Nan Ziyun was returning from Ci'an Palace when it was nearly dark. Nan Su had already left the palace, as the palace gates would be locked if they were any later.
However, there was one thing that bothered Nan Ziyun: why, when everyone else had left, the Imperial Preceptor still hadn't departed? Was she planning to stay in Ci'an Palace so late?
The more Nan Ziyun thought about it, the deeper her frown became. Yu Jingchen had come out with Nan Ziyun. To be honest, he hadn't expected to stay in Ci'an Palace for so long.
The feeling was peculiar, and today's experience was all thanks to Nan Ziyun. Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Ziyun beside him and took her hand.
"It's cold outside, and the sedan chair has been arranged. Do you plan to walk all the way back like this?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Ziyun and teased her.
Nan Ziyun then realized she had already walked a considerable distance since leaving Ci'an Palace.
"What are you thinking about?" Yu Jingchen asked, looking at her absentminded expression.
"Nothing... Your subject is thinking about the Imperial Preceptor," Nan Ziyun replied truthfully.
Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow. He knew this girl had been "stimulated" today. Her reaction clearly showed she was intensely curious about the relationship between Gu Yin and the Empress Dowager, and very bothered by Gu Yin's attentiveness towards the Empress Dowager.
"What about him?" Yu Jingchen asked knowingly.
"I'm thinking about him and the Empress Dowager," Nan Ziyun was truly honest. More importantly, she couldn't lie to Yu Jingchen.
"Why worry about such things?" Yu Jingchen pulled her closer. A gust of wind blew, and the winter wind was truly bone-chilling. He was afraid that Nan Ziyun's delicate frame would suffer if she was exposed to it again, so he shielded her directly.
Nan Ziyun didn't pay much attention to these details. She was rather oblivious.
"Why are the Imperial Preceptor and the Empress Dowager together? Your subject never noticed this before." Nan Ziyun couldn't understand. What had gone wrong? How come she didn't know her Empress Dowager had such a close relationship with that Imperial Preceptor?
Moreover, that Imperial Preceptor was very suspicious. Why was he different from before? And so close to the Empress Dowager? Most importantly, why hadn't he left yet? Right, he still hadn't left.
Thinking of this, Nan Ziyun felt uneasy. Why shouldn't he leave? The palace gates were about to close, and her father had already left the palace. How could he still be in Ci'an Palace? The more Nan Ziyun thought about it, the more something felt wrong.
Yu Jingchen watched the little girl in his arms, her face constantly changing expressions, and found it amusing.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.
"...Your Majesty, when will the Imperial Preceptor leave?" Nan Ziyun decided to ask Yu Jingchen.
"How would I know? Perhaps he's not leaving?" Yu Jingchen didn't know if he was doing it on purpose.
"But he can't stay in the palace!" Nan Ziyun reminded him.
Oh, so she was in a hurry?
"Then what should we do?" Yu Jingchen asked her deliberately.
"...Your Majesty can make him leave," Nan Ziyun said.
"How can I make him leave? He didn't get my permission to come in," Yu Jingchen replied.
"..." Nan Ziyun was rendered speechless.
"Or should I have someone escort him out?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Ziyun's troubled expression and found it funny. He couldn't understand what she was so worried about.
Nan Ziyun: "..." Why did she feel it wasn't very reliable?
Then, as if she had thought of something else, she glanced back at Ci'an Palace and said something Yu Jingchen had never expected...
"Your Majesty, can your subject stay in Ci'an Palace today?" Nan Ziyun asked innocently.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Stay in Ci'an Palace? Yu Jingchen's expression immediately froze.
"Stay in Ci'an Palace?" Yu Jingchen doubted if his ears were working correctly.
"...Can't I?" Nan Ziyun felt guilty when she heard Yu Jingchen's question and dared not say anything else.
Seeing Nan Ziyun like this, Yu Jingchen's heart softened.
"No, if you want to stay, then stay," Yu Jingchen couldn't refuse her request.
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty," Nan Ziyun became visibly happier.
"Are we going straight back to Ci'an Palace now?" Yu Jingchen asked her.
"Mm..." Nan Ziyun replied. They hadn't walked far, so going back to Ci'an Palace directly seemed best.
"Then let's go," Yu Jingchen said to Nan Ziyun.
"Okay," Nan Ziyun agreed. Yu Jingchen let go of her hand. Nan Ziyun took two steps back, curtsied, and then, supported by Qian Xia, went back to Ci'an Palace.
Fortunately, Xinglai watched his Majesty constantly gazing at the back of Consort Shu's figure and grinned. This was clearly well-planned. Although the Empress Dowager doted on Consort Shu, she might not keep her today.
After all, the Empress Dowager had openly kept the Imperial Preceptor, implying a purpose. Since she hadn't proactively kept Consort Shu earlier, she might not keep her now.
His Majesty was cunning. He didn't believe His Majesty couldn't see the Empress Dowager's intentions. Look, he was still standing there, probably waiting for Consort Shu to come out again.
You see, telling Consort Shu directly would have been better than letting her "hit a wall" herself. But these weren't things a mere servant should manage, so he would just quietly stay put.