This night was destined to be sleepless. Yu Jingchen held Nan Zhiyun in his arms all night and didn't dare to let go.
The next day, when Nan Zhiyun woke up, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting in front of her bed. Nan Zhiyun was stunned for a moment, somewhat bewildered.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun seemed to still find it hard to believe.
The Empress Dowager smiled gently upon hearing this: "You're awake? How are you? Are you feeling any better? Does your wound still hurt?" the Empress Dowager asked softly.
"Alright... why is the Empress Dowager here?" Nan Zhiyun was still not in a state of shock.
"I heard you missed me, so I came to see my Yun'er." The Empress Dowager smiled and stroked Nan Zhiyun's hair.
"What?" Nan Zhiyun hadn't even reacted yet.
"The Emperor sent someone to Cixi Palace early this morning, saying that a young girl had a nightmare last night and kept asking to see me, so he asked me to come and keep you company today," the Empress Dowager said.
"No..." Nan Zhiyun was somewhat confused.
"Hmm? No? Really no? Then why did His Majesty tell me that?" the Empress Dowager asked her half-jokingly.
"No..." Nan Zhiyun thought about it carefully, but still couldn't recall saying such a thing. Of course, it was also because she couldn't remember anything that happened last night. All she could remember was when she and Yu Jingchen were doing those things... and she felt timid and scared again.
"So Yun'er means she doesn't miss me anymore." Of course, the Empress Dowager was just making a light joke.
"No... I still miss the Empress Dowager." As Nan Zhiyun spoke, she tried to sit up on her own. When the Empress Dowager saw her movement, she went to help her.
"Be careful of your injury, don't touch it, or you'll be in pain again soon," the Empress Dowager said, though her face was full of worry.
Nan Zhiyun was already dressed; Yu Jingchen had helped her put on her clothes. After all, the Empress Dowager was coming, and it wouldn't be good if she saw those marks...
"It's alright..." Nan Zhiyun said, while hugging the Empress Dowager.
"Your Majesty, where is the Imperial Preceptor?" Nan Zhiyun asked, seemingly still remembering this.
“She’s no longer in the palace,” the Empress Dowager replied, then naturally pulled her into her arms.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager... what is your relationship with the Imperial Advisor?" Nan Zhiyun finally couldn't help but ask.
"Don't worry, Yun'er, I know what I'm doing. You don't need to worry about it, okay?" The Empress Dowager said helplessly.
“Okay…” Nan Zhiyun was always obedient. Since the Empress Dowager told her not to ask, she kept quiet.
"How have things been going with the Emperor lately, Yun'er?" The Empress Dowager thought for a moment and decided to ask her anyway.
“…It’s alright,” Nan Zhiyun replied. So far, it does seem alright, except for certain aspects.
"How is it alright? I think... Your Majesty seems to have changed." The Empress Dowager seemed to be saying this on purpose.
"Hmm..." Nan Zhiyun did not deny it, and of course, it was an undeniable fact that he was indeed different.
"Is Yun'er still very afraid of him?" the Empress Dowager asked her.
"I'm still scared, but... it seems different from before. I'm not as scared as I used to be," Nan Zhiyun replied.
The Empress Dowager seemed thoughtful, but did not ask any further questions. Nan Zhiyun, not hearing the Empress Dowager's voice, raised her head in confusion.
"Does Your Majesty have something to say to me?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"There's nothing special to say, I just hope Yun'er can think it over carefully. What you want and what you don't want, these are things you need to think about carefully yourself. No matter what, I'll always be on Yun'er's side. As long as Yun'er is happy, anything is fine." The Empress Dowager looked at Nan Zhiyun with a face full of doting affection. All she wanted was for little Yun'er's happiness.
"..." Nan Zhiyun didn't say anything this time.
The Empress Dowager simply smiled at her silence and did not press her further.
The Empress Dowager spent the entire morning there. Yu Jingchen had been staying in the Hall of Diligent Governance since the morning court session, but…
Xing Lai looked at Yu Jingchen and thought, "Your Majesty, are you really dealing with state affairs? Where has your mind wandered off to? You've been looking at this memorial for half an hour without changing it, and your eyes keep looking outside. What are you looking at?"
"Your Majesty... it's almost lunchtime, you see..." Xinglai's meaning was very clear.
"Has the Empress Dowager returned to Cixi Palace?" Yu Jingchen asked a seemingly unrelated question.
"Not yet, I should be having lunch with Consort Shu," Xinglai replied.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Did he call me by the wrong name?
"Does Your Majesty wish to dine now?" Xinglai had already seen through it all, but... I mean, is the Empress Dowager some kind of monster? Why doesn't she dare to approach?
Yu Jingchen did not answer.
"Then... Your Majesty, why don't we proceed to the He'an Palace?" Xinglai felt that he should give his Majesty a way out.
"No need, let the Empress Dowager and Consort Shu have some time to themselves." Yu Jingchen's gaze returned to the memorial in his hand, which he hadn't changed since.
Xinglai: "..." Tsk, Your Majesty, are you really that reserved? But since Your Majesty "doesn't want to go," then so be it.
Just as Xinglai was about to take off her clothes... someone came from outside.
"Your Majesty, Aunt Anxin from the Empress Dowager's side has arrived. She says she wants Your Majesty to dine with Princess Anxin," the palace maid said.
Xinglai: "..." Oh wow...
Yu Jingchen was also stunned. The Empress Dowager had specially sent someone to call him over for a meal?
"Your Majesty, if you're not going, then this servant will go out and let you know?" Xinglai was doing this on purpose.
"Wait..." Yu Jingchen called out to him.
"Since Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has sent someone specifically for this purpose, then let's prepare the carriage for the He'an Palace." Yu Jingchen's tone was somewhat nonchalant, but he had already put down the memorial and stood up.
Xinglai: "..." He also felt that his emperor had changed more than just a little bit.
"Yes," Luckily agreed.
He immediately ordered his carriage to be prepared at He'an Palace. When he arrived, the people at He'an Palace were about to announce his arrival, but Yu Jingchen stopped them.
Yu Jingchen quietly walked in, but just as he reached the door, he heard cheerful laughter coming from inside. Hearing the laughter, Yu Jingchen couldn't help but smile.
But... Nan Zhiyun rarely showed this side of herself in front of him... or rather, she never did. In that instant, Yu Jingchen's mood became depressed again.
He composed himself at the doorway and prepared to go inside. But just as he was about to step inside, he heard the Empress Dowager ask Nan Zhiyun a question.
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