I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Far from being flashy or garish, it exuded a refined charm. Even her choice of jewelry was minimalist, in stark contrast to the opulent golden and expensive gemstone pieces worn by the other ladies, seemingly flaunting their husbands\' wealth and prestige. Yet, in this simplicity, Yang Ning shone the brightest, radiating a captivating aura that set her apart from the rest.

"Greetings to the Crown Princess. It is our honor to be here in your presence," the ladies stood up and greeted as Yang Ning approached the table where they were enjoying tea and snacks.

While most of the ladies greeted Yang Ning with enthusiasm, Lady Zhu Yating couldn\'t resist making a pointed remark, "Your Highness, your complexion looks dull today. I can understand how hard it must have been for you to attend the party after what happened with Lady Chang Ah.

However, I am glad that you didn\'t take anything to heart and still came to the party," she commented with a bright smile that concealed a mocking glint in her eyes.

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On the surface, her comment appeared to express concern for Yang Ning. However, it was merely her subtle way of hinting at the recent incident, aiming to spark gossip and drama.

"Lady Zhu Yating, what are you saying?" A woman standing next to Zhu Yating nudged her, urging her to control her emotions and not pick a fight with the Crown Princess.

"Princess, did I say anything wrong? I was simply showing my concern for you, is that wrong?" Zhu Yating turned to Yang Ning, feigning innocence, while the tension in the room thickened.

Yang Ning, observing the mixed emotions in their eyes, smiled diplomatically. She could sense the hidden animosity and jealousy behind their smiles, as the recent events involving Lady Chang Ah fueled resentment among those who shared similar backgrounds.

As some of the ladies shared a close bond with Chang Ah and had backgrounds similar to hers, being second or even third wives of their husbands dealing with firstborn children, witnessing Chang Ah\'s defeat by Yang Ning stirred a mix of emotions.

The fact that Yang Ning, also a firstborn in the Yang family, emerged victorious left them feeling a combination of resentment and sympathy towards Chang Ah. Despite their attempts to conceal it behind smiles, Yang Ning could discern the hidden animosity and jealousy simmering beneath the surface.

Facing Lady Zhu Yating, Yang Ning responded with a gracious smile, "Of course not. I appreciate your concern; however, you do not need to worry about my personal matters. I will handle them myself. Thank you for your concern, though."

She then turned her attention to everyone, expressing, "Nice to meet you all. I must thank Lady Guo for having me here and giving me an opportunity to make friends with you all." Yang Ning continued with a warm smile, "Since we have gathered here for some tea and snacks, let\'s not stand on ceremony and enjoy ourselves. I didn\'t come here as the Crown Princess but just myself. Please be comfortable."

The unexpected sweetness and friendliness in Yang Ning\'s words left the ladies taken aback. It was a departure from the typical demeanor of royalty, and they exchanged glances, visibly confused by Yang Ning\'s genuine and amiable behavior.

The contrast with the usual displays of power and prestige from the royal family made Yang Ning\'s approach stand out, earning her praise as a friendly presence at the tea party.

After exchanging greetings and introducing themselves, everyone settled down. Lady Guo Yurong occupied the central seat as the host, with Madam Liu to her right. On her left, Yang Ning took a seat, a placement that underscored the respect and importance Guo Yurong accorded her.

This gesture wasn\'t solely because Yang Ning was the Crown Princess, but also because, among all the ladies present, Guo Yurong found her the most genuine and captivating.

Servants promptly served more snacks and milk tea to everyone, following the recipe for the milk tea that Yang Ning had shared with Guo Yurong as per her request during a previous tea party. While the ladies were engaged in exchanging pleasantries and compliments regarding accessories and dresses, Yang Ning\'s attention remained fixed on one person throughout.

That person was none other than Zhu Yating, who openly displayed her animosity towards Yang Ning earlier and was a close friend of Chang Ah. Despite the lively atmosphere, Yang Ning couldn\'t help but find her gaze fixated on the woman for whom she came to the party.

While Yang Ning had a genuine desire to expand her connections and form friendships with Lady Guo and Madam Liu, a significant motive for attending the party was her keen interest in meeting Zhu Yating.

As the second and most beloved wife of the Head Officer at the Imperial Bureau of Investigation, Zhu Yating held the key to Yang Ning\'s strategy. Getting close to her would be the pathway to accessing the man who played a significant role in Yang Ning\'s tragic fate in the novel.

In the novel, alongside Yang Luoyang, who manipulated Yang Ning for his schemes, another key character was the Head Officer at the Imperial Bureau of Investigation. This man, a close friend and an ally of Yang Luoyang, played a crucial role in concealing Yang Luoyang\'s misdeeds, cleaning up behind him, and shielding him from the consequences of his nefarious actions.

In the novel, this officer was instrumental in fabricating false evidence against Yang Ning, accusing her of attempting to poison Hou Wei. In reality, Yang Ning had rejected Yang Luoyang\'s suggestion to poison Hou Wei, but he proceeded with the plan without her knowledge.

Although Yang Luoyang wasn\'t successful in removing Hou Wei from his path, the betrayal of fabricating false evidence against Yang Ning resulted in her unjust punishment and death sentence at the hands of Zheng Liang.

It all unfolded due to the corrupted Head Officer of the Imperial Bureau of Investigation, who fabricated evidence and intentionally ensnared Yang Ning in his schemes. In the end, he prioritized saving his friend, Yang Luoyang, as their shared goals were aligned — more power and wealth.

To expose Yang Luoyang\'s vulnerabilities and put an end to their ongoing power struggle, Yang Ning recognized the importance of getting closer to this man, who was closely connected to Yang Luoyang. The man held evidence of all his malevolent deeds and had the potential to be the catalyst for Yang Luoyang\'s downfall.

The first step, however, was forming a connection with his wife, Zhu Yating, even if she seemed to harbor a biased opinion against her. Yang Ning was determined to make a lasting impression on Zhu Yating by the end of this party, leveraging every opportunity to draw closer to her.

\'Yang Luoyang, start counting your happy days because your doomsday is not far from here,\' Yang Ning smirked to herself as she played with the teacup in her hands. Her mind, however, was busy weaving a plan to befriend Zhu Yating, who sat opposite her.