Nan Zhiyue acted resolutely, and her reckless actions were her own doing. Therefore, no matter the outcome, she would have to bear it herself. Was regret the solution to everything? Without ability or strength, what use was regret? Wouldn't she just have to endure everything in the end? Didn't she understand the law of the jungle?
Yu Jingchen withdrew his gaze and looked at the people kneeling in the hall. He then coldly issued an order.
"As I just said, for the mistakes you've made, they will also be implicated. Take them all down and give each thirty strokes." Yu Jingchen showed no mercy.
Nan Zhiyue wanted to beg for mercy, but she couldn't utter a word. How should she even begin? Yu Jingchen wouldn't be soft-hearted.
"Regarding what you just said, how much crime can I attribute to you? Nan Zhiyue, you never seem to learn." Yu Jingchen said indifferently.
If he were to investigate thoroughly, Nan Zhiyue would absolutely not escape today. But... Yu Jingchen looked at her swollen and red hands, and in the end, he didn't say anything more.
"Bring the medicine," Yu Jingchen said to Xing Lai beside him.
Xing Lai had already sent someone to fetch it earlier. Upon hearing the need, he immediately brought out the ointment.
Yu Jingchen placed the medicine on the table. "Apply it yourself." Nan Zhiyue looked at the ointment in front of her, her heart heavy, and remained motionless.
"What? Haven't you had enough?" Yu Jingchen had no patience to indulge her tantrums like this.
"This is considered light; don't continue to challenge my bottom line," Yu Jingchen continued. Nan Zhiyue silently took the ointment, but her hands were injured, and she couldn't open the lid.
Yu Jingchen watched with cold eyes. Seeing her struggling, he frowned. Were her palms, only a dozen or so, so delicate today? If it were in the past, would she have wanted to escape like this?
Yu Jingchen snatched the ointment from her hand, then opened it. Nan Zhiyue was flustered by his sudden action.
Yu Jingchen said nothing and directly pulled Nan Zhiyue's hand, then applied the ointment to her palm. Perhaps because of the forceful movement, Nan Zhiyue felt her palm still hurting. Applying the medicine felt like being hit again. However, Nan Zhiyue didn't dare to retract her hand; of course, she couldn't move it.
Yu Jingchen certainly wouldn't be gentle. It was just applying medicine; why such daintiness? He quickly finished applying the medicine for Nan Zhiyue. The mess on the table had yet to be cleared.
"Copy it all within a month, or the penalty will be doubled." Yu Jingchen showed no signs of forgiveness. However, a month's time... he thought it should be sufficient.
From the courtyard came a series of pained cries. Nan Zhiyue shivered hearing them inside. These people were punished because of her; how could she not feel guilty? Yu Jingchen had precisely grasped this psychological state of hers, which was why he employed such tactics.
She was still kneeling on the ground. Although there was a soft cushion, after two hours, it was still uncomfortable. Nan Zhiyue felt her legs slowly losing sensation.
Yu Jingchen knew she was still kneeling and saw her struggling to stay up. He guessed she had been kneeling for too long, and... her knees might have sustained some degree of injury, especially since she had knelt on those rough fragments earlier.
"Since you are confined, do not wander around. Stay in your room. I do not wish to see what happened today happen again. You had best remember what you should and shouldn't do, what you should and shouldn't say. If there is a next time, I will absolutely not let you off as easily as today." Yu Jingchen stood up from his seat.
"Furthermore, do you know what crimes your words today amount to? Nan Su will return in about a month. He achieved merit this time. Surely you don't want your father to be implicated because of you?" Yu Jingchen's words were a blatant threat and a warning.
Nan Zhiyue's face turned ashen. She admitted she had acted a bit impulsively, but... she truly couldn't hold back just now, which led her to speak carelessly and say those things.
"I will not dwell on what you said this time, but misfortune comes from the mouth. Be more mindful of what you say. I am a tyrant and will not be merciful to you," Yu Jingchen said, deliberately glancing at Nan Zhiyue as he spoke. Nan Zhiyue no longer dared to argue.
After saying this, Yu Jingchen did not linger. Before leaving, he said, "When you've knelt long enough, get up yourself. If you dare to smash things again in the future, I'll make you kneel there for a whole day."
Nan Zhiyue heard these words but said nothing. Only after he had completely left did she manage to prepare to get up. However, she had been kneeling for too long and couldn't stand up at all; her legs were numb. Moreover, her hands were injured. As she tried to prop herself up on the table, she felt pain.
A short while later, Xing Lai brought several new palace maids. He said that the palace maids of the He'an Palace could no longer serve her, as they had all been punished today, so new ones were brought in.
Nan Zhiyue glanced at them but said nothing. She wasn't sure if these people were just assigned to serve her or to monitor her. But upon closer thought, it seemed unnecessary; what was there to monitor about her?
Nan Zhiyue didn't want to think about it. Let him do as he pleased. He was the ruler, the Son of Heaven; he could do whatever he wanted. What right did she have to comment or resist?
Not only that, but Xing Lai also brought an imperial physician, saying that His Majesty had ordered the physician to examine her leg injury. Nan Zhiyue's knee was indeed quite badly injured, with a large bruise and swelling. Some areas showed faint traces of blood.
Xing Lai waited by the side. After the imperial physician finished, he inquired about her condition. Once he had understood everything, he instructed the new palace maids to serve Consort Shu well, and then he returned to the Zichen Palace.
More than half of the day had already passed, and Yu Jingchen had no intention of resting. Upon returning to the palace, he continued to handle unfinished state affairs. However, the content of these matters was quite infuriating.
A significant portion of the matters revolved around Nan Su, especially concerning the recent campaign. Nan Su... he was someone the emperor had to be wary of. No ruler could allow a general who was popular with the people and held prestige in the army to control fifty thousand troops alone without apprehension.