I woke up as the Villainous Empress

After returning from the long, grueling journey, Yang Ning shed her travel-weary clothing for a soft, comfortable dress and wrapped herself in a warm woolen shawl. The winter in the capital city was more than just cold; it was biting and merciless, making her crave the warmth of Xinling city.

While enjoying the warm and pleasant weather of Xinling City, she had almost forgotten about the biting cold weather of the capital city.

Yang Ning stood near the window in her dimly lit chamber, her eyes fixed on the distant cold lake. The water looked almost frozen, and its icy breeze brushed against her cheeks, causing her to shiver.

But the physical cold was nothing compared to the chill in her thoughts. Her mind was a storm of confusion and anxiety, so much so that she hardly felt the wind's sting.

Since her return, Yang Ning's mind had been consumed by the unanticipated attack on their way back from Xinling City. The novel's timeline had seemed irrelevant before, as it began months later when Zheng Liang was already Emperor.

She had thought that she was safe from the plot twists and simply had to change her reputation in front of Zheng Liang and avoid Yang Luoyang to alter her fate.

Now, though, she realized an event like this occurred in the novel as well, where Zheng Liang went to another city for inspection and was attacked on the way, suffering a wound to his waist.

However, in the novel, that incident occurred when he was Emperor, and he had gone for an inspection in disguise.

The stark difference was the woman at his side—it wasn't Yang Ning but the sweet and virtuous Female Lead, whose medical skills had earned her praise and reputation.

During their trip, Zheng Liang and the Female Lead had shared glances, comforting touches, and had grown close, a bond formed in hardship. Zheng Liang's admiration for her kindness had deepened, and so had his feelings.

This event was pivotal, causing Zheng Liang's feelings for her to grow significantly.

Yang Ning was puzzled by the fact that the coastal city mentioned in the novel might be Xinling City. If it is, then why was this event happening so early?

Had her intervention truly altered the story's flow? The major event—the death of His Majesty—had been avoided, so did that mean the novel's events were occurring, but differently?

In the novel, Yang Ning died at the hands of Zheng Liang. What would happen to that event now? Would it occur differently? What's written in her fate, after all?

"Ah! It's so frustrating," Yang Ning lamented, lowering her head in fatigue. Everything was a mess.

Initially, her only goal was to save her life and return to her world without entanglement in this one. Now, having married and adjusted to her new life, she realized that events were unfolding differently.

But she couldn't predict what would happen or how. Had her interference caused positive or negative changes in the story?

She felt like a lost traveler without a map, unable to tell if her actions had brought positive or negative change. What if her end was fixed in this world, unchangeable, no matter how she struggled against fate?

While Yang Ning was standing in front of the open window, lost in her thoughts, she was startled when someone suddenly placed a woolen cloak over her shoulders.

She turned around and found Zheng Liang standing behind her.

"Oh, Zheng Liang! When did you return? Has the meeting ended already?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity. The awkwardness of calling him by his name had vanished.

After living with him for a few months and spending time together, she realized that, unlike others in this cold-hearted world, he might seem distant, but his heart was soft, brimming with emotion and love.

At least, towards her, he has never been the cold-hearted man which he shows to others. The trip to Xinling City has allowed her to understand more about him and feel closer to him than before.

Zheng Liang's face darkened, concern evident in his eyes as he noticed her pale face from the cold. She had the windows open and was standing close to them, clad only in a comfortable dress, and had draped herself with a woolen shawl that did little to ward off the biting cold weather.

Since the sun was setting, the temperature had dropped even further, making the chill more penetrating.

They had just returned from an exhausting journey where she had experienced trauma and was still tired and weak from it. How could she be so careless as to not care about the cold, wearing so little, and risking making herself sick?

He held her hands, feeling them ice-cold to the touch, and chided, "Why were you standing here and not resting? Did you forget that we arrived at the palace only a few hours ago? I told you to rest, not stand here in the cold." His voice was firm but gentle as he closed the window and returned to her side, to cup her small face between his warm hands.

He ignored her questions, as his focus was on her icy-cold hands and pale face.

Yang Ning looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise at his tender gesture. His hands felt like a soothing warmth against her cold skin, a comforting contrast to the winter's chill.

She smiled, allowing him to warm her hands and face, and replied softly, "After taking a bath, I couldn't sleep. So I was just standing here, looking at the lake water. Unlike in warm weather, it looks much more cruel and chilly now. All the plants and flowers in the garden seem to have wilted as well." She said to change the topic.

Zheng Liang's eyes softened, and he pulled her closer, wrapping the cloak more securely around her. "You must take better care of yourself," he murmured, a hint of scolding in his voice, yet filled with affection. "I don't want others to say that your husband doesn't take good care of you."

Yang Ning chuckled as Zheng Liang scolded her, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Who dares to say that? You're the Crown Prince, after all. But yes, people will definitely talk about how I don't take care of you."

"Have you seen yourself? After we came back, you didn't even eat anything or rest, and you've been running around the palace despite being hurt."

"You are already injured. Do you want to make your injury worse?" Her tone was playful, but the concern in her eyes was genuine.

Zheng Liang raised his brows, a pleased smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "If anyone dares to say anything to you, I will cut off their tongues. I don't like nosy people."

Yang Ning blinked at him, her smile turning into a tease. "But I love to gossip. Would you do that to me as well?"

Zheng Liang looked into her large-curious eyes, his expression softening. "You're the Crown Princess. You can do anything you want. If you want to gossip, no one can stop you." His voice was gentle, filled with adoration.

"You sure know how to speak sweetly." Yang Ning shook her head and looked away, a playful smile on her lips, allowing him to rub her hands with his to warm them.

The complicated thoughts in her mind seemed to fade away. The situation was still a mess, but at least she had a partner like Zheng Liang by her side.

His presence could put her complicated mind at ease and make her forget about the uncertain future that held her life. His warmth and affection were a soothing balm, a gentle reminder that she was not alone in facing whatever lay ahead.