I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"Miss, we don't have time to chat with strangers anymore. His Highness is supposed to join you for dinner tonight. You cannot be late." Xiaowei urgently urged Yang Ning and forcibly dragged her away from the location.

They were already running late. Yang Ning couldn't afford to waste any more time engaging in conversation with a woman and risk being caught by His Highness.

Yang Ning wanted to argue, but she quickly realized that Xiaowei was speaking the truth. If Zheng Liang arrived at the residence early and discovered her absence, she would be in serious trouble.

"You should have mentioned this earlier. Look, the sky is already darkening," complained Yang Ning, shifting the blame onto Xiaowei for failing to remind her sooner.

"Why are you still walking so slowly? Run!" With these words, Yang Ning hastily gathered her long skirt and started running in a state of panic, disregarding her ladylike demeanor.

Yang Ning was determined not to let her first vacation turn into her last by getting caught by Zheng Liang. Even if it meant running like a crazy woman through the streets, she didn't mind at all.

Xiaowei's eyes widened in horror as she admonished, "Miss, you shouldn't run like this. As a lady, it's not appropriate."

However, Yang Ning was in no mood to heed her pleas. She was in a rush and faced with an urgent situation; she couldn't afford to move slowly and spend two hours just to return to the royal residence.

She would rather sprint and reach the residence before the curfew commenced. It was a race against time, and she was determined to emerge victorious. Even if she has to toss aside her ladylike image to achieve that goal.

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As Xiaowei hurriedly chased after Yang Ning, desperately pleading with her to maintain a graceful and delicate demeanor, two individuals stood at a distance, observing the chaotic scene unfold.

They watched as Yang Ning dashed away like a criminal who was being chased by city guards.

From afar, Zheng Liang watched Yang Ning dash away like a thief, and he couldn't help but feel amused by her actions.

After attending to the administrative tasks in the morning, Zheng Liang disguised himself as a commoner and took to the streets to assess the city's condition. Due to its distance from the capital, officials often exploit their power and distort His Majesty's intentions for personal gain, thus misinforming the people.

Recently, he received a report indicating a significant rise in corruption within Xinling City. Despite being abundant in natural resources and a popular tourist destination, the city was generating minimal revenue.

Furthermore, reports indicated that spies had infiltrated the city through its waterways and colluded with government officials, plotting to disrupt the once-peaceful city of Xinling.

Given its proximity to the water, illegal entry from neighboring kingdoms was relatively effortless. To prevent the situation from escalating, Zheng Liang decided to conduct a thorough inspection and enforce strict security measures in the region.

As he strolled through the streets, he observed the disappointing state of the city despite the allocated budget provided to the governor. Little did he expect to encounter Yang Ning engaged in a street altercation during his walk.

Seeing Yang Ning in the street market wearing maid's clothes without any royal guards was already astonishing. However, what shocked him even more was witnessing her defeat a man twice her size and swiftly flee like a fugitive, determined to reach the royal residence before the night curfew.

This woman never fails to amaze him with her unpredictable actions.

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"Um... Your Highness, perhaps we should request the Crown Princess to accompany us back to the royal residence in the horse carriage? It will be dark by the time she returns while running... I mean, walking quickly." The guard standing behind Zheng Liang corrected himself automatically and suggested hesitantly.

Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Zheng Liang chuckled before speaking, "No need. I'm curious to see how she'll make it to the residence on time." His playful tone revealed his intention to test Yang Ning's unexpected stamina in this situation.

Fascinated by her efforts to keep her visit to the market a secret, he couldn't help but find it endearing and amusing. Curiosity sparked within him as he wondered how she would continue pretending in his presence and the lengths she would go to safeguard her secret.

The guard was taken aback by Zheng Liang's unexpected response. He had braced himself to witness his wrath, but to his surprise, he was actually smiling.

Just moments ago, Zheng Liang was emitting piercing glares that could practically be considered deadly lasers when the man had dared to misbehave with the Crown Princess.

The guard had been genuinely concerned that Zheng Liang, even in his disguise as a commoner, might go as far as taking the man's life right then and there.

However, before they could even think of stepping in to protect the princess, she surprised them all by taking down the man, who was twice her size. At that moment, the guard couldn't help but wonder who he should be more scared of; the unpredictable Highness or the feisty crown princess?

After Yang Ning soundly defeated the man, the gloominess in Zheng Liang's eyes transformed into a soft, proud expression while looking at his wife.

He stood there, observing Yang Ning flee like a scared kitten, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips as if he were witnessing the most amusing play on the streets. But rather than lending a helping hand, he seemed content to enjoy the spectacle from a distance.

It was as if he found her antics utterly adorable and couldn't resist the urge to tease her a bit.

"Get a few of our Black Guards to tail Yang Ning discreetly. Keep her protected, but make sure they stay hidden," Zheng Liang commanded.

The Black Guards were renowned for their stealth and swift action, akin to a gust of wind, and their lethal precision, like a sharp blade. They operated covertly, protecting Zheng Liang during his secret inspections or when he ventured out without royal guards.

His intention was for the Black Guards to safeguard Yang Ning from the sidelines, ensuring her safety without making her conscious or instilling fear with their formidable presence.

"Yes, Your Highness!" the guard promptly responded, acknowledging the order.

Zheng Liang cast a piercing gaze at the guard, his eyes narrowing with disapproval. "Did I go through the trouble of disguising myself just for you to blurt out my title for all to hear?" he reprimanded sharply.

Realizing his blunder, the guard felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him, causing him to lower his head in acknowledgment of his mistake. "I apologize, My Lord," he murmured, understanding the need for discretion.

"Also…I want you to handle that man. You know exactly what needs to be done, right?" Zheng Liang's smile vanished, replaced by a dark and brooding expression.

Although Yang Ning had already taken care of the man in her way, Zheng Liang couldn't tolerate anyone daring to insult or harm his wife, the Crown Princess. Allowing him to escape the consequences of his actions without facing retribution would be a failure on his part as the Crown Prince.

The guard grasped the gravity of the situation and nodded resolutely. "I will take care of it immediately, My Lord," he affirmed, prepared to carry out the necessary actions.