Yu Jingchen noticed Nan Ziyun's nervousness and knew how he had treated her before. He walked over to her and helped her up.
"Don't be afraid, okay?" He gently put his arm around Nan Ziyun's waist. Yu Jingchen felt that all he could do was to slowly help her adapt. The past memories were deeply etched in her mind, but he would make amends for them slowly in the future.
Whatever Nan Ziyun was like before, she would be like that in the future. Even if she could never return to her past self, he would make her radiant and noble again, someone who could not be disrespected.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, I beg you to uphold justice for this concubine. Although my status is low, I should not be treated like this by Consort Shu. How could she directly have her palace servants push me to the ground? This concubine knows she disturbed Your Highness, but if Your Highness dislikes it, you could have simply told me. You shouldn't have humiliated me like this."
"Even if I am incompetent, I am still Your Majesty's person, the birth mother of the Eldest Princess. For Consort Shu to do this, is she not deliberately trying to embarrass me and disrespect Your Majesty?" Yang Zhaoyuan knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face, evoking pity.
"This consort did not have anyone push her, and this consort did tell her to leave, but she did not listen," Nan Ziyun retorted softly.
"Mhm, I know." Yu Jingchen pulled Nan Ziyun into his arms, letting her lean against his chest. He hoped to give her a sense of security and trust.
Nan Ziyun did not know what she was feeling, but Yu Jingchen's tone and actions made it difficult for her to hide the sorrow in her eyes.
"Your Majesty..." Yang Zhaoyuan seemed not to have expected this outcome.
Yu Jingchen looked at her, and just that single glance made her dare not speak casually again.
"How do you want me to uphold justice for you?" Yu Jingchen's voice was deep and low.
"Con... concubine..." Yang Zhaoyuan dared not make a sound.
"Since you know your status is low, then know your place properly." Yu Jingchen's voice was not loud, but it carried an imposing pressure.
"Why did you come here without reason?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"No... this concubine was just... just here to visit Consort Shu, nothing else." Yang Zhaoyuan's speech became unclear, stammering.
"To be able to say such things, it is clear that you are truly an irredeemably foolish creature. If the Eldest Princess follows you, I fear I would have to find an imperial physician to check on her in advance." Yu Jingchen looked down at the person kneeling at his feet.
"Your Majesty!" Yang Zhaoyuan suddenly became flustered.
"Send the Eldest Princess to Consort De. Yang Zhaoyuan, for disrespecting the imperial presence, offending Consort Shu, and committing an act of insubordination, she is demoted to Baolin, punished to kowtow back to her palace, and confined for three months." Yu Jingchen issued the decree swiftly and decisively.
Upon hearing such a punishment, Yang Zhaoyuan felt as though the sky was falling. But just as she was about to beg for mercy, she was gagged and dragged away.
"Lady Yang, you had better think clearly. If you speak out now, the punishment might not be so light." Xing Lai whispered a reminder. Yang Baolin dared not make a sound.
Watching Yang Zhaoyuan being dragged away, Nan Ziyun was still a little stunned, filled with surprise. She had not expected Yu Jingchen to punish her so severely, especially since Yang Zhaoyuan had borne a princess.
In the palace, once a concubine was demoted, there was usually no way out, let alone someone without family backing. The people in the palace were prone to fawning over the powerful and stepping on the weak; Yang Zhaoyuan's future days would not be easy.
Moreover, on such a cold day, with fresh snow having just fallen, crawling back to her palace on her knees was something few people could endure. It was likely her knees would be ruined, and it was uncertain if she would ever be able to stand again.
Most importantly, her only means of support before was her child. But now she had lost the right to raise her. Not to mention that Yu Jingchen had already ordered the child sent to Consort De, but with her current demoted status, a Baolin was not fit to raise her own child.
Therefore, it was clear that the child would never return to her side. Whether for the sake of interest or emotion, this was a severe punishment.
Nan Ziyun did not pity her, but rather felt that Yu Jingchen always seemed to be a ruthless person, as if he never showed mercy to anyone, especially after he became emperor.
Nan Ziyun was afraid of this Yu Jingchen, because she always felt that this Yu Jingchen would not have feelings for anyone, nor would he show pity to anyone. In his world, there were never words like leniency or clemency outside the law.
"What is it? What are you still thinking about?" Yu Jingchen looked at the uneasy young girl in his arms and asked.
"This consort is fine..." Nan Ziyun's voice was a little strange.
Yu Jingchen frowned, then looked at Nan Ziyun and asked, "What's wrong? Are you crying?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"No." Nan Ziyun averted her eyes.
"You say no, but your tone of voice is all wrong." Yu Jingchen sighed. The wind was strong outside, so he could only lead her into the room first.
"Come, sit here." Yu Jingchen pulled Nan Ziyun to sit on the main seat with him... to be precise, Nan Ziyun was sitting in his embrace. Nan Ziyun was somewhat unaccustomed to it and instinctively tried to struggle free, but how could Yu Jingchen allow that? He held her firmly.
"If you don't explain yourself today, I won't let you go," Yu Jingchen threatened jokingly.
"Explain what?" Nan Ziyun did not understand him.
"Just tell me why you are unhappy again?" Yu Jingchen tilted his head to look at her.
"This consort is not unhappy..." Nan Ziyun was a little awkward.
"Mhm? Not unhappy? I can clearly see it." Yu Jingchen smiled at her.
"No..." Nan Ziyun was a little uncomfortable.
"Tsk, then who is this person pouting with a face full of unhappiness?" Yu Jingchen pinched Nan Ziyun's waist. It was a little ticklish, and Nan Ziyun subtly shifted away.
"Your Majesty..." She was ticklish.
"What about Your Majesty?" Yu Jingchen looked at her with a smile.
Nan Ziyun: "..."
"Yun'er is ticklish?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"Your Majesty, please let go of this consort..." Nan Ziyun gently pushed Yu Jingchen's hand that was holding her, trying to pry it away.
"What if I don't want to let go?" Yu Jingchen said deliberately.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Ziyun's tone was a little pitiable, a soft and娇娇 sound.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore." Yu Jingchen was afraid that he might actually make her cry, so he did not continue, but he still did not let her go.