I woke up as the Villainous Empress

The Royal Court of the Zheng Empire fell into a tense silence as Yang Ning stepped forward, her eyes cold and calculating. Before her stood Yang Luoyang, the man who had claimed to be her father, now cornered by the damning evidence of his treachery.

"Minister Yang," Yang Ning's voice cut through the hall like a blade of ice, "the court awaits your explanation. How do you respond to these accusations of embezzlement and treason against the empire you swore to serve?"

Yang Luoyang's face twisted with rage, his composure crumbling under the weight of his exposed crimes. "You dare question me, you ungrateful child? After everything I've done for you, after raising you to this position of power, you stand there and accuse me?"

A cold smirk played on Yang Ning's lips as she replied, "Everything you've done for me? Let's not pretend, Minister Yang. The only thing you've ever done is use me as a pawn in your political games. Your 'care' was nothing more than a mask for your ambitions."

The court murmured in shock at the Crown Princess's audacity. Emperor Zheng Huang leaned forward on his throne, his gaze sharp as he watched Yang Ning confronting Yang Luoyang head-on.

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Yang Luoyang's eyes darted around the room, seeking an escape from the trap closing in on him. Finding none, he switched tactics, turning to the Emperor with a plea in his voice. "Your Majesty, surely you can see this is all a grave misunderstanding. These documents... they must be forgeries! I've served the Zheng Empire faithfully for decades!

I am innocent. You should believe in me."

"Forgeries, you say?" Zheng Liang's voice cut through the air, laden with barely contained fury. "Then how do you explain all the properties that Commander Wei has verified himself and the documents of the crimes that Wang Rong has hidden all these years?

For your information, these documents also have clear evidence of your entanglement with the previous Empress which shows your involvement in the planning of His Majesty's murder. Your web of lies is unraveling, Yang Luoyang. You have no way out."

Yang Luoyang paled visibly, his confident facade cracking. "That... that was Wang Rong's doing! He framed me, Your Majesty! I swear on my life, I've been nothing but loyal to the throne!"

"Loyal?" Emperor Zheng Huang's voice was dangerously soft, a calm before the storm. "Was it loyalty that led you to conspire with the former Empress? To plot against my life and the stability of this empire? Your words ring hollow, Yang Luoyang."

A hush fell over the court. Yang Luoyang's face contorted, his last shred of composure crumbling away. Suddenly, he threw back his head and laughed, a sound devoid of all mirth, bordering on madness.

"Fine!" he spat, his eyes wild with a mix of fury and desperation. "You want the truth? Yes, I did it all! The embezzlement, the conspiracies, everything! This empire is rotting from the inside out, and I simply took my share before it all came crashing down!"

Gasps of shock echoed through the hall. Yang Ning raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with disdain. "How utterly predictable. It seems the great Minister of Finance couldn't even balance his own moral ledger. Tell me, Minister Yang, was it worth it? Was your greed worth the destruction of everything you claimed to hold dear?"

Yang Luoyang's face contorted with rage, his eyes blazing with a mixture of hatred and disbelief. He lunged forward, only to be restrained by the imperial guards. "You dare? You dare to stand there and judge me?" His voice rose to a roar, echoing through the stunned court. "I was the one who married you to the Crown Prince! You're a Crown Princess because of me, you vicious bitch.

Without me, you were nothing!"

He strained against the guards, his face red with fury. "Everything you are, everything you have, it's all because of me! I gave you a position, power, and a future in this court. And this is how you repay me? By trampling on me the moment you think you have power?"

Yang Ning's cold eyes met his, unflinching. This only seemed to fuel Yang Luoyang's rage further. "Look at you, standing there with those cold eyes of yours. You ungrateful, manipulative wretch! Do you think you're safe? You're my blood!

My daughter!"

A cruel smile twisted his lips as he spat out his next words. "By law, your fate is tied to mine. If I burn for this, you'll burn right alongside me!"

The court erupted into chaos at this declaration. Minister Lao stepped forward, his voice grave as he addressed the Emperor. "Your Majesty, as much as it pains me to say, Yang Luoyang speaks the truth. The law is clear in cases of high treason. The perpetrator's direct family is to be executed, and the extended family is exiled.

It's a harsh law, but one that has long kept the empire safe from conspiracy."

Minister Lao paused, his eyes flickering between Yang Ning and the Emperor before continuing, "Prince Zheng Xiang was protected from this law because he is Your Majesty's direct descendant and was safe because of it. However, it won't be the same for Her Highness. Since she is the direct descendant of Minister Yang, it will be difficult for her to escape this fate."

A heavy silence fell over the court as the implications of Minister Lao's words sank in. Yang Ning's expression remained impassive, but her eyes flicked towards Zheng Liang. A silent challenge seemed to pass between them, a moment of unspoken communication in the midst of the storm.

Emperor Zheng Huang's face was grave as he considered Minister Lao's words. The weight of the law and the potential fate of the Crown Princess hung in the air, creating a palpable tension throughout the grand hall.

It was indeed true that according to the laws of the royal court, Yang Ning was supposed to be exiled along with Yang Luoyang if he was charged with treason, the highest accusation. However, unbeknownst to the court, Yang Ning was pregnant, carrying the future successor of the Empire. This closely guarded secret was known only to Zheng Liang, the Emperor, and Prince Zheng Xiang.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

In light of this hidden fact, she would theoretically be safe only until she gave birth and would face punishment after that.

The Emperor's brow furrowed as he contemplated this complex situation, the secret knowledge weighing heavily on his mind. The court held its breath, waiting for his decision, oblivious to the true complexity of the matter at hand.

While he was thinking of a way to protect Yang Ning from the cruelty of this law without causing turmoil of opposition opinions in the royal court, Zheng Liang's voice rang out, clear and resolute.

"NO." The Crown Prince's words cut through the tense silence like a blade. "Yang Ning will not bear the consequences of Yang Luoyang's crimes. She will not be executed, nor will she face punishment."

All eyes in the court turned to Zheng Liang, shock evident on many faces. Yang Luoyang's expression twisted into a sneer as he glared at Yang Ning, who remained standing, her posture unwavering. "And why is that, Your Highness? Would you defy the very laws of this empire for your pretty wife? Or perhaps you think your position puts you above the law?"

Zheng Liang's eyes flashed with anger, his voice sharp and clear. "No, Yang Luoyang. Yang Ning will not be punished because she is not your daughter. She has no connection to you or your crimes."

The court fell silent, everyone stunned by this revelation. Yang Ning's eyes widened slightly, the only sign that she was shocked by this news. Her hands tightened at her sides, but she kept her composure, standing tall and firm.

Yang Luoyang's face turned pale, his eyes growing wide with fear. This wasn't the surprise of learning something new, but the horror of realizing his long-kept secret had been discovered. "What... what did you say?" he stammered, all his earlier confidence gone in an instant.