I woke up as the Villainous Empress

The emergency royal court session was arranged at the hall of the Main Palace, causing the palace to emerge in chaos. Even though there was no royal court session today, Zheng Liang announced all the ministers to gather at the Hall of the Main Palace to attend the emergency royal court session.

The royal court sessions happen on their respective days and schedules. The situation of holding an emergency royal court session occurs only in unpardonable cases of treason or war where the royal authority or the security of the Empire is at stake.

When Ministers arrived at the Main Palace, everyone was bewildered by the sudden announcement and gathered in groups to discuss the reason being the emergency court session.

“I wonder what prompted His Highness to hold this emergency court session. We aren’t in between the struggle with any kingdom at the moment. I don’t think the reason for this emergency meeting is the breaking out of the war.” The Minister of War said and relieved everyone by stating about the condition of the borders.

“Then what could be the reason for this sudden court session? Did…did someone attempt treason because His Majesty is not well and was caught by His Highness?” One of the ministers mentioned, causing the atmosphere to become gloomy and mysterious.

“Minister Shen, Have you gone crazy? How can you say something like that? What if someone hears you say that ‘word’? Don’t you know that you aren’t allowed to mention that word while standing in the royal court?” The other Minister corrected him and looked around carefully to see if anyone had heard them.

“Ah, I…I didn’t mean to. I was just curious about the whole situation.” The minister who mentioned treason shut his mouth and pursed his lips to not utter a single word after this.

“Mr. Yang, Why aren’t you saying anything? Do you know about something?” One of the ministers asked Yang Luoyang who was sitting on his designated chair and was waiting for the meeting to commence.

.....

He was only listening to their conversation but wasn’t saying anything. They asked him about the reason, considering he was silent all the time. Does this mean that he knows about something?

“Yes, Minister Yang. You must know about something. You are family with His Highness after all. Didn’t your daughter tell you about anything?” The other minister added and pushed Yang Luoyang to give them some inside information.

Yang Luoyang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth while trying to maintain a neutral expression. He was also curious about why this emergency court session was being held at such short notice. However, more than being curious, he was more angered by everyone coming to ask him about the emergency court session and the reason behind it.

How would he know anything about it?

The daughter he married to the Crown Prince, who would have imagined that she would become an ungrateful brat after marrying him and would turn her back on him?

Unlike before, she doesn’t fear him anymore or yearns for his acknowledgment and always avoids meeting him as if she has cut all ties with him. Does she think she will be able to survive in the palace without his support and background?

She got to marry Zheng Liang, the Crown Prince because she was his daughter. How dare she act as if she does not know him after getting married?

He hesitantly cleared his throat and said, “How would I know anything about it? Do I look like an unprincipled person who would ask about the palace matters from my married daughter?”

His response shut everyone’s mouths and created an uncomfortable atmosphere where everyone was hesitant to say anything more about it.

Yang Luoyang noticed everyone’s hesitant and uncomfortable expressions. He pursed his lips and said, “The meeting would start soon. We should not gather here like this and take our respective seats and wait for His Highness to arrive.”

The other ministers received his hidden message and understood that he does not want to discuss this matter anymore.

Feeling upset by Yang Luoyang’s response, they went to sit on their respective seats and wait for the emergency meeting to commence.

Just as everyone was going back to their seats, the royal guard standing outside the Main Hall announced the arrival of His Highness.

Everyone stood in front of their chairs and lowered their heads to bow as they greeted Zheng Liang and were peeping glances at him.

However, everyone’s expressions darkened and frowned to see the person following behind Zheng Liang. It was none other than the Crown Princess, Yang Ning.

Everyone was confused and wondering why the Crown Princess suddenly came to the royal court along with His Highness. Women aren’t allowed to attend the Royal Court Sessions, then why did she come to attend the Emergency Royal Court session?

Even the Empress never attended the Royal Court Sessions in the past, so how can the Crown Princess break the protocol and attend the royal court session?

Does this emergency royal court session have something to do with her? Everyone wondered.

___

Seeing Yang Ning following behind Zheng Liang, everyone’s gazes automatically went to look at Yang Luoyang, who was also shocked by her appearance as well.

‘What is she doing here?’ He gritted his teeth and wondered why she came to the royal court session.

Yang Luoyang’s eyes were on Yang Ning and were waiting for her to look at him, however, she didn’t glance at him even for once. Without any distractions, she walked past all the ministers and went to sit on the throne with Zheng Liang.

“You can sit here.” Upon reaching the elevated sitting area for the royal family members, Zheng Liang helped Yang Ning to sit on the throne chair next to him. Since it was her first time attending the royal court session along with him, he was worried that she might feel nervous in front of all the ministers.

However, to his surprise, she carried herself confidently and boldly in front of all the Ministers who were staring at her in shock and puzzlement.

Yang Ning was feeling awkward as she was the only woman in the hall, however, she didn’t let herself fret over such a small matter. Because she was here to do greater things than get nervous in front of these opinionated men with their unnecessary opinions.

She took a deep breath and confidently took her seat next to Zheng Liang. All this while, she was living her life as a nobody while scooping inside the Dragon Pavilion.

However, not anymore.

If she didn’t do anything now, she won’t be able to survive in this world. The palace is a cruel place, to protect herself, she needs to annihilate the enemies. Otherwise, they will destroy her without any hesitation.

__

After he and Yang Ning took their seats, Zheng Liang looked at everyone and asked them to take their respective seats as well.

Everyone followed his orders and took their seats as well. However, even after taking their seats, everyone was feeling restless and the low whispers didn’t seem to stop.

While everyone was peeping glances at each other and waiting for the other person to ask Zheng Liang a question, Yang Luoyang sighed at the cowardice behavior of the other ministers and stood up from his seat and asked, “Your Highness, Can I ask what was the reason behind this emergency court session?”

“Is there any case that we failed to discuss in the last court session or in the meantime, some important case has emerged? Since we were not aware of the case behind this meeting, we did not prepare anything for it. Was there something that we should have prepared for it?” He asked straightforwardly.

Generally, the ministers raise the cases in front of His Majesty or Zheng Liang in case of the absence of His Majesty. However, it was strange that none of the ministers were aware of why this court session was held and what case they are going to discuss today.

They did not hear anything related to the case of war or treason. Then what could be the reason behind this emergency royal court session? Did Yang Ning say something to him? He wondered.

Zheng Liang was impressed to see Yang Luoyang raising this question himself. Very Well!

He has to acknowledge that Yang Luoyang is a daring man, however, he uses his intelligence and bravery in the wrong places only.

“Minister Yang, I am surprised that you seemed to be calm even in this situation. Why do you think that we have gathered here to discuss a case? Are you not aware that emergency royal sessions could only be held in the situation of war or treason? However, you seem to be talking as if we have gathered here to discuss a simple case as we do on other days.”

“Yes? Treason?” Yang Luoyang’s face paled at Zheng Liang’s words.