Yu Jingchen sat still. Nan Zhiyun felt a knot in her stomach, as if sitting on pins and needles. What did he want?
After a long while, he finally spoke. "Your father is returning to court soon." Yu Jingchen said abruptly. Nan Zhiyun was a little confused. Father was coming back? But in her memories from her previous life, her father was supposed to return at the end of the year. Had something changed?
Seeing Nan Zhiyun lowering her head, lost in thought, Yu Jingchen frowned. "What are you thinking about?" Yu Jingchen's tone was dangerous.
"Nothing..." Nan Zhiyun shook her head.
Yu Jingchen stared at her without speaking. Nan Zhiyun felt a chill run down her spine. Just as she was about to break, she finally heard Yu Jingchen speak. "Your father has rendered meritorious service, winning the battle. He commands an army of five hundred thousand soldiers, and the people support him." Yu Jingchen said something ambiguous, but Nan Zhiyun, no matter how foolish, could not fail to understand his meaning.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun immediately knelt.
"My father is absolutely loyal to Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty..." Before Nan Zhiyun could finish speaking, Yu Jingchen interrupted her.
"No monarch would allow half a million troops to remain in the hands of a minister forever. Even if he is loyal, what does it matter? I will not allow it. So..." He paused, reaching out to grip Nan Zhiyun's chin.
"You are being foolish, deliberately challenging my bottom line." Yu Jingchen had always harbored resistance, even disgust, towards Nan Zhiyun. He believed they were all after supreme power. The Empress Dowager had always treated him as a tool for vying for the throne, and now she wanted to use Nan Zhiyun to bear his child, and then collude with Nan Su's military power to sideline him. Relatives of the empress were always an intolerable presence.
As a ruler, he could trust no one, show leniency to no one, or he would perish. The Empress Dowager had taught him this lesson, and he had known it since childhood. Every step he had taken to reach his current position was stained with blood. Therefore, no one was qualified to advise him, no one was qualified to tell him he was wrong.
If you have not experienced another's suffering, do not preach kindness. No one had the right to tell him he was wrong. Even if he was wrong, so what? Could anyone do anything to him? Only the strong had the right to speak. Even if he was wrong, so what? He could afford to be wrong! This was power! This was reality!
Even the most trusted person might not remain loyal forever. The allure of power was immense, and he was a firsthand witness. Without power, one was at the mercy of others. In the face of power, how many could retain their original intentions? How many could remain unmoved? So how could he dare to trust? How could he trust?
If Nan Zhiyun had not provoked him, it would have been one thing. Her conduct outside was none of his concern. But she was deliberately seeking trouble, that was courting death!
"Nan Zhiyun, you are truly foolish." Yu Jingchen released his grip on her chin. Perhaps because of the strength he used, Nan Zhiyun's face bore red marks.
Nan Zhiyun also knew she had made a grave mistake. Yu Jingchen's heart was too cold; no matter what she did, she could not warm it.
After yesterday's incident, Nan Zhiyun no longer dared to mention leaving the palace, fearing Yu Jingchen would fly into a rage again and teach her a lesson.
"I have no interest in playing with you today. Do as you please." Yu Jingchen seemed lost in thought. After yesterday's conversation with the Empress Dowager, he felt something inside him had changed.
Last night, he would not have easily let Nan Zhiyun off. But... when he saw the marks all over her and her trembling form due to fear, he had not continued.
When Nan Zhiyun bit her tongue, he was angry. Was this woman trying to free herself this way? But how could that be possible? And she still wanted to establish her own palace? Hmph, did she really think he didn't exist?
And... after Nan Zhiyun fell asleep, he watched her lying on the bed, pretending to be asleep. He had let her off. Her eyes were full of fear, and even with her eyes closed, she was still irritating. But he was too lazy to waste the energy. If she wanted to pretend, let her pretend.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun like this annoyed him, so Yu Jingchen didn't linger. Nan Zhiyun watched Yu Jingchen leave, somewhat surprised. Was it over just like that? Was he... not going to punish her?
Nan Zhiyun remained kneeling obediently. After Yu Jingchen was gone, Qian Xia came to help her up.
"Your Highness, please get up. This fish is very spicy today. I'll go call the imperial physician for you." Qian Xia felt useless, unable to help in any way, only able to watch as His Majesty treated her mistress like this.
"It's nothing... What about yesterday's medicine? I'll just use that. The allergy on my body is fine. I didn't eat much, and it only caused red marks. It doesn't hurt or itch, it's fine." Nan Zhiyun knew Qian Xia was very self-reproachful, so she comforted her.
"Yes..." Qian Xia was in tears. How could her mistress have such a bitter life?
Ci An Palace
The Empress Dowager also learned of what had happened today. An Xin looked at the Empress Dowager, knowing she was distressed.
"An Xin, what do you think this empress dowager should do?" The Empress Dowager's expression became distant.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty clearly will not allow Concubine Shu to leave. Fortunately, you are still here, and can offer some care." An Xin could not think of any comforting words.
"Do you think it would be useful for me to call A'Su back?" the Empress Dowager suddenly asked.
"Your Highness, if the ruler wants his subject to die, the subject must die. General Nan also understands this principle." An Xin sighed inwardly. His Majesty had become the Empress Dowager's ideal figure – cold-blooded, ruthless, and harsh. But... these traits were not only directed at others but also at her own family.
"Forget it... Go to He An Palace in a while and say that I am ill, so I want Yun'er to come and attend to me. Let Yun'er stay with me for a few days." The Empress Dowager seemed much calmer. An Xin also noticed this change but did not know the reason.
"Yes," An Xin agreed.
"Alright, you can withdraw now. I want to be alone." The Empress Dowager dismissed everyone.
"Yes," An Xin took her leave.
After everyone had left, the Empress Dowager sat alone in the vast Ci An Palace, a strange sense of loneliness arising in her heart. Perhaps she was getting old, and always longed for someone to be close to. She had no children. After adopting Yu Jingchen, she had taken a drug to prevent further births, so apart from Yu Jingchen, she had no other children.
Nan Zhiyun was Nan Su's only daughter. Her mother had died protecting her when Nan Zhiyun was around three years old. Moreover, Nan Su was her father's adopted son, and she had always treated Nan Su as a younger brother. She had always regarded Nan Zhiyun as her own daughter.
Especially in recent times, as Yu Jingchen grew distant and estranged from her, it was only Nan Zhiyun who would accompany her. Therefore, she had devoted most of her life to Nan Zhiyun, willing to sacrifice everything for her.
The Empress Dowager believed she had wronged no one, but ultimately, she had not protected Yun'er. Originally, she had no other attachments besides Nan Zhiyun. However... since experiencing that other life, her mindset seemed to have changed.
That day, Nan Zhiyun told her she had a dream... The Empress Dowager gave a bitter smile. Had she not also had dreams? It was just that compared to Nan Zhiyun, she had had several more dreams. She owed far too much.
When Yu Jingchen heard that the Empress Dowager was ill and wanted Nan Zhiyun to attend to her, he let out a cold laugh. Fortunately, Xing Lai was nearby, sweating profusely. He wondered why the Empress Dowager would find such an excuse. This was clearly a pretext.
Xing Lai thought, His Majesty was already displeased with the Empress Dowager and was even harsher towards Concubine Shu. Why would the Empress Dowager still try this? She was likely to anger His Majesty greatly this time.
As expected...
"Since the Empress Dowager is ill, then let Concubine Shu go," Yu Jingchen's tone carried a hint of coldness.
Huh? He agreed? Xing Lai almost couldn't process this.
"Yes..." Xing Lai quickly responded.
Yu Jingchen was indeed angry, but... if she wanted to go, let her go. It would be less of an eyesore for him. If they were together, he wouldn't have to see them.
When Nan Zhiyun heard the Empress Dowager's words, her heart was filled with joy, but the thought of Yu Jingchen extinguished all her hopes like a basin of cold water. How could His Majesty possibly agree?
Later, when she heard that His Majesty had agreed, Nan Zhiyun felt as if she were dreaming. Agreed? How was this possible? Although Nan Zhiyun couldn't believe it, she still tidied herself up and went to Ci An Palace. Upon arriving, she felt as if she hadn't woken up yet.
Qian Xia, on the other hand, was overjoyed upon hearing the news. It was better to be at Ci An Palace than He An Palace. Here, there was the Empress Dowager, and she wouldn't have to face His Majesty every day. Moreover, under the pretense of attending to the Empress Dowager's illness, her Highness would surely not have to pay morning calls every day. The thought of the other women in the harem's expressions whenever she had to pay morning calls made Qian Xia's heart ache for her mistress. Now it was good, she wouldn't have to endure that. So, upon hearing the news, Qian Xia eagerly urged Nan Zhiyun to come.