Nan Zhiyun gently hugged Yu Jingchen's neck. Yu Jingchen put her down and then pulled the blanket over her.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright. You'll never go back to how you were before," Yu Jingchen comforted Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun lowered her head and remained silent.
"Don't be afraid, it's my fault for scaring Yun'er. Yun'er, please don't be unhappy, okay?" Yu Jingchen smiled.
"Hmm..." Nan Zhiyun nodded this time. She was just used to it; every time she saw Yu Jingchen like that, she was reminded of his cold and indifferent side in front of her before. Yu Jingchen's changes always caused her emotional fluctuations; she was sensitive.
"Alright, Yun'er, you're tired today. You've been reading for a long time. Why don't you rest first? You have to go back to the palace tomorrow morning, and haven't you been thinking about the Empress Dowager? She's coming back tomorrow too. Yun'er wants to see the Empress Dowager in the best possible condition, doesn't she?" Yu Jingchen said.
"Okay." This time, Nan Zhiyun didn't say she couldn't sleep. Yu Jingchen helped her lie down and then prepared to get up, but Nan Zhiyun gently tugged at his sleeve as he did so.
"I won't leave. I'll come right away after I finish taking care of the rest, okay?" Yu Jingchen reassured him.
“Okay…” Nan Zhiyun let go of Yu Jingchen’s hand.
Yu Jingchen took Nan Zhiyun's storybook and returned to his previous spot, then began processing the remaining items. Nan Zhiyun lay there reading, and slowly, drowsiness crept in.
After Yu Jingchen had arranged everything, Nan Zhiyun had already fallen asleep. Yu Jingchen didn't go over immediately, but slowly walked towards the door.
"Your Majesty" was waiting outside, and immediately bowed when he saw Yu Jingchen come out.
"Don't let anyone know what happened today. Also, when you get back, send more people to He'an Palace. While you're at it, thoroughly inspect He'an Palace, inside and out, checking everything, both the people and the items." Yu Jingchen instructed.
"Yes," I replied, glad to accept the order.
The group of people today weren't targeting His Majesty, but rather Consort Shu. If His Majesty had been even slightly negligent towards Consort Shu, she could very well have been injured or even killed by those people today.
Judging from His Majesty's behavior today... I suppose His Majesty should know who this person is... but I just can't figure out what Yu Jingchen is up to.
After arranging all this, Yu Jingchen returned to his room. Seeing Nan Zhiyun still in the same position as before, Yu Jingchen felt a surge of warmth and slowly walked towards the bedside.
Having spent the day with Nan Zhiyun, Yu Jingchen had a strange feeling that being with her was like taking care of a child. But that made sense; after all, this girl was indeed still young, and having been protected in the past due to her naivety, and later becoming cautious because of the many injuries she had suffered.
Today, when Nan Zhiyun said she didn't like the palace, Yu Jingchen could understand for a moment. It was indeed cruel to confine such a young girl inside the palace. She was simple-minded and naive; with so many cunning and treacherous people in the harem, how could she possibly outmaneuver them?
Not only that, but the same was true for those around him. It was very dangerous. There were always hidden dangers around such a young child, which was truly a shackle for Nan Zhiyun. But... he couldn't bear to let Nan Zhiyun leave.
So… “I will protect you, and I will never let anyone hurt you again. You can stay young forever, and you can be free and unrestrained, but you must stay by my side.” Yu Jingchen said slowly.
He gently held Nan Zhiyun in his arms and slowly drifted off to sleep with her. In the dream, a cold wind howled, and in the distance, Nan Zhiyun, dressed in red, turned her head and smiled. Then... the sunlight gradually shone down, and Nan Zhiyun was enveloped in the light, slowly disappearing from sight.
The next morning
Yu Jingchen woke up early in the morning without disturbing Nan Zhiyun.
"Your Majesty, the carriage is ready," Xinglai said as he approached.
"This servant will go and call Your Highness." Qianxia bowed and prepared to call Nan Zhiyun.
"No need to call them, just go and wait by the carriage." Yu Jingchen stopped Qianxia from doing so.
"Yes," Qianxia naturally had no objection.
Yu Jingchen returned to the room, where Nan Zhiyun was still fast asleep. Yu Jingchen went over and gently called out, "Yun'er, it's time to get up. We need to go back to the palace."
"Hmm~" Nan Zhiyun moved her body slightly, but did not make any other movements.
Helpless, Yu Jingchen simply pulled the person out of the bed.
Ouch, it's so cold...
Nan Zhiyun left the warm bed and couldn't help but shiver.
"It's cold~" Nan Zhiyun kept snuggling into Yu Jingchen's arms, where it was warm.
Yu Jingchen had no choice but to help her get dressed himself. Nan Zhiyun was a little unhappy about the commotion and was not very willing to cooperate. In the middle of winter, how many people could stand being like this so early in the morning?
Yu Jingchen picked the person up, tucked them into his arms, wrapped them in his fur cloak, and walked straight outside. He carried them all the way to the carriage.
After boarding the carriage, Yu Jingchen instructed Xinglai to return to the palace. As for Nan Zhiyun… well, she's still asleep.
"How can she sleep so soundly?" Yu Jingchen was speechless, but still arranged the most comfortable position for her. It was like holding a child, okay? Nan Zhiyun was actually very petite, thin and frail, and her height... even on tiptoe, she only reached Yu Jingchen's chest.
The carriage arrived at the palace quickly. Seeing that Nan Zhiyun still looked sleepy, Yu Jingchen gave up on waking her and carried her back to He'an Palace.
Then they put her on the bed and let her continue sleeping. Nan Zhiyun turned over and actually fell asleep.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
"Wake up your consort in an hour. The Empress Dowager is coming back, so you can let her prepare in advance," Yu Jingchen said.
"Yes," Qianxia agreed readily. Yu Jingchen didn't linger and quickly left He'an Palace.
Yesterday, Yu Jingchen made arrangements to ensure no one noticed him leaving the palace, but he made no attempt to conceal his departure upon returning today. Therefore, everyone knows that Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun left the palace yesterday and didn't return all night. This morning, Yu Jingchen carried Nan Zhiyun back to He'an Palace. This action has undoubtedly stirred up a storm in the harem once again.
Ryuan Palace
Consort Yuan just learned today that her younger sister was taken away by the Prefect of the Capital on her very first day in the capital (the woman in blue from the jewelry shop, whose maid almost pushed Nan Zhiyun down the stairs). She also just heard that Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun were outside the palace yesterday, so she couldn't help but have some speculations...
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