I woke up as the Villainous Empress

A month passed in the blink of an eye after His Majesty entrusted Yang Ning with the responsibility of overseeing the administration and treasury of the royal palace. During this time, she diligently familiarized herself with her new duties and learned about the management of the royal family under the guidance of the Head of Court Ladies, Lady Yu Ling.

Upon His Majesty's command, Lady Yu Ling took on the role of a patient teacher, meticulously guiding Yang Ning through her responsibilities and actions, one step at a time.

Yang Ning felt a sense of comfort in Lady Yu Ling's presence. Having been taught palace etiquette and manners by her before her marriage into the royal family, she knew that despite Yu Ling's appearance of strict discipline, she excelled at her work and always sought the best for her and Zheng Liang.

Although Yang Ning had concerns about her ability to perform well and handle such a huge responsibility herself, the reassuring presence of Lady Yu Ling by her side instilled confidence that she would do well and there wouldn't be any major mistakes in her decisions.

During their classes, Yang Ning observed Yu Ling's calm and unwavering confidence in her, it became evident why His Majesty and Zheng Liang held her in such profound trust and regard, akin to a cherished mother.

Lady Yu Ling indeed served as a motherly figure to Zheng Liang, offering Yang Ning the same warmth and comfort that she extended to Zheng Liang as well.

___

Yang Ning was sitting in the study room, fully engrossed in the documents that Court Lady Yu Ling had provided to review and understand the policies implemented by the former Empress to manage the budget of the royal palace.

After Zheng Liang had entrusted her with the keys to the study room at the Dragon Pavilion and granted her permission to utilize the space for her work and document storage, Yang Ning found herself visiting it almost daily. It had become a routine for both her and Lady Yu Ling to convene in the study, delving deep into the policies of palace management.
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Yang Ning had taken to reading more political and historical books lately, eager to grasp the nuances of palace politics, ensuring she would stay calm when handling palace affairs.

It was an unexpected situation. Who would have imagined that she, once an archery athlete, would suddenly ascend to the role of overseeing the management and treasury of the palace? What's more, she held the esteemed title of Crown Princess of the Empire. The absurdity of it all had become her current reality.

As Yang Ning delved into the paperwork spread across the table, the sound of a gentle knock on the door interrupted her concentration.

"Your Highness," a guard stationed outside announced, "Lady Yu Ling has arrived."

"Please, let her in," Yang Ning replied without lifting her head from the documents.

As Yang Ning scrutinized another document, the door opened, and the soft sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears. She closed the document in her hands and set it aside, then looked up to warmly greet Lady Yu Ling with a smile. "Lady Yu Ling."

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Yu Ling returned the smile and exchanged greetings with Yang Ning before gracefully taking her seat across from her. Given her role as Yang Ning's mentor during this period, they dispensed with the usual formalities. As her mentor, Yu Ling didn't need to address Yang Ning using her title; she could simply use her name.

Their meetings had become a regular occurrence in the study room at the Dragon Pavilion, where Yu Ling patiently instructed Yang Ning on her responsibilities and demonstrated the appropriate courses of action in various situations.

With Yu Ling comfortably settled in her chair, Yang Ning smiled and inquired, "Lady Yu Ling, what new assignment have you brought for me today?"

Yu Ling shook her head, wearing an elegant smile as she spoke, "This time, there will be no more theoretical assignments. Over the past month, I have shared all my knowledge about running the palace administration and management with you. Now, it's time for you to assume your duties and take charge of the royal palace."

As Yang Ning listened to Yu Ling's words, a sudden rush of nerves swept over her. She took a deep breath and asked with a serious tone, "Then…what are my next steps now? As the Crown Princess, what should I do to manage the palace responsibilities?"

"Taking charge of the palace's management means more than just paperwork and decisions; it's about presence and relationships," Yu Ling said with a measured tone. "You need to mingle with the noble ladies and create bonds that will serve the palace and your role within it. Respect isn't given with a title like Crown Princess—it's built through showing your influence and stature.

Remember, alliances forged now can be the pillars of your success later on."

Yang Ning furrowed her brow in frustration, struggling to grasp Yu Ling's advice. She asked once more, "But how can I possibly do that? Even before my marriage to Zheng Liang, it seemed that many people harbored a dislike for me. They viewed me with skepticism due to the rumors surrounding my betrothal to Zheng Liang, and this sentiment has persisted since I became the Crown Princess.

Given this situation, how can I establish a foothold in society? It's not as though I can force people to like me."

Yang Ning was aware of how her stepmother had maliciously tarnished her reputation within society. She had been portrayed as an aloof, rude, and indifferent eldest daughter of the Yang Household who had allegedly bullied her stepmother. The impact of these baseless rumors had been so severe that many still believed them, casting judgmental glances her way during public gatherings and meetings.

Her title as Crown Princess had not opened the expected social doors. Invitations to tea parties or social events with other noble ladies were notably absent, her social standing seemingly frozen.

Moreover, when she had married Zheng Liang, it had been the responsibility of the Empress to introduce her to other noble ladies, but this hadn't happened. At the time, she also wanted to avoid unnecessary drama and didn't mind the ignorance of the Empress, but now, having chosen to live with Zheng Liang and adapt to this world, she couldn't remain passive.

For the sake of both her and Zheng Liang's future, Yang Ning recognized the necessity to wield influence and garner respect. She couldn't let herself be the Achilles' heel that would bring scandal upon him. Establishing connections with the noble ladies was not just about personal gain—it was about securing a shield for them both against any storms that may lie ahead.

Observing Yang Ning's complex expressions, Yu Ling wore a reassuring smile as she continued, "Building connections isn't about forcing others to respect you; it's a strategic game to gain an advantage and earn their respect. Even if you had a poor reputation in the past, you can change that."

"As you may have heard, the former Empress didn't hail from nobility; she started as a concubine and later ascended to the title of Empress. It might have been easy for people to undermine her, but she managed to retain her position for years and wield power as the Empress. Do you know how she did it?" Yu Ling posed a question for Yang Ning to answer.

Frowning in thought, Yang Ning replied cautiously, "Because she formed connections with noble ladies?"

Yu Ling nodded and continued, "Indeed. The former Empress excelled at creating opportunities for herself and establishing connections that would yield future benefits. Her most significant connection was winning His Majesty's heart. From there, she strategically leveraged her status as His Majesty's most favored concubine to gain favor with others and form alliances.

It's a cycle: you use power to make connections and connections to amass power."

"Are you beginning to grasp what I am getting at?" Yu Ling inquired.

Yang Ning nodded earnestly and asked, "So, you want me to build connections with noble ladies? But how? What can I do to establish these connections?" She rarely gets the chance to go out of the royal palace nor has anyone ever invited her to a tea party. How can she possibly meet the noble ladies?

"Have you ever hosted a tea party since your marriage to the Crown Prince?" Yu Ling inquired.

Yang Ning shook her head in denial. She had never hosted a tea party before, nor had anyone ever asked her to do so. It had been the Empress's responsibility to guide her through these formalities, but the Empress didn't even welcome her when she married Zheng Liang. What could she have expected from her?

"In that case, use this as an opportunity to host your first tea party. I will help you compile a guest list of individuals who would be advantageous to befriend, and who don't have strong affiliations with others. Take this chance to get acquainted with everyone and introduce yourself. We can discuss further actions later," Yu Ling suggested.

Yang Ning understood the direction Yu Ling was guiding her and smiled, "I understand. Thank you for such a wonderful idea. I won't disappoint you."

Yu Ling returned her smile and nodded, saying, "I have faith in you. I am sure you will do well."