Chapter 3

Chang He followed behind Zhao Mingzhu, quietly observing her. When he saw her calmly board the carriage without a fuss, he was genuinely surprised. He’d expected a tantrum—after all, His Highness hadn’t stayed the night after their wedding, and now he’d left her to enter the palace alone. Yet Zhao Mingzhu didn’t throw a fit or make a scene over being neglected?

The woman he used to read like an open book was now concealing herself. This was far too unusual. Chang He’s wariness toward Zhao Mingzhu deepened.

Meanwhile, Zhao Mingzhu, drowsy in the carriage, had no idea. She couldn’t stop yawning, so she began mentally listing the items from her dowry and betrothal gifts to stay awake.

Gold, silver, pearls, jade, antiques, property deeds, estates, and those fifteen mountains. Who could understand the joy of being a rich woman?

A smile tugged at her lips, and she even let out a soft chuckle. Riding behind her, Chang He caught the sound and frowned.

Zhao Mingzhu is laughing so happily? She must be plotting something new to harm his master.

He resolved to stay on high alert.

As they passed through Zhuque Street, the towering palace gates came into view. Zhao Mingzhu felt the carriage come to a halt and lifted the curtain to step down.

“Crown Princess, this way,” Chang He said, standing to the side.

Zhao Mingzhu glanced at his expressionless face. Hadn’t it only been a short while? Why did he seem colder now?

But she took it in stride. After all, the original Zhao Mingzhu had tried to seduce the prince and failed—being disliked was only natural.

She sighed quietly. She was probably about to get a thorough scolding.

As she walked toward the palace gates, she braced herself. With her reputation in tatters, there was no way she’d escape a tongue-lashing from the elders. She was mentally lighting a candle for herself when a young woman suddenly stepped in front of her.

“Zhao Mingzhu, you really are a toad that got to eat swan meat. Heaven must be blind.”

Zhao Mingzhu paused, confused. “And you are?”

That tone of grievance, could she be the female lead?

Gu Yu stared at her like she’d lost her mind and snapped impatiently, “Drop the act. So what if you married my royal brother? I’ll never acknowledge you as my sister-in-law!”

Zhao Mingzhu understood now—this was Gu Qingheng’s younger sister. What was her name again? Anyway, she’d already prepared herself to be drowned in spit today.

“Alright then.”

Gu Yu had been ready for a fiery retort. But Zhao Mingzhu’s sudden compliance left her feeling like she’d punched a pillow—no resistance at all. “You think acting all innocent and obedient will make the Empress Dowager go easy on you?”

Gu Yu was convinced that Zhao Mingzhu was faking it to avoid punishment. She sneered, arms crossed, eyes gleaming with anticipation:

“Zhao Mingzhu, the Empress Dowager didn’t sleep a wink last night waiting to see you. Hurry up and come with this princess to meet her.”

To Zhao Mingzhu, those words automatically translated to: The Empress Dowager is sharpening her knives, ready to deal with me.

She said nothing—just lit another mental candle for herself.

Soon, the group arrived at Shoukang Palace. As the palace attendants announced their arrival, the cheerful laughter inside the hall came to an abrupt halt.

Zhao Mingzhu knew: whether you stick your neck out or not, the blade still falls. So she steeled herself and walked in. Then she dropped to her knees with a crisp, resounding kowtow.

“Granddaughter-in-law greets the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal peace and health.”

Seated high on the dais, the Empress Dowager—though silver-haired—was regal and sharp-eyed. Her gaze toward Zhao Mingzhu was laced with icy authority. As the second most powerful person in the empire, she didn’t bother with sarcasm. Her voice rang out, stern and direct, “Zhao Mingzhu, how dare you! Do you admit your guilt?”

“I do,” Zhao Mingzhu replied, head bowed low.

The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh, though her face remained frosted over. “I suppose you think, with the Emperor backing you, you can fear neither heaven nor earth.”

Just mentioning it reignited her fury. This woman had used shameless tricks to snatch the title of Crown Princess. If the Emperor hadn’t rushed the wedding before her return to the palace, how could someone like this possibly marry Heng’er? She would’ve been the first to object!

The worst part was—what’s done was done. For the sake of royal dignity, she had to accept it. Her grandson might swallow the insult, but she couldn’t.

“Someone bring it.” Her voice was low and commanding. Soon, a palace servant arrived carrying a thick sandalwood paddle, four fingers wide.

“You admit your wrongdoing. But what’s a mistake without punishment? I’ll grant you thirty strokes. Any objections?”

Zhao Mingzhu stared wide-eyed at the heavy wooden board. She’d braced herself for a scolding—not a beating. When she didn’t respond, two stout palace matrons stepped up beside her. The message was clear: there was no escape today.

Zhao Mingzhu: “…” Fine. She clenched her teeth, shut her eyes, and held out her hand.

“I accept the punishment.”

A beating was a beating. Surely the Empress Dowager wouldn’t kill her on the spot. She’d just have to endure it.

Standing beside the Empress Dowager, Gu Yu raised a brow. She’d expected Zhao Mingzhu to be pinned down for the punishment. But she’d obediently offered her hand—without even invoking her father-in-law for help.

Gu Yu rubbed her chin. Was this really the same useless Zhao Mingzhu?

Zhao Mingzhu silently recited: When heaven entrusts a great mission, the paddle came down—and her face twisted in agony.

She thought, I’ve finally entered a novel, but the author is Yu Hua. This will hurt like hell.

One stroke in, her palm was already red. Clearly, the palace servant wasn’t holding back.

“Crown Princess, bear with it. I’ll try to finish the remaining twenty-nine strokes quickly,” the servant said cheerfully.

Before Zhao Mingzhu could react, the next blow landed. Shoukang Palace echoed with a scream like a pig being slaughtered. Even the birds outside scattered in fright.

The cry was so pitiful that the Empress Dowager’s lips twitched. Gu Yu even covered her ears and snapped, “Zhao Mingzhu, what are you shrieking for? You’re deafening us!”

Zhao Mingzhu had planned to grit her teeth and endure it—but this pain was beyond tolerance. Blowing on her stinging palm, she retorted, “Princess, take one stroke yourself and you’ll know why I’m screaming.”

Gu Yu rolled her eyes to the heavens. She knew it—this obedient version of Zhao Mingzhu was fake. The real one would never suffer in silence. She glanced at the Empress Dowager and added fuel to the fire, “Well, too bad. Even if you scream your throat raw, you’re getting punished. Not even Father’s pleas would help.”

Sure enough, the Empress Dowager recalled how the Emperor had always shielded this woman, letting her run wild. Her anger flared again. “What’s the holdup? At this rate, you’ll still be beating her by dinnertime!”

The Empress Dowager’s command snapped the servants to attention. The paddle was raised high again—just as a voice outside announced the arrival of the Crown Prince.

Zhao Mingzhu clutched her wrist, relief flooding her chest. Suddenly, facing Gu Qingheng didn’t seem so unbearable.

Gu Qingheng walked in slowly, not sparing her a glance. He spoke gently, “Grandson greets the Empress Dowager.”

At the sight of him, the Empress Dowager’s stern demeanor softened with grandmotherly affection. “Heng’er, you’re here. Bring a seat.”