Lan Xian glanced at the person beside her and said coldly, "I am the Imperial Consort. Why can't I deal with a mere guard?"
Hearing Lan Xian refer to the guard as "mere," the officials' family members standing nearby couldn't help but ridicule her. However, they could only do so in their hearts, daring not to show it.
After all, Lan Xian was currently highly favored, and it was not something to be offended lightly. Offending her would bring them misfortune. With this thought, they suppressed their amusement.
A palace maid walked over and whispered something in Lan Xian's ear. Lan Xian's expression instantly turned extremely unpleasant. She had never imagined that she would be so unlucky today. Everything had been meticulously planned, yet it had unfolded entirely differently from her expectations.
To top it all off, she had become the laughingstock of everyone.
The palace maid, thinking she would receive immense reward for her timely reminder, was suddenly and coldly ordered by Lan Xian, "Guards, drag this palace maid away and subject her to extreme torture."
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please spare this servant! After all, this servant did remind Your Highness..."
Hearing this, Lan Xian's face grew even more grim. She glared viciously at the woman before her, "Still not dragging her away? Do you expect me to do it myself?"
"Is she dead? So noisy, can't you find a way to shut her up?"
Lan Xian's words sent shivers down everyone's spines. At this moment, one of them quickly gagged the palace maid and dragged her away.
Feng Ran looked at Lan Xian and said coldly, "It seems Imperial Consort Lan, new to our palace, is unaware that Bei Chen Ye possesses a 'pass of exemption from death.' Moreover, even the Emperor himself shows him utmost respect and deference when they meet."
Lan Xian's face instantly turned pale. She pointed a trembling finger at Feng Ran, stammering for a long moment without uttering a single coherent word.
Feng Ran, however, remained unafraid and spoke calmly, "Imperial Consort, if you have anything to say, please say it directly. Of course, if there's nothing else, I shall take my leave."
"No, Feng Ran, you cannot leave. I haven't dismissed you yet, how can you go?"
Feng Ran looked at Lan Xian, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm, "Then, Imperial Consort, please speak whatever you need to quickly. The Regent is still waiting for me."
Lan Xian ultimately remained silent. Feng Ran, on the other hand, turned and left right before her eyes.
Lan Xian did not dare to step forward and stop her. She ordered the palace maids and eunuchs to block Feng Ran, only to find that they all ignored her.
Feng Ran's departure plunged Lan Xian into despair. She became like a madwoman, smashing and throwing everything around her.
After leaving Lan Xian, Feng Ran found a secluded spot and collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. Even so, she remained cautious, fearing discovery.
Just moments ago, facing Lan Xian, she had been terrified.
Though she had spoken so boldly, appearing fearless, only she knew how scared she truly was.
As she walked away from Lan Xian, she had been contemplating what she would do if Lan Xian had tried to stop her, how she would handle such a situation.
Only now, in this solitude, could Feng Ran reveal her vulnerability.
However, she knew that this was not yet a time to relax. She still had a long way to go.
Indeed, many things awaited her.
It wasn't that she didn't want to argue, but the arguments would continue regardless.
She understood that even if she resisted, others would not let her off the hook. She could only persevere.
Yes, she no longer had the luxury of refusal. Her only recourse was to face them, to endure their difficulties.
No matter what methods they employed, she could only confront them.
Furthermore, after the recent incident and Xuan Yuan Heng stepping forward to speak for her, she had been pushed into an even more precarious position.
She now had no path to retreat.
Feng Ran stood up, her gaze now icy as she looked ahead, devoid of the helplessness she had displayed earlier. It was as if the person she had been moments ago was someone else.
Bei Chen Ye stood beside Feng Ran and said coldly, "Consort, the Prince stated that if the Consort is not dead yet, she must come to him, even if she has only one breath left."
"Consort, the Prince is waiting."
Bei Chen Ye said coldly, "Consort, you are truly formidable, being the first to make the Prince wait."
After speaking, Bei Chen Ye watched Feng Ran.
Feng Ran proceeded forward without any hesitation.
"Consort, if you do not go, I fear the Prince will punish you again."
"Yes, I understand," Feng Ran replied firmly.
Bei Chen Ye looked at Feng Ran. His cold demeanor softened slightly, and his voice, once icy, carried a hint of concern. He said softly, "Feng Ran, to suffer less, hurry over there. Lest..."
Feng Ran looked at Bei Chen Ye, "I understand. However, do you truly believe that if I go, your master will let me off? Won't he find some other charge to pin on me?"
Bei Chen Ye opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he remained silent.
Yes, Feng Ran understood everything.
Yes, she simply chose not to voice it.
Despite years of torment and hardship, her inherent upbringing remained.
Feng Ran knew that they were all plotting against her, and she knew she could not escape. She could only face them one by one, and fight.
To survive, this was her only option.
Bei Chen Ye watched Feng Ran, her small, frail figure heading into a tiger's den. He could only watch; he could not help.
Feng Ran had to bear all her troubles alone.
He thought that if it were anyone else, they would have already collapsed.
Yet, Feng Ran continued to live.
"Perhaps, I should go and tell the Regent that you are not feeling well and don't need to go."
Feng Ran shook her head, "Bei Chen Ye, thank you. You are the only one who has treated me well these past days."
"However, please refrain from saying such things in the future. I fear you might be implicated."
"Do you know? Everyone who has been kind to me, who has sacrificed for me, has been implicated, and none have met a good end."
"Bei Chen Ye, if you truly wish to help me, then distance yourself from me. Do not do anything for me. That would be the greatest help you could offer."
Bei Chen Ye was stunned, at a loss for words.
As Feng Ran was walking towards Xuan Yuan Heng's location, she encountered Aunt Sheng.
She hurried forward, embraced Aunt Sheng without a second thought, and recounted the events of the past few days.
When she finished speaking, she realized she had received no response from Aunt Sheng. A flicker of surprise crossed her mind.
Suddenly, she thought, "Aunt Sheng, why are you in the palace?"
Yes, Chun Man Yuan was gone. She had been so busy with her own affairs that she had almost forgotten about Aunt Sheng.