Feng Ran continued to retreat, truly not expecting that within the palace walls, there would be servants audacious enough to kill.
Feng Ran suddenly laughed, a laugh that was almost frightening.
She thought the position of Regent Consort was quite useful, but she hadn't anticipated there would be times when it wasn't.
Was she really going to die here?
Seeing Feng Ran constantly backing away, her face etched with fear and her eyes wide with terror, the old woman was overjoyed. She tugged at the white silk in her hands, saying with a beaming smile, "Regent Consort, there's no need to be afraid. This old servant does this sort of thing often. It only takes a moment, and you'll be gone without any pain."
"Regent Consort, do not fear."
The old woman chuckled, "However, Regent Consort would be wise to be obedient and quiet. If you make a fuss, your death will be very unsightly and quite painful."
"Regent Consort, you should think carefully."
Feng Ran listened, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked at the person before her. She truly thought this person had gone mad.
Feng Ran gave a self-mocking laugh. Yes, indeed, perhaps she had overestimated herself in these matters.
Her gaze fell upon the old woman, and she scoffed, "If I, the Regent Consort, were to be harmed by a lowly slave like you, and if I were injured, how would you, a mere slave, explain yourself?"
"Tell me, would the Emperor protect you? Or would he protect me? After all, I am the Regent Consort. I daresay the Emperor would kill you."
Upon hearing this, the old woman's expression turned extremely ugly. She had been about to act but retracted her hand.
She no longer dared to act rashly.
As the old woman turned to leave, Feng Ran said coldly, "Who is the person behind this? You still haven't said."
"Old woman, shouldn't you tell me?"
The old woman was about to bolt, but at that moment, Bei Chen Ye appeared. He directly blocked her path, saying, "If the Consort asks, you should speak."
"Just answer truthfully."
Feng Ran glanced at Bei Chen Ye, truly not expecting him to return so suddenly. This was something she had not anticipated at all.
She had thought Bei Chen Ye would be gone for a long time before reappearing.
For some reason, the moment she saw Bei Chen Ye, she felt an inexplicable sense of peace.
If it were just Feng Ran, the old woman would certainly not confess. But with Bei Chen Ye present, and a sword directly at her throat, the old woman, for the sake of her own life, naturally spilled everything.
"I've told you everything. Can you let me go now?" The old woman trembled all over with fear.
She had never imagined such a terrifying event would happen to her.
She was thinking, if Bei Chen Ye had been even a moment slower, she would have fulfilled the Noble Consort's instructions.
But now? All opportunity was gone. The Noble Consort's orders remained unfulfilled.
In that moment, she had even almost lost her own life.
The old woman knew that if she didn't complete this task, the Noble Consort would not let her off. Thinking of this, her eyes were filled with fear and helplessness.
Whether this matter succeeded or failed, she would have to report back. And she knew clearly that the Noble Consort would personally deal with her.
But even knowing this, as a mere servant, she could only accept her fate.
"Consort, this person..."
Feng Ran walked forward numbly, as if she were a walking corpse. At this moment, what had just happened seemed as if it had never occurred.
"Consort, the Prince is still waiting. And this person, how do you intend to deal with her?"
"Let her go. As a slave, she had no choice but to do this. It wasn't her own volition."
Bei Chen Ye directly released the old woman. Feng Ran knew clearly that if she didn't punish the old woman, Lan Xian certainly would. With Lan Xian's vengeful nature, that old woman would surely suffer greatly.
Feng Ran walked forward, and when Bei Chen Ye tried to approach, Feng Ran turned and said, "Go do your business. I can manage on my own."
Bei Chen Ye still followed. At this moment, Feng Ran said coldly, "Get lost. Don't follow me."
"Consort, it is my duty to protect you by your side. If the Consort does not wish to see me, I can disappear."
As Bei Chen Ye spoke, he vanished without a trace.
But only Feng Ran knew that Bei Chen Ye had not truly left. He was still protecting her from the shadows.
In truth, if it were protection, it would be more accurate to call it surveillance.
The palace maids, upon seeing Feng Ran, all bowed. At that moment, Feng Ran nearly stumbled and fell. One of the maids quickly stepped forward and supported her, immediately asking, "Consort, are you well?"
Feng Ran looked at the person before her, paused for a moment, and then shook her head. "I'm fine."
Feng Ran did not go to find Xuan Yuan Heng. Instead, she left the palace gates alone.
At this moment, Bei Chen Ye appeared and arranged for a carriage from Xuan Yuan's residence to take her back.
Naturally, Feng Ran was already accustomed to everything that was happening before her.
After all, Xuan Yuan Heng would not easily give her an opportunity to escape.
And the moment she walked out of the palace gates, she didn't feel liberated at all.
But upon seeing the carriage from Xuan Yuan's residence, a self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She had moved from one cage to another.
Returning to Xuan Yuan's residence once more, a trace of a smile appeared in Feng Ran's eyes, finding it almost laughable.
After all this wandering, she was still in this place.
She couldn't get out.
How ridiculous.
Xuan Yuan's residence was a place many people wished to enter but couldn't, no matter how hard they tried. Yet, she desperately wanted to escape, only to find she never could.
She wanted to say that fate was too unfair. Why couldn't she be allowed to leave this place? To her, this place was a demonic abyss.
...
The moment Feng Ran arrived at the residence, she discovered that Xuan Yuan Heng was already there.
It turned out she had been thinking too much. Xuan Yuan Heng had already returned, merely leaving her there.
Xuan Yuan Heng looked at Feng Ran, staring intently at her, as if waiting for her to speak and explain herself.
As Feng Ran tried to walk away, Xuan Yuan Heng directly blocked her path, his eyes filled with a chilling smile as he looked at her.
"Feng Ran, do you not owe this Prince an explanation for what happened in the palace today?" Xuan Yuan Heng questioned coldly.
Feng Ran laughed, even laughing quite loudly, and said to Xuan Yuan Heng, "Regent Prince, don't you already know everything? Why do you need to ask me?"
Xuan Yuan Heng smiled but said nothing.
Feng Ran continued, "Bei Chen Ye is your man. He has been by my side, so you should be aware of everything that has transpired with me today. Yet, you still question me now. Doesn't the Regent Prince find this amusing?"