Yu Jingchen's face darkened, and Nan Zhiyun had not expected such a result.
"Where is Yu Wan'er? Bring her here!" Yu Jingchen's anger flared.
"I've already sent someone to fetch her. She should be here soon," Xing Lai reported. Just as he finished speaking, Yu Wan'er was brought in.
Yu Jingchen's gaze at Yu Wan'er was as sharp as a knife. Yu Wan'er immediately knelt down.
"Father... Father Emperor," Yu Wan'er trembled all over.
"Yu Wan'er, you have such audacity!" Yu Jingchen roared. Yu Wan'er prostrated herself on the ground, not daring to speak.
"Tell me yourself, or shall I investigate?" Yu Jingchen questioned.
"Your humble subject... Your humble subject doesn't know what to say," Yu Wan'er feigned ignorance.
"Presumptuous! Are you still lying?" Yu Jingchen's eyes could kill.
"Your humble subject..." Yu Wan'er, being just a child, was naturally scared, especially facing Yu Jingchen.
"Did you intentionally cut the rope of the swing? And the spring hunt last time, did you deliberately bring the cat over?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Your humble subject did not..." Yu Wan'er still denied it.
"You dare to quibble. Do you want me to torture you? Or shall I present the evidence before you?" Yu Jingchen's tone was displeased.
"Humble... humble subject..." Yu Wan'er was too frightened to speak.
"I'll ask you one more time, will you speak or not!" Yu Jingchen lost his patience.
"I... I'm sorry, Father Emperor, your humble subject was wrong... Your humble subject will never dare to do it again." In the end, she was just a child, and Yu Wan'er couldn't hide anything.
"Good..." Yu Jingchen's anger surged like a fire when he heard her confession.
"Why did you do this?!" Yu Jingchen lost his reason.
"Your humble subject... Your humble subject didn't intend to harm the Empress... Your humble subject likes the Empress, so... so your humble subject was afraid that if the Empress had her own child, she would send me away. So... I'm sorry, Father Emperor, Empress, your humble subject knows she was wrong, and will never dare to do it again!" Yu Wan'er sobbed.
"How do you explain last time at the hunting grounds?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"Last time it was Concubine Jing, Concubine Jing told your humble subject that the Empress was there. She asked your humble subject to take the cat over. Your humble subject didn't know that such a thing would happen... Your humble subject truly didn't know." Yu Wan'er's face was streaked with tears, making her look somewhat pitiable.
"I let you stay in the palace, and you tried to harm my child..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Wan'er.
"I'm sorry, Empress..." Yu Wan'er knelt and approached. "Your humble subject was just afraid that you wouldn't like me anymore if you had your own baby. Your humble subject truly knows she was wrong and will never dare to do it again. Please, can you forgive your humble subject this time?" Yu Wan'er pleaded, crying.
Looking at Yu Wan'er at her feet, Nan Zhiyun's anger flared. She slapped Yu Wan'er directly, leaving her stunned.
"Why? What gives you the right?!" This incident released the pent-up emotions Nan Zhiyun had been holding for days.
"Yun'er," Yu Jingchen, fearing Nan Zhiyun's emotions would spiral out of control, quickly shielded her.
"No... Your Majesty, you can't do this. Will you help me? I won't forgive her. She must pay the price..." Nan Zhiyun could not tolerate anyone harming her child. This was her bottom line, absolutely unacceptable!