I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Upon hearing Gu Lan's investigation report, Zheng Liang clenched his fists, and a gloomy atmosphere enveloped him. It seemed too much of a coincidence that only a few weeks after Yang Ning's mother's death, his mother began to display similar symptoms of an incurable illness. Even renowned physicians like Master Jiang couldn't identify its cause or find an appropriate cure.

As a young child, Zheng Liang witnessed his mother suffering from an illness that drained her youth and vitality, leaving her lifeless for months before her eventual passing. Day by day, she fought against an unknown illness, her condition deteriorating while Zheng remained unaware of her silent struggle.

Despite her severe illness, his mother's pale face and weakened body lacked the strength to rise from bed, yet she always made an effort to smile in his presence, masking her worsening health to shield him from worry.

He was aware that his mother wasn't well, but she always reassured him that she would be fine. She promised that everything would get better and that they would go on a trip to the mountains once she recovered.

Zheng believed her words wholeheartedly, eagerly awaiting the day when he would see his mother vibrant and healthy again, adorned in colorful dresses and brimming with energy. However, that day never arrived.

He never witnessed his mother regain her health, nor did they embark on that trip together. That wish remained unfulfilled, serving as a heart-wrenching reminder of what might have been.

Had his mother been alive, she would undoubtedly have adored her daughter-in-law, showering her with motherly warmth and love. It would have been a beautiful scene to witness his mother and beloved wife happily getting along together.

"Damn it! I wish I could kill him right away." Zheng Liang closed his eyes and leaned his head against the chair, gritting his teeth.

As he pondered the possibility that his mother's death might be linked to Yang Luoyang, rather than being a natural outcome of her illness, Zheng Liang felt his face darken with an overwhelming urge to kill the man who not only tormented his wife but also brought about his mother's demise.

A few months ago, when he discovered that His Majesty's illness bore striking similarities to his mother's condition, he couldn't shake off the fear of losing his father just as he had lost his mother.

However, after the investigation, it was revealed that Yang Lingxin was slowly poisoning his father, intending to plot his death and secure the throne for her son. Thankfully, due to Yang Ning's help, they managed to find out the cause of His Majesty's worsening health and find a cure in time.

At that time, Zheng Liang doubted that just like his father's illness which was caused by Yang Lingxin, his mother's death might not have been as simple as he had thought.

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However, since there was no evidence to support that suspicion, he stopped thinking about this matter as even after the investigation, he didn't find anything else.

After hearing Gu Lan's investigation report, Zheng Liang sensed that things weren't as simple as they seemed. The timing seemed too suspicious for it to be a mere coincidence: his mother's severe illness and subsequent death occurred just a few weeks after the unexpected passing of Yang Ning's mother.

That sounds too creepy to be a coincidence!

___

After Gu Lan left the study, Zheng Liang remained there for a while longer to compose himself. With nothing finalized and no concrete evidence implicating Yang Luoyang in his mother's passing, he didn't want to burden Yang Ning with his somber mood or worry her about the matter.

He wasn't intentionally keeping anything from her. However, since things haven't been confirmed yet, he doesn't want to unnecessarily worry her about this matter until there's concrete evidence. After all, this involves the deaths of both Yang Ning's mother and his own. He doesn't want to burden her with unconfirmed news that could potentially hurt her.

If things were to be confirmed, he wasn't sure how he would break this news to her. It would be too cruel for her to learn that her father was involved in her mother's murder.

_____

After steadying his emotions, Zheng Liang returned to his chamber late at night, anticipating that Yang Ning would be sleeping peacefully on the bed. Given the late hour and the events of the day, she must have drifted off to sleep by now.

However, upon entering the chamber, Zheng Liang noticed that the lamps hadn't been extinguished yet, casting a warm glow throughout the room. To his surprise, rather than sleeping, his beloved wife was dressed in a comfortable and beautiful nightgown, seated gracefully on the bed.

Her back was nestled against the fine wooden headboard, supported by a fluffy pillow, while her legs stretched out beneath the blanket.

Her long black hair, still slightly damp, cascaded loosely over her shoulders, giving her an ethereal aura. In her hands, she held a thick paper book, completely engrossed in her reading with such concentration that she failed to notice his arrival as he entered the room.

Seeing her lost in reading a book with such concentration, a curve appeared on Zheng Liang's lips. His wife was truly remarkable. She had waited for him to return to the chamber, not even retiring to bed yet. If he had known that she was still awake and waiting for him, he would have hastened to the chamber much sooner.

Witnessing her enchanting glow like this, Zheng Liang's gloomy mood lifted. Only his wife could change his emotions in an instant!

With a lifted mood, he approached Yang Ning's side of the bed, leaning down with a curious frown. He whispered in her ear, "What kind of book are you reading with such interest?"

Yang Ning, her brows furrowed and lips twitching in surprise upon reading the book's contents was startled when Zheng Liang whispered in her ear. "Ahhh... Damn it! Are you crazy? Why are you peeking at my book?" Startled by Zheng Liang's sudden appearance, she cursed reflexively, hastily closing the book to prevent him from reading its contents.

Looking at him in disbelief, Yang Ning wondered, 'Did he see it?'

Observing Yang Ning's exaggerated response, Zheng Liang was surprised and raised his brows in doubt. Even if she was startled, was there a need for her to shout at him and close the book with such a dramatic reaction?

"I apologize for startling you," Zheng Liang said innocently. "However, is there something in this book that I'm not allowed to see? I was simply curious about what had captured your attention so much that you didn't even realize when I entered the chamber.

What are you reading with so much concentration?" His eyes lingered on the book, still trying to discern its contents, his tone subtly hinting at his curiosity.

Yang Ning pursed her lips, her face turning crimson at his straightforward questions. What kind of book was it? Could she tell him?

She gulped nervously and cleared her throat, explaining while sneakily hiding the book under her pillows and covering it with the blanket, "What kind of book could it be? I was simply reading about palace management and affairs strategies. Since His Majesty has entrusted me with such a significant responsibility, I must work diligently to fulfill my duties."

Zheng Liang raised his brows, noticing her avoidance of eye contact and her actions of hiding the book under the pillow. What kind of book was she hiding from him? Seeing her behavior, it only fueled his curiosity further.

"Is that so? My wife certainly works hard. So, what were the strategies mentioned in the book? I might learn something new thanks to you," he said, testing her with a simple question.

Yang Ning gulped nervously, avoiding eye contact. "Um... It said that... Ah, I can't seem to remember its contents suddenly. You startled me so much that I forgot everything. Forget it.

Let's go to bed now. Are you going to take a bath first?" she asked, changing the topic.

Seeing her change the subject, Zheng Liang became certain that she wasn't reading about palace management affairs. He had seen her reading that book before, and it seemed unlikely that she would forget its contents within just a few minutes if she were reading it for the second time.

He studied her face, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. "Are you feeling warm? Your face is flushed, and you seem to be sweating," he remarked.