It's just... after the elder Princess Changle (Luo Yuncheng's mother) came to speak with her last time, she felt a little uneasy whenever she faced Luo Yuncheng.
"That's good. Did His Majesty... do anything to you?" Luo Yuncheng asked again, not entirely reassured.
"His Majesty didn't do anything," Nan Zhiyun found Luo Yuncheng's questions a bit strange.
"I heard last night that His Majesty punished the Empress, so I was worried. I came specifically to ask. Please, Your Highness, do not mind," Luo Yuncheng raised his hand in a gesture of respect.
Although Nan Zhiyun found it strange, she couldn't quite articulate why. Hearing Luo Yuncheng say this now, her face suddenly turned a little flushed, not from anger, but from shyness...
So everyone knew yesterday that she had been spanked and paddled by His Majesty? That was too embarrassing...
"Um... this consort is fine. Thank you for your concern, Lord Yuncheng. This consort must leave now. Also... this consort's current status is special, so Lord Yuncheng might need to maintain a distance. It would be best not to meet alone in the future, to avoid unnecessary trouble." The thought of what the princess had said to her last time made Nan Zhiyun's heart feel heavy.
"...Yes." Luo Yuncheng's eyes dimmed slightly when he heard Nan Zhiyun's last sentence.
Nan Zhiyun didn't think much of it. Hearing his "yes," she left directly. Luo Yuncheng watched the direction Nan Zhiyun departed, his gaze unfocused. She seemed a little different from before...
However, judging by Nan Zhiyun's demeanor just now, she probably wasn't punished. After all, no one was unaware of Yu Jingchen's methods. If she had truly been punished, Nan Zhiyun wouldn't be in this state; she would likely not even be able to stand.
Especially not with corporal punishment like the rod or flogging. But Nan Zhiyun didn't look like she had undergone any such punishment. Since that was the case, Luo Yuncheng was temporarily relieved. But... Nan Zhiyun's words just now did leave him with a sense of desolation. Perhaps he wasn't even considered a friend by her.
"My existence has actually started to trouble you..." Luo Yuncheng parted his lips softly, then turned and left.
Meanwhile, not far away, Nan Zhiyun's expression couldn't be maintained once she had moved a distance away. Could it be that her spanking and paddling by Yu Jingchen was now common knowledge? How could His Majesty have publicized such a thing? Wasn't this the height of her humiliation?
Hmm... Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt too embarrassed to face anyone. What should she do?
As the saying goes, it never rains but it pours. Nan Zhiyun already felt mortified, yet she happened to encounter the very people she least wanted to see. Consort Yuan, Bai Yusheng, and Su Qianyuan, who hadn't appeared for a while, even Rong Chongyuan, who was still recovering from a serious illness, had all arrived.
"Consort Shu," Consort Yuan approached and nodded slightly. Bai Yusheng and the others behind her curtsied. Yu Yan was not present today; after receiving so many beatings yesterday, how could she possibly come today?
"Why are you all here?" Nan Zhiyun felt a bit flustered. They must know she was beaten by His Majesty and have come to mock her...
"We heard His Majesty was a bit angry yesterday and rebuked Consort Shu quite a bit. This consort was also worried about what His Majesty might do to Consort Shu, so I came to check," Consort Yuan appeared quite benevolent.
"Consort Shu must know what kind of person His Majesty is, so there's no need to force yourself too much." Consort Yuan's words were gentle, but why were they so irritating? What did she mean by that? Nan Zhiyun didn't want to think too hard, but she knew these people had definitely come to witness her embarrassment.
"This consort is fine. His Majesty was indeed quite angry yesterday, but he quickly calmed down. You don't need to worry." Nan Zhiyun felt she needed to put on a brave face.