I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 290: Hidden Truth

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Xing Bao was horrified to see Chang Ah reacting like a mad woman, shouting at her. Despite their current master and-servant relationship, they had once been close friends, enduring misery and poverty together.

The betrayal weighed heavily on Xing Bao's heart. She had done so much for Chang Ah, and now, facing blame and a slap in front of everyone, she couldn't comprehend the change in their relationship.

Before Chang Ah married Yang Luoyang and assumed the role of the Madam of the Yang household overnight, she and Xing Bao shared a close friendship. Both of their families struggled with poverty, making every meal a challenge to arrange.

During those difficult times, Xing Bao's family had a slightly better situation than Chang Ah's. In moments of need, Xing Bao selflessly gave Chang Ah her own food, ensuring her friend didn't have to go to bed with an empty stomach. Chang Ah's father often favored his sons over her, leaving her with little to eat. During those difficult times, Xing Bao took care of her like true sisters.

Given this history, Chang Ah's betrayal and humiliation left Xing Bao deeply hurt and questioning how her friend could forget everything so easily.

After entering the Yang Household, as her friend, Xing Bao did everything within her power to strengthen Chang Ah's position in the household. She sided with her, even participating in mistreating Yang Ning for years.

All of this was done to ensure that Chang Ah could revel in the luxury of being the Madam of the Yang Household, shielding her from any potential threats to her position—no one, not even Yang Ning, the eldest daughter of Yang Luoyang, could challenge her authority.

Despite all the support and sacrifices Xing Bao made for Chang Ah, the latter seemed to have forgotten everything and was now humiliating her in front of other servants. The betrayal weighed heavily on Xing Bao's heart, leaving her questioning how her friend could act in such a way.

While Xing Bao attempted to comprehend what had caused Chang Ah's sudden change in behavior—leading to not only a slap but also hindering her efforts to soothe her burns with water—Chang Ah persisted in humiliating her. In her relentless rant, Chang Ah showed no consideration for Xing Bao, whose hands and chest were burnt by the scalding hot soup.

"Do you think I don't know how desperately you try to get my husband's attention, gain his favor, and steal my position? Do you think I don't know how jealous you are of me? I know you must be regretting why I married Yang Luoyang and not you. But what to do? He will never like an ugly duckling like you." Chang Ah laughed mockingly, despite the pain from her injuries.

The sight of Xing Bao's distressed expressions seemed to provide some satisfaction, momentarily soothing her wounded ego.

The other maids who had been tending to Chang Ah's injuries earlier silently exited the chamber, recognizing that overhearing their private conversation could lead to trouble for them later on. The room was now left with only the two of them, immersed in the tension and unresolved conflict.

"Xing Bao, pay close attention and let these words sink into that empty mind of yours. No matter how hard you attempt to mimic my appearance and mannerisms, you'll forever be a lowly, repulsive, overweight, and unsightly woman, incapable of transforming into someone beautiful like me. Even if you were to stand naked in front of him, he would never dare to lay a finger on—"

*Slap*

Before Chang Ah could finish her sentence, a sudden, sharp sound echoed in the room as a hand struck her already crimson face. The force of the impact reverberated through the air, cutting through the tense atmosphere.

Listening to Chang Ah's hurtful words, Xing Bao lost her composure when Chang Ah mentioned Yang Luoyang not touching her even if she were to stand naked in front of him, humiliating her in a repugnant way. Unable to control her temper, Xing Bao retaliated by delivering a resounding slap across Chang Ah's face.

Chang Ah's eyes widened in shock as she covered the cheek where Xing Bao had slapped her, her face was still hot and red with the imprint of the hand. She glared at Xing Bao in disbelief and asked, "Did… you just slap me? How dare you? Who do you think you are to slap me?" She shouted at her, losing her last sense of sanity.

"Chang Ah, I should be asking you this. How dare you to utter such disgusting words? Of all people, how can you speak to me like that, you disgusting wretch? Have you conveniently forgotten that it was you who deceived Yang Luoyang, slipping into his bed and stealing my position? It was me who saved his life, not you. Have you forgotten that?"

"Count yourself lucky that I haven't exposed your deceit to him all these years. After everything I have done for you, how can you raise your voice at me?" Xing Bao retorted, her anger fueled by the regret of not speaking up to Yang Luoyang at that crucial moment.

Years ago, a few weeks after his wife passed away, Yang Luoyang traveled to another town for work and found himself in need of a rest stop in their village. It was during this fateful encounter that Xing Bao came to his aid when he fell victim to a snake bite in the forest. With quick thinking, she sucked the poison from his wound and applied medicinal herbs, ultimately saving his life.

However, in that critical moment, Yang Luoyang was only half-conscious and couldn't recognize Xing Bao. Chang Ah, who was Xing Bao's best friend at the time, heard about the incident. Mesmerized by Yang Luoyang's wealth and prominent position and tired of her exhausting life, she took advantage of the situation, seducing him and slipping into his bed for a one-night stand.

She even exploited Xing Bao's story to gain favor and secure her position as the Mistress of the Yang Household. This encounter ultimately led to her becoming his wife.

It was Chang Ah who stole Xing Bao's position by lying and using her story to make an emotional connection with Yang Luoyang, yet she was acting as if becoming the Madam of Yang Household was her birthright.

All these years, Xing Bao stayed silent and didn't reveal her lies because she thought that Chang Ah genuinely liked him. At that time, Xing Bao believed that if she could follow Chang Ah to the capital and work as a Head Maid in the Yang Household, it would save both of their families from the misery of poverty.

However, who would have thought that one day, Chang Ah would humiliate her like this and forget about the shameless deed she did just to become the Madam of Yang Household? Out of all the people, Chang Ah has no right to look at her with a disgusting gaze in her eyes because it was she who lied to become the Mistress of the Yang Household.