I woke up as the Villainous Empress

156 Kitty with mood swings

“Come and sit here.” After Yang Luoyang and Yang Lingxin left the chamber, the Emperor turned to Zheng Liang and Yang Ning and asked them to sit next to his bedside.

Zheng Liang obliged his words and pulled two chairs, one for him and another for Yang Ning. After both of them took their seats, there was a long silence as everyone was waiting for the other person to speak up and start the conversation.

Yang Ning noticed the tension between father and son and decided to break the ice. “Your Majesty, how do you feel now?” She asked.

In just a few weeks, Zheng Huang has grown 10 years older and has grown so much white hair. His complexion looked pale and the dark circles under his eyes were making him look even weaker and sickly.

Zheng Huang’s lips curled up when Yang Ning started the conversation. However, before he could answer her question, he started coughing violently.

“You don’t need to speak if you’re not feeling well. You should just take a rest.” Zheng Liang frowned and insisted that he stay silent instead of speaking.

After drinking a few sips of water, Zheng Huang lay back on the bed and smiled at Yang Ning before answering, ” Didn’t I ask you to call me Father instead of Your Majesty?”

Yang Ning raised her brows and was amused at how similar both father and son are. Usually, Zheng Liang asks her why she doesn’t call him by his name. Now His Majesty was asking why she doesn’t call him Father and rather prefers to address him by his formal title.

After speaking such words, Zheng Huang glanced at Zheng Liang who was sitting there like a mannequin, silent and unbothered.

.....

He cleared his throat and said, ” I am feeling better now. You don’t need to worry about me.” The old man said in a weak voice. He said those words while looking at Yang Ning but he also wanted Zheng Liang to not worry about him anymore.

Zheng Liang pursed his lips in a thin line and didn’t say anything. He was not unwell yet he was insisting that he was well and it was nothing but a mild cold and cough which will recover in a few days.

“Zheng Liang, I heard that you are handling the royal court duties in my stead.” Zheng Huang said while looking at Zheng Liang with a proud smile on his lips.

“Even though you are working hard, do not neglect your health and take care of yourself. About the other people at the palace, I believe you know better than anyone else how to deal with them. You are the Crown Prince of the Empire after all.”

” The only way to prove people wrong is to showcase to them your achievements and your capabilities. I know that one day you will be a great king, I believe in you.” The old man said while looking at his son with teary eyes.

His whole life, he didn’t do anything for his son. After his mother passed away, he made one of his beloved concubines, the Empress, and gave her the position which used to belong to his mother in the past.

Although he did everything he could do to avoid the Crown struggle between Zheng Liang, who was his First Born from the Late Empress, and his other sons from the concubines and consorts. He could see that people are trying to bring back Zheng Xiang into the palace and make him replace Zheng Liang’s position as the Crown Prince and make him the next Emperor.

Although Zheng Xiang is also his son, the position of the future Emperor belongs to Zheng Liang since he is his First born from the Late Empress and received the education of Crown Prince and the future successor of the Emperor from a young age.

He might not say anything but there is nothing hidden from him. He knows well what is going on in the palace and how people are waiting for him to die to use this as an opportunity to push down Zheng Liang.

Zheng Liang was surprised to hear his Father’s expressive words. It was the first time that rather than doubting his decisions, his Father has been supporting him and taking his side without being rational about his emotions.

“Yes, Father. I will not disappoint you. Please take care of yourself and get well soon.” Zheng Liang bit his lips and said to Zheng Huang with his head lowered in embarrassment.

Zheng Huang was surprised when Zheng Liang addressed him as Father and not by his formal court title this time.

This gesture of Zheng Liang warmed his heart and he was relieved that his son is finally opening up his heart to him. 𝗳𝓇ℯe𝓌𝚎𝚋𝓃𝚘𝚟𝘦𝑙.𝑐𝚘𝙢

Yang Ning was glad as she watched Father and Son talking to each other rather than using her as a messenger in the middle. It was indeed a historical moment to remember because, in the novel, Zheng Liang and the Emperor never shared their true feelings with each other.

Zheng Liang was so busy with court work that he never got the chance to visit the Emperor in his chamber. He did keep an update about his health condition through Master Jiang Tai but never got to meet him and before he could get the chance to talk to his Father, he passed away.

That’s why she insisted on coming here so that Zheng Liang will not regret those things in the future. Along with that, there were a few things that she needed to check on as well.

After leaving the chamber, Zheng Liang and Yang Ning went to the Imperial Medicine Department. Zheng Liang wanted Yang Ning to return to the chamber but she insisted on tagging along as she had something to discuss with Master Jiang.

Upon asking what she has to say to Master Jiang, she smiled at him with a mischievous smile and said, ” It is regarding my monthly guest. It should have arrived by now but I guess it is running late. That’s why I want to discuss it with him. Would you like to join the discussion as well?” She asked.

Zheng Liang’s face turned red in embarrassment when he heard her words. He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “If you want to come, you can follow me then.” After saying this, he started walking fast in embarrassment as he never thought that she would be so vocal about such things.

He thought that women shy away from talking about such private matters. Looks like between husband and wife, there is no matter which can be considered private anymore.

Yang Ning chuckled to see him getting embarrassed and avoiding eye contact with her.

“Why is he so cute? He is just like a cute kitty with mood swings.” She commented and shook her head before following him to the Imperial Medicine Department.