I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 257: Present is what matters.

Upon arriving at the palace, Yang Ning slipped into her nightgown and wearily settled onto the bed. The crazy events at the carnival had left her so drained that she skipped going to the dining room, lacking any desire to eat. She also instructed Xiaowei not to bring dinner to her chamber, as she had no appetite for the time being.

She remained gloomy and perplexed by the cryptic words of the mysterious woman throughout their journey to the palace.

'You cannot change your fate, no matter how hard you try.' Why had she said that? What did this stranger know about her to make such a claim? Does the woman know anything about her secret that she hasn't told anyone about yet? These complicated thoughts have occupied her attention.

With a weary sigh, Yang Ning rested the back of her hand on her forehead, her eyes wandering to the sheer canopy above. Deep in thought, she pondered, "If there's truth to her words, does it mean all my struggles will be for nothing, and my destiny is to face death in the end? And worse, at the hands of my beloved husband, Zheng Liang?"

A sharp pain pierced her heart at the thought of events unfolding as they did in the novel. At this point, her fear wasn't just about the possibility of falling to Zheng Liang's sharp blade. It was the idea that he might develop feelings for the story's female lead, Hou Wei.

The thought of being overshadowed, of becoming a forgotten wife, and then meeting a tragic and bloody end weighed heavily on her.

Unbeknownst to her, tears began to form in her eyes, conjured by the painful imagery of Zheng Liang declaring his love to Hou Wei and them replaceing their happy ending together. "That's why I have been pushing him away. Everything's become so complicated now." She sniffled, closing her eyes tight in an attempt to hold back her tears.

She had always tried to remain emotionally detached from Zheng Liang, but things had taken a turn ever since she began to see him as more than just a character, more than just the male lead she needed to win over. She loved him, more deeply than she had ever loved anyone in this world or her past life.

The fear of death paled in comparison to the thought of leaving him alone in this world without her.

Above all, the mere notion of him falling for someone else felt like a dagger to her heart. It was an agony she couldn't bear.

While she was sobbing silently, her eyes closed and lost in a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, the chamber door creaked open. Zheng Liang entered, dressed in his comfortable night pajamas and a silk robe, held together by a delicate string. His muscular chest was alluringly visible, peeking through the folds of the soft material.

He carried a golden tray in his hands, on which rested a glass of warm milk, delicately sprinkled with nuts and infused with strands of saffron for her. Aware that she hadn't finished her lamb skewers earlier and had skipped dinner, he wanted to make sure that she wouldn't retire for the night on an empty stomach.

She was so delicate and fragile. The idea of her lying awake, restless from hunger, and haunted by the unsettling events of the night, was more than he could bear.

Noticing Yang Ning on the bed, with her legs hanging over the edge and eyes shut, he quietly shut the door behind him and locked it. He placed the tray with the glass of milk on the bedside table. Then, he moved to her side and gently sat on the bed, taking care not to startle her.

He noticed her hand resting on her forehead, but it was the streaks of tears on her cheeks and the subtle rise and fall of her chest — hinting at suppressed sobs — that caught his attention. His brow furrowed, and his lips pressed together in a thin line of concern.

He couldn't believe that the day he had meticulously planned to bring her joy had instead brought her such sorrow. First, there was the man who had troubled her, whom he had fiercely dealt with, and then, as they were returning, the mysterious woman had crossed their path, deeply unsettling Yang Ning with her ominous statements.

Gently, he reached out and brushed away the tears from Yang Ning's cheeks, whispering with a calming tone, "Why are these tears? Didn't I assure you she was just a crazy woman? You shouldn't give weight to the words of such a person. Please, stop crying, alright?"

Yang Ning, having sensed Zheng Liang's presence earlier, sniffled and lowered her hand, revealing a face stained with tears. Her nose was a rosy hue, and her eyes were puffy and red. She hadn't wanted to cry, but for some inexplicable reason, she couldn't contain it.

Since when had she become so emotionally fragile? She hadn't shed tears like this when she first woke up in this unfamiliar world, nor when she suffered from a pounding headache on her arrival. So why was she now crying as if her entire world had suddenly collapsed?

It was because she had developed feelings for Zheng Liang, and had found love here.

After coming into this world, she felt lost and alone. It was the first time someone had spoken to her about her future, about what she could do in this world. Instead of receiving encouragement, she was told that she couldn't change the future. What was she supposed to do then? Simply wait to die?

Zheng Liang's eyes widened in dismay upon seeing Yang Ning's tear-streaked face. Gently, he helped her sit up by supporting her back. Guiding her to meet his gaze, he tenderly caressed her warm, tear-soaked cheeks and murmured with a hint of heartache, "Why are you crying so much? It's breaking my heart."

Yang Ning looked at him with her teary eyes, her gaze filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty. She asked hesitantly, "Zheng Liang, please be honest with me. Do you love me? How much do you love me?" Her voice quivered with emotion as she sought reassurance from him.

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Zheng Liang was caught off guard by her unexpected question, and he looked at her in puzzlement before answering, "Is that even a question? Do you not know how much I love you?"

"I don't want to play a guessing game. Just answer me," she demanded, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Zheng Liang gently caressed her cheeks with his thumb and placed a sweet peck on her lips before saying, "Yes, I do. I love you so much that I can even give my life to you. You're the only treasure that I have in this world." His words were filled with genuine affection and sincerity.

Yang Ning felt a surge of emotions in her heart. His words gave her assurance and made her feel better. After taking a deep breath, she asked again, "What if you develop feelings for another woman in the future, will you take her as your consort? Will you love someone else more than me?" She asked hesitantly, her voice laced with vulnerability.

Zheng Liang's face darkened at her question, and he asked in bewilderment, "Why are you asking such questions? Did you forget that I promised you that in this world, you will be my one and only Princess? I will not take another consort." He assured her.

"Push aside whatever doubts running in your mind. Remember this - I only have you and will forever love you. Understand?" Zheng Liang said, his words filled with love and certainty, soothing Yang Ning's heart.

Her eyes widened in surprise at his words. These were the same words he had used in the novel to assure the female lead of their strong and unwavering relationship, expressing his deep feelings for her.

This time, it was her in place of the female lead from the story. It meant that the story was changing, but what about the ominous words of the mysterious woman? Would the ending of the novel also change, or was it still destined to unfold as written? Everything was becoming so confusing and uncertain.

After hearing Zheng Liang's heartfelt words, she decided to put aside her gloomy thoughts and concentrate on the present. She knew that she couldn't live in constant fear of the story's ending, and it was important to cherish the love and commitment she had with him at this moment.

After gaining assurance from Zheng Liang, Yang Ning was feeling better. She took a deep breath and wiped her face with the back of her hand, looking at him with pouty lips as she complained, "I am tired."

He smiled, noticing her childishness returning, and replied, "Is that so? Drink this glass of warm milk, and let's go to bed."

Yang Ning shook her head and insisted, "I feel hungry now. I want to eat something spicy."

Zheng Liang narrowed his eyes at her and cautioned, "Master Jiang advised you to refrain from eating spicy foods at night. It might cause you discomfort during sleep. I'll ask the maids to prepare something light for you. Alright?"

She frowned, but before she could protest further, he cupped her face and said, "If you behave and eat a light dinner, I'll get those lamb skewers for you tomorrow as well. Alright?"

Yang Ning's eyes lit up at his words.

She had been so disappointed when the skewers she had wanted to eat badly fell from her hands and got ruined. "Make sure to keep your promise," she said, giving in to his tempting offer. "Fine, I'll have a light dinner, as you say. How can I deny my handsome husband's words?" She leaned towards him, hugging his neck and nuzzling her face against his, acting like an attention-seeking cat.

Zheng Liang chuckled and patted her head, saying, "Good girl."