Perhaps due to the calming medicine, Nan Zhiyun’s condition improved noticeably afterward. Yujingchen, knowing she hadn't been resting well, coaxed her to sleep.
Xinglai had just finished handling matters elsewhere and came to report. Yujing'an had already been imprisoned, and Yujingchen would not spare him; even death would be a luxury.
"Your Majesty, seeing all this today has been too much for the consorts in the harem," Xinglai reminded him.
"If they could bear it, I wouldn't have needed to make them see," Yujingchen replied nonchalantly.
Xinglai inwardly rolled his eyes. Was he nonchalant? Clearly not. He was being considerate of someone… Didn't he see who was so solicitously wiping sweat and tending to Consort Shu? She was asleep, why did he need to do that? What if he woke her up? Oh, wait, Consort Shu’s sleeping condition was… so good, she probably wouldn’t wake up.
"Your Majesty, how should the two children left behind today be handled? Should they remain in the Heyan Palace?" Xinglai inquired.
"Let them stay for now," Yujingchen said, as he had promised Nan Zhiyun, he would not go back on his word.
"Yes," Xinglai said nothing more and quietly withdrew.
Even those accustomed to bloodshed might not have been able to stomach such a gruesome scene. The consorts in the palace, the ministers, especially the civil officials, would likely be ill for some time.
As expected, gradually, people inside and outside the palace began to fall ill, mostly from shock. The consorts in the harem, in particular, who usually lived sheltered lives and were accustomed to pampering, found such a scene unbearable. Thus, they all fell ill, some even developing high fevers.
Nan Zhiyun also developed a fever that afternoon. Yujingchen had been prepared for this, so he wasn't flustered. The imperial physicians examined her, prescribed medicine, and Yujingchen stayed by her side, taking care of her.
By evening, her fever had slowly subsided. Nan Zhiyun hadn't eaten all day, so Yujingchen gently roused her.
"You haven't rested well these past few days and haven't eaten much. Why don't you get up and eat a little, alright?" Yujingchen coaxed her.
"I feel unwell," Nan Zhiyun, pulled up by Yujingchen, leaned into his embrace.
"Just a little, darling. Let's eat something first, and then you'll feel better after taking your medicine," Yujingchen said, bringing over some clear congee.
"I'm dizzy, I feel like vomiting…" Nan Zhiyun's voice was soft, her eyes unwilling to open. She truly felt awful.
"You still need to eat a little. Come, I'll feed you." Yujingchen offered her a spoonful of congee. Although Nan Zhiyun claimed she didn't want to eat, her body was more honest, and she took the congee he offered into her mouth.
Nan Zhiyun managed to eat two spoonfuls before she turned away when Yujingchen offered more.
"No~" Nan Zhiyun buried her face in Yujingchen's embrace, no longer wanting to eat.
"You've barely eaten anything! Eat a little more," Yujingchen continued to persuade her.
"Mmm~ No," Nan Zhiyun truly refused to eat.
Yujingchen, finding her intractable, put the bowl down. He placed his hands under Nan Zhiyun's armpits and lifted her closer to him.
"Then shall we take our medicine?" Yujingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head, but it was beyond her control. Yujingchen ordered the medicine to be brought over. Seeing the dark bowl of medicine, Nan Zhiyun felt like vomiting.
"I won't drink it," she said, the two words uttered without hesitation.