Consort Li did not react at first, but when she did, she felt resentful. Why should she be intimidated by the tone of a fool like Nan Zhiyun?
"Nan Zhiyun, don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're a Shu Consort now! Why are you talking to me like that?!" Consort Li glared at Nan Zhiyun, her face full of anger.
"Consort Li, our Empress holds a higher rank than you and is currently carrying the imperial heir. Please watch your words!" Qian Xia, no longer daring, spoke up loudly. How could someone as proud as Consort Li tolerate a maid bossing her around?
So, she took two steps forward. Qian Xia quickly stepped in front of Nan Zhiyun, afraid Consort Li might do something to her.
Consort Li indeed raised her hand. Qian Xia thought she would be the one to receive the slap, but Nan Zhiyun suddenly stood up, "If you dare to hit me, try it?!" Nan Zhiyun was clearly angered as well.
Consort Li's hand froze in mid-air. For some reason, she was suddenly intimidated by these words. However, since things had already escalated to this point, not striking would make her lose face.
Consort Li thought so and brought her hand down, but… it was caught by Nan Zhiyun. Consort Li looked at her, "If the Shu Consort doesn't manage her maids, then I will! Let go!" Consort Li roared at Nan Zhiyun.
The two were in a stalemate. Just as Consort Li was losing patience, she struggled to pull her hand free, but… Nan Zhiyun stumbled.
"Your Highness!" Qian Xia was startled. Fortunately, she had been supporting Nan Zhiyun, and as Nan Zhiyun stumbled, she helped her, so it seemed not too serious. She didn't fall to the ground, and Consort Li was also startled by the sudden turn of events.
"Presumptuous!" It was Yu Jingchen's voice. He had rushed over after hearing about what happened to Nan Zhiyun and happened to witness this scene.
Yu Jingchen went to Nan Zhiyun and pulled her into his arms, "Are you alright? Is there anything uncomfortable? Why is your face so pale?" Yu Jingchen's concern was genuine. Consort Li saw how worried Yu Jingchen was about Nan Zhiyun and began to feel fear.
Consort Yuan, who had been silent until now, saw this scene, her gaze deepening.
"This humble subject greets His Majesty." Consort Yuan stepped forward and bowed twice. The others followed suit.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen, her eyes filled with infinite grievance.
"There, there, I'm here. Where are you hurt?" Yu Jingchen looked at her with great concern, examining her from head to toe.
"My stomach hurts… my feet hurt too…" Nan Zhiyun whimpered. She didn't know if it was from the grievance or something else, but her voice had a hint of a cry.
"There, there, it's alright, I'm here." Yu Jingchen hugged her, letting the young girl bury herself in his arms. "Summon the imperial physician!" Yu Jingchen commanded Xinglai.
"Sit down, let me see if your injuries are serious. Why do your feet hurt? Did you twist them just now?" Yu Jingchen looked at the person in his arms and then sat down, letting her sit on his lap.
Nan Zhiyun flinched slightly, as if frightened, "It hurts… she wanted to hit me, and she pushed me…" Nan Zhiyun pouted, looking as if she was about to cry.
"Mm, I understand. Let me take a look first, and we'll discuss this later, okay?" Yu Jingchen was most worried about Nan Zhiyun's foot injury at the moment.
Nan Zhiyun stopped talking and allowed Yu Jingchen to lift her foot. Yu Jingchen examined it carefully. Fortunately, there was no swelling or redness.
"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked her.
"It just hurts… it hurts when you touch it…" Nan Zhiyun was not very good at enduring pain.
"We'll have the imperial physician look at it later. Don't be afraid." Yu Jingchen kissed the corner of Nan Zhiyun's eyes. Nan Zhiyun's complexion was not good, her face pale, which made people worry.
Consort Li knelt below, trembling like a sieve. She had never expected things to turn out this way. Why did His Majesty seem so worried and concerned about Nan Zhiyun? He clearly disliked and loathed Nan Zhiyun the most. In the past, he had tacitly approved of such situations…
"I'm scared… I don't want to stay outside… I don't want to see them…" Nan Zhiyun said several sentences consecutively, her voice laced with pleading.
"Alright, then we won't stay here. I'll take you back right away, okay?" Yu Jingchen coaxed her. Then, he carefully picked up Nan Zhiyun. Nan Zhiyun nestled into his embrace.
"The rest of you, stay kneeling. Consort Li, slap yourself fifty times, and continue kneeling after you're done!" Yu Jingchen said to those behind him. Consort Li looked at Yu Jingchen incredulously, but she could not utter a single word of plea, for she dared not.
Yu Jingchen was not ignoring the current situation. However, compared to the current matters, he was more concerned about Nan Zhiyun's safety.
He carried the young woman steadily back to Zichen Palace and then helped her lie down.
"The imperial physician will be here shortly. Please wait a moment." Yu Jingchen reassured her.
"I want the baby…" Nan Zhiyun said. This sentence struck Yu Jingchen's heart. The baby? Perhaps Nan Zhiyun sensed that the child might be… that's why she said it.
However, if this child truly caused any conflict with Nan Zhiyun's body, Yu Jingchen would not hesitate to terminate the pregnancy.
"It's alright, rest easy." Yu Jingchen could only say this.
"I will handle today's matters properly. Don't be afraid." Yu Jingchen continued, implying that he would not let the broken carriage or Consort Li go. Nan Zhiyun heard this and said nothing further, as she didn't know what else she could ask for.
The imperial physician arrived soon after. Seeing the imperial physician, Yu Jingchen quickly made way for him to take Nan Zhiyun's pulse.
The imperial physician had been trembling all the way, simply because he had heard that the injured party was this Shu Consort… As he took Nan Zhiyun's pulse, his palms were sweating. Fortunately, it was not as bad as he had imagined.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the Consort is merely startled and has no other serious ailments." The imperial physician replied.
Both Yu Jingchen and Nan Zhiyun breathed a sigh of relief at this news. Fortunately, there were no other serious problems.
"Earlier, the Shu Consort twisted her ankle. Please examine that as well." Yu Jingchen remembered. The imperial physician examined Nan Zhiyun's foot again. There were no problems, and no bones were injured.
Hearing this answer, Yu Jingchen was finally at ease. He dismissed the imperial physician and sat beside Nan Zhiyun, "Rest well for a while, and I will deal with today's matter." Yu Jingchen said to her.
Nan Zhiyun nodded obediently.