I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Additionally, she had also welcomed the wives of affluent and well-respected aristocratic merchants who held a prominent reputation in the capital.

Chang Ah graciously hosted the ladies, serving them high-quality tea and an assortment of delectable snacks.

With everyone gathered, the ladies engaged in lively conversations, discussing their husbands\' accomplishments, proudly showcasing their new jewelry acquisitions, and sharing the latest gossip.

Chang Ah took pleasure and pride in observing the ladies enjoying the tea party but couldn\'t help noticing the silent woman who sipped her tea with poise and elegance. She remained silent, not engaging in any conversations, and her demeanor suggested that she considered herself above the others in attendance.

Frowning slightly, Chang Ah picked up a tray of exotic biscuits and said, "Madam Guo, please indulge in these unique biscuits with your tea. These are sweet and even have nuts in them. They were gifted to my husband by foreign ambassadors. I insist you give them a try." Chang Ah extended the tray of biscuits to Madam Guo, who held considerable influence among the noble ladies.

She harbored a strong dislike for this woman, but given the influence and reputation Madam Guo held, she couldn\'t afford to ignore her when hosting a tea party. Moreover, realizing the potential benefits of developing a connection with her, particularly the immense wealth and power wielded by Madam Guo\'s husband, Yang Luoyang had advised her to hang out and give special attention to this woman

Guo Yurong arched her eyebrows and glanced at the tray offered by Chang Ah. "I am not fond of sweets. You don\'t need to concern yourself with me. I only came here because Madam Liu insisted on attending the tea party. Thank you for your concern but I will manage on my own," she replied curtly, effectively shutting down any attempt at conversation.

Chang Ah frowned and clenched her teeth in frustration. She awkwardly set the tray aside and forced a smile, saying, "If you ever require anything, please don\'t hesitate to let me know. I will have it arranged immediately."

"No need," Guo Yurong responded indifferently, focusing on sipping her tea, completely ignoring Chang Ah as if she didn\'t exist.

Chang Ah\'s frown deepened, and she bit her lip in annoyance. \'If she has no intention of conversing, why does she even attend these gatherings? She always dampens the atmosphere.\'

Sensing the increasingly awkward atmosphere, Madam Liu, who had brought Guo Yurong to the party, let out a nervous chuckle and turned to Chang Ah, attempting to shift the conversation. "Mrs. Yang, have you chosen a dress for tomorrow? What kind of dress are you considering for the occasion?" she inquired.

Chang Ah, still somewhat irked by Guo Yurong, raised her eyebrows in confusion at Madam Liu\'s question. "Prepare a dress for tomorrow? Is there a significant event happening?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.

Madam Liu frowned, exchanging bewildered glances with the other ladies. Even Guo Yurong, who had been quietly sipping her tea, paused to show interest by raising her eyebrows.

Observing Chang Ah\'s complete bewilderment, Madam Liu probed further, "Mrs. Yang, tomorrow the Crown Princess will hold her first-ever tea party at the royal palace. Did you not receive an invitation? I received it a few days ago."

"You should have received the invitation ahead of everyone else, considering that you are her mother, aren\'t you?" Madam Liu asked in confusion, digging for more gossipy information.

The ladies exchanged whispers and shared baffled glances. Everyone in the capital was aware that Chang Ah was not Yang Ning\'s biological mother, but rather her stepmother. Whispers had long circulated that Yang Ning\'s relationship with her stepmother was far from amiable.

Yet the fact that she had excluded her stepmother from her first tea party as Crown Princess — an event where even the pretense of family unity was traditionally upheld — was a bold move that raised many eyebrows among the nobility.

Chang Ah was left utterly dumbfounded by this revelation, and as she glanced around, she could see the ladies now looking at her with curious and perplexed gazes. It had become painfully obvious that Yang Ning had extended invitations to everyone except her.

Chang Ah\'s fists tightened as a wave of fury washed over her. \'That bitch…How dare she? Does Yang Ning think she\'s above her now?\' The bitter thoughts coiled like snakes in her mind. The image of Yang Ning, once confined to a cramped chamber, far less grand than those of the servants, now seemed a distant memory.

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\'Has she forgotten where she came from? Does marrying the Crown Prince mean she can just overlook her family?\'

After marrying the Crown Prince, Yang Ning learned to disregard her family and exhibited no fear or respect toward anyone. She has become a shameless bitch who needs to be taught a lesson.

Chang Ah\'s cheeks burned a bright shade of red, a clear sign of her embarrassment under the watchful eyes of the noble ladies. With a strained smile, she managed to maintain her composure. "Oh, you were referring to Yang Ning\'s tea party, weren\'t you? Of course, I am aware of it. How could I not be? After all, I am her mother," she said with a laugh, attempting to brush off the awkward moment.

She waved a dismissive hand, attempting to laugh off the earlier misunderstanding. "I must have misunderstood your reference. My apologies for the mix-up. I have chosen a lovely blue dress for tomorrow\'s occasion. What about you, Madam Liu?" She efficiently steered the conversation away, eager to divert attention from herself.

Observing Chang Ah\'s apparent sincerity, the ladies dismissed their gossipy thoughts and resumed their cheerful conversations. However, Guo Yurong, who had remained silent, couldn\'t help but smirk as she noticed Chang Ah\'s clenched fists and dull complexion. It was clear that Chang Ah was deeply affected.

\'Ah, it seems tomorrow\'s tea party will be quite the spectacle,\' Guo Yurong remarked to herself, well aware that she too had received an invitation to Yang Ning\'s tea party the following day.