Chapter 1 He An Hall
Nan Zhiyun, dressed in a light blue palace gown, sat motionless on the main seat of He An Hall, her expression dazed, as if lost in a distant memory.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? You've been sitting here for over half an hour. Can you tell this servant what's bothering you?" Qian Xia watched her mistress with deep concern. The Empress had been in the palace for over a month, but His Majesty's attitude...
"Your Highness..." Qian Xia felt a growing unease.
"I'm fine..." Just as Qian Xia was on the verge of tears, Nan Zhiyun finally spoke.
"You may withdraw. I wish to be alone for a while." Nan Zhiyun's mood was clearly dejected.
"But..." How could Qian Xia dare to leave when Nan Zhiyun looked like this?
"Go, I just want to sit alone for a bit. It's alright." Nan Zhiyun's tone was firm.
"...Yes." Qian Xia could only comply and leave for now.
Once Nan Zhiyun was alone in the room, her tears began to fall uncontrollably, like pearls breaking free from a string.
Nan Zhiyun still couldn't believe she was sitting here. She had been reborn... reborn after taking a sword for Yu Jingchen, back to a month after her entry into the palace.
Her heart ached. She regretted it. She wanted to go home. She didn't want to stay here. But... what could she do?
The events of her previous life flashed through her mind like a montage. That sword had hurt so much, yet Yu Jingchen's face had shown no flicker of emotion. Perhaps, no matter what she did, it was insignificant in his eyes. He had always felt only disgust for her.
Before she died in her previous life, she had said... "Your Majesty, if there is a next life, may this concubine never have known you, and may we never meet in any lifetime..."
But why would heaven grant her this second chance? Were the events of the past life destined to repeat themselves? Nan Zhiyun dared not imagine. She was truly afraid.
No... she couldn't just wait for death. She couldn't repeat the trajectory of her previous life. This time, she wouldn't be so foolish. She was tired. This time, she wanted to give up...
This time, she wouldn't obsess over Yu Jingchen's affections, nor would she get further entangled with him. If possible, Nan Zhiyun wanted to leave the palace...
While Nan Zhiyun was lost in her thoughts, a herald's voice announced from outside.
"His Majesty arrives—!"
This announcement instantly yanked Nan Zhiyun from her memories of the past life back to reality. Perhaps it was due to her past experiences, but the very words "His Majesty" sent a tremor through her body.
Yu Jingchen entered, his demeanor as cold and stern as ever.
Nan Zhiyun rose and knelt on the ground. "Con... This concubine greets His Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun dared not look up. The fear Yu Jingchen had instilled in her in the previous life was etched deep within her bones. This life... she hadn't reached that point yet, but her pride had already been completely eroded.
Yu Jingchen did not tell her to rise. He walked past Nan Zhiyun and sat in a nearby seat. He looked at Nan Zhiyun on the ground, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes. "After only two days, you've forgotten how to perform courtesies?" Yu Jingchen said in a cold tone.
"...Yes, this concubine knows her mistake." Nan Zhiyun was unwilling to argue, knowing that Yu Jingchen would never listen to her. If he wished, he could find any excuse to punish her. The more she explained, the worse it would likely become...
"Since you know your mistake, then remain kneeling." As expected, Yu Jingchen had come solely to trouble her. Nan Zhiyun's heart could no longer be stirred. Let him do as he wished. In this life, she no longer harbored any hopes from him.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun not argue, not even raising her head, Yu Jingchen frowned. Why did Nan Zhiyun seem so strange today?
"The Empress Dowager truly favors you. She attends to your every need." Yu Jingchen said, looking at the person kneeling on the ground.
"It is this concubine's fortune." Nan Zhiyun replied, her tone devoid of emotion.
Yu Jingchen's frown deepened. Truly an annoying creature.
Just now, the Empress Dowager had sent someone, asking him to dine with Nan Zhiyun, saying that Nan Zhiyun was new to the palace and he should not neglect her. In short, he was being asked to show her more favor. This feeling... Yu Jingchen's expression turned grim.
A few days prior, news of victory had arrived from the border. Nan Su had won another battle... The Nan family was truly a vexing presence.
Yu Jingchen coldly eyed the kneeling figure, not telling her to rise. Nan Zhiyun had been kneeling for a long time. These days, she was often punished, and had become accustomed to it. However, having just knelt not long ago, she found it difficult to bear now.
The pain in her knees made Nan Zhiyun feel uncomfortable. She shifted slightly, and then heard Yu Jingchen's voice. "Can't kneel for long? Are you so delicate? Or are you also ignoring my words?" Yu Jingchen's voice was icy, chilling Nan Zhiyun to the bone.
"This concubine is guilty." Nan Zhiyun remained kneeling, saying nothing else.
A breath caught in Yu Jingchen's throat, unable to rise or fall. His anger only grew.
Want to kneel? Fine, he would see how long Nan Zhiyun could kneel!
Yu Jingchen sat there, slowly sipping his tea, while Nan Zhiyun knelt on the cold, hard floor. She had been kneeling for an hour, and Nan Zhiyun could no longer endure it.
But she could not beg for mercy, because if she did, Yu Jingchen would only punish her more severely. He had never softened his stance because of her pleas.
However, she was so tired... Her knees hurt so much...
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun, who had been kneeling for so long, clearly unable to endure it, yet not begging for mercy. A contemplative look flashed in his eyes. Why was Nan Zhiyun not like before? Was this some new tactic?
Did she think this would make him let her off or pity her? Thinking of this, a wave of revulsion washed over Yu Jingchen. She was truly a disgusting woman. Since she wanted to kneel, let her continue to kneel. He wanted to see how long she could last!
Yu Jingchen had never believed that Nan Zhiyun's entry into the palace was without purpose. Even if she acted as if she cared for him, liked him, or adored him, Yu Jingchen had never truly believed it. There were many such women in the harem, and Nan Zhiyun would be no exception.
He was the Emperor. Any woman who approached him was merely seeking his favor, their own power and status. Nan Zhiyun was even more so. She was placed by the Empress Dowager and the Nan family at his side. Compared to others, Nan Zhiyun was the one he found most disgusting and hateful.
Nan Zhiyun knelt for another half hour. She truly couldn't hold on any longer. Perhaps... Nan Zhiyun had made up her mind. The next moment, she directly "fainted."
Yu Jingchen's eyebrows furrowed at the scene. She fainted just like that? What a useless thing.
"Xing Lai!" Yu Jingchen called out.
Xing Lai, standing nearby, approached. "Your Majesty." He bowed.
Yu Jingchen put down his tea. "Splash her awake." Two words devoid of warmth left Yu Jingchen's lips.
Although Xing Lai hesitated, he had no right to refuse. He picked up the cup of tea and splashed it onto Nan Zhiyun's face. Nan Zhiyun naturally could not continue her pretense, but she was indeed quite weak now.
"What? Weren't you quite capable? Can't even last this long?" Yu Jingchen showed no mercy towards Nan Zhiyun.
"Escort her and make her kneel properly. For every faint, ten strokes of the cane. I want to see how long you can last." At Yu Jingchen's words, Nan Zhiyun felt her entire body turn cold.
Looking at Nan Zhiyun's pale face, Yu Jingchen regarded her as something amusing to vent his anger upon. In truth, Nan Zhiyun was merely a plaything for his release of frustration.
Perhaps another quarter of an hour passed. Nan Zhiyun felt as though she might truly faint, but just then, a voice announced from outside: "The Empress Dowager arrives—!"
Yu Jingchen's expression darkened at the sound. The Empress Dowager entered almost immediately. The moment she saw the scene within, she nearly fainted from anger.
"Yun'er..." The Empress Dowager walked to Nan Zhiyun's side and knelt down.
"Emperor, what are you doing? What offense has Yun'er committed that you punish her so?" the Empress Dowager questioned.
"Do I need to explain my actions to the Empress Dowager?" Yu Jingchen remained seated, not moving at all.
"Your Majesty, Yun'er is but a young girl. Must you be so harsh?" The Empress Dowager's anger did not subside.
"The moment the Empress Dowager arranged for her to enter the palace, it was destined to end like this. Are you unable to bear it now?" Yu Jingchen's lips curled into a mocking smile.
The Empress Dowager's anger surged, but for now, she chose not to dwell on it. She made an effort to calm herself and then looked at An Xin. "Come, help Yun'er up, and then summon the Imperial Physician." The Empress Dowager completely disregarded Yu Jingchen's attitude from above.
Yu Jingchen watched this scene without comment, his expression growing increasingly somber.
An Xin and the Empress Dowager helped Nan Zhiyun up. Due to the prolonged kneeling, Nan Zhiyun was completely unable to stand steadily. Her clothes were soaked, making her appear disheveled.
"Help Yun'er inside," the Empress Dowager instructed, and then Nan Zhiyun was taken back to her room. Yu Jingchen stood at a distance, while Xing Lai kept his head bowed, not daring to speak.
Inside the room, the Empress Dowager had An Xin summon the attendants serving Nan Zhiyun. Seeing Nan Zhiyun's condition, Qian Xia was heartbroken.
"Has the Imperial Physician arrived?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"He's on his way. We've already sent for him," An Xin replied. Having watched Nan Zhiyun grow up, seeing her like this also caused her great distress.
The Empress Dowager had someone change Nan Zhiyun's clothes and sat by her side. "Good child, you've suffered." The Empress Dowager comforted her.
Nan Zhiyun originally wanted to say she was fine, but seeing the Empress Dowager like this, and recalling the events of her past life, she could no longer contain her sorrow. She hugged the Empress Dowager and burst into tears.
"Empress Dowager... I regret it... I regret it." Nan Zhiyun, like a wronged child, clung to the Empress Dowager and wept.
The Empress Dowager was taken aback. She didn't understand why Nan Zhiyun was suddenly like this, assuming it was merely because she had suffered some grievance. She gently embraced Nan Zhiyun, patting her back.
"There, there, stop crying. I am here, do not be afraid." The Empress Dowager soothed her. But Nan Zhiyun was unable to control her emotions. The memories of her past life flooded her mind, and she simply could not accept them.
She wanted to leave the palace. She wanted to find her father. She had so much to say, but didn't know where to begin. And... if things followed the trajectory of her past life, would her father also suffer the same fate? She was afraid...
As Nan Zhiyun wept in the Empress Dowager's arms, Yu Jingchen, who was about to enter, paused at the doorway, observing Nan Zhiyun and the Empress Dowager embracing. He had always known how much the Empress Dowager doted on Nan Zhiyun, and that for her sake, the Empress Dowager seemed willing to do anything...
But why was it that towards him, the Empress Dowager only sought to use him? Why were empty honors and benefits always paramount in her eyes? In her heart, perhaps he was not even as important as Nan Zhiyun.
However... if she truly doted on Nan Zhiyun, why would she have Nan Zhiyun enter the palace, only for him to humiliate and abuse her like this? Could it be that, in order to achieve her goals, she was willing to go to such lengths? Yu Jingchen gazed deeply at the two within. He ultimately did not enter.