I woke up as the Villainous Empress

The royal court was thick with tension, a hush settling over the assembly. The events of the previous day still hung in the air like a dark cloud. The unexpected punishment and demotion of Minister Qin and his eldest son had sent shockwaves through the court. No one had foreseen the gravity of the situation.

The Qin family's descent from grace became a cautionary tale within the court. Due to the reckless actions of their impulsive youngest son, they lost their prestige overnight. It served as a stark reminder to all about the weight and respect the position of the Crown Princess commanded.

Initially, there were rumors circulating about the less-than-ideal relationship between His Highness and the Crown Princess. They had been sleeping in separate chambers during His Highness's recovery, Zheng Liang had been preoccupied with his duties, and it had been almost a year since their marriage with no news of the Crown Princess conceiving the future heir of the empire.

Many had assumed that their relationship might not be on good terms. Despite Yang Ning being Minister Yang Luoyang's daughter, there were speculations that she might have lost favor with the Crown Prince.

However, after witnessing the consequences the Qin family faced for disrespecting the Crown Princess, no one dared to underestimate her position. She wasn't just favored by her husband but also by His Majesty, who was willing to impose the death penalty on the entire Qin Clan for a seemingly minor offense.

After discussing a few cases that were resolved relatively quickly due to a lack of differing opinions, silence still hung heavily in the room. People still remained too fearful to speak openly in front of Zheng Liang, who, under the facade of mercy for not imposing a death sentence on Qin Cheng, had given a punishment equivalent to a death sentence to the whole Qin Family.

During the entire court session, Zheng Liang's attention was frequently drawn to the exit. He was eager to leave as soon as possible, as it was the time when Yang Ning was scheduled to meet with the woman who was locked in the dungeon.

He couldn't help but worry about Yang Ning. She already appeared stressed about the matter, and he feared how their conversation would unfold and how she would react afterward. He dreaded that the woman might utter something ominous, which his wife would take to heart and feel upset about.

After the third case was concluded, another minister stood up to present his case. At that moment, Zheng Liang raised his hand and declared, "That's enough for today. We will continue with the remaining cases during the evening session."

The minister who had risen from his seat to present his case was taken aback when Zheng Liang halted him mid-speech. He glanced at the Crown Prince in bewilderment, uncertain if he had made an error or upset him in any way. However, Zheng Liang didn't wait for anyone to question him. He promptly closed the file before him and rose from his throne.

As Zheng Liang stood up, all those present in the court rose from their seats and respectfully bade him farewell with bows and greetings. He paid little attention to the ministers lined up in two rows, bowing as he walked through the path they had created in the center of the main hall of the palace.

After Zheng Liang left, the ministers sighed in relief and finally released the breath they had been holding. One of the ministers remarked, "I nearly fainted on the spot when His Highness interrupted proceedings. I thought something major had happened. I was terrified."

Another minister chimed in, "I always felt that His Majesty was charismatic and possessed the capability to rule, but the same couldn't be said for the Crown Prince, who was supposed to ascend to the throne after His Majesty.

However, these days, I have noticed that the Crown Prince has become more daring and showcased his leadership qualities, especially when His Majesty fell ill and was on his deathbed."

"Yes. The Crown Prince has handled the royal court admirably while investigating the matter of His Majesty's poisoning. Who would have thought that he would reveal the truth in such a charismatic manner and deliver a severe punishment to the Empress?" The other minister added, complimenting Zheng Liang's leadership skills and powerful judgment.

"I agree. Even the way he dealt with the Qin family yesterday, though harsh, upheld the reputation of the Royal family. It was a necessary step."

"Hmm! I feel the same as well. After marrying the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince seems to have changed for the better. Did you all forget that during the emergency court session, the Crown Princess was present and she also helped in revealing the dark secrets of the Empress," another minister added.

The ministers continued to discuss Zheng Liang's leadership qualities, recognizing the positive changes he had undergone since marrying the Crown Princess.

The ministers' once-critical view of Zheng Liang had evidently shifted to one of admiration and respect. As they animatedly discussed strategies to curry favor with the Crown Prince, Yang Luoyang observed them from a secluded corner, their praises forming a sour note in his ears.

He had planned that by marrying Yang Ning to the Crown Prince, he would have complete control over Zheng Liang's schedule and actions through his daughter, and she would work as his spy in the royal palace. Empress Yang Lingxin was already on his side, and having Yang Ning in the palace would strengthen his connections and give him more control over Zheng Liang and his actions.

However, that wretched daughter of his betrayed him after getting married and failed to acknowledge him after marrying Zheng Liang.

She was not only not listening to his orders but completely ignoring his existence, which infuriated him even more. Not only that, she was helping Zheng Liang strengthen his power in the royal court, which was going against his plans.

Both of them had joined forces to go against him and had even banished Yang Lingxin from the palace, who was his biggest connection in the royal palace, his ladder to success and power.

The strategic marriage he had so carefully planned, hoping it would be his masterstroke, was now turning out to be his biggest blunder. Yang Luoyang's dreams of dominion through his daughter were crumbling, leaving him pondering on the unpredictability of power games in the royal court.

___

After leaving the royal palace, Zheng Liang wasted no time and went to the dungeon located at the rear side of the main palace to accompany Yang Ning during her meeting with the woman. Although Yang Ning had initially wanted to meet the woman alone, Zheng Liang couldn't help but feel nervous about the situation.

He decided to wait outside the meeting room, ready to step in if needed to protect his wife from any potential harm.

As Zheng Liang reached the dungeon with one of his guards, the guard standing outside the prison greeted him. Zheng Liang nodded in response and inquired, "Is Yang Ning still inside?"

The guard politely nodded and began to respond, "Yes, Your Highness. Her Highness is still—" However, Zheng Liang didn't wait for him to finish and promptly entered the dungeon with his guard.

When Zheng Liang arrived outside the commander's room where Yang Ning was meeting the woman, he was surprised to see the guards dragging the woman back to her prison cell. His frown deepened as he realized that the meeting had already ended. Content from m-vl|em|p,yr

He was about to enter the room to check on Yang Ning when he heard Gu Lan's panicked shout, "Your Highness!"

Worry etched across his face, Zheng Liang quickly pushed open the door and rushed into the room. There, he found Yang Ning standing weakly, her hand grasping onto the table for support, and Gu Lan holding onto her arm.

Her complexion had turned pale, and it was evident that something had gone wrong during the meeting.

Upon Zheng Liang's entrance, Gu Lan offered a respectful nod in greeting and gently released Yang Ning's hand, stepping aside to allow the prince to approach. He recognized the concern in the Crown Prince's eyes and understood the importance of giving them some privacy.

"What is going on? Why do you appear like this?" Zheng Liang inquired with concern, walking towards Yang Ning; gently holding her arm, and placing one hand on her back to support her.

Yang Ning furrowed her brow upon seeing him and asked with worry, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be attending the morning court session?"

Zheng Liang's concern remained evident as he responded with a stern gaze, "I asked you first. What's the matter? Did that woman do something to you or say something to upset you?"

Yang Ning pressed her lips together and shook her head, offering a weak smile. "No, she didn't do anything. I just felt a bit lightheaded due to the atmosphere in the room. That's all. I am certain I will feel better once we are outside." She didn't want Zheng Liang to doubt her words and punish Li Hua because of her.

Zheng Liang frowned at her but decided to believe her since she seemed reluctant to punish the woman. He noticed her pale complexion and frailty and swiftly scooped Yang Ning into his arms, causing her to gasp in surprise.

Yang Ning's pale face turned crimson with embarrassment as she saw Gu Lan averting his gaze and lowering his head. She lightly hit Zheng Liang's arm and scolded, "What are you doing? Put me down. I can walk."

However, Zheng Liang merely tightened his hold on her, retorting, "I agreed to your request to meet that woman. Now it's your turn to listen to me. There's no way I am letting you walk back to the Dragon Pavilion in this state. Stop struggling and hold onto my neck tightly, or both of us will be spending the night here."

Defeated and secretly touched by his concern, Yang Ning leaned her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Fine. Do whatever you want," she murmured, the softness in her voice revealing her affection.