After all, being afraid of the dark isn't really appropriate. What if one day, because the environment is a bit dark, she gets scared again? Besides, Yu Jingchen is also afraid that Nan Zhiyun will experience what happened last time (the time she was locked in the dark room).

Therefore, Yu Jingchen still felt that he needed to overcome it gradually. He didn't need Nan Zhiyun to get used to other things she was afraid of, but being afraid of the dark was unacceptable.

Nan Zhiyun had clearly been gradually adapting before, and if it weren't for that incident, she might have already recovered. But it's also his fault; if he had paid more attention, perhaps none of this would have happened.

"I promise you, I will keep a close eye on you and protect you from now on, and I will never give anyone the chance to hurt you again," Yu Jingchen murmured.

Then, Nan Zhiyun, who was asleep, didn't hear what Yu Jingchen said at all. Gradually, Yu Jingchen also quieted down and slowly fell asleep as well.

The room was pitch black, with only the faint fragrance of calming incense lingering in the air.

Nan Zhiyun shifted slightly, then gripped the blanket more tightly.

She had a dream in which Yu Jingchen pushed her away and spilled the soup he had made. The soup was very hot and splashed all over her. She also fell to the ground and cut her hand on the broken pieces.

In her dream, she was forced to kneel in the snow. Any passing concubine could make sarcastic remarks about her, and high-ranking concubines would even find some excuse to slap her. No one showed her the slightest kindness. Winter... was really cold.

In her dream, she was being beaten with a cane by Yu Jingchen. She seemed to faint, but vaguely, she heard Yu Jingchen say without any mercy, "Continue."

In her dream... she saw blood all over herself, and her stomach hurt terribly... Was it her child? But she didn't have any children.

In her dream, she saw her father fighting with a group of people, covered in blood. Then he slowly walked towards her. She called out to him, but he seemed not to hear her. Why did he look so listless and kneel down because he couldn't stand?

In her dream, she saw the Empress Dowager asleep, holding her things, and even smiling. But... why couldn't the palace maid wake her? The Empress Dowager...

In her dream, she saw her father sitting in front of a grave. Whose tombstone was that? Why couldn't she see it clearly? It wasn't her mother's either... Then... she saw her father leaning against the grave, just like the Empress Dowager, unable to wake up.

"Father..."

"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..."

Nan Zhiyun called out, fidgeting with her body as if struggling, and she felt someone calling her from her ear.

“Yun girl…”

“Yun’er…”

"Nannan..."

"Mother..."

"Nan Zhi Yun..."

The voice gradually became clearer. The voice was calling, "Nan Zhiyun..."

Yu Jingchen felt a pang of anxiety as he looked at Nan Zhiyun, who was having another nightmare.

Nan Zhiyun slowly opened her eyes. Where was she...? It seemed to be her own palace...

Was it He'an Palace? Was I just asleep and having a dream?

"Nan Zhiyun?"

Nan Zhiyun listened; it was Yu Jingchen's voice.

"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun's voice trembled.

"I'm here. What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Yu Jingchen quickly pulled the person into his arms and hugged them.

"Don't be afraid, it's alright, don't be afraid, I'm here. You just had a nightmare." Yu Jingchen kept patting her back.

"Your Majesty... spare my life," Nan Zhiyun's body trembled slightly.

Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen paused, then felt an even greater pang of pain in his heart, and also felt regret.

"Your Majesty, please don't punish me, please don't punish me... I'm scared, it hurts so much," Nan Zhiyun said, her voice trembling with tears.

"No punishment, no punishment, I won't punish you anymore, okay? Don't be afraid, I won't punish you anymore." Yu Jingchen patiently comforted her, as if he were coaxing a child. His heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. Never before had he regretted treating Nan Zhiyun so much.

Nan Zhiyun clung tightly to Yu Jingchen's clothes, looking extremely insecure. Yu Jingchen held her close, gently patting her.

"Your Majesty, I dreamt that the Empress Dowager and Father are gone, and they lost Yun'er. Your Majesty will also lose Yun'er..." Nan Zhiyun's condition was not right, and Yu Jingchen had already noticed it when he heard these words.

However, he needed to appease Nan Zhiyun first, so he didn't have many concerns.

"How could that be? The Empress Dowager and General Nan love their little Yun'er so much, how could they lose you? I wouldn't either. Even if I lost you before, I will find you again. Not only will I find you, but I will also bring you back to the way you always loved to smile. Then I will protect you well and never lose you again." Yu Jingchen's tone had probably never been so gentle before.

"Don't be afraid, everything will be alright, everything will be alright, okay? Don't be afraid, don't be afraid..." Yu Jingchen wasn't good at comforting people, but he felt that he had used all his comforting words on Nan Zhiyun.

Nan Zhiyun nestled in Yu Jingchen's arms, still looking like she hadn't recovered.

"Should we light a candle?" Yu Jingchen thought she was also afraid of the dark.

"No...it's ugly," Nan Zhiyun refused. She looked terrible right now...

"It's okay, it's not bad," Yu Jingchen hugged Nan Zhiyun tightly and gently coaxed her.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Don't be afraid, okay? It's alright now, it's all in the past, things will get better from now on. It was all my fault in the past."

"I don't know what to do right now. I've never treated anyone well. I haven't learned how to be kind to others yet, but I will learn. Once I learn, I will make up for all the kindness I've shown you, okay? Don't be afraid of me, and don't hide from me. I will slowly change. I won't be fierce anymore, and I won't scold or punish you. Don't be afraid..." Yu Jingchen was still stroking Nan Zhiyun's head with one hand.

Nan Zhiyun remained silent, shrugging her neck. Yu Jingchen stayed by her side, offering silent comfort without disturbing her. Nan Zhiyun's emotions gradually calmed down. Only when Yu Jingchen saw that she had recovered somewhat did he ask, "Are you able to sleep? It seems the calming incense has burned out. Shall I have someone relight it for you?"

Nan Zhiyun shook her head: "No need."

"Do you still want to sleep now?" Yu Jingchen asked.

Nan Zhiyun did not answer, but instead looked at Yu Jingchen: "Your Majesty, I just dreamed that the Empress Dowager and Father are no longer here, and I also heard a child calling me Mother..."

Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen froze.