The Empress Dowager held Nan Zhiyun's hand and asked, "Yun'er, you've been in this palace for so long. Do you miss the old days? Do you want to leave the palace?"
Yu Jingchen immediately stopped in his tracks, looking at the figures inside without going in right away. Even Xing Lai beside him held her breath.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun was somewhat bewildered by the Empress Dowager's sudden change of topic. Why the sudden change of topic, and why this question...?
"Is it difficult to answer?" The Empress Dowager looked at Nan Zhiyun with affection and even tidied her hair.
"No... I just don't know how to say it..." Nan Zhiyun lowered her head and hesitated for a while before saying it.
"Is there something you don't know how to say? Or is Yun'er unwilling to answer?" the Empress Dowager continued to ask.
Yu Jingchen outside the door also subconsciously quieted down, feeling a little nervous. He didn't even know what he was nervous about. Was it Nan Zhiyun's answer?
“Your Majesty the Empress Dowager… I don’t like the palace,” Nan Zhiyun said.
I don't like it... It felt as if an invisible hand was gripping Yu Jingchen's heart.
"Does Yun'er want to leave the palace?" The Empress Dowager's expression didn't change much as she continued to ask.
Yu Jingchen's heart also jumped, and then he heard Nan Zhiyun's reply: "It seems... she doesn't want to either..." Nan Zhiyun shook her head.
She didn't want to stay in the palace, but she also seemed unwilling to leave. She didn't know what she was thinking; it always felt contradictory, yet it was the truth.
The Empress Dowager was not angry upon hearing this; she simply smiled faintly and pulled Nan Zhiyun into her arms, saying, "Yun'er hasn't seen it clearly yet. It's alright, it will be soon." The Empress Dowager's words were ambiguous, leaving Nan Zhiyun confused, but she didn't ask any further questions.
However... Nan Zhiyun didn't know, but Yu Jingchen was different. After hearing her answer, Yu Jingchen couldn't move for a long time. He thought that he might know the reason.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun, who was leaning against the Empress Dowager, and felt a mix of emotions. He stood at the door for a while before daring to go in.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." The servants inside the room bowed upon seeing Yu Jingchen, and Nan Zhiyun looked over upon hearing this.
“Your Majesty…” Nan Zhiyun called out.
"Is your foot injury any better? Was it still very painful yesterday?" Yu Jingchen concealed his emotions very well.
“It’s much better now,” Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Now that Your Majesty has arrived, let's have a meal." The Empress Dowager's expression softened.
Yu Jingchen pursed his lips and said nothing. The Empress Dowager then had the meal laid out. Qianxia, Qiuyun, and Dongwan were about to go to Fu Nanzhiyun when Yu Jingchen stopped them in front of them.
Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen with some confusion. The next moment, Yu Jingchen picked Nan Zhiyun up in his arms. Nan Zhiyun trembled, startled by the sudden action, and immediately wrapped her arms around Yu Jingchen's neck.
Yu Jingchen was satisfied with Nan Zhiyun's actions, so he carried her outside. The Empress Dowager watched this scene from the side, saying nothing and making no attempt to stop them, simply following behind.
After carrying Nan Zhiyun outside, Yu Jingchen carefully placed her in front of the dining table.
"Be careful not to run into them later," Yu Jingchen added.
Nan Zhiyun was still a little uncomfortable because the Empress Dowager was still there and kept watching her, which made Nan Zhiyun feel somewhat uneasy.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Nan Zhiyun said.
Yu Jingchen noticed her embarrassment, so he didn't tease her on purpose, but turned to look at the Empress Dowager.
"Sit down," the Empress Dowager said casually, then sat down in her seat next to Nan Zhiyun. Yu Jingchen sat on the other side of Nan Zhiyun, while An Xin and Xing Lai were in charge of tasting the dishes.
The Empress Dowager personally served Nan Zhiyun a bowl of soup.
"Yun'er, try this chicken soup. I had it prepared this morning, and it's been simmering for two hours. It's the kind you used to love," the Empress Dowager said, then placed a bowl full of soup in front of Nan Zhiyun.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager." Although Nan Zhiyun was expressing her gratitude, her tone was noticeably lighter than when she had spoken to Yu Jingchen earlier.
Nan Zhiyun picked up the spoon and started drinking. This chicken soup was her favorite; it was fragrant, delicious, and had a beautiful color.
"All the dishes on this table today are prepared according to your preferences," the Empress Dowager said, while helping Nan Zhiyun pick up some food.
"Try this crisp lotus root. You like this too, but you're picky. Why do you only eat the crisp kind of lotus root?" the Empress Dowager teased. Nan Zhiyun usually only ate the crisp kind of lotus root and didn't like the mushy kind.
Yu Jingchen watched from the sidelines, also taking the opportunity to memorize all of Nan Zhiyun's preferences. Looking at the large table of dishes, Yu Jingchen noted them all down, but... when he saw the fish on the table, he frowned.
"Why is there fish here?" Yu Jingchen asked. He remembered that Nan Zhiyun was allergic to fish.
"Doesn't His Majesty like to eat fish?" the Empress Dowager said casually.
"The Empress Dowager should know that Yun'er is allergic to fish," Yu Jingchen replied.
"Of course I know, but I also remember that Yun'er used to eat fish often. So many people thought it was because Yun'er liked it, but they didn't know it was just because His Majesty liked to eat it, so this silly girl would eat it too." The Empress Dowager spoke very softly, but Yu Jingchen knew that the Empress Dowager was actually still angry.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun clearly wanted to stop her.
The Empress Dowager was also helpless, and gently tapped Nan Zhiyun's forehead: "Is there any girl in this world more soft-hearted than you? Not only soft-hearted, but also silly."
"The Empress Dowager always said that Yun'er was the best because she was a bit silly," Nan Zhiyun retorted with a smile.
"Back then, I thought Yun'er was a bit naive, which made her very cute and carefree, so everything about her was good. But now I think Yun'er is too silly, and it's not worth it." The Empress Dowager's words were very clear.
Nan Zhiyun didn't respond, and it was unclear whether she had understood or not. She simply reached out and picked up some food for the Empress Dowager, saying, "This is something Your Majesty the Empress Dowager also likes."
How could the Empress Dowager not understand her meaning? Even if she was unwilling, what could she do but go along with her? On the contrary, looking at Yu Jingchen, his attention was always on Nan Zhiyun. Seeing Nan Zhiyun like this, his guilt deepened.
These things happen gradually and subtly; perhaps no matter how much time passes, these things will be deeply rooted in his heart.
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