Yu Jingchen kissed Nan Zhiyun on her forehead.
"Yun'er, be good. I wasn't really going to punish you, but you really can't act like this, okay?" Yu Jingchen reasoned with her.
"Your subject truly knows she was wrong, Your Majesty." Nan Zhiyun's voice inexplicably carried a hint of tears, which immediately startled Yu Jingchen.
"What's wrong?" Yu Jingchen quickly went to check on her.
"Hmm? What's with your voice? Why are you crying?" Yu Jingchen looked at the person in his arms. No tears were falling, but her eyes still shimmered with them.
"I'm sorry, I scared you. Be good, don't cry. We won't pursue it anymore, alright?" Yu Jingchen truly disliked seeing Nan Zhiyun cry; in fact, he dreaded her tears.
"No, I'm not crying." Nan Zhiyun pouted, but she still wouldn't admit it.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun's expression and was both amused and speechless. Seeing her like this, he guessed she wasn't genuinely scared.
"Alright, not crying. Then what's with the glistening tears in your eyes? And that tearful voice, is your foot hurting again?" Yu Jingchen wiped Nan Zhiyun's tears.
"I was wrong." Nan Zhiyun felt wronged and didn't answer, just repeating the same phrase like a child.
"If you were wrong, correct it. Don't act rashly next time, okay?" Yu Jingchen embraced her with heartache.
"Mmm..." Nan Zhiyun nodded.
"You've become even more pampered. You can't be told off, scolded, hit, or punished." Yu Jingchen said with a hint of helplessness.
"Your subject accepts punishment." Nan Zhiyun nestled into Yu Jingchen's embrace.
Yu Jingchen's heart, softened by Nan Zhiyun's actions, was now completely yielding.
He looked seriously at this young girl, so delicate and soft. The next moment, he leaned in and kissed Nan Zhiyun's tender lips. Nan Zhiyun's pupils widened slightly, but she didn't push him away.
Yu Jingchen didn't go too far, fearing he might overstep and lose his composure.
"This is your punishment, okay?" Yu Jingchen said.
"So now we've finished punishing," Yu Jingchen tidied Nan Zhiyun's hair.
...Um, didn't we just say we needed to teach her a lesson, one she would remember and learn from?
"Don't call yourself 'your subject' or me 'Your Majesty.' I've told you before how you should address me, haven't I?" Yu Jingchen lay beside Nan Zhiyun, gently embracing her, and asked.
"Yun'er has already called me wrong so many times." Yu Jingchen's intention was clear, but Nan Zhiyun felt too shy to say it.
Nan Zhiyun's tears had dried, and she quietly pulled the covers up, concealing herself. Yu Jingchen watched as she gradually covered half her face.
Yu Jingchen was amused, and then... "Yun'er, call me 'husband'..." He leaned into Nan Zhiyun's ear, his warm breath tickling her.
"...Husband." Nan Zhiyun dodged slightly, but the single utterance of "husband" made Yu Jingchen's body heat up.
"Yun'er... I've really been holding back for a long time." Yu Jingchen's voice grew hoarse.
Nan Zhiyun's face instantly flushed red, not because of what Yu Jingchen said, but because... she could feel it, given how close they were.
"Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun became flustered.
"I know Yun'er is scared, but... Yun'er, can we take it slow?" Yu Jingchen asked.
Nan Zhiyun didn't reply. Not hearing her refusal, Yu Jingchen slowly leaned down, his eyes observing Nan Zhiyun's expression. He was afraid she wouldn't be able to overcome it.
Yu Jingchen kissed Nan Zhiyun's lips. Nan Zhiyun's fingers tightened on the covers; she was nervous.
"Don't be afraid, okay? Yun'er, trust me this once, can you? We can take it slow..." Yu Jingchen comforted her, trying to alleviate Nan Zhiyun's fear.
Nan Zhiyun, a sheltered young lady, had no idea what such experiences felt like. These were merely past traumas. Because of Yu Jingchen's previous brutality, Nan Zhiyun had always believed these acts were excruciating, humiliating, and shameful.
She could never understand why people in the world engaged in such things. Clearly, the sensation made one feel worse than death...
"Don't be afraid, be good, okay?" Yu Jingchen sensed Nan Zhiyun's apprehension and unease. Her body had already stiffened.
Nan Zhiyun endured her discomfort. She... actually had no right to refuse. After all, she was merely a concubine. Moreover, if their relationship lacked these aspects... she didn't know what she would do.
Yu Jingchen gently pulled away the covers Nan Zhiyun was holding. Nan Zhiyun's body trembled slightly; she was shaking.
"Don't be afraid, it will be alright, okay? Yun'er, let's try, shall we?" Yu Jingchen wasn't insisting on doing this; he genuinely didn't want Nan Zhiyun to remain burdened by this shadow. It could be overcome...
"Mmm..." Nan Zhiyun softly agreed.
Yu Jingchen smiled warmly and kissed her again, without proceeding further. There was no hurry; they would take their time. Nan Zhiyun was initially very tense and fearful, but with Yu Jingchen's kiss, she gradually relaxed under his guidance.
Her body temperature slowly rose. Yu Jingchen felt the stirrings within him; all the expected reactions were present. After all, he was a normal man.
Yu Jingchen propped himself up with one hand near Nan Zhiyun's ear, while his other hand slowly moved to her lips, her neck, caressing the trembling of her throat, then moving to her collarbone, causing Nan Zhiyun's body to stiffen slightly.
Then his hand slid to Nan Zhiyun's shoulder, and continued downwards, finally stopping at her waist. Yu Jingchen circled Nan Zhiyun's waist and then untied the sash.
As the sash came undone, Yu Jingchen gently loosened Nan Zhiyun's clothing. The garment hung loosely, and Nan Zhiyun's breathing grew rapid.
Seeing she had no abnormal reaction, Yu Jingchen dared to proceed. His hand slipped inside Nan Zhiyun's clothes, but still separated by an undergarment. He removed her outer robe.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun was still afraid.
Yu Jingchen stopped and looked at Nan Zhiyun. "Can't I?"
"I'm scared..." Nan Zhiyun spoke the truth.
"Yun'er, it's okay, really. You believe me, it will be alright..." Yu Jingchen continued.
Nan Zhiyun hesitated, then finally nodded. "Your Majesty... can you... can you not be like before... it hurts so much." Nan Zhiyun endured the discomfort.
"No, we'll take it slow. If you can't, tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen wouldn't force her.
(Mini-theater—
Nan Zhiyun: "Penguin's first little skirt is already full."
"Then shall we buy another one?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"It's so expensive, 557," Nan Zhiyun felt pained by the cost.
"There are also ones for 283," Yu Jingchen told her.
"Your Majesty is too stingy," Nan Zhiyun pouted.
"Then how about the one for 976?" Yu Jingchen quickly changed his tune.)