I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 135

135 Mother in law vs Daughter in law II

Yang Ning was feeling uneasy when Yang Lingxin signaled her maid to pass her the tray to brew tea for the tea ceremony.

She hesitated but started brewing the tea anyway. What else can she do anyway?

While brewing the tea, she glanced at the Empress and saw her snickering while looking at her.

Why is she looking at her with hostility in her eyes? Did she ever steal something from her or caused her any harm? She wondered.

Yang Ning was feeling uncomfortable with everyone’s attention on her. She has lived her whole life in the spotlight, however, the way everyone was looking at her with their judgmental gazes was making her uncomfortable.

‘Ah! Do people have nothing to do other than staring at me?’ She wanted to cry out of frustration.

However, while she was panicking and her hands were quivering because she wasn’t sure if she was doing it right or not, she heard a soothing voice from her side which calmed her a little. ” You are doing good.” Zheng Liang whispered.

The corner of Yang Ning’s lips curled up in a smile when he complimented her and tried to comfort her without thinking twice about his surroundings.

Those words might mean nothing to him but those words helped her to maintain her cool and she completed the tea ceremony without making any mistakes.

.....

She focused on brewing the tea just the way Lady Yu Ling had taught her and not disappoint her because of this.

Who would have thought that a simple compliment could lift her mood like this?

What was more surprising was, Zheng Liang was not the type of person to compliment anyone about something. However, the way he told her that she was doing good, those words comforted her alot and helped her ease her tension as well.

If he continued to treat her this way, she might fall for him real. She cannot afford for that to happen.

She has to go back, go back to her family who is waiting for her return.

‘Mr. Main Lead, don’t treat this maiden heart so sweetly. I cannot afford to lose my heart to you.’ Yang Ning begged inwardly for Zheng Liang to not take care of her any further.

‘I wish I could replace a man like him in my world.’ She sighed, feeling bitter that she finally found a guy who is not only sweet and gentle but also handsome as well.

Well, that is why he is the Main Lead of a Novel.

____

After tasting the tea brewed by Yang Ning, Yang Lingxin put down the cup after taking one sip. She looked at her maid who handed a small pouch to Yang Ning.

Yang Ning was confused when she received the pouch from Yang Lingxin’s maid. However, before she could ask what this was for, Yang Lingxin answered her questions that she didn’t get to ask, ” Yang Ning, this is your present. Welcome to the Zheng Family.” She said with a forced smile.

” I expect you to adapt to the palace rules and etiquettes soon and take charge of your duties as well. About the tea....although it was slightly bitter and strong for my taste, I want you to work hard in the future and learn how to make tea with proper methods.” Yang Lingxin said and welcomed Yang Ning with a small welcome present.

However, she didn’t fail to nitpick about her tea skill at the same time.

Yang Ning was surprised by the gift and politely accepted it. While Yang Ning was not thinking much about the gift, Zheng Liang’s expression turned gloomy upon seeing the small pouch filled with gold coins.

Yang Lingxin is the Empress, meanwhile, Yang Ning is the Crown Princess of the Empire. How can she think of gifting her gold coins for her tea ceremony present?

It was obvious that she didn’t put any effort into preparing this gift.

Everyone in the room could sense the uncomfortable atmosphere in the room and was wondering why the Empress gave gold coins to Yang Ning.

She could have given her anything, any kind of jewelry would do but a pouch filled with gold coins means that she hasn’t accepted Yang Ning as her daughter-in-law yet.

___

Yang Ning looked at Yang Lingxin with a warm smile and broke the uncomfortable silence in the room, “Mother, Thank you for your kindness. Although I will never be able to become as good as you, I am sure if you will teach me, I will try to perfect the art of brewing the tea.”

“Ah? When...did I say that I am going to teach you?” Yang Lingxin was baffled when Yang Ning suddenly flipped the table and asked her to teach her how to brew the tea.

When did she say that?

More than that, she was more surprised by the way she was effortlessly calling her Mother. Even Zheng Liang doesn’t call her Mother but Her Highness. Why was she acting as if they are close to each other and have a harmonious relationship?

Yang Ning smirked to see Yang Lingxin getting perplexed by her words and said, ” Mother, if not you, then who will teach me how to brew a perfect aromatic tea that is not too strong and bitter for your taste?”

” A student must learn from the best teacher. Mother, will you teach me how to brew tea?” Yang Ning asked again with an innocent smile on her face.

From the novel, she knows a little bit about Yang Lingxin’s nosy personality. She doesn’t know how to do any of the household chores and only knows how to pinpoint faults with everyone.

Yang Lingxin is a person who does not want to do anything but likes to nitpick about everything all the time.

In the novel, she likes to use Yang Ning for her gains, and the other times, she used to treat her like her slave.

She doesn’t care how she used to treat Yang Ning in the novel. However, if she doesn’t want to teach her how to make the tea, then she shouldn’t have picked on her as well.

Take responsibility for your words at the least!

Yang Lingxin pursed her lips and glanced at Zheng Huang who was silently watching her and wasn’t saying anything to teach Yang Ning a lesson.

Does his silence mean that he also agrees with her words?

She took a deep breath and smiled at Yang Ning before saying, ” If that is what you want, then how can I deny you? I will teach you how to brew the perfect tea.” She promised to get out of this awkward situation.

Since when did this woman start to talk so much? Didn’t Yang Luoyang tell her that Yang Ning is like a cow, who is naive and stupid?

She doesn’t use her brain and can be controlled easily. However, why does it feel like he was lying to her?

This woman doesn’t look like someone who will easily listen to her commands and will do whatever she will order her to do.

“That’s great. Since the Empress already gave you her blessings, it is my turn to bless you and Zheng Liang for your happy married life.” Zheng Huang let out a throaty laugh before breaking the suffocating silence in the room.

“Yang Ning, this is your reward in return for brewing the tea. The tea you brewed was aromatic and had a smooth and velvety taste.” Zheng Huang complimented her tea skills.

His compliment immediately canceled the comments that Yang Lingxin made just now which caused her face to turn crimson in embarrassment and humiliation.

Zheng Huang didn’t notice Yang Lingxin’s expressions and continued to praise Yang Ning.”You did a great job. Take it.”

More than her tea skills, he was pleased by Yang Ning’s cheerful and innocent nature and removed one of his necklaces to give her.

The last time when she stood up against him to support his son and reasoned with him eloquently, he caught a liking to this girl since that time.

Now when he is seeing her again, she is still the same. Talkative and bright despite being socially awkward at times.

Because of her, he even got to see his son smile and spend time with him without getting irritated or disappointed.

Otherwise, who would have expected that he would get to see his sullen and gloomy son smile while looking at a woman?

This girl truly deserves to become the Crown Princess of the Zheng Empire. He did the right thing by making this alliance between the two families.

“Your Majesty, How can I accept this precious present?” Yang Ning was astonished when the Emperor called her to hand him his necklace. She bowed to him and took the necklace from him using both of her hands.

She pursed her lips as she couldn’t control her excitement. The Emperor’s necklace? That was so unexpected.

The Emperor’s necklace was not only arranged using the best, the rarest, and the most precious pearls and gems but also holds a meaning behind it as well.

Once Xiaowei told her that the Emperor never hands over his ornaments to anyone and if he does, it means that he considers that person as highly and likes that person.

Until now, he has given his ring to the folk musician whose music touched his heart and has been sponsoring him until now in his journey with the music. The said musician also performed at their wedding yesterday.

She cannot believe that from giving his ring to someone, he has now handed his necklace to her. A long and precious necklace. What does that mean?

Does that mean that the Emperor favors her now? Yang Ning wondered.