I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Yang Ning pursed her lips when she saw the closed door of Zheng Liang’s chamber and felt strange.

The last time when she was here, she didn’t realize how beautiful this place was. However, today she is here again, and it doesn’t feel as beautiful as before because the real beauty of the palace is hidden.

‘Oops! That sounds so creepy, Fang Li.’ Yang Ning scolded herself for thinking stupid things when she is here for a good reason.

She isn’t here to admire the royal beauty of the Crown Prince’s residence. She is here to help him in this situation and do whatever she can to make him feel better.

She took a deep breath and turned to Gu Lan, who was confused by Yang Ning’s behavior and was wondering what she wanted to do. She smiled at him and said, ” Absolutely. That’s why I came here.”

“Guard Gu Lan, you don’t need to worry about anything. I will not break the rules. Lady Yu Ling has already warned and scared me enough.” She said with a straight face.

If she dared to break any rules, she was sure that Lady Yu Ling would double the number of books for her to carry on her head while practicing walking in the dress for her to act like an elegant lady.

She walked closer to Zheng Liang’s chamber when the guards of the Emperor, who were guarding Zheng Liang’s chamber and keeping an eye on him, blocked Yang Ning from moving forward.

.....

“Lady Yang Ning, you’re not allowed to go inside or talk to His Highness. Please stay away from here. It is His Majesty’s orders” One of the guards said and warned her to not come closer to the chamber.

Yang Ning raised her hands in her defense and maintained her cool while facing the guard. She smiled at him innocently and said, “You do not worry. I am not going anywhere. I was just looking around the place.”

“You have worked hard. Make sure to eat on time and take rest timely. Have a good day.” She said and waved at the guards, urging them to get on with their work and not pay attention to her.

After looking around here and there, Yang Ning called Gu Lan and said, ” Please arrange the table here.”

“I would like to have my tea and snacks while admiring the gorgeous paintings on this wall and feel the positivity coming from these green plants in the hallway. They’re beautiful.” Yang Ning said dramatically while showing the guards that she wants to sit in the middle of the hallway and have her tea because she wants to admire the paintings on the wall in the hallway and not stay near Zheng Liang.

“Yes? You want me to arrange your refreshments table here?” Gu Lan was surprised when Yang Ning asked him to arrange the tea table for her in the middle of the hallway.

He glanced at the guards hesitantly and wondered if it was permitted or not.

Yang Ning noticed his concern and glanced at the guards who were also looking towards them and said to him, ” What are you looking at them for? I am sure they will not deny me from putting a tea table here.”

” I am the Future Crown Princess, after all. I can at least have a cup of tea since I came all the way here, don’t you think? It’s not like I am breaking any law here. Am I right?” Yang Ning said loudly so that the other guards could hear her words properly and not come later and cause a scene against her arrangements.

“Well, that’s not against the rules, I believe.” Gu Lan said hesitantly and somewhat started to understand the intentions behind Yang Ning’s actions.

He nodded in seriousness and turned to a maid standing near him, “Please arrange some tea and refreshments for lady Yang Ning. Also, ask someone to arrange a tea table and two chairs in the hallway. They will be having tea in the hallway.” He said.

“In the hallway? But how can it-” The maid was hesitant as having tea in the hallway doesn’t sound appropriate.

Before she could complete her words, Gu Lan looked at her sternly and said, ” Just do as I say. Also, ask someone to prepare the food tray for His Highness as well. Since he didn’t have breakfast in the morning, he should have lunch on time at the least.” He said.

“Yes. I will do that.” The maid had no choice when Gu Lan was asking her to do whatever he said and Yang Ning was also looking at her while smiling. How can she say anything in this situation?

After the maid left, Xiaowei looked at the royal guards worriedly and then glanced at her lady who was admiring the paintings even in this tense situation.

How can she be so calm at the moment? She wondered.

___

Zheng Liang was sitting on the bed in his chamber and was pondering about the person who tipped Yang Luoyang about his plan.

It was a secret mission and he has been preparing for this day since he came back to the capital after he found out about the corruption at the brothel house.

After so much planning and looking for the people who were involved in this matter, he got to know about their whereabouts on the day he was going to meet Yang Ning and ended up at the brothel house to keep a tab on them and give enclosure to his mission.

Because a person like Yang Luoyang doesn’t deserve the position of Head of the Financial Department. He needs to be dismissed from this crucial position in the royal court.

While thinking about who could be the one involved in this, Yang Ning’s name came into his mind first.

She was present at the Brothel House that day and even heard him say lastly when he ordered Gu Lan to take care of those guys.

She is also the daughter of Yang Luoyang and is his closest kin. Even though she wouldn’t have revealed it to him on her own, there is a possibility that Yang Luoyang might have forced her to tattletale on him.

“I don’t think she is the one who did it.” He murmured and pursed his lips upon remembering the way she confronted His Majesty and was even lying smoothly in front of him.

She even gave him a condition to not bring any other women to the palace after marrying her. When she could dare to control him and his father who is the Emperor of the Empire, there is no way she would have revealed it to Yang Luoyang that easily, just because he had asked her to.

‘Then who could it be?’ He thought.

Although being locked in his chamber was a punishment, he has been utilizing this time to go through this matter and has been practicing mind controlling as well.

He still cannot forget the fact that the other day he asked Yang Ning to stay for lunch when he was supposed to attend the royal court to execute his plan, which eventually failed.

He needs to do meditation in order to control his mind which has been going astray these days. How can he say something like that?

Zheng Liang pursed his lips and let out an exhausting sigh as he couldn’t help but be frustrated by his embarrassing attitude in front of Yang Ning. What is happening to him these days?

Was he dying for the woman’s touch so much that after he shared the kiss with Yang Ning, which she doesn’t even remember, he thinks about her all the time?

While he was wondering what he could do to control his mind and actions and work on his productivity, he heard some noises coming from outside.

He was about to shout to ask what was happening outside when he remembered that he had been punished for staying inside his Chamber without anyone talking to him, not even the maids or the guards.

This means, even if he shouts, no one is going to respond to his questions as they’re afraid to break the order of His Majesty, even by mistake.

He frowned when the noises didn’t stop coming and decided to walk to the door of the chamber and placed his ears against the door to hear and find out what was happening outside.

” Not here. Place it in the center. Yes. Right there.”

” What tea is this? Is this the tea that I drank the last time?”

” Erm... Can you change it to something else? It was too bitter for my taste. I didn’t like it.”

“Oh My! Are you sure these are just some snacks and not a full meal? It’s too much food for me to finish it all. Xiaowei, why don’t you come and sit with me.”

Zheng Liang raised his brows in puzzlement when he heard the familiar voice and the chaotic exchanges that were going on in the hallway.

“Lady Yang Ning? Am I hallucinating?” He asked himself and wondered if he was hearing it wrong.