What mattered most was that after Zhao Zhaorong gave birth to her, Yu Jingchen never visited her again. Thus, Zhao Zhaorong blamed everything on Yu Wan'er, believing Yu Jingchen was displeased because she had given birth to a daughter.
Consequently, Zhao Zhaorong never cared about this daughter and even detested her, often resorting to beatings and scoldings. Even palace maids could bully her, and she was utterly weak. However, seeing Yu Wan'er's timidness only increased Zhao Zhaorong's displeasure.
"Is this how you serve her?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Consort Shu, the Second Princess is still young. She tripped on her own just now. It's normal for young children to stumble; she'll be completely fine in a couple of days," the palace maid replied.
"She is a royal princess, after all. Is this your attitude?" Nan Zhiyun couldn't understand. Regardless, this was Yu Jingchen's daughter.
"Consort Shu, please calm your anger. I will tend to the Second Princess's wounds when we return," the palace maid said.
Yu Wan'er began to cry, whether from the pain of her wound or from being frightened, she didn't make a sound, desperately trying to suppress her emotions. She was so young, yet she appeared remarkably sensible.
"Why is the Second Princess crying? Does your wound hurt? Shall I take you back?" the palace maid asked with a smile, reaching out to pull her.
Nan Zhiyun clearly saw Yu Wan'er flinch. But... she didn't know if she should intervene. At this moment, Zhao Zhaorong's voice was heard.
"Yu Wan'er!" Zhao Zhaorong roared. Yu Wan'er jumped in fright upon hearing the voice.
Then, Zhao Zhaorong approached. "This concubine greets Consort Shu." Zhao Zhaorong curtsied.
"The Second Princess has caused trouble for Consort Shu. This concubine will take her away now," Zhao Zhaorong said, then looked at Yu Wan'er, her expression stern. "What are you still waiting for? Hurry and get back here! Do you think you can only embarrass me?"
With that, she pushed Yu Wan'er. Seeing Yu Wan'er crying, she immediately slapped her. "Cry, cry, all you do is cry. What else can you do besides cry?"
Nan Zhiyun frowned as she watched from the side. However, she couldn't very well interfere and intervene. Thus, she got up to leave. "The Second Princess is still young and can be taught slowly. She is injured, so Zhao Zhaorong should attend to her wounds. After all, she is the Emperor's child. I shall take my leave now." Nan Zhiyun prepared to depart after saying this.
Unexpectedly, the Second Princess actually dared to grab her. Feeling the tug on her skirt, Nan Zhiyun turned to look at her.
"No..." The little girl's voice trembled. She looked utterly pathetic and clearly terrified. Previously, after Zhao Zhaorong was punished to kneel by Yu Jingchen, she had returned and punished Yu Wan'er, calling her useless and saying even her own father didn't care about her. Therefore, Yu Wan'er dared not go back. She knew that if she truly returned, she would surely be beaten, and she was afraid.
This action, however, undoubtedly enraged Zhao Zhaorong. Zhao Zhaorong roughly pushed her away. "Yu Wan'er, what do you want? You don't want to leave with me anymore, do you? What, you don't want me as your mother anymore?"
As if this wasn't enough, she then turned to Nan Zhiyun. "Consort Shu, children are ignorant, but you should know better than to say certain things to her." She shifted the blame onto Nan Zhiyun.
"What does Zhao Zhaorong mean by that? Does she think I was instigating her?" Nan Zhiyun frowned. What did this have to do with her?
"This concubine dares not, but this is this concubine's own matter. I request Consort Shu not to interfere," Zhao Zhaorong said, then went to pull Yu Wan'er.
Yu Wan'er refused to go but dared not resist. She could only cling to Nan Zhiyun. Zhao Zhaorong momentarily lost control and forcefully shoved Yu Wan'er, who stumbled into Nan Zhiyun. By chance, she hit the wound on Nan Zhiyun's foot. At that very moment, they heard, "His Majesty arrives—!"