Yu Jingchen looked at her, and did not continue to ask. What was he thinking just now? Regardless of whether it was useful or not, he would do it that way, wouldn't he?
Because he absolutely could not allow Nan Zhiyun to leave him, Yu Jingchen gently stroked her. If one day, she were to leave him, even he himself might not know what he would do.
Nan Zhiyun's departure in his previous life was a pain he could not let go of in both his lives. He thought he would easily forget her, he thought that with time his feelings for her would slowly fade, but until his death, Nan Zhiyun's memory seemed to become even clearer.
"Yun'er, you cannot leave me, do you understand?" he said to Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun did not understand what he meant by this, so she could only remain silent. Leave, could she leave? If she left, where would she go?
Yu Jingchen was now extremely attentive to Nan Zhiyun. Under his meticulous care, her injuries had almost healed. Previously, Yu Jingchen had claimed to be ill and had not attended morning court, but he could not skip it for more than ten consecutive days.
This day, when Nan Zhiyun woke up, she did not see Yu Jingchen. Qianxia came and told her that he had gone to morning court. Recently, she had been feeling sleepy and could not get enough sleep, waking up only at noon.
Qianxia placed a cushion for Nan Zhiyun to lean on. She had not attended court for several days, so she imagined that today's matters would be quite numerous, and Yu Jingchen would not be finished with them until now.
"Your Majesty, shall this servant have the meal sent in first? His Majesty specifically instructed when he left that if Your Majesty woke up, you could eat first and not wait." Qianxia said.
"I don't want to eat." Nan Zhiyun felt a bit uncomfortable in her stomach and did not particularly want to eat.
"How can you not eat? If Your Majesty doesn't eat, what will happen if His Majesty inquires later?" Qianxia was also worried about Nan Zhiyun's health.
"I'm not hungry yet, I'll wait a while." Nan Zhiyun couldn't eat.
"Then, does Your Majesty want to eat something else? His Majesty sent some grapes today, does Your Majesty want to eat some?" Qianxia knew that her mistress was very fond of grapes.
As expected, upon hearing about eating grapes, Nan Zhiyun seemed to have a slight interest. Qianxia, seeing this, quickly had someone bring the grapes over.
Nan Zhiyun looked at the washed grapes and picked one up at random. She had liked to eat them since she was young.
"However, these grapes seem a bit sour. If Your Majesty cannot get used to them, eat less." Qianxia also specifically reminded her. She didn't know why His Majesty would send some sour grapes... was it because he wasn't paying attention? But it didn't seem like it. She had seen His Majesty's attitude towards Your Majesty these past few days, and it didn't seem like he was being insincere.
"They are not sour." Nan Zhiyun put one in her mouth and said after eating it. These grapes were not very sour; instead, they were quite delicious and addictive.
Not sour? The eunuch who delivered the grapes earlier had specifically mentioned that they would be quite sour. Now, seeing Your Majesty like this, she seemed to like them quite a bit.
"They really are not sour, try one yourself." Nan Zhiyun handed one to Qianxia. How could Qianxia eat it? Since Your Majesty felt they were not sour, then they were not sour.
Just as Nan Zhiyun was eating with concentration, a young palace maid entered from outside.
"Consort Shu, Concubine Min has come and requests an audience with Your Majesty." the palace maid said. (Min Chongyi, previously Consort Min, the first small cannon fodder to appear in the main text~)
"I will not see her." Nan Zhiyun's mood instantly soured. She did not want to see those people outside and only felt disgust towards them.
"But Concubine Min said that if she doesn't see Your Majesty today, she won't leave. Moreover... Concubine Min came with an order from Noble Consort." the palace maid continued. It wasn't about how high Noble Consort's position was, but because she now held the Imperial Seal, she could not be offended casually.
Nan Zhiyun frowned. She put down the grapes in her hand, her face showing obvious reluctance.
"His Majesty said when he left that people from outside are not allowed to enter and exit Zichen Palace freely. If she really wants to see Your Majesty, let her first ask His Majesty for permission." Qianxia stood up and said.
"Yes..." The palace maid didn't dare to say more and retreated.
However, after a short while, she heard Concubine Min's voice from outside. She was quite favored, and Nan Zhiyun also remembered that Yu Jingchen had punished her because of her more than once in the past.
"...Qianxia, help me out." Nan Zhiyun dared not be presumptuous. She could not guess Yu Jingchen's intentions and did not know what would happen if she allowed Concubine Min to cause trouble here.
Qianxia initially disagreed, but there was nothing she could do. She could only help Nan Zhiyun up and walk outside.
Nan Zhiyun went out and saw Concubine Min standing outside haughtily, with a palace maid of Noble Consort by her side. Qianxia, fearing her mistress would suffer a disadvantage, quietly said to the palace maid beside her: "Go and see if His Majesty has finished his morning court. If so, inform His Majesty that Concubine Min, with Noble Consort's decree, wishes to see Consort Shu."
The palace maid was also a smart person and quickly understood. She immediately went outside.
Upon seeing Nan Zhiyun, Concubine Min showed no respect, only contempt. She swayed her hips and walked in front of Nan Zhiyun, sneering, "Oh, Consort Shu, you truly have quite the airs. It's really not easy to get a meeting with you."
"How dare you! Concubine Min, remember your station. When you see Consort Shu, have you forgotten basic etiquette?!" Qianxia immediately became indignant and shouted.
But how could Concubine Min be intimidated by a mere palace maid? She was immediately displeased and raised her hand to slap, but Nan Zhiyun pulled her back, so the blow missed.
"What are you? Just a lowly servant, and you dare speak to me like that?" Concubine Min was still unwilling and pointed at Nan Zhiyun, scolding, "Nan Zhiyun, is this how you manage the people around you?"
"What does it have to do with you? Even if she did, my palace maid is not someone you can touch. Besides, she didn't say anything wrong." Nan Zhiyun's tone was not heavy, but her gentle and soft voice made her seem unassailable.
"Nan Zhiyun, don't think that just because you are Consort Shu now, you can soar to the heavens. His Majesty's favor towards you is merely superficial. Do you really think you are favored? His Majesty detests you the most. Don't you know this yourself?" Concubine Min spoke without any restraint.
Nan Zhiyun was struck at her weak point, and her heart felt sore. Even though Yu Jingchen had taken meticulous care of her these past few days, the memories of the past could never be erased.
"Nan Zhiyun, I warn you, it is you who should remember your station. When His Majesty tires of you one day, your fate will be even more miserable than before!" Concubine Min yelled.
Nan Zhiyun looked at her, too lazy to argue further, "Do you need something?"
"Heh, are you impatient now? Nan Zhiyun, don't think too highly of yourself! Also, I am here today on Noble Consort's decree. Zichen Palace is His Majesty's residence. It is not appropriate for you to stay here all the time. Now that your injuries are mostly healed, you should move out as soon as possible." Concubine Min said. This was purely acting like a tiger borrowing its stripes; no one was better at exploiting power than her.
Nan Zhiyun did not want to stay here either, but hearing her being asked to move out from her mouth felt rather harsh.
"Oh, right. Noble Consort also said that Consort Shu has been injured these past few days and may have forgotten the rules. And staying here might make her think of unnecessary things, so she specifically wants you to copy twenty Buddhist scriptures and send them over in three days." Concubine Min continued.
"Your Majesty is unwell and may not be able to copy them. Moreover, His Majesty has not yet spoken. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for Noble Consort to act like this?" Qianxia questioned.
"This is no place for you to speak. Guards, drag this palace maid down and beat her to death!" Concubine Min had reached her limit with Qianxia.
"My person, who dares to touch?" Nan Zhiyun's voice was very soft, but no one around dared to move.
Concubine Min was extremely angered by the current situation and immediately lost her temper.
"What's wrong? Do you dare not listen to me? What is Nan Zhiyun? Can't you distinguish between primary and secondary?!" Concubine Min continued to yell at the people around her.
But at this moment, a voice suddenly came from outside, "His Majesty arrives—!"
Nan Zhiyun and Concubine Min had different reactions to this announcement. Nan Zhiyun... was also nervous, while Concubine Min seemed somewhat gloating.
When Yu Jingchen entered from outside, she changed her expression and put on a pitiful look.
"Your concubine pays her respects to His Majesty~" Concubine Min's voice was coy and wronged, as if she had suffered a great injustice. As Yu Jingchen passed by, she leaned against him.
But... Yu Jingchen slapped her directly. Concubine Min did not expect Yu Jingchen to act and fell to the ground with a thud.
"Your Majesty..." Concubine Min could not believe the current situation at all.
Nan Zhiyun was also stunned by this scene. Yu Jingchen did not even glance at Concubine Min and walked directly towards Nan Zhiyun's position.
Seeing Yu Jingchen approaching, Nan Zhiyun took two steps back, out of fear.
"Don't be afraid." Yu Jingchen reached out and embraced her waist, and Nan Zhiyun leaned into his arms.
"What did she say to you just now?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes suddenly reddened, unsure if it was from grievance or fear. Concubine Min saw this scene and could not believe her eyes.
She covered half of her face and looked pitifully at Yu Jingchen, calling out, "Your Majesty~"
"Did she lay hands on you just now? Hmm? Tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen knew what kind of person this Concubine Min was, so he was worried Nan Zhiyun would suffer. Previously, because he had a prejudice against Nan Zhiyun, he had deliberately given this Concubine Min double the favor, which had led her to become so lawless.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head, but tears fell uncontrollably. She didn't know what it felt like to be protected by Yu Jingchen. Was it this feeling? Would he also protect her?
"Good girl, don't cry. Tell me, what did she do to you just now? Did she touch you?" Yu Jingchen coaxed her.
"Replying to Your Majesty, Concubine Min was making a fuss about wanting to see Your Majesty, and Your Majesty said she didn't want to see her. She kept arguing and making noise outside. When Your Majesty came out, she was even more sarcastic and insinuating towards Your Majesty, saying that Your Majesty staying in Zichen Palace all the time was against the rules and asked Your Majesty to move out as soon as possible. Even more outrageous... Concubine Min said that Your Majesty had been injured these past few days and staying here made her restless, so she asked Your Majesty to copy twenty Buddhist scriptures..." Qianxia recounted all that had just happened.
"Is that so?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun softly. Nan Zhiyun did not speak, but directly buried her head in Yu Jingchen's embrace and cried. The meaning was self-evident. Yu Jingchen's face immediately darkened. "Leave" was a word he could not bear to hear.
He gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back, wanting to relieve her fear and tension.
"It's alright, don't be afraid. I'm here. If you feel wronged, tell me everything, okay?" Yu Jingchen did not immediately punish Concubine Min. Concubine Min was now afraid to speak, and seeing His Majesty's current attitude, she felt flustered.
"I feel uncomfortable..." Nan Zhiyun said, crying.
"Mhm, I know. What do you want to do?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun gently, wanting to wipe away her tears.
"It hurts... my wound hurts." Nan Zhiyun's voice sounded quite aggrieved.
"Did you get hit? Let me see, okay?" Yu Jingchen became anxious upon hearing Nan Zhiyun say her wound hurt.
But Nan Zhiyun shook her head, "I don't want to see..."
"Okay, you don't want to see it, so let's not cry anymore, alright?" Yu Jingchen kissed Nan Zhiyun's eye corner.
After Nan Zhiyun had mostly calmed down, Yu Jingchen looked at the people below. Concubine Min's face had turned pale.
"How does Yun'er want to deal with her? Hmm?" Yu Jingchen handed the choice to Nan Zhiyun.
"I don't want to see her..." Nan Zhiyun only said this.
"Alright, then we won't see her." Yu Jingchen embraced her again, and even reached out to cup her head, making Nan Zhiyun bury herself completely in his chest.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this is Noble Consort's intention. Your concubine admits her mistake... Your concubine dares not again, please spare Your Majesty's life!" Concubine Min began to beg for mercy. To outsiders, she was indeed considered favored, but she knew in her heart that Yu Jingchen was a truly terrifying person.
"Noble Consort, is it?" Yu Jingchen's voice was cold. Concubine Min felt a bad premonition.
As expected, Yu Jingchen's decree was issued immediately.
"Starting today, Noble Consort will hand over the affairs of the harem to Consort Qing. As for you, you may kneel." Yu Jingchen said.