Nan Zhiyun kept her reasons to herself, leaving Yu Jingchen unsure of what to do, so he simply held her close to comfort her. However, perhaps it was her recent sensitivity, but the more Yu Jingchen tried to soothe her, the more Nan Zhiyun felt like crying.
She tugged at Yu Jingchen's sleeve and buried herself in his embrace. Yu Jingchen, unaware of the cause, allowed her to do so.
"There, there, don't cry," Yu Jingchen said, his heart growing anxious as he couldn't elicit a reason.
"Please tell me, okay? What's wrong?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask, but Nan Zhiyun simply wouldn't answer, leaving Yu Jingchen at a loss.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it, but holding it in like this isn't good for you. What will you do if something like this happens again in the future? Yun'er, I'll be very worried, so please tell me, alright?" Yu Jingchen was incredibly patient.
"I feel sad..." Nan Zhiyun mumbled into his chest.
"Where do you feel sad?" Yu Jingchen pressed.
"My heart feels sad, I just can't stop myself from crying," Nan Zhiyun replied, still hiding her face in his embrace. At least she had spoken, which was a relief to Yu Jingchen.
"Why do you feel sad? Did I say something just now? Or did any of my actions make you uncomfortable?" Yu Jingchen began to look for the cause within himself. Unfortunately, Nan Zhiyun found it difficult to explain this particular reason.
"Don't say it," Nan Zhiyun replied.
Yu Jingchen felt helpless and didn't press further. He thought back to his actions and words. He observed that Nan Zhiyun didn't seem scared, but rather deeply wronged. Recalling that her mood had soured only after he had spoken, he formed a guess.
"Was it something I said just now? Yun'er, I told you, I don't like those who are dignified and proper. I just like Yun'er the way you are." Yu Jingchen even smiled as he spoke.
But Nan Zhiyun remained unchanged, showing little reaction.
"Yun'er, you don't need to be so prim and proper; it's not good. You should just be yourself," Yu Jingchen continued.
"But... but they all say His Majesty likes those who understand rules and reason. Your concubine always tried to learn; I thought if I became proper, a true young lady of breeding, His Majesty would like me..." Nan Zhiyun finally spoke.
She had spent so much effort suppressing her true nature, molding herself into a conventional person, even controlling her laughter to fit the image of a proper young lady. She did all this to become the person he liked. Yet now, he told her... that she didn't need to change, that she could be whoever she wanted to be, because he liked her just as she was.
It turned out that what he liked wasn't a particular persona, but simply that he liked *her*. When he didn't like someone, no matter how perfect, how outstanding, or what they did, he wouldn't like them. Conversely, when he did like someone, they were the best in his eyes even if they did nothing. So... in the end, it was simply that he had never liked her before.
Yet, she had gone to such lengths to change herself based on someone else's casual remark about him liking well-mannered people. In the end, all her efforts had only resulted in pain.
How could she not feel wronged? All the pain hadn't earned her even a single word of his affection, and now this affection came so easily. She had waited for so long, yet upon hearing it now, the bitterness overshadowed the joy.
Yu Jingchen finally understood why Nan Zhiyun's mood had plummeted so suddenly. His heart ached; he realized he had been so unappreciative in the past.
"Don't be sad anymore..." Yu Jingchen found that no matter how much he said, his words seemed pale and powerless.
"Your concubine doesn't want to like His Majesty anymore," Nan Zhiyun said, her words carrying a touch of childish petulance.
"Mmm, you don't have to like His Majesty anymore. How about liking your husband from now on?" Yu Jingchen coaxed her.
"I don't want to like him anymore..." Nan Zhiyun was becoming more pampered and spoiled.
But Yu Jingchen was happy to hear it; he knew then that things were improving. He held her as if she were a child, letting her nestle in his arms, while his other hand gently rubbed her back.
He suddenly realized that Nan Zhiyun seemed to really like this way of being held and especially enjoyed snuggling into his embrace. It wasn't for any other reason than Nan Zhiyun felt completely enclosed in his arms, which made her feel very safe.
Nan Zhiyun stayed in Yu Jingchen's arms for a while, her emotions calming down. Yu Jingchen looked at her. "Are you feeling better?" he asked.
Nan Zhiyun nodded and wiped her own tears. Yu Jingchen smiled at her words. "What do you want to do next? Do you still want to read?" he asked again.
Nan Zhiyun hugged the book to her chest as if someone might try to take it from her. However, she replied, "I don't want to read anymore."
"Why not? Weren't you enjoying it just now?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Later," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Alright, we'll do as you say. We'll read later." Yu Jingchen reached out to take the storybook she was holding, intending to put it away for her. But Nan Zhiyun refused to let go, her grip surprisingly strong.
"Didn't you say you'd read later? Why are you still holding it so tightly?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Just leave it here," Nan Zhiyun placed the book by her pillow, subtly shielding it. Yu Jingchen could see clearly now; she was afraid he would confiscate it, which left him feeling rather helpless.
"So what do you want to do now? You're not reading the storybook, and you can't move around freely. Won't you be bored?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"This," Nan Zhiyun looked to the side and reached for a plate of peeled grapes.
Yu Jingchen was momentarily stunned upon seeing it, then chuckled. He had thought she had forgotten about them, but she remembered now.
The palace maids had peeled a large plate of grapes, and Nan Zhiyun, engrossed in her reading, hadn't eaten much. Now she had remembered them.
"They are delicious, but you should still eat in moderation," Yu Jingchen didn't stop her. He had recently noticed a small detail: Nan Zhiyun particularly enjoyed fruits that were very juicy and had a sweet and sour taste.
"Does His Majesty want some?" Nan Zhiyun held out the plate to Yu Jingchen.
Yu Jingchen gently pushed it away. "I still have memorials to attend to. I'll come back after I'm done." With that, Yu Jingchen prepared to rise, but Nan Zhiyun stopped him.
"Your concubine was tired from reading the storybook just now," Nan Zhiyun said, the words seemingly disconnected.
Yu Jingchen didn't immediately grasp what she meant, but he understood after her next sentence.