I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"Father, did you find out who that bastard was that beat me? I am telling you, don't let him get away with it," Qin Cheng insisted.

"He dared to attack me, the young master of the Qin family. Who does he think he is? Father, he has not only humiliated me but the entire Qin family. You have to seek revenge for me."

"This time, I won't be satisfied with just ruining that man's life. I want that girl in my bed. I will not be satisfied until I have her, no matter what-"

*SLAP*

Qin Cheng was stunned when his father slapped him in the face. He had never been slapped by his father before, not even when he was young. Even his friends were shocked by the turn of events.

They had expected Minister Qin to inquire about his son's condition and pamper him with love and perhaps spoil him with his favorite expensive alcohol, as he often did. However, they had not anticipated that instead of showing concern, Minister Qin would resort to such an act.

Qin Cheng was both shocked and aggrieved as he protested, "Father! What are you doing? How could you slap me? What have I done to deserve such treatment? I am injured, for heaven's sake! How could you beat an injured person like this?" He felt wronged and tears began to well up in his eyes.

Minister Qin gritted his teeth and continued to slap Qin Cheng, repeatedly striking him until his hand started to hurt and turn red. His eldest son intervened to stop him, but Minister Qin couldn't control his temper. He shouted at his son in frustration, "How dare I slap you? Qin Cheng, are you truly my son? How could you become worse than an enemy to me after I have pampered you so much?"

"Even after ruining everything, you have the audacity to complain and spout nonsense with your good-for-nothing friends?" he scolded Qin Cheng, his voice filled with anger and disappointment.

Qin Cheng's friend's face turned crimson in embarrassment and after hearing his father's words, they cleared their throats awkwardly and said, "I think we should take a leave."

"Yes, Qin Cheng. Take care. We will come again." The other friend said and before he could leave, Minister Qin shouted. "You both, you don't need to come here anymore. Because Qin Cheng will not be here. So just get lost and never come again here."

"Father, what are you saying? Where would I go? How can you-" Qin Cheng swallowed his words when his father shot him a cold gaze.

After Qin Cheng's friends left, Minister Qin turned to his son and sneered, "You ask what did you do wrong? Why didn't you tell me earlier that you were beaten up to a pulp because you were teasing a woman?"

"If only you had told me that, I wouldn't have taken this matter to the royal court, and none of this would have happened." Minister Qin's voice trembled, just at the thought of what happened earlier at the royal court.

Because of his foolish son, his and his elder son's lives were ruined.

Qin Cheng gritted his teeth, his other hand placed on his crimson, heated cheek where his father had slapped him until it was bruised and blood dripped from the corner of his lips. "I... it wasn't a big deal. Even though I flirted with a woman, it doesn't change the fact that that audacious man beat me and even broke my hand."

"Rather than punishing him and holding him accountable, you're hitting me? Do you even love me? Are you treating me this way just because I don't have a mother to take my side?" Qin Cheng shouted in anger and pain, feeling targeted by his father who had slapped him and his elder brother who should support him, yet stood there silently.

Minister Qin scoffed at his son for using emotional blackmail and said, "Don't mention your mother with your vile mouth. If she had been alive, she would have had to face humiliation just like I did today and would regret giving birth to a vile man like you."

After his wife passed away after giving birth to Qin Cheng, Minister Qin had given extra attention to his younger son, trying to fill the void left by the absence of a mother in his life. He didn't remarry because he didn't want his children to experience the bitterness of having a stepmother who could potentially take their father away from them.

His eldest son had at least spent some time with his mother, but that was not the case with Qin Cheng. To compensate for the emptiness in his son's life, he had allowed him the freedom to do whatever he wanted as long as he was happy. However, he never imagined that his love and pampering would lead to such a horrendous day in his life.

"My mother would have never regretted giving birth to me. Why would she? Father, stop being unreasonable. I did not do anything wrong. That woman should kneel in front of me for being so arrogant when I did her a favor by choosing her, and that man should apologize to me for treating me this way. If you cannot get justice for me, then get out of this room.

I don't want to see your face," Qin Cheng shouted, his frustration mounting as he struggled with the cast on his hands. Even if he wanted to leave this place, he couldn't due to his weakened state and the pain from the bruises inflicted by that man.

Minister Qin's eldest son, who had remained silent until now, couldn't bear to see his younger brother being so disrespectful to their father. He stepped forward and slapped Qin Cheng once again. "Qin Cheng, mind your language. Even after ruining everyone's life, how can you be so confident?"

"Brother… you too!" Qin Cheng felt heartbroken as he witnessed his brother siding with their father and slapping him instead of supporting him. He couldn't understand why everyone in the family was turning against him. It wasn't the first time he had gotten into trouble because of a woman, but they had never reacted like this before. So, why now?

Qin Cheng's brother sneered, "What wrong did you do? Do you remember the girl you tried to flirt with last night and wanted in your bed? That girl was none other than the Crown Princess, and the man who beat you to this condition was none other than the Crown Prince of the Empire."

"What?" Qin Cheng's eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing this revelation. He looked at his brother, whose eyes were now tinged with anger and indifference towards him. Then he glanced at his father, who bore a defeated and embarrassed expression.

'It cannot be possible. That woman cannot be the Crown Princess.'