I woke up as the Villainous Empress

However, things had changed in her current state. Yang Ning\'s body wasn\'t accustomed to such strenuous activity, leaving her breathless and causing her face to turn beet red. She perspired profusely, feeling intense stomach cramps as a result of the exertion.

Just like Yang Ning, Xiaowei too experienced excruciating pain and breathlessness. Compelled by Yang Ning\'s actions, she found herself running like a madwoman through the streets to keep up with her.

"Milady," Xiaowei interjected, "We haven\'t reached the royal residence yet. We are still standing outside the back side of the residence, so we cannot quite celebrate our timely arrival."

Earlier, as they were approaching the royal residence, a mighty boom emanated from a nearby drum, filling the air with its resounding presence. The deep, commanding sound served as an unmistakable signal, marking the onset of the night curfew.

Although they made it to the vicinity of the royal residence by the time of the night curfew, the truth was they were still in danger.

Standing outside, they needed to hurry and enter before anyone caught them loitering during the night curfew. Time was running out, urging them to find safety within the residence and avoid any unwanted attention and getting caught by the royal guards.

The sky had already darkened, adding to their sense of urgency. If they couldn\'t make it back before dinner, the consequences would be dire.

Everyone would discover their absence from the residence, and the trouble it would cause was unthinkable. Hurrying back became their sole focus, desperate to avoid any potential discovery and the trouble that would surely follow.

___

Once she had caught her breath, Yang Ning cast a disapproving glance at Xiaowei, her happiness, and pride momentarily dampened. It seemed that this girl had a knack for extinguishing her sense of accomplishment.

\'Why can\'t she be happy for a moment?\' Yang Ning pondered to herself.

"We\'ll simply find a way to enter. It\'s not a major issue," Yang Ning said dismissively, scanning her surroundings for a means to surmount the imposing wall of the residence. However, her expression turned pale as she soon realized that there was no apparent way for them to gain entry.

In the afternoon, as they fled from the royal residence, they confronted a towering wall. With creativity, they used a wooden chair and stacked bricks on top to create a makeshift platform. This enabled them to climb the wall and escape into the adjacent isolated alley, leaving the royal residence grounds behind.

Their situation took a turn for the worse as they realized the dire circumstances. The desolate alley provided no helpful objects whatsoever to aid their ascent back into the royal residence. Adding to the difficulty, the wall before them was not easily conquerable.

Its towering stature presented a formidable challenge, making it nearly impossible to surmount without any means of assistance.

Yang Ning\'s brows furrowed in bewilderment as she turned to Xiaowei, "Xiaowei, is this truly our only path to enter the residence? How are we supposed to climb this towering wall without any means of assistance?" Her tone carried a mixture of frustration and desperation.

Is this really going to be the first and last trip of her life? Because if Zheng Liang found out that she went out of the residence without anyone knowing, she was doubtful that he would bring her on such random business trips again.

After all, who would want to be accompanied by a troublemaker like her?

Xiaowei\'s panic-stricken eyes darted around, hoping for a miraculous discovery that would solve their dilemma. Yet, her hopes were dashed as reality set in. "Milady, this is the closest and most unnoticeable spot near your chamber. We can evade the guards more easily here," she explained, her voice tinged with worry.

Gazing at the daunting wall, Yang Ning\'s mind raced, seeking a creative solution. "Think, Xiaowei, think! We need something to give us a boost, a way to surmount this obstacle. There must be something we haven\'t considered," she urged, her voice a mix of determination and anxious anticipation.

"Milady, hear me out. I can position myself on all fours, and you can climb onto my back. It may be our only chance to reach the residence before His Highness returns." Xiaowei suggested.

Yang Ning\'s eyes widened in disbelief, looking at Xiaowei skeptically. "Are you crazy? You\'re much shorter than me! Even if I were to climb on your back, it wouldn\'t make a difference. I won\'t be able to mount this wall without a ladder or something sturdy to support me." Frustration welled up inside her as she scratched the back of her head nervously.

Her voice tinged with a hint of exasperation; Yang Ning continued, "It felt manageable when we jumped from inside, but now it seems colossal and nearly impossible to climb. How did this wall become so daunting all of a sudden?"

The sky grew darker, with ominous clouds engulfing the heavens, intensifying the already somber atmosphere. It was as if the weather itself mirrored the mounting worry in Yang Ning\'s mind.

How in the world would she manage to explain her secret little adventure to His Highness if he were to discover her escape without the guards? Would he unleash a scathing lecture or, heaven forbid, impose punishment upon her?

The mere thought of facing his wrath sent a shiver down her spine, leaving her feeling unsettled, her thoughts consumed by a whirlwind of anxiety and uncertainty.

While panic gripped both of them, their minds racing to find a way to enter the residence undetected, Yang Ning\'s sharp eyes caught sight of something in the dimly lit corner of the narrow alley.

"Oh? Is... is that a ladder?" Yang Ning pointed hesitantly, her vision obscured by the darkness of the night. Without any nearby lamps to illuminate the area, the object remained shrouded in mystery.

Yang Ning blinked in disbelief, unsure if her eyes were deceiving her. In the corner of the alley, she spotted an object that appeared to be a ladder. Perplexed, she wondered how a random ladder could find its way into such an inconspicuous place.