Nan Zhiyun's heart suddenly tightened. She didn't know if Yu Jingchen would believe her. She feared that his hard-won change in attitude might revert due to this incident.
The onlookers, upon hearing Yu Jingchen had arrived, put on expressions of schadenfreude, eager to witness the unfolding drama. After all, even for the smallest mistake, Nan Zhiyun would previously find ways to punish her. Now, it was a matter as grave as witchcraft.
Yu Jingchen soon appeared in their sight. Lower-ranking consorts immediately knelt.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," they all chimed, offering their salutations.
Yu Jingchen said nothing. He walked through the crowd as if they weren't there. No one dared to rise in his silence, and the atmosphere in the grand hall instantly became tense.
Yu Jingchen's gaze swept over the kneeling figures below, finally settling on Nan Zhiyun, who was kneeling in the center.
"Rise," Yu Jingchen commanded.
Everyone stood up, except for Nan Zhiyun.
Unexpectedly, "Kneel!" Yu Jingchen's voice was chillingly cold. The consorts instinctively dropped back to their knees, this time including those of higher rank. The sound of knees hitting the floor was painful to hear.
"I called her, why are you all moving? Did I tell you to rise?" When Yu Jingchen spoke of "her," he was looking at Nan Zhiyun, clearly indicating he had only asked Nan Zhiyun to stand.
"Your Majesty, forgive us!" everyone cried in unison. Despite their disbelief, no one present would have thought Yu Jingchen had singled out Nan Zhiyun to rise in that moment. However, this was not the time to argue, so they could only endure.
"Rise," Yu Jingchen said again.
This time, the consorts dared not move rashly. They glanced around nervously but did not dare to truly stand up. Nan Zhiyun was unsure if Yu Jingchen was speaking to her, but... she stood up nonetheless.
The result...
"What? Besides her, do you all prefer kneeling? Or are you unable to stand?" Yu Jingchen's icy gaze swept over those below.
Just as the others were about to speak, Yu Jingchen gave them no opportunity.
"In that case, there's no need to rise. Remain kneeling. I see you all have plenty of free time," Yu Jingchen said as he took his seat at the head of the hall.
Everyone: "..." They had a thought, but dared not believe it, nor dare to voice it...
However, Yu Jingchen paid no mind to their thoughts. Instead, he turned his attention directly to Nan Zhiyun, "Did you make this?" he asked, glancing at the doll. His expression was calm, showing no unusual emotion.
Nan Zhiyun was about to kneel again, but Yu Jingchen rebuked her, "I told you not to kneel, so stand and answer!"
Nan Zhiyun's body stiffened slightly. Daring not to disobey, she remained standing. However... in the entire room, besides her and Yu Jingchen, everyone else was kneeling. She felt extremely uncomfortable and unsettled.
"Your Majesty, please investigate. This concubine truly has not done such a thing, and..." Nan Zhiyun's tone was a little anxious, and she wanted to continue, but Yu Jingchen interrupted her.
"If you didn't do it, then you didn't. Why are you so agitated?" Yu Jingchen said, feigning impatience.
"Noble Consort, please rise," Yu Jingchen changed the subject.
The Noble Consort was unsure of Yu Jingchen's intentions, but after hearing his words, she said, "Thank you, Your Majesty," and stood up.
"And you?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"The matter has not yet been clarified. This subject dares not make a hasty conclusion," the Noble Consort replied in a measured tone.
"Then how do you wish to investigate?" Yu Jingchen asked again.
"This... perhaps this subject could have someone investigate the remaining fabric of the Zhiyun brocade?" the Noble Consort asked tentatively.
"If it were that easy for you to find, would you believe the result yourself?" Yu Jingchen's tone was slightly cold.
"This subject is foolish and does not understand Your Majesty's meaning..." the Noble Consort asked.
"After all, this item was discovered in Yanjing Residence. We shall punish Consort Nan with three days of confinement," Yu Jingchen said indifferently. But... is this all? Is this all? So light? So light? Is this the end of it?
No one dared to believe this was the final outcome... or rather, not everyone had been dealt with yet.
Yu Jingchen's gaze fell upon those kneeling below. "You all seem to have too much free time. In that case, after returning to your palaces, each of you shall copy the 'Biographies of Virtuous Women' twenty times. You will do so while kneeling."
"Furthermore, I heard that this morning Concubine Yin Xiu and... Beauty Shu were disrespectful to the Noble Consort?" Yu Jingchen looked towards Concubine Yin Xiu below. As for why not Beauty Shu, apologies, he didn't know which one that was.
"Your Majesty, please enlighten us. This concubine did not dare to disrespect the Noble Consort. This concubine..." It was Beauty Shu. No wonder she was only a beauty; she was clearly a fool.
Indeed, Yu Jingchen said without mercy, "Did I allow you to speak?"
"Your Majesty, forgive me. This concubine did not mean to. This concubine..." Before Beauty Shu could finish speaking, she heard Yu Jingchen continue his order, "Fifty slaps to the face, demoted to commoner, and banished to the cold palace. Take her further away before executing the punishment." Yu Jingchen was growing impatient.
After this, no matter how Beauty Shu struggled, it was useless, as she was already being dragged away.
As for Concubine Yin Xiu... she no longer dared to make a sound.
However, Yu Jingchen was not one to show favoritism. He immediately issued an order: "Concubine Yin Xiu is demoted to Talent, confined for one month."
"Your Majesty?!" Concubine Yin Xiu couldn't help but exclaim.
But upon seeing Yu Jingchen's eyes, she no longer dared to continue speaking.
"Yes, this concubine admits my guilt." Talent Yin's heart was unwilling.
The Noble Consort, on the other hand, maintained an air of indifference, as if it had nothing to do with her. After all... was it simply because they had been disrespectful to her? Who would believe that?
"Very well, this matter ends here. All of you may withdraw," Yu Jingchen gave the final command.
"This subject (This concubine) takes leave," they all said, and then one by one, they departed.
After everyone had left, Nan Zhiyun had still not recovered her senses. Was it over just like that?
"Are you stunned?" It was Yu Jingchen's voice that finally pulled Nan Zhiyun back to reality.
"Your Majesty..." Nan Zhiyun lowered her head.
"You can't seem to rest easy without causing some trouble each day. If I hadn't come today, what would you have done?" Yu Jingchen's tone was not good, though it was unclear if he was deliberately acting that way...
"I'm sorry," Nan Zhiyun dared not look up at Yu Jingchen. Yu Jingchen's stern expression suddenly faltered.
In her previous life, this incident had also occurred, but not at this time. Yu Jingchen remembered that after this incident happened in his past life, he hadn't even come to check on her, hadn't asked anything, and had immediately convicted Nan Zhiyun.
If it weren't for considering the Empress Dowager and the Nan family, he might have directly executed Nan Zhiyun. But precisely because of this, his dissatisfaction with Nan Zhiyun grew even more. That time, he had seemed to punish Nan Zhiyun with a beating, saying little, only... "Just keep her alive."