煜景辰 left Cining Palace in a daze, overwhelmed by the day's events. For the first time, he felt a sense of helplessness.
"Your Majesty, the Empress has woken. After waking, she lay there silently, not speaking. The palace maids called her, but she didn't react... and she wouldn't drink her medicine," Xia Yi reported.
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen didn't linger. He immediately returned to Fengyin Palace. As he entered, he saw a floor full of kneeling palace servants. Nan Zhiyun lay listlessly on the bed, Cining Palace appearing devoid of spirit. Yu Jingchen's heart ached as if being clutched.
He walked over and sat by Nan Zhiyun's side.
"Yun'er," he called to her.
"I know you're hurting, I know you can't accept what happened today, but can we be obedient? Think about it, how much your father doted on you? You were the one he worried about the most. If you continue like this, won't he be in pain?" Yu Jingchen's voice was gentle, as if afraid that even a slightly louder tone would disturb Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun still showed no reaction, but the tears that trickled from the corner of her eyes were heartbreaking.
"Be good, Yun'er, we must be well, alright? This way, your father will be at peace, won't he? Besides, don't you want to know the truth and help your father avenge him? We can't just leave things like this, can we? So, let's go capture those people, alright?" Yu Jingchen wiped Nan Zhiyun's tears.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes finally regained focus. She looked at Yu Jingchen and burst into tears.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun's voice was hoarse, as if she could barely speak. Yu Jingchen helped her sit up and then held her in his arms, comforting her.
"Don't be sad anymore..." Yu Jingchen didn't know what else he could do to make Nan Zhiyun feel better.
"Your Majesty... I don't have a father anymore... I'm a child without a father..." Nan Zhiyun told Yu Jingchen, a statement that pierced his heart.
"Father doesn't want me anymore... I don't have a father, he abandoned me..." Nan Zhiyun continued. Yu Jingchen remained silent, gently patting her back as a sign of comfort.
"I'll be good, I want my father... I'll never make him angry or sad again, and I won't leave him alone in the manor. He shouldn't leave me alone, alright? Your Majesty, I miss my father..." Nan Zhiyun cried in Yu Jingchen's embrace.
"I don't have a father anymore..." Nan Zhiyun hugged Yu Jingchen back. Yu Jingchen silently comforted her.
Nan Zhiyun cried unrestrainedly, her sobs hoarse. Yu Jingchen didn't stop her, thinking it was better to cry it out than to keep it bottled up.
When Nan Zhiyun grew tired of crying and lost her voice, she gradually quieted down. Seeing her like this, Yu Jingchen's heart was no less pained.
"Yun'er, everything will get better... Trust me, okay? He didn't leave you alone, he couldn't bear to part with you either. He has now become a star and will accompany Yun'er every day. Also, Yun'er isn't alone, Yun'er has me, and the baby, doesn't she?" Yu Jingchen gently reassured her.
Given Nan Zhiyun's current state... he truly couldn't rest easy, especially with the matter of the Empress Dowager. Yu Jingchen dared not imagine what Nan Zhiyun would do if she knew the Empress Dowager's current condition...