I woke up as the Villainous Empress

3/3

While Yang Luoyang was preoccupied with finding a way to confront Zheng Xiang and protect himself, Yang Ning was immersed in managing her new business venture with Madam Gu, handling palace affairs, and coping with morning sickness.

In the past week, Yang Ning responded to Madam Gu's contract agreement, pointing out the changes suggested by Zheng Liang. After revising the contract, Madam Gu sent it back to the pavilion. Yang Ning quickly reviewed the document to ensure all points were addressed before promptly signing it.

Not only that, but yesterday Madam Gu visited the Dragon Pavilion to discuss the launch of the products and their marketing strategy. Yang Ning suggested gifting limited edition gift boxes to the ladies visiting the boutique and making a certain amount of purchases.

This approach would not only prompt them to make heavy purchases to receive the gifts but also allow the gift products to act as samples of the actual products that would be available for sale at the boutique from next month. It would serve as a promotional event before the official launch.

Yang Ning and Madam Gu settled on offering limited gift edition boxes for customers who make substantial purchases. Ladies belonging to the elite society have a strong sense of pride and enjoy feeling superior to others.

Therefore, the gift boxes will not only encourage them to buy more items but also make them feel special. Since these items haven't been officially launched and only a select few will have access to them, it will enhance their sense of superiority.

After trying the gift samples, Yang Ning was confident that customers would be tempted to purchase the products with their own money. She had full faith in her products, believing that there were no makeup or skincare products in this world that could compare to hers. She was confident in the quality and effectiveness of her products.

Madam Gu also found this approach to be perfect for introducing the new products to customers. They settled on this approach as a way to promote the products and let the quality speak for themselves.

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After dinner, Yang Ning sat at her desk in her chamber, meticulously planning the production of the first batch for the limited gift edition boxes. She and Madam Gu had decided on 10 limited edition boxes, along with 20 smaller sample boxes that would contain fewer items compared to the limited edition boxes.

While Yang Ning had made small amounts of products in the past for personal use or gifting purposes, this would be her first time producing such a large quantity. To ensure everything went smoothly, she diligently wrote down the process of making these products. This way, when production commenced, there wouldn't be any discrepancies in quality or measurements.

While Yang Ning was busy jotting down the production process of the products, the door of the chamber was gently pushed open. Lost in her work, she didn't immediately notice the presence of someone else in the room. Suddenly, a pair of hands appeared from behind and wrapped around her neck, giving her a surprise peck on the cheek.

"Oh!" Yang Ning was startled and turned to see Zheng Liang standing behind her. Blushing at his playful sneak attack, she asked, "What are you doing here? Xiaowei mentioned that you were in a meeting with the ministers and would be occupied for a while."

Zheng Liang nodded and walked around to stand in front of her, leaning against the desk. He gently took her hand in his and began to massage it, saying, "Yes, but I finished my work early so I could come and be with you."

"I had expected you to be in bed already. Why are you still here? Didn't you promise not to overwork yourself? Yang Ning, do you realize how late it is? You should be resting by now," Zheng Liang said, his expression showing concern and displeasure.

It was past dinner time, and Yang Ning should have been resting in bed. What was she still doing sitting at her desk and working?

Facing his concerned gaze, Yang Ning felt a pang of guilt and quickly offered an explanation, "I…I wasn't actually working. You know I always make sure to eat and rest on time, and I take my medicines as prescribed. As for this," she gestured to the papers on her desk, "I was just jotting down a few notes.

And honestly, I wasn't feeling sleepy at all—I was feeling a bit restless and bored, so I started working on this."

Zheng Liang raised an eyebrow at her excuses, his expression still conveying his disapproval. Yang Ning sighed, realizing she couldn't fool him, and raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, fine. I promise I won't do any work after dinner time."

"But really," she continued, a hint of frustration in her tone, "you all are being too overprotective. I am just pregnant, not some delicate flower incapable of moving." Folding her arms across her chest, she turned away, venting about how everyone seemed to treat her these days.

"Xiaowei is constantly nagging me about meals and nap times. And Hou Wei? She is always hovering around with bitter medicine and strange concoctions of healthy tonics," she grumbled, clearly annoyed by the excessive attention.

"And then there's Gu Lan, acting like I am made of porcelain. He won't let me walk anywhere and insists on taking a carriage—even going for a stroll in the back garden of the pavilion!" She scoffed incredulously.

"And father…" Yang Ning shook her head, a mixture of exasperation and fondness in her voice. "Do you know how many gifts he has sent me in the past week? I couldn't fit them all in my closet, so I had Xiaowei stash them in the guest room. We asked him to keep the news quiet, but he has been compensating by showering me with expensive gifts every day."

"I am worried if he keeps this up, people will figure out the news before we even announce it," she sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection from everyone.

Zheng Liang chuckled as he listened to Yang Ning's complaints, finding her frustrations endearing. He gently caressed her long, silky hair and spoke with tenderness in his voice. "Give them a break. It's the first time they're experiencing this kind of happiness, just like us. We're all learning how to navigate this joy together, and everyone is doing their best to take care of you in their own way."

"I understand it can be overwhelming sometimes, but I hope you'll let us pamper you as much as we can. Because, Yang Ning, you deserve all the love and care in the world. Yes, sometimes their care and pampering can be extreme, but they will learn with time," Zheng Liang reassured her, his voice filled with sincerity and love.

"I may not know much about anything else, but I do know one thing: Yang Ning, you're carrying our child inside you. I have heard that childbirth can be incredibly painful, and if I could, I would take that pain upon myself to spare you. But unfortunately, only you can go through this process. I can't take away your struggles or your pain, but I can take care of you and pamper you as much as possible.

And so can the others. So please, don't deny us this happiness, alright?"

Yang Ning sighed and nodded, her voice soft as she spoke. "Don't mind my words. I am not angry, I was just a little irritated by the excessive attention. I am not used to all this care and pampering," she explained, her expression softening.

"And these pregnancy mood swings are driving me crazy. Sometimes I feel so depressed, sometimes so happy, and sometimes so angry. So if I say anything annoying or throw a tantrum, please don't be angry with me. And I apologize for raising my voice earlier; that wasn't my intention. I hope you understand," she apologized, acknowledging her behavior and expressing gratitude for his understanding.

She felt fortunate to have such caring support from him and others, realizing that not every pregnant woman is as lucky to experience this level of happiness and family support.

Hearing her words, Zheng Liang didn't say anything but bent down to capture her lips, his kiss a tender yet passionate declaration of his love. He savored the taste of her lips, deepening the kiss with each passing moment. With a soft moan against her mouth, he whispered, "You don't need to apologize. Just a kiss will do."

He kissed her again, his lips moving with a hunger that mirrored the desire in his eyes. His hands, tracing the curves of her body, expressed the longing he felt for her.

Yang Ning giggled at his playful antics but gently pushed him away, "Don't tease me. You know we can't do anything yet."

Zheng Liang paused, his gaze smoldering with desire, as he replied in a low, husky voice, "We may not be able to go all the way, but there's nothing wrong with indulging in other pleasures."

Despite her feigned glare, her hands moved of their own accord, wrapping around his neck as she pulled him closer, meeting his kiss with equal fervor.

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