I woke up as the Villainous Empress

How can it be possible? So...it was not Guard Gu but Lady Yang Ning?

However, how can it be possible? The guards were in disbelief. How can a lady like her kill the wild bear with just one shot?

It was already hard enough for new guards who are learning the art of shooting, using bow and arrow. How can she kill the wild bear in a single shot? She is just a noble lady after all who hasn’t received any training in archery or hunting.

The guards looked at Gu Lan in bewilderment and were waiting for him to stand up and correct the girl. The girl must be bluffing. There is no way Yang Ning could do that.

However, their eyes widened in shock when they heard him say, ” That’s right. It was Lady Yang Ning who killed the bear. I did not do anything.”

” I left early to join His Highness and you all to capture the bear after escorting her to the exit door. However, who would have thought that the bear would appear at the backdoor?”

” When I heard the scream of the woman and before I could come back, the bear was already like this on the ground. I didn’t do anything.” He explained honestly.

Even though it’s embarrassing, he has no intention to take the credit for something he didn’t even do. It’s nothing but a cowardly action that he will never do.

.....

He made a mistake but will not accept the praises like a coward and let them stay in the dark.

The guards suddenly felt guilty for speaking too much and pursed their lips in awkwardness. If they had known about it, they wouldn’t have said too much.

How embarrassing!

Zheng Liang let out a deep breath before turning to the guards, ” Are you all here to just gossip? Even if the bear is already dead, are you going to leave him here like this?”

” Take care of it and also free the people who are locked upstairs. Take care of those people as well.” Zheng Liang signaled the guards to deal with the people for whom they came here originally.

How can they let those corrupt officials go just like that? No chance.

A deep frown formed on Gu Lan’s forehead when he saw Zheng Liang bypassing him and not giving him any tasks to do.

Not only he but the other guards also noticed this and felt bad for him. Everyone knows how much he respects His Highness and being ignored by him must be the biggest humiliation for him.

The atmosphere became so grave that it was hard to breathe aloud in that situation.

Just as they were wondering how to deal with this uncomfortable situation, they heard the crying voice of Xiaowei.

“MY LADY ARE YOU ALRIGHT? WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU? PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES.” While Xiaowei was hugging Yang Ning and expressing her thanks to her, she suddenly felt Yang Ning’s body weight getting heavier on her, as if she doesn’t have any strength left in her.

Xiaowei called her but didn’t get any response from her.

Getting no response from her made her worried and she pulled away from the hug to take a look at her face. She got flustered when she noticed that Yang Ning’s eyes were closed and her face complexion was turning pale.

She held Yang Ning tightly in her arms as her body felt heavier and seemed to be sliding down on the ground.

She panicked to see her in an unconscious state and started patting Yang Ning’s face to wake her up, “My LADY....MY LADY, PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES. MY LADY?”

“WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?” Zheng Liang grew worried when he heard Xiaowei’s cry which alerted everyone.

He came to look at Yang Ning who was lying unconscious in Xiaowei’s arms.

“YOUR HIGHNESS, I....I DON’T KNOW. SHE WAS FINE A WHILE AGO. SHE SUDDENLY FAINTED IN MY ARMS.” Xiaowei sobbed as she answered Zheng Liang’s questions.

She was scared that something might happen to her lady. She was already unwell and was still in the phase of recuperation when this happened.

It must be quite a shock on her body, mentally and physically as well.

“Your Highness, please save my lady. If something were to happen to my lady, I would also die.” Xiaowei cried and sobbed while holding onto Yang Ning.

Zheng Liang gritted his teeth to see Yang Ning in such a weak and vulnerable state. The girl who has killed the wild bear in one shot has now turned into a vulnerable and fragile lady.

Without wasting any time, he bent down and carried Yang Ning in his arms in a princess style and turned to Gu Lan, ” I am taking her to the palace for her to get treated. You bring her maid to the palace as well, otherwise, she will get scared after waking up if she finds herself alone in there.”

“BUT YOUR HIGHNESS....” Gu Lan was bewildered when Zheng Liang said that he was taking Yang Ning to the palace. They haven’t even gotten married yet, how can he take her to the palace then?

They came here to meet in disguise but things didn’t go according to their plan and the secret meeting turned into the killing operation of the wild bear. What would happen when everyone finds out about it?

This news would cause havoc in the capital. Taking Yang Ning to the palace will only add oil to the fire.

Gu Lan wanted to object to this action of Zheng Liang. However, Zheng Liang didn’t allow him to say anything and asked coldly, ” Are you going to do it or do you want me to make someone else do that?”

Gu Lan pursed his lips and held his head down as he answered. ” Yes. I will do that.”

He has already disappointed him. He cannot do anything else to make him upset at him.

Upon hearing this response, Zheng Liang darted out of the brothel premises while carrying Yang Ning in his arms, meanwhile, Gu Lan was left to deal with injured Xiaowei.

Gu Lan walked to Xiaowei, who was on the ground, and noticed her twisted leg which seems to have turned swollen now. He squatted down on the ground and pressed his cold fingers against her reddened ankle.

” AH!” Xiaowie winced in pain when he pressed his fingers on the injured area of her leg. ” What are you doing? It hurts.” She eyed Gu Lan and was waiting for him to make some unnecessarily rude comment because that’s what he is good at. Taunting people.

However, to her surprise, he didn’t make any crude comment, instead, he asked her in a concerned voice, ” Are you hurt anywhere else as well?”

“OH!” She was surprised when he asked her in a gentle voice, which was different from his usual cold and indifferent attitude.

“Erm....I think I also scraped my knee. My elbow also hurts as well.” She started mentioning the places where she was feeling the pain and Gu Lan checked her wounds to see if she had seriously injured herself.

After making sure that the injuries were not serious, he sighed in relief and said coldly, ” Look away for a moment.”

“Hmm?” Xiaowei was confused but followed his words anyway. However, as soon as she looked away, he carried her in his arms which caught her off guard.

” YOU....YOU...WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW CAN YOU CARRY ME LIKE THIS?” She was flustered.

” HIS HIGHNESS CAN CARRY TO MY LADY LIKE THAT BECAUSE THEY’RE ENGAGED. BUT WE ARE NOTHING. WHAT IF THE RUMORS SPREAD AROUND THE CAPITAL ABOUT US? DO YOU NOT FEAR THEM?” She grew anxious when he suddenly carried her in his arms.

It was her first time coming into close contact with a man. She was panicking from inside and was scared about the indecent rumors about them as well. However, he doesn’t seem to be affected by this situation at all and was looking stern and indifferent as usual.

Does he not feel uneasy at all?

Gu Lan looked at her blankly and said, ” Stop overreacting. You’re not a princess that people will make rumors about you. Also, Don’t take it as otherwise. I also dislike you as much as you hate me.”

” I am just doing this because His Highness has ordered me to take you to the palace safely. Since you have injured your leg, do you think I have another option than carrying you in my arms, Huh?”

Well, he does have a point. She possibly cannot walk to the palace in this condition. She pursed her lips in embarrassment when she had nothing else left to say.

She stretched her head away, trying to create as much distance between them, ” Then....Thank you for helping me. Just....don’t make me fall. I am scared of getting hurt.” She said in a meek voice, as she wrapped her hands around his neck to balance herself while he carried her in his arms.

Gu Lan didn’t say anything but noticed her flinching when they were about to pass by the dead body of the wild bear. ” Close your eyes. It’s not something pleasant to watch.” He asked her in a low voice at which Xiaowei immediately closed her eyes and tightened her grip around his neck unconsciously.

Gu Lan didn’t say anything about it and carried her out of the brothel premises, leaving the other guards to deal with the dead body of the wild bear.