I woke up as the Villainous Empress

She clasped her hands together to think of a response to her question and said, ” Of course, there can be. Who said that women cannot be knights?”

” Didn’t I save you last time by using the bow and the arrow? Am I not a woman?” She asked.

“Erm....You’re right about that too. You did save me.” Xiaowei nodded as her words sounded reasonable.

“However, Milady, how did you know to use the bow and the arrow? You never learned how to use it.” She asked the question that was bothering her for quite a while.

Yang Ning pursed her lips as if she wasn’t expecting Xiaowei to ask this question suddenly, putting her in a spot. She simply wanted to tell a story to her and Zheng Liang to change the gloomy atmosphere but this conversation seems to be changing its track now.

“Oh? Ah....I felt that it would be the easiest one to use. That’s why I choose it as a weapon to protect myself. However, I wasn’t expecting to use it to save you from the attack of the wild bear.” Yang Ning explained, trying to sound as serious as possible.

” I believe the sense of urgency at that time gave me the courage to use it well and fortunately, I performed it well, despite it being my first time. Otherwise, it could have been bad if I had missed the shot that day.” Yang Ning explained.

Yang Ning answered it well, however, her lips were still quivering in nervousness after lying to her. She doesn’t like lying to people who are close to her but since the day she came into this world, she has been lying constantly about one thing or another.

.....

At this rate, she will become an expert in lying if this continues.

“Then what happened to the female archer?” Xiaowei asked as she grew curious about the story. Since it was a new story that she had never heard before, she wanted to know what would happen next.

Yang Ning smiled and said, ” Right. We were talking about the story.”

“One day, one of the closest friends of the female archer betrayed her and turned her into a betrayer. That friend of hers claimed that the girl is not a real archer, and she has achieved that title using false achievements and dishonest methods.” She continued while reminiscing about her bitter reality.

Will things be any different if she returns to her world now? She wondered.

” Everyone blamed her for cheating on them and betraying them. The people who used to praise her were now throwing rocks and insults at her, hurting her.” Her voice sank as she was feeling bad for her old self.

Zheng Liang, who was listening to the story of Yang Ning, attached his ears next to the door once again and tried to listen to Yang Ning’s words which were barely audible to him because she was speaking in a low voice.

Why does she sound as if she was telling her own story? She sounded sad. He wondered.

Because the rumors also portray Yang Ning as a cold person and people always badmouth her. So she must be empathizing with the woman in the story.

“Then how did the girl manage such a situation? Did she get revenge on the girl? Or prove her innocence after all. ” Xiaowei asked.

While Zheng Liang was listening to her story, Yang Ning cleared her throat and continued her story, “She couldn’t get revenge on the girl. She never wanted to. However, she did want to prove her innocence to the world and make her family proud.”

“However, she never got the chance to do so.”

” One day, the girl was alone in her room and was reading a romance book, like the ones you hide underneath your bed. You told me last time about it, didn’t you?” Yang Ning said, causing Xiaowei’s face to turn red in embarrassment.

“Milady!” Xiaowei exclaimed in embarrassment and covered her face, feeling everyone’s eyes on her.

Yang Ning chuckled to see Xiaowei’s reaction and continued with her story, “While reading the book, the girl fell asleep. When she woke up, she was not the best female archer in the world.”

Xiaowei looked at her curiously and was getting impatient with the suspenseful atmosphere. “Then what did she become? A beast?” She asked while looking at her with her large, sparkling curious eyes.

Even Zheng Liang was waiting for her to reveal what happened next. He doesn’t like to read stories but if it’s Lady Yang Ning telling him the story, it’s not bad!

Yang Ning chuckled at her words and said, ” When she woke up, she was in the novel world and had become the antagonist character in the novel. The pitiful antagonist, who was hated by everyone and had suffered so many things in life.

“The antagonist is going to die soon. What do you think the girl will do to save herself from getting killed in the end?” Yang Ning asked.

Xiaowei blinked her eyes and was fascinated by the story. She had never heard such an interesting story before.

Even the maids who were standing nearby were curious about what would happen next. The guards guarding outside Zheng Liang’s chamber also exchanged glances with each other and wanted to know the end of the story.

Zheng Liang in the chamber clenched his fists as he was getting immersed in the story as well. Everyone was waiting to know the next part of the story.

Xiaowei looked at Yang Ning and asked, ” What will she do?”

Yang Ning smiled at her to see her looking at her expectantly and wanted to know the end of it. “The girl will try to become the female lead of the novel herself and marry the prince. That’s the only way she could save herself from getting killed,” she said.

Xiaowei nodded and could understand why the antagonist would take such a step. Saving herself should be the priority.

“What happens in the end? Does she survive and live happily with the prince or go back to her world?” Xiaowei asked excitedly.

” But if she goes back to her world, wouldn’t it have a sad ending?” She asked.

Yang Ning looked at her in surprise and asked in wonder, ” Why would it be a sad ending? Wouldn’t it be a happy ending if she goes back to her world, to her family?”

“If she goes back to her world, what about the prince? What about her lovely family with her husband? If their love fails to succeed, wouldn’t it have a sad ending?” Xiaowei asked.

The other maids also nodded as they were getting curious to know about it too. A sad ending would be too sad.

Yang Ning pursed her lips as if she wasn’t thinking about it at all. What would happen to the people of this world if she goes back?

Will they remain the characters of a novel forever? She wondered.

Then what about Xiaowei, Lady Yu Ling, and....Zheng Liang? Wouldn’t it be sad if the world vanishes and they turn into fictional characters again?

Yang Ning smiled hesitantly at Xiaowei’s question and said, ” I don’t know about it. I didn’t get to read the end part of it.” She said.

” When I get to know about it, I will tell you about it as well.” She said breaking everyone’s expectations.

She doesn’t even know what will happen next. Will she survive or not? Will she be able to go back to her world or not? Will the people of this world vanish like they never existed or things will stay the same as now?

She doesn’t know anything about it.

Will there be a day when she will be able to complete the story for Xiaowei? Yang Ning wondered.

“Milady, How can you do this to me? Why did you tell me a story which hasn’t ended yet? Now how can I sleep at night in peace?” Xiaowei whined, feeling bad when Yang Ning didn’t tell her about the end.

Yang Ning chuckled at her and said, ” Stop whining and we should leave now. It’s getting late. Lady Yu Ling will kill us if we go later than this now.”

Xiaowei pursed her lips and said, ” I should be the one saying this. You’re the one who wanted to come here.”

Yang Ning glanced towards the door of the chamber and shouted, ” Xiaowei, we will come again tomorrow if Lady Yu Ling allows us to come.”

” However, even if we don’t, do not worry about anything. This time will soon pass as well.”

” Make sure to have your meals on time so that you will not fall sick. Alright?” Yang Ning asked in a raised voice while glancing toward the door of Zheng Liang’s chamber.

Xiaowei looked at her in surprise and said, ” Milady, I never knew you worry about me so much. Don’t worry. I will have my meals on time and will not worry you.” She said, feeling emotional that her lady worries about her so much.

Yang Ning smiled at her and didn’t say anything to break her imaginary bubble.

Meanwhile, Zheng Liang who was in his chamber smiled upon hearing her parting words and answered in a low voice reflexively, ” I will take care of myself, Lady Yang Ning!”