I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"At this moment, all I see, all I crave, is you. I don't need to go to court; day and night mean nothing now." Before Yang Ning could voice any further reservations, Zheng Liang silenced her with a passionate kiss.

Yang Ning gasped for her breath as his lips met hers, diving into another passionate kiss.  His tongue delicately explored the softness of her mouth, tracing its contours and evoking a whirl of sensations, leaving her muddleheaded. The outside world faded, leaving only the intimate dance of their lips and the electrifying feel of their shared moment.

As Zheng Liang deepened the kiss, his hands ventured to explore her curves, eliciting soft moans that vibrated against his lips. With each touch, Yang Ning grew more responsive, her fingers tracing the muscles of his back, a silent testament to her growing desire.

His lips traced a burning path from her mouth, down the elegant line of her neck, to the vulnerable hollow of her collarbone. With each fervent touch, he claimed her skin, intent on leaving reminders of their heated exchange.

Yang Ning moaned as he sucked on her exposed skin on her neck. The sensation made her breathless, her face turning a deep shade of red. Even in the cold, she felt a heat rise within her, realizing that this was one powerful antidote to the biting cold weather.

Driven by the electricity of his touch and kisses, Yang Ning chose to seize control. Her hands eagerly roamed his frame, itching to remove the robe that hid his sculpted form. Blinded by passion, she scrambled to find the tie binding his attire.

But in her eagerness, her hands brushed against his wound, causing him to sharply wince and break the intensity of the moment.

Yang Ning was startled when he abruptly pulled back, a pained expression shadowing his face. Seeing him clutch the spot of his wound, her concern intensified.

She immediately snapped out of her daze and stared at him, her eyes wide with shock. "What happened? Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Her voice quivered, laden with a mix of guilt and anxiety.

The sight of him biting his lower lip made it clear — she had unknowingly aggravated his injury.

Though Master Jiang's remedies had accelerated his recovery, it didn't negate the fact that the wound still required ample time to heal fully. How can she be so careless and let things escalate to this?

Zheng Liang inhaled deeply a few times, steadying himself. As the sharp sting began to subside, he lifted his gaze to find Yang Ning's face etched with concern, her eyes glistening as if on the brink of tears.

Upon noticing Yang Ning's distressed look, Zheng Liang gently cradled her face, letting his thumb glide soothingly over her cheeks. "Don't worry," he murmured, eyes locked onto hers, "It was just a momentary pain. I'm alright." He leaned in, hoping to capture her lips once more, but she held him back, her voice firm, "No. We can't continue like this."

"What do you mean we can't keep going like this? Don't you want us to improve our relationship?" Zheng Liang said with a hint of confusion.

Yang Ning hesitated, pursing her lips. "I... I want it too," she admitted, avoiding Zheng Liang's gaze. Fang Li has always been bluntly honest and expressive about her feelings, this was the first time she felt such embarrassment when expressing her true feelings. It surprised her that there might be moments when even she would feel shy about expressing her true emotions.

A smile tugged at his lips. "See? If we both want this, there's no reason to stop what we started earlier," Zheng Liang remarked, leaning in for another kiss. However, she gently pushed him away, maintaining a distance between them.

Zheng Liang felt a touch of frustration. Earlier, Gu Lan had interrupted them, and Zheng Liang had punished him by sending him to the stables to clean up after the horses. It was a clear message for Gu Lan to ponder his actions and the consequences of disturbing their quality time.

Just when things seemed to be falling into place, Yang Ning pulled away, leaving Zheng Liang caught in the moment's tension. Holding her ground, Yang Ning said, "No, Zheng Liang. Master Jiang advised against any strenuous activities. You need to rest until your wound heals."

"I don't want to risk aggravating your wound."

Detecting the worry in her voice, he sighed and responded, "Trust me, it's nothing. I'm fine." To prove his point, Zheng Liang moved deliberately, but his efforts were betrayed by a sharp wince of pain.

"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, chiding himself for not keeping his emotions in check.

"Are you out of your mind? Why are you moving like that? You'll injure yourself!" Yang Ning exclaimed, lightly punching him on the shoulder to emphasize her point.

"You can't even move without pain, and you want to—" Yang Ning took a deep breath, gathering her emotions. "It's final. Until you're healed and better, you can't come near me. To ensure this, you'll sleep in the guest room. That's final." She quickly rose from the bed, anxious to avoid getting trapped in his persuasive tactics again.

"What? The guest chamber? Yang Ning! How can you be so cold?" He gazed at her in utter disbelief. It felt like she had dangled a piece of chicken in front of a starving man, only to snatch it away just as he had caught a whiff, leaving him craving a delicious feast.

How can she be so cruel and heartless towards him?

Ignoring his complaints, Yang Ning adjusted her dress and tidied her hair. She then approached and opened the door. Turning to the maids waiting outside, she instructed, "Prepare the guest chamber. His Highness will be sleeping there for the next few days. Also, have Master Jiang check on his wound once more."

The maids exchanged glances with each other and blinked in bewilderment. However, before they could ponder on the situation, Zheng Liang's aggrieved voice rang out from the bed, who was still sitting on the bed, "Yang Ning, if you think this will prevent me, you're in for a surprise. Once I'm healed, I bet you'll be the one chasing after me," he declared with a cheeky grin.

The faces of the maids standing outside flushed deep red. In Yang Ning's presence, they bite their tongues, trying hard to suppress their reactions. They had initially assumed that a disagreement was the reason for Zheng Liang's relocation to the guest chamber.

The actual reason, it seemed, was far more intimate. While it was known that the relationship between the Crown Prince and Princess was blossoming, no one anticipated that they would be so open about their feelings and dynamics in front of others.

Yang Ning chuckled softly at Zheng Liang's playful comments, shaking her head in amused exasperation. She then addressed the maids, "Go and do as I've instructed."

The maids nodded, bowed respectfully, and replied, "Yes, Your Highness." They then proceeded to prepare the guest chamber and to find Master Jiang, as Yang Ning had instructed.

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