When Yu Jingchen arrived, Nan Zhiyun looked at him and instinctively took two steps back. Yu Jingchen naturally sensed it.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty," Nan Zhiyun endured her fear and still performed the ritual, lest Yu Jingchen use this as an excuse to punish her later.
Yu Jingchen could clearly see her entire body trembling; she was still afraid. Yu Jingchen looked at her. In just a few days, Nan Zhiyun's appearance seemed to have changed… her complexion was better. She looked a bit like she did when she first entered the palace, only with an added layer of fear towards him.
"Rise," Yu Jingchen, unusually, did not intentionally make things difficult.
Nan Zhiyun stood up but dared not look at Yu Jingchen's current expression.
"If I hadn't come, were you planning to stay in Ci'an Palace forever?" Yu Jingchen questioned.
"...Your subject thought Your Majesty had agreed," Nan Zhiyun replied. Previously, Yu Jingchen had agreed for her to go to Ci'an Palace to "tend to the Empress Dowager's illness," so she naturally didn't expect Yu Jingchen to be angry about her staying too long and insist on her return.
"Heh, I think you're learning the palace rules backwards. Do you want to learn them all over again?" Yu Jingchen appeared quite angry.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me," Nan Zhiyun could only say this.
Her demeanor truly infuriated Yu Jingchen. What kind of attitude was this? What kind of excuse was this?
"Kneel," Yu Jingchen commanded.
Kneel again? To be honest, Nan Zhiyun began to resist, but… she couldn't defy him. The current Yu Jingchen was someone she could not afford to offend.
Nan Zhiyun obediently knelt. Yu Jingchen sat beside her and watched her, "Do you have nothing to say? Where have you learned the rules?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Your subject doesn't know where she has made a mistake…" Nan Zhiyun felt wronged in her heart.
"Heh," Yu Jingchen was surprised that Nan Zhiyun dared to utter such words.
"If you don't know, I have plenty of ways to make you know. Do you want to try them one by one?" Yu Jingchen looked at her with a cold smile. She had the nerve to be angry? What right did she have to be angry?
Hearing Yu Jingchen's words, Nan Zhiyun's heart tightened, and she dared not speak further. But how could Yu Jingchen let her off so easily?
"Speak!" Yu Jingchen roared. Nan Zhiyun shivered with fright.
"Do you need me to help you think of something?" Yu Jingchen repeated.
Nan Zhiyun didn't know where she found the courage. Where had she gone wrong? The only mistake was entering the palace…
"Your subject…" She looked at Yu Jingchen.
"Your subject's mistake was entering the palace, falling in love with Your Majesty, becoming Your Majesty's Shu Fei, and not listening to Father and the Empress Dowager. Your subject admits her mistake." Nan Zhiyun said these words rather calmly, her gaze fixed on Yu Jingchen throughout.
Yu Jingchen was initially a little stunned. After all, how could Nan Zhiyun have the audacity to look at him like this? Later, after hearing Nan Zhiyun's words, Yu Jingchen listened, and a surge of anger gradually rose within him. What was she saying? Did she have a point?
"What did you say?" Yu Jingchen's voice was exceptionally calm this time, but it was precisely this calmness that made Nan Zhiyun suddenly regain her senses. What had she just said?
Seeing Yu Jingchen staring at her, Nan Zhiyun's hands and feet turned cold, and she dared not speak again.
"I asked you, what did you just say?" Yu Jingchen stood up, walked to Nan Zhiyun, and knelt before her.
Nan Zhiyun dared not speak. She didn't know where the courage had come from. All those feelings were now replaced by fear as Yu Jingchen looked at her. She was afraid that Yu Jingchen would use those cruel methods on her.
The experience last time was still vivid. This time, she feared Yu Jingchen would escalate. After all, he seemed truly angry today.
"I'm asking you, are you deaf?" Yu Jingchen's tone was terrifyingly calm.
Nan Zhiyun turned her face away, not daring to meet his gaze. But Yu Jingchen directly hooked her chin back, his hand pinching it. "You're not daring now? You're scared? Didn't you dare to speak just now? I'll ask you one last time, what did you just say?!" Yu Jingchen's voice eventually carried a hint of gritted teeth.
Nan Zhiyun's body trembled violently. She tried hard to control herself but couldn't.
"Nan Zhiyun, I'm asking you!" Yu Jingchen's voice deepened, and Nan Zhiyun flinched.
"Your subject…" Nan Zhiyun's tears instantly flowed down. She bit her lip gently, too scared to speak.
"Your tongue has healed? What? Do you want to try the same trick again? If you do, you have to consider the consequences. Were the experiences last time pleasant? Do you want to go through it again?" Yu Jingchen's tone was cruel.
Nan Zhiyun panted, her fear evident, but not a single word could escape her lips.
Yu Jingchen slowly lost his patience. The hand that had been pinching her chin slowly slid down, all the way to her neck, and then gripped it tightly.
"Nan Zhiyun, are you looking for death? Are you so eager to die?" Yu Jingchen's tone grew increasingly dangerous.
"..." Nan Zhiyun wanted to speak, but she couldn't.
"Scared?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun. Tears streamed down her face, and she kept nodding. She was scared.
But no matter how much pleading was in Nan Zhiyun's eyes, Yu Jingchen seemed not to see it. Instead, he smiled.
"Nan Zhiyun, have I given you too much courage? I warned you last time, there are some things you cannot say, but you insisted on challenging my bottom line, and you've only made it worse. Tell me, how should I punish you this time? Tell me yourself, what exactly should I do to make you remember this lesson? Hmm?" Yu Jingchen's grip gradually tightened, and Nan Zhiyun slowly began to struggle for breath.
However, Yu Jingchen was skilled at tormenting people. Whenever Nan Zhiyun felt like she couldn't breathe, he would slowly loosen his grip, giving her time to gasp for air, keeping Nan Zhiyun perpetually on the verge of death.
"Tell me, this time, should I have you strip off all your clothes and tie you to the palace gate for everyone passing by to see?" Yu Jingchen said leisurely.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head. She couldn't make a sound, so she could only grip Yu Jingchen's hand and shake her head. She opened her mouth, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't speak.
"Tsk, how pitiful. But this is your own doing, isn't it?" Yu Jingchen said, using his other hand to wipe away Nan Zhiyun's tears. "Didn't you have a lot of courage? Are you afraid of these things? Besides, haven't you already experienced these things once? This time, moving to the palace gate, it shouldn't be too difficult to accept, right?" Yu Jingchen continued.
Listening to Yu Jingchen's words, Nan Zhiyun grew increasingly desperate. She let go of her hands. Yu Jingchen's hand was still around her neck. Nan Zhiyun wished he would just strangle her to death.
Yu Jingchen seemed to grant her wish, his grip intensifying. Nan Zhiyun slowly felt her breathing become difficult. But… dying just like this would be too easy.
"You want to die? I just won't grant you that." Yu Jingchen released his grip. Nan Zhiyun had already closed her eyes, waiting for death. But the moment Yu Jingchen let go, she was utterly despairing.
Nan Zhiyun had no strength left. After Yu Jingchen released her, she collapsed onto the ground.
Yu Jingchen watched her coldly. She had actually wanted to die just now? This realization slowly took root in Yu Jingchen's heart, and his anger erupted, becoming uncontrollable.
"Nan Zhiyun, you will pay the price for this thought of yours." Yu Jingchen said. Nan Zhiyun's fear grew. Disregarding her appearance, she directly grabbed the hem of Yu Jingchen's robe, her eyes filled with pleading.
"No?" Yu Jingchen seemed to enjoy Nan Zhiyun's current state. Nan Zhiyun was extremely afraid.
"But unfortunately, it's too late…" Yu Jingchen sounded regretful.
"Tell me, how exactly should I deal with you?" Yu Jingchen asked, as if considering how to proceed, but Nan Zhiyun's heart was filled with desolation and coldness.
"Someone…" Yu Jingchen called out. Fear spread throughout Nan Zhiyun's body.
"Bring the rope," Yu Jingchen said these words while looking at Nan Zhiyun. Nan Zhiyun, upon hearing Yu Jingchen wanted a rope, remembered the events of last time. Would Yu Jingchen really disregard everything and drag her to the palace gate for public humiliation?
The palace servants brought the rope. Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun again, hooked the sash around her waist with his hand, and then… tore it open.
"Mmm…" Nan Zhiyun was begging for mercy, and Yu Jingchen could see it, but why would he let her off?
"It's too late. Didn't you have a lot of courage just now? I want to see how long you can remain defiant." Yu Jingchen's eyes turned sinister. The next moment, the sound of tearing fabric rang out. Nan Zhiyun felt a chill on her body and gave up struggling.
Yu Jingchen was not flustered. He directly took the rope and first tied Nan Zhiyun's hands. Nan Zhiyun watched Yu Jingchen's actions. This time, Yu Jingchen truly intended to humiliate her… He was deliberately demeaning her, deliberately punishing her…
After tying Nan Zhiyun's hands, Yu Jingchen looked at her, "Tell me, what kind of pose would look good later?"
Nan Zhiyun did not answer, did not make a sound, but looked at Yu Jingchen with a bleak expression. Yu Jingchen detested her gaze.
In a fit of rage, he pulled off Nan Zhiyun's clothes. This pull had already removed most of them. Nan Zhiyun's arm was exposed to the air. Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt as if her tears had all run dry; she couldn't even cry anymore.
What exactly had she done wrong? What had she done to offend him? Why was he treating her like this? Perhaps with a mindset of utter despair, Nan Zhiyun bit down on Yu Jingchen's shoulder. Yu Jingchen frowned and tried to push Nan Zhiyun away.
But… before she could act, Nan Zhiyun let go. She ultimately didn't dare… She had been tamed.
Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt a breakdown. She collapsed onto Yu Jingchen's shoulder and began to cry, consumed by despair and brokenness…
Yu Jingchen's raised hand did not touch her. Instead, it froze in mid-air. He listened to Nan Zhiyun's crying. This was the first time he had ever heard Nan Zhiyun cry so unrestrainedly.
Yu Jingchen made no other move. Nan Zhiyun, perhaps having given up all pretense, felt wronged and cried bitterly, never ceasing.