Yu Jingchen stayed at He'an Palace all afternoon. Nan Zhiyun had been sleeping a lot these past few days, and she woke up around 4 PM.
When Nan Zhiyun woke up, she saw Yu Jingchen still sitting there, not quite fully conscious. Yu Jingchen had known since Nan Zhiyun woke up, but he hadn't said anything, and he didn't know her current condition either.
Nan Zhiyun opened her eyes groggily, without making a sound, as if she hadn't fully woken up, completely dazed. It took about half a cup of tea's time for Nan Zhiyun to slowly come to her senses.
She sat up in bed, and Yu Jingchen finally looked at her properly: "Want to get up?" Yu Jingchen asked, but remained seated.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun looked as timid as before. Yu Jingchen always had a feeling, but he didn't know if it was just his imagination, that Nan Zhiyun's condition was sometimes good and sometimes bad, and her mental state was somewhat abnormal.
Yu Jingchen got up and walked over. Nan Zhiyun shrank back slightly, but it was alright; her reaction wasn't as strong as before.
"Feeling better?" Yu Jingchen touched Nan Zhiyun's hand and her forehead; it was no longer as cold as before.
"Hmm..." Nan Zhiyun slightly moved away.
"Don't be afraid," Yu Jingchen said, pulling back her hand that she was trying to dodge.
"Is there anything that's bothering you?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head.
"Feeling better? Do you want to get up? Is there anything you want to do?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"Qi," Nan Zhiyun responded softly.
"Should I call someone in?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun for her opinion.
"No need," Nan Zhiyun refused.
"Huh?" Yu Jingchen didn't understand what Nan Zhiyun meant.
"I can do it myself," Nan Zhiyun said, breaking free from Yu Jingchen's hand and trying to stand up on her own.
Yu Jingchen was about to help her up, but Nan Zhiyun dodged him, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Yu Jingchen's hand froze.
After standing up, Nan Zhiyun gave a slight curtsy and then began to fix her makeup. She didn't care what Yu Jingchen was thinking.
Looking at Nan Zhiyun like this, Yu Jingchen felt a pang in his heart, as if she had truly become... distant.
He walked behind Nan Zhiyun, and looking at the person in the bronze mirror, Yu Jingchen felt a sense of disorientation. The closest relationship was with the most unfamiliar person; the warmest emotion was with the most desperate heart.
"Is there anything you'd like to do later?" Yu Jingchen started a conversation.
"No," Nan Zhiyun replied.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
"Are you usually very afraid of the cold? Is there enough charcoal in He'an Palace?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"That's enough, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Nan Zhiyun's reply was very proper and respectful...
"If you get bored, you can read some storybooks. I've had quite a few people find for you before," Yu Jingchen continued, starting a new topic.
"Yes, thank you for your generous gift, Your Majesty." Nan Zhiyun's tone remained unchanged.
"Why do you like watching these things? What kind of things do you usually like to watch?" Yu Jingchen is quite persistent.
"Just browsing to kill time, nothing special." Nan Zhiyun's words always managed to shut people up.
"Do you remember any interesting stories? Why don't you tell me?" Yu Jingchen sat down beside him.
"I can't explain it well, and I forget it as soon as I see it," Nan Zhiyun continued to reply.
Yu Jingchen: "..." What else can I say?
"Will I take you for a walk later? Staying in the room all day must be so boring," Yu Jingchen offered.
"I'm tired," Nan Zhiyun replied without hesitation.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Didn't you just get up?
"Can't you even talk to me properly now?" Yu Jingchen said helplessly.
"I know I was wrong," Nan Zhiyun replied immediately.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Has he been taken advantage of?
Yu Jingchen stopped speaking and silently watched from the side. Nan Zhiyun initially managed to maintain her composure, but later became somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze. It has to be said, a cat is far inferior to a fox. And those with thin skin are far less shameless than those with thick skin…
"All done?" Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow, and Nan Zhiyun suddenly didn't know how to speak.
This gave Yu Jingchen an opportunity. He stood up, went to Nan Zhiyun's side, and took her hand.
"Alright, let's go for a walk. I'll go with you. It's not too cold outside today," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun tried to break free of his hand.
"Don't refuse, let's go," Yu Jingchen said, pulling her a little tighter.
Nan Zhiyun had no choice but to follow Yu Jingchen out, as she was being pulled along. Qianxia and Xinglai were guarding outside the door and were somewhat surprised to see the two of them come out.
"Your Majesty, Consort Jieyu," the two greeted each other with a small bow.
"Go and get a cloak for your concubine," Yu Jingchen said to Qianxia.
Qianxia glanced at their clasped hands, then at Nan Zhiyun, and finally replied, "Yes."
"Your Majesty... this concubine..." Nan Zhiyun wanted to say something more.
"Don't talk nonsense. Going out for a walk won't tire you out." Yu Jingchen didn't give Nan Zhiyun a chance to speak at all.
Just then, Qianxia took out the cloak again, and just as she was about to put it on Nan Zhiyun, Yu Jingchen took it from her himself.
"If you're cold, wear more clothes." Yu Jingchen draped a cloak over Nan Zhiyun's shoulders. Nan Zhiyun wanted to speak several times, but she swallowed her words when she met Yu Jingchen's gaze.
"Let's go," Yu Jingchen said, taking Nan Zhiyun's hand as they prepared to leave.
But Nan Zhiyun... well, she stood still.
"Still unwilling?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun.
"Your Majesty... this concubine..." Nan Zhiyun hesitated, as if she couldn't bring herself to say it. Yu Jingchen assumed she was simply unwilling.
"Is it really that difficult?" Yu Jingchen asked him.
"No, Your Majesty... I haven't put on my shoes yet..." Nan Zhiyun blushed as she said this.
Yu Jingchen: "..." What the hell?
He looked down at Nan Zhiyun's feet, but because Nan Zhiyun's dress was quite long, he couldn't see it.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Yu Jingchen said helplessly.
"I was just about to say something, but His Majesty wouldn't allow me to..." Nan Zhiyun said with a hint of grievance.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Okay, he was wrong.
"I can't do anything with you," Yu Jingchen said, picking her up in his arms. The sudden feeling of weightlessness made Nan Zhiyun gasp and instinctively hug Yu Jingchen's neck.
"It's so cold on the ground, how come you've been walking barefoot for so long?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun with a helpless expression.
Nan Zhiyun had no way to refute him, so she could only let Yu Jingchen carry her back again and then gently put her down.
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