I woke up as the Villainous Empress

After enduring the humiliation inflicted by Yang Ning in front of the large crowd, the man gnashed his teeth, a mixture of embarrassment and pain consuming him.

Summoning his courage, he rose from the ground and fixed a furious gaze upon the audacious woman who hit him earlier. Pointing an accusatory finger at her, he seethed, "Remember this! I will find you and shatter your arrogant facade someday."

"You think you can get away with hitting me just because you have a pretty face? Don't assume for a moment that I'll let you off easily. I'll make you beg before me, and then I'll have the last laugh," he threatened with malice.

If he wanted, he would have taught her a lasting lesson right then and there. However, the pain he was experiencing far exceeded his expectations, demanding immediate medical attention. He fretted over the possibility that this woman had inflicted severe damage, fearing it would impact his masculinity.

If something like that occurred, he would go to great lengths to find her, even if it meant searching the depths of hell, to show her the consequences of messing with him.

Amused, Yang Ning glanced up and down at him and let out a scoff. Despite being in obvious agony, he found the energy to issue threats toward her.

She responded with a dismissive snort, folding her arms across her chest. "Oh, really? It seems my kick didn't leave as strong an impression as I thought. Would you like to experience more?" She poised herself to strike, but the man, panic-stricken, quickly shielded himself before making a hasty exit, neglecting to apologize to the shopkeeper.

"Tsk! What a coward," Yang Ning muttered disdainfully, shaking her head. After the man ran away, she observed the onlookers, their judgmental and mixed expressions directed at her.

Frowning, she cast a cold gaze upon the crowd, her voice dripping with icy disdain. "Is there a show happening here? Are you all purchasing tickets to witness this spectacle? Don't you have anything better to do in the comfort of your own homes?" Her words were directed at those who reveled in idle gossip and had done nothing to intervene when the man posed a threat.

She couldn't help but feel irked by the passivity of the bystanders, who would rather stand idly by than lend a helping hand. Her decision to strike back at the man, rather than standing there like a lifeless mannequin waiting to be struck, had triggered a shift in their perceptions.

Earlier, she had been viewed as a pitiful yet brave woman, but now, after taking action, she was suddenly branded as an audacious woman without shame. The contrast highlighted the societal expectation for women to silently endure mistreatment rather than defend themselves.

"Alright! The performance is over. You can all go back now," she remarked with irritation, punctuating her words by clapping her hands in a sarcastic manner and motioning for everyone to scatter.

The crowd was taken aback by Yang Ning's brazen comment. They looked at her with a mix of disbelief and questioning glances before gradually dispersing, whispering among themselves.

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After everyone left, Yang Ning strode toward the young lady who stood beside an elderly woman, her heart filled with concern. "Are you alright? You didn't sustain any injuries, did you?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

The young lady gazed at Yang Ning with gratitude and shook her head. "No, I'm unharmed. Thanks to you," she replied, relief evident in her voice.

"If you hadn't intervened, I don't know how I would have defended myself against that man," she admitted, shivering at the memory of the terrifying encounter.

Fully aware of her physical limitations as a woman who has always used her hands to save lives and not hurt anyone, she realized she stood no chance against the menacing man who towered over her.

However, she couldn't bear to witness his torment of the elderly woman and his audacious act of feasting at her shop without offering any payment. Driven by a sense of justice, she had jumped in to help the old woman when everyone else was too engrossed in the spectacle to intervene.

However, she quickly realized that she would be at a significant disadvantage if she confronted the man alone. Despite this awareness, she resigned herself to the consequences of her actions and accepted that she might face a beating from the man.

She entrusted her fate to the unpredictable forces at play and mentally prepared herself for whatever outcome awaited her.

It was a moment of immense gratitude when the courageous lady stepped forward, fearlessly confronting the man when no one else dared to do so.

Yang Ning's smile illuminated her face as she tenderly patted the young woman's shoulder. "I simply did what anyone ought to do. I am the one who should express gratitude to you for refusing to remain silent and for standing up against injustice."

"You display remarkable courage, deserving acknowledgment even from His Majesty," she conveyed, her sincerity evident in her voice.

The young lady was horrified by Yang Ning's audacious remark. Mentioning His Majesty in a conversation so casually was something common people didn't dare to do.

She shook her head vigorously and exclaimed, "No, no! I did nothing extraordinary. It was merely a duty that every responsible citizen should fulfill," she humbly replied.

Yang Ning's smile broadened, captivated by the young woman's modesty and the soothing rhythm of her voice. Since entering this unfamiliar world, encounters with people beyond the confines of the palace or the Yang Household were rare.

The woman's fragile appearance evoked a sense of protectiveness within her, igniting an urge to become the girl's guardian and protector.

'Looks like I found a friend in this world too.' She smiled gleefully and was happy by this fateful encounter.

"How should I address you, by the way? Do you reside in this area?" Yang Ning inquired curiously. Though it was only yesterday night she came to Xinling City and did not know anything about this area, her curiosity about this beautiful and courageous woman grew.

The woman smiled and lightly tapped her forehead before speaking, "Ah! I apologize for not introducing myself earlier."

"My name is Hou Wei. Everyone around here calls me Wei Wei. I have been living in Xinling City for the past few months. However, in the upcoming days, I will be departing for the capital city."

"Unfortunately, this means we might not have the chance to meet again." The glint in her eyes dimmed as she pondered the thought.

It had been such a long time since she had found a true friend, yet the prospect of not being able to see her again weighed heavily on her heart.

"Oh? I am also from the capital city. I came here for a vacation with my husband," Yang Ning replied joyfully, momentarily forgetting that she had ventured out of the royal residence without informing anyone and would need to return before Zheng Liang noticed her absence.

"Really? You reside in the capital city too?" Huo Wei exclaimed with delight. "Could you kindly share where you live? If it's not too much trouble, I would love to visit you. Since it's my first time in the capital, having a familiar face would bring me great comfort." Huo Wei's smile radiated warmth, showcasing her eagerness for the possibility of friendship.

Standing behind Yang Ning, Xiaowei's eyes widened in alarm as she witnessed her lady engrossed in conversation with the woman she had just met.

Discreetly tugging on Yang Ning's sleeve, Xiaowei whispered, "Miss, please restrain your excitement. Remember, you are in disguise and must not reveal your true identity. We cannot afford to be discovered here."

"Furthermore, it is getting late, and the night curfew will soon be enforced. We must leave promptly," she urged, expressing her concern over the potential risks of sharing sensitive information with a stranger.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yang Ning furrowed her brows. The sky was darkening rapidly, leaving them with limited time to return to the royal residence before the night curfew commenced.

She bit her lip, a hint of reluctance in her voice as she addressed the woman, "It was a pleasure to meet you. I would have liked to spend more time with you, but it seems I must depart now."

Understanding the situation, Hou Wei replied, "I am also grateful to have crossed paths with a remarkable woman like you before I leave the city. May I at least know your name? I want to know the name of the person who protected me today." She smiled.

"I don't know the reason you're heading to the capital, but I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully, our paths will cross again in the future. "

"When that happens, I promise to share my name with you. But for now, I must take my leave, or this girl will carry me away herself," Yang Ning said helplessly, gesturing to Xiaowei's determined grip on her arm.

With that, she was pulled away forcefully by Xiaowei, their encounter came to an abrupt end. Xiaowei firmly pulled Yang Ning away, their time for casual conversation was abruptly cut short. They had no more time to waste and had to swiftly return to the safety of the royal residence.

Unbeknownst to them, as Yang Ning was being hurried away by Xiaowei, a pair of darkened eyes observed her from a distance, their gaze fixed intently on her.