I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Before he could complete his words, Yang Ning anticipated what he was saying and interrupted him, saying, "Guard Gu Lan, you don't need to worry about it. After all, I am not just any woman, but the Crown Princess, and I came here to look around the training ground and inspect if everything is going on smoothly."

"As the Crown Princess responsible for the internal management of the palace, can I not come here to ensure everything is running smoothly, including the efficiency of the kitchen personnel and the cleaning staff of this place? While the training grounds might not be directly under my jurisdiction, the broader aspects of managing this place certainly fall within my authority."

"While inspecting the operations of this place, is it wrong for me to explore and engage in some archery before returning? As the Crown Princess, do I not have the liberty to entertain myself in this manner? Hmm?" She asked, leaving no room for him to refuse.

Yang Ning never expected it before, but after His Majesty gave her the power to handle the palace affairs and the budget for management and organization, things became easier for her, elevating her status and making her stronger and more powerful than before.

Gu Lan smiled and shook his head, "Pardon me for my ignorance, Your Highness. You're right. Please feel free to look around. I will not disturb you." He said, stepping back and giving Yang Ning the space to explore freely.

Yang Ning smiled to see him stepping back immediately. She could sense that Gu Lan's perspective about her had changed. In the past, he might have done anything to prevent her from practicing without Zheng Liang's permission. However, it seemed that some things had evolved and his opinion of her had shifted for the better. It made things easier for her in the long run.

It was a good thing that Gu Lan was no longer her foe but a friend whom she could trust.

After Gu Lan stepped back, Yang Ning stood in front of one of the stands where the bows and arrows were kept. She picked up a bow and an arrow, positioning herself while targeting the board. Her posture was straight and disciplined, with a focused gaze, as if she had been doing this for years.

Even the new guards, who were physically trained and proficient in archery, sometimes lacked the perfect posture as they were still in the learning phase. In contrast, Yang Ning executed it naturally, as if it had been embedded in her body, allowing her to move swiftly and confidently.

~Shoong~

Gu Lan's eyes widened in surprise as he watched Yang Ning hit the bullseye with her first shot. How was that possible? He had witnessed Yang Ning's impressive shooting skills when she killed the wild bear with a single shot. He also discovered that she had saved Zheng Liang's life by shooting an enemy during the ambush outside the palace.

He knew she had impressive skills, but seeing her consistently hitting bullseyes, and achieving a perfect score, shot after shot, made him realize that it wasn't just a coincidence. The Crown Princess was more mysterious and skilled than he had ever imagined.

A woman who appeared frail, like glass, and had spent most of her life within the protective walls of the Yang Household had somehow acquired remarkable archery skills.

Skills like hers usually required years of dedicated practice. Gu Lan couldn't fathom how someone like her, with a sheltered upbringing, had managed to master such intricate archery techniques. Despite her dissatisfaction and discomfort confined to the Yang Household, it seemed implausible for her to have acquired such skills.

The mystery deepened, leaving Gu Lan perplexed.

Just like Gu Lan, Xiaowei was left speechless and excited witnessing Yang Ning showcase her impressive archery skills. Xiaowei had already seen Yang Ning's marvelous performance at Lady Gu's party, but seeing her dressed in training uniform and consistently hitting perfect scores with every arrow stirred strange emotions within her.

Xiaowei sensed that something had changed in Her Lady after she recovered from a high fever about a year ago, surviving a dangerous situation. Though she couldn't pinpoint the nature of the change, the lady in front of her sometimes felt unfamiliar, mysterious, and like someone else.

Regardless, Xiaowei was glad that Yang Ning had changed for the better and could now stand up for herself. Yang Ning's past self had endured a life filled with pain and restrictions, and witnessing her current freedom and happiness brought immense joy to Xiaowei.

While Yang Ning was deeply engrossed in practicing her archery skills, dedicating nearly an hour to it, she lost track of time. Little did she know that the soldiers had returned and were now standing at a distance, gossiping and marveling at her remarkable archery prowess.

"Wait, are my eyes deceiving me, or did Her Highness hit all perfect scores? Is that even possible?" one of the guards exclaimed in disbelief.

"I had thought only His Highness and Guard Gu Lan had such impressive archery skills until now, hitting a perfect score for all the shots they released. But our Crown Princess is no less than the two most impressive men who have been doing this their whole life."

"I always thought our Crown Princess was a picture of elegance and kindness, but seeing her nail those shots, she's just astonishing. Who would've thought she was a secret archery prodigy? Move aside, His Highness and Guard Gu Lan, we've got a new idol," another guard added, genuinely surprised.

"I thought women were supposed to be delicate flowers, but our Princess is proving that strength is just as attractive. I wouldn't mind having a strong woman as my wife if she looks this amazing doing it," one of the guards whispered, his eyes still fixed on Yang Ning, who was completely immersed in her archery practice, admiring her impressive skills.

However, after expressing his thoughts, the man suddenly felt a chilling presence behind him, as if someone was ready to unleash a torrent of wrath. Slowly turning around, he found all the guards parting to create a path, leaving him standing alone in the middle.

To his horror, the source of the intense gaze was none other than the Crown Prince himself. "Your…Your Highness!" the man stammered nervously, realizing that his candid remarks might have unintended consequences.