However, hearing this, Yu Jingchen felt something was wrong.
"What exactly does the Empress Dowager want to say? What do you mean?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"It means nothing, it's just that His Majesty is unwilling to stay with this empress dowager, and I can't force him," the Empress Dowager said, without any extra words.
Yu Jingchen's bowl was full of dishes that the Empress Dowager had picked for him, which made him unable to guess her intentions. Today, the Empress Dowager seemed very unusual.
"Seeing how His Majesty likes to eat fish, I am reminded of that foolish child Yun'er," the Empress Dowager suddenly said.
As expected, Yu Jingchen sneered. Finally, she was getting to the point. It was rare for her to have laid so much groundwork before finally bringing up these matters. Yu Jingchen immediately lost his appetite.
Just as Yu Jingchen was about to speak, the Empress Dowager spoke first: "His Majesty may not know, but Yun'er is actually allergic to fish. Every time she eats it, her body breaks out in large patches of red marks."
Yu Jingchen had forgotten what he was going to say. Hearing this, he frowned. In his memory, didn't Nan Zhiyun seem to like eating fish very much? She always picked the most fish.
"His Majesty also remembers that Yun'er eats a lot of fish, doesn't she? She is just a fool," the Empress Dowager said, her expression softening considerably. Although it sounded like she was calling Nan Zhiyun a fool, her expression was one of doting affection.
"Yun'er likes to eat fish because His Majesty likes to eat it. Don't you think she's quite foolish?" the Empress Dowager looked at Yu Jingchen.
When Yu Jingchen heard this, he was surprised, but what did it have to do with him? Nan Zhiyun was foolish on her own; why should he care?
"Your Majesty, though you may not wish to hear some words, I must say them. You always believe that we people harbor ulterior motives towards you, but no matter how much you suspect us, you should not suspect Yun'er. She, silly as she is, has given her entire heart to you," the Empress Dowager continued.
"Heh, Empress Dowager, you truly go to great lengths for Nan Zhiyun, saying anything that comes to mind," Yu Jingchen sneered.
"No matter what Your Majesty thinks, you needn't be so cruel to Yun'er. She merely loves someone who dislikes her. Even if Your Majesty dislikes her, there's no need to deliberately humiliate and hurt her," the Empress Dowager said, looking at Yu Jingchen.
"Your Majesty, Yun'er is still young and doesn't understand these things. Today, she cried terribly in my arms, constantly saying she regretted it," the Empress Dowager revealed what happened today.
Yu Jingchen's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unruffled.
"Your Majesty, if you truly dislike Yun'er, or if you truly believe I have ulterior motives in bringing Yun'er into the palace, then let Yun'er leave the palace," the Empress Dowager's words were like a huge stone thrown into a calm lake.
"What did the Empress Dowager say?" Yu Jingchen felt as if he had misheard.
"I said, if you suspect me and Yun'er, then let Yun'er leave the palace. I won't force you anymore. From now on, Your Majesty can do as you please. I will take Yun'er away from the imperial palace and not come here to offend Your Majesty's eyes again, alright?" the Empress Dowager stood up.
Yu Jingchen was speechless for a moment, unable to articulate his current feelings. Was this another new ploy, a new tactic?
"What does the Empress Dowager take me for? You bring her here when you please, and you expect me to let her go when you want to take her away?" Yu Jingchen seemed to hear a very amusing joke.
"Doesn't letting Yun'er leave align with Your Majesty's suspicions? Why are you now unwilling to let go?" the Empress Dowager asked him.
Yu Jingchen fell silent. The Empress Dowager did not hurry. She looked at Yu Jingchen: "Very well, Your Majesty should consider it carefully. When Your Majesty has thought it through, I will speak with you again. However... can Your Majesty promise me that during this time before you've figured it out, you can show Yun'er a little more tolerance?" the Empress Dowager said.
Yu Jingchen looked at the Empress Dowager and also stood up, but said nothing.
"Your Majesty, Yun'er is innocent," the Empress Dowager continued.
"I have my own plans. There is no need for the Empress Dowager to say more," Yu Jingchen no longer wished to listen.
"I have matters to attend to, so I will not dine with the Empress Dowager," Yu Jingchen had no desire to stay any longer. The Empress Dowager watched Yu Jingchen's receding figure without saying a word.
Leaving Ci'an Palace, Yu Jingchen suddenly felt somewhat lost. He didn't even know where he should go.
"Your Majesty, shall we return to Zichen Palace? The Imperial Household Department is still waiting for Your Majesty," Xing Lai said. His Majesty had not yet selected any consort today, but he had never been very interested in such matters.
"Go to Hexian Hall," Yu Jingchen said.
"...Yes." Xing Lai, though surprised, felt it was also reasonable and within expectations.
Yu Jingchen's visit to Hexian Hall startled its occupants. After all, they were well aware of His Majesty's attitude towards Consort Shu.
Nan Zhiyun still had an injury on her knee. Qian Xia was applying medicine to it, and it really hurt. When Yu Jingchen entered, he didn't even give them a chance to announce his arrival before walking in. Nan Zhiyun had just heard the words "His Majesty has arrived" when Yu Jingchen had already entered, and saw Qian Xia applying medicine to her.
The injury on her knee was shocking. Yu Jingchen glanced at it and showed no reaction.
Nan Zhiyun hadn't expected Yu Jingchen to come so suddenly. Startled, she stood up and knelt: "Greetings, Your Majesty!" Yu Jingchen did not speak, and Nan Zhiyun felt a pang of sorrow. Was he still going to punish her?
"Rise." Just as Nan Zhiyun thought Yu Jingchen would make her continue kneeling, she heard his words. At that moment, she thought she had misheard.
Qian Xia helped Nan Zhiyun stand. Since she was still applying medicine, her trouser leg was rolled up, and it looked rather unseemly now.
"Disrespectful," Yu Jingchen said coldly.
Nan Zhiyun lowered her head and said nothing. Perhaps because she had been reborn, she had become somewhat numb. Yu Jingchen was angered by Nan Zhiyun's demeanor, especially considering what the Empress Dowager had said today, his anger only grew.
"You want to leave the palace?" Yu Jingchen asked directly.
Nan Zhiyun guessed that the Empress Dowager must have told Yu Jingchen about her desire to leave the palace today. Although she was a little scared, she still said: "Yes... Your subject knows Your Majesty despises me and does not wish to see me. In the past, it was my fault for not knowing the rules and disturbing Your Majesty. Now that I know my mistake, I am willing to leave." Nan Zhiyun said.
"Heh, Nan Zhiyun, do you think this is a place you can come and go as you please?" Yu Jingchen sneered.
Nan Zhiyun's heart tightened. She didn't know what to say, so she remained silent. However, it was precisely this attitude that angered Yu Jingchen. He stepped forward two paces and grabbed Nan Zhiyun's arm. Nan Zhiyun was greatly frightened.
"Nan Zhiyun, are you good at playing hard to get? You even had the Empress Dowager help you put on an act? Very well, I will fulfill your wish today!" Yu Jingchen didn't know where his anger came from; he needed to vent. Yu Jingchen pulled Nan Zhiyun and walked inside.
Nan Zhiyun was so scared she tried to break free: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, let go of your subject!" Nan Zhiyun's fear was genuine, but how could Yu Jingchen let her go so easily?
Qian Xia wanted to follow, but Xing Lai stopped her: "Do you dare to interfere in His Majesty's affairs?" Xing Lai warned Qian Xia, leaving her no choice.
Nan Zhiyun was pulled into the inner room by Yu Jingchen, who then roughly threw her onto the bed. Nan Zhiyun felt as if stars were exploding before her eyes.
However, before he could react, Yu Jingchen grabbed her face with his hand: "Nan Zhiyun, if you want to play, I will play with you. I want to see just how capable you are!" With that, Yu Jingchen roughly tore Nan Zhiyun's clothes.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun screamed in fright, but Yu Jingchen was completely unmoved.
Every time Yu Jingchen thought about what had happened today, about the Empress Dowager and Nan Zhiyun saying she wanted to leave again, he was filled with rage. He took what he wanted without restraint. Nan Zhiyun initially resisted, but with her meager strength, she was no match for Yu Jingchen.
Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt humiliated, and along with the events of her previous life, everything flooded into her mind. She began to fear and tremble. No... no...
"No... Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun couldn't bear it, but Yu Jingchen ignored her pleas, instead tearing off the last piece of her clothing.
Nan Zhiyun was naked, completely exposed. But... at this moment, as Nan Zhiyun sank into despair, Yu Jingchen's body froze, because... Nan Zhiyun's body was covered in dense scars...
Yu Jingchen remembered that perhaps last time, the Empress Dowager had forced him to come, and in his anger, he had vented all his fury on Nan Zhiyun, leaving her with many injuries that had not yet healed.
He looked at Nan Zhiyun and saw that she had her eyes closed, her face streaked with tears, as if she had fallen into a state of deathly stillness, her entire being emanating despair. She was trembling uncontrollably, likely from fear. Was she so afraid of him? Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun beneath him and suddenly lost the desire to continue.
Nan Zhiyun had been waiting for this torment, but it had not come. Frightened, she opened her eyes and met Yu Jingchen's dark gaze.
"Your Majesty... don't..." Nan Zhiyun shook her head, her voice weak, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.
She wanted to resist, she wanted to escape, but she was no match for Yu Jingchen. In front of him, she was like a lamb to be slaughtered, like fish on a cutting board waiting to be butchered.
A part of Yu Jingchen's heart seemed to be touched, but it was a fleeting moment, so brief that even he didn't notice it. Looking at Nan Zhiyun like this, his desire to continue dissipated. He released Nan Zhiyun and stood up.
"Useless," Yu Jingchen didn't know where this pent-up frustration came from. With a casual wave of his hand, the nearby candelabra were all knocked over, falling to the ground with a loud clatter.
Nan Zhiyun's body trembled violently from fear. Outside, Qian Xia's worry only increased upon hearing the noise, but she was being held back and couldn't get in. Only Xing Lai remained unmoved by the sound.
Inside, Nan Zhiyun saw the scattered candelabra, and the memories of the past immediately flooded her mind. The first time, Yu Jingchen had used candelabra...
She looked at the candelabra on the floor, curled herself into a small ball, and recoiled, begging Yu Jingchen: "Please, no... Your Majesty, I beg you..." Nan Zhiyun thought he was going to use the same method as before.
Yu Jingchen, in fact, didn't know why Nan Zhiyun was reacting so strongly. However, after seeing Nan Zhiyun looking at the candelabra on the floor, he could roughly guess. It was probably from last time? The scars on her body were also mostly from last time.
Looking at Nan Zhiyun like this, Yu Jingchen didn't know what he was thinking. He suddenly stepped forward, picked up a candelabrum from the floor. Nan Zhiyun watched his actions with eyes full of terror. However, Yu Jingchen clearly didn't intend to let her go. He walked to Nan Zhiyun's side with the candelabrum in his hand.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen in despair.
"Afraid?" Yu Jingchen used the candelabrum to lift Nan Zhiyun's chin. Nan Zhiyun was too terrified to speak.
"Since you're afraid, why did you come to provoke me? Why did you come near me? Nan Zhiyun, aren't you cheap? Hmm?" Yu Jingchen's tone was terrifying. Nan Zhiyun closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.