Failing to Recognize the Princess's True Face

The young commandery princess was born into a Duke's household, where she got whatever she wanted.

There were only three things she feared in life: getting up early, taking medicine, and waking up early.

Unfortunately, her nemesis, Gu Zhao, found out about all three one by one.

Trapped in a predicament, the princess curled up beneath her quilt, showing only her big, bright eyes.

Gu Zhao tapped the rim of the bowl. "Drink your medicine."

The young princess wrinkled her nose miserably. "Just leave it there. I'll drink it later."

Gu Zhao scoffed. "I'll watch you drink it."

The princess looked up in disbelief at this cold, utterly hateful person, then reached for an excuse with practiced ease. "The medicine's too hot..."

"It's been cooling for half a quarter of an hour."

"It's too bitter. Bring me some candied fruit."

Gu Zhao leaned down slightly, looking at her with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "Be a good girl and drink it, hmm?"

After downing the bowl, the bitterness made the corners of the princess's eyes turn red. Her pitiful expression tugged at the heartstrings. She looked at him with wariness, yet chewed on the candy he'd given her.

The princess had acquired a taste for it. "I want more."

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Zhong Yiwan was a pampered darling raised in a Duke's household, alluring from head to toe, right down to the tips of her hair. As soon as she came of age, she was sent to the palace to become the new empress.

She had not been empress for long when the emperor suddenly died.

The Crown Prince, Zhao Yanshen, ascended the throne. His temperament was inscrutable and unpredictable, so Yiwan instinctively avoided him whenever she could.

But before long, the Duke's household fell into peril. For her family, Yiwan had no choice but to seek his help.

Late one night, the new emperor made an outrageous demand: she was to hold a jade spoon in her mouth and make tea for him.

Her slender waist, narrow enough to fit in one hand, was forced to bend. Behind her, the man's scorching presence enveloped her, and she heard his low, restrained voice. "Were you not avoiding me, Empress Dowager?"

Theme: Independence.