Perhaps half a month or so passed like this.
One day, during a moment of leisure, Yu Jingchen casually asked, "Her injuries should be healed by now, right?"
Xing Gonggong naturally knew who "her" referred to. However, he hadn't paid any attention, so he didn't know if Nan Zhiyun had truly recovered. But he figured she should be mostly better, after all, it had been over half a month.
So Xing Gonggong replied, "She is likely healed. Should this servant inquire with the imperial physician?"
"No need, prepare the carriage to Ya Jing Ju," Yu Jingchen ordered directly.
"Yes," Xing Gonggong replied.
When Yu Jingchen arrived at Ya Jing Ju, the entrance was quiet. Frankly, "quiet" was too generous a word; it could better be described as desolate and lonely.
Xing Gonggong loudly announced, "His Majesty has arrived!"
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the people at the entrance were startled when they saw Yu Jingchen, and quickly knelt to pay their respects.
Yu Jingchen ignored them and continued inside. The people inside, perhaps having heard of Yu Jingchen's arrival, immediately came out.
Qian Xia helped Nan Zhiyun, and they knelt down when they were still some distance from Yu Jingchen, as he disliked anyone getting too close.
"Your concubine pays her respects to Your Majesty," Nan Zhiyun's voice sounded weak.
"Rise," Yu Jingchen frowned upon hearing her voice.
Nan Zhiyun then slowly rose with Qian Xia's support. Her frail body looked as if a stronger gust of wind could blow her away. Yu Jingchen felt as though she had been suffering from a long illness.
"What is happening? You are still not well?" Yu Jingchen asked. Compared to before, it seemed she could only stand up.
"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern, your concubine is much better." Nan Zhiyun's face was still slightly pale.
"When you say 'much better,' you look like this? If you went out, you'd probably scare people to death." Yu Jingchen's casual remark caused Nan Zhiyun to kneel down again.
"Your Majesty, forgive me, your concubine was remiss," Nan Zhiyun's tone carried a hint of nervousness.
Yu Jingchen suddenly felt a headache coming on. What was the issue? This was just too much. What had he said? Couldn't she tell the tone? Was he blaming her? In her current state, if she knelt a couple more times, she'd likely be bedridden for another half a month.
"Rise!" Yu Jingchen's tone became displeased. Unexpectedly, his tone truly frightened Nan Zhiyun.
"Your concubine knows her mistake, may Your Majesty forgive her anger." Nan Zhiyun dared not look up, her voice trembling slightly.
Yu Jingchen: "..."
He suppressed his temper for a long moment before managing a calmer tone, "Help your Jiayú rise." Yu Jingchen said this to Qian Xia.
"Yes..." Qian Xia responded and then went to help Nan Zhiyun, "Miss, please rise first."
Nan Zhiyun leaned on Qian Xia's hand and found it difficult to stand up, as if she might collapse at any moment.
"Tell me, what is going on? Why are you still not well after so long?" Yu Jingchen asked Qian Xia, as he had no intention of asking Nan Zhiyun anymore.
"Replying to Your Majesty, Miss's wound became inflamed some days ago and recurred. Furthermore..." Qian Xia hesitated to continue speaking.
"Speak!" It wasn't difficult for Yu Jingchen to investigate these matters, but he usually wouldn't inquire actively, so he didn't know what was happening.
"Miss does not have Your Majesty's favor, and because she angered Your Majesty, she was confined. It's inevitable that the servants below would not be as diligent, and the medicine would not be delivered on time, sometimes the medicine would be subpar. The same goes for the kitchen staff, so..." Qian Xia did not continue speaking, and Yu Jingchen understood the situation.