Her lips tasted sweet. Nan Zhiyun, perhaps due to the shock she experienced today, felt her mind short-circuiting and didn't realize at first that the young girl was referring to her. Her cheeks flushed once she did.
"I don't eat candied fruits every day either," Nan Zhiyun retorted, slightly indignant.
"While it's true you don't eat them every day, I can't go without bringing them. What if one day a certain young lady wants some, and I don't have any?" Yu Jingchen gently patted her head.
"The Empress Dowager said eating too much sweets will cause cavities. Your Majesty brings them every day and then tempts me to eat them. Are you hoping I'll get a toothache?" Nan Zhiyun, typical of someone who can't win an argument, started talking nonsense.
However, seeing Nan Zhiyun so lively now, Yu Jingchen's earlier worries completely dissipated. Nan Zhiyun could speak to him so freely, and that was all that mattered. She just couldn't be overly cautious.
"Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, Little Yun'er can't be without the Empress Dowager. She always brings her up in conversation. No wonder she raised her." Yu Jingchen felt a pang of jealousy, for some reason.
"Of course, the Empress Dowager really did say that eating too many of these things would rot my teeth. And even if the Empress Dowager didn't say it, I know it myself. I'm grown up now." Nan Zhiyun sounded a bit proud.
"Yes, our Shu Consort has grown up. She's practically a little adult now. Isn't she almost eighteen, having passed her coming-of-age ceremony two years ago?" Yu Jingchen suddenly remembered that Nan Zhiyun's eighteenth birthday was approaching.
"The Empress Dowager always says I'm still young. Even if my birthday passes, I'm still a child." Nan Zhiyun actually had a slight aversion to growing up, yet sometimes she wished she could grow up quickly. She was always so contradictory.
"Yes, Little Yun'er, no matter when, in front of us, you'll always be a little girl, a child. As long as I'm here, you don't have to grow up." Yu Jingchen's perspective had completely shifted. Before, he wanted her to grow up quickly so she could protect herself independently. But now, he felt it was quite good if Nan Zhiyun could remain carefree like this forever.
"Alright, it's getting late today. You've been through quite a shock today and need to rest early," Yu Jingchen said.
"Okay..." Nan Zhiyun agreed. Logically, she should have been sleepy long ago, but... she had just been spanked, and all her sleepiness had vanished. She was still in pain.
Yu Jingchen helped Nan Zhiyun lie down slowly. He then lay beside her, propping his head on his hand, and gently patted her, coaxing her to sleep.
Nan Zhiyun was indeed very tired today, so she fell asleep quickly. Yu Jingchen didn't rush to sleep. Looking at her tranquil appearance now, the heavy stone that had been weighing on his heart finally lifted. His suppressed emotions of the past half-day finally found release at this moment.
When Nan Zhiyun went missing today, he had experienced a fear he had never known before. He truly dared not imagine what he might do if anything were to happen to Nan Zhiyun. The sense of panic continuously spread through his heart, his body turning cold, fearing he might have been too late.