I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Yang Ning pressed her hands over her ears, sinking to the floor of the carriage to shield herself from the terrifying noise of clashing swords and the agonized groans of combatants.

Her hands trembled as she murmured a fervent prayer in fear, "Zheng Liang, please be safe."

"He will be unharmed," she assured herself.

"The male lead never dies. He can't die." Her voice wavered in a low whisper, her eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Unbidden tears began to stream down her cheeks. She had always seen herself as strong and a bold person with no fears. Even when facing a wild bear, she maintained her composure, fighting to save her own life.

She had always believed that, regardless of the circumstances, she would maintain her composure, confronting every situation with courage and unwavering resolve.

Yet, the mere thought of Zheng Liang outside, confronting a gang of bandits with scanty guards for support, filled her with unbearable dread. The image of him returning unscathed seemed nearly impossible.

The idea of him getting hurt pierced her heart. She knew, intellectually, that the male lead was safe, but her emotions surged beyond her control.

At some point, his importance in her life had swelled to immeasurable proportions. A life without him became unimaginable, the very thought chilling her to her core.

Even if she were transported back to her world at this very instant, she questioned her ability to revert back to her previous, emotionless existence. Could she simply cast aside the memory of him, discarding it from her heart as if he had never been a part of it?

Inside the carriage, Yang Ning was navigating a tumultuous sea of emotions, desperately praying for the conflict to resolve with everyone safe and unharmed. Then, she heard Gu Lan's voice, stricken with panic.

"Your Highness! Please be careful!" Gu Lan shouted, engaged in his own fierce battle against a group of bandits.

Upon hearing Zheng Liang's name, her eyes flew open, and she abruptly sat upright, pushing the carriage window's curtain aside to peer outside.

As she peered outside, her eyes widened in horror at the scene unfolding before her. Bodies clothed in black attire, their identities hidden behind masks, lay strewn about, bearing the ghastly evidence of sword-inflicted wounds.

The once lush, green jungle had transformed into a makeshift graveyard, strewn with bloodied bodies.

Yet, this ghoulish scene was not the end.

Despite the many bandits already down, Zheng Liang and his guards were still battling the persistent thugs.

It was clear from their attacks that they were after Zheng Liang, the Crown Prince.

Yang Ning's eyes darted around anxiously as she sought Zheng Liang. Spotting him engaged in combat with a group of four bandits, she sighed in relief. Despite him being vastly outnumbered, she did not doubt his prowess. She knew he wouldn't let anything happen to him.

For her sake at least, he would fight until the end and return to her, safe and sound.

Her gaze hardened when she spotted a bandit dressed in black stealthily advancing towards Zheng Liang from behind, a sword poised for a sudden strike. She realized that shouting from her distance wouldn't alert him in time, and with Gu Lan preoccupied with his own fight, she understood she had to act.

Without a moment's hesitation, she reached for the bow and arrow that Zheng Liang had thoughtfully left in the carriage for her protection. She took careful aim at the man sneaking up on Zheng Liang and loosed the arrow without a second thought.

In archery, she had no match. In this world, while she may not surpass the great knights in archery skills, she was at least not less than them in any way either. Thankfully, Zheng Liang had recognized her expertise. Rather than leaving her a sword or knife, he had equipped her with a bow and arrow for her defense.

"Your Highness!" Gu Lan, engaged with other bandits, spotted the man closing in on Zheng Liang from behind. He yelled out a warning, but given his distance, he couldn't reach Zheng Liang in time to help.

Yet, before the man's sword could graze Zheng Liang's skin, an arrow cut through the air with a swoosh, striking him and causing him to immediately crumple to the ground.

Zheng Liang, who had been deftly fending off the four bandits in front of him, was taken aback by Gu Lan's warning. Before he could react, he was confronted not by an attack, but by a body collapsing onto him.

Taken aback, Zheng Liang stepped back to see the man crumpling to the ground in front of him. An arrow had pierced his chest, striking his heart and causing him to die a painful death before his eyes.

He looked in the direction from which the arrow had come and saw the carriage curtain drawn aside, revealing Yang Ning with a bow in her hands. Her eyes were dark, resolute, focused, and brimming with anger.

The look in her eyes was the same as when she had taken down the bear with a single shot. However, this time her eyes were red as though she had been crying, and her lips trembled, but her grip on the bow was as firm and steady as a seasoned knight's.

Not many guards could have achieved such precision, to slay a man in one shot by striking the heart. Yet, even from a distance, her aim was flawless.

Witnessing this, Zheng Liang couldn't help but be astounded by her mastery of archery. How could a lady from a noble family be so skilled? Even Yang Luoyang, her father, didn't possess such proficiency in archery or swordsmanship.

Where had she acquired such a skill?

At that moment, Gu Lan dealt with the remaining bandits and surveyed the area to ensure no more adversaries were lurking, ready to launch a surprise attack. With a worried look on his face, he approached Zheng Liang. "Your Highness, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Zheng Liang cleaned his bloodied hands on Gu Lan's clothes and shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Have some guards stay behind to clean this mess. We need to depart immediately before we encounter another attack. Let's find shelter somewhere safe," Zheng Liang commanded, his gaze unwavering from Yang Ning, who remained in a dazed and shocked state.

"Understood, Your Highness," Gu Lan responded, ready to carry out the orders.

With these instructions, Zheng Liang strode towards the carriage, while Gu Lan stayed behind to order the royal guards about the situation.

Gu Lan selected a few trustworthy guards to handle the immediate aftermath and conduct an initial investigation. In the meantime, he joined Zheng Liang, leaving the area to seek safe refuge from potential danger.

Lingering in the midst of the jungle was undoubtedly dangerous. Who could predict when or where the next covert attack might spring from? With the Crown Princess and the other women accompanying them, remaining in such a location for even a minute longer was undoubtedly unwise and risky.