Yu Jingchen roughly knew what she was thinking and could guess it. So he wasn't in a hurry. He reached out and gently patted Nan Zhiyun's back, trying to help her relax.
"Yun'er, be good, don't be afraid, I won't be angry. I just want you to tell me about this. I want you to let me know about this yourself, instead of learning about it from someone else. So please tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen coaxed him slowly, step by step.
"..." Nan Zhiyun remained silent as always, but she was not completely inactive. After Yu Jingchen said those words, she cautiously looked at him, as if she was afraid of seeing a trace of anger in his eyes.
Such a gaze and look deeply pierced Yu Jingchen's heart. What kind of circumstances had turned that carefree and easygoing girl into such a cautious and timid person?
"It's okay, sweetheart. I promise you, I won't be angry, okay? So tell me, what did you do today? Hmm?" Yu Jingchen gently touched her face.
Nan Zhiyun opened her mouth, but didn't speak; she was still worried.
"Tell me, okay? What did Yun'er do today?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"I'm sorry..." Nan Zhiyun apologized obediently.
"I won't say sorry, and there's no need for apology. Yun'er didn't do anything wrong. Yun'er just needs to tell me what she did today and why, okay?" Yu Jingchen didn't like hearing Nan Zhiyun's apology, and she didn't need to apologize. The one who should apologize was himself; he was the one who failed to protect her.
"...Today...I fell by myself, I did it on purpose...it wasn't Consort Li..." Nan Zhiyun would pause for a long time after saying a few words, and she didn't dare to look at Yu Jingchen when she said this, her head hanging very low.
Yu Jingchen wasn't angry. Instead, he smiled at her affectionately and asked, "Why did Yun'er do that? Hmm?"
“I don’t like her… I hate her, she touched me…” Nan Zhiyun continued, her tone now carrying a hint of childishness.
Yu Jingchen was actually quite happy to see Nan Zhiyun show this side of herself to him, so Nan Zhiyun's current appearance softened his heart.
“There’s no need to take the risk. What if you get hurt? If you don’t like it, you can just tell me. It’s no problem to tell me directly.” Yu Jingchen told Nan Zhiyun that as long as Nan Zhiyun told him, he would go along with her.
"I'm sorry..." Nan Zhiyun didn't know if it was because of guilt, or because of fear and nervousness.
“I don’t mean to blame you, nor do I say you did anything wrong. I’m just saying that if you had told me directly, this method would have been better. And Xiaoyun, if I hadn’t asked you today, would you not have told me all this? Then you would have started to overthink and worry, which isn’t good for your health, understand?” Yu Jingchen patiently explained to her.
Nan Zhiyun seemed to understand and knew her own problem, so she nodded obediently. Yu Jingchen's heart softened at her appearance.
"It's okay, sweetie. I just asked you because I didn't want you to keep these things bottled up inside." Yu Jingchen ruffled Nan Zhiyun's hair a couple of times.
Nan Zhiyun released him: "Rest for a while, go to sleep." Yu Jingchen then stopped bothering her.
"Mmm," Nan Zhiyun slowly lay down following Yu Jingchen's movements.
Yu Jingchen covered her with a blanket, but instead of leaving, he sat down next to Nan Zhiyun and let the little girl lean against him. "You sleep by yourself, and I'll continue telling you stories, okay?" Yu Jingchen said.
"Hmm," Nan Zhiyun leaned a little closer to Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen placed one hand on her back and gently patted her before beginning to tell the rest of the story.
About 45 minutes later, Nan Zhiyun had already drifted off to sleep. Yu Jingchen only got up after watching the little girl fall asleep.
Yu Jingchen left the room, where Xing Lai was waiting for him outside: "Prepare the carriage for Cining Palace."
Fortunately, she bowed her head and agreed. Then she went to Cixi Palace with Yu Jingchen. The Empress Dowager had not yet rested. Usually, at this time, the Empress Dowager would have already taken a nap.
"Why has Your Majesty come?" The Empress Dowager looked at Yu Jingchen as he approached without surprise.
“Yun’er has fallen asleep. I was afraid that Mother would worry, so I came here specifically to tell her,” Yu Jingchen said.
"Did Yun'er sleep well?" the Empress Dowager asked softly.
"Yun'er is fine. She's been quite sleepy these days, so she's sleeping well." Yu Jingchen found a seat downstairs.
"Really? You're something to be happy about. Yun'er hasn't had a proper rest since entering the palace, and she hasn't had a good night's sleep in a single day," the Empress Dowager said slowly, causing Yu Jingchen to pause slightly.
But the Empress Dowager seemed not to see it, ignoring it completely, and continued speaking unhurriedly: "Yun'er used to be so carefree, but after entering the palace, she has become cautious in everything. Does Your Majesty remember what little Yun'er was like before?" The Empress Dowager looked at Yu Jingchen.
The former Nan Zhiyun? Yu Jingchen pursed his lips slightly, not answering the question.
"Your Majesty, you don't understand Yun'er. Yun'er looks completely different now than before," the Empress Dowager continued.
“It was my fault before,” Yu Jingchen said, without trying to dodge the question.
"Of course it's your fault. Yun'er didn't do anything wrong; she just fell in love with you." The Empress Dowager's words were much sharper this time.
"What happened today was Consort Yuan's doing, but I was indeed aware of it and even helped to stir things up. Does Your Majesty have any idea why?" the Empress Dowager continued to ask.
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