“Yesterday, the Zhang family publicly said they could give anything I want. Well, it just so happens that I do have something I want,” Qing Huan smiled, her eyes curving gently. “I want to attend court sessions and participate in state affairs. Zhang family, when do you plan to grant me that?”

Finally, the topic came up. But… attending court and participating in state affairs? Qing Huan actually wants real power?

Zhang Xuzhi looked up, meeting Qing Huan’s half-smiling, half-mocking gaze, and immediately understood the implication. Asking Susu if she could grant this was already difficult. If she said yes, the Zhang family would be in trouble. If she said no, Qing Huan would continue to cause trouble.

This Qing Huan was truly hard to deal with.

Yet they had no prior grudges. Why would she suddenly pick on Susu? Was it really because of Yan Shian? But if it was for him, wouldn’t she challenge his fiancée instead?

Zhang Xiangguo, whose mind was filled with countless secrets and schemes, could not figure out Qing Huan’s motives at all.

But for now, this matter had to be settled.

Zhang Xiangguo glanced at his eldest daughter-in-law, Zhang Lady gritted her teeth and gave herself a hard slap, then prostrated on the ground:

“I, your servant’s wife, am guilty. If I hadn’t spoiled my daughter to be unruly and give her everything she wanted, she wouldn’t have grown so arrogant and domineering, thinking she could do whatever she pleased. Please, Princess, punish me.”

“The Zhang family is really something,” Qing Huan said with a look of admiration. “The women in the household actually have such great power, able to override their husbands and in-laws to discipline their children. But I seem to remember a saying: ‘Failing to teach is the father’s fault.’”

The usually silent Zhang family eldest son, Zhang Yongze, was suddenly called out. His heart tightened immediately— even his father had been outmaneuvered by Qing Huan, so what about him?

But he still had to step forward, because the other party’s surname was Ji.

“Princess, your rebuke is well taken. It is my fault for not educating my children properly. Please punish me.”

“You Zhang family members are truly interesting. Family affairs are handled by family rules, so why does everyone come to apologize to me? But since you said that, I’ll ask for you.” Qing Huan looked at Zhang Xuzhi. “Prime Minister, according to Zhang family law, how should ‘failing to teach’ be punished?”

Zhang Xuzhi bit his back teeth; at this moment, he truly hated Qing Huan.

“According to family law, the person shall be reprimanded and punished with a sacrifice.”

Qing Huan was surprised: “Is that all? I didn’t expect the Zhang family to be harsh with women but quite lenient with men.”

“Also… corporal punishment of ten strikes.”

“I was wrong; the Zhang family law is indeed strict,” Qing Huan shifted tone. “By the way, it’s not light corporal punishment, right? I once saw someone survive thirty strikes in the palace unharmed. I imagine the Zhang family’s punishment isn’t so light?”

“Of course not!”

Qing Huan seemed to ignore the gritted teeth in Zhang Xuzhi’s voice. She steadied herself with the hand of a lady-in-waiting, stood up slowly, and started walking out.

“I’m leaving now so as not to delay Prime Minister’s enforcement of family law. Of course, if you want to lift the punishment after raising the stick high, it wouldn’t matter — after all, I won’t be watching, right?”

“Old servant will follow family law without favoritism,” Zhang Xuzhi said, turning to follow Qing Huan and bowing deeply. “I respectfully send off the Princess.”

The others kneeled and bowed deeply: “We respectfully send off the Princess.”

Only after the princess and her group had gone far enough to be unseen and unheard did Zhang Yongze angrily break the silence.

“Father, she’s gone too far!”

“You’ve all lived a smooth life without ever being humiliated by anyone. Today, Qing Huan’s few harsh words have made you feel your faces are shamed.”

Zhang Xuzhi’s eyes swept over the crowd: “You’re used to being pampered, thinking everyone should treat you so well. Today, Qing Huan gave you a lesson—there will always be people in this world who cannot be dealt with, who will cause you to hit a dead end. If you can’t even handle this…”

His eyes turned cold. “Then how can I expect you to bear greater responsibilities?”

“But father…”

“Someone, please!” Zhang Xuzhi snapped, flicking his sleeve sharply. “Call the clan elders. Open the ancestral hall. Apply family law.”

“Yes.”

Zhang Susu lay weakly on the floor, her face pale. Two hours kneeling felt like a hundred days—if news of this spread…

Suddenly she grabbed Zhang Lady’s sleeve, panicked: “Mother, the family won’t just give me away easily because of this, right? They won’t, right?”

Zhang Lady hugged her daughter tightly and whispered hoarsely, “No, absolutely not. You’re a Zhang daughter. How could we give you away easily? Don’t be afraid. A Zhang daughter can go to any family.”

Though her words were firm, Lady Zhang knew that if before her daughter’s marriage was by her own choosing, now it would be others choosing her. Even with a richer dowry, decent families who valued reputation wouldn’t want a daughter-in-law who brought disaster to the family and had been punished with kneeling in the ancestral hall.

Lady Zhang hated Qing Huan with all her heart. Her daughter’s good situation had been ruined by that Qing Huan!

Zhang Susu believed it and relaxed in her mother’s arms. But thinking of kneeling in the ancestral hall for a hundred days again, she almost started crying. Two hours was enough to cripple her legs!

The princess returned to her mansion looking refreshed. She saw Zhan Yan practicing spear, and like a butterfly, she fluttered over and leaned against his sweaty chest, sniffing.

“The Prime Minister just sent me two people—one civil, one martial. He also said that in next year’s martial exam, one of them will definitely take a place. Zhan Yan, what do you think?”

Zhan Yan’s body tensed, chest hard as stone.

“The princess doesn’t even think highly of the Prime Minister. Why would she care about the people he sends?”

“Zhan Yan, I’m really liking you more and more. Don’t worry, with your outstanding skills, I wouldn’t even look at those far beneath you,” the princess laughed and patted his face, then left proudly.

Zhan Yan watched her back disappear into the hall, then returned to spear practice with even greater focus. Next year’s martial exam, he must rank first!

Qing Huan kicked off her shoes as she walked in, took off her elaborate outer robe, twirled around and sat down on a wide chair, leaning over the armrest, laughing happily.

So satisfying!

Today was truly satisfying!

Her lady-in-waiting followed, picking up her shoes and handing them to the palace maids, then taking water from them to help the princess wash her hands, doing everything personally.

Seeing the princess so happy, she smiled and said, “Princess, the last time you clashed with someone like this was over marriage. I don’t understand—Prime Minister holds great power, is related to the noble consort’s family, and normally has no quarrel with you. Why today…?”

Qing Huan took the tea to rinse her mouth. Her smile slowly faded.

“My father loves me deeply and allowed me into his imperial study. There, I saw many officials—people punished, people rewarded, people scolded, things thrown at people. The current Prime Minister, back then only a sixth-rank official, was the very person father summoned to the study to smash things on.”

She handed back the tea cup with a calm expression.

“My father doesn’t like him, says he’s two-faced, unworthy even dogs and pigs would eat his leftovers—no good at all. But such a man was employed and gradually rose to Prime Minister. Ha, such a ruler deserves such a subject.”

“Princess, be careful with your words,” the lady-in-waiting gently reminded.

“If I can’t even say a few words in my own mansion, then I really am useless,” Qing Huan leaned back, looking up at the ceiling softly.

“Auntie, I’m tired.”

“Yes, I’ll carry you to rest.”