For many days, Yu Jingchen did not inquire about affairs in Cí'ān Palace. During this time, Nán Zhīyùn resided there, but she spent her days sitting quietly, barely speaking.
The Empress Dowager watched her with heartache each day, yet she was helpless, so she could only stay by Nán Zhīyùn's side, knowing her deep sorrow.
Nán Zhīyùn had been fond of Yu Jingchen since childhood. Back then, Yu Jingchen was not as cold as he was now, and even showed some affection. Thus, Nán Zhīyùn had always believed Yu Jingchen held feelings for her, and her greatest wish was to marry him.
However, after Yu Jingchen became Crown Prince, he rarely interacted with her and even took a secondary consort. Nán Zhīyùn had caused a scene, but she understood that Yu Jingchen was the Crown Prince, and destined to be the future Emperor, so these matters were unavoidable. She could only choose to accept.
Nán Zhīyùn constantly reassured herself that Yu Jingchen harbored feelings for her, and these actions were out of necessity. Yet, Yu Jingchen grew more distant and colder, even showing expressions of disgust when she approached.
Later, Yu Jingchen ascended the throne. She exhausted her efforts to persuade the Empress Dowager and her father to allow her into the palace. Unable to contain her impatience, they agreed, and she became Yu Jingchen's Shūfēi.
But after becoming Yu Jingchen's consort, she felt that Yu Jingchen's aversion towards her seemed to intensify. He was unlike the boy she knew in childhood. As Emperor, Yu Jingchen was deep-minded, filled with a hostile aura, and so cold she felt she had never truly known him.
Yu Jingchen loathed her, truly from the bottom of his heart. Any minor mistake would lead Yu Jingchen to find ways to punish her: flogging, slapping, caning, forced kneeling, and even confinement in the Hall of Judicious Punishment.
Nán Zhīyùn began to fear Yu Jingchen. The mere sight of him approaching would make her tremble with fear. In less than a year, she had fallen from the rank of Shūfēi to that of Càirén. Everyone knew Yu Jingchen despised her. When the Empress Dowager was not in the palace, anyone could bully her. If the Empress Dowager were not still present, she might have died dozens of times over.
It was rumored that the imperial palace was abuzz today. Prince Ān had returned to the capital. Prince Ān commanded a force of two hundred thousand troops, cultivated by Yu Jingchen to counter Nán Sù. Prince Ān had achieved victory this time, and Yu Jingchen had specifically arranged a welcoming banquet for him in the palace.
Nán Zhīyùn had remained in Cí'ān Palace and was unaware of the unfolding events until she heard the sounds of swords outside. As Nán Zhīyùn wondered about the presence of swordsmanship here, Qiǎn Xià ran in, her face filled with panic.
"Miss!"
"What is it?" Nán Zhīyùn looked at Qiǎn Xià, puzzled.
"Prince Ān has rebelled! His men are all over the imperial palace!" Qiǎn Xià exclaimed.
"What?" Nán Zhīyùn was stunned.
"The palace is in chaos. Both the Empress Dowager and His Majesty are trapped by Prince Ān at the banquet. Taking advantage of the confusion, the Empress Dowager sent me to find you. The Empress Dowager said for me to take you out of the palace amidst the chaos and find the General," Qiǎn Xià explained.
Nán Zhīyùn hesitated, "What about the Empress Dowager?"
"With Prince Ān present, the Empress Dowager cannot leave. Miss, please do not hesitate. Finding the General is the most important thing right now," Qiǎn Xià urged, her voice laced with anxiety.
"Qiǎn Xià, you go..." Nán Zhīyùn said.
"What? Miss, what about you?" Qiǎn Xià asked.
"I am my father's daughter. Prince Ān will be looking for me next. You go find my father first. I will be fine. As long as I don't have the military tally in my father's hand, I will be safe. Go," Nán Zhīyùn said, now strangely calm.
"No, Miss, I'll take you with me!" Qiǎn Xià said, reaching to pull Nán Zhīyùn, but Nán Zhīyùn broke free from her grasp. "Qiǎn Xià, this is an order!" With that, Nán Zhīyùn ran out of Cí'ān Palace.
"Miss!" Qiǎn Xià, unable to stop her, watched as Nán Zhīyùn headed towards the banquet hall.
As she arrived, she overheard Prince Ān speaking, "Yu Jingchen, this abdication decree is already drafted. You only need to hand over the Imperial Seal, and I will spare your life, allowing you to live the rest of your days as a leisurely prince."
"Yu Jing'an, even if you take this position, do you think you can hold onto it?" It was the Empress Dowager.
"Although Nán Sù commands a force of five hundred thousand, if he learns that his only daughter was tortured to death by the Emperor he serves, and that his teacher's daughter was also killed by a foolish ruler due to suspicion, do you think he will still aid Yu Jingchen's reign? At that point, he will likely wish to end Yu Jingchen himself," Prince Ān said with a mocking expression.
"My father has always been loyal to the court. No matter what happens, he would never commit treason, nor would he assassinate the Emperor!" Nán Zhīyùn emerged from behind.
"Zhīyùn?!" The Empress Dowager was surprised to see Nán Zhīyùn. Hadn't she told her to leave quickly?
"I told you to leave, why have you come here?" the Empress Dowager asked, flustered.
Nán Zhīyùn's mother had died saving her when she was three years old. The Empress Dowager had often taken her into the palace, treating her like her own daughter over the years.
"Empress Dowager, Zhīyùn will not leave. Zhīyùn is here to accompany you," Nán Zhīyùn maintained her gentle and quiet smile. She could not leave, nor would she. Regardless of the outcome today, she would not depart. She would definitively put an end to all her past foolish actions!
Nán Zhīyùn looked at Yu Jingchen, and their eyes met. She saw a flicker of surprise in his gaze, the first expression she had seen in his eyes towards her since entering the palace, other than disgust.