It must have been something from before? Yu Jingchen held her tighter, thinking that was indeed the case. Such an experience would likely be a lifelong nightmare for Nan Zhiyun.
What could he do? He could only wait, but... how could she overcome something like this? Yu Jingchen lowered his gaze to Nan Zhiyun nestled in his arms, her eyelashes still clinging with tiny tear drops, making his heart ache with tenderness.
"Shall we have the imperial physician take a look? How about it?" He couldn't put his mind at ease about Nan Zhiyun's current state.
"No, don't..." Nan Zhiyun refused outright, her rejection seemingly tinged with fear, aversion, and even disgust. However, the emotion of fear ultimately overshadowed all others.
"Be good, Yun'er, just let them take a look, okay? It's just a look, it'll be alright." Yu Jingchen feared that she would never be able to resolve this knot and that Nan Zhiyun would never be able to move past this hurdle. It wasn't that Nan Zhiyun's state would affect him in any significant way, but he was afraid she would be trapped by this suffering forever.
"No, please..." Nan Zhiyun slightly raised her small face, and Yu Jingchen's heart ached at the sight of her tear-streaked cheeks.
"Alright, alright, no more calling." Yu Jingchen couldn't refuse Nan Zhiyun's plea and couldn't bear to see her like this.
"Don't cry, you're not scared anymore, okay?" Yu Jingchen comforted her, pulling out a soft handkerchief to gently wipe away her tears.
For the time that followed, neither of them spoke. Yu Jingchen had no other recourse but to wait and coax her. It was only around the hour of Yin (approximately 3-5 AM) that Nan Zhiyun finally fell asleep.
Seeing that Nan Zhiyun had finally fallen asleep, Yu Jingchen's heart eased slightly. He gently laid her down, afraid of waking the child who had finally found rest, and then imprinted a kiss on her forehead.
"I'm sorry..." Yu Jingchen didn't know how many times he had uttered those words.
He gently stroked her head, his eyes filled with guilt. At this moment, he truly wished that the day of his rebirth had been sooner...
If he had been reborn to a time before anything had happened, reborn to the moment Nan Zhiyun had first entered the palace... then, he would have cherished her like a treasure and never allowed her to suffer any harm.
Outside, the snow fell silently. This winter seemed to be longer, and much colder than previous ones. He wondered if the spring breeze would blow more gently after this winter.
The next morning, Xing Lai, not having been called by Yu Jingchen, saw that it was nearly time for the morning court and decided to go and call him himself.
Upon entering, he saw that Yu Jingchen was already awake.
"Your Majesty..." Xing Lai had barely uttered the words when he saw Yu Jingchen give him a look that stopped his impending speech.
Xing Lai lowered his head, understanding that this was to prevent waking the Consort Shu.
"Let someone come in, and be gentle about it," Yu Jingchen said in a lowered voice. Xing Lai immediately had someone come in to help Yu Jingchen change.
They were already adept at these tasks, as Yu Jingchen had never allowed them to disturb the Consort Shu when he had rested here before.
After Yu Jingchen left, Qian Xia and the others were waiting outside. Yesterday, Xia Yi and the others had continued to kneel, not daring to rise.
"Don't disturb your mistress today. Let her sleep longer. She didn't sleep well yesterday," Yu Jingchen said to Qian Xia.
"Yes," Qian Xia replied.
"She will likely sleep in. Prepare some warm porridge and light food for her to eat when she wakes up. For lunch, she is to go to Ci'an Palace, so you can prepare in advance. General Nan will also be entering the palace today," Yu Jingchen continued, addressing Chun Hua and the others.
Go to Ci'an Palace? General Nan is entering the palace? This doesn't quite follow the rules... But since it had been said, they would comply for now.
"Yes," Chun Hua answered.
After saying this, Yu Jingchen looked at those still kneeling on the ground: "Since you have been punished, you may rise."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty," Xia Yi said, leading the others. Their legs had gone numb from kneeling all night. They had soft cushions that Nan Zhiyun had provided yesterday, but kneeling for an entire night still had its effects.
"Yesterday, it was because of your mistress that I showed leniency. The next time, it will not be this simple," Yu Jingchen warned, casting a stern glance at those present.
"Yes." Yu Jingchen's authority was not something they could withstand.
"From now on, prioritize any matter concerning your mistress. If it involves her, then she must come first. I do not care about other matters, but if she suffers any harm in your presence, I will not forgive lightly. Do you understand?" Yu Jingchen continued.
"Your servant dares not." A group of them knelt down.
Yu Jingchen said nothing more, instead looking at Xing Lai: "Later, have someone send a message to the General's manor, summoning General Nan to the palace. He may go directly to Ci'an Palace, or if he wishes, he may come here directly," Yu Jingchen stated.
"Yes." Xing Lai naturally understood that this was undoubtedly due to the Consort Shu.
"Furthermore, from today onwards, Consort Shu shall be bestowed the character 'Chen'." The decrees Yu Jingchen issued today were truly surprising.
Chen... it shared the same pronunciation as the Emperor's name. The character Chen, when used in naming, symbolized auspiciousness and was very noble, signifying good fortune and excellence. Naming someone Chen was a wish for them to become a noble person, admired by others, bright and radiant.
As soon as this decree was issued by Yu Jingchen, it caused quite a stir in the harem.
The Empress Dowager, upon hearing Yu Jingchen's decree, was also slightly taken aback, but she showed no significant reaction.
"This seems to be beyond my expectations..." the Empress Dowager stated calmly.
"The timing has just been brought forward. It is still within your plans, is it not?" It was Gu Yin.
"Drink this medicine." Gu Yin handed over the medicine in his hand. The Empress Dowager had stayed in the cold water for quite some time last night, and Gu Yin was concerned about her health.
"I will not drink it," the Empress Dowager pushed the medicine away.
Gu Yin was somewhat helpless, his eyes filled with doting affection: "Drink it. I brewed this myself today. Will the Empress Dowager not grant me this small favor?" Gu Yin said.
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager looked at him more closely, then her gaze returned to the bowl of dark liquid. After a moment of hesitation, she finally drank it.
"The Empress Dowager is becoming more like she was in the past," Gu Yin smiled.
"Is that not good?" the Empress Dowager retorted.
"It is good. It would be even better if it were always this way," Gu Yin replied. The Empress Dowager looked at him without speaking, but her expression... was much softer than her usual stern demeanor.
Gu Yin found her pretense of seriousness amusing. Nan Yin was still Nan Yin; she merely held the title of Empress Dowager, and nothing else had changed.