But Yu Jingchen seemed determined to scare Nanzhi Yun, so he sat there without speaking, watching to see Nanzhi Yun's reaction.
Nanzhi Yun didn't hear Yu Jingchen speak and remained still, not daring to do anything rashly, for fear of angering him again, especially since he hadn't punished her yet today.
Fortunately, the weather wasn't too cold yet, so Nanzhi Yun could bear it in just her inner garment. If it were winter, she would have given up long ago, but her injured foot was a little painful, and even with the current weather, her bare feet on the ground were quite cool.
Nanzhi Yun was unsure of Yu Jingchen's mood. Since he remained silent, she could only wait. Fortunately, it wasn't long before the imperial physician arrived. However, she still didn't know why Yu Jingchen had summoned the imperial physician, which made her feel uneasy.
"Your humble servant greets His Majesty." The imperial physician bowed respectfully.
Yu Jingchen said nothing and finally deigned to cast his gaze upon Nanzhi Yun. Seeing Yu Jingchen look at her, Nanzhi Yun's heart leaped, fearing what he might do to her next.
Yu Jingchen walked towards her. Nanzhi Yun desperately wanted to retreat, but she remembered his words from earlier and restrained herself. Moreover, she was backed against the bed and had nowhere else to go.
"What are you standing there for like an idiot? Don't you know to sit down? Do I have to guide your every step?" Yu Jingchen's patience was wearing thin.
Although Nanzhi Yun didn't know what he wanted to do, she understood this command and felt her way to the bed and sat down.
"Examine her. Has she gone mute?" Yu Jingchen stated succinctly. The imperial physician quickly hurried over, and Nanzhi Yun finally understood why Yu Jingchen had summoned him.
The imperial physician wanted to take Nanzhi Yun's pulse, but Nanzhi Yun was somewhat dazed, so...
"The imperial physician needs to take your pulse. Is your hand broken? Can't you extend it?" Yu Jingchen's voice was truly fierce.
Nanzhi Yun remained silent, merely extending her hand. The imperial physician's forehead was beaded with sweat, which flowed incessantly. What was this situation? Why was he being dragged into it? He wanted to keep his head.
However, as he took her pulse, the imperial physician's brows furrowed tighter. What was going on? It didn't seem like a typical illness...
"What is it? Why has she suddenly gone mute?" Yu Jingchen noticed the imperial physician's troubled expression.
Hearing Yu Jingchen's question, the imperial physician quickly replied, "Replying to His Majesty... Concubine Shu's pulse shows no abnormality. It is unlikely to be due to medication or injury. I fear..." The imperial physician hesitated to say the rest.
"Stop dawdling! If you can't speak, then you won't need to speak in the future." Yu Jingchen didn't care what the imperial physician was thinking. He just wanted an answer.
"Concubine Shu is likely suffering from temporary aphasia. This could have been caused by significant emotional fluctuations or fear. Therefore, she is temporarily unable to speak." The imperial physician stated his diagnosis, thinking to himself how terrifying His Majesty was, whom everyone feared. Look, he had scared Concubine Shu into silence...
Yu Jingchen had actually considered this possibility earlier, but hearing the imperial physician confirm it still made him think... Was her courage really that small? To be so frightened that she couldn't speak?
"When will she recover? Will she be mute forever?" Yu Jingchen continued to press.
"Concubine Shu's condition is not serious, but it's difficult to say when she will recover. Perhaps she will regain her voice naturally once she calms down, or it might be difficult to recover permanently." the imperial physician replied.
Hearing the reason, Nanzhi Yun felt a sense of relief. At least it wasn't due to some other cause. She had been worried that she might never be able to speak again.
Yu Jingchen seemed dissatisfied with the answer, but he had no other recourse. He wasn't an imperial physician, so he could do as he pleased. Besides, if she was mute, she was mute. What did it matter to him? If she was timid and easily frightened, could she blame anyone else?
"Also, her foot. Take a look at that too. She's so stupid that she managed to injure her own foot. If possible, take a look at her brain as well," Yu Jingchen added.
Nanzhi Yun: "..." Yu Jingchen's mouth never spoke words of blessing. Nanzhi Yun kept her head down the entire time, silent.
As for the imperial physician, his heart was in turmoil, unsure of when he might accidentally lose the head on his shoulders. His Majesty was truly too terrifying, and Concubine Shu's situation was too difficult.
However, grumbling aside, he had to examine what needed examining and do what needed to be done. The imperial physician looked at Nanzhi Yun's foot injury, which was indeed broken. It was understandable, given how high the candlestick had fallen.
"Your Majesty, rest assured. Concubine Shu's foot injury is not serious. A little medicine and proper rest will suffice," the imperial physician replied. As for examining her head, as Yu Jingchen had suggested... well, the imperial physician really couldn't do that.
"Extend your hand," Yu Jingchen suddenly said. The imperial physician was bewildered, then saw Yu Jingchen looking in the direction of Concubine Shu. Nanzhi Yun, not knowing what was happening, extended her hand.
However, what she showed him was the back of her hand. Yu Jingchen's brow furrowed slightly. "Turn it over."
Nanzhi Yun flipped her hand over. There were abrasions on her palm, likely caused by her fall.
"Pull up your sleeve." Yu Jingchen said nothing more, merely stating his command.
Nanzhi Yun acted like an obedient doll, doing exactly as Yu Jingchen said, and pulling up her sleeve.
Her arm also had many bruises, as the fall had been quite severe. However, Nanzhi Yun didn't know how Yu Jingchen had noticed them. These injuries didn't hurt much now, just felt numb.
Yu Jingchen hadn't known initially. However, he had observed everything while Nanzhi Yun was changing her clothes, which led to this current situation.
"Examine these injuries for her as well. Since she isn't speaking of them, I assume she's too stunned by the pain," Yu Jingchen said to the imperial physician.
Nanzhi Yun: "..."
Imperial physician: "..." All right, these injuries were really not worth examining. They were just minor abrasions that could be treated with a bit of medicine. But the imperial physician could only grumble inwardly and dared not speak his mind.
"Your Majesty, I will prescribe medicine for these injuries later, and they can be treated with it," the imperial physician replied respectfully after appearing to examine them thoroughly.
"You may go," Yu Jingchen said no more. The imperial physician, hearing this, felt as if he had been granted a great pardon. He quickly gathered his medical kit and left, fearing that the longer he stayed, the more precarious his own head would be.
The room was empty again, with only Xing Lai nearby. Yu Jingchen glanced at him, and Xing Lai immediately understood and quietly withdrew. Nanzhi Yun held her breath, afraid of what Yu Jingchen might do to her next.
"I said you were useless, and you truly are," Yu Jingchen suddenly uttered, Nanzhi Yun's expression dimmed.
"What did I tell you today?" Yu Jingchen asked.
Nanzhi Yun knew this referred to her falling asleep during her punishment today. She had been truly exhausted, her nerves constantly on edge, and had lain there for three hours. She genuinely couldn't help it. However... she had fallen asleep, and he hadn't woken her up... Was he planning to settle all the scores at once?
The thought sent a tremor through her entire body. Especially when she recalled his words in the dark room earlier.
He had said he would throw her into a room where she could see and hear nothing, and then fill the room with water...
"Nanzhi Yun, when you make a mistake, you must be prepared to bear the consequences," Yu Jingchen said, hooking her chin with his finger.
Nanzhi Yun's eyes were glistening with tears. If anyone else saw them, they might feel pity. But unfortunately, she had encountered Yu Jingchen, who was famously stone-hearted. Among the many women in the harem, no matter how tearfully they pleaded, he could still hold them by the throat.
"Today's matter is not yet over. Tell me, how should I punish you?" Yu Jingchen deliberately asked.
Nanzhi Yun wanted to shrink back, but she dared not.
"Oh, I forgot. You can't speak right now. Then I'll have to choose the punishment method for you," Yu Jingchen feigned realization and released her hand. Nanzhi Yun's heart pounded with fear.
Yu Jingchen could see Nanzhi Yun's current terror. Although she concealed it well, he could still detect the slight tremor in her body.
Yu Jingchen couldn't help but recall Nanzhi Yun crying on his shoulder earlier today. It was the first time he had seen her weep so uncontrollably. No matter what he had done before, she had never seemed to vent her emotions like this.
For the past few days, Nanzhi Yun had been staying at Cí'ān Palace, and her spirits had seemed much improved. But in just a short while, Nanzhi Yun now looked as if she had reverted to her former state.
This realization made Yu Jingchen feel deeply displeased. When he was unhappy, he didn't want anyone else to be happy either. In fact, his threat to have Nanzhi Yun bound and stripped naked to be paraded at the palace gates was merely to scare her. He wanted to see her fear, to observe her reaction.
After all, the words she had spoken today had truly ignited his anger. She shouldn't have entered the palace? She shouldn't have fallen in love with him? Hmph. If something had already been done, how could it be easily undone? She had pursued him unilaterally from the start, undoubtedly without considering the consequences. Everything she was experiencing now was something she had to bear. So, what right did she have to say such things?
Yu Jingchen thought that the more angry he became, the more Nanzhi Yun, this woman, deserved to be taught a lesson! He had warned her just last time, and she had forgotten it immediately, completely disregarding his words. She was utterly detestable!
Yu Jingchen looked at Nanzhi Yun, the flash of anger in his eyes scaring her considerably. She awaited Yu Jingchen's punishment, hoping it wouldn't be too unbearable.
"You've already slept for so long today, so you likely won't be sleeping tonight," Yu Jingchen's icy voice rang out.
Nanzhi Yun didn't know what he intended to do, but her entire heart was in her throat.