This wasn't something she feared, so why not just let it be? Why try to help her overcome it? Yu Jingchen felt he was becoming increasingly degenerate. Was he truly unable to control himself even in such a situation?
Looking at the uneasy young woman in his arms, Yu Jingchen was filled with regret.
"It hurts, it hurts..." Nan Ziyun kept crying out in pain. Yu Jingchen didn't know what to do... but as she continued to cry out in pain, Yu Jingchen's mind suddenly cleared, as if he'd realized something. He looked at Nan Ziyun's injured foot.
Because of Nan Ziyun's fear, her movements had been somewhat erratic earlier, and her foot had likely been bumped. He reached out to examine Nan Ziyun's injury, but as soon as he touched it, Nan Ziyun cried out, "No, it hurts... it hurts so much!" Nan Ziyun's reaction became more intense.
Yu Jingchen knew the problem. The injury on her foot had likely been aggravated, and combined with Nan Ziyun's subconscious suggestions, it had caused this reaction...
In the end, Yu Jingchen found himself helpless. He suppressed his desires and called out hoarsely to the outside, "Summon the imperial physician!"
Xinglai, who was listening outside, was stunned for a moment. Why were they calling for the imperial physician again for no apparent reason? However, he dared not question it and immediately went to fetch one. Given Concubine Shu's current favor, he dared not delay for even a moment, and quickly brought the imperial physician.
"Your Majesty..." The imperial physician didn't even have time to bow before Yu Jingchen said, "First, tend to Concubine Shu's injury!"
"Yes, yes," the imperial physician practically scrambled over. Due to the events that had just transpired, the curtains were still drawn, and Nan Ziyun was unclothed. Yu Jingchen pulled the quilt over her, exposing only her injured foot.
As for Yu Jingchen... his clothes were loose and disheveled, and he held Nan Ziyun tightly in his arms, not letting go. The imperial physician naturally dared not look around carelessly.
The imperial physician examined Nan Ziyun's injury. There seemed to be no major issue, but he dared not say so. After all, they had specifically summoned him, only for him to say... there was no problem? That would imply... Your Majesty, you acted unnecessarily?
"How is her injury?" Yu Jingchen asked the imperial physician, his presence exuding immense pressure.
"Replying to Your Majesty... Concubine Shu's injury is not serious. She will be fine with proper rest. It may have been bumped just now, which is why it feels so painful," the imperial physician replied.
"Is there any way to alleviate the pain?" Yu Jingchen asked, looking at the restless woman in his arms.
"This... Your Majesty, forgive me," the imperial physician quickly kowtowed. Alleviate the pain? How could he alleviate the pain?
"Get out!" Yu Jingchen lost his patience... Tsk, what was this? A man filled with unfulfilled desire was truly terrifying... even more so than usual.
But the imperial physician couldn't have asked for more. He immediately bolted for the door, not daring to delay, lest his head be lost.
Yu Jingchen looked at the young woman in his arms. The one who had been blushing moments ago now had a pale complexion, her forehead covered in a fine sheen of sweat.
"Yun'er?" Yu Jingchen called out softly.
"It hurts... it hurts so much," Nan Ziyun's hands clutched Yu Jingchen's clothes, her consciousness unclear, but her grip strong.
"Be good, bear with it for a moment, alright? It'll be alright, be good." Yu Jingchen was also somewhat flustered. Nan Ziyun's pain was something he could not share or alleviate.
"Good... Yun'er is very good... don't punish me, it hurts so much..." Nan Ziyun stirred restlessly in Yu Jingchen's arms, as if clinging to something.
"Yes, Yun'er is very good, Yun'er is the best, no punishment, no punishment, we won't punish. It's alright, there's no punishment, it doesn't hurt, doesn't hurt." Yu Jingchen was cooing to her like a child. His little Yun'er was the best...
But how could such a good, pampered, and delicate little girl be so bruised and battered by himself?
Yu Jingchen lifted Nan Ziyun slightly, holding her tightly, and patted her back with his other hand, trying to calm her down.
"Empress Dowager..." Nan Ziyun changed her address, and Yu Jingchen was slightly startled. In Nan Ziyun's heart... did she only feel a sense of security from the Empress Dowager? Did she feel she could only rely on the Empress Dowager?
"Yun'er, it's your husband..." Yu Jingchen said softly.
"Empress Dowager... Father..." Nan Ziyun was completely unconscious.
"Husband... Yun'er, can you call me husband? Husband will protect you..." Yu Jingchen suddenly felt he lacked conviction. Protect her? Ironically, wasn't he the one who had caused her the most harm before?
"No... don't want husband..." Nan Ziyun's eyes were closed, but tears still streamed down her face.
"Husband is bad..." Nan Ziyun continued.
Yu Jingchen smiled, but only she could truly taste the flavor within it. Bitterness, sourness... the taste he had brewed himself with time and manipulation, wasn't it?
"Yes, it's all husband's fault. Blame husband for everything that happened before. This time, husband knows he was wrong. Yun'er, please don't be afraid anymore, alright?" Yu Jingchen held Nan Ziyun tightly in his embrace, his face pressed against Nan Ziyun's head, his eyes full of guilt... He truly regretted it.
"It hurts..." Nan Ziyun's voice grew fainter. Yu Jingchen stopped speaking, as he felt Nan Ziyun seemed to be calming down.
Indeed, after a short while, Nan Ziyun had become quiet. Yu Jingchen watched her closely; she had fallen asleep.
"Yun'er, I'm sorry, I'm sorry... Can you forgive me? We'll get better slowly from now on, don't be afraid anymore..." Nan Ziyun leaned against Yu Jingchen's chest. Yu Jingchen reached out and gently tidied her clothes.
"You used to smile beautifully. Back then, you were happy every day, smiling brightly, with elegance and pride. It's all my fault that I made you this way."
"But can you trust me one more time? I'm sincere this time. Yun'er, don't be afraid of me anymore. I am your husband. I've been an emperor enough in my past life. This life, I want to be your husband first, alright?" Yu Jingchen was serious.
However, it was a pity that Nan Ziyun could not answer him now. As for whether to trust him... it had never been about whether Nan Ziyun was willing, but whether she dared.
Hadn't she been full of passion before? But what was the outcome in the end? People are most despairing when their fervent passion is met only with cold eyes, aren't they?
She had given enough before; she had staked everything. But besides the wounds all over her body, what was left for her in the end?
Yu Jingchen gently laid Nan Ziyun down, then pulled the quilt up to cover her securely. Looking at the marks on her body, Yu Jingchen had completely lost his earlier desire. Had he been too demanding?
His heart ached intensely. He supported himself with one hand, gently caressing her cheek again and again. In these past days, Nan Ziyun had indeed gained some weight and her complexion had improved significantly compared to before.
Yet, she still looked so frail. Such a young girl... shouldn't she be held high in the palm of one's hand and protected? But how had she become like this? Weren't all these injuries on her body his doing? This little girl... she had only just reached her coming-of-age year; she was still just a child.
"If it were possible, I would have let go long ago. But I can't... because I discovered I truly cannot bear to part with you. At some point, you seemed to have deeply rooted yourself in my heart. By the time I realized it, it had already begun to sprout, and then... it grew lush and verdant, impossible to remove."
"I also tried to curb its growth, wanting to remove it. But unfortunately, I tried every method, yet it remained rooted there. What can I do?"
"Yun'er, just this once more, alright? Trust me one last time. This time will be good, even the empire cannot compare... In my past life, I was an emperor, a king... an enemy. But in this life, I want to be your husband. I always craved power before, but now I only want you... I only want you to be with me. I only want you to be happy every day." Yu Jingchen said softly, taking Nan Ziyun's hand and placing it on his face. He gazed at her intently, afraid that if he stopped looking, she would be gone, truly disappear.
Two chapters dropped