When the imperial physician arrived, he was taken directly to Nan Zhiyun's room. Nan Zhiyun's knees were covered in bruises, looking quite gruesome. When the Empress Dowager saw it, her heart clenched.
After the imperial physician examined Nan Zhiyun, she sat down next to Nan Zhiyun again and dismissed all the servants around her.
"Yun'er has been wronged." The Empress Dowager hugged her tightly with heartache. She knew what had happened, but often she was powerless to help.
"Yun'er just said she regrets it, but does she regret entering the palace?" the Empress Dowager asked her.
Perhaps it was because the Empress Dowager was there that she felt safe, because she didn't hide anything and told everything: "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager... Yun'er had a dream, in which... Prince An rebelled, and I took a sword for His Majesty... I..." Nan Zhiyun cried uncontrollably. She didn't know how to explain herself, and she didn't know if the Empress Dowager would believe her.
"Sweetie, it's just a dream, let's not think about it anymore, okay?" The Empress Dowager didn't seem to believe it.
"But...but that dream felt so real, like it actually happened. Your Majesty...I'm scared, I regret it. I shouldn't have disobeyed you and Father, I shouldn't have entered the palace. His Majesty...he doesn't like me, no matter what I do, he doesn't like me. I want to go home, I don't want to stay here..." Nan Zhiyun was just a little girl, and these past few days, coupled with her experiences from her previous life, filled her with fear.
"Alright...then let's go home, we won't stay here." The Empress Dowager's expression was complicated. How could she not know what kind of person Nan Zhiyun was? This time, she was truly afraid, and she was truly hurt...If she really came to this understanding, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.
The Empress Dowager secretly made up her mind. After Nan Zhiyun calmed down and rested, the Empress Dowager left. Yu Jingchen had long since disappeared from the outside. But that made sense, since Yu Jingchen only felt disgust towards Nan Zhiyun, not concern for her, not even an act.
"Let His Majesty come to Cixi Palace. I will be waiting for him there," the Empress Dowager said to her attendant.
“Yes,” An Xin replied. Although she didn’t know what the Empress Dowager was planning to do, she knew there must be a reason for her instructions.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, his relationship with the Empress Dowager became increasingly distant, especially after Consort Shu entered the palace. His Majesty became too lazy to even put on a show of respect for the Empress Dowager.
Zichen Palace
To be honest, Yu Jingchen didn't really want to talk to the Empress Dowager when he heard that she wanted to see him. However, the Empress Dowager was still his mother in name, so Yu Jingchen went to Cixi Palace after a short while.
The Empress Dowager had been waiting here for quite some time. It was now time for dinner, and the Empress Dowager had specially ordered the imperial kitchen to prepare a large meal, most of which were dishes that Yu Jingchen liked to eat.
Yu Jingchen looked at the table full of dishes and felt a slight stirring in his heart. In fact, after becoming emperor, he was no longer affected by these things. He might have liked to eat these things before, but how could an emperor's preferences be easily discerned?
After becoming emperor, Yu Jingchen disciplined himself every day, just as the Empress Dowager had disciplined him when he was still the crown prince. It has to be said that many of Yu Jingchen's habits were taught to him by the Empress Dowager.
"Why did Your Majesty summon me here?" Yu Jingchen glanced at the dishes and then asked the Empress Dowager.
"It has been a long time since I have dined with Your Majesty. Please have a simple meal with me today, Your Majesty." The Empress Dowager's tone was calm, revealing nothing unusual.
"No need, I'm very busy." Yu Jingchen refused decisively, feeling nauseous!
"Heh, is Your Majesty now even refusing to eat with me?" The Empress Dowager smiled, and An Xin helped her to her feet.
Yu Jingchen remained expressionless: "Does Your Majesty not understand? We both know exactly what's going on now."
"It's just a meal, Your Majesty. Look, these are all things I specially ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare. Your Majesty has always enjoyed them. I know that since Your Majesty ascended the throne and became Emperor, you have rarely touched these things. But today, since we are alone, Your Majesty might as well try them again and see if they still taste the same as before, and if they suit your taste." The Empress Dowager did not seem angry about Yu Jingchen's behavior just now.
Yu Jingchen didn't speak, and the Empress Dowager wasn't in a hurry either. She sat down in the seat next to her and then made a gesture to Yu Jingchen.
"Your Majesty, please sit down and have your meal. It's already so late; Your Majesty should at least eat something. Even if you don't like it, please make do." The Empress Dowager now resembled a mother. Yu Jingchen remained silent for a while before finally settling down, but he didn't touch his chopsticks.
"Why isn't Your Majesty eating? If you don't start eating, I'm afraid I won't be able to eat either." The Empress Dowager smiled gently, and Yu Jingchen suddenly felt that the Empress Dowager seemed a little abnormal.
He couldn't explain why, but after several rounds of persuasion from the Empress Dowager, Yu Jingchen finally picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.
It was impossible for these dishes to be laced with drugs. The Empress Dowager wouldn't be that foolish, and Yu Jingchen knew this even better, so he wasn't worried that the food had been tampered with.
"Does it taste the same as before?" the Empress Dowager asked him.
"What exactly does the Empress Dowager want to say?" Yu Jingchen was already getting impatient.
"What can I do? I just want to dine with His Majesty. How long has it been since my son and I have sat down together to have a peaceful meal?" The Empress Dowager spoke slowly and deliberately.
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