Nong Nu Jiao

"Do you want to die?"

Yan Chenghui's tone was sharp, his voice clear yet hoarse, each word like ice.

He grabbed the back of her neck with his large hand, using great force, and pulled her forcefully into his arms.

The two suddenly drew closer, their breaths mingling.

He tightened his grip with his fingertips.

Cen Lingyi's fingertips curled slightly in pain, and her body trembled gently.

She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him, her eyes red and brimming with tears, her long eyelashes soaked with tears.

She bit her pale lips, refusing to let the tears fall.

"Death is too good for you."

Yan Chenghui's tone was icy, and every word was piercing.

He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on her slightly open neckline.

Her neck was slender and delicate, with two thin collarbones extending out, and her fair skin had a faint, radiant glow under the warm yellow light.

He slowly raised his hand.

The cold touch suddenly pressed against my skin.

Cen Lingyi's body trembled, and she opened her wet eyes to look at him. The golden seal in his hand landed between her collarbones.

The cold, hard gold seal seemed to carry a bone-chilling cold as it clung to the delicate skin.

Yan Chenghui held the tassel and moved it down very slowly, inch by inch.

The coolness spread along the skin, penetrating every part of the body.

Cen Lingyi's pupils suddenly contracted, her shoulders and neck stiffened, and her whole body trembled slightly.

The cold metal ground against the skin and flesh, sinking heavily, and with each step it went down, the chill seemed to grow stronger.

The person in front of her was cold and imposing, creating a suffocating sense of oppression that made her breathing erratic and her chest heave.

The cold, hard gold seal was finally pressed against her heart. His movements stopped, and the hand holding the back of her neck suddenly loosened.

Cen Lingyi slumped against the wooden door behind her, panting heavily.

The next moment, her breath caught in her throat, and her whole body tensed up.

Yan Chenghui pressed his fingertips, through the thin fabric of his clothes, onto the gold seal.

He used considerable force; the gold seal dug into her flesh, producing a distinct, dull pain that made her body tremble violently.

She unconsciously straightened her back, and a very faint breath escaped her throat.

The pain was like the fine, continuous drizzle of spring rain.

She looked up at him, her eyes welling up with tears, a mixture of embarrassment and bitterness welling up inside her.

He turned his head and looked at her for a long time, then suddenly raised his hand and slowly wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.

She turned her head away from him, but her pent-up grievances burst forth in an instant, and large tears slid down her face. She trembled even more violently, but she gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single sob.

Yan Chenghui increased the pressure with his fingertips, pressing against the golden seal.

The sharp edges of the gold seal felt as if they were about to cut into her skin. She hunched over slightly in pain, but she didn't let out a single cry.

Yan Chenghui grasped her cheek with his large hand, slowly tightening his grip and caressing it. His long eyelashes drooped, and his gaze fell on his hand pressed against the golden seal. The pressure from his fingertips increased slightly.

"I really want to cut you open and see if you have a heart."

His voice was hoarse, his words as if frozen, each one striking her ear with deliberate pause.

His fingertips seemed to touch her heart through the fabric and the gold seal.

The pain in one's skin is nothing compared to the piercing pain in one's heart.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but sob.

"Knock, knock knock—"

Suddenly, there were three knocks on the door.

Cen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head to look in that direction.

This was the secret code she and Lu Huaiyou agreed on: Lu Huaiyou would knock on the door three times, once slowly and twice quickly.

"The person you've been waiting for has arrived."

Yan Chenghui leaned down and whispered in her ear.

His lips brushed against her delicate earlobe, his warm breath hitting her earlobe, causing her to turn her head away, her body trembling slightly.

"What are you hiding from?"

Yan Chenghui pinched her chin, then wrapped his large hand around her slender waist, trapping her firmly in his arms in an extremely intimate manner.

"Knock, knock knock—"

The sound of Lu Huaiyou knocking came again from outside the wooden door.

"cough……"

Immediately following was Lu Huaiyou's suggestive cough.

"Respond to him."

Yan Chenghui whispered a command in Cen Lingyi's ear, then opened his mouth and bit her small earlobe, gently nibbling with his teeth.

"I am here."

Cen Lingyi suppressed the tremor in her voice and responded.

She couldn't escape his lips and teeth; it felt as if all the blood in her body rushed to her face, making it burn intensely.

"Jiaojiao, you've suffered so much."

Lu Huaiyou's voice was clean and mellow, seemingly containing boundless affection, and also possessing a calming power.

"Jiaojiao?"

Yan Chenghui's lips left her earlobe, his tone laced with cold sneer.

Cen Lingyi turned her head away, closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face.

"Jiaojiao" was the nickname he personally gave her on the day she came of age.

She clearly remembered that the weather was fine that day, and when the young man handed her the name "Xiao" by his own hand, his eyes were slightly red at the corners, but his dark eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

They both knew in their hearts that, apart from her parents, only her husband could give her a nickname.

He specially used shimmering crimson paper to write these two characters neatly, and then presented them to her with both hands.

His calligraphy is elegant and graceful, with powerful strokes that seem to penetrate the paper.

Holding the small note he gave her, she was filled with joy and the tender thoughts of a young girl.

She treasured that page of crimson paper, keeping it tucked between the pages of a book, until the Grand Tutor's mansion was destroyed.

He once told her with a smile that her nickname was taken from "Spring mountains are like a smile, and her beauty is especially charming." He liked her lively eyes and charming gaze.

He also said that she was spoiled and shrewd, lively and vibrant, and needed to be pampered.

Therefore, he called her "Jiaojiao".

In bed, he held her in his hands, kissing her countless times, whispering in her ear, "My little darling," "My sweet darling," "My lovely darling"...

Now, it is Lu Huaiyou who is calling out the name "Xiao".

"Don't cry. It's all my fault. I failed to protect you and let you suffer such injustice."

Lu Huaiyou stood outside the door, gently comforting her.

He was unaware that Yan Chenghui was right behind the door. He assumed that Cen Lingyi had seen him sad and aggrieved, and was silently crying, so he offered words of comfort.

"I'm fine."

Cen Lingyi held back her sobs and replied softly.

"Jiaojiao, why aren't you calling me husband? Are you angry with me?"

Lu Huaiyou gently knocked on the door, his voice full of concern and worry.

"Call."

Yan Chenghui whispered a cold command in her ear.

Cen Lingyi choked up, unable to make a sound.

"Not calling out? Have someone capture him immediately."

Yan Chenghui pressed close to her, his posture extremely intimate, yet he uttered words of ruthless threat.

"My husband..."

Cen Lingyi's cheek was almost touching his ear, tears fell on his shoulder, and she called out softly in a trembling voice.

It was unclear whether they were calling him or Lu Huaiyou outside.

She knew that calling out to Lu Huaiyou at this moment would only add fuel to the fire.

But she had no other choice. In his hands, she was like a cat being held by the scruff of its neck, powerless to resist, and could only let him abuse her.

Lu Huaiyou cannot fall into his hands.

Otherwise, who will help her find her child? Who will help her take care of her parents and relatives?

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Chenghui suddenly looked up, his long fingers gripping her chin, and abruptly lowered his head to press his lips to hers.

A fierce kiss landed unexpectedly, catching Cen Lingyi off guard as she was in a state of confusion.

Her dark pupils suddenly contracted, and she instinctively turned her head to dodge.

But her chin was held firmly by him, and she couldn't move an inch.

His kiss was anything but tender; it was a punitive act of plunder, and in his anger, the force was astonishing.

Their lips touched, but he showed no tenderness whatsoever. In the ensuing moment, he bit her lip hard.

The sharp teeth grazed the skin, and a sharp pain suddenly exploded, while a faint, sweet, metallic taste spread between the two where they were touching.

She trembled, and the tears that had just welled up again. She struggled to get away, but he held her even tighter.

He tasted the metallic sweetness blooming on her lips, but his movements did not slow down in the slightest; instead, they became even more intense.

"Jiaojiao, I'm glad you don't blame me. You know I had no choice but to do it..."

Lu Huaiyou's voice seemed to tremble slightly as he explained to her softly.

Cen Lingyi did not respond to him; she simply couldn't respond.

She was suffering both physically and mentally, and all her struggles were in vain.

He sucked on the wound on her lips, with just the right amount of pressure.

The pain between my lips was clear, the teeth marks were deep, and the sweet, metallic taste lingered in my breath.

She finally gave up struggling, her long eyelashes drooping in a daze, her hands falling limply to her sides, no longer trying to escape, only a melancholy submission remaining.

Only the spine remained straight, retaining the last vestige of stubbornness.

"Don't be sad. I've already inquired about the baby. The Second Prince said he'd exchange a golden seal for clues about the baby. Did you bring the golden seal?"

Lu Huaiyou gradually shifted the topic to the golden seal.

Yan Chenghui released her and looked down at her coldly.

Gold seal.

Cen Lingyi couldn't help but look down at herself.

The gold seal was inside her abdomen, its tassels hanging down to her waist, pressing hard against her waist.

"Jiaojiao, why aren't you saying anything?"

There was a hint of anxiety in Lu Huaiyou's tone.

"He's asking you a question, why aren't you saying anything?"

Yan Chenghui leaned close to her and whispered coldly in her ear.

"He took the gold seal back."

Cen Lingyi replied very quickly.

She was afraid that if she spoke too slowly, she would reveal the abnormality in her voice.

Yan Chenghui's fingertips, through her clothing, pressed against the gold seal again, squeezing the soft flesh of her waist: "Why aren't you telling the truth?"

His fingertips twitched slightly, the golden seal grinding against her flesh, and also against her heart.

She felt a dull pain in her chest.

"How could that be?"

Lu Huaiyou couldn't help but raise his voice.

"You can leave now."

Cen Lingyi straightened her back, her voice trembling with barely suppressed sobs.

My lips felt burning, and a dull ache lingered in my lower back.

She had no desire to say more to Lu Huaiyou, nor could she continue the conversation.

Yan Chenghui, upon hearing this, would only intensify his torment of her.

"Jiaojiao, are you angry with me?"

Lu Huaiyou asked, somewhat sadly.

Cen Lingyi lowered her long, wet eyelashes and remained silent, pursing her lips.

The person in front of her was staring intently at her, and she couldn't speak.

"I didn't want it to be like this either. You know I've loved you since I was a child. You have no idea how much I've suffered watching you stand by his side all these years." Lu Huaiyou's voice was gentle and mellow, seemingly filled with boundless affection: "I finally managed to marry you, but then I demoted you to a lowly servant, making you a lowly wet nurse in the Eastern Palace. I hate it, I hate myself for being useless, I wish I could die. But I can't die. I gave the baby to the Second Prince, and I have to help you find him."

As he spoke, his voice choked with emotion, revealing his deep feelings.

"I don't blame you..."

Cen Lingyi responded softly.

The child wasn't his own, yet he was willing to treat her as his own; he had done right by her and the child.

When the child was born, she only had time to glance at him before the Second Prince, who had come to visit, asked her to take him out, saying he wanted to see him and give the child a name.

After that, she was never able to see her child again.

Although Lu Huaiyou took the child away, he had done his best to help her find the child and plead with the Second Prince. He had also saved the lives of her parents and relatives.

He was a promising young man, becoming the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and a lecturer at a young age, a second-rank official. However, he could never compare to the power of the Second Prince.

It's not his fault.

"Jiaojiao, do you have no idea how much I want to hold you in my arms and cherish you?"

The heartache and helplessness in Lu Huaiyou's words were obvious.

"Loving each other since childhood, embracing each other, and cherishing each other tenderly? What a tragic couple they were."

Yan Chenghui's lips brushed against her small ear, his warm breath filling her ear, but his tone was completely opposite, cold and icy.

Cen Lingyi flinched and instinctively backed away.

He suddenly tightened his grip on her waist, his fingertips touching her belt, as if trying to pull away.

Cen Lingyi's heart skipped a beat. She instinctively reached out to protect her waist, blocking his movement, and gritted her teeth to suppress the gasp that was about to escape her lips.

Yan Chenghui grabbed her slender wrist, flung it to the side, and ripped open her belt.

Her waist loosened, and a chill ran through her chest, revealing her exposed abdomen. Her fair skin was even more striking under the warm yellow lamplight.

The gold seal, which was stopped by the belt, fell to the ground with a soft thud, rolled a few times, and finally stopped at her feet.

"You should go now, I need to go back and comfort the young prince."

She forced herself to gather her clothes, and before the embarrassment overwhelmed her, she spoke to Lu Huaiyou outside in as calm a tone as possible.

"Alright, then take good care of yourself in the East Palace. Don't worry about things outside. We'll talk about it when you come home on your day off."

Lu Huaiyou agreed to her request, and after waiting a while, seeing that there was no further movement from inside the door, he stepped out.

As Cen Lingyi listened to his footsteps fading into the distance, her body went limp, and she slumped against the wooden door.

"Why don't you let him listen?"

Yan Chenghui pressed himself against him, his tone cold, his hand moving up the corner of his abdomen.

His palms were as hot as burning coals, scorching her.

She turned her head away, biting her injured lip. The pain cleared her mind, and she quickly snapped out of the overwhelming embarrassment and humiliation.

"Your Highness is the head of the Eastern Palace." Her voice was a little hoarse, yet seemed to carry a hint of stubbornness: "You should at least maintain some decorum and find a room."

She didn't seek his anger or punishment; she only wanted to desperately protect her last shred of dignity and get him to move inside.

"You dare to talk about dignity?" Yan Chenghui withdrew his hand, his voice cold and hard as ice, each word carrying a biting sarcasm: "Someone like you only deserves to be out in the open."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed her against the door with one hand and ruthlessly tore at the sash covering her abdomen.

"Your Highness, there's no need for that."

Cen Lingyi looked up at him, her voice hoarse and broken, but without much emotion.

Yan Chenghui paused, his breathing becoming somewhat unsteady.

"If Your Highness does not despise my withered and broken body, I am willing to serve you."

Cen Lingyi's eyes dimmed as she slowly raised her hand, her fingertips tracing the loose fabric of her clothes, revealing her rounded shoulders.

She owed him, and she accepted her fate.

"Who needs you to serve them?"

Yan Chenghui took a step back, his jaw clenched, his face dark and gloomy.

Cen Lingyi stopped moving and lowered her head sadly.

"I find it dirty."

Yan Chenghui's dark eyes were filled with coldness and disgust.

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't look at her again. He turned around abruptly, his wide sleeves sweeping past her side, bringing with them a gust of cold wind.

His tall and imposing figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.

The surroundings fell completely quiet, and the evening breeze rustled, dispelling the lingering chill in him.

His disdain and contempt were starkly clear before my eyes, lingering for a long time.

Cen Lingyi moved slightly, slowly raised her hand, and bent down to tidy up her disheveled clothes little by little.

His gaze fell to his feet, where the small gold seal lay quietly.

She bent down, picked up the gold seal, held it in her palm, and walked back step by step along the path she had come from.

*

The weather has been fine lately, with clear skies stretching for miles after dawn.

Yan Huaijiao woke up early and leaned against Cen Lingyi's chest, her dark eyes clear and bright as she looked around.

Her small, fair hands clutched her clothes, and her little body kept peeking out.

"Miss, His Highness wants to go out."

Lingzhi laughed from the side.

"Are you going out to play?"

Cen Lingyi looked down at the little one, her eyes gentle.

"Well……"

The little guy got even more excited.

"Let's go, while it's still cool in the morning, I'll take you to the garden to see the flowers and feel the breeze."

Cen Lingyi couldn't do anything about him, and being soft-hearted, she picked him up and walked out.

Actually, she wasn't very willing to leave Mingde Hall.

Here, she only had to face Yan Chenghui's disgust and torment, which she could endure, because she had already wronged him.

Once she left Mingde Hall, everything changed; everyone looked at her with strange eyes.

However, she no longer cares about those things.

After experiencing so much, doesn't she understand the principle of not caring about other people's opinions?

Despite thinking this, she still chose to walk slowly along the secluded and less crowded palace path.

Lingzhi accompanied them all the way.

"Eee-yah-yah..."

When Yan Huaijiao went outside, her little face was exceptionally lively. Her pair of bright black eyes looked around curiously, and she made soft, sweet sounds. Her eyes and brows showed the pure joy that only a baby has.

"Does Your Highness like being outside? Your wet nurse will take you out more often from now on."

Cen Lingyi gently lifted the adorable little one in her arms, and the sorrow in her heart gradually melted away.

The pomegranate tree beside her was lush and green, with bright red flowers blooming on its branches. She picked one casually and teased him with a smile.

Yan Huaijiao grinned and reached out her little hand to snatch the flower from her hand.

"Your Highness, she's over there, look!"

Not far away, under the drooping roses on the veranda, Madam Sun pointed in the direction where Cen Lingyi was.

She was guileless, and her resentment was written all over her face.

Xia Qinghe glanced at her and said gently, "What's wrong with Nurse Cen taking the young prince out for a stroll?"

"Your Highness, you'll know once you call her over and take a look."

Madam Sun recalled the day she inadvertently saw the teeth marks on Cen Lingyi's lips, and almost bit her own teeth to pieces.

It must be that Cen Lingyi tried to seduce His Highness the Crown Prince but failed, and was bitten by him.

Aside from linking arms with His Highness, she had never even held his hand, yet Cen Lingyi was able to do something as intimate as kissing His Highness.

She was furious just thinking about it.

Xia Qinghe raised her hand, her demeanor impeccably proper, exuding the majesty of a crown princess.

The maidservant behind her stepped forward and greeted her, "Nanny Cen, my mistress requests your presence."

"Year after year?"

Cen Lingyi was somewhat surprised to see her, and then she saw Xia Qinghe and Madam Sun under the corridor.

Xia Qing smiled and waved to her: "Sister Cen."

"Your Majesty, how can you still call her 'sister'? She doesn't deserve it!"

When Madam Sun heard her address Cen Lingyi in that way, she was so angry that her nose almost twisted out of shape.

How can there be such a magnanimous person as the Crown Princess in this world?

Cen Lingyi is the Crown Prince's former fiancée. The Crown Prince used to treat her so well, and now Cen Lingyi is deliberately trying to seduce him.

Isn't the Crown Princess worried at all?

"Madam Sun, please calm down."

Xia Qing waved her hand, signaling her to be quiet.

Cen Lingyi carried Yan Huaijiao to the two of them, lowered her long, dark eyelashes, and curtsied respectfully: "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Princess and Madam Sun."

"Sister Cen, you may rise."

Xia Qinghe was very kind, his gaze falling on Yan Huai's delicate and tender face.

Yan Huaijiao leaned against Cen Lingyi's chest, her dark, bright eyes timidly and curiously observing them.

"This servant is unworthy of being addressed as Your Highness."

Cen Lingyi lowered her head, feeling utterly ashamed.

Xia Qinghe grew up with them since childhood, and they always called Xia Qinghe "older sister".

Now, Xia Qinghe has become the high and mighty Crown Princess, while she has become the wet nurse of her child.

How could she possibly deserve Xia Qing's address of "sister"?

"Don't say that. Nobody wanted such a tragedy to happen in the manor." Xia Qinghe reached out her hand to Yan Huaijiao, her smile gentle and loving: "Huaijiao, come here, let your mother give you a hug."

"Well……"

Yan Huaijiao was initially looking at her curiously, but when she saw her reach out, she turned her head and hugged Cen Lingyi's neck tightly, refusing to look at her again.

"Your Highness, this is your mother. Come here and let your mother hug you."

Cen Lingyi coaxed Yan Huaijiao.

Xia Qinghe reached out to take it, her hand touching his soft little body.

Yan Huaijiao refused to accept it, burst into tears, and struggled by flailing her little hands.

"Your Highness..."

Cen Lingyi needed to coax her again.

"Alright, alright, stop crying." Xia Qing let go of the little guy's head with a smile and said, "You're so affectionate with your wet nurse?"

When Yan Huaijiao saw that Cen Lingyi wouldn't give him to anyone else, he immediately stopped crying.

"Your Majesty..."

Cen Lingyi felt a little guilty.

This is, after all, Xia Qing and Tong Yanchenghui's child. How can it be justified that she only wants to raise this child?

"It's alright." Xia Qing patted her hand reassuringly, her gaze lingering on her face for a moment: "The fact that he's so clingy to you means you're taking good care of him. You've worked hard."

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi's eyes welled up with tears, and she almost shed one.

Xia Qinghe remained as dignified and generous as ever, with a gentle and easygoing nature.

Fortunately, it was Xia Qinghe who became the Crown Princess; if it had been someone else, who knows how they would have tormented her.

"What's she working so hard for?" Madam Sun couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Majesty, look at her lips! It's clearly been bitten by someone. Could it be that she's been working hard to seduce men? She's not behaving like a proper wife; she might corrupt the young prince. You must have her thrown out of the Eastern Palace!"

As they got closer, the scabs on Cen Lingyi's lips became clearer, with four sharp teeth marks on the upper and lower lips. There were no other men in the Eastern Palace, so it would be strange if it wasn't His Highness who bit her!

She couldn't say directly that she suspected Yan Chenghui had bitten Cen Lingyi's lip, but the Crown Princess wasn't stupid and would definitely understand her unspoken meaning.

"Oh dear, Sister Cen, what happened?"

Xia Qinghe seemed to only notice the wound on Cen Lingyi's lip at this moment, and was somewhat surprised.

"I accidentally bumped into it."

Cen Lingyi clenched her fists, lowered her head, and whispered a reply.

"Nonsense! How did you get so badly injured from all that banging?" Madam Sun didn't believe her at all. "Show me another banging. It's clearly from being bitten by some man you've been intimate with..."

"I was just thinking that you would rest for a few days because of the injury on your face, but I didn't expect you to be out and about so soon. This is truly a cause for celebration."

Cen Lingyi gently patted Yan Huaijiao in her arms, a faint and polite smile appearing on her face.

Madam Sun is truly brainless. She still doesn't know why she was slapped, yet she still dares to provoke her.

She can avenge herself once, and she can avenge herself twice.

She met Sun Ruren's gaze with a smile, showing no fear whatsoever. Although she was dressed in the clothes of a wet nurse, her aura completely overwhelmed Sun Ruren.

"you……"

Madam Sun was so embarrassed and angry that she felt her old wounds had been reopened, and she raised her hand to slap her again.

That wretched woman, how dare she bring this up to reprimand her? Does a lowly wet nurse think she's still the pampered young lady of the Grand Tutor's mansion?

"Your Highness."

Xia Qinghe stopped Madam Sun's movement and bowed to Yan Chenghui, who was not far away.

Madam Sun lowered her hand in surprise and hurriedly bowed.

When did Your Highness arrive?

Cen Lingyi turned around with Yan Huaijiao in her arms and saw Yan Chenghui standing not far away, looking quite relaxed, as if he had been there for a while.

I wonder if he saw everything that just happened?

"This servant greets Your Highness."

She lowered her head and curtsied.

"Why did you stop fighting?"

Yan Chenghui stepped forward slowly, glanced at Cen Lingyi, and then looked at Madam Sun, a hint of a smile in his eyes.