The few words Nan Zhiyun had just spoken were enough to make him ache, and he couldn't bring himself to strike her anymore.
"His Majesty just said his hand was still useful..." Nan Zhiyun hadn't forgotten that sentence.
"Of course it's useful, why wouldn't a hand be useful? What does that have to do with punishment?" Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his voice.
He had actually intended to make Nan Zhiyun write a letter of apology, but under the current circumstances, that could wait.
"Mm... but, it hurts so much," Nan Zhiyun pouted and held out her hand, revealing three distinct red marks that were already quite swollen.
"It's alright, we'll put some medicine on it, and it won't hurt anymore. Be good." Yu Jingchen knew exactly how hard he had hit. Nan Zhiyun's delicate skin was bound to suffer.
Seeing this, Xing Lai knew that they had reconciled. He immediately sent someone to fetch the medicine. In fact, he had already sent someone to prepare it quietly earlier, as he had anticipated this situation.
Yu Jingchen opened the ointment brought by his attendant, then pulled Nan Zhiyun into his embrace and gently began to apply the medicine to her hand.
The medicine felt cool as it was applied. Nan Zhiyun's hands and backside had been burning from the recent impact, and the ointment brought significant relief.
However... while her hands felt better, her backside... Nan Zhiyun blushed, feeling embarrassed.
"Why are you shy now? I haven't seen it before." Yu Jingchen had hit her through her clothes and didn't know the full extent of the injury. Still, after so many strikes, he was, to be honest, a little worried.
"Be good, let me see. Didn't you say you knew earlier?" Yu Jingchen reached out to pull at her clothes.
Although Nan Zhiyun felt embarrassed, she loosened her grip on her own hand. The feeling was somewhat shameful.
Nan Zhiyun lay on Yu Jingchen's lap. Yu Jingchen lifted her skirt and saw the injuries on her backside. In that instant, Yu Jingchen's expression changed.
Besides the marks he had just inflicted, Nan Zhiyun had a large area of bruising on her body, likely from her fall earlier that day. Therefore, if nothing unexpected happened, she should have had many similar marks on her body. Yet, Nan Zhiyun had endured it all without mentioning a word...
"Why didn't you say you had so many injuries earlier?" Yu Jingchen's hands rested on Nan Zhiyun's buttocks. Nan Zhiyun, perhaps still fearful from the earlier punishment, was afraid Yu Jingchen might strike her again.
"I... I didn't know how to say it." Nan Zhiyun felt guilty, afraid that Yu Jingchen might use this as an excuse to punish her again.
"Mm..." Yu Jingchen simply hummed and then fell silent.
Huh? Just a hum??? Nan Zhiyun's heart was in her mouth, filled with anxiety. Was she still going to be punished? kuAiδugg
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun was extremely uneasy.
"You should have told me earlier," Yu Jingchen finally spoke, his voice sounding a little hoarse.
"Do you have many such injuries on your body too?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"I saw them when I was bathing. They're not very serious..." Nan Zhiyun had fallen from her horse. Although the grass was thick on the ground, it was normal to get bumped or scraped. Moreover, she had fallen into that pit later... she must have been quite hurt.