I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Yang Lingxin's eyes widened in shock when she caught the sight of the two men who were now being dragged by Gu Lan to the royal court at Zheng Liang's order. 'It cannot be happening…'

Out of two men, she recognised the man in white robe and could feel her soul leaving out of her body.

The man who was wearing white robe was none other than the assistant physician of Master Jiang Tai who was working on her orders and adding the poisoned natural oil in steaming hot water of His Majesty during his treatment. 'When was he caught by Zheng Liang? How did he manage to find out about him? Didn't Yang Luoyang say that no one would be able to figure out their fool-proof plan and this incident would be forgotten just like Zheng Liang's mother?' 'However, who is the other man with him?' She wondered as she could not recognise him and how he is related to this case. She was biting her lips in nervousness and glanced at Yang Luoyang, who had the similar shocked reaction as hers. She was still hoping that Yang Luoyang would have a way to get out of this mess and save her. However, seeing his perplexed expressions, she did not know anymore. From the moment she was brought into the royal court, he hasn't uttered a single word to protect her. He was standing there like a puppet doll and was acting mute as if he didn't have a voice to speak up. Does he have any intention to save her from this situation or not? Did she make a grave mistake by trusting in him? She wondered. While Yang Lingxin was questioning her life choices, Gu Lan dragged two men by their collars aggressively and threw them on the ground like a stack of rice in front of Zheng Liang. "Your Highness! Please have some mercy on us." The two men immediately kneeled on the ground and cried for mercy to Zheng Liang. Both of their hands were tied with a thick rope and their clothes were disheveled and they smelled so bad. The ministers frowned and covered their noses in disgust as the two men smelled like a cow dung. Like others, Yang Ning also frowned at the disgusting smell and scrunched up her nose in discomfort. She was the one who suggested hiding these two men at the cowshed as it was one of those rare places in the palace where Yang Luoyang wouldn't be suspicious of them and ruin their plan.

However, she didn't think that staying at the cowshed for days without taking a bath would make them stink horribly. Zheng Liang noticed her frown and caught the way she was covering her nose with her hands in discomfort. Ignoring everyone's attention, he looked around his pocket and handed her his handkerchief to cover her nose. "Use this."

"Ah! Thank you." Yang Ning was embarrassed as everyone's eyes were on them. She pursed her lips and hesitantly took the handkerchief to cover her nose. However, with everyone's eyes on her, she wanted to dig a hole and disappear as if she never existed. They were discussing such a serious matter, The Treason. During the serious discussion, he pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her so that she could cover her nose just because the two people who entered the court stink. She could see the mortified and embarrassed expressions on the faces of two men but she ignored their reactions and covered her nose with Zheng Liang's handkerchief. Because in this condition, she won't be able to breathe properly and she does not want to die of suffocation. Her survival is more important than the self respect of these two criminals. ___

The ministers were confused at the arrival of two men and were wondering how they were related to a case of treason. "Doesn't the man in white seem to be familiar? I think I have seen him somewhere at the palace." One of the ministers squinted his eyes and tried to remember where he had seen that man. "You're right. That man does look familiar." "Ah! Isn't he Bai Jiang, Master Jiang Tai's most trusted disciple? Wasn't he in charge of attending His Majesty along with Master Jiang?" The other minister said which caused an uproar among everyone. "But who is the another man next to him? He doesn't looks like he belongs to the palace."

"I don't remember seeing him as well. However, doesn't he looks a little strange? Has he come from another state? Doesn't he look a little different?" The other person asked. "Everyone, Quite!" Zheng Liang shouted at which everyone immediately went silent. He looked at Yang Luoyang and saw his stiffened expressions. His lips curled up in a smirk before he looked at everyone and continued, "A while ago, someone was asking me if I have evidence to support my accusations or not."

"Here is my response to that question. These two men will reveal to everyone, who is the one who tried to poison His Majesty." He revealed. He looked at Yang Lingxin with a mocking smirk and asked, "Lady Yang Lingxin, do you recognise any of these men who are kneeling here?" Yang Lingxin frowned to see the way he was putting her in a spot. She took a deep breath and hesitantly nodded, "I do. Doesn't this man work for Master Jiang? I have seen him many times at His Majesty's chamber."

"However, why are you asking as if I am the only person to know him in the palace? By asking this, what are you trying to prove to everyone?"

"Almost everyone must know him, who went to visit His Majesty.What is so wrong with that?" She counter questioned him in return. Zheng Liang shook his head coolly and said, "There is no problem in that. However, it is a problem if the Empress of Zheng Empire gets involved with a mere assistant physician to poison His Majesty." He said coldly. The gloomy silence follows after he finished speaking his words. No one dared to make a voice as Zheng Liang's stern gaze was enough to make them freeze on the spot. Yang Lingxin's face turned scarlet red in humiliation. She looked around and could see the suspicious look in everyone's eyes. "Zheng Liang, are you crazy? I told you many times that I did not do anything dishonorable. I can never harm His Majesty. Why would I ruin my happy marriage with my own hands?" She screamed in desperation and tried to clear her name. "Or…are you trying to put the blame of your crimes on me? Zheng Liang, isn't he the assistant physician who works under Master Jiang? Did you plan all of this with Master Jiang to put the blame on me?" "Otherwise, why would you suddenly ban everyone from visiting His Majesty and allow Master Jiang to treat him only? I am sure it must be your scheme to put all the blame on me after succeeding in your crime." She said without filtering her words. Now she doesn't fear anyone. If Yang Luoyang couldn't save her, she would protect her life herself. Zheng Liang was amused by the reaction of Yang Lingxin and scoffed before saying, "I knew that you would say something like that. That is why I did my homework before coming here."

"I will not disappoint you with my preparation." He said coldly, sending shivers to Yang Lingxin.𝓯𝒓𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝒃𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝙢

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