I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"We have arrived," Gu Lan announced as the carriage came to a stop at their destination. He swiftly exited the carriage, intending to assist Xiaowei before escorting His Highness and the Princess.

However, before he could make his way to the other side to assist Xiaowei, she abruptly leaped from the carriage, as though she had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to do so. Due to the carriage's height relative to her petite frame, she stumbled briefly upon landing but managed to regain her composure without causing a scene.

"Thank you, Lord," she sighed in relief as she steadied herself on the ground and patted her chest in relief, grateful that she hadn't fallen in an embarrassing manner.

Gu Lan, standing on the opposite side, couldn't help but scoff inwardly at the way she had chosen to disembark. It left him wondering, had she been so opposed to sitting beside him that she preferred to risk falling rather than allowing him to assist her?

He didn't dwell on it longer and took a deep breath and shook his head, refocusing himself on his duty. He then went to assist Zheng Liang and the Crown Princess in disembarking from the carriage. Before opening the carriage door, he meticulously scanned the surroundings for any suspicious individuals or potential threats.

Tonight, he couldn't afford to be careless for even a moment. They had ventured into the central market for the carnival, a crowded and potentially risky place. He needed to remain close to His Highness and the Crown Princess, ensuring their safety at all times.

___

Gu Lan opened the door, and Zheng Liang swiftly exited. Gu Lan had intended to assist the Princess, but a pointed look from Zheng Liang made him step aside. Unaware of this exchange, Yang Ning glanced up as Zheng Liang positioned himself in front of the carriage.

She extended her hand, anticipating assistance, but just as before, he didn't hold her hand but held her by the waist as she disembarked.

Yang Ning couldn't contain a surprised squeal at his not-so-unexpected gesture. He sure is an opportunistic man!

Nevertheless, this time, instead of her customary glare, her attention was thoroughly consumed by the entrancing allure of the night market. Her sole desire was to disembark swiftly, eager to explore the bustling streets of the central market.

The sight before her left Yang Ning utterly amazed. She couldn't contain her surprise as she exclaimed, "Woah! It's so beautiful!" Her eyes widened as she looked around in sheer disbelief. The central market's vibrant and enchanting atmosphere had exceeded her expectations, making the experience even more captivating and intriguing than she had imagined.

The central market's bustling streets were packed with people, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere. The sky had darkened, and the full moon revealed itself, casting a gentle glow over the area. The streets came alive with colorful designer lanterns, transforming the night into a mesmerizing spectacle akin to a starry sky.

Stalls lined the streets, offering an array of goods and treats. Vendors sold everything from clothing and local delicacies to toys for children and ornate ornaments for women. The crowd was a sea of colorful, radiant outfits, with people from all walks of life, including noble families, mingling in the busy central market.

In contrast to her previous experiences in Xinling City, where markets typically closed early due to the night curfew, the capital city's central market stayed open late on this special occasion. The suspension of the night curfew allowed people to fully immerse themselves in the festivities, spending quality time with their loved ones under the moonlit sky.

As Yang Ning's eyes gleamed with excitement while witnessing the beautiful spring carnival, Zheng Liang couldn't help but wear a satisfied smile. He wanted to ensure her happiness and prevent her from feeling stifled within the palace walls. He was delighted by her reaction, clearly seeing how much she enjoyed the experience.

"Are you planning to spend the entire night just standing here? Remember, we have to leave in less than two hours," he reminded Yang Ning, wanting her to make the most of their time at the spring festival carnival while also ensuring they didn't overstay their schedule.

"Ah! You're right," Yang Ning exclaimed, snapping out of her daze thanks to Zheng Liang's reminder. She clapped her hands with excitement, then grabbed Xiaowei and said eagerly, "Xiaowei, let's go to that stall. They seem to be selling colorful hairpins."

Before anyone realized it, Yang Ning and Xiaowei had already made their way to one of the stalls. Zheng Liang stood there, momentarily speechless, watching his wife pull Xiaowei away, seemingly forgetting about him. He couldn't believe she had left him behind like this.

Gu Lan, who was standing behind Zheng Liang, noticed his gloomy expression and cleared his throat awkwardly. "My Lord, I'm sure the Crown Princess didn't want to bother you, which is why she didn't ask you to join her in shopping. She certainly wouldn't forget about you," he said, trying to offer some comfort.

However, those words only stung Zheng Liang more. Forget about him? How could anyone forget about such a handsome and important figure as him?

While Yang Ning joyfully moved from one stall to another, her arm linked with Xiaowei, Zheng Liang followed them closely, his previously content expression now turning gloomy and frowning.

This wasn't what he had envisioned when he brought Yang Ning to the Spring Festival Carnival. He couldn't believe she was more focused on shopping with Xiaowei than on spending quality time with him, and an uncharacteristic pout formed on his lips in dissatisfaction.

As he sulked but still trailed his wife diligently, he noticed her stopping at a food stall that sold marinated lamb skewers, a local delicacy popular among the locals. The stall was bustling with customers eagerly awaiting their orders.

After placing her order, Yang Ning and Xiaowei patiently waited while inspecting their shopping bags. To the casual observer, they appeared to be two ordinary women, happily shopping and enjoying the festivities of the spring festival carnival.

However, a group of men standing nearby couldn't help but notice Yang Ning's beauty. Although there were many beautiful women in the market, Yang Ning stood out with her natural beauty, enhanced by her elegant pastel blue gown that seemed to make her glow in the dark night.

The men gazed at Yang Ning, admiring her beauty, and one of them couldn't help but comment, "Qin Cheng, have you seen that girl? She's stunning."

"She looks like a noblewoman. I wonder which family she belongs to. I've never seen her before," the man named Qin Cheng squinted his eyes to admire the beauty standing in front of him as he replied, eyeing Yang Ning from head to toe.

His gaze was filled with lust and desire for this newfound attraction.

"Why does it matter?" his friend responded with a sly grin. "Even if she's a noblewoman, can she match your status? You're the young master of the Qin family. Your father and elder brother work at the royal court. What do you have to fear? Go ahead and make her yours." His friend encouraged him, pushing him to pursue the beautiful woman who had ventured into their territory.

Qin Cheng smirked with pride, his eyes gleaming with arrogance, as he observed Yang Ning, her graceful presence captivating him. With his friend's encouragement, he decided to approach her, determined to make this enchanting woman his own.

However, little did he know that his bold intentions would lead to an unexpected encounter with the demon protecting his beloved wife.

The man confidently approached Yang Ning and Xiaowei, who were patiently waiting for their turn at the food stall. He glanced at Yang Ning and began, "Are you new in the capital? I've never seen you before."

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Yang Ning frowned at the man who had approached her out of nowhere. She scanned him up and down, detecting the scent of alcohol on him. Despite his luxurious silk attire and apparent noble status, his intentions did not seem noble at all.

In an effort to avoid causing a scene, she responded with a scoff and turned her back to him, ignoring his presence. "Oh, likewise. I don't know you either. Now, if you'll excuse me."

Qin Cheng's expression soured at the woman's indifferent attitude. Women usually fawned over him, attracted by his status and his handsome face, which could make hearts flutter with a simple smile.

How dare she dismiss him as if he were nothing but trash?

Qin Cheng, feeling slighted by Yang Ning's indifference, tried to assert his status. "It seems you're new here, which is why you don't recognize me. If you knew my family's name, you wouldn't dare to ignore me. If you apologize to me and accompany me for the night, I might forgive you for your insolent nature," he said with arrogance.

However, Yang Ning simply brushed him off and remarked to Xiaowei with nonchalance, "The mosquitos seem to be quite relentless here. Annoying, aren't they?"

Xiaowei nodded in agreement and responded to her lady, "Milady, please disregard such insolent mosquitoes. They are meant to be crushed, not dignified with attention."

The reference to Qin Cheng as a mosquito only served to further infuriate him, and he struggled to contain his rising anger at being dismissed in such a manner.

"Who do you think you are? You Bitch!" The man cursed and prepared to teach Yang Ning a lesson.

He is the young master of the Qin Family and would not tolerate being ignored, not by anyone. Never.

Before his hand could land on Yang Ning's shoulder to turn her around to confront him-

Smack!