I woke up as the Villainous Empress

Fang Li sat quietly in her hospital bed, gazing at the soft morning light filtering through the window. The sterile white walls seemed to close in on her, a stark contrast to the ornate palace chambers she remembered.

It had been only yesterday when she woke from the coma, but the realization that her life as Yang Ning was nothing more than a dream still felt raw, like a fresh wound that wouldn't stop aching.

Her mind was a whirlwind—pain, confusion, and a hollow sense of loss gnawed at her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold onto the memory of Zheng Liang's face, the warmth of his touch, the sound of his voice. But the more she reached for those memories, the further they drifted away, slipping like sand through her fingers.

"It can't all have been a lie," she whispered to herself, her hand instinctively moving to her flat stomach. The phantom sensation of life stirring within her still lingered—a cruel reminder of something that never was.

Her chest tightened. Zheng Liang. Was he just a figment of her imagination? The love she felt for him was too real to just disappear. She still worried about him. What happened after I was stabbed?

Was he safe? Rationally, she knew these thoughts were foolish, but her heart clung to them, refusing to let go.

Opening her eyes, she gazed at the steady drip of the IV next to her bed, its rhythm a constant reminder of where she truly was. The life she had lived, the battles she had fought, the love she had found—it had all evaporated like morning mist. Yet the emotions clung to her, raw and unrelenting, tormenting her with their intensity.

"Zheng Liang, the palace, the baby... everything was not real!" she thought, gripping the blanket tightly. It had felt so real, yet here she was—back in a cold, sterile hospital room, alone with memories no one else could understand. The weight of her loss pressed down on her, threatening to crush her. How could she grieve for people who had never existed?

How could she move forward when part of her heart was still trapped in that dream?

A soft knock on the door pulled her from the storm of her thoughts.

"Come in," she called, her voice still slightly raspy.

Her stepmother, Yan Mei, peeked in with a gentle smile that didn't quite mask the worry in her eyes. "Morning, sweetheart. How are you feeling today? Do you still have any dizziness or headache?"

Fang Li managed a small smile, though it felt forced. The concern in Yan Mei's voice made her chest tighten with guilt. "I'm... okay, I guess. The dizziness is mostly gone, but I still have a slight headache. It's not too bad though." She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything."

Yan Mei stepped inside, her movements careful as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace. She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a few strands of hair behind Fang Li's ear. The gentle touch sent a wave of comfort through Fang Li, momentarily quieting the chaos in her mind.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"That's understandable. You've been through quite an ordeal. Just take it one step at a time, okay?"

Fang Li nodded, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and loss. "It's just... so surreal," she whispered, her voice wavering.

Yan Mei sighed softly and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I can't even imagine what you're going through. But remember, we're here for you, every step of the way."

Before Fang Li could respond, the door burst open with a bang that made both women jump. Her younger brother, Fang Bolin, charged in, his face flushed with excitement and eyes wide with joy.

"Sister! You finally woke up!" Bolin practically shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. He rushed to her side, nearly tripping over his own feet in his eagerness.

The commotion drew their father to the room. He appeared in the doorway, his usual composure broken by a mix of relief and concern. "Bolin!" he reprimanded, though a smile tugged at his lips. "This is a hospital. Keep your voice down."

Bolin ducked his head sheepishly but couldn't contain his grin. His hands were shaking, and his eyes glistened with unshed tears of relief as he reached Fang Li's bedside.

Despite the emotional turmoil inside her, Fang Li felt a genuine smile tugging at her lips. Bolin's enthusiasm was infectious. He hugged her tightly, and she gasped, "Are you trying to suffocate me to death? Get off me."

"No! I am not going anywhere," Bolin declared, squeezing her even tighter.

Fang Li rolled her eyes but didn't push him away. "Fine, you big baby. Just loosen up a bit, will you? I'd like to breathe."

Bolin grinned wide, unbothered by the jab. "Hey, I'll have you know I've gotten way better at... uh, hugging." His voice trembled despite his attempt at humor, and he reluctantly loosened his grip.

Their father stepped closer, his eyes never leaving Fang Li's face. "Bolin, give your sister some space. She's still recovering." His voice was gruff with emotion, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor.

Bolin pulled away but didn't go far, his eyes still brimming with excitement. "Sorry, sorry, but Sister! You won't believe what happened while you were... you know, taking your extended nap."

"Bolin," their father interrupted, his tone stern. "That's enough. Your sister needs rest, not wild stories."

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Fang Li's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "No, wait," she insisted, turning to her father. "I want to hear this. Please, let him finish."

Her father hesitated, concern etched on his face, but he nodded reluctantly.

Bolin shot a grateful look at Fang Li before continuing, his words tumbling out in a rush. "Someone posted a video online... of you and Ye Lei! Your confrontation with her after the match when you were... you were accused of consuming..." He paused, unable to complete his words. "Sister.

It's all out there now! See?"

The memory hit Fang Li like a physical blow. She felt the blood drain from her face, her heart pounding in her ears. "Wait, what? Our argument was recorded? How? When?"

Yan Mei leaned forward, her expression softer. "It's true, sweetie. Someone recorded your confrontation with Ye Lei after... the incident. In the video, she admits to what she did. It's all out in the open now."

"Here, look!" Bolin practically shoved his phone into her hands, his excitement palpable.

With trembling hands, Fang Li took the phone and watched as the scene unfolded on the screen. There she was, facing off against Ye Lei, her voice filled with hurt and anger. Ye Lei's cold admission rang out clearly: "Fine, you want to hear it? Yes, I spiked your water bottle. I made sure you'd test positive. Happy now?" The video was grainy, but the words were unmistakable.

Fang Li's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't believe that her confrontation with Ye Lei, born out of anger, had been recorded. She had thought that her life was ruined, but it turned out someone had witnessed it all and posted it online.

Bolin nodded eagerly, his grin practically splitting his face. "Well, a guy who witnessed the whole confrontation and was by chance at the scene made this video and posted it online, tagging the sports committee and the police department. It caused a huge commotion! The surprising thing was, that guy was also a sports athlete and was highly respected in his field.

His fans and people believed his words and the video. Since it was after you fell into a coma, this video enraged people and your fans even more, and the committee had no choice but to take action."

"And now Ye Lei's not only been kicked out of the team, but she's been investigated and blacklisted. She can never play sports anymore. Not only that, but there's a case going on against her. Everyone knows the truth, Sister. Your name has been cleared!"

Yan Mei smiled gently, resting a hand on Fang Li's shoulder. "Your fans are rallying behind you. The support out there is overwhelming. People are finally seeing what really happened."

Fang Li felt a mix of relief and disbelief wash over her. Her name had been cleared, her reputation restored, but it all felt so overwhelming. "I... I don't even know where to begin. It's like the world's turned upside down again. I used to be so proud of my - everything.

But now I don't feel excited anymore. It feels as if everyone will turn against me once again when someone accuses me of something."

Her father stepped closer, his voice calm but warm. "You don't need to think of anything. You don't have to figure it all out right now. Just focus on getting better, one day at a time."

Fang Li nodded, her thoughts still racing. "Yes, Dad. I won't think about anything else but recovering." Even though she said so, her thoughts kept wandering to the stranger who helped her. She couldn't help but feel gratitude for him.

The idea that someone she didn't even know had inadvertently become her savior filled her with a mix of emotions – relief, curiosity, and a profound sense of thankfulness.