I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"Mm! These are so delicious. It's hard to believe I nearly missed out on their taste," Yang Ning exclaimed as she relished the lamb skewers in her hand. The couple strolled back toward where their carriage was parked.

In a typical setting, Gu Lan would have arranged for the carriage to be ready, but considering they were in a bustling place like the central market during the spring festival carnival, it was impossible for him to discreetly bring the carriage without drawing attention to their royal identities as the Crown Prince and Princess.

Zheng Liang, who was carrying Yang Ning's shopping bags, flashed a warm smile and remarked, "I am pleased I bought these for you. Otherwise, you would have never forgiven me for almost depriving you of this delightful local treat. You would have banished me to the guest chamber for sure," he added with a playful tone, hinting at how easily she gives him such punishments in passing.

Yang Ning chuckled and playfully nudged him with her elbow. "Come on now, I don't do threats like that all the time," she teased. "But I have to admit, I might not have spoken to you for two whole days until you brought me these lamb skewers. You know how it goes – if I'm not happy, there's no way I would let you be happy either," she said, her devilish grin betraying her playful nature.

Zheng Liang laughed heartily and replied, "Oh, I am scared." His tone carried a hint of playful sarcasm as he enjoyed their banter.

As the couple savored their sweet moment, a woman with disheveled black and gray hair, clad in worn-out black attire, and wearing a grimy face, fixated her gaze on them with a malicious gleam in her eyes.

Just as Zheng Liang and Yang Ning approached the carriage, where the alleys remained enveloped in darkness and lacked the brightness of the central market, the woman suddenly leaped out from the shadows, blocking the couple's path.

"Ah!"

Yang Ning, who had been happily savoring the lamb skewers, was jolted out of her enjoyment when an unfamiliar woman emerged seemingly out of nowhere and grabbed onto her hands. Startled, she involuntarily dropped the skewers onto the ground.

Zheng Liang was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the stranger woman, but he reacted swiftly. He forcefully slapped the woman's hand away and instinctively positioned himself protectively in front of Yang Ning. Meanwhile, Gu Lan, who had been trailing behind them, swiftly stepped forward, unsheathing his sword and pointing it at the woman, ready to protect His Highness and the Crown Princess.

"Stay right where you are! Identify yourself!" Gu Lan demanded in a cold, menacing tone, his sharp sword pointed threateningly at the woman's neck.

Yang Ning remained in a state of shock, her grip on Zheng Liang's robe tightening nervously as she cast fearful glances at the woman who wore a peculiar, sinister smirk on her face. The woman didn't appear to be carrying any weapons or posing an immediate threat, leaving them baffled by her behavior.

Xiaowei, though initially frightened by the sudden appearance of the stranger woman, managed to regain her composure swiftly. She moved to Yang Ning's side, offering a protective presence by placing her hands firmly on Yang Ning's shoulders, ensuring that no one could approach her without first going through her.

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Despite the anger simmering on Zheng Liang's face, he chose not to escalate the situation and further distress Yang Ning. Instead, he entrusted Gu Lan with handling the mysterious woman. Zheng Liang gently patted Yang Ning's trembling hand that was clutching onto his robe, offering her comfort and reassurance as she was hiding behind him.

Recognizing that the woman didn't appear to pose a direct threat, Zheng Liang raised his hands, signaling to the shadow guards to remain concealed and not compromise their cover in front of the public. The situation, as it stood, didn't warrant the shadow guards revealing their true identities.

The woman emitted a sinister chuckle even as the sword's point on her neck caused her skin to redden and blood to trickle. Her gaze fixed on Yang Ning as she taunted, "Do you truly believe you can alter your destiny? Haha!" Her laughter filled the air, sending shivers down the spines of those present and casting an eerie and unsettling atmosphere over the scene.

With a malevolent glare, the woman spoke with an ominous tone, "Your fate is unchangeable. No matter your efforts, the past will repeat itself. You will meet your demise at the hands of someone you hold dear. You will—" Her words were cut short as Gu Lan swiftly and decisively delivered a powerful kick to her abdomen, causing her to collapse onto the ground before she could utter another word.

Gritting his teeth in anger upon hearing the woman's daring and ominous words, Zheng Liang issued a firm command, "How dare you utter such absurdities? Gu Lan, remove this woman from my sight immediately!" The desire to stab this woman to death was strong, but he refrained from taking such a gruesome action, not wishing for Yang Ning to witness such a violent scene once again.

Aware of the trauma she had endured during their previous attack returning from Xinling City, where she had witnessed a gruesome and bloody scene, Zheng Liang was determined to shield her from experiencing anything similar. He chose to delay dealing with the woman further, prioritizing Yang Ning's emotional well-being over immediate punishment.

"Right away, Milord!" Gu Lan wasted no time and promptly seized both of the woman's hands, forcefully pulling her away from the presence of the royal couple. Even as she was being dragged, her laughter persisted, blood dribbling from her mouth after the harsh kick to her abdomen. She continued to cackle ominously, taunting, "No one can alter what's been destined. Not even you. Hahah!"

However, her laughter was soon silenced as one of the shadow guards stepped forward, assisting Gu Lan by covering the woman's mouth and swiftly escorting her away from the scene.

As Gu Lan led the woman away, Yang Ning's complexion paled, her thoughts consumed by the ominous words of the stranger. "The past will repeat itself!"

"What did she mean by that? What... does she know?" Yang Ning's hands shook with fear as she contemplated the dreadful ending she had read about in the novel, the looming uncertainty casting a shadow over her mind.

Once the woman had been removed from their presence, Zheng Liang turned to Yang Ning, gently taking her cold hands in his, reassuring her. "Please, don't dwell on the words of that woman," he comforted her. "She was a maniac, speaking utter nonsense. There is no reason to believe anything she says." His voice carried a soothing tone as he sought to appease her fears.

"Calm down, alright?" Zheng Liang tried his best to comfort Yang Ning, but her pallid complexion and dazed demeanor were clear indicators that she was far from fine. He couldn't help but feel concerned for her well-being.

After delivering the woman into the custody of the other guards, Gu Lan swiftly made his way back, realizing that he needed to be prepared to lead the carriage, to escort His Highness and the Crown Princess back to the palace.

"Gu Lan, prepare the carriage immediately. We must return to the palace without delay," Zheng Liang ordered, concerned by Yang Ning's visibly weakened state.

Gu Lan nodded in acknowledgment of the command. "Yes, Milord," he replied promptly. He swiftly moved to make the necessary preparations for their hasty return to the palace. Assuming his role as the coachman, Gu Lan readied the carriage.

Meanwhile, Zheng Liang gently cradled Yang Ning in his arms, carrying her in a princess-style hold, and guided her toward the waiting carriage. With urgency in their steps, they departed swiftly, heading back to the palace.