Nan Zhiyun remained silent.
"When I asked Yun'er before, she wasn't like this at all." The Empress Dowager didn't seem displeased.
"Your Majesty, I don't like the palace either..." Nan Zhiyun replied, bowing her head.
"Yun'er insisted on entering the palace back then, and waited for so long afterward. I know that you actually had expectations in your heart. You paid such a high price, and now you have finally seen what you wanted. Yun'er is also tempted, isn't she?" The Empress Dowager let Nan Zhiyun lean against her chest. She could understand.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager once told me that I am of noble birth and proud, and that I do not need to show weakness to anyone, much less lose my dignity in front of anyone. But it seems that I have not done so. Is Your Majesty very disappointed in me?" Nan Zhiyun looked at the Empress Dowager.
"No, not at all. There's no disappointment, never. Yun'er is still young, I know what she's thinking, I've felt the same way before," the Empress Dowager comforted her.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, your concubine..." Nan Zhiyun was about to say something, but was interrupted by the Empress Dowager.
"I've had lunch prepared. Yun'er, would you like to have lunch with me first?" The Empress Dowager's tone was full of affection.
"Yes..." Nan Zhiyun said no more and obediently accompanied the Empress Dowager to the meal. However, during the meal, Nan Zhiyun carefully noticed that the Empress Dowager's appetite was not very good, and the Empress Dowager usually did not like spicy food, but today... the food she was eating was quite spicy.
Nan Zhiyun secretly noted it down, but didn't say anything. In the afternoon, the Empress Dowager asked Nan Zhiyun to go back first, citing the fatigue of the journey. These things were very unusual, and Nan Zhiyun felt a little strange. After Nan Zhiyun left, An Xin helped the Empress Dowager sit down.
“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager’s tastes have changed a lot lately,” An Xin said.
"As people get older, they want to try different things," the Empress Dowager replied casually.
"Is the Empress Dowager angry with Consort Shu today?" An Xin asked.
"How could that be? We're too busy doting on her to even think about it." The Empress Dowager smiled gently, showing no sign of anger.
"The Consort Shu is currently with His Majesty..." An Xin hesitated, then stopped herself.
"It was expected. This is good. Only in this way can I know whether I have really done nothing wrong." The Empress Dowager said meaningfully.
"Yun'er is innocent and naive. There are so many demons and monsters in the harem. I'm afraid." The Empress Dowager's biggest worry was Nan Zhiyun.
"His Majesty has given the imperial gold medal to Consort Shu, which must be a form of protection for her," An Xin comforted the Empress Dowager.
"How can the harem rely on just this small gold medal? Yun'er is kind and doesn't have any tricks up her sleeve. How can she compare to these demons and monsters?" The Empress Dowager's eyes turned slightly cold.
"Have you arranged everything I asked you to do?" the Empress Dowager suddenly asked.
“Everything is arranged,” An Xin replied.
"Is Prince An also returning to the capital?" the Empress Dowager continued to ask.
"It'll probably be in the next day or two," An Xin said.
"In another three months, it should be almost done..." the Empress Dowager said thoughtfully.
An Xin stopped interrupting.
He'an Hall
Upon hearing that Nan Zhiyun had returned from Cining Palace today, Yu Jingchen immediately ordered his carriage to be prepared at He'an Palace.
As soon as Nan Zhiyun heard that Yu Jingchen had arrived, she immediately came out of the house.
"Your Majesty, I greet you." Before Nan Zhiyun could finish her bow, Yu Jingchen helped her up.
"From now on, when it's just the two of us, we don't need to worry about these formalities," Yu Jingchen said gently.
"Let's go inside, it's cold outside." Yu Jingchen led the person into the room.
Even in early summer, hot tea was served.
"Sit down." Yu Jingchen pulled her together. Perhaps because she had returned to the palace, Nan Zhiyun had become somewhat reserved again.
"Yes," Nan Zhiyun replied in a proper and conventional manner, which made Yu Jingchen frown slightly.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy? You were fine before, why are you like this now?" Yu Jingchen's tone carried a faint smile, trying to make Nan Zhiyun relax.
But this had no effect on Nan Zhiyun, who didn't say a word.
"Alright, didn't you have a lot of lanterns bought yesterday? I'll have someone send them over to you in a bit, okay? And while we're at it, let's see how to decorate He'an Palace. As for those jewelry pieces, didn't the Empress Dowager return today? You can pick some out and see if there's anything suitable for her, and then send it to her." Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun in front of him with a bit of discomfort.
He still preferred the Nan Zhiyun he knew yesterday; the current Nan Zhiyun is truly...heartbreaking. She seems like two different people, one inside the palace and one outside. It seems he'll have to take things slowly...
"Yun'er, were you happy to see the Empress Dowager today?" Yu Jingchen tried to find some topics to talk about.
But this topic, well, it works.
"Your Majesty... Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is acting strangely today," Nan Zhiyun said after a moment's thought.
"Strange? What's strange about it?" Yu Jingchen was just trying to start a conversation, but he didn't expect Nan Zhiyun to say something like that.
"I don't know, I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just feel something's different," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Then Yun'er should observe it more carefully in the future, okay? If you still feel something is strange, I'll ask around and investigate for you," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun did not respond to him.
Yu Jingchen didn't say anything more about it, but he did notice what Nan Zhiyun said and kept it in mind.
Before long, Yu Jingchen had all the lanterns delivered, along with the jewelry he had bought at Jin Yuxuan.
Nan Zhiyun looked at the room full of lanterns and was a little confused. Actually, she was just shy last night, so she didn't look at them carefully and didn't want to show her face to choose. She just casually said that she wanted them all. She didn't expect there to be so many.
"Yun'er, what do you want to do with these things? I'll have someone hang them in the yard outside, okay? The New Year is coming soon, and these things will come in handy," Yu Jingchen said.
"May I arrange it myself?" Nan Zhiyun asked Yu Jingchen.
“You can have these palace servants arrange things according to your wishes, but don’t do it yourself. It’s cold, and you’ll tire yourself out,” Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun liked these things, so she was naturally happy to see them. She had no complaints about Yu Jingchen's words and immediately began to arrange for people to set them up.
Watching Nan Zhiyun happily directing the palace servants at the door, Yu Jingchen's heart softened. It was as if he were seeing Nan Zhiyun from yesterday again. Indeed, she was still a young girl. She always had a strong interest in these things.
Just then, Xinglai came in and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Yuan has arrived."
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