Chapter 2: Facing Punishment

Living under her breath, he had nothing in his hands…

“Shijun!”

A hushed cry came from ahead, as if afraid of being overheard, yet carrying unmistakable urgency.

Yun Chu turned his head to see a young servant boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in a simple blue robe, running toward him from a side gate. In his hands, he held a plain outer robe.

Before Yun Chu could respond, the boy had already rushed up to him, carefully draping the outer robe around him before stepping back to inspect him up and down with visible concern.

“All is well, all is well. Shijun returned early today—His Highness didn’t punish you, did he?”

The voice carried a distant familiarity, making Yun Chu feel as if he had been transported to another lifetime. He stood there in a daze.

The young servant had sharp eyes and immediately noticed Yun Chu’s arm. Grabbing it, he gasped, his eyes turning red with distress. “Ah! Shijun, you were punished after all?!”

Yun Chu lowered his gaze. His arm bore red, swollen marks from a wooden ruler—not too severe, but clearly the result of discipline.

He didn’t mind much and called softly, “Dongsheng.”

Dongsheng didn’t respond right away. Instead, he gently blew on the marks, his brows furrowing. “Why did His Highness punish you again? What happened this time? Did you anger His Highness? Was there more punishment?”

Yun Chu was momentarily stunned by the barrage of questions.

It was just like before. Every time the Grand Princess summoned him, Dongsheng would wait anxiously, and the moment Yun Chu emerged, he would inspect him from head to toe, fearing that he had suffered some grievance—always fussing over him first.

In those early years, when Yun Chu was trapped in misery, this young servant had been his only source of comfort.

Yet, in his past life, it was because of Yun Chu that Dongsheng had died tragically in the streets.

But now, here he was, still alive and well.

Yun Chu lowered his eyes and smiled faintly.

Seeing his reaction, Dongsheng was even more bewildered. “Shijun, what’s wrong? Why are you smiling? What exactly did His Highness punish you for?”

Why?

Yun Chu honestly had no idea.

The moment he had opened his eyes, he was already kneeling in the hall, his arm throbbing with pain. The steward, Wang Quán, had just withdrawn the punishment ruler.

Immediately after, the Grand Princess ordered him to kneel in reflection.

Everything had been a blur, making him wonder if he had merely been dreaming due to grief and longing.

It wasn’t until he spent a long time watching her sleeping face that he finally understood—he had truly been sent back in time by the heavens, spared from madness and despair.

Everything was as he remembered, and of course, Li Yunli was still alive.

The joy of regaining what was lost was overwhelming, but Yun Chu knew he had to assess the situation carefully, pretending to be as meek and submissive as he had been back then.

With a soft sigh, he feigned distress and answered, “What else? I was careless while grinding ink, and my writing displeased Her Highness. She punished me by making me copy scriptures one hundred times.”

With that, he stepped forward, following the familiar path in his memory.

“One hundred times?! Do you have to finish it all today? Shijun, be careful not to strain your eyes!”

“Yes, I must complete it tonight.” Yun Chu curled his lips into a bitter smile. His thin lips parted slightly as he murmured, “I have no choice but to worry about it.”

He pulled the plain outer robe tighter around himself and turned a corner, heading up the stone steps.

Punishment after punishment, first with a beating, then forced scripture copying—Yun Chu remembered this well.

It was something the Grand Princess had only done to him in his first two years at the estate.

From a once-renowned noble prince to a mere plaything in the palace, he had endured endless humiliation and punishment during those early years before he finally understood his worth had become no more than that of a mere pawn.

This moment in time… It was when he was at his most timid and insignificant.

How fitting.

Had he been sent back two years earlier, his pride would have been intact, untouched by suffering.

Had it been two years later, he would have already gained influence and a foothold.

But fate had placed him precisely in this year—

A time when he lived at her mercy, with no leverage in his hands.

Yun Chu gazed at the small courtyard before him. The simple, unadorned space belonged to the Yun Shijun of the Grand Princess’s residence—there wasn’t even an extra flower or plant.

He pressed his lips together and shook his head with a smile.

The heavens were fair, after all. What is given must always be taken in return.

“Dongsheng,” Yun Chu stepped inside, untying his robes. “Prepare ink and oil for the lamp. You don’t have to keep watch tonight.”

“Yes.”

Dongsheng quickly took the garments and withdrew to make preparations.

The night was silent under a starless sky.

The small courtyard remained unchanged, as if every day had been the same.