I woke up as the Villainous Empress

When she stays at home, she doesn’t wear the stunning dresses that Court Lady Yu Ling has bought for her, instead, she wears the old, rugged dresses because she finds them comfortable to wear daily.

“I am going to the palace with Lady Yu Ling.” Yang Ning answered while she was looking at her reflection in the mirror and busy putting on the complicated necklace on her neck.

She didn’t want to get dressed lavishly before going to the palace, however, Yu Ling didn’t listen to her words and arranged the gorgeous dress and the accessories that she is supposed to wear in advance.

Yu Ling even threatened her that if Yang Ning doesn’t get dressed as she says, she will not allow her to come to the palace with her.

With no choice left, she got dressed as Yu Ling had instructed her and was doing her best to look as ladylike and gentle as she could.

Xiaowei pursed her lips in sadness and said, ” You have gotten quite close to Lady Yu Ling. Now you don’t even take me anywhere with you.” She complained grumpily while helping her to wear the accessories correctly and untangle the necklace which has gotten stuck with her dress.

Yang Ning glanced at her and chuckled to see her getting upset about such a small thing. ” What are you talking about? For me, you’re always the number one.” She assured her and patted her head as if comforting a pouty puppy.

” I am going to the palace with Lady Yu Ling because she also needs to go to the palace to make preparations for the wedding. Meanwhile, I have something to talk His Majesty. Also, when did I say that you weren’t coming with me? Huh?” Yang Ning turned to Xiaowei and smiled at her before saying, ” How can I go anywhere without taking you along with me? I was about to tell you to get dressed and come to the palace with me. Now stop frowning and get ready.”

.....

“Ah. I thought you were going to leave me behind. Then....I should get ready as well.” Xiaowei’s face lit up when she heard her lady’s words.

In the last few days, Yu Ling has been taking care of Yang Ning who is much bolder and more determined than her. That’s why she can also save Yang Ning from the verbal attacks of Chang Ah and Yang Luoyang who don’t come to bother her anymore.

Whereas, she doesn’t have the power or the confidence to stand against Chang Ah and Xing Bao. That’s why she always ends up becoming a nuisance to her lady whenever she gets into trouble with Chang Ah.

In the last few days, she was feeling as if Yang Ning had been drifting away from her and it was bothering her to see Yu Ling and Yang Ning getting close to each other.

She was feeling jealous because until now, only she had been close to Yang Ning and had been serving her since she was young.

However, the assuring words of Yang Ning made her feel happy and she realized that her lady has not forgotten her and still likes her the best.

She was glad that even after Yu Ling entered their lives, her importance in Yang Ning’s life hasn’t vanished yet.

___

Yang Ning was surprised to see Xiaowei jumping merrily and patted her head and said, ” How can I leave you behind? Xiaowei, remember my one thing.”

” I don’t leave the side of the people who support me in my worst. You have always supported me, even through the worst phase of my life. So how can I leave you behind when things are getting better? Hmm?”

Even Fang Li cannot outlook the sincerity of Xiaowei while serving her. Whenever Yang Luoyang or Chang Ah tried to torture Yang Ning in any way, this girl was always the first one to stand up against them, even though she doesn’t have any power to do anything against them.

When she never left her side at her worst, how can she ignore her when things are changing for the better?

“Now stop getting emotional and get ready. We are leaving in 10 minutes.” Yang Ning said, causing Xiaowei’s eyes to widen in surprise.

“10 minutes? I...I need to hurry then.” Xiaowei said and scurried out of the chamber real quick to change her clothes before going to the royal palace. Even though she is just a maid, she also needs to maintain herself to look like the maid of the future Crown Princess.

Her uniform cannot be untidy or dirty in any way.

____

Dragon Pavilion – Royal Palace.

“Lady Yang Ning, what brings you to the Palace?” Zheng Liang asked while looking at her with a solemn expression. He was sitting across from her and was taking a sip of his tea when he asked her the question.

He was getting ready for the after-royal court session when the guard came and announced that Lady Yu Ling had been waiting for him at the garden behind the Dragon Pavilion.

He was surprised because generally, Lady Yu Ling comes to the study room to meet him. However, since it was Lady Yu Ling who came looking for him, he assumed that there must be something important that she wanted to talk to him about.

When he came to the garden behind the Dragon pavilion, he was surprised to see Lady Yang Ning waiting for him.

She was sitting at the round table by the lakeside and was enjoying the tea that the maid served her while she was waiting for him.

He came outside to see Lady Yu Ling but wasn’t expecting to see Lady Yang Ning waiting for him. Not only was she waiting for him, but she was also dressed beautifully when she came to meet him.

She was wearing a light peach-pink dress that was embellished with sparkling gemstones and was even wearing a silver necklace and pink jeweled earrings that were going well with the dress.

She was looking beautiful.

She used to look beautiful when she wore dull and plain dresses as well. No matter what she wears, she is bound to look gorgeous. However, he was glad that things are changing after Lady Yu Ling entered the Yang Household and Lady Yang Ning is being treated right now.

____

Yang Ning wiped her lips with a tissue before answering, ” I came here because I wanted to talk to you about something important.”

A frown appeared on Zheng Liang’s forehead when he heard her answer. Something important? Did something happen in the Yang Household? He wondered.

” Something important? What is it?” He asked straightforwardly, without dandling the topic any further.

Yang Ning took a deep breath and gathered all the courage that she had in her and asked, ” Do you remember our conversation at the brothel house the last time?”

Zheng Liang’s expression hardened at her unexpected question. He pursed his lips when he recalled their conversation at the brothel house.

How can he forget about that conversation between them? It was the first time someone has rejected him.

Normally, ladies try to get close to him or try to make relationships with him so that their families could get acquainted with the royal family. However, he never gives chances to anyone because more than getting involved with women, he would rather practice his sword skills more and work on that.

Just like the other ladies, he was expecting her to get close to him. Even though they are engaged, they still don’t know much about each other.

That day he went to meet her because he wanted to observe her and wanted to know what she wanted from him. There must be a reason why she was acting so differently. He was eager to remove that mask from her face and reveal her true self.

However, when she opened her mouth, he was shocked to hear that she wants to cancel their marriage arrangement. How can someone want to cancel the marriage arrangement with him?

HOW? He is the Crown Prince of the Empire and has been trained to become the future Emperor of the Zheng Empire.

How can someone not want to get married to him?

Zheng Liang took a sip of his tea and looked at Yang Ning indifferently as he asked, ” Yes. I remember it. What about it?”

” That time you said that this marriage alliance cannot be canceled.” She said,

” What about it? I am sure you must have not come here to confirm it once again.” He said while wondering what is going on in her head that she was bringing up this topic once again.

Yang Ning swallowed her nervousness and cleared her throat before saying, ” Since the marriage alliance has been arranged by our families, there is nothing more that we can do.”

” However, before getting into this marriage, I have one condition. I will be honored if you could fulfill this condition of mine.” She said,

Zheng Liang: “.....”