Empress Yuan smiled upon hearing this. When had His Majesty ever shown leniency when angry? Yesterday, His Majesty had ordered the use of the punishment rod and the bamboo staff; it was unlikely they were just for show, wasn't it? She didn't believe that Nan Zhiyun could truly be unharmed. Perhaps she was just putting on a brave face?
"I heard yesterday that His Majesty ordered the punishment rod. Is Consort Shu alright? His Majesty never tolerates any impurities. Although Consort Shu was in the wrong yesterday, it was understandable. His Majesty dotes on her so much, he must have gone easy on her," Bai Yusheng chimed in.
The punishment rod? Yesterday, she also thought she wouldn't escape that ordeal. But she never expected that His Majesty ultimately didn't use it. This could be considered a false alarm.
"His Majesty did indeed go easy on me. Although I caused trouble for everyone yesterday, His Majesty said those matters weren't troublesome, so he didn't hold it against me." Although Nan Zhiyun was sometimes a bit foolish, she wasn't so foolish as to not see that these people were trying to show off in front of her and gloat at her misfortune.
Even though she was beaten by His Majesty yesterday, she couldn't show it. These people just wanted to laugh at her. It was just a beating on her hands and buttocks... She was determined to annoy them now. They were bothersome, always stirring up trouble for no reason.
"Consort Shu really doesn't need to put on a brave face. We are all sisters in the harem. Consort Shu doesn't need to force herself," Rong Chongyuan said weakly, appearing to be on the verge of death. But as soon as she heard that Yu Jingchen had ordered the punishment rod for Nan Zhiyun, she specifically came to gloat today.
If it weren't for her, she wouldn't have been punished by His Majesty like that. She had only said a couple of things to Nan Zhiyun, and His Majesty had treated her that way. But even with all the favor, so what? She still had to be punished by His Majesty.
If His Majesty truly doted on her, how could he have ordered the punishment rod? In her opinion, the so-called affection was more likely just an act.
Nan Zhiyun's father had just relinquished his military power. Now that he doted on his daughter, he no longer had the same concerns. Moreover, this was also a way to demonstrate imperial favor.
Therefore, His Majesty's doting on Nan Zhiyun was more likely just a pretense. She knew His Majesty wouldn't genuinely care about a woman.
No matter how favored Nan Zhiyun was now, she would eventually fall from grace. At that time, no one in the harem would let her off easily! Without His Majesty's favor, what was she?
This incident yesterday was probably just a prelude. Nan Zhiyun's disappearance yesterday had thrown the entire hunting ground into chaos, with everyone fussing over her and causing so much trouble.
Although His Majesty appeared anxious, it was nothing more than a show. Nan Zhiyun was, after all, the daughter of a powerful minister. Even though she had relinquished her military power, this pretense had to continue.
He couldn't let everyone see His Majesty's indifference, could he? His Majesty was merely acting to show everyone that he didn't want to alienate his old ministers.
However, the trouble Nan Zhiyun caused yesterday was bound to annoy His Majesty. Therefore, Nan Zhiyun wouldn't be able to flaunt her power for much longer. Perhaps His Majesty would completely tire of her soon.
Thus, Rong Chongyuan didn't see Nan Zhiyun as a threat anymore... a person about to be discarded, what was there to fear?