Nan Zhiyun bit her lip, feeling a little at a loss. Yu Jingchen in her previous life would also do this, always making her copy things, but assigning tasks that were impossible to complete. Every time, her hands would end up red and swollen, even bearing bloody marks.
"What are you still gawking at? Go copy, grind your own ink," Yu Jingchen said. Nan Zhiyun stood up from the ground and listlessly walked to the table.
After all, Yu Jingchen was definitely determined to punish her again this time, just like before. Fine, let it be. Nan Zhiyun reached for the inkstone beside her and began to grind ink. Yu Jingchen merely glanced at her before turning his head away.
Nan Zhiyun picked up her brush, but she had no idea what to write. Fortunately, she had brought the remaining ninety sheets of paper. These were not small sheets, each a square chi and four cun (forty-five centimeters long, thirty-three centimeters wide), totaling one hundred sheets. How could she possibly finish writing them all in one night?
Yu Jingchen saw that she hadn't started yet and immediately urged her, "Before dawn, I want to see you finish all one hundred sheets. Otherwise, you'll await punishment." Yu Jingchen said.
"..." Nan Zhiyun wanted to write, but she couldn't. Besides, no matter how well she wrote, if Yu Jingchen wanted to punish her, she wouldn't be able to escape it anyway.
Those who struck her were truly heavy-handed. In her past life, just a few blows would swell her hands so much that she couldn't hold anything for several days. How could she endure it?
However, compared to not writing, writing would surely be much lighter. So, after hesitating for a moment, Nan Zhiyun obediently began to copy.
She certainly couldn't write about what was discussed today, unless she truly didn't want to live comfortably anymore. Yu Jingchen didn't know what Nan Zhiyun was writing. He merely observed that as she copied these things, Nan Zhiyun's entire demeanor became much calmer and more peaceful. Perhaps because it required concentration, her sense of fear lessened while copying, and she tried her best to quiet herself down.
Yu Jingchen rarely, or rather, had almost never seen Nan Zhiyun like this before, so he found it somewhat novel now.
When Nan Zhiyun was younger, she was always boisterous and incredibly energetic. Later, when she grew a bit older, she always followed him around, chattering incessantly, which was quite noisy. Then, as she gradually became more dignified and composed, she seemed to carry more sorrow. Finally, in the month since entering the palace, she had been very afraid of him, though she wasn't sure if it was his imagination. Yu Jingchen always felt her fear was excessive, especially these past few days; he felt Nan Zhiyun's fear of him had become much more intense than before.
Although the weather wasn't cold yet, it was already very late. At night, the temperature always dropped a few degrees. Nan Zhiyun, wearing only her inner garments, felt a bit cold. She instinctively rubbed her arms, and Yu Jingchen noticed.
"Are you blind?" Yu Jingchen suddenly blurted out, presumably at Xing Lai and the others. Xing Lai was also confused, and Nan Zhiyun, following Yu Jingchen's words, looked up, unsure.
It was so cold... Nan Zhiyun felt increasingly cold. Yu Jingchen glanced, and Xing Lai, following Yu Jingchen's gaze, immediately understood the problem. He said to Qian Xia, who was standing nearby, "Aren't you going to get a cloak for your mistress?"
"Yes," Qian Xia said, feeling a sense of relief. She had known for a while that her mistress was cold, but how could she dare to act without the Emperor's command? Hearing the Emperor's words, she immediately rushed to get a cloak for Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun was still somewhat dazed. Seeing her appearance, Yu Jingchen became displeased again and said impatiently, "What are you standing there foolishly for? Continue copying. Have you finished?"
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
Fine, she'd continue copying. Nan Zhiyun picked up her brush again. Nearly an hour had passed. To be honest, her hand was very sore, and after all this time, she had only managed to write six pages.
Nan Zhiyun knew that finishing tonight was absolutely impossible. She even considered giving up and just accepting the punishment, but... she didn't dare. First, the blows from when she was beaten were very heavy and painful. Second, Yu Jingchen was here, and she didn't dare to stop writing.
It was just... so tiring. And although she had slept all day, she was still drowsy now... Nan Zhiyun felt that she could fall asleep while copying, but Yu Jingchen was watching her, and she dared not sleep.
"Your Majesty, it's very late. Will you be staying in Hean Hall tonight, or..." Xing Lai walked over to Yu Jingchen and asked.
"Prepare my robes," Yu Jingchen replied indirectly. Xing Lai understood and ordered the necessary items to be prepared to help Yu Jingchen change.
After Yu Jingchen left, Nan Zhiyun could no longer hold on. Her eyelids were so heavy. She... slumped onto the table and fell asleep. Qian Xia watched anxiously, unsure whether she should wake her mistress. After all, the Emperor would surely be angered if he saw it, and might even add to her punishment. But her mistress was truly exhausted, and now that she was finally asleep, Qian Xia couldn't bear to wake her. Besides, even if she woke her now, she might not last much longer.
While Qian Xia was still hesitating whether to wake Nan Zhiyun, Yu Jingchen had already changed his clothes and emerged. The moment he came out, he saw Nan Zhiyun asleep on the table.
Qian Xia, afraid of being blamed by Yu Jingchen, immediately knelt down. "Your Majesty, please forgive us. My mistress was also too tired. I beg Your Majesty to be merciful."
"Heh, she slept the whole day. And she's tired?" Yu Jingchen sneered. Qian Xia couldn't fathom the Emperor's intentions. She didn't dare to make any large movements, for fear of mocking Nan Zhiyun.
Yu Jingchen took a couple of steps forward, approaching Nan Zhiyun. Qian Xia watched, both worried and unsure of what to do. She feared the Emperor might overturn the table and then hold her accountable.
Yu Jingchen looked at the sleeping Nan Zhiyun, his brow furrowed. She was sleeping so soundly. Even now, she could fall asleep like this?
Yu Jingchen tapped twice on the table. Nan Zhiyun was startled awake. At first, she didn't understand what was happening. Then, seeing Yu Jingchen, she was so frightened that she nearly fell backward.
Yu Jingchen's brow twitched upon seeing this situation.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun knelt down.
Tsk... she could speak now? Yu Jingchen was somewhat surprised to hear her speak. Nan Zhiyun hadn't realized it yet.