I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Zheng Liang was engrossed in his work in the study when he lifted his gaze and glanced at the closed wooden door.

A frown creased his forehead.

Typically, by this time, Master Jiang would arrive at the Dragon Pavilion with his assistant to apply ointment to Zheng Liang's wound and provide him with his medicine.

After the incident involving His Majesty, Master Jiang personally took on the responsibility of treating the royal family members. That's why, even for a simple task like applying ointment to his wounds, Master Jiang preferred to handle it himself rather than delegating it to someone else.

"Why hasn't he arrived yet?" Zheng Liang impatiently pondered.

Today, he had planned to request another examination and obtain a detailed report to convince Yang Ning that he had completely recovered.

Zheng Liang's wound had been healing remarkably well, leaving behind only a dry scar that would eventually fade away. The brewed bitter medicines prescribed by Master Jiang were proving to be quite effective, making him feel healthier and more energetic than before.

He was eager for Yang Ning to be aware of these improvements and to allow him back into their chamber.

When seeking permission for something, he had never felt anxious in front of His Majesty. However, when it came to Yang Ning, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease that she might not permit him to return to their chamber.

It was, after all, their shared chamber, yet he was not allowed inside it.

What an irony!

"Gu Lan!" Unable to wait any longer, Zheng Liang called out to Gu Lan, who was standing guard outside.

As Gu Lan entered the chamber, he greeted Zheng Liang and asked, "You called for me, Your Highness?"

"Why hasn't Master Jiang arrived yet? Go and find him," Zheng Liang ordered.

"Erm…" Gu Lan's expression became complicated.

Noticing that Gu Lan hesitated to leave, Zheng Liang asked once more, "What's the matter? Is there something on my face that's keeping you here?"

Gu Lan coughed at Zheng Liang's sarcastic remark and replied, "Earlier, someone from the Imperial Medicine Department came to inform us that Master Jiang had to leave the palace for some important matters."

"Instead of him, the newly appointed nurse, Hou Wei, will be coming to treat your wound."

Zheng Liang furrowed his brow upon hearing Gu Lan's words. "So you're saying that Master Jiang won't be able to come today?" He sought confirmation.

Gu Lan nodded and added, "Nurse Hou, will be arriving shortly. Should I go fetch her for you?"

Zheng Liang pursed his lips and let out a sigh, waving his hand dismissively. "No need. Tell her not to come to the Dragon Pavilion."

"But, Your Highness, the medicine must be applied to your wound. Otherwise, it may leave a terrible scar later," Gu Lan insisted.

Zheng Liang shot him a glare. "Who said I won't apply the medicine?"

"If not Nurse Hou, then who will tend to your wound?" Gu Lan inquired.

"Have someone fetch the medicine from the Imperial Medicine Department, and you will apply it to my wound. How can Master Jiang assign just any woman to touch my body?" Zheng Liang grumbled with irritation in his voice.

Before their marriage, Yang Ning had taken a promise from him that he would not allow any other woman into his life.

He intended to keep that promise by not allowing anyone, except Yang Ning, to touch him.

That's why he never allowed maids to help him change or bathe him. Although he wasn't particularly fond of having maids around him even before their wedding, he became even stricter about this rule after their marriage.

In the palace, it wasn't uncommon for court ladies and maids to gain favor with the royals and eventually become concubines.

Zheng Liang didn't want to create any unnecessary misunderstandings or give Yang Ning any reason to doubt him, which is why he didn't allow anyone, especially women, to come close to him.

Given his strict rule of not allowing anyone, especially women, other than Yang Ning - no one could touch his exposed body, even for medicinal purposes.

Zheng Liang had no intention of changing this rule in the future.

"Me? Your Highness, how can I-" Gu Lan was surprised when Zheng Liang suddenly put him in charge of applying medicine to his wound. Someone from the Imperial Medicine Department is coming, why does he want him to apply the medicine on him then?

Before Gu Lan could speak his mind, a guard standing outside shouted, "Your Highness, Crown Princess has come to meet you," he announced from outside.

Zheng Liang raised his brows in surprise and hurriedly said, "Let her come in."

Even if Yang Ning stays at the Dragon Pavilion, she doesn't roam around the place casually, and she doesn't even visit him in the study room unless she is summoned to come. It was a surprise that she came today without him inviting her for something important.

___

When Yang Ning entered the study room, holding a tray in her hands, she was surprised to see Gu Lan present in the room.

"Greetings to Princess Consort!" Gu Lan greeted her politely.

Yang Ning responded to his greeting with a smile and stood next to him. She looked at Zheng Liang and said, "I didn't know you were busy. If you are in the middle of an important discussion, I can come later."

Zheng Liang immediately closed the file that he was reading earlier and pushed it aside indifferently, which almost fell off the table.

He smiled at her and shook his head, "Nothing important." He turned to Gu Lan and asked, "Do you have something to say? Why are you still standing here?"

Gu Lan wanted to ask if he needed to go to the Imperial Medicine department or not. However, seeing Zheng Liang ignoring his existence like that, he had no choice but to leave without clarifying his orders.

After Gu Lan left, Zheng Liang looked up at Yang Ning and said, "Why are you still standing there? Take a seat," gesturing for her to sit opposite him on the chair.

Yang Ning put the tray on the desk and sat opposite him. "Would you like to have some tea or something else?" he asked as soon as she sat down.

Yang Ning shook her head and said, "I already had tea. I didn't come here to disturb you."

"I came because Master Jiang couldn't come today to apply medicine to your wound. A nurse was coming to apply medicine to your wound, however, since I was planning to meet you today, I took the tray from her. Would you mind if I apply the medicine to your wound?" she asked awkwardly.

Zheng Liang's lips curled up to see her cautiously asking him. He smiled and asked, "Why are you asking as if you're a stranger? Of course, you can. You're my wife."

"Who has more right to touch my body than you?" he asked with a meaningful smirk on his lips.

Yang Ning's face flushed at his suggestive words, wondering how applying medicine could sound so seductive.

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