I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Similar to Yang Ning, outside the chamber, Zheng Liang was also experiencing a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. It had been a considerable amount of time since their last meeting, and he eagerly anticipated the moment he would finally lay eyes on her again.

As much as Zheng Liang longed to rush to her side, he couldn't disregard his duties as the Crown Prince responsible for the nation's welfare. With the country engulfed in turmoil, he couldn't simply prioritize his married life and find happiness while chaos reigned around them.

After tirelessly working like a maniac for the past two months, things had finally begun to improve, allowing him the opportunity to return to his chamber. Before entering, he made sure to take a bath, wanting to present himself as neat and clean in front of Yang Ning.

As the guard announced his arrival and gently pushed open the door of the chamber, Zheng Liang was taken by surprise to behold the sight of Yang Ning standing before him, her eyes locked onto his with a tender and captivating gaze. The room seemed to be filled with an unspoken longing, igniting a spark of romance in the air.

Just like that memorable night, Yang Ning was adorned in a delicate light blue silk nightgown, radiating an ethereal beauty that took Zheng Liang's breath away. As his gaze fell upon her, he couldn't help but gulp nervously, his throat suddenly dry. The mere thought of that passionate night caused his earlobes to flush a deep shade of crimson, betraying the lingering effect it had on him.

Clearing his throat, Zheng Liang stepped into the chamber, keeping his gaze locked with Yang Ning's. Once inside, he closed the door behind him and swiftly shut it from within, intensifying the air of intimacy.

Yang Ning raised an eyebrow in surprise as he locked the door, causing her to shyly avert her gaze, feeling a sudden surge of shyness for reasons she couldn't fully comprehend.

With the growing tension in the air, both of them felt a wave of awkwardness and nervousness settling upon them, adding to the palpable atmosphere in the chamber.

"You're back!" Yang Ning exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and awkwardness.

Zheng Liang met her gaze and responded with a nod, his words coming out slightly awkwardly, "Yes, I didn't have to work overnight tonight, so I returned."

Following his response, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air, enveloping them both and leaving them feeling breathless and suffocated.

Yang Ning pursed her lips and awkwardly scratched the back of her neck, growing impatient with the silence between them. Just as she was about to break the ice and start a conversation, she heard him speak up unexpectedly.

"You should prepare early tomorrow morning," he said, his words catching her off guard.

"Hmm?" Yang Ning raised her eyebrows in confusion, unsure of what he was referring to.

Zheng Liang walked towards the bed and took a seat on its edge, his gaze fixed upon her. He explained, "Regarding the work, I need to travel to Xinling City for a few days. And you're coming with me."

Yang Ning's eyes widened in pleasant surprise, a glimmer of excitement dancing in her gaze. The thought of leaving the confines of the palace and venturing beyond the capital city brought a surge of joy that she couldn't contain. Since her arrival in this world, she had yearned to explore more of it, to breathe in fresh air outside the palace walls.

This opportunity couldn't have come at a better time. Not only would she have the chance to experience new surroundings, but she would also be able to spend precious time with Zheng Liang, their bond deepening in the process. A sense of anticipation filled her heart as she nodded eagerly, ready to embrace this adventure with open arms.

However, as she controlled her horses, she asked with concern, "If you leave the palace like that, who will handle the management while you're gone?" Her expression quickly turned serious as she realized it might not be wise to leave the palace right now.

"Don't worry," he reassured her. "I've made arrangements for that. I have trustworthy individuals who can handle things in my absence. Besides, His Majesty is also making a good recovery, and the ministers can schedule meetings with him for any important decisions. Everything will be fine."

"Just ask your maid to pack some clothes and necessary items for you during the travel," Zheng Liang suggested. "Make sure to include enough woolen clothes to keep you warm in the carriage. The journey to Xinling City will take 3-4 days, and it can get quite cold during the travel, so bundling up is essential."

He continued, "Also, don't forget to pack some cotton light clothes. Xinling City has a milder climate compared to the capital, so the weather will be more comfortable when we arrive there."

Yang Ning nodded, taking note of the instructions.

Yang Ning happily nodded and said, "Then I ask Xiaowei to pack my things right away. If we don't pack everything now, I am worried that we might miss something in the morning."

"You can pack in the morning. It won't take long-" Zheng Liang began to say as he reached out his hand, intending to pull Yang Ning towards him to sleep.

However, he was left longing as Yang Ning hurriedly dashed outside to give Xiaowei orders to pack her luggage for the trip. He pursed his lips, his hand hanging in the air with a sense of yearning.

Though the decision to travel to Xinling City had been made not long ago, Zheng Liang hadn't expected to see Yang Ning so delighted about their trip.

He chuckled at her excitement and sighed, remarking, "Looks like this night will be spent packing her things."

Originally, he was the only one going to Xinling City for work. However, he had heard that Xinling City has milder weather, and picturesque landscapes, and was a popular tourist destination with a variety of delicious cuisines.

Considering that he rarely had the chance to spend time with Yang Ning, and she had never ventured beyond the palace since their marriage, he decided to take her along with him. Since his workload there wasn't too demanding, he could dedicate the remaining time to being with Yang Ning and showing her around the city.

While he had visited Xinling City numerous times for work and hadn't been interested in sightseeing before, this time was different. Knowing he would be accompanied by Yang Ning, he couldn't help but look forward to their upcoming trip.