Nan Zhiyun looked innocently at Yu Jingchen: "Your Majesty, every time I see these scars, I'm reminded of the times you punished me. I often wonder, why can't Your Majesty show me mercy just once? Am I really so sinful..."
Every word Nan Zhiyun uttered was like a sharp sword, piercing deeply into Yu Jingchen's heart.
"I'm sorry..." Yu Jingchen suddenly felt that this apology was so pale and powerless...
"Your Majesty, I'm so afraid of pain. When I was little, even if I just fell, I would cry for a long time. Back then, Your Majesty would send me candied fruit. But I never imagined that falling would hurt, like the punishments Your Majesty gave me. They really hurt, and there were no more candied fruit from Your Majesty back then. Only indifference. My body aches, and my heart aches too." As Nan Zhiyun spoke, tears fell. She was always delicate, and tears were her most frequent expression.
"Yes, it's all my fault. I didn't realize it sooner. I know I was wrong now, and I regret it. Don't cry, don't cry," Yu Jingchen began to comfort him.
"Shall I carry you up? The water's getting cold." Yu Jingchen was worried she'd catch a cold.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head: "No..." She couldn't let go, and she also felt ashamed.
"Sweetie, the water's getting cold, you'll catch a cold again. I'll carry you out, it'll be alright, okay? I won't look." Yu Jingchen coaxed her. It wasn't that he insisted on carrying her out himself, but... Yu Jingchen wanted to use this method to bring himself closer to Nan Zhiyun, otherwise they would really drift further and further apart.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent, but it was clear she was still reluctant. Yu Jingchen stood up abruptly and picked up the long scarf hanging beside him.
"Come out," Yu Jingchen said, extending his hand to Nan Zhiyun. Nan Zhiyun shook her head; she dared not. Helpless, Yu Jingchen simply closed his eyes.
"Is this alright? Get up," Yu Jingchen said, without retracting his hand.
Nan Zhiyun hesitated for a long time without reacting. Yu Jingchen was running out of patience; if she hesitated any longer, she would really catch a cold. So he simply took action and pulled her up. Yu Jingchen quickly wrapped a long towel around her neck.
Nan Zhiyun was still in a daze when Yu Jingchen pulled her into his arms. Then... he lifted her up horizontally, and Nan Zhiyun instinctively wrapped her arms around Yu Jingchen's neck—this was the second time that had happened today.
"I told you it's nothing, and you're up now, aren't you?" Yu Jingchen said, a faint smile playing on his lips. Nan Zhiyun stared at his smile, somewhat dazed. She didn't think she'd ever seen him smile before, especially not at her.
Yu Jingchen carried her out and placed her directly on the bed, his movements very careful. Nan Zhiyun almost thought that he was really being treated like a precious treasure.
"Be careful, cover yourself up, don't get cold. When you get sick, it gets really bad, and it takes a long time for you to get better." Yu Jingchen said as he pulled the blanket over Nan Zhiyun.
"Eat first, then drink the medicine the imperial physician prescribed to nourish your body," Yu Jingchen instructed.
“I’m not hungry, and my health has improved considerably. I don’t need to take any more medicine,” Nan Zhiyun said.
"No, you have to eat if you have a bad stomach. You're weak and need to take care of yourself. You can't be willful. Besides, these aren't my decrees, they're the Empress Dowager's orders. Are you saying you don't want to listen to her?" Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow.
Nan Zhiyun paused as expected. Indeed, the Empress Dowager was more effective.
"There's no need to change your clothes again. I'll have someone bring the food in," Yu Jingchen said.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun wanted to speak, but Yu Jingchen did not give her the chance.
"You can't refuse, refusing won't work," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
Not long after, Yu Jingchen had dinner brought in. The dishes weren't many, but they were exquisite, and most importantly, they were all Nan Zhiyun's favorites, which Yu Jingchen had specifically ordered to be made.
Of course, this wasn't because Yu Jingchen knew Nan Zhiyun's preferences; it was simply because he wanted to know. So... if he didn't know, didn't the servants also not know?
"What would you like to eat? I'll bring it to you." Yu Jingchen asked.
Nan Zhiyun: "..." Isn't that a bit too much?
Xinglai: "..." Your Majesty, why do you seem so worthless now?
Qianxia: "..." To be waited on hand and foot, is this how our young lady is supposed to be? She's precious.
Palace attendant: "..." Is this His Majesty? I heard before that this Consort Nan was disliked by His Majesty? Is this how he dislikes her?
"I can go by myself," Nan Zhiyun said softly, her voice lacking confidence.
"Isn't it good to let you be a little lazy?" Yu Jingchen said, then continued, "They said you like these things, so I had them make them. If you hadn't said anything, I would have just gotten some for you."
"Does His Majesty also know about the things they say the concubines like?" Nan Zhiyun suddenly asked.
Yu Jingchen was taken aback by the question. When he met Nan Zhiyun's eyes, he suddenly felt a little guilty.
“I will remember this from now on,” Yu Jingchen replied.
Xinglai: "..." Good heavens, this can't be the real His Majesty. Is this something a human would say? Even if it is a human, it's not His Majesty's words.
Even Nan Zhiyun was taken aback; she hadn't expected Yu Jingchen to answer her like that.
"Alright, if you won't tell me, then I'll just do whatever I feel like for you?" Yu Jingchen seemed a little awkward.
Xinglai: "..." How can this be worthless? It's practically free money!
"As Your Majesty wishes," Nan Zhiyun replied.
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen actually walked to the dining table, selected some food, and then placed it on the plate carried by the palace servants.
After everything was ready, they returned to Nan Zhiyun, and a palace maid came over with a tray of food.
"Will I feed you?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
“No need, I can manage,” Nan Zhiyun said, as she was not disabled.
"Are you sure? Have you forgotten your current situation? There are other people here. Can you handle this?" Yu Jingchen said.
Oh, right.
Yu Jingchen's reminder made Nan Zhiyun realize that she was only wrapped in a long towel under the blanket.
"Alright, I'll feed you." Yu Jingchen could see Nan Zhiyun's embarrassment, so he took the initiative to speak and then went to get some food that he had just picked out.
Nan Zhiyun felt a little uncomfortable, but she had no choice but to eat it despite her discomfort.
Yu Jingchen watched her eat, a slight smile playing on his lips. That was right.
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