I woke up as the Villainous Empress

but Xiaowei frowned, mistrust engraved on her face as she followed Yang Ning's gaze. "Milady, how could there possibly be a ladder outside the royal residence? The security is tight, and the guards are not foolish enough to leave such a convenient tool lying around."

"Otherwise, it would make it too easy for trespassers to breach the royal residence," she reasoned, her voice tinged with logic.

Yang Ning pursed her lips, acknowledging the validity of Xiaowei's argument. However, an inkling of hope lingered within her, compelling her to address the possibility. "I understand, but... please, just go and check. I have this feeling that there may be something that could aid us."

With a resigned sigh, Xiaowei agreed to ease Yang Ning's mind and ventured toward the end of the alley. To her astonishment, her eyes widened as she confirmed the incredible sight: a wooden ladder stood conspicuously in the dark corner, defying their expectations.

A radiant smile illuminated Xiaowei's face as she carefully carried the long and unwieldy ladder toward Yang Ning. "Milady, you were absolutely right!"

"It was the ladder we needed. Now we can finally make our way inside the residence," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with merriment.

"Woah! That's unbelievable," Yang Ning exclaimed, her eyes wide with astonishment at the fortunate discovery. "Looks like luck is on our side today," she chuckled, unable to contain her disbelief.

With the ladder now in their possession, they embarked on their ascent, climbing with ease and making their way into the royal residence without encountering any obstacles along the way.

Fortunately, there were no guards or servants nearby, allowing Yang Ning to navigate her way to her chamber undetected.

'Looks like no one has found out about our escape yet.' Yang Ning pondered inwardly and smiled gleefully, and with a sense of urgency, she hastened her steps as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

The unexpected absence of any hindrances along the way surprised her as strangely convenient, allowing her to reach her destination within the royal residence without any further complications.

Once Yang Ning successfully scaled the ladder and entered the royal residence, Zheng Liang stood at a distance from the narrow alley, observing her with a mixture of curiosity and concern. The sight of her cheerful ascent over the towering wall left an impression on him.

Meanwhile, Gu Lan, who was standing behind Zheng Liang, furrowed his brow in confusion. He couldn't comprehend why, instead of addressing the Crown Princess's violation of the rules and venturing outside the royal residence without informing anyone, Zheng Liang appeared to be assisting her in secretly crossing back into the premises.

"Your Highness," Gu Lan spoke up, his voice laced with puzzlement. "The Crown Princess has violated the rules by leaving the residence without notifying anyone. Then, why are you aiding her in secretly reentering?"

Earlier, a concerned maid had approached Gu Lan, informing him that both Yang Ning and her maid were unresponsive when she went to deliver the evening snacks and tea.

To make matters worse, the chamber was locked from the inside, leaving Gu Lan worried about their well-being. Fearing that the Crown Princess might be in danger, he attempted to get their attention by shouting and pounding on the door, but to no avail.

Eventually, he resorted to breaking the lock from outside, only to discover an empty room with cushions carefully arranged under the blanket to create the illusion of a person.

Curious about the strange setup, Gu Lan looked out into the garden and noticed a wooden chair with bricks piled on top, like a ladder. It became clear to him that Yang Ning and Xiaowei had secretly left the royal residence.

Gu Lan was surprised by the Crown Princess's rebellious actions, as she should be setting a good example by following the rules.

He couldn't believe that despite being the Crown Princess, Yang Ning could do something like that and break the rules.

Ever since the incident involving Her Majesty, where Yang Ning had supported Zheng Liang instead of her father, Gu Lan had begun to view her in a different light, admiring her integrity and loyalty.

However, her recent act of breaking the rules and displaying immature behavior left him bewildered, unable to comprehend her motivations and thought process. As the Crown Princess, shouldn't she be setting an example by adhering to the royal rules and regulations?

After discovering the truth, Gu Lan went outside to search for Yang Ning to follow Zheng Liang's order to protect her.

Instead of finding Yang Ning and Xiaowei, he encountered His Highness returning with his guard. Gu Lan explained the situation, and to his surprise, Zheng Liang instructed him to bring a ladder and place it in a specific corner of the alley.

He was bewildered about why he would need the ladder. It finally made sense when Gu Lan saw Yang Ning using the ladder to climb the wall. However, he couldn't understand why His Highness was helping her instead of reprimanding her for breaking the rules.

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With a smirk, Zheng Liang turned to Gu Lan and replied, "Interesting because it's a breath of fresh air. How many women do you know who would dare to climb over a wall just to satisfy their cravings for local delicacies? It's an act of spontaneity and rebelliousness that I find captivating."

Gu Lan furrowed his brows, finding it difficult to understand why Zheng Liang found Yang Ning's actions intriguing. To him, it seemed more immature than amusing. He couldn't comprehend when His Highness had become so forgiving toward someone who blatantly broke the royal laws.

His forgiveness seemed more intimidating than his anger and punishments.

Zheng Liang's eyes sparkled as he continued, "She's not like other women in the palace who are delicate and fragile. She knows how to take matters into her own hands and face challenges head-on. She refuses to be confined by societal expectations and isn't afraid to fight for justice. That kind of spirit and independence is what I admire in a woman."

"Even though she is Yang Luoyang's daughter, I am grateful that she is nothing like him. It's a true blessing!"

Gu Lan nodded slowly, his initial doubts beginning to fade away as he contemplated Zheng Liang's words. While Yang Ning's actions might appear rebellious, he realized that she had never done anything to intentionally harm or disrespect His Highness.

In fact, she had even shown her loyalty and devotion by helping Zheng Liang when His Majesty fell ill.

Recalling how Yang Ning had unraveled the mystery behind His Majesty's deteriorating health and offered a solution, Gu Lan couldn't help but be impressed. She possessed a keen intellect and a sharp intuition, qualities that set her apart from the other women in the palace.

It seemed that she had the ability to see beyond the surface and delve into the heart of the matter.

Perhaps it was these qualities, along with her independent spirit, that attracted His Highness and made him treat her differently. Gu Lan realized that she might possess the qualities that made her not only compatible with Zheng Liang but also a valuable partner who could support him in his rule.