After a long silence, the Empress Dowager regained her usual expression.
"Yun'er has been staying in the room for so many days, she must be bored. Why don't we go out for a walk together in a little while? This will also be good for your recovery," the Empress Dowager asked.
Nan Zhiyun looked at the Empress Dowager, then nodded and said, "Okay."
The Empress Dowager smiled, and then pulled Nan Zhiyun to sit in front of the dressing mirror.
"Shall I help Yun'er with her makeup today?" the Empress Dowager asked, looking at the two people in the bronze mirror.
"Yes, Yun'er also wants the Empress Dowager to help me with my makeup." Nan Zhiyun also had a happy expression on her face.
"It's been a long time since I've done Yun'er's hair and makeup. If it doesn't look good later, Yun'er mustn't complain," the Empress Dowager said as she prepared to begin.
When Nan Zhiyun was young, the Empress Dowager did everything herself, so these things were naturally no problem for her. In no time, the Empress Dowager had already applied exquisite makeup to Nan Zhiyun. However, her hair wasn't tied up, which was unusual for a palace concubine. Instead, it resembled Nan Zhiyun's attire from her early days in her boudoir.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has made it look so beautiful, I dare not ruin it later. But is this kind of attire against the rules?" Nan Zhiyun was quite at ease in front of the Empress Dowager.
"How could that be? With me here, who would dare say a bad word about you? If anyone does say anything, just have them come and talk to me," the Empress Dowager coaxed.
Since the Empress Dowager had already said so, Nan Zhiyun naturally couldn't say anything else. The two of them left.
Meanwhile, news of the Empress Dowager and Nan Zhiyun appearing together quickly spread. When Yu Jingchen learned of this, his face darkened...
She had just said she didn't have time, and then she went out the door with someone...
"Where did they go?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"I heard that the Empress Dowager instructed the palace servants to place tea-making utensils and a zither in the lotus pavilion of the Imperial Garden. She must have gone there. Consort Nan used to love boiling water and making tea the most," Xinglai said.
"Prepare the carriage!" Yu Jingchen's patience was about to reach its breaking point.
"Yes," Luckily, she was in a hurry to get things done again, feeling exhausted...
When Yu Jingchen arrived at the Imperial Garden, he could hear the sound of a zither before he even saw anyone. He recognized it as the Empress Dowager playing. He had often heard her play when he was young…
Yu Jingchen followed the sound of the zither and, sure enough, saw the two people sitting together in the pavilion on the lake.
The Empress Dowager was also dressed very brightly today, in a red dress, which made her look much more flamboyant. The Empress Dowager already looked young, but now she and Nan Zhiyun looked more like sisters.
In contrast, Nan Zhiyun today, dressed in a cherry blossom-colored dress and with the makeup and attire of a young lady from a noble family, appeared less melancholic and more lively than usual.
Looking at Nan Zhiyun like this, Yu Jingchen suddenly felt a sense of disorientation. Before he was established as the crown prince, she had always followed behind him like this, calling him "Your Highness" happily.
Nan Zhiyun loved to laugh back then. Her eyebrows and eyes were curved, and when she laughed, they looked like little crescent moons.
"Your Highness, why do you never smile?"
"Your Highness, Yun'er learned a new piece of music today. Would you like me to play it for you?"
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager really likes the tea that Yun'er brews. Would you like to try some too?"
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is angry today and made me stand as punishment."
"Your Highness, are you in pain? Did Father bully you?"
These memories, I don't know how they happened, suddenly all rushed into my mind.
Yu Jingchen felt as if he had returned to that time when he was in the pavilion, except that... Nan Zhiyun had really grown up, and they would never be able to go back to the way things were before.
Nan Zhiyun, who was inside the pavilion, did not notice Yu Jingchen. She had just finished brewing tea and was about to taste it with the Empress Dowager.
Yu Jingchen felt as if his body was out of his control and he walked over there.
Upon seeing Yu Jingchen, the people inside the pavilion all knelt down: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Nan Zhiyun's heart skipped a beat when she heard this, and she looked over and happened to make eye contact with Yu Jingchen.
Then... "Greetings, Your Majesty!" Nan Zhiyun hurriedly knelt down.
Yu Jingchen instinctively reached out to help her up, but just as he did, Nan Zhiyun dodged him. Oh… she was still scared. Thinking of this, Yu Jingchen suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart.
Yu Jingchen withdrew his hand and put it behind his back, concealing his slightly clenched hand.
"Get up, everyone," Yu Jingchen said to the people below.
Nan Zhiyun also stood up, but she kept her head down and didn't dare to look at Yu Jingchen again.
Yu Jingchen wanted to say something more, but before he could speak, he heard the Empress Dowager speak: "Why did Your Majesty suddenly come here?" As she spoke, the Empress Dowager pulled Nan Zhiyun behind her to protect her.
"I was just taking a stroll when I heard some noise over here, so I came over," Yu Jingchen said without changing his expression.
"Oh? Is that so? Then what is Your Majesty planning to do now?" the Empress Dowager asked directly.
"Since the Empress Dowager is here, and I haven't seen her in a long time, if there's nothing else, would you mind sitting with her for a while?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"No, Your Majesty sitting here, I'm losing my appetite." The Empress Dowager was as direct as ever.
Yu Jingchen's expression froze for a moment.
"Your Majesty must be tired from handling state affairs all day. Why don't you go back and rest? We won't keep Your Majesty here any longer." The Empress Dowager had already begun to openly dismiss people.
Yu Jingchen didn't speak. In the past, being humiliated like this would have made Yu Jingchen furious. But now... Yu Jingchen acted as if he hadn't heard a word.
Yu Jingchen completely ignored the Empress Dowager's words and turned to look at Nan Zhiyun: "It seems that Consort Nan's health has recovered quite well? Is she fully recovered?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much better now, thanks to the Empress Dowager's meticulous care." Nan Zhiyun replied politely, but if you looked closely, you would notice that Nan Zhiyun didn't dare to look at Yu Jingchen at all, and her voice and body were trembling slightly; she was afraid.
Upon realizing this, Yu Jingchen suddenly felt a pang in his heart.
"Are you afraid of me?" Yu Jingchen asked directly.
"Isn't Your Majesty asking a question you already know the answer to?" the Empress Dowager interjected.
Yu Jingchen was speechless after being refuted: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager has been staying in He'an Palace for so long, and now that Consort Nan is well, why doesn't Your Majesty move back to Cining Palace?" Yu Jingchen looked at the Empress Dowager.
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