The moment Yu Jingchen opened his eyes again... Huh? Why was he in the Hall of Diligent Governance?
"Your Majesty? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Eunuch Xing's voice suddenly reached him.
Yu Jing's brow furrowed. What was going on?
"Your Majesty?" Eunuch Xing called out again.
Then, another young eunuch arrived from outside: "Your Majesty, Noble Consort Nan's punishment has concluded."
Yu Jingchen looked at the kneeling young eunuch with a dazed expression: "What Nan Noble Consort? What punishment?"
The young eunuch and Eunuch Xing were both stunned.
"Your Majesty, previously, because Noble Lady Nan destroyed an imperial gift and showed no remorse, you demoted Noble Lady Nan to Noble Consort and ordered her to reflect in the Imperial Prison for ten days. Noble Consort Nan only returned from the Imperial Prison last night. Today, because she disrespected Consort Min, you decreed fifty lashes," Eunuch Xing hastily reminded Yu Jingchen.
Yu Jingchen's expression remained unchanged, but internally, a tempest had erupted.
These events occurred within the year before Nan Ziyun's death. He had... been reborn? So...
"Prepare the imperial carriage to Ya Jing Residence!" Yu Jingchen commanded. Ya Jing Residence was where Nan Ziyun lived, the most secluded dwelling in the rear palace.
When Yu Jingchen arrived at Ya Jing Residence, he didn't see a single servant. As Eunuch Xing was about to announce their arrival, Yu Jingchen stopped him.
As Yu Jingchen entered, he heard crying.
"Miss, does it hurt terribly? It's all my fault, I'm useless, I couldn't even summon a physician," Qian Qing knelt before Nan Ziyun, weeping.
Nan Ziyun lay prone on the bed, her face ashen. She no longer had the strength to speak.
The lashes Yu Jingchen had spoken of referred to the beating of the back with bamboo boards. Nan Ziyun's back was already stained crimson with blood.
She had only just emerged from the Imperial Prison yesterday. Life there had been worse than death. Although there were no obvious external injuries, she had endured every imaginable torment.
Consort Min had come to "visit" her with feigned kindness, but had instead provoked her at every turn. A single accusation of disrespecting a superior had resulted in another whipping. She was not favored, detested by His Majesty, so no imperial physician dared to treat her wounds. The Empress Dowager was not currently in the palace, and Nan Ziyun was living a life even worse than that of a servant.
"Miss, wait for me, I'll go beg His Majesty right now," Qian Qing said, about to rush out. Nan Ziyun had already lost consciousness.
As Qian Qing turned, she saw Yu Jingchen had entered.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Qian Qing hurriedly knelt again. "Your Majesty, show mercy and spare Miss this time. Miss is severely injured. If she doesn't see an imperial physician soon, she will perish." Qian Qing kowtowed as she spoke.
"Xing Lai," Yu Jingchen called out. Eunuch Xing understood immediately and quickly ordered someone to fetch an imperial physician.
Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Ziyun, who was lying prone on the bed, his heart stirred. He walked forward and sat by the bedside.
Qian Qing thought Yu Jingchen was about to do something else and continued to plead, "Your Majesty, Miss is currently disoriented. I beg Your Majesty not to punish her further!"
"Where are the other servants here?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, they refused to serve and are in the side courtyard," Qian Qing replied.
"Xing Lai, have all of them beaten to death," Yu Jingchen said, his voice devoid of inflection, yet this single, casually spoken sentence would claim several lives.
Xing Lai was somewhat surprised by such a decree from Yu Jingchen. Soon after, the sounds of widespread begging for mercy filled the air.
Yu Jingchen lifted the quilt covering Nan Ziyun. Her back was a mass of crimson, causing Yu Jingchen's heart to clench.
Nan Ziyun was covered in a cold sweat, whether from pain or fear, she found no peace even in her unconsciousness. Yu Jingchen touched Nan Ziyun's forehead; it was burning hot.