Looking at Nan Zhiyun's desperate expression, Yu Jingchen felt a sense of panic. He was suddenly afraid that if he agreed to her request, it would mean that the two of them would truly become strangers.
Yu Jingchen pulled her into his arms, and Nan Zhiyun didn't struggle this time, perhaps because she felt it was pointless.
"Nan Zhiyun, haven't you noticed anything different?" Yu Jingchen's tone held both helplessness and resignation...
"My feelings for you have changed. It's not for any other reason than that my feelings for you have changed. Nan Zhiyun, haven't you really noticed?" Yu Jingchen finally spoke up, his previous hesitation and wavering finally breaking through the fog.
Nan Zhiyun was slightly taken aback, but did not respond.
"Actually, more than one person has reminded me of this before, and I myself have also noticed it. However, I have never dared to imagine that it is true, since I have never had such feelings for anyone before."
"I don't know what kind of feelings these are, so I don't know how to respond. But I do know that my feelings for you are different now. So I can't let you leave, I can't let you abandon this relationship."
"Perhaps I'm being selfish, but I can't convince myself to let you go. Nan Zhiyun, if you had said this to me earlier, perhaps... I really would have let you go. But now... no, it's really impossible." Yu Jingchen held her in his arms. This was the first time he had ever spoken so much, and the first time he had ever said such things.
It's impossible for Nan Zhiyun not to be shocked by Yu Jingchen's words, but... she was afraid, she dared not... and... she no longer believed it.
"Your Majesty, I don't want to do this anymore, I can't afford to gamble anymore..." Nan Zhiyun said.
“This is not a gamble, Nan Zhiyun, I am very serious,” Yu Jingchen said.
"No, Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun looked at him as if she hadn't heard him; she didn't want to try again.
Yu Jingchen was also moved, but so what? He wouldn't let Nan Zhiyun get rid of her; he would never agree to her wish to let her go.
"You're tired, rest well first, and we can discuss this issue later," Yu Jingchen wanted to skip the topic for now, feeling that Nan Zhiyun should calm down. With that, he released his hold on Nan Zhiyun, intending to help her up from the ground, but Nan Zhiyun refused.
"Your Majesty, please grant my request?" Nan Zhiyun pleaded.
"No," Yu Jingchen said decisively, looking at her. He didn't try to persuade her further, simply picking Nan Zhiyun up from the ground and carrying her into the inner room. Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt a sense of panic.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun struggled to get down, but how could Yu Jingchen give her that chance? He directly carried Nan Zhiyun to the bed and then put her down.
Nan Zhiyun began to feel fear. Scenes of how Yu Jingchen had treated her reappeared before her eyes, along with the words that kept echoing in her ears, and even the scenes before Wen Shi's death.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun's voice trembled, and her consciousness began to waver.
Yu Jingchen sensed something was wrong, but he assumed Nan Zhiyun was just acting the same as before. So he said to her, "Listen to me, don't talk about this anymore, okay?" Yu Jingchen didn't want to hear any more.
"No..." Nan Zhiyun shook her head. The room was filled with a faint sandalwood scent, which seemed to constantly drive her consciousness. Images kept flashing through her mind, and Nan Zhiyun felt as if an insurmountable abyss had appeared before her.
"I'll give you time. Take your time to think it over. I won't bother you. I'll stay outside. If you get tired, you can rest." Yu Jingchen was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would lose control of his emotions.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, Nan Zhiyun grabbed his hand. The grip was strong, and his fear was palpable.
"Your Majesty... I beg you," Nan Zhiyun said, her eyes glazed over.
This was the last thing Yu Jingchen wanted to hear: "Nan Zhiyun, I said you're not allowed to say such things again, nor can you bring up such matters again." Yu Jingchen's tone gradually lost patience. It wasn't that he was annoyed, he just didn't want to hear it.
"Let go," Yu Jingchen tried to pull Nan Zhiyun's hand away from his. But as soon as he touched it, Yu Jingchen noticed something was wrong.
Yu Jingchen frowned slightly: "Why are they so cold?" Indeed, Nan Zhiyun's hands were ice-cold.
"Is something bothering you?" Yu Jingchen held Nan Zhiyun's hand in return. He also checked Nan Zhiyun's forehead temperature, which was also cool, not quite normal.
However… “Your Majesty, please…” Nan Zhiyun repeated the same words, but Yu Jingchen didn’t even know what she wanted.
"Tell me first, is there anything that's bothering you?" Yu Jingchen's earlier impatience had vanished.
"My heart aches, my head aches..." Nan Zhiyun's consciousness began to drift. She only remembered Yu Jingchen coldly watching her being punished, only remembered each of Yu Jingchen's icy orders...
After hearing this, Yu Jingchen sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry, it's okay. Rest for a bit, and you'll be fine..." Yu Jingchen softened his tone and gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back.
Nan Zhiyun trembled in Yu Jingchen's arms, and Yu Jingchen couldn't understand why Nan Zhiyun had become so frightened that she was losing control again. Even now, she was terrified.
Yu Jingchen didn't let go, just held her quietly and gently coaxed her. Whether it worked or not, Nan Zhiyun slowly calmed down.
As Nan Zhiyun gradually quieted down, she nestled blankly in Yu Jingchen's arms, saying nothing. Yu Jingchen didn't ask any questions either, and simply stayed by her side.
Then...then Nan Zhiyun stopped moving, because...she fell asleep...
Looking at the sleeping little girl in his arms, Yu Jingchen was both amused and exasperated. Just a moment ago she was acting like she was going to die, but now she was asleep.
He remembered that Nan Zhiyun had always had trouble sleeping. Could it be that the incense that the Empress Dowager had specially prepared for Nan Zhiyun had worked? It could actually make people sleep so peacefully. Even he felt a little sleepy after smelling the incense.
Seeing that the person in his arms had fallen asleep, Yu Jingchen did not let go of her immediately. The little girl was soft and cuddly, and sleeping like this in his arms, Yu Jingchen felt a strange feeling rising in his heart. This strange feeling made him reluctant to let go of the soft jade in his arms.
—I'll make up the remaining 2,000+ words today. From now on, we'll probably update twice a day, each update being 2,000+ words. Based on everyone's feedback, this way the plot seems more coherent and complete, and the overall experience is better. Love you all!
Then, I'd like to thank everyone for sticking with me this far. I read almost every reader's comment. After reading everyone's comments, I will try my best to speed up the pace of the later plot. Also, please feel free to give me any suggestions or tell me what kind of plot you would like to see in the future.
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