Nan Zhiyun found herself unable to comprehend.
"What use is it to find me for such matters? You should seek out the Consort or His Majesty." Nan Zhiyun's brow furrowed.
"This concubine cannot see His Majesty, nor does she dare to speak to him. As for the Consort... the Consort said this is not in accordance with propriety. If you are truly anxious, you may speak with His Majesty yourself. That is why this concubine has come to find Your Ladyship."
"Noble Consort Shu, this concubine is truly at her wit's end. This concubine shares a deep bond with her mother; her mother has always treated this concubine exceptionally well since childhood. This concubine is also worried. Having not seen her for years, this concubine misses her dearly. Now that she hears her mother is gravely ill, this concubine momentarily lost her composure. I beg Noble Consort Shu to fulfill this concubine's filial duty." Yang Zhaoyuan continued.
"What use is it to tell me this? I cannot help you. This still requires His Majesty's approval." Nan Zhiyun replied.
At this moment, Qian Xia had already prepared tea. However, she thought, alas, it would likely be wasted.
"Noble Consort Shu, His Majesty currently favors you deeply. Your grace is abundant, I beg you to help this concubine." Yang Zhaoyuan pleaded. "Noble Consort Shu, as you know, His Majesty dislikes these trivial matters. This concubine truly dares not, and fears His Majesty will not agree."
"Then... I also dare not..." Nan Zhiyun didn't know how to refuse, so she uttered this phrase. And it was the truth, she truly dared not.
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..." For a moment, she was left speechless. How was she to continue?
"His Majesty treats you differently now. If you are willing to help, His Majesty will surely agree." Yang Zhaoyuan persisted.
"And what if, after I speak to His Majesty about this, he will no longer treat me differently, and will be angry? What then?" Nan Zhiyun acted as if she genuinely didn't understand.
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..."
"You can speak to him yourself. Why must it be me? It is your mother, not mine. If you speak to him, won't your feelings be more sincere? Perhaps His Majesty will be more likely to agree." Nan Zhiyun added with feigned earnestness.
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..."
"It's different, Your Ladyship. His Majesty does not favor this concubine, and I am not beloved..." Yang Zhaoyuan tried to continue, but Nan Zhiyun interrupted her, saying, "How do you know His Majesty does not favor you?"
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..." How could she explain?
"His Majesty is the ruler of a nation. Naturally, he would not favor this concubine..."
"Then he is the ruler of a nation, and he certainly wouldn't favor me either, wouldn't he? It's the same." Nan Zhiyun said with great "sincerity."
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..." How many times had she been blocked now? Was this Noble Consort Shu truly that simple, or... perhaps, merely foolish?
"In any case, I dare not speak of it." Nan Zhiyun added specifically.
As if thinking that wasn't enough, she added, "His Majesty has punished me many times. It was painful and severe, but he has never treated you this way. Therefore, His Majesty's leniency has always belonged to you..."
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..."
"Noble Consort Shu..." This time, Qian Xia spoke, looking at Nan Zhiyun with a face full of concern.
"...Perhaps His Majesty is not lenient with anyone, but... he is only harsh with me." Nan Zhiyun didn't know why, but she suddenly felt unhappy. She had said she couldn't help, yet this woman continued to bother her, always bringing up how His Majesty treated her differently. Nan Zhiyun was getting annoyed.
What was in her heart came out, even though His Majesty had always been the least forgiving towards her. She just felt uncomfortable, a sour and bitter taste in her mouth, and a surge of anger.
"Noble Consort Shu..." Yang Zhaoyuan was about to speak again.
But Nan Zhiyun clearly had no more patience.
"I was lying to you just now." Nan Zhiyun said this, leaving people bewildered.
"So, Noble Consort Shu means you are willing to help this concubine?" Yang Zhaoyuan was somewhat surprised.
"No. What I mean is, I said I had nothing to do and was bored, so your visit was nothing. But now I say that was a lie because I am very busy and have no time to talk about this with you, so you may leave." Nan Zhiyun said earnestly.
Yang Zhaoyuan: "..."
"Has Yang Zhaoyuan not heard clearly? This servant will escort you out." Qian Xia, noticing Nan Zhiyun's impatience, immediately prepared to see her off.
"Noble Consort Shu, you cannot do this! You are abandoning me to my fate!" Yang Zhaoyuan became agitated.
"How dare you! Yang Zhaoyuan, this is He An Hall. Noble Consort Shu's status is far above yours. Is this how you speak to her Ladyship? Furthermore, you were begging Noble Consort Shu to help you. What is the meaning of this behavior?" Qian Xia rebuked.
"Guards, escort Yang Zhaoyuan out!" Qian Xia commanded. Qiu Yun and Dong Wan, who had been standing ready, immediately moved forward. However, just as they were about to usher her out, Xia Yi outside announced, "His Majesty arrives—!"
His Majesty? Nan Zhiyun followed out immediately upon hearing this. Yang Zhaoyuan's eyes lit up as well. This was perfect timing. When Yu Jingchen appeared within her sight, Yang Zhaoyuan immediately fell to the ground.
Qiu Yun and Dong Wan were stunned. They hadn't pushed her... and the floor wasn't that slippery. Nan Zhiyun naturally saw it too, but she knew Yang Zhaoyuan had fallen herself.
"Noble Consort Shu, what is the meaning of this? Even if this concubine's status is not as high as yours, you cannot trample on me like this." Yang Zhaoyuan feigned distress, weeping pitifully, truly appearing as if she had been wronged.
"What is wrong?" Yu Jingchen approached calmly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Nan Zhiyun curtsied. She couldn't say she wasn't worried. Who knew how Yu Jingchen would interpret this... This sort of situation had happened before.
Some concubines loved to pretend they had been bullied by her and then beg His Majesty to judge for them. And each time, His Majesty would believe them, completely distrusting her. If she tried to defend herself, it was considered sophistry and resulted in further punishment...
Recalling these incidents, Nan Zhiyun's clenched hand tightened slightly. Would it be the same today? The most severe punishment she had received previously was twenty strokes of the cane on her hand, followed by two hours of kneeling. It was because a concubine claimed she had slapped her, so the concubine was made to retaliate with two slaps on the spot.
The important thing wasn't the severity of the punishment, but her dignity. That little concubine was merely a minor Bao Lin, yet she had slapped her in front of Yu Jingchen, other concubines, and even so many palace servants...