Just as Xing Lai was starting to relax, Yu Jingchen suddenly spoke.
"Bring over yesterday's items," Yu Jingchen said.
Yesterday's items? What were they?
"Get another hundred sheets of paper, and bring the ruler," Yu Jingchen continued.
Oh, Xing Lai understood immediately. But… a ruler? Did His Majesty really intend to go through with it? Given the speed of Concubine Shu, if His Majesty got serious, her hands would likely be ruined.
Still, it was better than actually kneeling on those shards for a full round. Xing Lai dared not delay and immediately went to fetch the items. In the same spot as yesterday, Xing Lai spread out the papers.
"Go over there and kneel to copy," Yu Jingchen's tone was icy. Nan Zhiyun glanced over there. Compared to here, it was cleaner. At least there were no shards on the floor.
But… Nan Zhiyun wasn't sure if she was supposed to walk over, or as Yu Jingchen had said, kneel her way over…
"What? Can't stand up after such a short while?" Yu Jingchen's implication was clear.
Hearing this, Nan Zhiyun leaned against a nearby pillar and stood up. Yu Jingchen glanced at her. The items weren't that sharp; they hurt, but not enough to break the skin or cause bleeding, so he said nothing more.
Nan Zhiyun's knees ached from kneeling for a while, but she endured it and went to the desk, preparing to kneel again and start copying the texts.
However… in front of the desk was a soft cushion, which Xing Lai had just brought. Nan Zhiyun dared not use it. After all, she was being punished by kneeling; how could she use such a cushion?
Yu Jingchen saw this. He had noticed Xing Lai when he came up earlier but had said nothing. Now, seeing Nan Zhiyun's demeanor, perhaps out of fear, she seemed flustered and unsure.
"With a cushion, you won't kneel anymore?" Yu Jingchen spoke, his meaning unclear to Nan Zhiyun.
"Your Highness, you have to copy so much; it will definitely take time. Please use it; His Majesty has also agreed," Xing Lai explained clearly.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent. After hesitating for a moment, she finally knelt on the cushion. Looking at the texts on the desk, and that ruler… Nan Zhiyun was still a little apprehensive.
Xing Lai, being so observant, immediately pulled up a chair next to Nan Zhiyun, for Yu Jingchen to sit on.
"One hundred sheets, two hours, the same rules as yesterday. If you're short by one sheet, ten strikes with the ruler," Yu Jingchen actually sat down beside her.
These were four-ping-chi paper sheets. Two hours were simply not enough. But Nan Zhiyun dared not object. In short, she was definitely going to receive a beating with the ruler today… (A sheet of paper is approximately forty-five centimeters long and thirty-three centimeters wide.)
"The servants attending you from Hean Hall will accompany you," Yu Jingchen added. Before Nan Zhiyun could fully grasp his meaning, she heard him say, "If you don't kneel, they will kneel for you. All the servants of Hean Hall, come in and kneel. Continue kneeling until Consort Shu finishes copying these one hundred sheets."
Nan Zhiyun stared at Yu Jingchen in shock. She had not expected him to resort to such tactics. Yet, Yu Jingchen showed no signs of relenting. Before long, the palace maids serving Nan Zhiyun were brought in and made to kneel on the shards.
"Nan Zhiyun, you must understand, I like collective punishment the most. If you dare to offend again, I will have them suffer the punishment with you," Yu Jingchen said, always finding ways to punish Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes reddened, but she dared not utter a single word of plea, for Yu Jingchen added, "If you beg for mercy for them, the punishment will be increased, not only for you but for them as well."
Yu Jingchen cupped Nan Zhiyun's face. "This is the last time I warn you. Do not provoke me further. It will do you no good. Do you understand?"
"From now on, any mistake you make, everyone in the palace will be punished with you. Similarly, if you injure yourself, wherever you are injured, those who serve you will be injured ten, even a hundred times more severely in the same spot. Nan Zhiyun, remember this. This is truly the last time I remind you in this manner. The next time, facts will prove it." Yu Jingchen released her. Nan Zhiyun knew that Yu Jingchen always kept his word.
"One hundred sheets in two hours, twenty-five sheets per half-hour. So, every half-hour, I will check. Yu Jingchen sat down, giving Nan Zhiyun no room for negotiation. He then turned to Xing Lai and said, "Start the timer now. Remind me in half an hour." He was truly determined to see this through today.
"Yes," Xing Lai understood perfectly that there was no turning back. However… His Majesty was actually being lenient. If it were His Majesty's temper in the past, for what Consort Shu did today, she would have been half-dead, if not dead. His Majesty could have truly peeled a layer of skin off Consort Shu.
The room fell silent. Nan Zhiyun began to copy. Although she knew it was impossible, doing nothing would be worse. Doing it… maybe she could mitigate the punishment slightly. She feared that another outburst would harm everyone in the palace.
Yu Jingchen sat beside her, barely moving. However, he wasn't entirely idle. He had Xing Lai bring over the unfinished memorials.
"Have the imperial kitchen prepare some simple porridge," Yu Jingchen casually ordered. Xing Lai, understanding the gravity of the situation, did not dare to delay and relayed the instruction.
The half-hour passed quickly. Nan Zhiyun had actually been quite focused and tried her best, but it was an impossible task. When Yu Jingchen asked, "Half an hour has passed. Have you finished twenty-five sheets?"
Nan Zhiyun looked distressed. Yu Jingchen, impatient, went to look at the papers on her desk. In half an hour, she had written about four sheets, and the fifth sheet had only a few characters.
"Let's say you managed five. That's twenty sheets short. Ten strikes per sheet, so twenty sheets means two hundred strikes," Yu Jingchen tapped the desk with the ruler.
Nan Zhiyun said nothing and immediately extended her hands. Yu Jingchen glanced at her hands. Her left hand had yesterday's wound and was bandaged.
"You used your right hand for copying, so extend your right hand," Yu Jingchen said. Nan Zhiyun slowly withdrew her left hand. At the same time, Yu Jingchen's ruler struck down. With about seventy percent of his strength, the pain made Nan Zhiyun retract her hand instantly.
"Did I tell you to put it back? That was only one strike, two hundred in total. Why are you dodging? If you dodge again, the punishment will be increased," Yu Jingchen said.