Inside the room, Nan Zhiyun sat on the bed, her face pale, probably in pain. Yu Jingchen's pupils contracted slightly upon seeing this; she truly seemed fragile and vulnerable, making him want to feel sorry for her and cherish her.
"Your Majesty!" The palace servants and imperial physicians immediately bowed to Yu Jingchen.
"How is it? What's the situation with Consort Shu's foot injury?" Yu Jingchen asked, then went straight to Nan Zhiyun.
When Nan Zhiyun saw Yu Jingchen, she didn't immediately think of bowing. After seeing the worry on his face, Nan Zhiyun felt wronged.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun's voice trembled with pain.
"Yes, I'm here." Yu Jingchen sat down next to Nan Zhiyun.
"Your Majesty, the Empress has twisted her ankle; the palanquin broke a bone when it crashed," the imperial physician replied. Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen's face immediately darkened, turning as black as ink.
When the Imperial Concubine entered, this was the Yu Jingchen she saw. She knew that Consort Yin had committed a grave offense this time, and... Nan Zhiyun was truly different to him now.
"Your Majesty, I greet you," the Imperial Concubine said with a slight bow.
"Bring the person here!" Yu Jingchen roared, and the Imperial Concubine naturally knew who Yu Jingchen was referring to.
"Your Majesty, I have already sent someone to invite Consort Yin," the Imperial Concubine replied.
"Please what? Crack her foot bones and make her crawl over here!" Yu Jingchen was truly enraged.
The Imperial Concubine was surprised that Yu Jingchen would impose such a severe punishment, and for a moment she was unsure whether it was just Yu Jingchen saying something in anger.
"Your Majesty, Consort Yin must already know her mistake. Is your punishment...?" The Imperial Concubine reminded her, "Consort Yin's father is the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Yu Jingchen had taken this into consideration before, so he only demoted her rank. Now..."
"Sister Shufei..." The Imperial Concubine felt that Yu Jingchen's appearance was unrealistic, so she looked directly at Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun never expected that Yu Jingchen would punish Yin Cairen like this, shattering her foot bones... Nan Zhiyun couldn't imagine it.
"Yun'er is begging for mercy?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun snuggled closer to Yu Jingchen's chest and shook her head. Yu Jingchen's lips curved slightly; thankfully, he wasn't truly willing to suffer such injustice.
"Consort Yin's words were inappropriate, and she plotted to harm Consort Shu. She is now demoted to a palace maid. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has failed to properly discipline his daughter; he is ordered to enter the palace immediately to personally discipline her!" A cold glint flashed in Yu Jingchen's eyes. A mere Minister of the Court of Judicial Review? Did they really think he was powerless? Wasn't it said that imperial power was absolute? Today, he would see if these people truly dared to defy imperial authority!
Some people always need him to remind them what they can and cannot do. So today, he'll make a lasting impression on them.
Knowing there was no room for tact, the Imperial Concubine said no more. However… before leaving, she glanced thoughtfully at Nan Zhiyun in Yu Jingchen's arms.
Yu Jingchen looked at the little girl hiding in his arms and his heart softened completely, but when he saw her injured foot, he felt a pang of pain in his heart.
"There's no way to stop the pain?" Yu Jingchen looked at the imperial physician with an unfriendly gaze.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me"—that meant no. Yu Jingchen looked at the little girl in his arms; she was enduring it. Her body was trembling so violently, yet she refused to utter a sound.
"Sweetie, if it hurts, just scream. If you want to cry, just cry. You don't have to hold it in, okay?" Yu Jingchen felt sorry for her when he saw her like this.
Nan Zhiyun stirred in Yu Jingchen's arms. Yu Jingchen lowered his head and looked at Nan Zhiyun, who was leaning against his chest. Her eyes were still filled with tears, and she looked incredibly pitiful.
"If it hurts, cry it out. Don't hold it in. No one here will laugh at you, okay? It's okay. I know it hurts a lot. Yun'er is most afraid of pain." Yu Jingchen gently comforted her.
Nan Zhiyun couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they immediately escaped from her eyes, falling like pearls from a broken string, dripping onto the back of Yu Jingchen's hand, burning into her heart.
"It hurts..." Nan Zhiyun couldn't help but cry.
"Yes, Yun'er has suffered. You've been wronged this time," Yu Jingchen comforted her.
The imperial physician was treating Nan Zhiyun's foot injury, not daring to lift her head even slightly, but it was truly painful. Even the lightest touch from the physician was unbearable for Nan Zhiyun.
“Good girl…” Yu Jingchen felt sorry for her too, but there was nothing he could do. He could only press Nan Zhiyun’s head into his arms to prevent her from looking.
"When will this injury heal? What precautions should I take?" Yu Jingchen asked the imperial physician.
"Your Majesty's injury will likely require at least a month of rest. You should avoid using your feet as much as possible, refrain from any strenuous activity, and apply medication as prescribed," the imperial physician replied.
"Will there be any other impacts?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"If you rest and recuperate properly, there shouldn't be any major problems, Your Majesty, so there's no need to worry," the imperial physician said.
Hearing this, Yu Jingchen felt relieved, relieved that there wouldn't be any lasting effects. He patted the girl's head in his arms, filled with tenderness.
The little girl was crying very sadly; it seemed she was really in pain. Indeed, she had broken a bone. Yu Jingchen couldn't imagine what would happen if Nan Zhiyun had suffered other injuries this time—falling from such a high palanquin and getting her foot crushed.
The wooden beams of that sedan chair were really heavy. The young girl was already afraid of pain, so how could she possibly bear it now?
"It'll be alright soon." Yu Jingchen gently kissed Nan Zhiyun's forehead.
"It hurts so much..." Nan Zhiyun's voice was still trembling with tears.
"I know, it'll be done soon," Yu Jingchen reassured him, sounding quite annoyed.
"Don't be so reckless, be careful with your movements," Yu Jingchen said to the imperial physician, his tone slightly cold.
The imperial physicians trembled with fear, not daring to utter a sound. Weren't their movements gentle enough? It's easy for them to talk when they're not the ones suffering...
The imperial physician was already drenched in sweat after treating Nan Zhiyun's wounds. Was this something a human being could do? With the Emperor's piercing gaze... he was genuinely terrified, afraid that her head would roll off the next second.
"Alright," Yu Jingchen said after the imperial physician finished applying the medicine.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes were already red from crying, and she hadn't recovered yet. She was barefoot and very cold, and the medicine she was applying had been very painful, so she really couldn't bear it.
Nan Zhiyun was naturally delicate, and she had become more tolerant before, but after being pampered by Yu Jingchen for so long, she reverted back to her old self. Just now, seeing Yu Jingchen's concerned and worried expression made her feel incredibly wronged, and even her pain seemed more pronounced to her.
Later, Yu Jingchen gently coaxed her, and her tears flowed uncontrollably, as if a dam had been opened.
"I want to go back..." Nan Zhiyun said in a muffled voice; she didn't want to stay here.
"Okay, let's go back. We'll go back right away, okay?" Yu Jingchen was going to let her have her way anyway.
"Mm," Nan Zhiyun nodded. Just as Yu Jingchen was about to leave with Nan Zhiyun, someone came in from outside.
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