With the Empress Dowager's secret care, Nan Zhiyun's injuries had largely healed.
In the depths of winter, Nan Zhiyun stood silently beneath a withered locust tree in the desolate cold palace.
"Miss, you are still injured. Won't you come inside with your servant?" As Qian Xia spoke, tears began to fall. She had been heartbroken watching her young lady in such a state these past few days. Ever since her miss entered the palace as a consort, she hadn't known a single truly happy day.
"Qian Xia, was I wrong?" Nan Zhiyun's gaze was distant and unfocused.
"It is not you who is wrong, Miss, but His Majesty. His Majesty fails to see your true heart," Qian Xia quickly stepped forward to support Nan Zhiyun. At this point, she felt there was nothing she couldn't say.
However, Nan Zhiyun shook her head, "It was I who was wrong. I shouldn't have fallen for him, let alone for him as the Emperor. Qian Xia, I am so tired." Ever since Yu Jingchen cast her into the cold palace, Nan Zhiyun had been like a lost soul, repeating these words daily.
Qian Xia even feared that one day Nan Zhiyun might choose to simply depart.
"Miss, please don't frighten your servant. In a little while, General will return. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager said that once General returns, she will find a way to get you out."
"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager also said that if His Majesty is wary of the Nan family, General will hand over his military authority upon his return. General will take you home, and we will live a peaceful life as a family, never again involving ourselves in royal affairs," Qian Xia said, wiping away tears.
Nan Zhiyun's eyes flickered slightly. A peaceful life as a family? Was that truly possible? Nan Zhiyun didn't know, nor did she dare to think about it.
The next moment, Nan Zhiyun fainted, her face pale and devoid of color. Qian Xia cried out in alarm, "Miss!"
When Nan Zhiyun next opened her eyes, the scene before her had changed. This was not the cold palace, but the Empress Dowager's Ci An Palace.
"Yun'er has finally woken up. How are you feeling? Are you still uncomfortable?" The Empress Dowager looked much older, her eyes red and filled with concern.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, why am I here?" Nan Zhiyun felt too weak to even speak.
"You suddenly fainted in the cold palace. Qian Xia came to find me, and I had someone bring you here," the Empress Dowager said with great tenderness.
"Did His Majesty... agree?" Nan Zhiyun felt pain all over her body.
"It's no longer important, Yun'er." The Empress Dowager took Nan Zhiyun's hand and placed it on her own face, tears streaming down.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, please don't cry. I am fine. Qian Xia told me that when Father returns, we will live a good life as a family," Nan Zhiyun smiled faintly and reached out to wipe the Empress Dowager's tears.
"Yes, yes, when A Su returns, we will live well, live well," the Empress Dowager's words brought tears to Nan Zhiyun's eyes.
"Then I won't be the Empress Dowager anymore. I will return to the manor with Yun'er, and we will find a place with beautiful scenery, just our family," the Empress Dowager said.
"Mm, our family," Nan Zhiyun replied.
Just as the Empress Dowager and Nan Zhiyun were speaking warmly, the sound of an announcement from outside shattered the tenderness in the room.
"His Majesty has arrived—"
Nan Zhiyun and the Empress Dowager's expressions changed in unison.
Yu Jingchen entered Ci An Palace with a cold demeanor. The servants of Ci An Palace knelt on the floor.
"Why has the Emperor come to visit me?" the Empress Dowager asked coldly.
"The Empress Dowager has privately brought the condemned woman, Madam Nan, out of the cold palace. Naturally, I must come to see how this condemned woman is seducing the Empress Dowager." Yu Jingchen glanced indifferently at Nan Zhiyun lying on the bed, his eyes devoid of emotion.
As Nan Zhiyun heard Yu Jingchen referring to her as a "condemned woman" repeatedly, an infinite sadness welled up in her heart.
"How dare you! Emperor, do you still have any regard for me, your mother?!" the Empress Dowager was furious.
"Guards, take the condemned woman, Madam Nan, back to the cold palace," Yu Jingchen's expression did not change.
Then, someone moved to pull Nan Zhiyun up, but the Empress Dowager stopped them, "Who dares, in my presence?!"
"Emperor, are you truly so heartless? Yun'er just lost your child!" the Empress Dowager roared.
The child... Nan Zhiyun's hand moved to her abdomen, tears gushing out.
"So what? She previously plotted against the imperial heir, and now she has lost her own child; it is her just desserts. Furthermore, is she even worthy of bearing an imperial heir?" Yu Jingchen's face remained impassive.
Nan Zhiyun felt a profound chill upon hearing Yu Jingchen's words. She slowly sat up, her eyes vacant as she looked at Yu Jingchen, "Is this how His Majesty views me?"
Yu Jingchen cast a subtle glance at her, then said with extreme sarcasm, "Isn't this exactly who you are?"
"Does His Majesty truly have no affection for me at all?" Nan Zhiyun wept.
"Are you worthy?" Yu Jingchen looked at her as if she were an idiot.
Upon hearing this, Nan Zhiyun laughed, a faint sound escaping her throat, her heart utterly disheartened.
"Your Majesty, so liking you requires such a great price? I was wrong. I won't do it again." Nan Zhiyun's voice was very light, as if it would dissipate with a gentle breeze.
"Yun'er..." the Empress Dowager's heart ached as she looked at Nan Zhiyun.
"Emperor, must you be so heartless?" the Empress Dowager questioned.
"Hasn't the Empress Dowager always known?" Yu Jingchen remained unmoved.
"Emperor, do not forget, it was not for the Nan family that you would not have reached your current position. Yun'er is the sole descendant of the Nan family, the apple of A Su's eye. A Su will be back soon. If you treat Yun'er this way, are you not afraid of chilling the hearts of your old ministers?" the Empress Dowager shouted.
"Is the Empress Dowager threatening me?" Yu Jingchen's eyes suddenly turned sharp.
"So what? Since His Majesty has always viewed the Nan family as a thorn in his side and a dagger in his flesh?" the Empress Dowager decided to speak the truth.
"Let Yun'er remain in Ci An Palace. Once A Su returns, the Nan family will naturally cease to be an annoyance to His Majesty," the Empress Dowager said.
Yu Jingchen remained silent for a long time before finally uttering a "Fine," and then he left Ci An Palace, his face dark enough to drip ink.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager looked at Nan Zhiyun, "Yun'er, do not be afraid. Aunt will protect you. Nothing will happen. We will obediently wait for your father to return, and everything will be alright once he is here." The Empress Dowager embraced Nan Zhiyun.
"Aunt... the child is really gone?" Nan Zhiyun asked.
Her question brought fresh tears to the Empress Dowager's eyes, "We don't care for it. Better to have no child of his. In the future, Aunt will find a man who is good to Yun'er, alright?" the Empress Dowager consoled. Nan Zhiyun did not reply but simply nestled in the Empress Dowager's embrace and wept. The entire Ci An Palace was enveloped in sorrow.