I woke up as the Villainous Empress

106 Tea Time III

Zheng Liang was baffled when the voices coming from the hallway sounded like Lady Yang Ning.

However, how can she be at the Dragon Pavilion? There is no reason for her to be at the palace when he is locked inside his chamber.

‘Am I hallucinating?’ He wondered if he was hearing things wrong and doubted himself for being too obsessed with her.

“Zheng Liang, come to your senses. You’re the Crown Prince of the Empire. Are you going to lose your mind over a woman?” He even slapped himself lightly on the face to wake up from this reality which felt like a dream.

Just as he was wondering if something was wrong with him, he heard Yang Ning laughing loudly once again and heard her say, ” Guard Gu Lan, thank you for your hospitality!”

” Even though His Highness cannot come and greet me, I am glad that you allowed me to stay here and have some tea. Can I come here again tomorrow as well, if you don’t mind?” She asked carefully.

Zheng Liang almost chuckled out to hear her shouting over her lungs as he could hear her loud voice clearly.

Even though he is not allowed to talk to her, it feels as if she was talking to him indirectly.

“Did she come here because she was worried about me?” He pursed his lips to control his lips from curving into a smile.

.....

He wasn’t expecting her to visit the palace, but he has to say that he doesn’t hate it.

He likes to stay alone and was glad to have some alone time in his chamber. However, it wasn’t bad to hear someone’s voice, especially when that person is Lady Yang Ning.

“Was she always this talkative?” He chuckled upon hearing her never-ending conversation with Gu Lan and the other maids at the Dragon Pavilion who seemed to have joined her small gathering.

The rumors about her made her sound like a cold person and it looked like she was a person of a few words.

However, when he met her for the first time, she didn’t seem to be a quiet person. Because the way she confronted Princess Liu at the Banquet was impressive and a person with few words wouldn’t have said so many things to make her shut her mouth.

The more he gets to know her, the more he learns how false the rumors were about her.

“How can such hostile rumors be spread in the capital for a cheerful person like her?” He muttered while sitting comfortably on the floor with his legs crossed.

He didn’t mind the hard and closed floor as he leaned against the door and continued to listen to the conversations that were happening outside.

____

While Zheng Liang was listening to the chaos going on in the hallway, Gu Lan was wondering why Yang Ning was shouting over her lungs while talking to him.

He pursed his lips when he heard her question and cleared his throat before answering, ” If you want, you can come to the palace any time. You have the permission plaque after all.” He responded hesitantly.

It’s not like he could ask her to not come back tomorrow.

“However, His Highness can only meet you after a few days. Until then you will have to enjoy tea alone if you come to the Dragon Pavilion.” He informed her.

” Thank you for letting me know about it. However, I can enjoy my time alone happily as well.” Yang Ning smiled at him and told him to not worry about her being bored at the dragon pavilion.

Staying at Yang Household is more boring instead.

” Guard Gu Lan, if you are worried that I will be bored by having tea here alone, why don’t you join me for a cup of tea as well? She asked.

Gu Lan was surprised by her sudden suggestion and glanced at Xiaowei who was sitting at the table as well because Yang Ning asked her to join her for some refreshments.

It was surprising because usually, servants don’t sit at the same table as their masters and were served refreshments separately. However, Xiaowei looked too comfortable while sitting next to Yang Ning as if it wasn’t her first time having snacks with her.

Looks like they have a good relationship that other people don’t know about. Otherwise, why would there be rumors that Yang Ning beats her maid and tortures her?

If that would be the case, then she wouldn’t have saved her by killing the wild bear who was going to attack Xiaowei and would have run inside the brothel house to save her life first.

“No, thank you, Lady Yang Ning. I cannot join you for a cup of tea. I hope you enjoy your tea and refreshments. Also, if you need anything else, inform the maid and she will bring it to you.”

“Alright. I will do that. Thank you.” Yang Ning smiled at him and Gu Lan left the hallway.

After Gu Lan left the pavilion, a maid returned with a food tray in her hands. Yang Ning watched as the maid walked to the chamber of Zheng Liang and said something to the guards before handing them the food tray.

The guard opened the lock of the chamber from outside and handed the food tray to Zheng Liang which was supposed to be his lunch.

Yang Ning raised her brows and unknowingly stood up from her seat to look when the door opened slightly.

Just like her, Zheng Liang was making efforts as well to peek outside and his lips curled up to see Yang Ning looking at him.

He only caught a glimpse of her before the guard closed the door in his face, however, he could tell how beautiful she looked in the pink dress that she was wearing. She was looking like a princess.

Well, she will become the Crown Princess in less than two months now. So there is no doubt that she will become the princess in reality.

He was glad that the maid brought him food at the right time. Thanks to this, he got to see Yang Ning who was also looking at him.

____

After the door was closed, Yang Ning sighed heavily, feeling a bit regretful because she didn’t get to see his face clearly.

However, she was glad that she got to see him at the least. Seeing him looking at her like this, she could tell that he was listening to her conversation until now.

Her trip to the palace wasn’t worthless after all. She wanted to accompany him, even if it was like this.

Because spending time alone without having no one to talk to for a week sounds so depressing. She doesn’t want him to feel that he is alone in this and will have to bear everything on his own.

‘His number one fan, Fang Li, aka Yang Ning will come to his rescue.’

Yang Ning sat on her seat again and took a sip of her tea before turning to Xiaowei and asking, ” Xiaowei, you’re bored, right?”

” Let me tell you a story to pass your time. I am good at telling stories. I am sure you will like it.” She said and raised her voice a bit more so that Zheng Liang could hear the story as well.

“Yes? A story? Suddenly...Erm.... Alright. Please tell me about it.” Xiaowei was perplexed why Yang Ning suddenly wanted to tell her a story. She wasn’t bored at all.

She was enjoying the tea and the fresh fruits that were served to them. How can she be bored when she is busy eating them?

Yang Ning glanced towards the door of the chamber where the two guards were guarding outside and were wearing stoic expressions. She couldn’t tell if they were angry for standing outside for so long or were just tired of their lives.

Their job was more exhausting than it looks. She wouldn’t be able to control her expressions like they’re doing.

She ignored their indifferent expressions and started to tell Xiaowei her story, ” There was a woman archer who was strong, smart, and beautiful.” She started.

Xiaowei raised her brows and asked, ” Strong? How can a woman be strong? Shouldn’t they be beautiful and fragile? If they’ll be strong, then won’t they become a man?”

Yang Ning blinked at her Xiaowei and chuckled awkwardly before answering her question, ” Aye! How can that be possible? If women aren’t strong, then how would they give birth to a baby? You know how painful it is, right?”

“So never say that women aren’t strong. They can be strong and still be feminine and beautiful. Also, even if they aren’t feminine, it doesn’t make them less womanly, Understand?” She asked to make sure she understood her words.

She could understand from which point of view she was coming. Her whole life, she has learned that women are only allowed to look beautiful and be fragile like glass so that men could protect them.

Zheng Liang, who was also listening to Yang Ning’s words, his lips curled up in a surprised smile as he wasn’t expecting her to answer such a question like that.

From a young age, all the noble ladies were taught to act like a lady and be fragile like glass to maintain their femininity. However, he was surprised that she has this kind of mentality toward women being strong and feminine.

“Well, she is a strong and beautiful woman.” He smiled and remarked while having his lunch while listening to her story and waited for her to continue.

“So....where was I?” Yang Ning asked while looking at Xiaowei and said, ” Ah! I remember now. I was saying that there was a woman who was strong, smart, and beautiful.”

” That woman was the best female archer in the nation. She was known for her speed and precision in archery and was called the knight of the nation.” Yang Ning said proudly while recreating her story.

Xiaowei blinked in confusion as Yang Ning’s words were sounding strange to her ears, ” Woman archer? Is there a thing as well? Aren’t only men supposed to be the knights?” She asked in confusion.

She has never heard a story like that. How come her lady knows about such a strange story which she doesn’t know about?

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