I woke up as the Villainous Empress

"Are you certain we should ride in this carriage? Won't it be too noticeable?" Yang Ning questioned once more, her concern evident in her tone. She couldn't help but think about the attack they had faced in Xinling City, and the need for caution was still fresh in her mind.

Zheng Liang offered her a reassuring smile and nodded, his pride evident as he spoke, "Indeed, my love. We can definitely ride in this carriage. This carriage is far more spacious and comfortable than the one we used for our journey to Xinling City. I assure you that you will experience no discomfort while riding in it."

Yang Ning, still concerned, leaned closer and whispered cautiously, "But didn't you mention that we were attending the festival in the guise of nobles? Many nobles frequent such events, and it wouldn't be unusual for us to attend as nobles without revealing our true identities. Besides, even nobles in the capital do not typically have access to white horses like these."

Zheng Liang nodded in agreement. "While we'll be attending the carnival in the guise of nobles, I don't want to completely hide our status and position. Once we step outside the palace, it's important that people are aware of who we are. Even if the carriage lacks royal emblems, the presence of these white horses should serve as a clear warning to anyone harboring ill intentions.

Attacking the Crown Prince and Princess will not lead to favorable outcomes for them," he emphasized.

"This is not Xinling City, where enemies could pose as bandits and attack the royal carriage. This is the capital, my territory. It will be a warning to those who harbor ill intentions against me. Even if they attempt to threaten me, I am prepared to confront them at any time, anywhere. Their petty attacks will not confine me within the palace walls forever, and one day, I will reach them.

That's a promise," he declared, revealing his resolute determination to Yang Ning.

Yang Ning smiled at Zheng Liang, recognizing the significance of his newfound openness. It marked a shift from their earlier interactions, where political matters often remained veiled. This growing trust and intimacy in their relationship made Yang Ning feel more connected to him.

She couldn't help but appreciate the growing depth of trust that was bringing them closer together.

With a smile, Yang Ning nodded in understanding. "So it's like an open declaration without openly confronting them?" she asked, seeking confirmation.

He looked at her and replied, "You know well. I have prepared everything, so do not worry about anything. Just enjoy the night and the Carnival. You do not need to worry about anything." His assurance was clear, and he wanted her to know that he would take care of everything to ensure her safety.

Yang Ning smiled and nodded in response. "I believe in you." With those words of trust, she placed her hand in his, ready to board the carriage.

As Yang Ning noticed the absence of a stool to help her board the high carriage, she turned to Gu Lan to inquire about it, starting to say, "Where is the stool? Did you not prepa—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Zheng Liang swiftly picked her up by the waist and effortlessly placed her inside the carriage, causing her to squeal in surprise. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she looked at him, her speech momentarily lost. "What are you doing? Why did you suddenly pick me up?" she managed to ask, still bewildered.

Zheng Liang wore a smug smirk as he gracefully boarded the carriage using his long legs and stood beside her. He met her gaze with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "What? Didn't you mention that the carriage was difficult to board? I was merely helping you. Is there a problem?" His tone was nonchalant, and he pretended not to grasp the deeper meaning behind her question.

"We're running late. Let's get inside and take our seats. The carriage should depart soon," he urged, gesturing for her to sit inside so that they could be on their way.

Yang Ning was left speechless, realizing that arguing further would likely lead to more witty comebacks from this stubborn man. She understood that Zheng Liang had a knack for finding a response to her every remark, and sometimes it was best to let him have the last word.

With everyone on board, Gu Lan assumed his position as the coachman of the carriage, sitting at the front to direct the horses. Usually, he would ride a separate horse to follow the royal carriage, but today was different.

Given that they were heading to the central market, and due to his responsibility to stay close to His Highness for protection, he had taken on the role of the coachman for the journey.

While Gu Lan took his position as the coachman, Xiaowei was still standing and perplexed, uncertain about her next move. With no other servants accompanying them, she found herself in an unfamiliar position.

Riding in the carriage with Zheng Liang and Yang Ning was out of the question, and Gu Lan had foregone his usual horse for the role of coachman which left to contemplate her options.

Gu Lan, now seated in the front of the carriage with the reins in hand, looked down at Xiaowei with a somewhat monotonous tone. "What are you waiting for? Get on," he directed her.

Perplexed by the situation, Xiaowei questioned, "Ah? But where should I sit?" There was no additional carriage for servants, leaving her unsure of her place.

With a faint hint of sarcasm, Gu Lan replied, "Why don't you sit on my head?" He then patted the cushion beside him and added, "Come and sit here. Don't stand there wasting time."

Surprised by his response, Xiaowei was momentarily taken aback. However, recognizing that Zheng Liang and Yang Ning were already inside the carriage and eager to avoid causing any delays for the carnival, she decided to forgo further questioning and join Gu Lan in the front seat of the carriage.

However, boarding the carriage without a stool proved to be a challenging task for Xiaowei.

Due to her short legs and petite frame, Xiaowei struggled to board the carriage. Seeing her difficulties, Gu Lan sighed and extended his hand to offer assistance.

Xiaowei hesitated, flustered by the prospect of holding a man's hand. Thoughts raced through her mind—how could she simply hold his hand? What was he thinking? She tried to overcome her hesitation and climb in on her own, but her attempts were met with discomfort.

In response to her hesitation, Gu Lan's demeanor turned cold as he issued a stern ultimatum, "Take my hand, or I'm leaving you here." His words left her with little choice.

With a deep breath, Xiaowei reluctantly reached out and placed her hand in his. Before she could fully comprehend what was happening, Gu Lan grasped her hand firmly and, with a surprising display of strength, lifted her up. She practically flew through the air and found herself seated next to him within moments.

The experience left her in a daze, wondering, 'What just happened?' She had known Gu Lan was His Highness's personal guard and undoubtedly strong, but she had never realized just how powerful he could be, effortlessly lifting her as though she weighed next to nothing.

Xiaowei sat next to him but attempted to create some distance between them. However, before she could slide any further, she heard him issue a stern warning, "Keep sliding away, and you'll be thrown out of the carriage as soon as I start it."

His cold gaze bore into her, and he continued, "If you don't want to be flung from this carriage, potentially injuring yourself, you better hold onto me. I won't slow down the speed or stop the carriage just for you. I'll simply leave you behind."

Xiaowei pouted at his harsh words but had no choice. She hesitantly clutched onto the side of his robe at his waist, causing him to stiffen. Nervously, he cleared his throat and corrected himself, "I mean, hold onto my arm, not my waist."

Xiaowei's face flushed at his comment, and she immediately removed her hand from his waist, hastily taking hold of his arm, which was gripping the reins of the horses. She pursed her lips and averted her gaze, feeling the awkwardness between them.

Silence hung in the air until Gu Lan took a deep breath and announced, "The carriage is departing," to inform Yang Ning and Zheng Liang about their departure and remind them to hold on tightly to maintain their balance.

With that, he started the carriage, feeling the stiffness in his body due to Xiaowei's presence beside him. She was undoubtedly a handful, and if it weren't for the fact that only two of them were accompanying His Highness and the princess, he would have assigned her to another carriage with the rest of the servants. However, the circumstances left him with no choice but to have her sit next to him.