Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun. Truthfully, he himself didn't know what he felt for Nan Zhiyun, nor what attitude he should adopt towards her.
Gratitude? It didn't seem so, for even without Nan Zhiyun, he wouldn't have been injured. Affection? That was even less likely, as he didn't believe he could fall for anyone. Guilt? Perhaps… a little. After all, in his past life, he had indeed wronged the Nan family.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician is here," Xing Lai reminded him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the imperial physician said, surprised that Yu Jingchen would be here.
"See to her," Yu Jingchen said, standing up, his voice devoid of emotion.
The imperial physician stepped forward to take her pulse. The more he examined her, the deeper his frown grew. Nan Cairen's physical condition was not optimistic.
"Your Majesty… Nan Cairen is weak. She appears to have suffered considerable torment previously… and her injuries today were not treated promptly, making it rather complicated," the imperial physician knew that Nan Zhiyun had only just been released from the Ministry of Punishment yesterday.
As expected, Yu Jingchen showed no surprise. He simply instructed the imperial physician, "Treat her with all your might. There must be no mistakes. Should anything go awry, you will share the same fate."
"This humble servant will do his utmost. However, it is best to tend to Nan Cairen's wounds first." The imperial physician began to sweat.
"Let this servant do it," Qian Xia said, rising from the ground.
"Instruct those below to fetch a few more people," Yu Jingchen said to Eunuch Xing.
"Yes," Eunuch Xing found His Majesty to be somewhat peculiar today.
Qian Xia began to clean the wounds on Nan Zhiyun's back and apply medication.
Yu Jingchen did not leave. With her garments removed, Yu Jingchen clearly saw the wounds on Nan Zhiyun's back. The hand hidden in his sleeve tightened almost imperceptibly.
As Qian Xia cleaned the wounds, she struggled to hold back tears, her heart aching uncontrollably. What suffering had she endured?
The bamboo strips striking her back were considered less severe than a flogging, but it depended on the executioner's skill. Nan Zhiyun's back clearly showed the mark of someone who had acted with malicious intent.
Perhaps it was the pain of disinfection that woke Nan Zhiyun.
"Hiss..." Nan Zhiyun's forehead was covered in cold sweat. She detested pain the most.
"Qian Xia..." Nan Zhiyun's eyes were still closed, her voice hoarse.
"Miss, it will be over soon. Please bear with it a little longer," Qian Xia felt just as pained, but these wounds had to be cleaned.
"It hurts so much... Don't touch these wounds anymore... They will heal. Let it be, I really can't stand it..." Nan Zhiyun's words were intermittent, her voice pitifully weak. The application of medication felt like another ordeal.
"Miss, please endure a little longer, just a little longer," Qian Xia's voice was thick with tears.
"It hurts..." Nan Zhiyun felt her back burning, as if ten thousand needles were piercing it.
Eunuch Xing watched from the side, his heart clenching. He subtly glanced at Yu Jingchen's expression, but His Majesty's face was set, his thoughts unreadable.
"It hurts so much..." Nan Zhiyun murmured, feeling only pain.
"I don't want any more medication..." Nan Zhiyun continued to say.
"How will it heal without medication? Just endure a little longer," Yu Jingchen suddenly spoke. Nan Zhiyun was startled and opened her eyes. The moment she saw Yu Jingchen, unconcealed terror filled her eyes.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun was clearly frightened and struggled to get up.
"Miss!" Qian Xia moved to help her, but hesitated, afraid of aggravating Nan Zhiyun's injuries.
Seeing this, Yu Jingchen's pupils contracted, and he moved forward.
However, Nan Zhiyun, in her terror, fell to the ground. "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this concubine knows her mistake. I beg you, spare this concubine..." Nan Zhiyun's voice was filled with panic.
Yu Jingchen instinctively reached out to help her, but Nan Zhiyun clutched the hem of his robe. "Your Majesty, this concubine begs you, spare this concubine." Nan Zhiyun was truly terrified.
"Get up," Yu Jingchen suppressed the irritation in his heart and spoke in a calm voice.
"No, this concubine dare not. Your Majesty, this concubine knows her error. I will not leave Ya Jing Ju again. Please forgive this concubine," Nan Zhiyun continued to plead.
"I told you to get up," Yu Jingchen reiterated.
"Your Majesty, Miss is afraid of Your Majesty's punishment. I implore Your Majesty to let Miss go." Qian Xia's forehead was already bleeding from the repeated kowtows.
Yu Jingchen felt a sudden surge of annoyance. "When did I say I would punish you further? Get up!" This time, Yu Jingchen's tone was heavier.
He then pulled her up. "Don't move erratically. Lie down quickly and let the medicine be applied!"
Nan Zhiyun still dared not. She looked at Yu Jingchen with pleading eyes, her entire body radiating unease.
Yu Jingchen grew impatient. "This is the last time I'm saying this: cooperate with the application of medicine immediately." Yu Jingchen suppressed his anger, unsure why he was so irate.
Nan Zhiyun no longer dared to struggle. She lay down again, and Qian Xia quickly applied the medicine. After the commotion, Nan Zhiyun's back wounds bled anew.
However, this time Nan Zhiyun did not cry out or complain of pain.
But Yu Jingchen clearly saw that Nan Zhiyun was trembling all over, whether from pain or fear, he couldn't tell. He said nothing, but soon noticed something amiss.
"Nan Zhiyun!" Yu Jingchen shouted, then clasped her mouth with his hand. She had been biting her own lip to endure the pain.
With Yu Jingchen's grip, Nan Zhiyun was forced to release her lip.
"You are truly courting disaster!" Yu Jingchen's brow furrowed as he saw blood begin to flow from Nan Zhiyun's mouth. He felt an inexplicable anger. He truly wanted to crack open her head and see what was inside. What was she thinking?
"Don't bite," Yu Jingchen's brows were knitted together. Without him noticing, Yu Jingchen directly took Nan Zhiyun's hand. "It will be over soon if you endure a little longer..." His tone, unusually, was gentler than ever, perhaps even… tinged with helplessness.
Yu Jingchen had always been a cold, bloodless, and indifferent person. Anyone who defied his will was destined for death. He was merciless to everyone and harbored no pity. His cold detachment was terrifying.
To him now, Nan Zhiyun, apart from the slight stirrings in his past life, held no special significance. Thus, he felt no pity for her. His actions today were solely because he owed the Nan family in his previous life, but this did not imply any different feelings for Nan Zhiyun.
Of course, the current Yu Jingchen had not realized that his seemingly stagnant heart had been stirred. Nor had he noticed that Nan Zhiyun was the first person he thought of after his rebirth. He also hadn't realized that he would personally come here and wait.
Most importantly... he hadn't realized how easily his emotions could be swayed now. In the past, even when facing the rebellion of Prince An, he remained composed, but now...