I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 293: Difficult to impress.

Dragon Pavilion

Zheng Liang was diligently engaged in his work within the study at the Dragon Pavilion when the door opened and Gu Lan entered the room. "Your Highness, you requested my presence," he requested with a respectful greeting.

Closing the documents before him, Zheng Liang lifted his gaze to meet Gu Lan's and inquired, "Have you managed to gather the information I asked for?"

Gu Lan nodded in understanding and went to stand beside Zheng Liang's working desk. His hands were clasped behind his back as he proceeded to report, "Minister Yang has confined Lady Chang Ah in the backyard storage chamber of the household, the same location where the Crown Princess used to reside before." He conveyed this information with a hint of hesitation.

Zheng Liang's expression darkened upon hearing the report. Yang Luoyang had confined his abandoned wife in the same chamber where Yang Ning had lived her entire life, revealing the extent of his mistreatment towards Yang Ning.

He threw that woman into the chamber as a punishment, whereas Yang Ning had to spend her entire childhood in a dark and gloomy, empty chamber. What a shameless man!

Yang Luoyang seemed to believe he could escape accountability due to a lack of solid evidence. However, he is mistaken. While their previous conflicts revolved around power struggles and corruption, this time it was different. It was about morality, ethics, and seeking revenge for what he had done to Yang Ning.

As her husband, Zheng Liang was determined not to let anyone escape after disrespecting or mistreating her. He vowed to exact revenge for every scar inflicted upon Yang Ning. There would come a day when Yang Luoyang could no longer hide behind a facade of innocence and ignorance.

Zheng Liang intended to ensure that he faced punishment more severely than anyone else, holding him accountable for his actions.

After listening to his report, Zheng Liang pursed his lips and inquired, "Anything else? It's been a few days since that incident. I am sure the Yang Household wouldn't be as peaceful as before anymore."

Gu Lan nodded and continued, "From the people I appointed, I learned that the Head Maid, who used to be Chang Ah's maid, had a conflict with her and prevented any servants from serving her. She has taken charge of the household and is overseeing everything as if she were the mistress, treating Chang Ah no less than a confined prisoner."

"Furthermore, my sources indicate a possible history of encounters between the Head Maid, Xing Bao, and Yang Luoyang. Before Yang Luoyang married Chang Ah, he had gone on a business trip to another city and it was Xing Bao who saved his life. But later, Chang Ah took the credit and pretended to be that person and that is how she became the Mistress of the Yang Household." he revealed.

"So there's a story like that," Zheng Liang mused with interest as he listened to the report gathered by Gu Lan.

"That day, after Yang Luoyang abandoned Chang Ah, Xing Bao took over the responsibilities of the household and has been managing everything as the Mistress of the household. There are some reports of Xing Bao leaving Yang Luoyang's chamber early in the morning. It seems like their relationship is not that of master and servant anymore."

Zheng Liang raised his brows upon hearing this and let out a chuckle as he played with the paperweight made of the jade figurine. "Yang Luoyang sure has an interesting life. After his first wife died, he married another one. Now, when he has abandoned his second wife, he quickly found another woman to please him."

"He sure has a busy life." He shook his head in disgust.

Zheng Liang gritted his teeth, clenching the paperweight in his hands. "Keep a watch on him. After what happened the other day, I am sure he won't sit quietly. He treasures his respect and honor more than anything else after all. I believe he will soon make a move."

" This time, we need to catch him in action, replace evidence against him, and close his chapter soon enough. I can't bear to see his disgusting face in the royal court every day; it boils my blood to see him standing so confidently in front of me," he said.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will appoint more people to keep an eye on him," Gu Lan responded.

Zheng Liang looked at Gu Lan and added, "Also, I want you to replace more details about Yang Luoyang and his relationship with Yang Ning's mother. Find out more about her background and if there seem to be any rumors going around about her death."

Gu Lan furrowed his brows and asked carefully, "Your Highness, are you suspecting that Crown Princess's mother's death wasn't-"

Zheng Liang interrupted his words and said, "Nothing has been confirmed yet. It's just a suspicion for now. However, when it comes to that disgusting man, anything is possible. So replace out about this as well."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will get on it right away." Saying this, Gu Lan left the chamber, leaving Zheng Liang to work in the study.

___

Three days later, it was the day of Yang Ning's mother's death anniversary. As Zheng Liang had promised in front of Chang Ah, he and Yang Ning left the palace early in the morning to visit her mother's grave and pay their respects.

After their marriage, it would be his first time visiting her mother's grave and paying his respects. Rather than taking the carriage with the royal emblem, they opted for a simple carriage to avoid curious gazes.

As usual, Gu Lan and Xiaowei followed them, while Zheng Liang's black shadow guards discreetly trailed behind, protecting the royal couple. The couple wore simple, plain clothes for the occasion and traveled to the hill on the outskirts of the capital city where Yang Ning's mother's grave was situated.

Since the carriage couldn't navigate the hilly area due to its attachment to the horse, the couple decided to continue the remaining journey on foot. The burial site was a few kilometers away, at least an hour's walk from where they left their horses. Stay connected through m-v l|e'-NovelFire.net

While walking, Zheng Liang glanced at Yang Ning, who was walking by his side, huffing and puffing. "Are you tired? Should we take a break? Your face looks red."

Yang Ning shook her head in embarrassment and replied with a hoarse voice, "What are you saying? From where do I look red? I am fine. We only walked for ten minutes. How can we take a break already?" She tried to dismiss any signs of fatigue.

She couldn't believe that only ten minutes of walking uphill left her huffing and panting. In her previous life, she was an athlete, particularly an archery athlete but still, she never went easy on her physical activity to maintain mental and physical focus.

However, in this new body, moving for a few minutes felt like an ordeal. How embarrassing!

Zheng Liang chuckled, watching her struggle to walk uphill, all while she stubbornly denied any signs of tiredness. He shook his head, spotting a boulder rock on the side of the ragged trail. "But I am tired. Let's take a short break before continuing our journey. Since it's still early, I am sure we will be fine going slowly." He suggested as he sat on the boulder, making space for Yang Ning.

Yang Ning sighed, realizing she needed a break, and went to sit by his side. "Fine. But remember, it was you who wanted a break. Not me." She asserted, unwilling to admit the embarrassing truth.

Zheng Liang chuckled at her denial and nodded, "Yes, My Princess. It was me who was tired. Now come and sit." He patted the place next to him, where he had placed his handkerchief for her to sit without dirtying her clothes.

Yang Ning, while appreciating his caring gestures, smiled warmly as she settled on his handkerchief. Grateful for his considerate actions, a playful part of her couldn't resist teasing him, "Tsk. You sure know how to impress girls. I wonder how many girls you must have wooed before."

Zheng Liang raised his brows at her and asked, "I don't know about others, but impressing my wife was not an easy task. She has high standards for men after all." He commented while passing Yang Ning the water bottle from Xiaowei.

Gu Lan and Xiaowei, following them, had not only carried water but snacks as well in case Yang Ning felt hungry during the long journey. Even though it was on the outskirts of the capital city, it was still far from the palace, and they expected to return in the evening.

Yang Ning took a sip of the water to quench her thirst and smiled at him, "Well, that's true." She said with a proud smile.

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