I woke up as the Villainous Empress

He looked around and there was no guard or court lady in the vicinity except Xiaowei.

What is she doing here? He wondered.

He stood behind her and looked in the direction where she was staring and asked coldly. “What are you doing here?”

Xiaowei, who was smiling and giggling to see Yang Ning and Zheng Liang having tea together and spending time with each other, was startled when Gu Lan came out of nowhere and startled her. “Hah! Why are you standing behind me like this?” She jumped back in startled and shouted at him in surprise.

Gu Lan was surprised to see her jumping like this and unconsciously reached out to hold her, worried that she might hurt her leg once again.

However, Xiaowei didn’t notice his small actions as she was too shocked to catch on to his concerning actions.

” Why are you coming from behind? Are you a pervert?” She placed a hand on her chest and sighed heavily while trying to calm down her fast-pacing heartbeat.

Gu Lan scoffed upon hearing her offending, insulting words and retracted his hand quickly. He crossed his hands in front of his chest and looked at her sternly, ” Who are you calling a pervert? It was you who was acting like a pervert by peeping around the dragon pavilion and laughing for no reason like a crazy woman.” He counterattacked her and pointed at her for snooping around the palace without any permission.

.....

“How did you come here anyway? Don’t you know that this is the residence of the Crown Prince and not anyone could come here just like that?” He interrogated her.

Xiaowei pouted her lips and looked at him with a frown, ” What....what do you mean by anyone? Looks like you’re forgetting who I am.”

” I am the maid of the Future Crown Princess. I came here along with my lady. I have all the rights to come here and roam around the palace, just like you who are also working here.” She said while pointing towards where Yang Ning and Zheng Liang were having tea together in the back garden of the pavilion.

Gu Lan looked over the shoulders of Xiaowei to find out Zheng Liang and Yang Ning together.

He was stumped by the scene as he wasn’t expecting them to be together. The maid earlier told him that Zheng Liang had gone to the back garden to meet the Court Lady Yu Ling.

However, he was left speechless to see him enjoying tea with Lady Yang Ning. The afternoon session of the royal court was about to start, yet Zheng Liang was too lost in time and was enjoying the tea, forgetting all his work commitments.

What has happened to his Highness? Since when did he start to give more importance to other things than his responsibilities as the Crown Prince? He wondered.

He wanted to go to Zheng Liang to call him for the royal court session but Xiaowei was not done yet.

“Also, soon this residence is going to be my lady’s residence as well. So stop being a busybody and guard the area well. I don’t want to compromise with the safety of my lady.” Xiaowei continued bragging about her position which is soon going to be upgraded from a maid to her lady to the maid of the Crown Princess.

Gu Lan looked at Xiaowei irritatingly as her words were bugging him and making him chortle. “You should worry about your broken leg first before worrying about anyone’s safety.” He chuckled as he teased her about the injury that she got while running away from the wild bear.

Xiaowei was in disbelief when he taunted her about the leg injury which has been healed by now. “I didn’t break my leg. It was just a minor sprain. Who are you taunting anyway? It was all because of you.”

She wants to forget about it, however, he was still holding onto the past and was using it against her. If he can tease her, so does she.

Gu Lan pursed his lips and looked at her seriously before saying, ” I apologize for that day. I should have been careful and not left you and Lady Yang Ning alone at that time.”

Xiaowei was caught off guard by his sudden apology and was not expecting him to suddenly change his attitude. She scratched the side of her neck awkwardly and said, ” Ah! It’s.... It’s alright. It was my lady who asked you to go anyway. You were simply following her orders.”

” Even though I should have been more thoughtful and acted cautiously in that situation. If it was not for Lady Yang Ning, things could have turned for the worst.” He said, feeling dejected upon remembering the incident.

Two weeks have passed since then but he still hasn’t forgotten about it. His Highness and Lady Yang Ning might have forgiven him, but he still feels guilty for not following the orders of His Highness properly that day.

Xiaowei looked at him in surprise as she wasn’t expecting him to accept his faults so easily. He looks like a proud man who will never accept his mistakes even if his life will be at stake.

However, it was quite unexpected to see his new side.

“You...You don’t have to feel bad about it. See! I am perfectly fine and can even run around the palace like before. I can even jump-” Xiaowei wanted to cheer him up and tell him that it was not his fault and he shouldn’t feel bad about it.

Just as she started to see him in a different light, the cold and arrogant Gu Lan proved her wrong once again by interrupting her words, ” Ah, that’s great then. If you’re done, I need to go. I have more important things to do.”

Gu Lan pursed his lips and was about to go to Zheng Liang to remind him about the court session when Xiaowei abruptly gripped the corner of his sleeves and stopped him, ” Are you crazy? Where are you going? Can’t you see that they’re still talking to each other?”

He looked at her with an uncaring look in his eyes and said, ” I can see that. However, His Highness doesn’t have the time to have tea right now. Now if you excuse me!” He yanked Xiaowei’s hand away from his sleeve and went to the table where Zheng Liang and Yang were having tea.

_____

“Your Highness!” Gu Lan called Zheng Liang as he interrupted the conversation between Zheng Liang and Yang Ning.

Xiaowei, who was looking at him from afar, wanted to scratch his face in frustration. It was such a great moment for the two to have some time of their own yet he ruined everything.

Zheng Liang was surprised when Gu Lan appeared out of nowhere and interrupted his conversation with Yang Ning. He was trying to convince Yang Ning to stay back for the lunch but Gu Lan came in between and put a full stop to their conversation.

He gritted his teeth and eyed Gu Lan, coldly, ” What is it? Can’t you see that I am having a conversation with Lady Yang Ning?”

Why does he always barge in when he is speaking with Lady Yang Ning?

Gu Lan ignored Zheng Liang’s interrogative questions and greeted Yang Ning with a smile, “Greeting to Lady Yang Ning.” He greeted her and bowed to her to show his loyalty.

Yang Ning was surprised by the change in his attitude. Unlike the other times, he didn’t greet her casually with half-hearted expressions but smiled at her while greeting her. That was new!

” Your Highness, it’s time for the afternoon session of the royal court. If you stay here five minutes longer, you will be late for the session and will not be able to attend today’s session.” Gu Lan turned to Zheng Liang and reminded him about his schedule.

” I am sure Lady Yang Ning could wait for you but His Majesty won’t.” He added to show him the urgency of the situation.

Zheng Liang frowned and glared at Gu Lan for not sparing him any face in Yang Ning. He just told Yang Ning that he doesn’t have any important work appointments. Yet he was cutting his statements.

” I know that. However, today’s session is not so important. It can be skipped.” Zheng Liang said while gritting his teeth. ” You don’t have to tell me what to do, I can take care of my affairs myself.” Zheng Liang added.

Yang Ning smiled awkwardly and was speechless to see the two bickering like elementary school students.

Why does this whole scenario remind her of when her father used to drag her from bed to send her to school?

Gu Lan was playing the same role as her father in Zheng Liang’s life. Looks like the Crown Prince is not as disciplined as she used to perceive him to be

“Your Highness, you don’t need to skip the court session because of me. I was about to leave. Lady Yu Ling must be done with her work, I should also take a leave.” Yang Ning said as she hurriedly stood up from the chair to leave.

“But Lady Yang Ning, You don’t have to-” Zheng Liang wanted to stop her but Gu Lan cut his words again and said, ” Please be careful on your way.” Gu Lan said and bowed in front of her politely once again.

Yang Ning pursed her lips as she could see that he was trying to send her away. She nodded to his greeting and left the Dragon Pavilion with Xiaowei.

After she left, Zheng Liang turned to Gu Lan and looked at him coldly, ” What was that?”

Gu Lan avoided eye contact with him and looked around and muttered to himself, “Ah! I should also go to the royal court. The session is about to start.” Without looking back at Zheng Liang, Gu Lan also scurried away from the scene.