Yu Jingchen saw her evasive gaze and didn't press further, nor did he suspect anything. After all, wasn't Nan Zhishun always like this recently? He seemed to be slowly getting used to it.
"Alright, you'll have to bear with it a little. I'll apply the medicine for you, and it will hurt a bit because I need to spread it," Yu Jingchen said after finishing the ice compress for Nan Zhishun.
Nan Zhishun nodded. Yu Jingchen rubbed the ointment into his palm, and after warming his hands, he placed them on Nan Zhishun's ankle. At first, Nan Zhishun didn't feel much pain, but as Yu Jingchen moved, her small face contorted in pain.
Yu Jingchen noticed. "You just have to endure it. There's no other way," he said. Nan Zhishun knew this, but it really hurt.
Yu Jingchen slowly applied more pressure, even using his internal energy, hoping to help Nan Zhishun spread the medicine. However, this kind of sprain was indeed very painful.
"It hurts..." Nan Zhishun finally couldn't hold back and cried out.
"Almost there, just a little longer," Yu Jingchen softened his tone. He seemed to have a bit more patience today than usual.
Nan Zhishun tried her best to endure, but it was no use. The pain was unbearable. After Yu Jingchen finally finished applying the medicine, Nan Zhishun was already crying from the pain.
Yu Jingchen looked at her, his heart stirred. He picked up a clean cloth and wiped away her tears. "It's a sprain; this pain is normal. Now that the medicine is applied, it will be fine," he added.
"You'll need to apply medicine again tomorrow, there's no room for negotiation," Yu Jingchen gave her a heads-up. Nan Zhishun didn't dare to argue and simply remained silent.
However... there was one more thing.
Nan Zhishun looked up and cautiously glanced at Yu Jingchen. The words were at the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know how to start, or perhaps she dared not.
"Just say what you want to say," Yu Jingchen saw Nan Zhishun's hesitation.
"...Where did Qianxia go?" Nan Zhishun pondered for a long time before finally asking the question. She had felt uneasy ever since she saw Qianxia was not around.
"She returned to the palace. There's no danger," Yu Jingchen replied.
Returned to the palace? Then... Nan Zhishun felt uneasy.
"I'll be here these days. If anything comes up, just find me or these people below," Yu Jingchen said with a straight face. He had intentionally sent Qianxia away because that maid was rather eye-sore, especially constantly hovering around Nan Zhishun. This made him very displeased.
Hearing this, Nan Zhishun felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Find him if anything came up? He would be by her side the whole time? How terrifying that sounded.
Yu Jingchen saw Nan Zhishun's predicament. Her small face was scrunched up, clearly showing her unwillingness.
"Your frown could crush a mosquito. Even if you're unwilling, you have to accept it. You have no choice. Instead of dwelling on this, you should focus on recovering and pray that the injury heals by tomorrow. If it delays the outing, you'll have to return to the palace this time," Yu Jingchen's tone was cold.
Nan Zhishun: "..." She looked at her injured foot. It seemed unlikely to heal quickly. However, after finally managing to get out, she didn't want to return to the palace empty-handed, and she really disliked the palace.
"It's still early today. Is there anything you want to do? Or anything to pass the time? It's impossible for you to go out in your current state," Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhishun didn't know what she wanted to do. Were they just going to sit in the same space like this? It would be too awkward, and she didn't like it.
"This concubine..." Nan Zhishun was about to say something when Yu Jingchen immediately interrupted her.
"Outside, you don't need to refer to yourself like that. Just say 'I' have nothing to do," Yu Jingchen corrected her self-appellation.
"Yes..." Nan Zhishun agreed.
"So, what were you trying to say just now?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"...I'm hungry," Nan Zhishun said softly. Perhaps it was due to pregnancy, or perhaps because there was nothing to do, she found a topic.
"Hungry?" Yu Jingchen hadn't expected her to say that. He had paid attention to Nan Zhishun's appetite lately, and it hadn't been good. So, hearing Nan Zhishun say she was hungry surprised him.
"Are you really hungry? Or are you just looking for a topic?" Yu Jingchen asked again. It was still early, and Nan Zhishun usually didn't eat much at this hour.
Nan Zhishun nodded. "I'm a little hungry..."
"Alright, then what do you want to eat?" Yu Jingchen asked. Since she wanted to eat, he'd indulge her. It was a good thing after all.
"...Anything is fine," Nan Zhishun didn't know what she wanted to eat. In any case, she just wanted something to do, otherwise, being together would be too awkward.
"Alright," Yu Jingchen didn't ask further. He wouldn't get any answers anyway. He glanced at Xing Lai, who understood and immediately withdrew, instructing the servants to prepare a meal.
The room fell silent, and the awkward, oppressive atmosphere descended. Nan Zhishun clutched the quilt, sitting there very stiffly.
"Your father will be back soon," Yu Jingchen initiated a topic.
Indeed, Nan Zhishun was interested in this topic. However, she dared not speak to Yu Jingchen. She didn't know how to bring up her father, or if she should, and felt timid.
Yu Jingchen saw her hesitation and fear, and perhaps guessed what Nan Zhishun wanted to ask. He replied, "I received a letter. He's about three to four days away."
Upon hearing this, Nan Zhishun's mood seemed to gradually lift. However, after not seeing him for so long, she felt guilty and missed him. In her previous life, she hadn't even said a word to her father before she died, and her father must have been heartbroken after she left. It was her filial impiety that made her father suffer so much. In this life... she hoped it wasn't too late, and she wanted to make amends.