"It hurts," Yang Cheng said, pretending.
Of course he wouldn't actually say it didn't hurt—only by saying it hurt could he win the old lady's sympathy.
Inside, though, he was thrilled.
After being struck by his Grandmother Empress, the system finally recognized her as alive. After all, a remnant soul could talk but could never swing a ruler.
[Empress Dowager Meng has been miraculously revived. Host, what incredible, heaven-defying method did you use?]
[Congratulations, host! You've worked a miracle and revived Empress Dowager Meng, successfully completing this epic mission.]
[Divine Ability · Shrinking the Earth to an Inch has been issued. Would you like to claim your reward now?]
"I'll claim it later."
Maybe because he was so happy, Yang Cheng's eyes welled up with tears, which only made him look more pitiful in everyone else's eyes.
"So, do you still want to take your mother's punishment?" Empress Dowager Meng asked coldly.
Yang Cheng didn't hesitate. "When I give my word, it's as solid as a nail."
"Very good," Empress Dowager Meng sneered, almost laughing in anger, then struck Yang Cheng's palm three more times.
"Mother!" Yun Liyue could no longer hold it in, her eyes red as she cried out, "If you want to punish someone, punish me. Why make things hard for Cheng'er?"
"Are you challenging me?" Empress Dowager Meng's gaze turned icy.
This time, Yun Liyue didn't back down. "Mother, you are the Empress Dowager, but I am the Empress."
Empress Dowager Meng squinted at her. "Aren't you afraid of angering me? That I could strip you of your title as Empress?"
Yun Liyue stood firm. "Mother, I was formally married to His Majesty, passed through the grand wedding rites, offered sacrifices to the ancestral temple, and was proclaimed Empress to the entire world. I have always respected you. If you think I've done something wrong, I am willing to correct it. But as for the title of Empress—even you, Mother, cannot casually depose me."
Seeing Empress Dowager Meng and Yun Liyue locked in confrontation, Noble Consort Zhuang was overjoyed inside. She was hoping for exactly this—if Yun Liyue fell out of favor with the Empress Dowager, it would be a huge win for her.
Emperor Qian Yuan looked worried and quickly spoke up. "Mother, you've cultivated your mind and heart for many years—don't let these trivial matters upset you. Why don't you rest and leave today's issue to me to handle?"
"Leave it to you?" Empress Dowager Meng snorted coldly. "You're a wise emperor when it comes to governing the court, but when it comes to the affairs of the inner palace, you're utterly foolish."
Noble Consort Zhuang looked delighted but put on a sorrowful face. "Your Majesty, the Empress went too far today. Please, don't stop Empress Dowager from disciplining her."
Yang Xiu was equally pleased. He sat comfortably next to Empress Dowager Meng, while Yang Cheng knelt in front of her, getting punished. The stark contrast made him feel smug satisfaction.
"Gui Mama, take everyone else out. Only the emperor, the empress, and the crown prince will stay," Empress Dowager Meng ordered.
Noble Consort Zhuang's face stiffened with unwillingness. "Mother…"
"Out," Empress Dowager Meng said bluntly.
She set Yang Xiu down from her lap. "Xiu'er, go with your mother."
Yang Xiu was annoyed but had always played the role of the obedient, sensible child in front of Empress Dowager Meng. No matter how frustrated he felt, he could only endure it and follow Noble Consort Zhuang out quietly.
Soon, only four people were left in the garden of Tranquil Longevity Palace: Empress Dowager Meng, Emperor Qian Yuan, Yun Liyue, and Yang Cheng.
"Empress, since Cheng'er has taken your punishment for you, you don't need to kneel anymore—stand up," Empress Dowager Meng said with a cold snort. "Now, do you still not know what you did wrong?"
Emperor Qian Yuan quickly stepped in. "Mother, I'll make sure to properly scold the Empress."
"Don't try to gloss things over," Empress Dowager Meng snapped. "Do you think you're blameless? She's at fault, but so are you."
Emperor Qian Yuan forced an awkward smile.
"Let's start with you, Empress," Empress Dowager Meng said sharply. "As the Empress, you must always maintain a reputation for wisdom and virtue. Otherwise, what will future historians write about you? I've placed high hopes on you—not expecting you to be a once-in-a-millennium Empress, but at least you shouldn't fall too short. And yet, this is how you repay my expectations."
Yun Liyue stood frozen, stunned by her words.
"Consort Xian did try to kill the crown prince, and that crime deserves death," Empress Dowager Meng said. "But if you wanted her dead, there were many ways to clear yourself of blame. If it came to it, you could have let me deal with her. Instead, you chose to go to Gathered Essence Palace yourself and kill her with your own hands, ensuring the world would see you as an Empress without virtue."
Yun Liyue and Emperor Qian Yuan both stared in shock. Yang Cheng was also stunned.
Bang!
The once-defiant Yun Liyue dropped to her knees right there, her face full of shame. "Mother, I was wrong."
"And you!" Empress Dowager Meng snapped, turning on Emperor Qian Yuan. "Consort Xian committed unforgivable crimes—she plotted with the Seven Kill Society to assassinate the crown prince. From the start, you should have executed her. That way, the Empress wouldn't have been forced to play the villain. But no—you just exiled her to the Cold Palace, leaving a disaster waiting to happen. Tell me, Emperor, were you foolish or not?"
Emperor Qian Yuan's face fell. "Mother, I was utterly foolish."
Before, he had vaguely blamed Yun Liyue, thinking she was too ruthless for killing her own sister. But Empress Dowager Meng's words made him realize the truth: the real mistake was his. If he'd executed Consort Xian himself, Yun Liyue would never have had to dirty her hands.
So it wasn't that Yun Liyue was cruel—he had forced her into that role. And she had done it all for their son.
Compared to Yun Liyue as a mother, he felt painfully inadequate as a father.
"And another thing," Empress Dowager Meng continued coldly. "After beginning martial cultivation, every moment of a child's time is precious. Right now, Cheng'er should be training diligently. But instead of urging him on, you brought him into this chaos. Consort Xian's matter had nothing to do with him—it only wasted his valuable time. Empress, when I made you kneel before, that was already lenient. Do you now understand?"
Yun Liyue bowed her head lower, her voice trembling. "Mother, I know my mistake."
In that moment, Yun Liyue suddenly saw things more clearly.
Empress Dowager Meng treated Yang Cheng and Yang Xiu so differently. She doted on Yang Xiu, never pushing him to train in martial arts. But with Yang Cheng, she was always strict, demanding perfection.
Yun Liyue had always resented that.
But now she realized something: Yang Cheng and Yang Xiu had different roles. Yang Cheng was the crown prince. Yang Xiu was just a prince. Maybe Empress Dowager Meng's harshness was because she was holding Yang Cheng to the standards of a crown prince. And maybe her indulgence toward Yang Xiu came from believing he had no real responsibility.
So who did Empress Dowager Meng truly value more? It was suddenly hard to say.
"Crown Prince," Empress Dowager Meng's tone was severe, "today I've given you a small punishment as a warning. But if you dare neglect your cultivation again, next time the ruler will fall far more than just four times."
"Grandmother Empress, I will hold myself to the highest standard," Yang Cheng answered seriously.
A trace of warmth flashed deep in Empress Dowager Meng's eyes, but her face stayed stern.
"That's enough. All of you may leave," she said, sounding tired. "Regarding the posthumous title of Virtuous Consort for Consort Xian, Empress, don't involve yourself. I'll issue the decree myself, and then the emperor will follow up with an imperial edict."
"Yes, Mother," Emperor Qian Yuan replied sincerely.
As the three of them walked to the garden entrance, Empress Dowager Meng called out, "Empress, you showed the dignity of a true mother of the nation today. Continue to live up to it."
For the first time, Yun Liyue's eyes grew hot, almost bringing her to tears.
Just outside the garden, they found Noble Consort Zhuang waiting anxiously. When she saw Yun Liyue's eyes shimmering with tears, she lit up inside, convinced Yun Liyue had been humiliated. She rushed forward with fake concern. "Elder Sister, no matter what Mother Empress said, it was all for your own good. From now on, please don't act so rashly again."
Yun Liyue shot her a cold look. "Noble Consort Zhuang, you look so smug right now. Are you that eager to see me suffer?"