I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Fang Li curled up on the floor, clutching the book tightly against her chest. Her body shook with silent sobs, tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes. Her heart ached, replaying those final moments when she had seen Zheng Liang's face—his worried, crying expression as he watched her bleeding, injured state and losing consciousness.

Her whisper, barely audible in the quiet of the room, escaped her trembling lips, "Zheng Liang, I will never leave you…"

Even in sleep, her mind remained restless, caught between two worlds. Her breathing softened, and as she drifted deeper into unconsciousness, the book in her hands began to glow. A soft, warm light spilled from its pages, casting a faint shimmer across the room.

When Fang Li opened her eyes, she was in a dark room. It was completely black, without even a glimmer of light. The suffocating darkness closed in around her, and she couldn't find anyone or a way out. It was as if she were trapped somewhere with no escape.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through the silence, echoing around her.

"Yang Ning… when will you wake up? How long are you going to torment me? Please… stop playing around with me and wake up…"

It was Zheng Liang. His voice, once filled with power and life, was now weak, helpless, barely above a whisper. It broke Fang Li's heart to hear him like this. She gasped, tears welling up in her eyes once more, as she cried out into the darkness, "Zheng Liang! Where are you? I'm here!"

Her words echoed into the void, but no one answered. She frantically searched, turning in all directions, her heart pounding, desperate to find him. Then, as if summoned by her longing, a gate appeared in front of her. The door was ancient, its frame glowing faintly, and next to it stood a woman—a woman dressed in a flowing, intricately designed gown of the finest silks.

The fabric shimmered in shades of delicate blue and gold, moving gently as if caressed by an invisible breeze. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and her soft, serene expression held a calmness that felt familiar.

Fang Li blinked in confusion, her eyes widening as she realized who the woman was.

Yang Ning.

She stared at the figure, unable to speak, her breath catching in her throat. Why was she seeing Yang Ning standing before her? What was happening?

Yang Ning smiled gently, a soft glow surrounding her, making her seem almost ethereal. "You made the right choice, Fang Li," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth. "By revealing Yang Luoyang's true nature, you changed the story. You freed me from the title of Villainess and, in doing so, gave me peace."

She paused, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and lingering pain. "That man was never truly my father... yet I yearned for his affection my whole life. I did everything to impress him - even followed his misguided path. But now, everything has come to an end. I am finally free."

Fang Li's chest tightened, her confusion growing. "But… this was your life. What about you? What about your future?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Why are you giving it to me?"

Yang Ning's smile deepened, as if she had expected this question. "Perhaps this life was never really mine to begin with. Maybe… in some strange way, a part of us was always connected. You didn't just step into my life—you were meant to be here. You deserve to live this life fully, to love and be loved. The connection you have with Zheng Liang is something that transcends both time and worlds."

Fang Li's breath hitched as she stared at Yang Ning. The weight of her words settled over her, and suddenly, the strange events that had led her here felt less like a dream and more like destiny. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"But… what about you?" Fang Li whispered, her voice fragile.

Yang Ning shook her head, her smile peaceful, serene. "I no longer want anything from this life, Fang Li. You are the one meant to carry on. My part in this world is over, and I'm at peace. Go, live the life you were destined to live. The love you and Zheng Liang share is not bound by one life alone.

It's time for you to be happy."

Fang Li tried to speak, but the world around her began to shift. Yang Ning's form started to blur, fading into the distance.

The last thing she heard was Yang Ning's voice, soft and reassuring, "It's time to go back."

Fang Li blinked, her vision hazy, her mind heavy. But as her senses slowly returned, she realized something had changed. The floor beneath her was no longer the cold, tiled surface she had last remembered. It was soft, like silk, and warmth enveloped her. Her body felt unusually heavy, her limbs weak as if she hadn't moved in days. Her throat was dry, and her head throbbed faintly.

Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft light in the room. She wasn't in her apartment anymore.

She was back.

She was Yang Ning again.

The familiar scent of sandalwood filled her senses, grounding her in the present. She felt something firm and warm beneath her cheek—his arm. She was resting on his arm, the weight of it beneath her offering both comfort and security. Her heart raced as she slowly tilted her head, her gaze traveling upward.

Zheng Liang.

He lay beside her on the bed, his other arm wrapped protectively around her, as though even in sleep he feared she would disappear. His once-strong and commanding face was now pale and worn. Dark circles framed his eyes, and the sharp lines of his features had softened, overtaken by exhaustion. A thin layer of stubble covered his chin, and his closed eyes, rimmed with redness, seemed drained of life.

Her chest tightened, seeing him like this. Her body felt weak and sore, her muscles aching with every small movement. Her throat constricted, dry and raspy from disuse.

"Zheng Liang…" Yang Ning whispered, her voice barely audible, hoarse and fragile from more than a month of unconsciousness. It felt strange to speak, her throat burning as the words left her lips.

At the soft sound of her voice, Zheng Liang stirred, his body tensing. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, and he blinked as though unsure if he was dreaming. His breath caught in his throat as his gaze fell on her, wide-eyed, as if seeing a vision he had only dared to hope for.

"You're… awake?" His voice trembled, thick with disbelief.

Yang Ning smiled faintly, though the effort felt draining. She tried to reach out to him, but her arm felt heavy, the muscles stiff from inactivity. "I… I'm back…" Her words came out in a whisper, her voice weak and trembling, barely recognizable even to her.

Zheng Liang shuddered, and in the next instant, he pulled her tightly into his arms, his body trembling as though he feared that if he let go, she would vanish again. His shoulders shook, and for the first time, Yang Ning saw tears fall from his eyes.

"You've been unconscious for more than a month…" Zheng Liang whispered into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought… I thought I'd lost you forever."

Yang Ning leaned into his embrace, her own tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you worry," she rasped, her voice still hoarse, each word a struggle to speak.

Zheng Liang's grip on Yang Ning tightened slightly as he spoke, his voice trembling with emotion. "You lost so much blood," he continued, his words rushing out in a desperate wave, as though all the emotions he'd held in for weeks had finally broken free. "The sword… it slashed your arm. There was so much blood. Even though Master Jiang did his best to bandage the wound… you didn't wake up."

His voice cracked, and his breath hitched as tears welled up in his eyes. "Every day, I waited… hoping… praying that you'd open your eyes."

Yang Ning, her heart aching for him, reached up and placed a weak hand on his cheek, gently wiping away his tears. "I'm here now… I didn't mean to make you worry…"

But as she tried to comfort him, she suddenly winced, a sharp pain radiating from her arm where the injury had been bandaged. Zheng Liang felt her small cry and immediately released her, his eyes widening with worry.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you," he whispered, his voice filled with panic as he carefully adjusted his hold on her.

Yang Ning shook her head slightly, offering him a soft smile despite the dull pain. "It's okay… I'm just still a bit sore."

But as the pain subsided, another realization struck her. Her heart raced, and without thinking, she placed a trembling hand on her abdomen.

"The baby…" Yang Ning whispered, her eyes widening in panic. Memories of being pushed to the ground and the sword cutting through her flashed in her mind. "What about our baby?"