Nong Nu Jiao

The fire was extinguished, but Yunxiang Courtyard was filled with smoke and littered with debris.

Sun Peihuan's hair was disheveled, and her skirt was covered in dust.

"Your Highness, the guards have discovered that someone set the fire with kerosene! It must be the Crown Princess; she's trying to kill me again!"

With tears welling in her eyes, she grabbed Yan Chenghui's sleeve, pointed at Xia Qinghe, and blurted out.

"This matter still needs to be investigated; do not speak nonsense."

Yan Chenghui frowned and pulled his sleeve back.

"Everyone, it's alright now, please disperse. I'll have a maid escort you out."

Upon seeing this, Yun Que quickly dismissed the onlookers.

Everyone was curious after hearing Sun Peihuan's words.

But they couldn't stay and listen any longer, so they reluctantly bowed and took their leave.

"With so many guests present, Sister Sun, even if you disregard everything else, you should consider His Highness and the reputation of the Crown Prince. You should have been mindful of your words. I've been by His Highness's side all day, and I'm still injured. How could I have had the energy to commit arson?"

Xia Qinghe's expression changed, but she ultimately maintained the dignity and composure of a crown princess, and spoke kindly to Sun Peihuan, appealing to her emotions and reasoning with her.

"With so many men under your command, would you need to personally set me on fire?"

Sun Peihuan wiped away her tears, her tone arrogant.

This fire is definitely related to Xia Qinghe.

Xia Qinghe was just jealous of her and wanted her dead.

She didn't care about the reputation of the Crown Prince. Xia Qing wanted to harm her, and she couldn't even say anything?

Last time, we should have just had Xia Qinghe beaten to death.

"If Sister Sun insists on saying this, she might as well produce evidence."

Xia Qinghe suppressed his smile and looked at her seriously.

"What evidence do you need? You destroyed any evidence you had. Who else could it be but you? Last time at Fahua Temple, you tried to burn me alive, and now you're doing the same thing again. There's no such thing as a coincidence. You knew I was under house arrest and couldn't attend the banquet in the front hall, so you sent someone to set fire to the place again. Don't try to deny it!"

Sun Peihuan became more and more agitated as she spoke, her words filled with conviction, and she even revealed a hint of lingering fear and madness.

She grabbed Yan Chenghui's sleeve again, her voice sharp and assertive, convinced that Xia Qinghe had set the fire.

"Your Highness, you must get an explanation from her!"

"I will send someone to investigate this matter thoroughly."

Yan Chenghui looked at the devastation of Yunxiang Courtyard, his brow furrowed slightly, as if something was amiss.

Xia Qinghe has not made any unusual moves recently, so this fire should be unrelated to her.

Who could it be?

"We will take our leave now."

Xia Qinghe bowed and retreated.

"Your Highness..."

Sun Peihuan was still unwilling to give up.

"alright."

Yan Chenghui felt a pang of heartache, then inexplicably became irritated and took a step to leave.

"Your Highness, I want to go with you."

Sun Peihuan grabbed his hand.

Yan Chenghui instinctively shook her off.

Sun Peihuan was startled by his actions and looked at him in surprise.

Yan Chenghui snapped out of his daze: "Where are you going?"

"The fire just now scared me half to death. This courtyard is no longer habitable, and I dare not live alone. Your Highness, please take me to Mingde Hall. I am so afraid."

Sun Peihuan, her sharp and domineering demeanor towards Xia Qing and Shi completely gone, now held onto his arm with tears in her eyes, speaking softly and with a sob in her voice, as if she were being coquettish.

Isn't this the perfect opportunity to consummate our marriage with His Highness?

She had inquired about it; no man could resist when he was alone with the woman he loved.

Anyway, she had already seen all those fire-avoidance diagrams, and the nanny who taught Yanxi had taught her quite a bit.

At worst, she can just take the initiative.

She was confident that if she could share a bed with His Highness for one night, she would be able to give birth to His Highness's second child in no time.

His Highness must have her in his heart. Last time, he risked injury to rescue her from the fire.

It was a natural progression for her and His Highness to consummate their marriage.

"You'll go stay at Anyuan Hospital."

Yan Chenghui was uneasy and withdrew his arm after speaking.

"I don't want to, I'm too scared, someone wants to harm me, Your Highness, please take me with you..."

Sun Peihuan clung to him, trying to grab his arm again.

Yan Chenghui dodged away, frowning: "Go live in He'an Courtyard and continue your confinement."

For some reason, he felt uneasy, lost his patience, and spoke coldly.

Sun Peihuan reluctantly took two steps forward, but ultimately didn't have the courage to continue harassing him, and could only stand there forlornly.

Your Highness is willing to risk your life to protect her, so why won't you touch her?

"Where is Lu Huaiyou?"

Yan Chenghui strides forward.

"He waited at the back door in the evening, but Miss Cen never came over. When the banquet was more than halfway through, he left on his own."

Yun Que followed and reported.

Yan Chenghui's brow relaxed, his hands were behind his back, and his pace slowed.

"Now that Miss Cen has settled things in the front hall, she should be returning to the side hall by now."

Yun Que looked at the sky; the moon, not yet full, was already hanging above the rooftops.

Yan Chenghui remained silent, took off the outer garment that Sun Peihuan had touched and threw it to him, then changed direction.

"Where is Your Highness going?"

Holding the garment, Yun Que couldn't help but ask.

"Take a look at Huai Jiao."

Yan Chenghui looked straight ahead, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Yun Que laughed and gestured for Yun Gong to drape the cloak he was holding over His Highness's shoulders.

They said they wanted to see the young prince, but the prince just wanted to see Miss Cen.

He could clearly sense that his prince's mood had immediately improved.

He was happy too.

Miss Cen ignored Lu Huaiyou this time. Perhaps His Highness can resolve his inner conflict and reconcile with Miss Cen as before?

If that were the case, everyone's life would be much easier.

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

Meixiang was dozing off by the pillar in the corridor when she heard a noise, opened her eyes, and was startled to see Yan Chenghui.

"This servant greets Your Highness."

She quickly bowed.

Yan Chenghui nodded slightly.

Is your aunt inside?

Yun Que asked her on behalf of his prince.

Meixiang was still a little confused. She paused for a moment before shaking her head: "Only Lingzhi brought the little prince back and is inside watching over him as he sleeps. Aunt Cen hasn't come back yet."

Yan Chenghui withdrew his hand from the door and turned to look at her.

"Were you slacking off and dozing off? You didn't know Miss Cen was back?"

Yun Que quickly asked.

It's already this late, where else could Miss Cen go if she doesn't return to the side hall?

"No, that won't happen." Meixiang shook her head. "When Aunt Cen comes back, she will definitely tell me to go and rest."

As they spent more time together, they all realized that Cen Lingyi was actually very easy to talk to.

"Meixiang, has the young lady returned?"

Lingzhi was in the inner room when she vaguely heard people talking outside, so she quickly came out to greet them.

She had been back for a while, but seeing that the girl hadn't returned, she was very worried.

The door opened, and she saw Yan Chenghui bowing hurriedly, which made her even more flustered.

His Highness the Crown Prince has already arrived at the side hall. The fire has been extinguished, and the matters in the main hall should have been resolved long ago.

Where did the girl go?

"Seal the city gates immediately and send someone to bring Lu Huaiyou here."

Yan Chenghui gave the order in a cold voice and turned to leave.

"Yes."

Yun Que felt a chill run down her spine.

Did Miss Cen really take advantage of the fire just now and run away with Lu Huaiyou?

No way?

But given the current situation, it's hard not to have wild thoughts. Back then, Miss Cen abandoned His Highness and married Lu Huaiyou.

He just couldn't understand how Lu Huaiyou could possibly surpass his prince.

Just as Yan Chenghui stepped down the stone steps, a figure rushed into the courtyard.

"Lingzhi..."

Zhu Sha had just shouted when she looked up and saw Yan Chenghui. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, Miss Cen has been kidnapped! Please, Your Highness, send someone to rescue her immediately..."

As she spoke, she kowtowed repeatedly.

Lingzhi was shocked upon hearing this and nearly fell to the ground.

"Did you see who it was?"

Yan Chenghui's aura instantly turned cold, and his hands behind his back clenched into fists, his knuckles cracking softly.

"This servant doesn't recognize them; they moved too quickly."

Zhu Sha shook her head, almost bursting into tears.

The Imperial Concubine favored Miss Cen the most and trusted her, which is why she sent her to help Miss Cen.

But she had only been there for three days when she lost the girl. If the Imperial Concubine knew, she would be heartbroken.

"Go check."

Yan Chenghui exuded a chilling aura.

"Yes."

Yun Que took a step to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Yan Chenghui called him back again.

Yun Que couldn't help but look at him.

"Send a team to capture Lu Huaiyou, and another team to check on Yan Qingci's residence. Remember, do not alert him."

Yan Chenghui calmed down, his voice sharp and piercing.

Before the banquet began, he refused Yan Qingci's offer once again.

This matter was most likely the work of Yan Qingci.

"Understood."

Yun Que agreed and quickly left.

"Why wasn't this reported earlier?"

Yan Chenghui took a few steps forward and looked down at the cinnabar.

"This servant went to Yunxiang Courtyard to look for His Highness, but couldn't find him. Then I went to Mingde Hall, but still couldn't find him. I came back to the side hall to ask Lingzhi for help, but I didn't expect His Highness to be here."

Zhu Sha wiped away her tears and explained.

"Get up and tell me in detail what happened."

Yan Chenghui's gaze softened somewhat.

Zhu Sha stood up and told him everything she remembered.

Actually, her walking with the girl in the garden was an extremely ordinary scene, nothing special.

"Those people appeared too quickly. The young lady spotted them first. She pushed me and told me to run. I fell down and didn't see their faces clearly when I looked back."

Vermilion recalls carefully.

*

Mingde Hall.

The lanterns cast flickering shadows under the eaves, when suddenly a commotion arose.

"I am an official appointed by the imperial court; even His Highness the Crown Prince cannot act arbitrarily..."

Lu Huaiyou was bound hand and foot, and he tried to explain.

"Go inside!"

Yun Gong suddenly pushed.

Lu Huaiyou stumbled and crashed into the main hall.

The candlelight was bright, and Yan Chenghui sat upright at his desk, his eyes sharp and sinister.

Lu Huaiyou immediately lost his arrogance. He composed himself and regained his usual gentle demeanor.

"I don't know what crime I have committed that His Highness the Crown Prince has sent men to bind me so late at night."

Who kidnapped her?

Yan Chenghui got straight to the point.

"Your Highness, I do not understand what you are saying."

Lu Huaiyou pretended to be stupid.

"The note you gave her is in my hands, which is enough to prove that you knew about it in advance. You can choose to tell me or go to the Ministry of Justice."

Yan Chenghui remained expressionless.

"It's the Second Prince."

Lu Huaiyou was unwilling, but he still spoke up.

Yan Chenghui was able to secure his position as crown prince by means of ruthless methods.

He didn't want to suffer in the Ministry of Justice, and besides, he also wanted to save Cen Lingyi.

"Where are you being held?"

Yan Chenghui scrutinized him.

"This humble official truly does not know, however, if Your Highness wishes to save her, this humble official can accompany Your Highness..."

Lu Huaiyou wanted to go with him to rescue Cen Lingyi.

He knew full well that with his own strength, it was impossible to rescue Cen Lingyi from Yan Qingci.

We must take advantage of Yan Chenghui's influence.

"No need."

Yan Chenghui stood up.

"Your Highness," Lu Huaiyou said, looking at him, "Jiaojiao and I are deeply in love, and we have a child together. Now that the little prince has been weaned, I would like to ask Your Highness to return her to me..."

Last time, he planned to keep Cen Lingyi as a mistress, but Cen Lingyi ran away with the child.

Judging from what the Second Prince said, Cen Lingyi was found by Yan Chenghui.

Later, they never saw Cen Lingyi again, nor did they have the chance to find out the truth.

"You dare to challenge me?"

Yan Chenghui glanced at him with a sneer.

"I am indeed unworthy of Jiaojiao, but she was once my lawfully wedded wife, and we have a child," Lu Huaiyou said. "I know Your Highness despises her and keeps her by your side only to torment her. If you ask me, why does Your Highness hold onto the past? Why not set her free? The child is still so young..."

He firmly believed that Cen Lingyi's continued stay in the Eastern Palace after her return was due to being restrained by Yan Chenghui.

Otherwise, she would still have returned to the Lu residence once a month when she had her monthly leave.

Since returning, she hasn't gone back even once.

"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Yan Chenghui's face was ashen, and he exuded a murderous aura. He suddenly walked up to him and grabbed him by the neck.

His eyes were bloodshot, and a murderous intent had already risen in them.