Nong Nu Jiao

Cen Lingyi held the wine cup, gazing at the not-yet-full moon on the horizon, the scene before her eyes overlapping with the past.

That year, it was the same full moon, the same cold winter night, and the same painted boat.

Yan Chenghui lowered the heavy cotton curtain, leaving only one side open to admire the moon.

The small charcoal stove in the cabin was burning bright red, occasionally emitting a soft popping sound.

He sat opposite her, holding a small silver skewer, carefully turning the venison on the grill.

The meat's fat was rendered out, dripping onto the charcoal fire and creating plumes of white smoke with a rich, fatty aroma.

The aroma of meat mingled with the cool, refreshing mist unique to the river, filling the cramped cabin and seemingly isolating it from all the cold.

At that time, she had just started to learn to drink fruit wine, and she was fond of its sweet taste and craved it.

She raised her hand to get the wine, but he stopped her.

He said, "No drinking allowed."

Why?

She naturally refused.

"This wine is strong, unlike fruit wine. You'll get a headache at night if you drink it."

He explained to her gently.

"I'll just have a small bite."

She pouted and insisted on taking the wine pot.

Yan Chenghui grabbed her wrist, refusing to let her.

"If you really want to eat it, I'll have someone buy some fruit wine."

He compromised anyway.

Back then, he always went along with her.

"Then why didn't you make arrangements earlier?"

Cen Lingyi snorted and pulled her hand back.

Yan Chenghui then released her.

Taking advantage of his inattention, she suddenly raised her hands and placed her two cold hands on his neck.

To get revenge on him, she gave him a cold slap, feeling his warmth return to her palm. She succeeded in her move, looking at him with a sly smile.

Yan Chenghui paused slightly as he flipped the meat slices, his back stiffening slightly, but he made no move to dodge.

Her hands were cool and soft, like a piece of cold jade, gently touching his heart.

He glanced at her sideways, his gaze different from usual.

She didn't know why, but her heart suddenly burned, and a faint blush involuntarily crept into the corners of her eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

She playfully scolded him.

Back then, she wasn't like she is now; she was someone who dared to act and take responsibility.

He let her stay close to him, indulging her like this until she abandoned him.

Sometimes she felt that back then, even if she wanted the moon in the sky, Yan Chenghui would not have refused her.

He would only try to build a ladder and climb up to the sky with her.

"Are you cold?"

He asked her in a low, clear voice.

His gaze fell on the venison in front of him, his profile glowing red in the firelight.

At that moment, she was speechless.

All the senses in my body focused on my hands, feeling the warm skin on his neck and his strong pulse.

She felt a little thirsty, and her heartbeat quietly became irregular.

At that very moment, Yan Chenghui suddenly turned around.

The cabin was dimly lit, but his dark eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if they held a sky full of stars, as he gazed at her.

He raised his hand and grasped her wrist.

At that time, she didn't know why she blushed, and for some reason, she didn't dare to look him in the eye. She subconsciously wanted to pull her hand away, and her heart was beating very fast, like she was carrying seven or eight rabbits, feeling very uneasy.

Yan Chenghui refused to let go of her.

He took her hand, slowly moved it down, tucked it inside his clothes, and pressed it firmly against his chest through his undergarments.

"It's warmer here."

Through the soft fabric, warmth emanated, and the steady, powerful heartbeat was clearly audible.

Boom, boom, boom.

Its weighty and resolute tone made her heart tremble, like a long-suppressed sincerity breaking through the soil.

Her face turned so red it was almost melting!

They grew up together, and she had never been so shy in front of him before.

At that moment, she suddenly understood.

It seems she's fallen for him.

His voice was terribly hoarse, and mixed with the warmth of the river breeze and charcoal fire, it sounded especially touching to her ears. "I once thought that this was probably how my life would be. Guarding the empty throne of a prince, guarding my mother's indifference, guarding my father's wariness, walking alone into the darkness."

He tightened his grip, pulling her into his arms, his movements gentle yet firm. His warm breath brushed against her forehead, tender and lingering.

"Until I met you."

Her heart skipped a beat, and her chest felt burning hot.

"You are like a little sun, like a ray of light, illuminating everything about me."

His forehead gently touched hers, their noses met, their breaths mingled, and every word he spoke was sincere.

I want to be with you, year after year, until we grow old together.

He paused, as if gathering all his deepest emotions, and spoke each word with solemnity.

"I want you to know that, long ago, here—"

He pressed her hand against his heart.

"It can only hold you."

"Do you mind...?"

He was only halfway through his sentence when she covered his lips.

"If I disliked you, why would I always be with you?"

She knew what he was going to say.

He wanted to ask her if she looked down on him because he was just a useless prince.

How could that be?

He was the best in her heart, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and proficient in everything.

He just didn't want to compete with others.

"Let's spend the rest of our lives together, okay?"

He asked her.

She nodded.

His eyes reddened, and he bent down to kiss her.

That was the first time he confessed his feelings to her, and it was also the first time they kissed.

She will never forget it.

There was no frenzied plundering, only utmost respect and devotion.

His warm lips covered hers, tracing her face gently and tenderly; he cherished her like a precious treasure.

The beauty of that day was like a dream, shattering into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

She took another sip of fruit wine, staring blankly at the moon in the sky, lost in thought.

They confessed their feelings, pledged their love, and with their parents' approval, they got engaged...

Everything went smoothly.

But in the blink of an eye, her home was ruined.

She ended up in the brothel, where Lu Huaiyou rescued her.

Yan Chenghui also went that day, and with red eyes, he asked her to come with him.

She really wanted to go with him too.

But her father's admonitions were still ringing in her ears; she couldn't let him suffer.

She resolutely left with Lu Huaiyou.

It's understandable that he hates her.

In his eyes, she was the one who betrayed him first, and she was the one who abandoned him first.

Later, the next news I heard about him was that he had become the crown prince, married Xia Qinghe, and had several women in his harem.

Today, two more new members have joined the family.

He won't think of her anymore.

It's... pretty good.

There have been too many upsetting things in recent years.

The only good thing was that she gave birth to Huai Jiao, that lovely child, who was her and his child.

That was all the courage and hope she had to live.

She smiled, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and poured herself another cup of wine.

Yan Chenghui stared at her lonely figure in the cabin.

In the past, on winter nights, he couldn't bear to see her suffer even a bit of cold, holding her in his palms and cherishing her, wishing he could shield her from all the wind and frost.

But now, the scenery remains the same, but the people and things have changed.

The biting wind whipped his clothes into the air as he gazed at her, his eyes fixed on her, unmoving for a long time.

"Your Highness, shall I go and fetch the young lady?"

Yun Que spoke softly.

"No need," Yan Chenghui said, snapping out of his reverie. "You can wait on the shore."

"Yes."

Yun Que bowed in response.

Yan Chenghui boarded that small painted boat.

He stood in the darkness at the stern of the boat, looking at Cen Lingyi under the candlelight.

She was so engrossed in drinking under the moonlight that she didn't notice the extra person at the stern of the boat.

Yan Chenghui untied the rope, grasped the bamboo pole, and gently touched the bottom of the lake. A soft sound of water rose, and the boat began to move, heading towards the wide center of the lake.

Cen Lingyi was lost in thought, holding her wine glass, until the small boat clearly moved away from its original mooring position and her body swayed with the waves.

An unusual sense of unease quickly pulled her back from her chaotic thoughts.

She suddenly looked up and belatedly realized that the boat was no longer on the shore, but had already sailed to the middle of the lake.

"Who?"

She was startled and instinctively turned her head to look, only to see a familiar, tall figure standing quietly at the stern of the ship.

Yan Chenghui approached, bent down and entered the cabin, casually pulling down the heavy curtain.

"This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."

She put down her wine cup, stood up, and curtsied, as respectful and distant as ever.

"Do you really have to do this?"

Yan Chenghui stood to one side, watching her.

The slight pity that had just surfaced in my heart was replaced by irritation.

Does she have to be so distant with him?

"Your Highness is the Crown Prince; there is a distinction between superiors and inferiors. This is what this servant should do."

Cen Lingyi spoke softly, but showed no sign of yielding.

She was a servant; he wondered how she should treat him.

Yan Chenghui stared at her without saying a word.

"Today is Your Highness's auspicious day. Why aren't you with the newlyweds? What are you doing at the West Pond?"

Cen Lingyi paused for a moment, then asked him softly.

It's strange that he suddenly appeared here at this time.

According to custom, he was to choose one of the two newly arrived women from the Eastern Palace to stay overnight.

"I have a question for you: of the two newcomers, which one should I choose first?"

Yan Chenghui was annoyed and questioned her in a defiant tone.

He sat down opposite her, picked up her wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp.

She was so intelligent, couldn't she have guessed that he came for her sake?

Asking that question is clearly meant to provoke him.

"That...is my servant..."

Cen Lingyi wanted to stop it.

That wine cup was one she had used, and it contained the leftover wine she had drunk. How could someone of his high status use it?

But seeing that he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, he stopped talking.

She saw his expression clearly.

It had been over a month since I last saw him, and he looked a little thinner than before. His handsome face was flushed with a faint blush, which was from drinking.

He rarely drinks alcohol.

Today, it seems there's a new person entering the Eastern Palace, and he's in a good mood, so he drank some wine.

Yan Chenghui slammed down the wine cup and looked up at her.

Cen Lingyi lowered her head, looking at her toes, and pondered carefully for a moment before offering her analysis: "Since Your Highness has asked me, I will offer my humble opinion. I believe Your Highness should first visit Consort Qin. She has the Empress Dowager behind her, and Your Highness favors her. If she speaks well of you to the Empress Dowager, it will benefit Your Highness. However, Consort Qin is too arrogant, perhaps due to her status. Your Highness should stay overnight at Madam Qin's residence tomorrow night to keep her in check..."

Between Qin Luoshui and Chen Yanyan, Qin Luoshui is clearly more useful.

She wanted what was best for him, and since he asked, she naturally had his best interests at heart.

Yan Chenghui's face turned ashen, his chest tightened, and he almost vomited blood.

Her words were clear and logical, weighing the pros and cons with the composure of an outsider.

He asked that question out of anger.

She actually analyzed it for him so seriously and even came to a conclusion!

Before she could finish speaking, he suddenly reached out, grabbed her wrist, and forcefully pulled her into his arms.

Cen Lingyi was caught off guard and bumped into his warm, hard chest. Before she could react, he grabbed her chin.

"Your Highness..."

She nudged him, wanting to speak.

He lowered his head and kissed her fiercely, swallowing all the words she hadn't uttered.

The pent-up jealousy, resentment, unwillingness, and grievances poured out in this kiss, domineering and passionate.

He was punishing her for her aloofness, for her indifference, for her ruthlessly pushing him towards someone else.

Cen Lingyi could not resist at all. In his kisses, she tried to find a gap so that she could keep breathing and not suffer from oxygen deprivation or dizziness.

After a long while, his intense and domineering kiss finally softened slightly.

But he still held her tightly in his arms, only removing his hand from her chin.

He lowered his head, and his burning kisses slid down her lips, fine and dense, carrying lingering annoyance, landing on her slender, fair neck, gently grinding and caressing, with a possessiveness that was both obsessive and aggrieved.

"Your Highness should stay at Consort Qin's Yiqing Courtyard. It is against etiquette for you to come looking for me like this."

She was finally able to speak, her voice clear and soft, yet with a hint of stubborn coldness.

The shackles between their lips and teeth were finally released, and the suffocating pressure dissipated.

Her chest heaved violently, her long eyelashes trembled wildly, and the dizziness from the lack of oxygen slowly subsided, finally giving her a chance to catch her breath.