Nan Ziyun braced herself, trying to sit up, but she had no strength and her movement was difficult. Yu Jingchen watched, put down the cup in his hand, and instinctively stepped forward to help her.
But as Yu Jingchen's hand just clasped her arm, attempting to help Nan Ziyun sit up, Nan Ziyun flinched back as if startled.
Yu Jingchen's movements stiffened for a moment, but only for that instant. Nan Ziyun was truly uneasy. However, Yu Jingchen didn't dwell on it this time and still helped her sit up.
"What are you afraid of?" Yu Jingchen asked.
Nan Ziyun braced herself and sat up. Yu Jingchen picked up the teacup from the side and tested the temperature, which was just right.
"Do you want to drink?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Ziyun looked at the cup in Yu Jingchen's hand, and after a long while, she dared to reach out and take it, but she only dared to take it, not drink.
"Not drinking? Afraid of being poisoned?" Yu Jingchen's remark was as sharp as ever. Nan Ziyun felt that she must be delirious from the fever, her consciousness unclear.
She brought the cup to her lips. Her mouth was severely chapped, so drinking a cup of warm water felt quite comfortable.
"Do you need more?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
Nan Ziyun dared not speak and could only shake her head. However, Yu Jingchen was not so blind as to miss her hesitation. He took back the cup and refilled it with water.
Nan Ziyun lowered her head and saw a cup of water being handed to her again. She looked up and saw Yu Jingchen pouring her another cup of warm water.
"If you want to drink a cup of water, drink it. Why are you hesitating?" Yu Jingchen gestured to the water in his hand.
Nan Ziyun looked at the cup of water. Why… did it feel so unreal?
She took it and, without much hesitation this time, drank the entire cup of water.
"Do you need more?" Yu Jingchen asked her again.
Nan Ziyun didn't speak. Yu Jingchen waited for her to speak. After only a few seconds, he saw her nod.
"Don't nod, speak," Yu Jingchen couldn't stand seeing Nan Ziyun like this.
"Do you want more water?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"...Yes, I do," Nan Ziyun finally spoke.
Yu Jingchen was勉强 satisfied when he heard this and went to pour another cup. As Nan Ziyun watched Yu Jingchen pour the water, her mind buzzed. This wasn't like Yu Jingchen.
After drinking this cup of water, Nan Ziyun finally felt a little better. But… the cup in her hand, she didn't know how to return it.
"Is it that hard to say a word?" Yu Jingchen took back the cup. Nan Ziyun remained silent.
"Does your head hurt?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Ziyun nodded. Her head was dizzy and it really hurt. Before Nan Ziyun could react, she suddenly felt a coolness on her forehead and found Yu Jingchen's hand reaching out.
Nan Ziyun wanted to pull back, but Yu Jingchen stopped her. "What are you afraid of?" he said. It seemed she was still a little feverish.
"I'll have the imperial physician examine you again later. If you feel unwell, say so. Otherwise, what's the point of having a mouth?" Yu Jingchen chattered on.
Nan Ziyun listened quietly. She was accustomed to Yu Jingchen's words, but today something felt different.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Ziyun, who was looking down and silent, and couldn't quite place the emotion in his heart. He had seen her like this quite a bit recently, but seeing her now evoked a different feeling.
"Rest well if you don't feel well. The imperial physician said you're ill due to mental stress and too much pressure. Adjust yourself, relax your emotions, and don't make yourself so disheveled," Yu Jingchen said, frowning.
But how could Nan Ziyun do that? The moment she saw Yu Jingchen, she felt a physiological fear she couldn't control.
"...I won't come here for the next few days. Sort out your state of mind yourself," Yu Jingchen said after some hesitation. He knew very well that Nan Ziyun's fear was his doing, so he thought it was fine to give her some time.
Upon hearing this, Nan Ziyun finally reacted. She slowly looked up at Yu Jingchen, her gaze meeting his.
"...Didn't you say you wanted to leave the palace before? Adjust yourself well, and I can consider this matter," Yu Jingchen dropped another bombshell.
Indeed, Nan Ziyun visibly relaxed upon hearing this. Yu Jingchen saw it all, but his heart felt uneasy. Did she really want to leave the palace so badly? She was the one who insisted on entering the palace, and now she wanted to give up. What did she consider this palace to be?
However, despite his anger, Yu Jingchen suppressed it. After all, he had spoken first, and she was injured and sick, so he wouldn't dwell on it.
"But there are conditions," Yu Jingchen said. Conditions? Nan Ziyun's heart tensed, and the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
"The conditions are simple. I won't make it difficult for you. During these few days, tidy yourself up, regulate your emotions, and carefully tend to your injuries. If I'm satisfied, I'll consider letting you leave the palace," Yu Jingchen continued.
Is that all? Nan Ziyun seemed to find it hard to believe. These conditions weren't really conditions. She had expected Yu Jingchen to make a very difficult demand.
"What? Do you want me to add more conditions?" Yu Jingchen asked.
Nan Ziyun quickly shook her head. Perhaps fearing Yu Jingchen's dissatisfaction, she immediately added, "No, this concubine understands..."
"Good that you understand. Don't make me remind you again. Also, I don't want to hear about this incident happening a second time. Don't let me hear that you're not eating or taking your medicine, or you'll face the consequences, understand?" Yu Jingchen continued.
"This concubine understands," Nan Ziyun replied obediently.
"I'll have the imperial physician examine you again later. Besides checking your fever, they'll look at your hands, which have blisters. Ask the imperial physician how to treat them and if there are any other issues. Do as the imperial physician says. Also, the new palace maids are not here to monitor you, nor have I asked them to report on you, so use them as you see fit," Yu Jingchen added a few more instructions.
Nan Ziyun's head was already swimming. Hearing this string of words, she felt she hadn't even recovered. Yu Jingchen wasn't like Yu Jingchen anymore; he was talking so much.