I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 288: This is what I wanted.

While Yang Luoyang was left to deal with Chang Ah and his personal family matters, Zheng Liang and Yang Ning returned to the garden of the Dragon Pavilion with the other ladies. Zheng Liang excused himself to attend to other matters, leaving Yang Ning to bid farewell to the ladies.

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It didn't seem appropriate for him to linger among the ladies any longer.

After Zheng Liang left, Yang Ning apologized to the ladies for the inconvenience caused by Chang Ah and Yang Luoyang. She insisted that they take a seat before leaving, allowing her to bid them farewell properly. As a host, it was the least she could do to express her sincerity.

As everyone settled into their seats at the gazebo, Yang Ning discreetly murmured something to Xiaowei. Shortly thereafter, a procession of maids appeared, each delicately carrying ornately crafted boxes adorned with silk ribbons. These boxes, set upon golden trays, exuded a royal charm and meticulous attention to detail.

The regal presentation of these gifts added an air of sophistication and mysteriousness to the gathering.

The ladies exchanged surprised glances as the maids handed them the uniquely packaged gifts. Confusion and wonder filled the air, prompting one of the ladies to inquire, "Your Highness, what is this?" Her gaze focused on the mysterious gift box, its enigmatic aura capturing attention.

As the ladies opened the boxes, they discovered small sealed containers with colored items emitting a delightful floral scent. These items seemed to resemble makeup products, yet they differed significantly from the conventional ones found in the market or those that could be imported from other kingdoms. The ladies couldn't help but wonder: What kind of makeup items were these?

Yang Ning smiled at the perplexed group, saying, "These are the gifts I have prepared for you all. I wanted to express my gratitude for accepting my invitation to the first tea party I hosted. However, I didn't expect these thank-you gifts to also serve as a sincere apology for not treating you better." Her voice carried a hint of sadness and regret.

She had invested considerable effort in preparing for this tea party, even crafting the gifts herself. However, she hadn't anticipated Chang Ah not only attempting to crash her party but also succeeding in disrupting and potentially ruining it.

How can she not feel bad about it? Fortunately, the conclusion wasn't entirely unfavorable. Yang Ning succeeded in preventing the disturbing scene involving Chang Ah harassing Hou Wei, as depicted in the novel, from unfolding.

Touched by Yang Ning's considerate gesture, one of the ladies reassured her, "Princess, there's no need for you to feel sorry. Whatever transpired was an unforeseen situation, and you did nothing wrong."

"Absolutely! Lady Chang Ah should be the one feeling ashamed for her disgraceful actions. After mistreating you for so long, it's absurd for her to shamelessly accuse you of mistreatment. Frankly, she brought it upon herself."

"I agree. How can someone harbor such malice? The mere thought of her pretending innocence sends shivers down my spine. She's truly a daunting woman."

"Princess, you must have endured a lot. Thankfully, His Highness came to your support; otherwise, she would have falsely accused you and continued causing a scene."

"Please, don't take any of this to heart. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, especially the delightful snacks you prepared for us. So, there's no need for you to feel bad about anything."

Yang Ning gratefully acknowledged their comforting words, saying, "Thank you for saying that."

While the ladies were comforting Yang Ning, Madam Liu, examining the enigmatic gift box and its contents, couldn't suppress her curiosity and inquired, "Your Highness, what are these items? They appear to be makeup products, but I don't recall ever encountering anything like them in the market. This is my first time seeing such unique items."

The other ladies, sharing the same curiosity, redirected their focus to Yang Ning, anticipating her response. "Indeed, we were all wondering the same. Where did you acquire such distinctive items?"

Yang Ning, observing their inquisitive gazes, chuckled with a touch of embarrassment before explaining, "Ah! This is nothing much. To thank you all and convey my sincerity, I have made body soaps for convenient bathing. Instead of bath powder, you can use these soaps, and it will be more convenient and will also make your skin glow as well."

"In the other small container, there's a lip tint designed for enhanced moisture and longer-lasting wear, ensuring your lips are both alluring and beautiful. It will give a vivid color and a soft texture to your lips."

"Furthermore, I have included a blush that can be applied to your cheeks, lending a rosy hue, and can even be applied to your eyes for a perfect complement to your beauty. I personally crafted these. Although you all possess natural beauty, these items can accentuate your inherent charm. Since I use them myself, I thought it would be wonderful to share these with all of you."

The ladies were taken aback when they heard her words and exchanged amused glances as they looked at the small containers. Body soap for bathing? They were accustomed to bath powders or paste and had never considered using soap for bathing. The concept intrigued them.

The ladies observed the soap containers, noting their convenient design and even catching a whiff of a pleasant fragrance. The soft texture added another layer of intrigue. What an interesting item, they mused collectively.

The ladies couldn't resist inspecting the containers and decided to try out the lip tint gifted by Yang Ning. The pinkish hue proved to be moisturizing, richer in color, soft on the skin and emitted a delightful flowery fragrance. While they were familiar with lip tint powders, the moisturizing lip tint introduced by Yang Ning was something unique and surprisingly long-lasting.

"Oh my! This lip tint is incredibly beautiful and moisturizing. Princess, did you create all these items? How can you make something so magical?" The ladies couldn't help but be awed by Yang Ning's thoughtful gift.

"I concur. Even when my husband represents our kingdom in others and brings back gifts for me, he's never selected anything quite like this. While I have tried the moisturizing lip tints used by the ladies of the Western Empire, this lip tint boasts a vibrant color, provides superior moisture, and instills in me a heightened sense of confidence."

It was proper etiquette to exchange return gifts during the tea parties, and even Chang Ah presented them with an expensive, luxurious tea cup set yesterday. However, the gifts given by Yang Ning were thoughtful, handmade, exceptionally unique, and practical. They surpassed the value of the expensive tea cup set gifted by Chang Ah.

While the ladies possessed the means to acquire luxurious items with their wealth, Yang Ning's gifts held a distinctive quality. They were not just unique but carried a thoughtfulness that couldn't be purchased with money.

The ladies expressed their admiration for Yang Ning's gifts, commending her thoughtfulness. Among them, Guo Yurong silently examined the presents, taken aback by their exceptional uniqueness.

As the owner of numerous boutiques in the capital catering to noble ladies where along with tailoring dresses, they also assist in applying face powder and makeup to enhance their beauty, she recognized the significance of quality makeup.

Recognizing the necessity of makeup in accentuating a woman's beauty, Guo Yurong found herself particularly impressed with the lip tint and blush crafted by Yang Ning. These products not only stood out for their distinctiveness but also promised to enhance anyone's beauty.

The revelation of such a hidden talent from the rumored and reputedly fierce Crown Princess left Guo Yurong genuinely astonished.

The unexpected discovery of Yang Ning's skill in creating beauty products was undeniably impressive.

"Hmm! The color is indeed vibrant, and it provides moisture to the lips," Guo Yurong praised, acknowledging Yang Ning's thoughtful gift.

Yang Ning smiled and responded, "I'm glad you all liked it. I was worried that you might not, but at least my efforts didn't go in vain." She smiled warmly.

"Along with these gifts, I have asked the servants to pack the snacks for all of you and hand them over to your maids who accompanied you. Since you all enjoyed the snacks, I thought it would be great to share more with you," Yang Ning added, eliciting bright smiles from the ladies.

"Princess, thank you for your gifts. It was our first time meeting you, but we already feel close to you. From the next time, you should join more of our gatherings; I assure you it will be fun," one of the ladies expressed warmly.

"Yes, Princess. Thank you for your hospitality. Next time, please give us a chance to show our sincerity as well," another added with sincerity.

Guo Yurong looked at Yang Ning and said, "Princess, thanks for having us and for your gifts. In two weeks, I am hosting a small gathering at my residence. It would be great to have you there," she added, handing Yang Ning an invitation card prepared by her maid on her signal.

Yang Ning stared at the invitation card in her hands and smiled, "Thank you for the invitation. I will surely be there."

Internally elated, Yang Ning thought, 'This is what I wanted.' Her primary goal in hosting this tea party was to socialize with the ladies, enter their circle, and establish connections to help Zheng Liang strengthen his position.

Although as the Crown Prince, Zheng Liang had the support of His Majesty, in a world driven by wealth and connections, gaining the support of the wealthiest personalities in the Empire would undoubtedly provide an even greater advantage.

As his wife, Yang Ning was determined not to be a burden but instead to be his support and fulfill her role as the Crown Princess. She couldn't allow Zheng Liang to face the battle against Yang Luoyang alone who is trying to defeat her husband at any cost. To bring down that vicious man, she recognized the need to weaken his support system and leave him isolated.

The day she succeeded in accomplishing this, bringing that man down wouldn't be a significant challenge. Her focus was on strategically dismantling Yang Luoyang's alliances to pave the way for a more decisive victory.