I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Zheng Liang dusted off his hands and meticulously cleaned them with the handkerchief he had on him. He didn't want to come into contact with his wife with hands that had dealt with the man who had disrespected her. Once satisfied, he stood beside Yang Ning, placing a gentle hand on her back and drawing her to his side.

Standing beside Yang Ning, Zheng Liang fixed a chilling gaze on the man writhing on the ground.  "You should be grateful to your father and elder brother. They're the only reasons you're still breathing, and why this hand of yours is still attached to your body. If not for them, I would have chopped it off by now," he warned with a dark edge to his voice.

The man, face smeared with dirt and stained by tears, managed to lift his head, his voice quivering. "Who... who are you? Why... Why are you doing this to me?" Even as he spoke, there was a palpable hesitance in his words, a clear indication of his fear of invoking further wrath from Zheng Liang.

Zheng Liang chuckled, "You'll know soon enough." He replied with casual indifference before adding, "Take this to heart: never harass another woman. Because next time, you won't just have a broken arm to worry about. Got it?" His voice held a distinct edge of warning.

The man bit his tongue and bowed his head, continuing to groan from the pain. He silently prayed for someone to come to his rescue. Given his condition, the walk home would not only be an exercise in humiliation but also a painful ordeal.

Zheng Liang paid no mind to the whimpering man. Instead, he turned to Yang Ning, gently rubbing her back. His tone softening, he asked, "My dear, are you ready to leave?"

Yang Ning looked up at him, her large eyes shimmering with a hint of naivety. "And my lamb skewers? I've heard so much about them, I wanted to try it." She had specially come for those savory lamb skewers and had even patiently queued up to get a taste.

Would she leave without tasting them over a mere disagreement? That would be such a loss for her trip to the carnival.

Zheng Liang's eyebrows knit together as he surveyed the food stall, taking in the shocked expressions of the bystanders. Many were familiar with Qin Cheng and his reputation as a womanizer, but witnessing someone stand up against him in such a way was exceptional.

They were all trying to piece together the identity of the audacious couple who had the gall to confront a member of the Qin Family head-on.

Breaking away from the queue of customers, the stall owner snapped out of his stupor and hurriedly approached them, offering Yang Ning the lamb skewers. "Milady, your lamb skewers," he said humbly. "Please, enjoy them."

Yang Ning's eyes widened in surprise at the generous portion presented to her. "I didn't order this many," she commented, genuinely taken aback.

The stall owner quickly shook his head, responding with sincerity, "They're on the house, Milady. Please take them." From the woman's elegant attire and the man's boldness in standing up to the notorious young master of the Qin Family, it was clear they weren't just any nobles. Their audacity in challenging the prominent Qin family suggested they had significant backing.

Moreover, he didn't want to risk any further confrontation with them. Moreover, the longer they stayed, the greater the chance that his evening business would be disrupted.

The last thing he needed was another altercation at his stall.

Zheng Liang was pleased by the stall owner's respectful attitude and decided to show his appreciation. He reached into his pocket, withdrew a pouch filled with gold coins, and handed it to the surprised vendor.

"Take it. It's for your lamb skewers," Zheng Liang insisted, his generosity evident.

The vendor's eyes bulged in shock. The sum before him was more than he would make even on his best night. His skewers, usually bringing just a handful of copper coins, could never amount to this gold fortune. Keep exploring on m-vl-em-pyr

This pouch alone was comparable to an entire year's earnings, and here he was, reaping it from just a few skewers. "My lord, such a generous amount for mere lamb skewers? I am not sure if it's fitting," he uttered, his voice tinged with hesitancy and concern about accepting the overwhelming generosity.

Zheng Liang maintained his smile and replied, "My wife liked the lamb skewers you make. Think of this as a token of our appreciation for your culinary skills." He paused, his tone taking a more somber note. "Those who please my wife earn my appreciation. On the other hand, those who disrespect her will face consequences." He said while glancing at the man on the ground.

The vendor gulped audibly, catching onto the underlying threat, his eyes darting momentarily to the fallen man before meeting Zheng Liang's gaze with a mix of respect and caution. "Thank you, my lord. I understand completely. I will make sure to continue serving the best skewers for milady in the future," he responded earnestly, eager to stay in the good graces of this mysterious couple.

Zheng Liang didn't say any more to the vendor and merely glanced at Yang Ning, saying, "Shall we, my love?"

Yang Ning responded with a nod, already savoring one of the skewers. "Sure, let's go now." Juggling the skewer, she passed the shopping bags she had been holding to him.

Both Gu Lan and Xiaowei moved forward, attempting to take the bags from Zheng Liang's hands. However, a brief but stern look from Zheng Liang had them both retreating instantly.

With a contented smile, Zheng Liang happily took on the role of carrying his wife's bags as she delighted in her skewers and even coaxed him to have a bite.

The night unfolded just as he had anticipated.

Yang Ning's evident happiness during the carnival not only brightened the atmosphere but also cultivated a deeper bond between them. Their interactions felt more relaxed, reminiscent of any other ordinary couple deeply in love. While there had been a brief unsettling moment, the ending was as perfect as ever.

As the couple made their way to the carriage, trailed by Gu Lan and Xiaowei, an unexpected interruption occurred. A disheveled woman, clothed in tattered black attire and covered in layers of dirt, emerged suddenly from the shadows. Her untidy hair and dirt-streaked face indicated days, if not weeks, without a proper bath.

"Ahh!"

She darted forward, seizing Yang Ning's hand. The suddenness of her approach made Yang Ning gasp in surprise, dropping her skewers in the process.