I woke up as the Villainous Empress

The chamber was not only spacious but beautifully decorated as well. The walls were painted with off-white color and had small artistic paintings painted on them.

There was a bed with a wooden canopy and a mosquito net.

Next to the bed, there was a small side table on which there was a jar of water and two cups for them to drink water.

There was a round table and fine quality wooden two chairs in the room as well. A small lantern was placed on top of the table, to brighten the room and also make it look pleasing to the eyes.

The sheer white curtains in the room were making the room more feminine and delicate.

He could smell the rose-scented incense in the room which elevated his mood and made the room smell nice.

Seeing the small fine details in the chamber, he could tell that Lady Yu Ling has made some changes to the interior of the room.

Because some of the things were similar to his chamber back at the royal palace which was decorated by her as well.

.....

He was pleased that he came to visit the chamber where Yang Ning used to live before their wedding.

It was not the chamber where he met Yang Ning for the first time when she was unconscious and burning with a high fever.

That chamber does not even deserve to be called a chamber. It was more like a dirty and gloomy storage house.

How can the eldest daughter of the Yang Household live in a chamber worse than the maid of the household? Ridiculous.

However, after Yu Ling came to the Yang Household, the first thing she did was change Yang Ning’s chamber.

It was a good thing she changed the chambers for her. Otherwise, she will have to live in that stinky storage house until their wedding.

He gets goosebumps thinking that she had lived in that chamber for years. Sometimes he wonders if Yang Ning is the daughter of Yang Luoyang or if there is any secret about her birth. Because how can someone treat his daughter like this?

Seeing Zheng Liang looking around the chamber, Yang Ning pursed her lips and followed him around while he checked every nook and corner of the chamber to see if it was safe for them to stay for the night.

They’re at the Yang Household after all. He cannot stay here without making sure that everything was safe for them to stay for a night.

Although Gu Lan had already made sure that everything was fine, he still wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any suspicious thing in the chamber.

He cannot take any chances when it comes to Yang Luoyang. He is a scheming bastard after all, who can do anything to fulfill his goals and greed?

___

In the afternoon, after having lunch in silence, Yang Luoyang brought up the topic of Yang Ning staying at the Yang Household for a night.

“Your Highness, since Yang Ning would be staying at the Yang Household for a night, ] you do not need to come tomorrow to pick her up. You’re already so busy, how can we waste your time? I will bring her with me when coming to the royal court tomorrow.” Yang Luoyang suggested.

It was a tradition of the Zheng Empire that the new bride should stay for a night at her parent’s house and the groom goes to her parent’s house the next day to pick her up.

Yang Luoyang was planning to talk to Yang Ning after Zheng Liang left. It will allow him some time to deal with Yang Ning and show her real place in the Yang Household.

He needed to suppress her and make her agree to his orders so that his efforts would not go to waste.

Yang Ning furrowed her brows and her face darkened when she heard Yang Luoyang’s suggestion. She could see what was going on in his head and was expecting that it wasn’t going to be an easy night at the Yang Household.

She let out a heavy sigh and was feeling relentless about the whole arrangement. Although she doesn’t fear Yang Luoyang, she cannot entrust them with her safety either.

Staying at Yang Household alone would mean spending a night alone in a lion’s den. She has already seen how far Yang Luoyang and Chang Ah can go to fulfill their wishes.

She wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to threaten her with her life, like the way Yang Luoyang tried to threaten her on the day of her wedding.

Zheng Liang was carefully listening to Yang Luoyang’s suggestion and noticed the glum expressions of Yang Ning. A while ago, she was happily enjoying the meal and suddenly, the smile on her face disappeared.

He cleared his throat and looked at Yang Luoyang with an indifferent expression, “Of course, Yang Ning can stay at the Yang Household. Even after marriage, she is still your daughter after all.” He said.

Yang Luoyang was pleased that his plan was moving forward accordingly. However, Zheng Liang’s next unexpected response left him speechless.

“Minister Yang, If you’re preparing for our stay at the Yang Household, then please make sure that the mattress should be comfortable and the blanket should be soft and warm. Since the weather gets quite chilly at night these days, I am worried that my wife will catch a cold.” He said while putting Yang Ning’s comfort as his priority.

“So please take care of these things while preparing the chamber. Moreover, since we are talking about Minister Yang’s hospitality, I am sure you will not disappoint me with your preparations.”

Yang Luoyang frowned at his words and couldn’t comprehend what he meant by this. “Your Highness, isn’t Yang Ning the only one staying at the Yang Household? Or are you planning to leave for the palace late at night?” He asked cautiously.

Zheng Liang looked at him in surprise and asked, “If my wife will be staying at the Yang Household, then why would I go to the palace alone? It will be futile for me to go back to the palace and then come back tomorrow to pick her up.”

“If I stay here for a night, I will be able to save my time and wouldn’t be separated from my wife either. As you can see, we cannot stay away from each other for so long.” He turned to Yang Ning and smiled at her while showing off their happy relationship in front of Yang Luoyang.

Yang Ning: “...”

“Your Highness, that is why I am saying that I will bring Yang Ning to the royal palace along with me. You do not need to come here tomorrow.”

“Also, you are so busy with the royal court work. How can you stay here for a night? Wouldn’t it be a loss of your precious time if you stay here rather than go back to the palace?” Yang Luoyang frowned and tried to reason with Zheng Liang.

If he stayed with Yang Ning, it would be difficult for him to talk to her alone. Why does he want to stay at the Yang Household anyway?

“Minister Yang, seeing the way you’re pushing me away, are you saying that you do not want me to stay here at the Yang Household? Are you trying to kick your son-in-law out of your house?” Zheng Liang asked while looking offended by his words.

“How can that be? It is my honor to serve His Highness. I...will make arrangements for your stay then.” Yang Luoyang gritted his teeth and agreed hesitantly.

He wanted him to be gone but this stubborn brat decided to stay at the Yang Household instead. Is he not busy with work?

How can the crown prince stay out of the palace whenever he wants? That’s ridiculous.

While Yang Luoyang was annoyed by Zheng Liang’s stubbornness, Yang Ning was relieved that he was staying at the Yang Household for a night with her.

She was nervous that she will be left alone at the Yang Household and will have to deal with Yang Luoyang again.

However, things wouldn’t be as bad if Zheng Liang would stay together with her and would not feel nervous either.

__

“Your Highness, are you sure you’re going to stay here for the night? Shouldn’t you return to the palace?” Yang Ning asked hesitantly as she followed him while he was checking if the pillows were soft enough or not.

Zheng Liang turned to look at her and asked while teasing her, ” Why? Do you not like that I am staying in your chamber for a night? Should I go back now?”

“NO!” Yang Ning answered immediately.

She blinked awkwardly realizing that she answered too excitedly. She cleared her throat and said, ” I mean, since you already decided to stay here, then who am I to say anything to you? Moreover, it’s too late to return to the palace.” She said while avoiding eye contact with him in embarrassment.

Zheng Liang raised her brows seeing her looking away and chuckled at her excuse, ” You’re right. It’s too late to go anywhere.” He said, supporting her excuse.