Seven days later, Nan Su returned to the capital. This time, Nan Su's return to the capital did not attract much attention and was very low-key. By the time Nan Zhiyun found out, Nan Su had already entered the palace.
"Your Highness, please be careful." Qianxia looked at Nan Zhiyun with some concern, after all, the Empress's health had not been good these past few days, and she was afraid that she might get hurt.
Nan Zhiyun's heart remained uneasy ever since she heard that Nan Su had entered the palace. Because in this life, so many paths had truly diverged from those of the past.
"Your Majesty, please sit down for a while. His Majesty just sent word that the General will come to reunite with you once he comes out of the palace," Qianxia advised, but Nan Zhiyun wouldn't listen and refused to rest. Fortunately, Nan Su arrived soon after. The moment Nan Zhiyun saw her father, she completely lost control. In her previous life, she had watched helplessly as Yu Jingchen beheaded her father right before her eyes, so seeing her father standing alive before her now was unbearable.
Tears welled up in Nan Zhiyun's eyes instantly, and she threw herself into Nan Su's arms: "Daddy..." she whispered. Nan Su hugged Nan Zhiyun and said: "My dear girl, Daddy is back. Daddy is here. It's alright..." Hearing that familiar voice, Nan Zhiyun's tears flowed uncontrollably.
Yu Jingchen didn't come along, ostensibly to give them some private space so the father and son could have a proper reunion. But that was just a pretense; how could he possibly bear to do that, or feel at ease?
So Yu Jingchen secretly followed, and he saw Nan Zhiyun throwing herself into Nan Su's arms. Nan Zhiyun's emotions were so overwhelmed that listening to her made his heart ache, as if he were being pricked by needles.
"Your Majesty, are you going over there?" Xinglai asked Yu Jingchen.
“I won’t go. She wouldn’t want to see me. She’s been in a bad mood lately, so let’s not bother her now and let her relax for a while,” Yu Jingchen said.
“…Yes.” Xinglai wasn’t a fool. It seemed that His Majesty and Consort Shu had a lot of misunderstandings, and these misunderstandings… seemed to be related to General Nan Su. However, as someone who served the Emperor, he knew his place, so he just listened.
Nan Su and Nan Zhiyun spent a long time together, during which time the Empress Dowager also came. Yu Jingchen did not urge them, and even ordered the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a banquet. He also specially decreed that Nan Su be allowed to stay overnight in the palace.
He didn't go over to disturb them. Inside the hall, Nan Su, the Empress Dowager, and Nan Zhiyun were enjoying themselves immensely, while Yu Jingchen walked alone to the door. Listening to the sounds coming from inside, a sense of loneliness rose in his heart. He had experienced this before in his previous life, but compared to this time, it was far more unbearable.
"Your Majesty, it's late and the dew is heavy. You should go and rest," Xinglai advised from the side. But how could Yu Jingchen be so easily persuaded?
“She seems happier today,” Yu Jingchen said, clearly referring to Nan Zhiyun.
"General Nan is back today, so Consort Shu is naturally happy," Xinglai continued, following his lead.
"Will she be happier tomorrow? If Nan Su comes back, she can be happier. If she's a little happier every day, can she go back to how she was before?" Yu Jingchen asked Xing Lai.
Fortunately, I don't know how to answer this. Consort Shu... has changed, changed a lot. I'm afraid she can never go back to how she was before.
"Do you think if I apologize to her every day and try to make her happy, she won't be so angry anymore?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
Xing Lai's expression was complicated. He really wanted to remind Yu Jingchen, "Your Majesty, this is what you do every day now, but... you can't let go of Consort Shu."
That evening, perhaps because of Nan Su, Nan Zhiyun's mood improved significantly. She slept much more soundly that night. Yu Jingchen entered the room only after she had fallen asleep, as he had done every day for the past few days, waiting until Nan Zhiyun was asleep before coming in. This way, she wouldn't see him, and her heart wouldn't be so heavy.
"What should I do?" He had asked this question many times, but he had never received a response.
Yu Jingchen longed to hug Nan Zhiyun, but he didn't dare. Ever since Nan Zhiyun regained those memories, Yu Jingchen had never been close to her again, because she resisted him fiercely.
Now that Nan Zhiyun was asleep, he couldn't disturb her. If he woke her up, the situation would only get worse. It wasn't until late at night that Yu Jingchen reluctantly left; he had been doing this every day for the past few days.
Nan Su stayed in the palace for two days. During those two days, Yu Jingchen would let Nan Su and Nan Zhiyun spend some time together each day, because that would make Nan Zhiyun happier.
Three days later, Yu Jing'an returned to the capital, and Yu Jingchen hosted a banquet to welcome him back. Coincidentally, Nan Su had been back for three or four days, and since there hadn't been much trouble before, a celebration was naturally held for him as well.
Therefore, Yu Jingchen decreed that a banquet be held the following day to welcome Yu Jing'an and Nan Su. Yan Qing now holds the Phoenix Seal, so she assisted in handling most of the arrangements.
After the morning court session that day, Yu Jingchen returned to Zichen Palace. Nan Zhiyun hadn't left the palace for the past two days. She didn't react much when she saw Yu Jingchen arrive.
"Tonight is a welcome banquet for your father and Prince An. Would you like to go and watch?" Yu Jingchen asked Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun didn't respond to him, but Yu Jingchen wasn't angry. "You must be bored staying cooped up in the house all these days. Shall I take you out with me? Your father will be there too, so you can go sit for a while. If you're really bored, I'll have someone bring you back." Yu Jingchen continued to coax her, saying that he wanted to go to the banquet with Nan Zhiyun.
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