Yu Jingchen's eyes blazed as if they could devour a person. Nan Zhiyun knew she had gone too far this time, yet she felt little regret. Why was everyone treating her this way, forcing her hand?
Still, while she didn't have overwhelming regret, she was still afraid. After all, no one was unaware of Yu Jingchen's methods.
"Nan Zhiyun, you have immense courage," Yu Jingchen's voice dropped, yet it was inexplicably chilling.
Nan Zhiyun leaned against a pillar, unable to retreat further, but every inch of her body screamed defiance.
"Your Majesty, Consort Shu was likely just overcome with anger. The room is a mess, and the Consort seems to have injured her hand. There are fragments on the floor, and it would be inconvenient if someone were to step on them. How about I have the servants clean it up?" Xing Lai quickly interjected, attempting to diffuse the atmosphere. However, Yu Jingchen was furious and wouldn't listen.
"She's afraid of getting hurt? I think with all these shards on the ground, it's quite fitting for her to kneel. What do you say?" Yu Jingchen turned to Nan Zhiyun, implying he wanted her to kneel on the broken pieces.
"Not only should she kneel, but she should also kneel and walk the entire He'an Hall. If you don't want these legs, I can have them crippled immediately," Yu Jingchen told Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun's body trembled, but she uttered no plea for mercy. Her attitude was the most potent weapon to enrage Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen immediately commanded, "Kneel."
"She's really going to make her kneel?" Xing Lai's heart skipped a beat. Would His Majesty really be so serious?
Nan Zhiyun's heart turned cold at the words. But... she refused to kneel. Fear was present, but more prominent were her unwillingness and sense of injustice.
"Not kneeling?" Yu Jingchen's tone was menacing.
With Yu Jingchen's question, Nan Zhiyun's heart quaked, fearing a more severe punishment later.
"Nan Zhiyun, you've truly grown bold. What did I tell you yesterday? I see you haven't learned your lesson, so are you asking me to try again? What do you want to use this time? The thing you fear the most, perhaps?" Yu Jingchen was openly threatening her.
Indeed, as soon as he said this, Nan Zhiyun's eyes showed pure terror when she looked at Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen naturally noticed.
"Kneel or not kneel?" Yu Jingchen repeated.
Nan Zhiyun's heart wavered. The imbalance of power, with her weaknesses held captive by the stronger party, seemed to ensure she could only choose submission.
The floor was covered in shards. If she knelt today and then, as Yu Jingchen threatened, had to crawl through the entire He'an Hall, her legs might be useless thereafter.
Nan Zhiyun felt a deep sadness. Under Yu Jingchen's coercion, she began to compromise, slowly bending her knees, and then kneeling on the scattered debris at her feet. It hurt... although the fragments here weren't as sharp, making it not unbearable.
Looking at the messy room, Nan Zhiyun gritted her teeth. If she knelt and completed this circuit... she clenched her fist.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun kneel, Yu Jingchen's anger began to subside slightly, but her actions today were truly infuriating. Refusing to eat, staging a hunger strike? He knew Nan Zhiyun was upset, but hadn't he sent the "letter written by Nan Su"? What more did she want?
Every dish was prepared to her taste, yet did she appreciate it? Not eating all day, only to overturn everything, injuring her hands and feet. What was she trying to achieve? In Yu Jingchen's eyes, she was simply ungrateful!
Who was she trying to show this suicidal attitude to? He hadn't truly pursued the consequences of the previous two punishments. Couldn't she see that? She could live peacefully in He'an Hall, avoid trouble, and be well. But she insisted on testing his patience, truly believing he wouldn't punish her? The more Yu Jingchen thought about it, the angrier he became. Yesterday, he had resolved to make Nan Zhiyun completely obedient, and today she had caused this scene.
Fortunately, he had come over. If he hadn't, would she have tried to dismantle the entire He'an Hall? Or starve herself to death here?
The room was in disarray, especially the things on the floor. Most of them could cause injury. If she had hurt herself while throwing a tantrum, would she realize it wasn't worth it? Such an ignorant fool, Yu Jingchen was furious just looking at it.
Nan Zhiyun, kneeling on the floor, was unaware of the many thoughts swirling in Yu Jingchen's mind. She was only wondering if Yu Jingchen would really make her crawl around the hall on her knees. If so... would there be other punishments later?
This act did provide some release, and her earlier outburst was indeed unrestrained, but what would be the consequences? She wasn't sure if she could truly bear them.
Yu Jingchen looked at her kneeling on the ground. Nan Zhiyun was very thin, her body frail. Even without seeing her face clearly, Yu Jingchen could tell she was genuinely terrified. Although her body trembled slightly, and Nan Zhiyun tried her best to control herself, fear could not be completely hidden.
The anger in his heart subsided somewhat. His earlier threat of making Nan Zhiyun crawl on the broken shards in the hall was merely to scare her. If she truly knelt and walked, she might never be able to walk normally again.
Though he was angry about what Nan Zhiyun had done today, for some reason, his anger flared quickly and dissipated just as fast. Especially when he saw Nan Zhiyun's pitiful, helpless, frightened, and trembling appearance.
Since she was afraid, the effect had been achieved. As for what would happen next... Yu Jingchen thought he didn't necessarily have to pursue it. However... if he always raised his hand high only to put it down gently, wouldn't she think he would never truly do anything to her?
Yu Jingchen suddenly became conflicted. Nan Zhiyun, still kneeling on the ground, waited for Yu Jingchen's next words, her heart filled with nervous anxiety, silently awaiting his final judgment.
Xing Lai watched intently. His Majesty... wouldn't treat Consort Shu too cruelly, would he? From his current demeanor, His Majesty didn't seem as angry as before. Did this mean everything was fine? Was that just a false alarm just now? Xing Lai breathed a slight sigh of relief, and Yu Jingchen remained silent.