Qiu Yun helped Yu Wan'er sit down opposite Nan Zhiyun. There was little conversation throughout. Fortunately, Yu Wan'er was well-behaved, and apart from quietly eating, she didn't cause any other trouble.
After breakfast, Yu Wan'er obediently returned to the side hall. Before leaving, Nan Zhiyun also told her not to come specifically to pay respects anymore.
This small interlude ended quickly. Nan Zhiyun, still feeling somewhat unwell, was too lazy to move. "Why is it so uncomfortable this time..." Nan Zhiyun grumbled softly.
"Your Ladyship," it was Jiang Ji.
"Jiang Ji? You've brought Ling Dang back." Nan Zhiyun quickly saw the cat he was holding.
"Yes, Your Majesty ordered Ling Dang to be returned to Your Ladyship," Jiang Ji replied respectfully.
"Bring her over," Nan Zhiyun said, her spirits lifting.
"Yes." Jiang Ji knelt and brought Ling Dang over to Nan Zhiyun. His hand, scratched by Ling Dang, had not yet healed.
"Why aren't you standing up?" Nan Zhiyun took Ling Dang.
"Yes... Thank you, Consort Shu." Jiang Ji stood up.
"Is your hand injury still not healed?" Nan Zhiyun, holding the cat, began to play with it and asked casually.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Ladyship. I am much better now, thanks to the ointment Your Ladyship bestowed," Jiang Ji said. When he had been injured before, Nan Zhiyun had sent medicine for him.
"That's good." Nan Zhiyun said this and then said nothing more, only continuing to play with the cat. But... why did she find Ling Dang so strange today? She looked unhappy and just lay there limp.
"What's wrong with Ling Dang? Why does she look unhappy?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Replying to Consort Shu... Your Majesty previously ordered that Ling Dang be..." Jiang Ji hesitated.
"Hmm?" Nan Zhiyun looked bewildered. His Majesty had asked Jiang Ji to take Ling Dang away earlier, fearing something was wrong with her things, but now it seemed like something else entirely...
"Your Ladyship, Your Majesty ordered Ling Dang to be spayed," Jiang Ji replied.
Spayed?! Nan Zhiyun was shocked.
"She..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Ling Dang in her arms, finding it hard to believe.
Alright... with a sigh of sympathy, Nan Zhiyun gently stroked Ling Dang. "How pitiful..."
"Why didn't Your Majesty tell me beforehand?" Nan Zhiyun hadn't known about this.
Jiang Ji said nothing, but as Nan Zhiyun looked up, she noticed something amiss.
"What's wrong with you?" Nan Zhiyun frowned.
"Your Ladyship, this servant is fine." Jiang Ji lowered his head.
But Nan Zhiyun had already seen it, so she couldn't let it go.
"Who hit your face?" Nan Zhiyun asked. Jiang Ji's face was red and swollen, with clear handprints.
Qian Xia had also just noticed. Jiang Ji was usually reticent and always kept his head very low in front of Nan Zhiyun, so she hadn't noticed.
"It was... the Princess," Jiang Ji knelt.
The Princess?
"Yu Yan'er?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"Yes," Jiang Ji replied.
"Your Ladyship, the Princess of Yu brought the Princess into the palace today," Qian Xia said.
"Why did she lay hands on you?" Nan Zhiyun asked him.
"This servant was returning Ling Dang as ordered by Your Majesty today. On the way, I encountered Princess Yan. The Princess said I was blocking her path, so..." Although the rest was unsaid, Nan Zhiyun understood what had happened.