Nan Zhiyun forced herself to eat a few bites, but it was still very little.
After finishing her food, she didn't fuss and picked up the bowl of dark medicine and drank it all.
Even Qian Xia was a little surprised, because Nan Zhiyun had always been the most afraid of pain and bitterness. She would always hesitate and refuse to drink such medicine before.
Nan Zhiyun indeed disliked drinking medicine, but if she didn't, who would care? Who would notice? Who would always coax her?
She now only wanted to get better quickly, so that when the Empress Dowager returned, she wouldn't have to worry about her.
The medicine was truly difficult to swallow, and Nan Zhiyun felt like spitting it out several times, but she held back.
After Qian Xia tidied up, she brought the ointment that Yu Jingchen had asked the imperial physicians to leave yesterday.
"Is Jieyu injured somewhere? This servant will apply the medicine for Jieyu first," Qian Xia said.
Nan Zhiyun looked at the medicine and paused for a moment: "This medicine..."
"This is the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician last night. You were asleep, so this servant put it away. Please tell me quickly, Jieyu, so I can apply it for you," Qian Xia asked.
Nan Zhiyun took the medicine, her lips pursed, and she said nothing. This was supposed to be a dream, wasn't it?
"Jieyu?" Qian Xia called out worriedly.
"It's fine, I'm not injured. No need to apply medicine," Nan Zhiyun said.
"But..." Qian Xia wanted to persuade her. This medicine had clearly been used last night, how could she not be injured somewhere?
"Go and get the scar removal ointment and help me apply it. Put this one aside," Nan Zhiyun said, setting the medicine down.
"Yes..." Qian Xia did not ask further. She could tell Nan Zhiyun didn't want to talk about it. She would ask the imperial physicians later if necessary.
That evening, it was rumored that Yu Jingchen went to Chen Xiurong's palace.
Qian Xia was wondering how to tell Nan Zhiyun about this, but to her surprise, Nan Zhiyun didn't ask about it at all. When it was time to sleep, she asked Qian Xia to help her rest.
The next day, Chen Xiurong was promoted to Chen Zhaoyuan. She was favored for several consecutive days, enjoying immense glory.
During this time, Nan Zhiyun was recuperating well in Yanjing Residence. Her body had almost recovered. The burns on her hand and the scars on her back had faded considerably, but her spirits had been low.
Qian Xia felt that perhaps it was because Nan Zhiyun stayed indoors all day and never went out, which made her feel suffocated. She specifically suggested that Nan Zhiyun go out for a walk.
Qian Xia had only hoped to try, but she didn't expect Nan Zhiyun to agree after some thought. After all, winter was approaching, and Qian Xia was afraid Nan Zhiyun would catch a cold, so she added more layers of clothing for her.
Yanjing Residence was remote, and Nan Zhiyun didn't walk too far, just around the vicinity. Actually, there wasn't much to see here. It was almost winter, and the area was quite desolate. Looking at the scenery, Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt a sense of sorrow.
This desolate scenery was quite similar to her own situation. She had been forcing herself to become indifferent these past few days, but the locked-up pain was still awakened by the bleak landscape. She felt a deep sadness. Fallen leaves signaled the arrival of autumn, and love was difficult to understand.
"Jieyu, the flowers in the Imperial Garden are blooming beautifully. Why don't we go to the Imperial Garden to see them?" Qian Xia suggested.
"It's too far, I don't want to go," Nan Zhiyun said listlessly.
The place was full of vibrant flowers and dazzling blossoms, not suitable for her. After all, in a place where flowers bloomed in profusion and vied for beauty, a withered flower would not be welcomed by anyone; instead, it would become a contrast. But had they ever considered that even if it withered, it had once been radiant, but it had never been loved?