Nan Zhiyun came back to her senses at the sound of Yu Jingchen's laughter, feeling embarrassed again.
"If I dry your hair like this every day from now on, you'll get used to it," Yu Jingchen said as he tidied Nan Zhiyun's hair. Nan Zhiyun touched her hair and indeed, it was dry.
"All done," Yu Jingchen released Nan Zhiyun.
"Thank you," Nan Zhiyun said naturally.
"What is there to thank? It's cold in winter, and wet hair needs to be dried quickly, or you'll catch a cold," Yu Jingchen added.
"Your subject understands," Nan Zhiyun found herself in an awkward situation because… she was only wrapped in a towel. Seeing that Yu Jingchen had no intention of leaving, Nan Zhiyun hesitantly spoke up, "Your Majesty, this subject needs to change clothes."
"Go ahead," Yu Jingchen immediately replied.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
"You didn't seem bothered when we were talking inside or when I carried you out. Why are you shy now?" Yu Jingchen was doing this on purpose.
"Just now… this subject forgot, and Your Majesty didn't give this subject a chance to speak…" Nan Zhiyun's voice trailed off.
"So it's still my fault?" Yu Jingchen sat down beside her, very close.
"This subject dares not," Nan Zhiyun still used the same words, but compared to the past, her eyes were no longer filled with fear when she said them.
Yu Jingchen remained silent. He reached for the clothes nearby. Nan Zhiyun's face flushed. Why were these clothes here? Besides the undergarments, there were also the intimate apparel.
"I'll help you," Yu Jingchen naturally picked up the inner garment.
"Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun finally couldn't help it and pressed down on Yu Jingchen's hand, which was about to lift.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Yu Jingchen's lips curved upwards, feigning incomprehension.
"This subject can do it herself, myself." As she spoke, Nan Zhiyun tried to take the item from Yu Jingchen's hand. However, Yu Jingchen's grip was strong, and Nan Zhiyun couldn't pry it away once he held it.
"Your Majesty…" Nan Zhiyun unconsciously wriggled her hand, growing anxious.
Yu Jingchen knew he shouldn't tease her too much. He reluctantly put down the item. Nan Zhiyun placed it under the blanket. The young lady was too shy.
"Yun'er, you don't need to be so shy in front of me," Yu Jingchen said to Nan Zhiyun.
"No," Nan Zhiyun turned her head away.
"What's wrong? Are you angry?" Yu Jingchen asked with a smile, tilting his head to look at Nan Zhiyun.
"No," Nan Zhiyun replied softly. She wasn't angry, just unable to do it.
Yu Jingchen didn't say anything else. After a moment of silence, he gently stroked Nan Zhiyun's head. "Didn't you say you were keeping watch tonight? There will be fireworks outside tonight, do you want to go and see them?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun turned her head back to look at Yu Jingchen. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded.
"Alright, let's go watch the fireworks later," Yu Jingchen pulled her into his embrace.
Nan Zhiyun was bewildered by his sudden change of topic and why he was suddenly holding her like this.
After a long while,
"Yun'er, don't push me away. I'll be afraid…" Yu Jingchen suddenly spoke, his voice becoming somewhat distant.
Afraid? Nan Zhiyun thought she must have misheard. Was there anything the Emperor would be afraid of?
"Afraid that Yun'er will disappear," Yu Jingchen seemed to have read Nan Zhiyun's thoughts.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent, not knowing what to say. She simply let him hold her.
"Nan Zhiyun, I'm in a very bad mood today," Yu Jingchen changed the subject again.
"Today, seeing you, your father, and the Empress Dowager chatting and laughing like a family… I used to not have the concept of family and didn't care about it. But today, I do."
"Today, at the banquet, I was just a ruler. Everyone at the banquet had their own families and their own sense of belonging, but to everyone, I was just an outsider."
"The banquet was lively, but that was only because there were many people, because of the celebration, the music and dance, and also to maintain appearances. Few people were truly engaged; it was all for my benefit."
"But they did this not to please me, but because they were afraid I would be unhappy. Yun'er, there were many moments today when I felt you were so far away from me, yet I also felt that it was only right, because I was the one who pushed you away." Yu Jingchen was speaking from his heart.
"I desperately want to get closer, because only then can I convince myself that you are by my side, that we can be alright, and that everything will slowly get better."
"But every time I try to get closer, Yun'er pulls away. Yun'er, I've told you, I know I was wrong, and I regret it. So please, don't avoid me, don't hide from me. Give me a chance to get closer, okay?" This wasn't the first time Yu Jingchen had spoken to Nan Zhiyun like this.
But Nan Zhiyun gave him no response.
"Yun'er likes to read storybooks, doesn't she? How about I tell Yun'er a story today?" Yu Jingchen said.
"Hm? What story does Your Majesty want to tell?" Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen and asked.
Yu Jingchen smiled gently, pulled her closer into his embrace, and then covered her tightly with the blanket.
"The male protagonist in the story was the child of a wealthy merchant family. Their family's business was vast, but he wasn't their biological child. They had adopted him because they had no children of their own."
"The female protagonist was a young lady from a family of similar standing. She had been pampered and raised with a golden spoon in her mouth since she was a child, a true lady of a prominent household. She grew up with the male protagonist, and they were childhood sweethearts. Their families had planned for them to marry, and fortunately, the female protagonist had already given her heart to the male protagonist."
Hearing this, Nan Zhiyun's interest was piqued.
"Your Majesty, they must not have ended up together happily, right?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"How did Yun'er know?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Storybooks are always written like that. They must have gone through many trials and tribulations," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Mm, Yun'er is so smart. They indeed weren't that fortunate. Actually, it was also because the female protagonist was too foolish," Yu Jingchen continued.
Nan Zhiyun eagerly anticipated the rest of the story.
"Originally, the male protagonist's family was the largest merchant house, considered the leader among them. But his father passed away, so he took over the family business. However, at this time, the female protagonist's business began to surpass his. Moreover, many people, seeing his young age, didn't trust him."
"It was only because of the female protagonist's family background that some people showed him a modicum of respect. But precisely because of this, the male protagonist began to resent the female protagonist and her family. Later, the male protagonist went mad with the desire to surpass the female protagonist's family, and he indeed succeeded."