Yu Jingchen noticed Nan Zhiyun's emotions, but for him, he might not have understood Nan Zhiyun's thoughts. For him, rules were rules, and without rules, there would be no order. If one instance was not dealt with, there would certainly be another, as many people harbored a侥幸心理 (fluke mentality).
"Shall we go inside first?" Yu Jingchen said to her.
Nan Zhiyun curtsied slightly and then entered the room. She knew naturally that she couldn't change the situation. She didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt that Yu Jingchen seemed very angry today because of this matter.
Yu Jingchen was indeed angry. This matter concerned Nan Zhiyun, so he naturally couldn't take it lightly. Only by deterring those below and even those behind the scenes could they be pacified. Otherwise, there would be more trouble in the future.
He swept his cold gaze over the people below. Xing Lai immediately understood Yu Jingchen's intention and asked, "Who proposed to take that bridge first?"
"Your Majesty, spare my life. It was this servant. This servant only thought it was much closer, so I suggested taking that route. This servant truly did not expect such a thing to happen, Your Majesty." One of the eunuchs admitted frankly.
"Among so many of you, wasn't there anyone to stop it? Don't you know the road conditions up there? You've all been in the palace for so long, don't you understand common sense? Even normally, no one would carry a sedan chair up that bridge." Xing Lai was also deeply speechless by such people.
The bridge was dangerous, and below was a pond, so people generally would not carry sedan chairs up.
"Your Majesty, spare my life!" The palace servants knelt on the ground.
"Is there nothing else to say?" Yu Jingchen looked at the person on the ground.
"Your Majesty, this servant truly did not know such a thing would happen. This servant was just being lazy and did not intend to harm Consort Shu. If Consort Shu had been in the sedan chair, this servant would not have taken that route. I beg Your Majesty to spare my life!" The little eunuch kowtowed incessantly.
"Drag him away, strip him, and throw him into the pond. If he climbs out, throw him back in. If you can endure until tomorrow morning, then your life can be spared." Yu Jingchen's tone was chilling, piercing in such a frigid weather.
To endure until tomorrow morning? It would be a miracle to last even an hour. Yu Jingchen never intended to leave him alive.
"Your Majesty, this servant will speak, this servant will say anything..." The little eunuch, perhaps out of fear, was about to confess. The people sent to drag him away looked at Yu Jingchen, who remained silent.
"It was Yang Baolin, Yang Baolin instructed this servant. This servant was blinded by greed, but this servant also knew that Consort Shu was not in the sedan chair before daring to carry it up. If Consort Shu had been there, this servant would not have dared to do this. Your Majesty, spare my life!"
"Unrepentant, drag him away!" Yu Jingchen lost his patience. This time, no matter how much he begged, the guards did not allow him to say another word.
Since no one was in it, what was the point of carrying an empty sedan chair up? Such words could be uttered, their minds must not be very sharp. However... regardless of whether these words were full of loopholes, this Yang Baolin... Yu Jingchen would no longer keep him.
"Since he mentioned that Yang Baolin instructed him, then Yang Baolin shall atone with death. Have him strangled." Yu Jingchen's voice lacked any warmth.
"Yes..." Xing Lai could not understand why His Majesty would issue such an order, but he was not qualified to question it.
Then Yu Jingchen looked at the people on the ground, feeling annoyed.
"Each of you shall receive twenty strokes of the cane and be punished to kneel for the entire night." Yu Jingchen felt he had already shown leniency.
No one dared to beg for mercy. Just as the punishment was about to be carried out, Yu Jingchen seemed to think of something and called out, "Wait."
"Wait," Yu Jingchen said. Xing Lai looked at Yu Jingchen.
"Tonight is New Year's Eve, so no bloodshed. Remember this. This punishment of kneeling for the night and the caning shall be recorded. The next time, the punishment will be doubled." Yu Jingchen said.
"Yes..." Xing Lai was somewhat surprised. This was the first time. Even the people below did not expect to escape.
Yu Jingchen said nothing, only entered the room. Nan Zhiyun had been inside the room, and she had heard what Yu Jingchen said just now, but she did not react much.
"Aren't you going to bathe? You're tired today, you can rest early." Yu Jingchen softened his voice, a completely different person from moments ago.
"Today is New Year's Eve, we must stay up late," Nan Zhiyun said.
"Not sleepy?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Don't want to sleep," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Alright, then do as you wish. I'll go change my clothes and come out later," Yu Jingchen told her.
Nan Zhiyun nodded. This meant he would be staying tonight. Perhaps because Yu Jingchen always stayed at He An Hall now, Nan Zhiyun had gradually become accustomed to his presence.
She watched Yu Jingchen enter the inner room, then looked towards the door: "Your Majesty only said to punish them to kneel for the night?" Nan Zhiyun asked Qian Xia.
"His Majesty said so," Qian Xia replied.
"Tell them to come in and kneel," Nan Zhiyun said after some thought.
"Yes," Qian Xia responded without hesitation.
When Yu Jingchen came out after changing his clothes, those palace servants had already been called by Nan Zhiyun to kneel inside the room. Yu Jingchen looked at them, his expression unreadable.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun, seeing Yu Jingchen's gaze, felt a little uncertain.
"Yun'er is truly kind-hearted," Yu Jingchen said.
"They won't be able to bear it outside all night," Nan Zhiyun said in a low voice, somewhat timidly, lacking confidence.
"Fine, today everything will be as you wish." Yu Jingchen did not blame Nan Zhiyun or dismiss her.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised.
Yu Jingchen rubbed her head helplessly. Then he looked at the people on the ground: "Haven't you thanked your mistress for her kindness?"
"Yes, this servant/this servant thanks Consort Shu!" The palace servants showed more genuine gratitude. Yu Jingchen looked at the knees of those people, and Nan Zhiyun felt a pang of guilt as she noticed his gaze. Seeing her like this, Yu Jingchen's lips curved slightly: "Yun'er has quite a few clever ideas."
"Your Majesty, forgive me," Nan Zhiyun knew she was in the wrong.
"If they can remember your kindness and consider you more in the future, then what you're doing now won't be in vain," Yu Jingchen said, pulling Nan Zhiyun into his embrace.
"Did you drink the hangover soup I told you to drink? You smell of alcohol. Today is New Year's Eve, so it's fine if you drink, but don't always drink like this in the future," Yu Jingchen said.
"Yes," Nan Zhiyun replied obediently.
Just as Yu Jingchen finished speaking, the palace servants brought the hangover soup. However... besides this, there was also the medicine Nan Zhiyun usually took. Nan Zhiyun frowned upon seeing it.
She looked at Yu Jingchen with a face full of resistance. Yu Jingchen gently pushed the medicine away: "It's a festival today, so you won't take it."