Nong Nu Jiao

Inside the flower hall, the lively atmosphere that Xia Qing and the others had barely managed to maintain collapsed almost entirely due to Yan Chenghui's sudden departure.

Xia Qinghe remained seated, her expression still dignified and calm, but the jade chopsticks she held in her hand were almost broken.

Yan Chenghui must have gone to find Cen Lingyi.

She had no interest in trying to liven things up anymore.

"Your Majesty, I'm feeling a little unwell, so I'll go back to my courtyard first."

Consort Gu rose to take her leave.

She was proud and didn't bother to play along with these people.

All this fighting and infighting won't earn her any of Yan Chenghui's favor. What's the point of her getting entangled with these people?

I don't want to get involved.

"Since Miss Gu is not feeling well, she may leave now."

Xia Qing and Han Xiao agreed.

Gu Liangdi got up and walked out, sneering inwardly. Xia Qinghe clearly couldn't smile, but she still had to put on a smiling face, which looked uglier than crying. Gu Liangdi wondered if Xia Qinghe was tired of living like this.

"Your Highness, will His Highness the Crown Prince return?"

Qin Luoshui spoke up, asking Xia Qinghe directly.

Chen Yanyan also looked at Xia Qinghe, naturally wanting to know the answer as well.

"He probably won't be coming back." Xia Qinghe put down her chopsticks and said with a smile, "His Highness is just like that, a bit cold-hearted, but he won't mistreat the sisters in the backyard. You'll see in time."

"Yes."

Qin Luoshui and Chen Yanyan responded in unison.

"Please eat up, don't be shy, just eat as you would at home."

Xia Qinghe added.

No matter when or where, she never seemed to forget her identity as the Crown Princess; her words were polite, her demeanor dignified, and she appeared very generous.

"I'm stuffed."

Chen Yanyan put down her chopsticks.

"I'm full too."

Qin Luoshui also put down her chopsticks.

"Then... shall we call it a day?"

Xia Qinghe had long since given up on sitting there.

Now that Yan Chenghui is gone, what's the point of her sitting here?

"Your Majesty, may I ask why Consort Sun has not come?"

Chen Yanyan stood up and asked cautiously.

Her maternal family was on good terms with the Sun family, which is why she came to the Eastern Palace. She had to go and see Sun Peihuan.

"Sister Chen, you may not know this, but Consort Sun did something wrong a few days ago and is currently under house arrest."

Xia Qing and Han Xiao explained.

"Oh, I see?" Chen Yanyan suddenly realized, "My mother asked me to bring her these things, so it means I won't be able to see Sun Liangyuan."

"No, she's staying at Anyuan Hospital. You can go see her."

Xia Qinghe looked at her with a smile.

The Chen family and the Sun family had a close relationship, so from the beginning, she didn't have any designs on Chen Yanyan.

Because it's unusable.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Chen Yanyan bowed and withdrew.

"Let's go, Sister Qin," Xia Qing said with a smile. "I'll escort you back to your courtyard."

"This humble servant dares not trouble Your Majesty."

Qin Luoshui quickly refused.

She hadn't forgotten that when she gave cosmetics to Xia Qinghe, Xia Qinghe instead let Sun Peihuan know about her favoritism.

This Crown Princess is not as virtuous and kind as she appears on the surface.

"What is it? I'm just passing by, so I'll tell you about the current situation of the Crown Prince's Palace."

Xia Qinghe walked slowly outside.

Qin Luoshui followed after hearing this, thinking it wouldn't hurt to listen to what she had to say.

A bright moon hung in the sky, illuminating the two figures.

Qin Luoshui listened to Xia Qinghe's conversation all the way, feeling astonished.

What Xia Qinghe said actually matched exactly what she had learned about the current situation of the Eastern Palace's inner quarters.

In other words, Xia Qinghe is not lying to her now.

But the last time she tried to sow discord, it was real; she saw Xia Qinghe do it with her own eyes.

What exactly did Xia Qing mean by saying all this to her?

"That Sun Peihuan, relying on her father and brothers being stationed at the border, never takes me seriously," Xia Qinghe said slowly. "This arm of mine was secretly injured by someone she sent."

"What? Consort Sun actually has such audacity?"

Qin Luoshui was surprised, and also surprised that Xia Qinghe had told her about this so bluntly.

She became even more curious about Xia Qinghe's purpose.

"Last time you brought something, I was so angry that I used it to upset her. Looking back, I realize I've actually taken you into it." Xia Qinghe stopped and took her hand. "I'm sorry."

If you want to use Qin Luoshui, you must first get rid of the resentment in her heart.

"Your Majesty, please don't say that." Qin Luoshui shook her head, her large eyes shining brightly in the moonlight: "Even if Your Majesty didn't do that, I'm afraid Consort Sun wouldn't let me off the hook."

She didn't really trust Xia Qinghe, but she still had to put on a show.

"She has always treated everyone in the Crown Prince's household as her enemy."

Xia Qinghe shook his head.

The two continued walking side by side.

"Oh, right, Sister Qin, there's one more thing I need to tell you in detail."

Xia Qinghe seemed to suddenly remember something.

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Qin Luoshui glanced at her sideways.

"You may have already found out that the household affairs of the Eastern Palace are now in the hands of Cen Lingyi." Xia Qinghe stopped and turned to her, saying, "You've just arrived at the Eastern Palace and don't know her personality or past. You must not act rashly and offend her. After all, she manages the food, clothing, and daily necessities of everyone in the Eastern Palace's inner quarters, and there will always be times when you need to ask her for favors."

"I know she and His Highness were childhood sweethearts, but she later abandoned him. How could His Highness be willing to hand over the management of the Eastern Palace to her?"

Qin Luoshui grew up in the palace and had naturally heard about the relationship between Cen Lingyi and Yan Chenghui. She never understood why Yan Chenghui would keep Cen Lingyi around and entrust her with important responsibilities.

Hearing Xia Qing mention it, I naturally followed up with the question.

Xia Qinghe sighed, "It's all because my arm was injured and hasn't recovered yet. Consort Gu doesn't care about these things, and Consort Sun is even more useless. His Highness really couldn't find anyone else to manage the Eastern Palace, so he put her in charge because she comes from a noble family and knows how to manage the affairs of the inner quarters."

"So that's how it is."

Qin Luoshui understood and nodded thoughtfully.

"Thankfully, you've arrived now."

Xia Qinghe spoke with a pointed tone.

"I... I have studied those things, but I have never actually managed a household, I'm afraid..."

Although Qin Luoshui verbally refused, she was already somewhat tempted.

If Xia Qinghe were to manage the household affairs of the Crown Prince's palace, it would be quite difficult for her to contend for the position.

But Cen Lingyi is just a servant, and one who has even abandoned His Highness the Crown Prince. If she wanted the power to manage the household affairs, wouldn't it be a piece of cake for her?

"Don't underestimate yourself. You come from the Empress Dowager's maternal family, with a respectable background and a good temperament. You were also personally taught by the Empress Dowager. If you can't manage the household affairs, who can?" Xia Qinghe said, "But there's no rush. You've just arrived, so get familiar with things first, and we'll talk about it later."

"Your Majesty's favor is too much; I fear I am not worthy of your praise."

Qin Luoshui was deeply moved.

Xia Qinghe's intention was to give her the power to control the palace from Cen Lingyi.

It's likely that Xia Qing and Cen Lingyi have some kind of grudge.

They deliberately sent her to deal with Cen Lingyi.

But whatever Xia Qinghe's purpose, if it can help her gain the power to control the palace, then it is something that can be used.

She was raised by the Empress Dowager and was the most outstanding and noticed among her sisters from a young age.

Once you enter the Eastern Palace, you must, of course, stand out from the crowd.

"We've arrived. This is the accommodation Cen Lingyi prepared for you. You must be tired after a long day. Please get some rest."

Xia Qinghe stopped at the entrance of the Yiqing Courtyard and said in a gentle tone.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has also disappeared."

Qin Luoshui looked around. In the moonlight, apart from a few maids, there was no one else.

She hadn't forgotten Xia Qing's affair with the Crown Prince.

"They must have gone to see Cen Lingyi."

Xia Qinghe smiled.

"How could that be?"

Qin Luoshui opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

She heard the Crown Prince say that he had granted the Crown Princess permission not to touch other women.

It's highly improbable that Xia Qinghe would try to use this incident to sow discord between her and Cen Lingyi.

That was said by His Highness the Crown Prince himself.

"You'll naturally learn about the affairs of the Crown Prince's Palace once you've lived here long enough."

Xia Qing patted her on the shoulder and left.

Qin Luoshui stood at the courtyard gate, recalling the day Yan Chenghui told her that he wouldn't touch her.

He suddenly recalled Xia Qing's expression when she mentioned Yan Chenghui visiting Cen Lingyi.

For a moment, I didn't know who to believe.

*

Yan Chenghui strode out of the side hall.

Yun Gong, who was guarding the corridor, turned around in surprise when he heard the door open.

"Why did Your Highness come out so quickly?"

Last time, His Highness ordered him to guard the gate, but he didn't come out for a whole half day.

Is it because he drank alcohol that he can't do it?

"Gather manpower."

Yan Chenghui stepped out of the door and gave a cold order.

Yun Gong snapped out of her reverie and blinked. "Is there something, Your Highness...?"

Before I could even ask, "Is it something?"

"Get it done right away!"

Yan Chenghui interrupted him coldly, his aura chillingly cold.

He wanted to see where Cen Lingyi could run to!

"Yes."

Yun Gong was startled and dared not say another word, so he hurriedly ran outside.

"Your Highness!"

At this moment, Yun Que strode into the courtyard.

Yun Gong stopped in his tracks.

"What is it?"

Yan Chenghui stepped into the bright moonlight.

"Miss Cen rode her horse out of the East Palace and headed west."

He stepped forward to report.

He had only just heard the report from his subordinates when he rushed over to inform His Highness.

"Where did you go?"

Yan Chenghui glanced at him sideways.

"This subordinate does not know." Yun Que shook his head: "But Miss Cen does not seem to be going on a long trip. Someone is already following her and has left marks along the way, otherwise this subordinate..."

He knew that as soon as Miss Cen walked out, His Highness would suspect that she was trying to escape again.

Therefore, when he returned the message, he made a point of speaking up for Miss Cen.

"Bring the horse."

Yan Chenghui interrupted him.

Yun Que looked towards Yun Gong.

"Go down."

Yun Gong ran away quickly.

So it turns out, it wasn't that His Highness was incapable, but that Miss Cen wasn't in the side hall.

The three men, master and servants, mounted their horses and headed west along the empty streets.

As they left the city gate, Yan Chenghui urged his horse to gallop at full speed.

Yun Que shook his head and sighed as he watched.

Your Highness hasn't seen the young lady for a month, but she's stubborn and won't go to see you either.

The two met today, and who knows what kind of trouble they'll cause.

Plum trees line the shore of West Lake, and the lake's heart is filled with flowing water, attracting many tourists to stroll together.

"Your Highness, over here."

Yun Que dismounted and quickly found Cen Lingyi's location by following the marks.

Yan Chenghui dismounted and looked around.

A full, gibbous moon hangs high in the sky, its clear light spreading across the water's surface. The ice reflects the bright moonlight, the ripples gently shimmer, and the moon's reflection shatters into countless silver scales.

On the shore, a painted boat with a black awning floats quietly on the cold waves, with one side of the curtain half-lifted, just enough to see the figures inside the cabin.

Cen Lingyi sat alone, leaning against a low table.

She was already slender, and the plain-colored jacket she wore made her look even thinner and more pitiful.

A pot of wine and several side dishes were placed on the table.

Bathed in the clear moonlight, she sat there all alone, drinking alone while facing the bright moon.