihuan.

And just like that, her early preparations came in handy.

"impossible!"

Sun Peihuan's face turned pale, and her voice lost its confidence.

Damn it.

Cen Lingyi also said that she wasn't targeting her, yet she remembered the accounts and prices so clearly.

"I have the accounts, and you can inquire about market prices at any time. Your Highness and Consort Liang can check them."

Cen Lingyi lowered her long eyelashes and looked at the blue bricks on the ground.

Next, Sun Peihuan was supposed to say that she knew nothing about what was happening in the shop.

Sure enough, the next moment Sun Peihuan fell to the ground in front of Yan Chenghui.

"It must have been the shopkeeper who made the decision on his own, Your Highness. I knew nothing about these things. It's only because Father and Brother aren't in the capital that those shopkeepers would have dared to do this..."

Sun Peihuan raised her head, looking at him with teary eyes, her words practically dripping with grief.

Cen Lingyi smiled, pursing her lips.

She guessed half right.

Sun Peihuan not only claimed she was unaware of the situation, but also brought up her father and brothers.

Yan Chenghui had always treated her very well, and now that he had brought up Sun Zhenglie and his son, he was even more successful.

There was no need for her to argue any further; the outcome was already decided.

"Get up first."

Yan Chenghui glanced at Sun Peihuan.

Sun Peihuan wiped away her tears, supported his knees, and struggled to stand up several times, looking quite frail.

Yan Chenghui, through his sleeve, took her arm and pulled her up.

"This servant takes her leave."

Cen Lingyi didn't want to watch any longer.

She curtsied and prepared to leave.

"Did I let you leave?"

Yan Chenghui frowned as he looked at her.

"Exactly." Sun Peihuan wiped her tears with a handkerchief, glancing triumphantly at Cen Lingyi. "We haven't even explained things clearly yet, why is Aunt Cen leaving? Is she feeling guilty?"

Hmph, she knew His Highness would side with her.

Cen Lingyi is scared.

Want to leave? Not so easy.

"According to the regulations of the Eastern Palace, the allowances, food, clothing, and daily necessities for the palace servants in each courtyard are all fixed. We servants act in accordance with the rules, so what is there to be ashamed of?"

Cen Lingyi stood tall and asked in a calm and unhurried manner.

"Since I came to the Eastern Palace, there have always been this many people in the courtyard. The food, clothing and other necessities were all granted to me by His Highness. What right do you have to cut them off? And you say it's not targeting me."

Sun Peihuan snorted coldly, moved closer to Yan Chenghui, raised her chin, and looked quite confident.

Cen Lingyi looked at Yan Chenghui, pursing her lips and remaining silent.

Yan Chenghui had already decided to support Sun Peihuan, so no matter what she said, it would be useless.

"All the palace maids of Yunxiang Courtyard will be retained, and their food, clothing, and daily necessities will remain the same."

Yan Chenghui paused for a moment before slowly speaking.

Cen Lingyi lowered her long, curled eyelashes, concealing the sarcasm and bitterness in her eyes, and looked as obedient and calm as ever.

Even knowing that this would be the outcome, she still couldn't help but feel a dull pain in her heart.

She was helping him and the Crown Prince to save money; she didn't ask him to side with her, she just wanted him to be fair and just.

Neither can he.

She was so foolish; if she had known this would happen, she would have still had expectations of him.

"I knew it, Your Highness is the best to me."

Sun Peihuan stopped crying and started laughing, grabbing his sleeve.

She knew when to stop, and decided to leave the matter of replacing the palace servants aside for the time being.

From now on, she just needs to be more careful.

"You may all leave."

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi and gave the order in a low voice.

He was biased, but she wasn't upset at all.

Did she receive Lu Huaiyou's letter and think only of Lu Huaiyou, not caring about anything else?

Cen Lingyi bowed and prepared to leave.

"Aunt Cen is gone just like that?"

Sun Peihuan spoke again, stopping her from leaving.

"Is there anything else, Liangyuan?"

Cen Lingyi turned around and stared straight at her.

"You've humiliated me like this, causing me to lose face in the Eastern Palace. Shouldn't you apologize before you leave?"

She turned her head to look at Cen Lingyi, with a smug look on her face.

"This servant acted according to the rules; what mistake has she made?"

A hint of mockery flashed in Cen Lingyi's eyes.

Sun Peihuan clearly did something wrong, yet she was able to demand an apology from her with a straight face.

Those who are favored are indeed fearless.

"Your Highness, look at her."

Sun Peihuan tugged at Yan Chenghui's clothes, gently swaying them back and forth, acting coquettishly towards him.

Yan Chenghui glanced at Cen Lingyi for a moment, then coldly said, "Apologize."

"This servant has done nothing wrong."

Cen Lingyi lowered her head and spoke softly.

She felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

If Huai Jiao hadn't been in the Eastern Palace, she wouldn't have stayed there and allowed him to humiliate her.

He is no longer the person he used to be.

Perhaps she should start thinking about how to take Huai Jiao away.

However, given Huai Jiao's current status, it might not be so easy to take him away.

Especially since she wanted to reunite with her parents, which would require traveling thousands of miles, and if Yan Chenghui wanted to investigate, he would find out sooner or later.

This only makes everyone uneasy.

She couldn't let her parents suffer.

Also, his second sister is still in his hands.

She has so many things in life that are beyond her control.

I don't want to say it a second time.

Yan Chenghui stared at her upright figure, feeling a surge of annoyance.

She abandoned him, wanted to kill him, and still wasn't satisfied. Now she's entangled with Lu Huaiyou, and pretends nothing's wrong.

What's so great about Lu Huaiyou that makes her so hung up on him?

Cen Lingyi lowered her head and remained silent.

He didn't want to say it a second time, and neither did she.

She told him that she had only wronged him.

She wouldn't apologize to Sun Peihuan if she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Cen Lingyi".

Yan Chenghui sat up straight, his gaze sharp as a blade.

Cen Lingyi remained standing there, motionless, her posture seemingly submissive, yet revealing a stubbornness deep within her.

The two were on the verge of exploding at any moment.

Everyone lowered their heads in fear, not daring to utter a sound.

Sun Peihuan was overwhelmed by Yan Chenghui's imposing aura, and involuntarily tensed up. It took her a moment to react.

His Highness is speaking up for her, so why is she so nervous?

"Your Highness, how dare Cen Lingyi, a mere servant, disobey your orders! Quickly have her dragged away and severely punished!"

She raised her voice, a sour resentment welling up inside her.

How could Cen Lingyi, a mere servant, possibly contend with His Highness's imposing presence?

If it were her, she would have been so scared that she would have knelt down long ago.

The Cen family has long since fallen from power. Where does Cen Lingyi get the confidence to confront His Highness the Crown Prince head-on?

"Go to Mingde Hall and kneel down."

Yan Chenghui coldly gave the order.

"Your Highness, let her kneel in Yunxiang Courtyard. It just so happens that Your Highness is having lunch here, so we can eat the Bo Xia Gong together..."

Sun Peihuan's voice was so sweet and delicate, it was almost dripping with water.

Cen Lingyi remained silent and turned to step into the cold wind.

She didn't hear anything after that.

"I still have official duties to attend to, and you are still under house arrest. Stay in Yunxiang Courtyard and reflect on your actions."

Yan Chenghui's gaze fell on Cen Lingyi's departing figure, and he almost subconsciously wanted to push Sun Peihuan aside and follow her.

"Your Highness, can't you...?"

Sun Peihuan tried to coax him into lifting her confinement.

"cannot."

Yan Chenghui suddenly stood up.

"I know I was wrong, and I will reflect on my mistakes."

Seeing his unfriendly expression, Sun Peihuan dared not act rashly any further and hurriedly knelt down.

Yan Chenghui ignored her and strode out.

Yun Que quickly followed, pondering how to plead for Cen Lingyi.

Yan Chenghui walked quickly until he saw that slender figure.

She walked at a moderate pace, heading towards the Mingde Hall.

The cold wind lifted her skirt, but she remained fearless.

Yan Chenghui stared at her retreating figure, his anger growing even stronger.

Cen Lingyi was unaware that he had followed her, and just walked forward numbly.

She walked lightly across the cold ground, perhaps because she was used to being treated like this by him, she didn't feel particularly wronged. Her heart just felt empty, as if a large piece was missing.

We entered the gate of Mingde Hall.

"Miss Cen."

Yun Gong saw her and greeted her with a smile.

Cen Lingyi did not speak or respond to him.

She walked over, knelt down by the jade steps, and smiled bitterly with her head down.

He even made her kneel all the way to the Mingde Hall, afraid that she would disturb his and Sun Peihuan's enjoyment of the offering.

"What's wrong?"

Yun Gong was taken aback.

"It is His Highness's order."

Cen Lingyi knelt upright and softly replied to him.

Yun Gong was about to ask another question when she caught a glimpse of someone entering the courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed His Highness.

Yun Que followed closely behind.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Yun Gong quickly bowed.

Cen Lingyi was somewhat surprised.

Wasn't he going to stay at Sun Peihuan's place for lunch?

You're back so soon?

Yan Chenghui walked past her without looking to the side, his steps were very fast, and the edge of his cloak swept past her side, bringing a cool breeze.

Cen Lingyi trembled slightly as she watched him push open the door and walk into the hall.

The ground was cold and hard, and her knees began to ache.

She frowned; this little bit of trouble was nothing to her.

However, Huai Jiao's birthday is approaching, and if she catches a cold like this and falls ill, she may not be able to personally host Huai Jiao's birthday banquet.

She would be very disappointed.

Yun Que followed Yan Chenghui into the palace, helped him take off his clothes, and fetched hot water for him to wash his hands.

Just now, Sun Peihuan touched Your Highness's outer robe, and Your Highness will not wear this robe again.

Once everything was in order, Yun Que bowed his head and left.

Yan Chenghui sat upright at his desk, with a charcoal fire burning brightly beside him.

He held a book in his hand, but didn't turn a page for a long time. His gaze pierced through the windowpane covered with translucent tiles, fixed on the slender figure outside.

She was clearly shivering from the cold, her hands hidden in her sleeves, yet she gritted her teeth and remained silent, her back straight, her kneeling posture unchanged from beginning to end.

There was no begging for mercy, no tears, no sign of yielding; his entire being exuded an unyielding stubbornness.

"act recklessly!"

Yan Chenghui slammed the book he was holding onto the desk and sat there sulking.