Yu Jingchen extended his hand to her. Nan Zhiyun handed the book in her hand to him without a word. Yu Jingchen could see her reluctance and found it amusing.
"You're just putting it down for now, not giving it away. Your eyes will be strained if you read too much. You can have it back when you want to read it again," Yu Jingchen said, then placed the book Nan Zhiyun had given him aside.
"What's wrong? Do you like it?" Yu Jingchen asked, making small talk because he didn't know what else to say.
Nan Zhiyun's expression was a little unnatural. She seemed to like it, but was perhaps too shy to say.
"If you like it, say so. If not, say so. What are you afraid of?" Yu Jingchen said helplessly. He gently touched Nan Zhiyun's head. She tried to pull away but couldn't.
"The Empress Dowager sent some palace maids over just now. Let them serve you for the next few days, okay? If they're not attentive enough, tell me directly," Yu Jingchen said. Hearing the words 'Empress Dowager,' Nan Zhiyun finally looked at Yu Jingchen.
"Is that not okay?" he asked.
"Mm," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"If you don't like something, you should say it. Don't bottle it up all the time. Can you do that?" Yu Jingchen instructed. Nan Zhiyun pursed her lips and said nothing this time.
"When you feel a little better in a couple of days, I'll take you out for a stroll, alright?" He wanted to encourage Nan Zhiyun to speak to him proactively.
However, Nan Zhiyun didn't understand, or perhaps she understood but didn't dare to speak. The two of them remained in a stalemate. After waiting for a long time without a reaction from her, Yu Jingchen finally gave up. She would come around slowly; there was no need to dwell on such matters right now.
Nan Zhiyun wouldn't change her mind completely just because of a few words. She was filled with wariness towards him.
"If you're uncomfortable, I can send someone to invite the Empress Dowager over, can I?" Yu Jingchen asked. Since he didn't get a reaction from Nan Zhiyun, he was about to arrange for someone to summon the Empress Dowager.
"No need..." Nan Zhiyun said softly. Yu Jingchen was a little surprised. Had she spoken to him proactively? Or was it a refusal?
"What?" Yu Jingchen asked deliberately, even though he had heard clearly.
Being questioned by Yu Jingchen, Nan Zhiyun immediately panicked and lowered her head.
"What's wrong? Not talking anymore? What did you just say? Say it again for me, okay?" He gently urged, but Nan Zhiyun lowered her head further and further.
"Hmm?" Yu Jingchen leaned closer to her, his gentle breath washing over her, causing Nan Zhiyun to become flustered.
"Tell me, please? What 'no need'?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"...No need to invite the Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun said softly.
"Why?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"I don't want to..." Nan Zhiyun also didn't want the Empress Dowager to worry too much about her, nor did she want her to focus all her attention on her.
Seeing Nan Zhiyun like this, Yu Jingchen knew she didn't want to say more, so he also knew when to stop. He didn't press further, but instead said, "I'm very happy. If you have any problems in the future, you can tell me like this. That's great." He truly treated Nan Zhiyun like a young girl.
Nan Zhiyun didn't expect such a response from Yu Jingchen. She felt a little lost when he held her in his arms.
For two consecutive days, Yu Jingchen did not leave Zichen Palace, nor did anyone come there. Or rather, even if they did, Yu Jingchen did not allow them to enter.
Although Yu Jingchen did not leave Zichen Palace and did not attend court, the memorials were still delivered as usual.
Nan Zhiyun had been doted on by Yu Jingchen for two days, and her injuries had almost healed. However, it still hurt when she bumped into things. Yu Jingchen applied medicine for her every day. After these two days of interaction, Nan Zhiyun's fear of Yu Jingchen was no longer as intense.
Due to her injuries, Nan Zhiyun had not bathed for several days. She felt very uncomfortable all over. Seeing that Yu Jingchen was not present, she gave an instruction to someone below.
"Qianxia, have someone prepare water. I want to bathe..." Nan Zhiyun said this with some guilt, as Yu Jingchen had not agreed to let her touch water.
"Your Highness, your injuries are not fully healed yet," Qianxia also didn't quite agree but didn't know how to persuade her.
"I've healed. Prepare the water for me," Nan Zhiyun said.
"...Yes," Qianxia finally agreed.
"Prepare the water first, and don't tell His Majesty," Nan Zhiyun added, perhaps still a little worried.
"...Yes," Qianxia agreed, but inwardly added, "This is Zichen Palace. How could His Majesty not know? How could it be hidden? Besides, His Majesty is right outside."
As expected, as soon as Qianxia sent someone to prepare, Yu Jingchen entered. Nan Zhiyun was startled when she saw him and felt very guilty.
"What's wrong?" Yu Jingchen had heard there was something happening inside but didn't know what exactly had occurred.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head, but how could her small movements be hidden from Yu Jingchen?
"Are you lying? Hmm?" Yu Jingchen asked with a smile.
Being exposed so directly by Yu Jingchen, Nan Zhiyun felt extremely uncomfortable, her fear written all over her face. Seeing this, Yu Jingchen smiled, and also felt a little helpless. Why was she still like a little rabbit?
"I'm not angry. I'm just worried if something is wrong with you," Yu Jingchen explained. He wasn't sure if he was overthinking, but he always felt uneasy, fearing that he might lose Nan Zhiyun completely with one careless mistake.
"What happened just now?" Yu Jingchen asked proactively, but Nan Zhiyun seemed hesitant to answer.
"I won't be angry. Tell me, okay? Even if you don't tell me now, I'll know later," Yu Jingchen said directly.
"...I want to take a bath..." Nan Zhiyun hesitated for a moment before finally saying it. Yu Jingchen thought it was something serious, but it turned out to be such a small matter. He found it a little amusing, but more so, he felt pity, as even such a small matter could make Nan Zhiyun so timid.
"It's just taking a bath, what are you afraid of? But you still have injuries, and they can't get wet yet," Yu Jingchen's intention was clearly a refusal.
Nan Zhiyun lowered her head, bit her lip lightly, and said nothing. Seeing this, Yu Jingchen's heart ached. Such a cautious person evoked his pity.
"Didn't I apply medicine and rub your body every day? Can you bear it for two more days?" Yu Jingchen still didn't relent, as wounds indeed could not touch water.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent, only nodding her head. However, she never once lifted her head.
Yu Jingchen knew that she dared not refuse or resist, otherwise she wouldn't have agreed to his request.
"Forget it... If you want to bathe, then bathe, but let me help you. Is that okay?" Yu Jingchen had already made a concession.
But Nan Zhiyun might find it hard to accept. How could she let someone like Yu Jingchen help her bathe?
"Didn't I apply medicine and rub your body all the time before? What are you still avoiding and afraid of now?" Yu Jingchen saw her resistance.
Nan Zhiyun was rendered speechless by his words and didn't know how to accept it.
"So, shall I help you?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun slightly lifted her head to look at him, saying nothing. Yu Jingchen was not in a hurry. He just kept looking at her, waiting for her to speak.
"I won't bathe..." Nan Zhiyun finally said.
Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow. Was it really that difficult to accept?
"You're really not bathing?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Mm," Nan Zhiyun replied. Yu Jingchen knew she was feeling uncomfortable, but it wasn't appropriate to bathe now. The wounds had just scabbed over, and it hurt even when applying medicine. What if water got on them during a bath?
"You've been staying indoors all these days. Are you tired of it? The sun is quite good outside these two days. Would you like to go out and lie down for a bit?" Yu Jingchen was afraid that Nan Zhiyun would get sick from staying indoors.
He remembered that in his past life, Nan Zhiyun loved being outdoors the most and couldn't stay still indoors. Her current compliance in staying inside was only due to these forced circumstances.
However, this time, Nan Zhiyun still did not agree. She shook her head, which was somewhat unexpected.
"You don't want to go out?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"I'm not going out," Nan Zhiyun seemed somewhat resistant to the environment outside. Yu Jingchen didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt that the current Nan Zhiyun was quite different from her in previous lives. Had some things changed because he had returned too late this time?
The current Nan Zhiyun seemed more fragile and sensitive than before, even resistant to communicating with others. She didn't even want to leave her room and was afraid of strangers.
Yu Jingchen reached out and stroked her head. "Just in the courtyard. Would you be willing to go out?" Yu Jingchen rephrased the question.
But Nan Zhiyun still shook her head. Yu Jingchen smiled, not rushing, and softly asked, "Why aren't you willing to go out? Are you afraid of hurting your wound?" he asked.
"I don't want to go out..." Nan Zhiyun only gave this answer. The outside world... she didn't want to contact it anymore. It was safer to stay in her small room, wasn't it?
If she went out, all her scars would be exposed to the eyes of the world. She felt as if she were stripped naked, open to observation and ridicule. Anyone could trample on her, and she didn't want to accept such gazes.
Perhaps her emotions had suddenly changed. Nan Zhiyun's situation was now abnormal, and Yu Jingchen frowned, noticing the anomaly.
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy?" Yu Jingchen gently embraced her.
"If you don't want to go out, then don't. Why are you suddenly like this? It's okay, don't think too much, alright?" Yu Jingchen comforted her.
"I want to go back to Yajing Residence..." Nan Zhiyun said. If one listened closely, one could hear a hint of crying in her tone.
Yu Jingchen didn't know why the situation had suddenly become like this. Why was she crying for no reason?
"What's wrong? Why are you sad? Tell me, is it something I said?" Yu Jingchen asked proactively.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head. However, the person who hadn't clearly started crying moments ago, under Yu Jingchen's comfort and coaxing, completely broke down. Tears streamed down her face.
"What's wrong? Don't keep it inside. Tell me, okay?" Yu Jingchen panicked seeing her tears. Although Nan Zhiyun didn't talk much these past few days, she hadn't broken down and cried like this before. Now, with her crying, Yu Jingchen started to panic.
He wiped away Nan Zhiyun's tears, but Nan Zhiyun seemed unable to stop.
"Don't cry, tell me, okay? I'm listening. Say whatever you want. Was there something I said that sounded bad? What made you unhappy? Tell me, alright?" Yu Jingchen thought he must have said something wrong to make her like this.
"I want to go back to Yajing Residence... I don't want to go out, I don't want to see people..." Nan Zhiyun finally spoke, but was it just because of this?
Yu Jingchen suddenly realized the seriousness of the situation. Nan Zhiyun's condition was definitely abnormal. She didn't want to go out because she resisted, or perhaps she was afraid. The outside world seemed to be a gray expanse for her, always hurting her, so she isolated herself from it.
"If you don't want to go out, we won't go out. It's not a big deal, okay? When your wound heals, I'll send you back to your own palace. Don't be afraid," Yu Jingchen could only temporarily stabilize Nan Zhiyun's emotions. Other matters would have to be dealt with later.
Nan Zhiyun stopped talking, but because she had been crying, she might not be able to stop immediately and still let out faint sobs.
Yu Jingchen drew her into his arms and gently patted her. Nan Zhiyun slept on his lap without making a fuss. After a while, her crying finally stopped completely.
Seeing that she seemed to have recovered, Yu Jingchen felt a slight sense of relief. However, this matter would not be so easily dismissed. When an opportunity arose later, this situation would still need to be resolved. He couldn't let her continue like this forever.
—————————————————— I had a conflict with my roommate today, which made me furious. I talked to the counselor for over an hour, but there was no resolution in the end, so I didn't have time to update. I'll make up this chapter tomorrow. I apologize!!!