Xing Lai retreated, leaving space for Nan Zhiyun and Yu Jingchen.
"Have a cup of hot tea, it's cold outside, isn't it?" Yu Jingchen asked her, pouring a cup of hot tea for Nan Zhiyun.
"Thank you," Nan Zhiyun said reflexively.
Yu Jingchen said nothing. These things would become more frequent in the future, and she would naturally get used to them.
"Are you happy today?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun nodded.
"Did you enjoy lunch?" Yu Jingchen initiated conversation.
"Mm," Nan Zhiyun replied, and then, as if thinking of something, she tentatively spoke, "Your Majesty..."
Yu Jingchen looked at her, and Nan Zhiyun hesitated again.
"What is it? What do you want to tell me?" Yu Jingchen asked patiently, seeing Nan Zhiyun's hesitant demeanor.
"Nothing..." Nan Zhiyun was still holding back.
"If there's anything, you must tell me. Tell me, don't be afraid. What do you want to ask?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen, conflicted. She was afraid of asking too much.
"Mm? Tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen coaxed Nan Zhiyun to speak.
"...Your Majesty was just in here?" Nan Zhiyun finally asked.
"Mm, what's wrong?" Yu Jingchen hadn't thought much of it.
"Empress Dowager said you went to Ci'an Palace, but I was here the whole time and didn't see you," Nan Zhiyun said.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
"Empress Dowager said you went, and that you just didn't show yourself..." Nan Zhiyun continued.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
"So Your Majesty went to Ci'an Palace just now?" Nan Zhiyun pressed.
Yu Jingchen stroked her head. What else could he do?
"I went," he replied.
"But I didn't see Your Majesty," Nan Zhiyun said... Yunyun, my treasure, you really don't leave me any face.
"I didn't go in," Yu Jingchen replied.
"Then how did Empress Dowager know?" Nan Zhiyun asked sincerely.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
If Xing Lai were here, he would probably be snickering again. Your Majesty, how do you explain that you were actually hiding on the roof beams?
"If I had shown myself, would you have been so happy?" Yu Jingchen's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Where did Empress Dowager go today? The State Preceptor?" Yu Jingchen changed the subject to prevent Nan Zhiyun from asking further. If she kept asking, he feared he wouldn't be able to lie anymore.
Nan Zhiyun fell silent at the mention of the State Preceptor.
"Mm? Not talking anymore?" Yu Jingchen knew it.
"The State Preceptor didn't go," Nan Zhiyun said.
"Really?" Yu Jingchen asked deliberately, his eyes full of amusement, not displeasure.
"No, it wasn't the State Preceptor. He's not the State Preceptor anymore..." Nan Zhiyun "quibbled."
Yu Jingchen chuckled at Nan Zhiyun's answer. Could she play such little tricks with him now?
"He's quite capable," Yu Jingchen remarked.
"Mm?" Nan Zhiyun didn't understand.
"It's nothing," Yu Jingchen didn't intend to say too much. Nan Zhiyun, being sensible, didn't press further.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun sitting there somewhat uncomfortably and felt helpless. The room became quiet, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
"Tomorrow, the ministers' families will come to the palace to offer congratulations. You'll need to be there as well. If you feel bored, you don't need to mind the rules. You can go back to Hexian Hall directly," Yu Jingchen said.
Every year during the new year, the officials' families would visit the palace. Yu Jingchen hadn't established an Empress, and the Empress Dowager didn't concern herself with these matters. Previously, it was managed by the Wen clan, but now it was Concubine Yan, who managed the inner palace. Thus, tomorrow would also be Concubine Yan's responsibility. Nan Zhiyun, as one of the four consorts, was expected to be present.
"Yes," Nan Zhiyun didn't object.
"Matters of the harem are complex, with many intricacies. You haven't had much exposure to them, so I haven't let you manage them," Yu Jingchen was explaining, wasn't he?
"Those things are demanding and exhausting; you don't need to bother yourself with them. But if you want to learn, you can," Yu Jingchen was afraid Nan Zhiyun might misunderstand something.
"I don't know how to do those things," Nan Zhiyun was uninterested. Why bother with such troublesome and exhausting tasks that could easily lead to problems?
Yu Jingchen had actually guessed that she disliked these things, which was why he had never assigned them to her. Even in the future... she wouldn't have to do them herself, would she?
"If you don't know, you don't know. Learn when you want to, and don't learn if you don't want to. However, even though you're not managing these affairs, your current status is different. So, in the harem, don't be afraid. Do what you want to do. No one can dictate what you should do. Do you understand?" Yu Jingchen was afraid that she was accustomed to enduring, that she was timid and naive, and he feared she might suffer injustices.
"Yes," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"If you encounter anything you can't resolve, come to me. Don't endure it, and don't be afraid," Yu Jingchen added.
"Anything at all?" Nan Zhiyun suddenly asked.
"Of course, you can tell me anything. If you can't resolve it, I'll help you," Yu Jingchen said.
"Okay," Nan Zhiyun accepted. Whether she would actually seek his help or not, the important thing was to agree.
"Are you still going to Ci'an Palace later?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Father is still there," Nan Zhiyun explained softly, implying she needed to go.
But...
"Is that okay?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Of course," Yu Jingchen agreed readily.
"You can let Nan Qing stay a while longer. There's no need to rush back. If you miss him, you can have him enter the palace anytime," Yu Jingchen said. Anytime enter the palace? That was not something to be taken lightly.
"Do you want to go now?" Yu Jingchen could tell from Nan Zhiyun's expression that she wanted to be with Nan Su. For some reason, his heart felt a little sour.
"I want to go..." Nan Zhiyun didn't hide her feelings.
"Then let's go," Yu Jingchen didn't stop her.
However... Nan Zhiyun was clearly still hesitant about something.
Yu Jingchen noticed and took the initiative to ask, "Is there anything else you want to say?"
"Eunuch Xing just asked me to persuade Your Majesty," Nan Zhiyun said illogically. Yu Jingchen didn't understand for a moment.
"What?" Yu Jingchen truly hadn't grasped it.
"If I leave, will Your Majesty still be busy later? Will I have succeeded in persuading you?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen paused for a moment before understanding. He burst out laughing. "Yun'er, you're very cute like this." He ruffled her hair.
"You've succeeded in persuading me. From now on, Yun'er will be the only one who can persuade me. I'll listen to Yun'er's advice, okay?" Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun felt a little shy.