Yu Jingchen noticed her evasive gaze but didn't press her for answers or suspect anything. After all, Nan Zhiyun had been acting this way lately, and he seemed to be slowly getting used to it.

"Alright, just bear with it a little. I'll apply the medicine for you. It will hurt a bit because the medicine needs to be dissolved." Yu Jingchen said after he finished applying the ice pack to Nan Zhiyun.

Nan Zhiyun nodded. Yu Jingchen applied the ointment to his palm and warmed it before placing it on Nan Zhiyun's ankle. At first, Nan Zhiyun didn't feel much pain, but as Yu Jingchen moved, her face contorted in pain.

Yu Jingchen noticed: "We can only bear it, there's no other way." He said, and Nan Zhiyun naturally understood this as well, but it really hurt so much.

Yu Jingchen slowly applied force, even using his internal energy, hoping to use it to help Nan Zhiyun recover, but this kind of sprain really hurt.

"It hurts..." Nan Zhiyun finally couldn't hold back and cried out.

"Almost there, just bear with it a little longer." Yu Jingchen softened his tone; he seemed to be more patient than usual today.

Nan Zhiyun tried her best to endure it, but it didn't help much. The pain was unbearable. Yu Jingchen finally finished applying the medicine for her, and Nan Zhiyun was already crying from the pain.

Yu Jingchen looked at her, his heart stirred slightly, and picked up a clean handkerchief to wipe away her tears: "It's a sprain, this kind of pain is normal, it will be fine after applying medicine now." He added another sentence.

"The medicine needs to be applied tomorrow, there's no room for discussion." Yu Jingchen gave her a heads-up beforehand. Nan Zhiyun didn't dare to argue, so she simply remained silent.

But... there's one more thing.

Nan Zhiyun raised her eyes and looked cautiously at Yu Jingchen. But the words were already on the tip of her tongue, yet she didn't know how to speak, or rather, she didn't dare to speak.

"Just say what you want to say." Yu Jingchen saw through Nan Zhiyun's concerns.

"...Where did Qianxia go?" Nan Zhiyun thought for a long time before finally asking the question. She had been feeling uneasy ever since she noticed Qianxia wasn't there.

"We're back at the palace. There's no danger," Yu Jingchen replied.

They've returned to the palace? Then... Nan Zhiyun had no idea.

"I'll be here these next few days. If you need anything, just come to me directly, or to one of the people below," Yu Jingchen said without batting an eye. He had deliberately sent Qianxia away; that maid was really an eyesore, especially since she was always hanging around Nan Zhiyun, which annoyed him.

Nan Zhiyun felt as if she'd been struck by lightning upon hearing this. What did she need him for? Would he always be by her side? It sounded terrifying.

Yu Jingchen noticed Nan Zhiyun's predicament; her little face was all scrunched up, clearly showing her unwillingness.

"Your brow is so furrowed it could kill a mosquito. Even if you don't want to, you have to accept it; you have no choice. Instead of dwelling on this, you should focus on healing your injury and pray it will be better by tomorrow. If it delays your trip, then you'll have to return to the palace this time." Yu Jingchen's tone was indifferent.

Nan Zhiyun: "..." She looked at the injury on her foot, knowing it would be difficult for it to heal. But having come all this way, she didn't want to return to the palace empty-handed, and besides, she really didn't like the palace.

"It's still early today, is there anything you want to do? Or anything to kill time? You definitely can't go out looking like this," Yu Jingchen asked her.

Nan Zhiyun didn't know what she was supposed to do. Was she just supposed to stay in the same space like this, which was too awkward, and she didn't like it.

"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun was about to say something, but was immediately interrupted by Yu Jingchen.

“When you’re out in public, you don’t need to refer to yourself like that. Just say I’m fine.” Yu Jingchen was correcting him on how he referred to himself.

“Yes…” Nan Zhiyun agreed.

"So what were you trying to say just now?" Yu Jingchen asked her.

“…I’m hungry.” Nan Zhiyun said softly, perhaps because she was pregnant, or perhaps because she really had nothing to do, so she started a conversation.

"Hungry?" Yu Jingchen didn't expect her to say such a thing. He had been paying attention to Nan Zhiyun's appetite lately, and it hadn't been very good. So he was a little surprised to hear Nan Zhiyun say that she was hungry.

"Are you really hungry? Or are you just looking for a topic of conversation?" Yu Jingchen asked. It was still early, and Nan Zhiyun usually didn't eat much at this time.

Nan Zhiyun nodded: "I'm a little hungry..."

"Alright, what do you want to eat?" Yu Jingchen asked. Since she said she wanted to eat, he would let her have her way. After all, it was a good thing.

"...Anything is fine." Nan Zhiyun didn't know what she wanted to eat. Anyway, she just wanted to find something to do, otherwise it would be too awkward for the two of them to be together.

"Okay," Yu Jingchen didn't continue asking, knowing he wouldn't get any answers anyway. He glanced at Xing Lai, who understood and immediately left, instructing his subordinates to prepare the meal.

The room fell silent, but the awkward and unsettling atmosphere persisted. Nan Zhiyun clutched the blanket, sitting there looking very restrained.

“Your father will be back soon,” Yu Jingchen initiated a conversation.

As expected, Nan Zhiyun was still interested in the topic, but she looked at Yu Jingchen and didn't dare to speak. She didn't know how to bring up her father, or even if she should, and was simply too timid.

Yu Jingchen could see her concerns and fears, and perhaps guessed what Nan Zhiyun wanted to ask, so he replied, "A letter has arrived. It's about a three or four-day journey away."

Hearing this, Nan Zhiyun's mood seemed to gradually brighten. However, after so long apart, she felt a pang of guilt and longing. In her previous life, she hadn't even spoken a single word to her father before she died, and he must have been heartbroken after she passed away. It was all her fault for being unfilial, causing her father to suffer so much. In this life… she hoped it wasn't too late, so she wanted to make amends.

Help... I went back to school today, spent the whole day on the bus, and then had to unpack and clean. I'm exhausted... Waaaaaah! The worst part is I get carsick!!!

And... what day is it tomorrow? Who am I spending it with? (??ω??)(? ? ? ? )?? Hahaha, do you guys want something sweet or something heartbreaking?