I woke up as the Villainous Empress

104 Tea Time I

“Lady Yang Ning, how come you’re here?” Gu Lan hurriedly came outside the Dragon Pavilion to greet Yang Ning when he heard about her arrival.

He looked at her and Xiaowei in puzzlement and wondered how did she manage to come inside without the guards stopping her at the main gate of the entrance?

The last time she came to the Dragon Pavilion, it was because she came with Yu Ling who has permission to go in and out of the palace.

However, Yang Ning doesn’t have permission since she hasn’t married the Crown Prince yet and needs a permission pass to go in and out of the palace given by any member of the royalty.

She can come along with Yang Luoyang who works at the royal court, but he was doubtful that she would come along with him, considering their complicated relationship.

Yang Ning noticed the confusion in his eyes and showed him the permission plaque that Zheng Liang gave her the other day when she came to the royal palace to visit him.

“I came inside with the help of this. His Highness gave it to me the other day.” She said while she waited for him to check the plaque thoroughly and let her go in.

While they were having tea, he gave her the permission plaque so that she could come to the royal palace anytime she wanted and would not need to go through the checking at the main gate.

She simply needs to show this plaque to them and the guards will know that she is the person of the Crown Prince.

.....

At that time, she was doubtful if she is going to use this plaque ever again but looks like the opportunity came rather quickly to her.

Who would have expected that she would visit the palace again just four days after her visit?

After You Ling instructed her to not go anywhere during this time, Yang Ning wanted to follow her words and stay at the Yang Household.

However, strangely she couldn’t sleep at night properly and kept worrying about how he must be doing at the palace.

It must be so boring and exhausting to stay alone in that room without talking to anyone. Here they don’t have phones or laptops on which people could watch their favorite dramas or play games or listen to some music at least while spending time alone.

How is he going to pass his time and entertain himself while staying alone in the room?

If she doesn’t talk to Xiaowei and listen to the gossip that she overhears from the other maids, she would have gotten bored in half a day only and would not be able to maintain her mental health.

That’s why after much consideration, she decided to come to the palace to take matters into her hands.

She needs to repay him for helping her so many times. She will count it as an interest in her repaying his kindness.

___

Gu Lan took the plaque from her hands and pursed his lips to see the small plaque made of peacock green jade which represents the permission and the will of the Crown Prince.

If the Crown Prince hands over this plaque to someone, it gives the authority to the person to go in and out of the palace at any time and no guards will be able to stop that person.

It is such a dangerous yet powerful plaque and the royal family members have to be cautious while giving out these royal permission plaques to people.

These plaques come helpful in an emergency or when there is a situation of war. It allows the secret messengers to go in and out of the palace without any restrictions.

If this small thing falls into someone’s hands, they could misuse its powers and could do whatever they want.

Yet he handed over this influential plaque to Yang Ning just like that?

A few days ago, he was still suspicious about her and was suspicious of her involvement with Yang Luoyang.

However, now he doesn’t care about it at all.

It was Yang Luoyang who put him into this situation yet he was acting so differently than before.

Even though Yang Ning is his daughter, he has handed her the permission plaque to visit him at the palace anytime.

What got into him so suddenly?

Looks like he thinks of Lady Yang Ning more significantly than he had imagined.

“I understand. Here is your plaque.” He controlled his curiosity and kept it to himself only before asking her the reason behind her visit. ” However, how come you’re here?” He asked.

” I am sure you must be aware by now that His Highness cannot meet anyone at the moment. Even if it’s you, Lady Yang Ning, I would have to request you to go back.” He politely asked her to return to the Yang Household since there is nothing she can do at the Dragon Pavilion because Zheng Liang cannot meet her.

“Yes, Milady. We should take a leave.” Xiaowei’s eyes lit up when she heard his words. She held onto Yang Ning’s arm and prompted her to go back with her.

Yang Ning looked at her with a frown before turning to Gu Lan and said, ” Guard Gu Lan, thank you for your suggestion.”

” However, I didn’t come all the way here to go back just like that. Moreover, I never said that I came to meet His Highness.” She added.

“Yes? Then what are you here for?” He looked at her in confusion and couldn’t understand what she meant by this.

If she didn’t come here to meet Zheng Liang, then what business could she have at the Dragon Pavilion?

Yang Ning smiled at him meaningfully and said, ” I am here to have tea. Now don’t tell me that you wouldn’t even offer me a cup of tea?”

” I came here after walking so long on this scorching hot day. A cup of tea and some refreshments are the least you could offer me. I am a guest at the Dragon Pavilion after all.” She said,

“Ah. I apologize for my ignorance. I should have offered you some refreshments sooner. Please come inside with me. I will ask someone to arrange some tea and refreshments for you in the back garden near the lake.”

Gu Lan apologized to her immediately and suggested she go to the back of the garden to take some rest while he arranged the refreshments. He was curious why she suddenly wants to have tea at the Dragon pavilion when His Highness cannot see her but he has no choice but to go along with her.

However, Yang Ning raised her hand and politely rejected him and said, ” It’s alright. Rather than having tea near the lake, I would like to enjoy my tea somewhere else.”

“Please make the arrangements in that place.” She said,

Gu Lan frowned and wondered where she wanted to have tea. The back garden of the dragon pavilion is the most beautiful place at the dragon pavilion, where does she want to go to have tea other than that?

“Yes? But where?” He asked with creased brows.

He was already worried about His Highness as he wasn’t eating his meals properly and had been locked inside his chamber alone.

He wants to ask him how he is doing, however, he cannot ask that question as well.

Rather than doing anything to help His Highness and not disturb anyone, Yang Ning decided to come here to increase everyone’s problems and was expecting them to attain her demands.

Yang Ning smiled at him and ignored his aggravated expressions and said, “Arrange the tea table in the hall in front of the chamber of His Highness.”