I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 349: Third Wheel.

Upon reaching the Dragon Pavilion, the maids ushered Zheng Liang and Zheng Xiang to the dining room where Yang Ning had made the arrangements. As they entered the dining room, their eyes fell upon a long wooden table adorned with an array of dishes, their mouthwatering aroma spreading in the air and igniting hunger.

'Wasn't it supposed to be a simple meal? How did it turn into a feast?' Zheng Liang was taken aback by the detailed preparations his wife had made. Although they typically enjoyed meals with 5-8 dishes, the current spread rivaled a grand feast with at least 15 dishes.

Perplexed, he wondered, 'What is going on? Is there some special occasion today?'

He furrowed his brows and glanced at Zheng Xiang, who was standing next to him. Just like Zheng Liang, he was also stunned by the feast that awaited them.

'Is it because of him?' Zheng Liang pursed his lips, feeling annoyed by his brother for attracting his wife's attention.

While Zheng Liang was engulfed in jealousy over his brother and regretting bringing him to the pavilion, a soft, bright voice intervened, disrupting his complicated emotions. "Oh, you both came? Why are you standing at the entrance? Come and take a seat," said Yang Ning, emerging from the room connected to the kitchen area.

She approached Zheng Liang and Zheng Xiang, encouraging them to replace their seats.

Zheng Liang's gaze shifted to Yang Ning, who was donned in a beautiful light pink dress that gracefully highlighted her curves. The dress featured a delicate depiction of the cherry blossom tree and pink leaves, creating an exquisite blend of nature and beauty. With her hair elegantly tied in a bun and adorned with a gold hairpin, she radiated a heightened charm.

His wife had always been beautiful, but today, there was an extra allure that captured his attention.

Lost in admiration, Zheng Liang momentarily forgot about his earlier jealousy towards Zheng Xiang and any plans to question Yang Ning about the elaborate preparations for a simple meal. Smiling at his wife, he spoke in a gentle voice, his eyes lingering on her, "Why do I feel that my wife is becoming even more beautiful every day? This shade of pink suits you so well."

Yang Ning let out a surprised laugh and said shyly, "You said the same when I wore the green dress yesterday."

"Green is your color. No one can wear it better than you," he complimented.

"Well, you said the same when I wore the blue and yellow dress," she added.

Zheng Liang smiled helplessly and said with a gentle smile, "What to do? My wife looks beautiful in every color she wears. There is nothing that doesn't suit her. That's why I am falling deeper in love with you," he said with sincerity, his eyes fixated on his wife.

"To match my handsome husband, I have to make some efforts to match his magnificence. Otherwise, people will say that the Crown Princess is bringing down the Crown Prince with her ugly looks."

"Who can dare to say that? My beautiful wife is the only one who can stand next to me and will shine like a dazzling star. No one can compare to her beauty," Zheng Liang refuted her words, complimenting her ethereal beauty.

Zheng Xiang, standing next to them, was speechless witnessing their exchange. He furrowed his brows, hearing the cringe remarks from his brother that made him feel disgusted. 'Why did they invite me here if they had planned to ignore me since the start? Is it still too late to go back?' he wondered.

Observing Zheng Liang's behavior, he felt that his cold and indifferent attitude was much more bearable than this one. Despite Zheng Liang often being too cold and indifferent towards him, seeing him act like this with his wife made him prefer the cold and indifferent attitude over the overly affectionate one.

It creeped him out.

"Ahem!" Seeing that the couple had no intention of stopping their compliments anytime soon, Zheng Xiang, standing there awkwardly, coughed and cleared his throat to make them aware of his presence.

Upon noticing Zheng Xiang's cough, Yang Ning realized that she had mistakenly neglected him earlier. Glancing at him, she felt a pang of embarrassment. Her earlobes turned crimson, but she smiled and apologized, "Prince Zheng Xiang, pardon me for neglecting you earlier. Please come inside and take a seat.

How can I be so forgetful and keep you waiting at the entrance for so long?" She murmured, guiding them towards their seats.

Zheng Liang frowned as his conversation with Yang Ning was interrupted, and he cast a glare at Zheng Xiang for becoming an unwanted third wheel. Despite his irritation, he took a deep breath, attempting to control his emotions, considering his wife had invited him for the meal.

Zheng Xiang, sensing the glare, raised his brows in confusion, wondering, 'What did I do wrong?' He frowned and exchanged a puzzled look with Zheng Liang.

"When I received the news that both of you had left the Main Palace, I had already instructed the maids to set the table with dishes. Please take your seats and start eating. The food is still hot and steaming. Since I wasn't familiar with your preferences, I prepared as many dishes as I could since the morning.

I hope you enjoy them," Yang Ning explained as they all settled into their seats, oblivious to the growing tension between the two brothers.

Zheng Liang took the central head seat, with Yang Ning to his left and Zheng Xiang opposite her, seated to his right.

"I understand my sudden invitation to the Dragon Pavilion may have surprised you. However, I felt that I didn't extend a proper welcome to you yesterday," Yang Ning expressed, her gaze was warm as she looked at Zheng Xiang. In the novel, the second male lead had endured a lot, and this time, she was determined to ensure a happy ending for both the male lead and the second male lead.

If the story needed altering, it would be for the sake of a happy ending for all.

"So, I arranged this feast as an excuse to invite you to the Dragon Pavilion. After the meal, feel free to explore. Returning to the palace after a long time might require some adjustment. I hope you'll make frequent visits after today; it is, after all, your brother's residence. Don't hesitate to come," she added, signaling the maids to serve the dishes.

After they had finished serving, the maids discreetly withdrew, leaving the dining room for the three of them.

While they ate, Yang Ning continued to share stories with Zheng Xiang, recounting the experiences she and Zheng Liang had before their marriage. Despite initially feeling annoyed about having lunch with Zheng Xiang, Zheng Liang found himself captivated by Yang Ning's storytelling.

As she spoke about their past and the journey that brought them closer, he listened intently, reminiscing about the beautiful memories they had created together.

Reflecting on it, Zheng Liang couldn't imagine what might have happened if he had given in to the rumors and not married Yang Ning. Grateful for the decision he made, he acknowledged that marrying her was the best choice, and he couldn't have asked for a more beautiful and amazing wife.

While engrossed in Yang Ning's story, Zheng Xiang occasionally stole glances at his brother. He was surprised to observe the genuine affection reflected in Zheng Liang's eyes. It was evident that his brother was completely enchanted by Yang Ning.

___

The meal, filled with tales about his brother and the royal palace, left Zheng Xiang slightly uneasy as it unveiled a side of his brother he had never seen. However, it also provided comfort, signaling that things were improving, and the royal palace was not as cruel and heartless as it once seemed during his younger years.

Observing his brother's affectionate gaze at Yang Ning, Zheng Xiang began to understand why the heartless and cruel palace had become a warm place to live in.

Yang Ning didn't appear to be driven by greed for power and wealth; instead, her genuine intentions were focused on the well-being of the palace and the Empire. In a remarkably short time, she had implemented numerous policies and improvements aimed at enhancing the lives of the people and improving the palace's administrative functions.

These positive changes spoke volumes about her true intentions. If she had been solely motivated by a thirst for power, such transformations wouldn't have taken place. Yang Ning's actions suggested a sincere concern for the well-being of the palace, prioritizing genuine care over the accumulation of connections and wealth for personal gain.

As the meal concluded, Yang Ning whispered something to Xiaowei, who then left the dining room, only to return accompanied by a woman carrying a tray.

Zheng Xiang, feeling a bit fatigued after hearing countless stories from Yang Ning, was ready to depart to his compound and rest. As someone who was used to having meals alone, engaging in such lengthy conversations drained his energy. However, his plans to leave after the meal were interrupted when he noticed the woman entering the dining room.

"Hou Wei," he softly murmured, his eyes fixated on the woman following Xiaowei.