I woke up as the Villainous Empress
Chapter 49

49 A Letter.

The Royal Palace – Dragon Pavilion.

“Gu Lan, did something happen to His Highness?” The court lady who serves the Crown Prince stopped Gu Lan on his way to meet the Crown Prince and asked worriedly.

She is not only the court lady who serves the Crown Prince but has also taken care of him since he was a toddler.

She is in her mid-40s and has been serving Zheng Liang since the day he was born. Before that, she used to serve his mother and after her, she became Zheng Liang’s caregiver.

To Zheng Liang and Gu Lan, she was like a motherly figure more than just a court lady who serves the Crown Prince.

Gu Lan looked at Court lady Zhu in confusion and asked, ” Lady Zhu, did his Highness say something to you?”

The woman shook her head worriedly and said, ” He did not say anything in particular. However, these days, he has been acting strangely.”

“Strangely?” Gu Lan asked.

” Yes. These days he is not attending his meetings regularly like before and even if he does, he seems to be lost about something.”

.....

” Yesterday, he did not even touch his dinner and dispersed all the maids and asked everyone to not disturb him.”

” Even in the morning, he skipped his morning training and was scooped in his room. He didn’t even have much of his breakfast either. Is something bothering his Highness?”

” All the time, he kept asking me if any message came for him or not. What kind of message is he waiting for? He does not even tell me about anything.”

Gu Lan raised his brows and looked at the letter that he was holding in his hand and scoffed in disbelief.

‘Is he seriously acting like this because of it?’ He wondered.

He shook his head and assured the court lady Zhu and said, ” Lady Zhu, you do not need to worry about anything. There is nothing wrong with His Highness.”

” He must be anxious because of the wild bear that has been roaming freely in the capital.”

” He is inside his Chamber, right?” After assuring her, he asked and went to meet Zheng Liang upon receiving a positive nod from her.

__

Inside the chamber, Zheng Liang was lying restlessly on his bed when the door of the chamber was forced open.

He frowned and sat up to see Gu Lan entering the chamber. ” GU LAN, ARE YOU DISRESPECTING ME NOW?”

” HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY CHAMBER WITHOUT ASKING FOR MY PERMISSION?” Zheng Liang growled at Gu Lan in displeasure.

Gu Lan did not mind his scolding and stood in front of him politely with both of his hands clasped in front, ” Your Highness, Pardon me for my rudeness. However, I DID ask for your permission to enter the chamber, not once but THRICE.”

” Upon getting no response from Your Highness, according to the protocols, I had no choice but to enter the chamber to see if you’re safe and everything is alright with you.”

Zheng Liang pursed his lips and was slightly embarrassed when Gu Lan told him that he did ask for his permission, not once but THRICE.

How come he failed to hear his words? He wondered.

*Ahem* He cleared his throat and said, ” Then speak loudly from the next time. It is your fault for not speaking loudly but in a low, meek voice to get my attention.”

” Next time, shout loudly if you want to get my attention. And do not make any lame excuses for not doing your work right.” Zheng Liang told him off while avoiding eye contact with him.

Gu Lan wanted to chuckle to see how he was putting all the blame on him but nodded anyway and said, ” Yes, Your Highness. Next time, I will make sure to SHOUT enough for you to hear my voice.”

Zheng Liang waved his hand at him to forget about it and asked, ” Why did you come here anyway? Did I not tell you that I will not attend any meetings today?”

” I am tired. If you have nothing important, then leave.” Zheng Liang said nonchalantly and proceeded to lie on the bed once again.

Gu Lan smirked and raised the letter he was holding in his hands and said, ” A letter has come from the Yang Household. However, it does not seem to be an important matter.”

” Pardon me for disturbing you for an insignificant matter. Then, I’ll take my leave.” Gu Lan bowed to him and was about to leave when he heard the panicked voice of Zheng Liang.

“WAIT! WHAT DID YOU SAY? A LETTER HAS COME FROM THE YANG HOUSEHOLD?” Zheng Liang, who was tired and unenthusiastic about anything, sprung up from his bed when he heard that a letter had come from the Yang Household.

It has been four days since the incident happened but there was no response from Yang Ning’s side. He had heard from the Head Physician that she had woken up from the state of unconsciousness three days ago and was expecting to hear from her soon but for the past three days, there was no message from her side.

How can she not even write a letter to thank him for saving her? Is she even aware that he was the one who saved her from drawing into the lake?

___

Gu Lan wasn’t amused to see Zheng Liang’s exaggerated reaction and could see his restlessness since the day he had saved Yang Ning from drowning.

He was shocked at first to see His Highness act like this for someone as insignificant as Yang Ning, but there is nothing he can do when that woman has already bewitched him with her charms.

As people said, she is a cunning witch indeed!

Her drowning in the lake at the same time when Zheng Liang was in the vicinity does not seem like a coincidence either. He was sure that it must be one of her schemes to gain his attention and sympathy.

So that nothing can go wrong with the engagement between the two families and she and her father can use the royal status to their benefit.

Gu Lan sighed and answered unwillingly ” Yes. A letter has come from the Yang Household. However, if you want to rest then I will take my lea-”

” There is no need. Hand the letter to me and leave.” Zheng Liang interrupted his words and asked him to hand over the letter to him.

Gu Lan pursed his lips in hesitance but handed over the letter to him as asked and left the chamber as instructed.

After Gu Lan left, a pleased smile appeared on Zheng Liang’s lips to see the letter. The image of him kissi- giving mouth-to-mouth air to Yang Ning to save her from drowning appeared in his head.

“Zheng Liang, what are you doing?” However, he soon regained his senses and shook his head to dissipate all the nonsensical things that were running in his head.

He cleared his throat and unfolded the letter to see the contents of it. However, as soon as he opened the letter, his eyes widened in bewilderment, “What.....what is this?”

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