Yu Jingchen gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back: "I won't hit you anymore, I won't hit you again." He would never use that method again...

"No, I won't fight~ Hehe." Nan Zhiyun didn't know what she was dreaming about, because she laughed foolishly after saying this.

But it was precisely this aspect of Nan Zhiyun that made him feel increasingly guilty, the pain intensifying with each passing moment. The young girl was truly a wonderful person, yet in his eyes, she had been ravaged into a withered state; he was guilty…

The Empress Dowager's words to him seemed to have come true: he was reborn to atone for his sins, to atone for the sins of his two previous lives. The rest of his life in this one would be devoted solely to Nan Zhiyun; he would give everything to protect her.

Having been emperor twice, in this life, he will be Nan Zhiyun's husband, her husband for all eternity...

Yu Jingchen didn't keep the matter of passing on the cane and bamboo flogging a secret. So it quickly spread to everyone. Passing on two instruments of torture in a row made it hard not to think the wrong thing.

The next morning

Yu Jingchen knew that Nan Zhiyun, who was still fast asleep, would sleep a little longer, so he didn't plan to disturb her. He had plans for the day, so he couldn't wait for Nan Zhiyun to get up. Before getting up, Yu Jingchen gently placed a sincere kiss on Nan Zhiyun's forehead before leaving.

When Nan Zhiyun woke up, it was already noon. She was a little confused to find no one beside her. Had His Majesty left today? Nan Zhiyun tried to sit up, but…

"Ouch..." It hurts so much, it's still not healed. His Majesty was too rough yesterday.

However, it wasn't just the area behind me that was sore; my whole body was a little sore, which was definitely because of the fall I took yesterday.

"Qianxia..." Nan Zhiyun called out to the outside.

The person who entered, "Consort Shu," was not Qianxia. Nan Zhiyun was a little taken aback.

"Where's Qianxia?" she asked instinctively.

"Your Highness, Aunt Qianxia is still recovering from her injuries," the young palace maid replied. Nan Zhiyun then remembered that yesterday, Qianxia and all the people who served her closely had been punished with caning by Yu Jingchen… His Majesty was too cruel…

"Where are they? I'll go and see them." Nan Zhiyun still wanted to go and see them. This time, she only brought Jiang Ji and Qian Xia with her. Although the others were serving her, they were not the most intimate ones.

"Yes, but His Majesty instructed before he left that Your Highness needs to have a meal first before doing anything else. He will apply the medicine for you after His Majesty returns." The little palace maid looked quite respectful, but she seemed a little afraid of Nan Zhiyun.

"Alright, help me change first." Nan Zhiyun didn't say much. Let them be afraid, since they won't be by her side all the time anyway.

A palace maid helped Nan Zhiyun change and wash, then had someone bring up today's meal. Nan Zhiyun hadn't eaten much yesterday, so she was hungry today and ate quite a bit.

After finishing their meal, they couldn't wait to see Qianxia and the others, but they encountered someone coming from the opposite direction when they were halfway there.

"Your subject has met with Consort Shu" refers to Luo Yuncheng.

"What are you doing here, Prince Yuncheng?" Nan Zhiyun didn't expect to meet Luo Yuncheng here.

"I happened to be passing by and heard that Consort Shu was injured, so I thought I'd come and see her." Luo Yuncheng's eyes were fixed on Nan Zhiyun.

"I'm fine, I just tripped and fell. Prince Yuncheng, there's no need to worry." Nan Zhiyun actually had a decent impression of Luo Yuncheng, after all, they had spent a lot of time together when they were young, and he had always been by her father's side.