Yu Jingchen could see that Nan Zhiyun genuinely disliked drinking the medicine, but there was no other way.
"If you don't drink it yourself, I'll have to find other ways to make you drink it. So, will you drink it, or will I help you?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun was stunned. What other ways could there be?
"Your Majesty, this concubine also doesn't want to drink..." Nan Zhiyun, perhaps because of her injury today, felt that whatever she did would be "forgiven," and her courage had grown significantly.
Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on Nan Zhiyun's lips.
"Does Yun'er truly not want to?" Yu Jingchen confirmed one last time.
"I won't drink..." Nan Zhiyun was determined to defy him today.
Seeing this, Yu Jingchen leaned forward and kissed Nan Zhiyun's lips. Nan Zhiyun was startled by his sudden action. Just as she was about to pull away, Yu Jingchen's other hand pressed down on the back of her head, immobilizing her.
Nan Zhiyun gently pushed against Yu Jingchen, but it was completely futile. In an instant, she felt a slight pain in her lips; Yu Jingchen was biting her.
Yu Jingchen released Nan Zhiyun, and indeed, there was a small bite mark on her lip.
"It hurts..." Nan Zhiyun reached out to touch her mouth, but stopped just before her fingers made contact, not daring to touch it.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen with a hint of accusation in her eyes.
"If you still refuse to drink, then in a moment I will drink the medicine and then feed it to you in this manner," Yu Jingchen stated.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
"So, will you drink it yourself, or will you use my method?" Yu Jingchen looked at her.
Nan Zhiyun: "..." Did she even have a choice?
"Hm?" Yu Jingchen handed her the medicine.
Nan Zhiyun had no choice. After hesitating for a moment, she finally took it.
"Yes..." Nan Zhiyun finally compromised. Compared to Yu Jingchen, she felt she could never win.
"Don't look like you're facing death. It's just a bowl of medicine," Yu Jingchen said, finding her expression amusing.
Nan Zhiyun remained silent, holding the medicine and hesitating for a long while before resolving herself to drink it all in one go. Seeing Nan Zhiyun's pained expression, Yu Jingchen's heart ached, and he immediately offered her a piece of preserved fruit.
"Inform them that the Imperial Medical Office doesn't need to prescribe medicine tomorrow. The medicine for your foot should be checked daily. If the issue isn't serious, these decoctions won't be needed daily from now on," Yu Jingchen instructed Xing Lai.
"Yes," Xing Lai immediately agreed.
Nan Zhiyun was somewhat surprised to hear Yu Jingchen's words and specifically asked, "Your Majesty, can I really stop drinking medicine?"
"No more medicine if you dislike it. However, if the imperial physicians examine you later and still deem it necessary, then we must be obedient and drink it, alright?" Yu Jingchen was reasoning with Nan Zhiyun.
"Mhm, okay." Nan Zhiyun's mood immediately brightened upon hearing that she could stop taking medicine.
Seeing this, Yu Jingchen stroked Nan Zhiyun's head and then asked, "Have you eaten anything yet today?"
"I have," Nan Zhiyun replied. Just a while ago, after Yu Jingchen had left, the imperial kitchen had sent over food.
"I recall that He An Hall also has a small kitchen. If possible later, you can cook in the small kitchen. If Yun'er fancies anything, just invite the cooks here, and they can prepare it specially for you," Yu Jingchen had planned this before.
"Can I invite them from outside the palace?" Nan Zhiyun suddenly asked.
"Of course. As long as you want to eat something, just send someone to prepare it. If you wish for them to stay, they can be specially assigned to your meals," Yu Jingchen saw no issue with this.
Nan Zhiyun had a poor appetite and usually ate little. He remembered when she was outside the palace, she seemed to particularly enjoy those street snacks, so he intended to bring people into the palace.
Nan Zhiyun was too thin. Now that her health had finally improved a bit, she should naturally gain some weight.
"Okay, thank you, Your Majesty." Nan Zhiyun was genuinely happy. If she could invite people from outside the palace, it meant Yu Jingchen didn't dislike her eating those external delicacies.
"However, you must also promise me that you will eat with moderation. You can't indulge in everything without restraint. If your stomach problems recur because of it, then in the future, I will find someone to manage your diet, and you won't be allowed to eat anything indiscriminately," Yu Jingchen gave a "kind warning."
"Yes, this concubine understands." Nan Zhiyun knew that Yu Jingchen had his limits, so she wouldn't push her luck.
Yu Jingchen smiled dotingly.
"There was supposed to be a plum blossom banquet this afternoon. Now that your foot is injured, you definitely can't go. Will you be bored?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head. "This concubine doesn't like such occasions either." It was all noble ladies, and she didn't like dealing with them.
"It's still quite cold these days, and you're injured, so stay here obediently. If you're really bored and want to go out, it's not impossible, but you must ensure your safety and not put weight on your foot. Do you understand?" Yu Jingchen was quite worried. He had initially thought Nan Zhiyun was a relatively quiet person, but later discovered that this girl could be quite spirited when she let loose. He feared that if she wasn't careful while he was away and got injured again.
"I won't," Nan Zhiyun gave her assurance.
"It's good that you promised." Yu Jingchen chose to believe her anyway. After all, what else could he do if he didn't?
Having said this, Yu Jingchen's expression turned a little colder as he remembered the cause of Nan Zhiyun's injury today.
"How does Yun'er wish for today's matter to be handled?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
Nan Zhiyun was momentarily stunned when she heard Yu Jingchen's words. After reacting, she replied, "Hasn't Your Majesty already dealt with it? This concubine has no other opinion." Thinking of Madam Yin's fate today... Nan Zhiyun was indeed afraid. How could anyone endure having their foot bones broken?
She herself felt excruciating pain from just an injury, while Madam Yin's foot bones on both feet were shattered. Nan Zhiyun believed she had no dissatisfaction with the punishment.
Yu Jingchen pulled Nan Zhiyun into his embrace, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Yun'er, don't you find it cruel?" This was the first time Yu Jingchen had directly asked Nan Zhiyun this question.
"..." Nan Zhiyun leaned into Yu Jingchen's embrace, falling silent. Cruel? To be honest, she genuinely feared Yu Jingchen's methods from the bottom of her heart.