The palace maid began to speak before Nan Ziyun could say anything.
"Your Majesty, please forgive us. When the Empress went out today, she encountered Consort Rong and her entourage. The palace maid beside Consort Rong inexplicably tripped and fell, landing directly onto the Empress. The Empress didn't notice, so she was bumped." The palace maid recounted the day's events truthfully. The phrase "inexplicably tripped and fell" was particularly telling.
Consort Rong? Hmph, her again.
"Did it hurt?" Yu Jingchen turned to Nan Ziyun, his tone instantly softening.
"It hurt, it hurt like hell. I fell right onto the ground," Nan Ziyun began to complain.
"It was their fault. I'll help you get even later." Yu Jingchen gently ruffled Nan Ziyun's hair in a comforting gesture; he seemed to favor this action greatly.
"I ordered Consort Rong to kneel," Nan Ziyun truthfully confessed.
"That's too lenient. Your methods are still too gentle, Yun'er," Yu Jingchen remarked.
"Then next time I'll have them beaten!" Nan Ziyun said, clenching her fists and demonstrating.
"Hiss..." Right, she'd hurt herself. She'd forgotten about the injury on her hand.
"Be careful. Take care of yourself first, so you don't get hurt again," Yu Jingchen felt helpless at Nan Ziyun's carelessness.
"All of you, withdraw," Yu Jingchen said to the surrounding attendants. The palace servants did not dare to delay and withdrew one after another.
"Let me help you undress and see your injuries." Yu Jingchen began to do it himself. Nan Ziyun seemed to be gradually getting used to it now, feeling less awkward than before.
After Yu Jingchen removed Nan Ziyun's clothes, he discovered she was still quite bruised, even more so than yesterday, which looked more frightening. He felt a pang of heartache.
"This is too serious. We should have the imperial physician take a look later," Yu Jingchen was worried.
"Okay." Nan Ziyun was being sensible now. When it came to her health, she decided it was best to agree with whatever he said.
Yu Jingchen began to apply medicine to her. Nan Ziyun, feeling bored, leaned against Yu Jingchen until... when he opened her lower garments, she still blushed.
Yu Jingchen hadn't thought too much about it; he simply intended to apply medicine. But when he saw the injuries on Nan Ziyun's posterior, his heart trembled.
Besides the bruises from her fall, the marks from the planks he'd struck her with were very evident. Especially the one he had struck with great force, which was exceptionally conspicuous.
Yu Jingchen reached out to touch it. The moment he made contact, Nan Ziyun gasped in pain.
"It hurts..." Nan Ziyun genuinely found it difficult to bear.
"Mm, my fault." Yesterday, seeing Nan Ziyun biting her lip and remaining silent, he had struck that plank with all his might. Now, it looked considerably more terrifying. He had been blinded by his anger and forgotten that a young girl like Nan Ziyun could not withstand his full force.
"I won't be able to sit properly for a long time..." Nan Ziyun's tone sounded very aggrieved. Yu Jingchen understood perfectly that Nan Ziyun had truly been wronged this time.
"It's all my fault. Yun'er, please forgive me this once. If I displease Yun'er next time, Yun'er can hit me back," Yu Jingchen felt truly remorseful, realizing he had acted rather recklessly.
"Okay." Nan Ziyun agreed immediately. While she wouldn't dare to actually hit him, the thought of it sounded satisfying.