Qin Zheng Hall
Yu Jingchen had just finished the morning court session.
“Your Majesty, last night… Consort Nan seemed to have been sitting up all night.” Xinglai hesitated for a moment but decided to tell Yu Jingchen this.
"Let her be." Yu Jingchen clearly didn't want to hear about Nan Zhiyun's affairs, but how should I put it? Hearing these useless words, he wasn't angry at all... Fortunately, he immediately understood.
Yu Jingchen spent the entire morning in the Hall of Diligent Governance processing memorials, including Prince An's request to return to the capital. Prince An… Yu Jingchen's eyes instantly sharpened.
Around noon, Xinglai came in and said that Chen Xiurong had arrived. Yu Jingchen was somewhat impatient; he hadn't originally planned to see her, but then he thought about the changes in himself over the past two days…
"Let her in," Yu Jingchen said.
"Yes," Fortunately, Chen Xiurong was invited in.
As soon as Consort Chen entered, she knelt on the ground: "This concubine greets Your Majesty."
Yu Jingchen didn't even raise his head: "Your Majesty, I have come to apologize. I was ignorant of the rules yesterday." Consort Chen took the initiative to admit her mistake.
Yu Jingchen uttered only this one syllable, without calling out or saying anything else.
"Your Majesty..." Chen Xiurong had barely uttered a sound when she saw Yu Jingchen looking at her with icy eyes: "Don't you know the rules today either?"
"Yes, Your Highness knows your mistake," Consort Chen said, immediately shutting her mouth in fright.
Winter was approaching, and the ground was not only hard but also cold. Chen Xiurong could hardly stand it for long.
She knelt for about half an hour before Yu Jingchen looked up at her and asked, "Do you know why you're being punished?"
Consort Chen, being "foolish and dull," genuinely did not know.
"From now on, I will always remember my place, and if I commit this offense again, I will not let it go unpunished," Yu Jingchen said.
Chen Xiurong roughly guessed that the person was probably referring to her behavior yesterday. But... she always acted this way, didn't she? Or was it because of Nan Zhiyun? But who in the palace didn't know that Yu Jingchen disliked Nan Zhiyun?
Even though things have changed a bit in the last couple of days, everyone just assumes it's because the Empress Dowager is coming back. So they don't take Nan Zhiyun seriously at all.
But she didn't dare ask.
"I know I was wrong. I will be careful with my words and actions from now on and will never dare to do it again," said Consort Chen.
"Step down," Yu Jingchen said nothing more.
"Yes, this concubine takes her leave." Consort Chen was somewhat unwilling, but she still held back.
When she left the Hall of Diligent Governance, she showed no signs of the disheveled state she had just been in punishment. She maintained her composure throughout, so those outside only knew that Consort Chen had stayed in the Hall of Diligent Governance for more than half an hour before leaving.
When the news reached Ya Jing Ju, Nan Zhiyun had only just woken up. Qian Xia was watching over the medicine, and the servants below, lacking discernment, told Nan Zhiyun about it.
"Jieyu, don't take it to heart," Qianxia comforted softly.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head. The dream was finally over, and she should be happy. Otherwise, she was afraid she would really be immersed in that dream and never wake up.
"Bring the medicine up," Nan Zhiyun instructed. She cared about her own health; after all, she couldn't afford to be reckless. If she didn't care about herself, no one would comfort her. Oh, perhaps there was Qian Xia.
"The imperial kitchen has already delivered today's meal. Consort, please eat first before taking your medicine," Qianxia said.
Nan Zhiyun nodded and went to eat, even though she couldn't eat anything.
The food delivered by the imperial kitchen was much better than before; there was no more skimping, and it was the portion that a concubine should receive.
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