Seeing Nan Zhiyun's silence, Yu Jingchen knew that she was actually apprehensive and fearful.
He held the person in his arms tighter. "Yun'er, what kind of person do you think I am?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun pondered for a long time but still did not speak.
"Yun'er, don't be afraid, and don't worry. Just speak your mind," Yu Jingchen comforted her. He knew Nan Zhiyun was holding back.
"Your Majesty is a good emperor to the common people and the entire Yuan Dynasty…" Nan Zhiyun replied. This statement was not incorrect. After Yu Jingchen ascended the throne, the country's status rose significantly compared to its neighbors, and its strength became the strongest.
Moreover, since Yu Jingchen became the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, the lives of the people had improved considerably. Taxes and corvee labor had generally been reduced.
He then began to reform the officialdom, from high-ranking court officials to humble county magistrates. Not only were they thoroughly investigated from start to finish, but they were also subject to random spot checks and constant supervision. Therefore, compared to previous years, things had indeed improved significantly after Yu Jingchen took power. He was a good emperor for both the country and its people.
"And then? Is there anything else?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"And… I feel that everyone is afraid of Your Majesty." Whether it was court officials or palace concubines, no one was not afraid of him.
"Does Yun'er know how I ascended this position?" Yu Jingchen suddenly asked.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head.
"To gain this position, I personally killed my imperial brothers. I was full of schemes, and my hands were covered in blood. In the beginning, I had nightmares every day. In my dreams, I was covered in blood, watching my own flesh and blood fall before me, dreaming of plunging a sharp blade into their chests." Yu Jingchen spoke as if recounting a story.
Nan Zhiyun's heart tightened. When she was by the Empress Dowager's side, the Empress Dowager would often tell her, "Yun'er, the royal family might be envied by many, but members of the royal family are actually the most ruthless, coldest-blooded, and most likely to perish without a trace."
"Here, blood brothers might be the greatest enemies. There is no familial affection, only struggle and profit. Therefore, the most cold-blooded and unfeeling are those of the heavenly family. Yun'er, the royal family is the most unfortunate place; you should not step into it." At that time, the Empress Dowager spoke to her earnestly, but she didn't seem to understand her meaning.
Yu Jingchen frowned slightly as he looked at Nan Zhiyun's absentmindedness. What was wrong?
"Yun'er?" Yu Jingchen called her name.
"Yes?" Nan Zhiyun snapped back to reality.
"What are you thinking about?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"I was just thinking about some things the Empress Dowager used to say." Nan Zhiyun spoke truthfully, without any lies.
"What did she say?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"The Empress Dowager used to say that the heavenly family is unfeeling." Nan Zhiyun did not hide anything.
"She was telling the truth. Perhaps the most unfeeling are the members of the heavenly family," Yu Jingchen said, then stroked Nan Zhiyun's head.
"Your Majesty…" Nan Zhiyun seemed to want to say something.
"Yun'er, I am actually the best example," Yu Jingchen said. Nan Zhiyun did not expect Yu Jingchen to use himself as an example.
"In the past, I seemed indifferent to everything, like a heartless and unfeeling person with no real heart. For anyone or anything, if I desired it, I would resort to any means necessary. No matter how bloody or brutal the process, as long as I could achieve my goal, the method was not a problem." Yu Jingchen was very frank.
Nan Zhiyun's heart constricted.
"To many people, I should probably be considered a tyrant. However, I don't dislike this title; rather, I acknowledge it. In their eyes, I have cultivated precisely this image. What I need is for all of them to fear me." Yu Jingchen stated.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised that he would say such things. Why would he think like that? Was it truly a good thing to make everyone fear oneself?
"For someone of my status, I naturally feel it is a good thing." Yu Jingchen seemed to be able to read Nan Zhiyun's thoughts.
Yu Jingchen found Nan Zhiyun's incredulous expression somewhat amusing and playfully pinched her cheek.
"All your thoughts are written on your face; can't I see them?" Yu Jingchen said helplessly.
Nan Zhiyun felt embarrassed.
"Yun'er, perhaps these are things you cannot understand yet, but you must know that as an emperor, one must be able to awe everyone," Yu Jingchen explained.
"Mhm…" Nan Zhiyun seemed to understand, yet also not quite understand.
"Yun'er, you only need to know that no matter what I am like outside, when it comes to you, it's different," Yu Jingchen said.
"But… Your Majesty, I…" Nan Zhiyun actually couldn't accept these things in her heart. Perhaps her ingrained values were different.
"Yun'er, I will slowly try to change some of my methods, but it cannot be changed overnight. You must understand that my position does not allow me to be soft-hearted," Yu Jingchen patiently explained.
"...Mhm," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Yun'er, by saying all this, I only hope you won't be afraid of me… Perhaps some of my current methods will remind you of things I did to you before. For that… I am truly sorry," Yu Jingchen said.
"I will try to make amends slowly, but you need to give me the opportunity, so don't avoid me or be afraid, alright?" Yu Jingchen implored her.
"Okay…" Nan Zhiyun didn't know if she had truly listened.
Yu Jingchen didn't want to say more. He sighed softly and pulled Nan Zhiyun closer into his embrace.
"I'm sorry, and… give me a chance, alright? Yun'er, we will get better slowly," Yu Jingchen continued to say.
"Okay." This time, Nan Zhiyun didn't say anything but leaned into Yu Jingchen's embrace, staying quietly.
"Mhm." Nan Zhiyun didn't know what she was thinking.
Yu Jingchen stopped speaking, and the room fell silent. When Qianxia entered, she also felt the atmosphere was somewhat peculiar.
"Greetings to Your Majesty and the Consort," Qianxia bowed.
"What is it?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"The Empress Dowager learned that Consort was injured and specially asked Aunt Anxin to bring some things over, and to check on Consort's condition," Qianxia replied.
Nan Zhiyun immediately sat up, and Yu Jingchen let her go, but he still pulled the quilt over Nan Zhiyun to cover her.