This night was destined to be sleepless, with Yu Jingchen holding Nan Zhiyun all night without daring to let go.
The next day, when Nan Zhiyun woke up, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting by her bed. Nan Zhiyun was stunned for a moment, feeling a bit confused.
"Empress Dowager..." Nan Zhiyun still found it hard to believe.
The Empress Dowager smiled gently upon hearing this. "You're awake? How are you feeling? Better? Does the wound still hurt?" she asked kindly.
"I'm alright... Why is the Empress Dowager here?" Nan Zhiyun hadn't quite recovered her senses.
"I heard you missed me, so I came to see our Yun'er," the Empress Dowager said with a smile, stroking Nan Zhiyun's hair.
"What?" Nan Zhiyun still hadn't grasped what was happening.
"The Emperor sent someone to Ci'an Palace early this morning, saying that a young girl had a nightmare last night and insisted on seeing me, so I was asked to come and keep you company today," the Empress Dowager explained.
"I didn't..." Nan Zhiyun was a little bewildered.
"Hmm? You didn't? Really? Then why would His Majesty tell me that?" the Empress Dowager asked her, half-jokingly.
"No..." Nan Zhiyun thought carefully, but couldn't recall saying such a thing. Of course, she also couldn't remember everything that had happened last night; she only remembered feeling timid and scared when she and Yu Jingchen did those things. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"Then does Yun'er mean she doesn't miss me anymore?" Of course, the Empress Dowager was just making a lighthearted joke.
"No... I still miss the Empress Dowager," Nan Zhiyun said, about to sit up. Seeing her movement, the Empress Dowager reached out to help her.
"Be careful of your wound, don't aggravate it, or you'll be in pain again later," the Empress Dowager warned, her face filled with concern.
Nan Zhiyun was already dressed; Yu Jingchen had dressed her. After all, it wouldn't be good if the Empress Dowager saw any marks...
"I'm alright..." Nan Zhiyun said, hugging the Empress Dowager.
"Empress Dowager... where is the State Preceptor?" Nan Zhiyun asked, clearly still concerned.
"He's no longer in the palace," the Empress Dowager replied, then pulled Nan Zhiyun into her embrace.
"Empress Dowager... what is your relationship with the State Preceptor?" Nan Zhiyun finally couldn't hold back the question.
"Yun'er, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. You just stop worrying so much, okay?" the Empress Dowager said with some helplessness.
"Okay..." Nan Zhiyun was always obedient. Since the Empress Dowager told her not to ask, she didn't.
"How have you and the Emperor been getting along lately?" the Empress Dowager asked after a moment's thought.
"...Alright," Nan Zhiyun replied. Looking at it now, it was indeed alright, except in certain aspects.
"What does 'alright' mean? I feel... the Emperor seems different now," the Empress Dowager said as if intentionally.
"Mm..." Nan Zhiyun didn't deny it. Indeed, it was an undeniable fact that he was different.
"Are you still very afraid of him, Yun'er?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"Yes, I'm still afraid, but... it's different from before. I'm not as terrified as I used to be," Nan Zhiyun replied.
The Empress Dowager looked thoughtful but didn't press further. Nan Zhiyun, not hearing the Empress Dowager's voice, looked up curiously.
"Does the Empress Dowager have something to tell me?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
"There's nothing in particular to say, I just hope Yun'er can think clearly. What you want and what you don't want are things you need to consider carefully. No matter when, I will always be on Yun'er's side. As long as Yun'er is happy, anything is possible," the Empress Dowager said, looking at Nan Zhiyun with doting affection. All she wanted was for Little Yun'er to be happy.
"..." Nan Zhiyun said nothing this time.
Seeing her silence, the Empress Dowager merely smiled and didn't press further.
The Empress Dowager stayed there for the entire morning. After the morning court, Yu Jingchen remained in the Hall of Diligent Governance, but...
Xing Lai watched Yu Jingchen, thinking, Your Majesty, are you truly handling state affairs? Where have your thoughts flown off to? You've been looking at this memorial for twenty minutes without changing it, and your gaze is constantly directed outside. What are you looking at?
"Your Majesty... it's almost time for lunch, what do you think..." Xing Lai's intention was very clear.
"Has the Empress Dowager returned to Ci'an Palace?" Yu Jingchen asked an unrelated question.
"Not yet, she's likely to have lunch with Consort Shu," Xing Lai replied.
Yu Jingchen: "..." Did I call out the wrong person?
"Does Your Majesty wish to dine now?" Xing Lai had seen through him, but... why was he afraid to go over? Was the Empress Dowager a monstrous flood?
Yu Jingchen didn't answer.
"Then... Your Majesty, perhaps we could proceed to Hexian Hall?" Xing Lai felt he should give his Majesty an easy way out.
"No need. Let the Empress Dowager and Consort Shu enjoy their time together," Yu Jingchen's gaze returned to the memorial he hadn't changed.
Xing Lai: "..." Tsk, Your Majesty, are you really this reserved? But since Your Majesty 'doesn't want to go,' then so be it.
Just as Xing Lai was about to retreat, someone arrived from outside.
"Your Majesty, Eunuch An Xin from the Empress Dowager's side has arrived, requesting Your Majesty to join them for lunch at Hexian Hall," the palace attendant reported.
Xing Lai: "..." Oh ho...
Yu Jingchen was also surprised. The Empress Dowager specifically sent someone to call him for lunch?
"Your Majesty, if you don't want to go, then I'll go out and inform them?" Xing Lai was intentionally provoking him.
"Wait..." Yu Jingchen stopped him.
"Since the Empress Dowager has specifically sent someone to call, then let's proceed to Hexian Hall," Yu Jingchen said with a hint of nonchalance, putting down the memorial and standing up.
Xing Lai: "..." He felt that his Majesty had indeed changed, and not just a little.
"Yes," Xing Lai acknowledged.
He immediately ordered the carriage to Hexian Hall. When they arrived, the people at Hexian Hall were about to announce their arrival, but Yu Jingchen stopped them.
Yu Jingchen approached quietly, his footsteps light. Just as he reached the doorway, he heard laughter and merriment coming from inside. Hearing the laughter, Yu Jingchen's lips couldn't help but curve into a smile.
However... Nan Zhiyun rarely showed such an expression in front of him. It wasn't so much rare as it was nonexistent. In that fleeting moment, Yu Jingchen's mood once again became heavy.
He took a moment by the door to compose himself and was about to enter. But just as he was about to step in, he heard the Empress Dowager ask Nan Zhiyun a question.