I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 229: [Bonus chapter]Crown Princess?

Zheng Liang raised his eyebrows, observing the woman who stood before him, smiling awkwardly and pursing her lips in hesitation. Her hands trembled with nervousness.

Feeling Zheng Liang's scrutinizing gaze, Hou Wei hesitated briefly before speaking, "Your Highness, I've heard from the Master that you were injured. I have brought herbal tea for you."

"It will not only warm you but also nourish your body. Please, have it." With these words, she passed him a teacup, specially brewed for his benefit.

She had brought the herbal tea for Zheng Liang as a gesture of sincerity and a demonstration of her willingness to work at the palace as the first female nurse, as well as Master Jiang's disciple. She aimed to make a favorable impression on him, hoping to convey a positive image of herself.

By serving tea that would be beneficial to his health, she intended to reflect her dedication and thoughtful consideration, traits she hoped would be valued in her new role at the palace.

Zheng Liang did not take the tea cup or respond directly to her but instead turned to the old man sitting opposite him. "Master Jiang, I believe in your decision. I am confident that you would select your disciple with great care," he said. Though he did not address Hou Wei directly, his words served as an indirect compliment to Master Jiang's decision.

Although the appointment of a woman as a nurse in the royal medicine department could create chaos in the palace—since it would be the first time in the history of the Zheng Empire that a woman would be awarded such a prestigious position as Master Jiang's disciple—Zheng Liang was nonetheless satisfied with this decision.

His trust lay in Master Jiang's judgment, and he believed that it was the right choice. More than that, he was aware of this woman's compassion and empathy for the people, and he recognized her genuine concern for their suffering.

It seems like the text cuts off abruptly, but I'll revise what you've provided:

Just like Yang Ning, Zheng Liang also recognized the woman before him. It was the same woman who had gotten into an argument in the market at Xinling City for the sake of an old woman, the very one whom Yang Ning had saved the other day. The memory was fresh in his mind, and he could hardly believe that their paths had crossed once again under such different circumstances.

Fortunately, he had been passing through that street at the time and had the opportunity to witness a brave side of Yang Ning, a facet of hers he had never seen before. The experience had left an impression on him, adding depth to his understanding of her character.

He smiled to himself, thinking how flustered Yang Ning must be to see Hou Wei in the palace. After all, she didn't know that he was aware of her secret departure from the royal residence.

His lips curled up into a knowing smirk as he carefully glanced at Yang Ning, taking note of her frozen expression. 'Looks like she is more shocked than I had expected,' he thought, snickering inwardly. He quickly composed himself and maintained an expression of indifference.

"Crown Princess," Master Jiang turned to Yang Ning, who seemed frozen on the spot, her face etched with complex emotions. "Would you like to say something to her?" he asked, his tone polite and measured.

Yang Ning gulped nervously, and before she could say anything, she choked on her saliva and suddenly started coughing. Zheng Liang, surprised, quickly patted her back and picked up the herbal tea from the tray, handing it to her. "Here, drink this. It will make you feel better," he said, gently putting the cup to her lips.

Hou Wei's eyes widened in surprise when Zheng Liang chose the cup of herbal tea that she had specially brewed for him.

Although it was herbal and would not harm the Crown Princess, she had crafted this tea, particularly for His Highness. For Yang Ning, she had consulted other servants and brought tea specifically tailored to her taste.

Before she could remind Zheng Liang that this was herbal tea, not the tea intended for Yang Ning, he had already made her drink a few sips of it from the cup while patting her back lovingly.

However, when Hou Wei looked up to see the Crown Princess, who was still recovering from her coughing spell, she was struck with stunned recognition. Her expression froze, eyes widening as she realized that the face before her was that of the same woman who had saved her from a thug a few weeks earlier in Xinling City.

The memory surged back, as vivid as if it had happened only yesterday, leaving her momentarily lost for words.

At that time, she had been wearing casual, common clothing, but now she was adorned in an off-white, elegant dress, complemented by a matching woolen cloak. She looked different from their previous encounter, yet Hou Wei was sure it was the same woman.

After drinking the herbal tea, which soothed her dry throat, Yang Ning calmed down and finally caught her breath. Taking a deep breath to control herself, she looked up to replace Zheng Liang's concerned gaze.

"Do you feel better now?" Zheng Liang asked, worry in his eyes as he tenderly patted her back.

Yang Ning nodded at him and smiled. "I am fine. It was nothing," she said, taking another sip of the tea to further ease her throat. While she was recovering from her coughing spell and enjoying the relief the tea provided, she noticed Hou Wei's strange expression.

"Ah! You… You are... How come you are here?" Hou Wei asked in bewilderment, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Master Jiang raised his brows at Hou Wei's casual tone toward the Crown Princess and frowned, his voice stern. "Hou Wei, what is this behavior? Is this how you speak to the Crown Princess?"

"Crown Princess?" Hou Wei asked in disbelief, unsure if she'd heard correctly. Her mind raced, trying to reconcile the image of the Crown Princess fighting against a thug in the market to save someone.

Why would the Crown Princess do such a thing, just to protect some stranger on the streets? The questions only added to her confusion and astonishment.