Seeing Nan Zhiyun's silence, Yu Jingchen knew that she was actually wary and afraid.
He hugged the person in his arms tighter: "What kind of person do you think I am, Yun'er?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun pondered for a long time, but still didn't speak.
"Yun'er, don't be afraid or worried. Just tell me." Yu Jingchen comforted her. He knew that Nan Zhiyun was worried about him.
"His Majesty is a good emperor for the people and the entire Yuan Dynasty..." Nan Zhiyun replied. In fact, this was not wrong. After Yu Jingchen ascended the throne, the country's status was actually higher than that of its neighbors, and its strength was the strongest.
Furthermore, since Yu Jingchen became the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, the lives of the people have improved significantly compared to the past, with taxes and corvée labor generally decreasing considerably.
He then immediately began to rectify the officialdom, from high-ranking officials to local magistrates. Besides a thorough investigation from top to bottom, there were also random checks and constant supervision. Therefore, compared to previous years, things were indeed much better after Yu Jingchen took office. For the country and for the people, he was a good emperor.
"And then? Is there anything else?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Furthermore... I believe that everyone is afraid of His Majesty." Whether it is court officials or palace concubines, they are all afraid of him.
"Yun'er, do you know how I got this position?" Yu Jingchen suddenly asked.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head.
"To ascend to this position, I personally killed my own elder and younger brothers. My heart was full of scheming, and my hands were covered in blood. In the beginning, I would have dreams every day. In my dreams, I was covered in blood, watching my flesh and blood relatives fall one by one in front of me. I dreamed that I plunged a sharp blade into their chests." Yu Jingchen seemed to be telling a story.
Nan Zhiyun's heart tightened. When she was by the Empress Dowager's side, the Empress Dowager would tell her, "Yun'er, the royal family may be something many people envy, but the royal family is actually the most ruthless, the most cold-blooded, and the place where people are most likely to be reduced to ashes."
"Here, even brothers can be the greatest enemies. There is no kinship, only strife and self-interest. Therefore, the most cold-blooded and heartless are the imperial family. Yun'er, the royal family is the most unfortunate place; you should never set foot here." At that time, the Empress Dowager spoke to her with great earnestness, but she seemed not to understand her meaning.
Yu Jingchen frowned slightly as he looked at Nan Zhiyun, who seemed lost in thought. What was wrong?
"Yun'er?" Yu Jingchen called his name.
"Hmm?" Nan Zhiyun came back to her senses.
"What are you thinking about?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"I was just thinking about some things the Empress Dowager said before." Nan Zhiyun spoke the truth without a single lie.
"What did you say?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"The Empress Dowager previously said that the imperial family is heartless," Nan Zhiyun said without hesitation.
“What she said is true. The Tian family is probably the most ruthless.” Yu Jingchen said, and then patted Nan Zhiyun’s head.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun seemed to want to say something.
“Yun’er, I am actually the best example.” Yu Jingchen said. Nan Zhiyun did not expect Yu Jingchen to use herself as an example.
“I used to be someone who didn’t care about anything, a cold-hearted and heartless person. I would stop at nothing to do anything or anyone if I wanted to. No matter how bloody or cruel the process was, as long as it achieved my goal, the method was fine.” Yu Jingchen was very frank.
Nan Zhiyun's heart clenched.
"To a large extent, I'm probably just a tyrant in many people's eyes. But I don't actually dislike that title; on the contrary, I accept it. That's the image I project in their eyes. What I need is for them all to fear me," Yu Jingchen said.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised that he would say such a thing. Why would he have such a thought? Is it really a good thing for everyone to fear you?
“For someone of my status, I naturally think it’s a good thing.” Yu Jingchen seemed to be able to see through Nan Zhiyun’s thoughts.
Yu Jingchen found Nan Zhiyun's incredulous expression amusing and affectionately pinched her cheek.
"Your thoughts are written all over your face, how could I not see them?" Yu Jingchen said helplessly.
Nan Zhiyun is sorry.
“Yun’er, perhaps you can’t understand these things yet, but you must know that as an emperor, you should be able to awe everyone,” Yu Jingchen explained.
"Hmm..." Nan Zhiyun seemed to understand, but she didn't quite get it.
"Yun'er, all you need to know is that no matter what I'm like outside, I'm different here with you," Yu Jingchen said.
“But…Your Majesty, I…” Nan Zhiyun couldn’t accept these things either, perhaps because her views had been different since childhood.
“Yun’er, I will gradually change some of my methods, but it can’t be changed overnight. You have to understand that my position doesn’t allow me to be soft-hearted,” Yu Jingchen explained patiently.
“…Hmm,” Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Yun'er, I'm saying all this just so you won't be afraid of me... Perhaps some of my methods now will remind you of some things I did to you in the past, and for that... I'm truly sorry," Yu Jingchen said.
“I will slowly make up for it, but I need you to give me this opportunity, so don’t run away, don’t be afraid, okay?” Yu Jingchen said to her.
"Okay..." Nan Zhiyun wasn't sure if she had actually listened to him.
Yu Jingchen didn't say anything more, sighed softly, and then pulled Nan Zhiyun even closer into his arms.
"I'm sorry, and... please give me a chance, okay? Yun'er, we'll get better slowly," Yu Jingchen continued.
"Okay," Nan Zhiyun said nothing this time, but simply leaned against Yu Jingchen's chest and stayed quietly.
"Hmm," Nan Zhiyun seemed to be thinking about something.
Yu Jingchen fell silent after that, and the room became quiet. When Qianxia came in, she also felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange.
"Greetings, Your Majesty and Your Highness," Qianxia bowed.
"What is it?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"It was the Empress Dowager who knew that Your Highness was injured, so she specially asked Aunt Anxin to send some things over and check on Your Highness's current condition," Qianxia replied.
Nan Zhiyun immediately sat up, and Yu Jingchen released her, but still pulled the blanket over her.
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