But how could Consort Min be intimidated by a mere palace maid? She was immediately dissatisfied and raised her hand to slap her, but Nan Zhiyun pulled her back, so she missed.
"Who do you think you are? A lowly servant girl, how dare you speak to me like that?" Min Chongyi was still somewhat unwilling, and pointed at Nan Zhiyun and started cursing: "Nan Zhiyun, is this how you manage the people around you?"
"What does it have to do with you? Even if she has faults, my maids are not for you to touch. Besides, she didn't say anything wrong just now." Nan Zhiyun's tone wasn't very harsh, but even this gentle tone made people feel that she was not to be trifled with.
"Nan Zhiyun, don't think that just because you're now a Consort Shu, you can rise to the top. His Majesty's affection for you is nothing more than superficial. Do you really think you're favored? His Majesty hates you the most. Don't you know that?" Consort Min was quite unrestrained in her speech.
Nan Zhiyun felt a pang of sadness when Yu Jingchen took such good care of her these past few days. But those memories from the past could never be erased.
"Nan Zhiyun, I'm warning you, you're the one who should remember your place. When His Majesty gets tired, your fate will only be worse than before!" Consort Min shouted.
Nan Zhiyun looked at her, too lazy to argue any further: "Is there something you need?"
"Heh, are you getting impatient? Nan Zhiyun, don't take yourself too seriously! Besides, I'm here today on the orders of the Imperial Concubine. Zichen Palace is His Majesty's residence, and it's probably inappropriate for you to stay here any longer. Now that your injuries have almost healed, you should move out as soon as possible," said Consort Min. This was purely taking a trivial matter for granted; no one could be better at abusing their power than her.
Nan Zhiyun didn't want to stay here either, but it was really jarring to hear her say that she should move out.
"Oh, right, the Imperial Concubine also said that since Consort Shu has been injured these days, she may have really forgotten the rules. And since she has been staying here for so long, she is bound to have some random thoughts on her mind. So she specially asked you to copy the Buddhist scriptures twenty times and send them over in three days," Consort Min continued.
"Your Highness is unwell and may not be able to copy it. Besides, His Majesty has not yet given his word. Isn't it a bit inappropriate for the Noble Consort to do this?" Qianxia questioned.
"You have no right to speak here! Guards, drag this palace maid away and beat her to death!" Consort Min had reached her limit with Qianxia.
"Who among you dares to touch my people?" Nan Zhiyun's voice was very soft, but no one around dared to move.
Min Chongyi was furious about the current situation and immediately lost her temper.
"What's wrong? You all dare to disobey me? Who does Nan Zhiyun think she is? Can't you tell the difference between what's important and what's not?!" Min Chongyi continued to yell at the people around her.
But just then, a voice suddenly came from outside: "His Majesty has arrived!"
Nan Zhiyun and Min Chongyi reacted differently upon hearing this. Nan Zhiyun was also nervous, while Min Chongyi seemed to be gloating.
When Yu Jingchen came in from outside, she changed her expression and put on a pitiful look.
"Your Majesty, this concubine greets you~" Consort Min's voice was shy and aggrieved, as if she had suffered a great injustice. When Yu Jingchen passed by, she leaned against him.
However... Yu Jingchen slapped her across the face. Min Chongyi didn't expect Yu Jingchen to hit her and fell to the ground with a thud.
“Your Majesty…” Min Chongyi could not believe what was happening.
Nan Zhiyun was stunned by the scene. Yu Jingchen didn't even glance at Min Chongyi before heading towards Nan Zhiyun's location.
As Yu Jingchen approached, Nan Zhiyun took two steps back, out of fear.
"Don't be afraid," Yu Jingchen said, putting his arm around her waist. Nan Zhiyun leaned against him.
"What did she just say to you?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes suddenly reddened, whether from grievance or fear, it was unclear. Min Chongyi, witnessing this scene, could hardly believe her eyes.
She covered half her face, looked pitifully at Yu Jingchen, and called out, "Your Majesty~"
"She just hit you? Hmm? Tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen knew what kind of person Min Chongyi was, so he was worried that Nan Zhiyun would be taken advantage of. Because he had a prejudice against Nan Zhiyun before, he deliberately gave Min Chongyi double the favor, which made her act unruly.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head, but tears involuntarily streamed down her face. She didn't know what it felt like to be protected by Yu Jingchen. Was this what she felt like now? Would he protect her too?
"Don't cry, tell me, what did she do to you just now? Did she touch you?" Yu Jingchen coaxed her.
"Your Majesty, Consort Min just made a scene demanding to see the Empress. The Empress said she didn't want to see her, so she kept making a fuss outside. After the Empress came out, she even made sarcastic remarks to the Empress, saying that it was against the rules for the Empress to stay in Zichen Palace and that the Empress should move out as soon as possible. What's even more outrageous is... Consort Min said that the Empress has been injured these days and has been staying here, so she is restless and irritable, and she made the Empress copy Buddhist scriptures twenty times..." Qianxia recounted everything that had just been said.
"Is that so?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun softly. Nan Zhiyun didn't speak, but buried her head in Yu Jingchen's arms and cried, the meaning of which was self-evident. Yu Jingchen's face immediately darkened; he couldn't bear to hear the word "leave."
He gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back, trying to ease her fear and tension.
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