I woke up as the Villainous Empress

29 Punished? Who? (IV)

” WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT? ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DID NOTHING WRONG BY THROWING THE FLOWER VASE AT THE HEAD MAID? HUH?”

” ARE YOU TRYING TO ESCAPE FROM THIS SITUATION BY SPOUTING NONSENSE?” Yang Luoyang was enraged to see Yang Ning shamelessly justifying her actions.

She was not even trying to make excuses now. The girl who never dared to utter a single word in front of him was now shamelessly defending her actions as if she did the right thing and deserves a reward for it.

Since when did she become so shameless and fearless to defy his words? Did the high fever reach up to her brain last night for her to act this way? Or did she get possessed by a wandering soul overnight? He wondered.

Yang Ning was speechless to see Yang Luoyang blatantly ignoring her words.” My Lord, I am not trying to escape from the situation. Why would I do that when I did nothing wrong?”

” I am the eldest daughter of the Yang family and soon going to be the Crown Princess of the Empire. Are you saying that you will punish me unfairly without even allowing me to give an explanation for my actions?”

Yang Ning’s bold and nonchalant attitude caused Yang Luoyang to sigh in exasperation.

THIS GIRL....!

Was she threatening him by using the title of Crown Princess continuously in the argument?

.....

” YOU! YOU! HOW CAN YOU NOT FEEL A BIT OF REGRET AFTER DOING SOMETHING SO DISGRACEFUL?” Yang Luoyang was in disbelief to see how bold and shameless Yang Ning had become to argue with him like this.

He was not angry at her because she had attacked the Head Maid from behind. Why would he waste his time and energy on her for something so futile?

He was angry at her for not following his orders and acting out of the usual. If she continues to behave like this and keeps defying his words, it will be hard for him to control her when she enters the palace after marrying the Crown Prince.

At that time, her getting engaged to the Crown Prince and entering the palace, all of his efforts will go in vain.

That’s why he cannot and will never allow her to go astray and act on her own. She can never-ever act on her own or carry her ideas.

Because if that happened, she would be of no use to him. He will have to discard her just like useless, rotten furniture in the house.

He does not need a daughter who stays filial to her father, he needs a puppet who follows his commands without using her brain or ideas.

That’s the only thing that Yang Ning can do to repay him for everything.

While Yang Luoyang was surprised to see a different side of Yang Ning that he has never witnessed before, Yang Ning cannot be more disappointed in him than ever.

She used to think that villains are the most perfect yet cruel character in a novel who loves to torture the main leads and watch them being tormented.

However, seeing the living conditions of Yang Ning and in what conditions she had grown up before entering the palace, for the first time she was feeling sympathetic towards the villains.

No villain is born vicious. It’s the society and the people around them who force them to become vicious and then loathe them for becoming something they were forced to turn into.

” My Lord, If punishing an insolent maid who disrespects their Masters by not greeting them every time they meet and steals from them is a crime, then I have committed a grave sin. Please punish me!” Rather than fighting against the Senior Maid, Yang Ning decided to choose the other way.

Attacking is not the only method to win the battle. Sometimes one needs to put down their sword to lure the enemy and let them walk into your trap on their own.

” What? Steal? Who dared to steal anything from the Yang Household?” Yang Luoyang roared and turned to look at Xing Bao who was standing behind Chang Ah and was also panicking upon hearing the accusations of Yang Ning.

” My....Lord....I did not do anything. I never steal anything from the Yang Household. How can I do something outrageous? The young lady is accusing me falsely.” Xing Bao panicked and fell to the ground and pleaded while kneeling on the ground.

Chang Ah frowned and turned to Yang Ning, who was calmly watching Xing Bao’s drama and was trying to control her exhausting yawn.

” Yang Ning, if you are upset at me for something, you can let it out on me. However, why are you accusing someone innocent of stealing and adamant about ruining their life?” Chang Ah looked at Yang Ning with a troubled expression.

Yang Ning scoffed inwardly as she wanted to applaud Chang Ah’s impromptu performance. Her crocodile tears reminded her of someone who has backstabbed her once.

She took a deep breath to control her overflowing emotions and not slap Chang Ah in the face to make her drop her act.

She tortures Yang Ning when Yang Luoyang is not around, however, in front of him she acts like a miserable stepmother who is being disrespected by her daughter.

” Mother, if the Head Maid is innocent, then are you implying that I am lying? Do you trust a maid more than your daughter?” Yang Ning said while wearing troubled expressions on her face.

If Chang Ah knows how to act, then how can she stay back and let her trample on her?

Aye.... That’s not going to happen.

Yang Ning was clenching her fists under the table when she addressed Chang Ah as her mother. Calling Chang Ah her mother was nothing less than a disgrace to the title of Mother.

‘ I am sorry Mom. However, saving my life is more important than anything at the moment. Don’t take it to heart. Muahh!’

She apologized to her mom inwardly and was hoping that she won’t take it to heart and will hold a grudge later for calling someone else her mother, even though she might never find out about this action of hers.

At the counter-question of Yang Ning, Chang Ah was left speechless. She was not sure what to say. Because whatever she says at the moment, everything will go against her.

” I....I do not intend to mean that. Of course, I trust you. You’re my daughter after all. However, you have to tell us what Xing Bao has stolen from you for you to accuse her like that.” Chang Ah said while glancing at her maid cautiously.

However, she sighed in relief to see the expressions of Xing Bao. If she is saying that she has stolen nothing from Yang Ning, then Yang Ning must be lying to protect herself.

And this lie can be useful to her to punish Yang Ning even more harshly than before.

Yang Luoyang nodded at Chang Ah’s words and added, ” That’s right. Just because you’re the eldest daughter of the Yang Household, do not think that you can do anything.”

” If you have any evidence that Chang Ah’s maid has stolen something from you and what you are saying is true, I am giving you my word that I will punish her myself.” Yang Luoyang announced and looked at Yang Ning to read her expressions.

However, rather than getting anxious, she nodded and asked to confirm again, ” So....I just have to show the evidence that the Head Maid has stolen something from me to prove my claims?”

Yang Luoyang nodded and agreed to her words, ” That’s right. I am sure you will have no issues in doing that if you’re innocent and sure about your claims. Right?” He asked coldly, giving her a warning through his sharp gaze.

If she fails to present evidence against Xing Bao, he will punish her severely so that she will never dare to open her mouth in front of her again.

This will teach her a stern lesson to never speak a word in front of him and only do what he says.

” Hmm! So you’re saying that you trust a mere maid more than me? That’s heart-breaking.” Yang Ning said in seriousness as if she was hurt by Yang Luoyang’s words and sighed heavily before saying, ” Alright. What can I do when my father trusts outsiders more than me?”

It was the moment when she did not even care about being polite to Yang Luoyang.

Because she knows that he cannot dare to do anything to her, because of her engagement with the Crown Prince and seeing the way His Majesty praised her in front of everyone, he will not dare to harm her as she has been noticed by His Majesty and she will come into his use in the future.

” If you want evidence, I will surely show you one. However, if I was proven to be right, I want the authority to punish the Head Maid myself and no one will intervene in it. NO ONE!” Yang Ning suggested while glancing at Chang Ah with her side-eye.

If Yang Luoyang were to punish Xing Bao, Chang Ah would find a way to give her the weakest punishment possible and everything would be in vain.

How can she let the opportunity to take revenge on the Senior Maid go in vain, who has not only tortured Yang Ning but her precious Xiaowei as well?

She should do this honor herself to make them pay for the sinful deeds that they have committed.

‘ It’s time to pay, baby.’ Yang Ning smirked as she tapped her fingers on the table playfully and waited for the real game to start.