Nong Nu Jiao

Cen Lingyi looked at Yan Chenghui, her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure.

He's just being possessive.

He thought she had given birth to Lu Huaiyou's child and was angry because she refused to have his child.

He was just unwilling to admit defeat and unwilling to accept it.

She believed that if things got serious, he wouldn't want her to get pregnant with his child.

"How many doses of contraceptive soup did she buy?"

Yan Chenghui walked to the bedside and his gaze fell on Lingzhi.

"Five...five sets..."

Lingzhi swallowed nervously.

"Give it to me."

Yan Chenghui coldly gave the order.

Lingzhi hurried away.

"Your Highness..."

Cen Lingyi wanted to persuade him.

"Don't speak."

Yan Chenghui was annoyed and turned his face away from her.

Cen Lingyi had no choice but to shut her mouth and think about how to talk to him properly.

A moment later, Lingzhi returned with several doses of medicine, wrapped neatly in oiled paper.

"Your Highness, the medicine has been brought."

She glanced at Cen Lingyi and spoke cautiously.

Yan Chenghui took it and stretched out his hand.

The medicine packet fell into the charcoal brazier.

The flames licked open the oil paper package, revealing various herbs inside, which emitted wisps of white smoke.

"Take it out."

He gave the order in a cold voice.

"Yes."

Lingzhi didn't hesitate and took the charcoal brazier out.

Yan Chenghui walked to the bedside and looked down at Cen Lingyi.

"Your Highness," Cen Lingyi propped herself up, meeting his gaze, "Ask yourself honestly, do you truly want me to bear your child?"

Yan Chenghui remained silent, took a step closer, leaned down to look at her, and his eyes were dark and brooding.

She was terrified, but she didn't back away.

He wouldn't think of...

We've been up all night, we can't go on like this.

Besides, the child is right there. He may be shameless, but she is.

As she was pondering, he suddenly raised his hand and reached out to her.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, I'm only thinking of you."

Cen Lingyi grabbed his wrist and hurriedly said.

Yan Chenghui felt her soft, yielding strength on his wrist, gave an ambiguous chuckle, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"If this servant is truly pregnant with Your Highness's child, not to mention what the Crown Princess and the others will think of me, how will Your Highness explain things to His Majesty?"

"His Majesty has always suspected that I am trying to seduce Your Highness to avenge the Cen family. If I were to become pregnant, wouldn't that confirm His Majesty's suspicions?"

Cen Lingyi calmed herself down and analyzed the pros and cons with him.

She held his hand tightly, not daring to let go, her dark eyes gazing at him with misty eyes.

Yan Chenghui remained silent.

"Furthermore, the Second Prince is constantly scrutinizing Your Highness's faults," Cen Lingyi continued. "If I were truly pregnant, the Second Prince would surely incite the censors, creating a great uproar in the court. Coupled with His Majesty's suspicions, what would Your Highness do?"

She bit her lip, her dark eyes moist, looking very worried.

"So, you're worried about me?"

Yan Chenghui withdrew his hand and lifted her chin.

"Your Highness's character is praised by everyone in the court. You must not ruin your reputation for the sake of a moment of anger."

Cen Lingyi lowered her wet eyelashes and spoke in a soft tone, looking pitiful.

The candlelight flickered inside the room, casting a warm glow on her face.

Her eyes still had a faint pink tinge at the corners, and her lips were rosy and full from the entanglement on the boat, their bright color making her face even more captivating.

Her jet-black hair fell down, swaying gently along her chin, stirring his heart.

I clearly don't plan to do anything to her today.

"You are quite eloquent."

He scoffed, grabbed her neck with his large hand, and pressed her back onto the pillow.

He stood up, bent down, and leaned in to kiss her.

"Your Highness, it's time to change your clothes and go to the palace."

Yun Que knocked on the door.

Yan Chenghui paused in his movements.

"Your Highness, please go quickly."

Cen Lingyi breathed a sigh of relief and gently pushed him.

She understands him.

He was not a man who indulged in beautiful women.

He would not neglect matters of the court in the slightest.

Yan Chenghui gazed at her, remaining silent for a moment.

"Pleading illness on my behalf."

He gave the order casually.

Yun Que responded from outside.

"Yun Que, don't go!"

Cen Lingyi quickly replied.

She was genuinely surprised.

She had only ever read about the phrase "From then on, the emperor no longer held morning court" in books.

How could Yan Chenghui do this for her?

Even if he has no faults, others will still try to find fault with him to harm him.

Besides, he has just caused the Second Prince a huge loss, and the Second Prince is waiting to find something to use against him.

He can't do that.

"What's wrong?"

Yan Chenghui raised an eyebrow slightly.

"I...this servant isn't unwilling to bear Your Highness's child..."

Cen Lingyi hooked her slender arms around his neck, her face flushing red.

Yan Chenghui stared at her intently.

"It's just that I have no official status or title, so it's unfair to the child if I give birth to her."

Cen Lingyi gritted her teeth and spoke her mind.

She knew what she would get in return for saying those words.

Sure enough, he gave a soft hum.

Are you implying to me that you're asking for a formal status?

His tone remained as indifferent as ever.

But she didn't notice that the frost between his brows had quietly melted away.

Even if she was lying to him, at least she put in the effort to lie to him.

It's much better than abandoning him and always thinking about running away.

"This servant wouldn't dare."

Cen Lingyi turned her face away.

She knew he would say that.

The position of Crown Princess already belongs to Xia Qinghe. As for the other concubines and ladies-in-waiting, although their ranks are different, aren't they all just concubines?

Even if he gave it to her, she wouldn't want it.

It's fine as it is now. If she wants to leave someday, she can just quietly take Huai Jiao with her.

If you're truly bound by your identity, it won't be so easy to leave.

"So, how many do you plan to give to the orphans?"

Yan Chenghui hooked his fingertips around her collar, his breath hot.

"Let's have one."

Cen Lingyi's face was burning hot.

I said those words against my will in order to get rid of him quickly.

I've already given birth to Huaijiao, and I never want to have another child in this lifetime.

Having another child means having another source of worry.

She could no longer bear the torment of not being able to find her child.

Say it again.

Yan Chenghui turned her face around, pressed his forehead against hers, and stared into her eyes with his extremely dark eyes.

"How many does Your Highness wish to receive?"

Cen Lingyi fluttered her long eyelashes and asked him softly.

She suggested a few, but he probably wasn't satisfied with any of them.

It's better to let him say it himself.

Ten.

Yan Chenghui pecked her lips, his tone unusually tender and gentle.

"Ten? Even piglets and puppies can't have that many."

Cen Lingyi was surprised, laughed, and couldn't help but chuckle.

Perhaps it was because his tone was too gentle that the words slipped out of her mouth.

Her heart skipped a beat as she said it.

The scene right now is so heartwarming, it's just like the intimate moments we shared afterward.

She was captivated by such a scene.

"I won't allow you to insult yourself like that."

Yan Chenghui rubbed his face against hers and smiled.

She couldn't help but laugh along.

"Go back to Mingde Hall to change your clothes and attend the morning court session."

Taking advantage of his good mood, she nudged him.

"Then tell me, how many do you want to have?"

Yan Chenghui clung to her and wouldn't let go.

Ten.

Cen Lingyi gritted her teeth and spoke against her conscience.

Let's go quickly.

She could say twenty, let alone ten.

Anyway, saying it and doing it are two different things.

"You said it."

Yan Chenghui raised his head and looked at her very seriously.

"Yes, Your Highness, please proceed quickly."

Cen Lingyi looked away, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Then you are not allowed to take a bath."

Yan Chenghui whispered in her ear.

Cen Lingyi blushed with embarrassment and couldn't say a word.

Doesn't he have any shame?

Such an rude request.

She feels uncomfortable if she doesn't shower!

"Is it possible?"

Yan Chenghui persisted relentlessly.

"it is good."

Cen Lingyi was forced to agree.

Yan Chenghui then got up, walked to the door, looked back at her one last time, and then left.

Lingzhi stood guard at the entrance of the side hall, watching him walk out, and muttered to herself.

His Highness keeps turning back to look at me, he doesn't seem heartless towards the girl. His attitude is so unpredictable, sometimes good and sometimes bad. Sigh.

After confirming that Yan Chenghui had left, Cen Lingyi still endured the soreness all over her body and got out of bed to take a shower.

By the time she got back to bed and lay down, Yan Huaijiao was already awake.

The little guy looked at her sleepily, grinned, and raised his hand towards her: "Nanny."

"Good baby, you're awake."

Cen Lingyi picked him up and kissed him on the forehead.

Yan Huaijiao also reached out her little hands to hug her neck and kissed her very affectionately.

Are you hungry?

Cen Lingyi touched his little belly.

He was tickled and kept laughing.

Cen Lingyi, exhausted, dressed him and had Lingzhi bring in breakfast, which she then fed him.

Lingzhi coaxed the little one out so she could lie down again and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

"Wet nurse, wet nurse, wet nurse..."

Even in my sleep, the little one's tender voice kept ringing in my ears.

She opened her eyes groggily and saw Yan Huaijiao standing by the bed, her small hand holding the edge of the bed and her other hand gripping the corner of her blanket.

Her little mouth chattered incessantly, tirelessly calling to her.

"Baby."

Cen Lingyi patted his little head.

"Let's eat."

Yan Huaijiao took her hand, gesturing for her to get out of bed.

"Is it lunchtime already?"

Cen Lingyi sat up and looked outside. The winter sun shone through the lattice window and fell on the table below.

"Your Highness, would you please let the wet nurse change her clothes?"

Lingzhi led the way to Yan Huaijiao.

Yan Huaijiao was also well-behaved, playing on the side while waiting for her nanny to get up.

Cen Lingyi was dressed properly and had brought back her lunch from outside.

She sat down at the table with her child.

Zhu Sha entered: "Miss."

"How was today? Were all the supplies distributed?"

Cen Lingyi asked her.

Zhu Sha was meticulous and thorough in her work. Not long after entering the Eastern Palace, she had become the most capable assistant under Zhu Sha.

"They've all been distributed," Zhu Sha said. "It's just that the two newcomers don't have enough silver charcoal in the courtyard. Consort Qin also wanted some winter flowers and plants, so I had someone buy them. The bill is here."

She submitted two pages of bills.

Cen Lingyi took it and placed it beside her.

"Let's eat."

The three of them sat around the table, and as usual, they fed Huai Jiao first.

The little guy has a good appetite and is well-fed and chubby.

Watching him eat made Cen Lingyi feel more comfortable than eating herself, and the fatigue in her eyes disappeared considerably.

"Young lady, Consort Qin has arrived."

Meixiang hurriedly reported at the door.

Clearly, the person is about to come in.

"Lingzhi, Quling."

Upon hearing this, Cen Lingyi put down her chopsticks and pointed to the square-shaped collar on the incense burner.

Xia Qing and the others probably already know about her relationship with Yan Chenghui.

But knowing about it and seeing the marks on her neck are two different things.

Yan Chenghui was so reckless; she didn't even need to look in a mirror to know that her neck was too bad to be seen in public.

Not only the neck, but also the area behind the ears cannot be shown to anyone.

She loosened some of her sideburns and tucked them behind her ears.

Lingzhi hurriedly took it and wrapped it around her neck. Just as she was standing behind her tying the collar, Qin Luoshui came in.

"I have met Qin Liangyuan."

Cen Lingyi picked up Yan Huaijiao and stood up, bowing to her.

"Aunt Cen, you're too kind."

Qin Luoshui glanced at her from head to toe, a slight smile playing on her lips.

She was not tall, wearing a scarlet embroidered crabapple blossom jacket, a red gold and gemstone-encrusted sash around her waist, and red gold and pearl-encrusted hairpins, along with ruby ​​earrings.

She carried a gilded hand warmer engraved with lotus flowers, and her attire was quite eye-catching.