Nanzhi Yun nodded slightly as Xing Lai approached.
"Your servant greets Noble Consort Shu," Xing Lai dared not accept her bow. If it were before, he might not have cared so much, but now, she was someone His Majesty cared about.
"Noble Consort, His Majesty has been in the Zichen Palace all afternoon. Please go and persuade him," Xing Lai's posture was humble.
"Eunuch, please lead the way," Nanzhi Yun said.
"The palanquin is already prepared, Noble Consort, please," Xing Lai, filled with joy, quickly led Nanzhi Yun towards the Zichen Palace.
As Nanzhi Yun arrived, she began to worry. She didn't know what to say to persuade him. Persuade? In her impression, no one in the harem dared to truly persuade Yu Jingchen to do anything. If Yu Jingchen said something, no one dared to disagree.
The palanquin stopped at the entrance of the Zichen Palace, and Nanzhi Yun alighted with Qian Xia's support. Looking at the grand doors of the Zichen Palace, Nanzhi Yun suddenly felt a little lost. Why had she agreed to come?
"Noble Consort, please," Xing Lai said, bowing.
"Aren't we going to announce our arrival first?" Nanzhi Yun asked. Without Yu Jingchen's permission, who dared to enter?
"Noble Consort, please rest assured, please," Xing Lai was very confident.
Nanzhi Yun hesitated for a long time, not daring to enter. Xing Lai saw her hesitation and couldn't help but sigh, "Your Majesty, look at what you've done before. Look how scared she is! Now I can't even help you..."
"Noble Consort, please rest assured, His Majesty will not be angry." He was eager for you to come... Of course, Xing Lai would never say the latter part.
Nanzhi Yun had no choice but to enter after much deliberation. Xing Lai led the way. However... it was unclear if it was just bad timing, but they happened to encounter Yu Jingchen in a fit of rage.
Nanzhi Yun was still outside, not yet inside, when she heard the sound of a cup being smashed from within. Nanzhi Yun was startled and dared not approach further.
Xing Lai: "..." He never threw a tantrum before or after, why now? If she's scared away, you'll be squatting on the roof every day.
"Your Majesty, forgive me!" It was a woman's voice, it sounded like Lady Xu... (Previously Noble Consort De, when the female lead was punished and injured at the beginning, the male lead asked her to nurse him, but she deliberately tormented the female lead and was demoted. See Chapter Sixteen.)
Xing Lai had no choice but to go in first.
"Please wait a moment, Noble Consort," Xing Lai said to Nanzhi Yun, who naturally had no objections.
When Xing Lai entered, he saw Lady Xu kneeling on the ground, surrounded by shattered porcelain. She was splattered with dirt, and the floor was strewn with overturned food. It seemed her attempt to curry favor had failed.
"How dare you do this? Did I allow you to let anyone in?" Yu Jingchen yelled at Xing Lai as soon as he saw him.
"Without my permission, you've forgotten the rule that no one is allowed to approach the Zichen Palace?" Yu Jingchen seemed especially angry today. Nanzhi Yun's hands clenched outside.
Xing Lai: "..."
"Your Majesty, Noble Consort Shu is here," Xing Lai said directly.
Yu Jingchen froze. Who?
"What did you say?" Yu Jingchen felt he must have misheard. She was fine in the Cining Palace, why would she come here? Not to mention the Empress Dowager and her father were here today, even if they weren't, Nanzhi Yun wouldn't necessarily come here, right?
"It's Noble Consort Shu, but... if Your Majesty does not wish to see her now, then your servant will ask Noble Consort Shu to return?" Xing Lai said.
"Wait," Yu Jingchen furrowed his brow.
Xing Lai had anticipated this and silently rolled his eyes. Didn't you just say that without your permission, no one is allowed to approach the Zichen Palace? And now? Tsk, what about your integrity? Your rules? Your Majesty, don't you always believe that without rules there can be no order?
"Let her in," Yu Jingchen said. Lady Xu on the ground heard this, her eyes filled with a venomous glare.
"Yes." Xing Lai understood and went out to invite her.
Nanzhi Yun waited, feeling a little flustered, as she had just heard that Yu Jingchen was throwing a tantrum.
"Noble Consort, His Majesty invites you in," Xing Lai said with a fawning smile.
Nanzhi Yun nodded and followed Xing Lai in. When she saw Lady Xu kneeling on the ground, she dared not look around anymore.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty," Nanzhi Yun performed her courtesies properly.
"No need for such formality." Yu Jingchen walked down and helped Nanzhi Yun up.
"Why did you suddenly come here?" Yu Jingchen softened his voice.
Nanzhi Yun didn't know how to answer. She looked at Lady Xu, and Yu Jingchen followed her gaze, his eyes darkening slightly.
"Drag her out. For disrespecting His Majesty, she is confined for three months. During these three months, she will relearn the rules. If she doesn't study for at least eight hours a day, she will kneel for a whole day the next day, and for every day she kneels, her confinement will be extended by another day," Yu Jingchen ordered.
"Your Majesty..." Lady Xu knelt and grabbed Yu Jingchen's robe, wanting to beg for mercy.
"Too light?" Yu Jingchen looked at her.
Lady Xu choked and dared not say anything more, then she was dragged away. She had heard today that His Majesty was here alone and thought she would try her luck. But she never expected Yu Jingchen to lose his temper so severely.
Relearning palace rules? There were many ways to wear down people in the palace, especially for her now... Those people were all opportunistic. She had received many disdainful glances from others after her demotion. Now... Lady Xu felt unwilling. All of this was because of Nanzhi Yun.
If it weren't for her back then, how could she have been demoted from one of the Four Consorts to a mere Lady? Why would she now be punished by His Majesty to relearn the palace rules? At least eight hours a day, for three consecutive months... It was all Nanzhi Yun's fault!
The room became quiet. Yu Jingchen looked at Nanzhi Yun again, who felt a little uneasy.
"Why did you come here suddenly? Is there something?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nanzhi Yun shook her head.
"Hmm?" Yu Jingchen's brow twitched.
"Eunuch Xing asked me to come," Nanzhi Yun replied.
Xing Lai: "..." Noble Consort, you are truly honest.
Yu Jingchen glanced at Xing Lai, then took Nanzhi Yun's hand.
"Why did he ask you to come?" Yu Jingchen asked her. Fortunately, her hand wasn't too cold, so she shouldn't be freezing.
"He said that Your Majesty has been here dealing with official matters, and asked me to come and persuade Your Majesty," Nanzhi Yun replied.
"Then how were you planning to persuade me?" Yu Jingchen led Nanzhi Yun to walk aside.
Nanzhi Yun followed with small steps, and was then led by Yu Jingchen to sit down.
"...I don't know." Nanzhi Yun told the truth.
"You don't know? And you still came?" Yu Jingchen's eyes were gentle, then he looked at Xing Lai: "You may withdraw."
"Yes..." Xing Lai bowed and left. See? How accurate, how perilous. If Noble Consort Shu hadn't come, he would have had to endure this punishment today.