Half a month later.
Xuan Yuanheng's poison had been cured. Feng Ran remained in the Xuan Yuan mansion, having never left.
However, her treatment in the Xuan Yuan mansion had improved considerably.
Previously, everyone had scorned her, but now, not a single person in the mansion dared to do so. In fact, they were all respectful towards her.
Feng Ran sat in the back garden, holding something Xuan Yuanheng had sent over earlier, but there wasn't a trace of a smile on her face.
Ouyang Jing stood beside her, speaking like an older brother. "Feng Ran, actually, some things don't need to be dwelled upon."
"If you truly didn't care about Xuan Yuanheng, you wouldn't be here now."
Feng Ran didn't answer Ouyang Jing. She continued to look into the distance, saying nothing.
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Ouyang Jing asked softly. He followed Feng Ran's gaze, trying to see what she was looking at. After a long while, he spoke again. "Feng Ran, what are you looking at? Why can't I see anything no matter how hard I look?"
"Ouyang Jing, I'm wondering, why did I come back here? Actually, even if I returned, those problems would still exist. So, why should I have come back?"
"Look, even if I hadn't come, someone else would have saved Xuan Yuanheng. And to Xuan Yuanheng, I don't seem to be that important."
Ouyang Jing smiled at this. "But Feng Ran, after you came back, didn't your heart feel at ease? So, tell me, was your return useful or not?"
"Actually, you know some things very clearly, don't you?"
"More importantly, you understand the situation better than I, an outsider."
"Of course, if you genuinely wanted to leave, you wouldn't be here talking to me right now."
"Is that so? Actually, what I want to say is, I don't even know myself why I came back here."
Ouyang Jing said calmly, "Feng Ran, when you knew Xuan Yuanheng was out of danger, didn't you feel completely relaxed?"
"Yes, I don't deny what you said, Ouyang Jing. But sometimes, I really hate myself. Why can't I be more heartless? If I could, I wouldn't be here now."
Ouyang Jing remained silent. He knew very well that Feng Ran was stuck in a dead end and couldn't find her way out.
In reality, she did have feelings for Xuan Yuanheng, but she didn't want to face them, nor did she dare to.
She hid her heart away.
Of course, she did this because she was afraid of what would happen if she truly fell for Xuan Yuanheng again.
Every time, she was left deeply wounded.
And now, she didn't want to be hurt anymore.
"Ouyang Jing, you know better than anyone how much I loathe him. I even wanted to kill him."
He was the one who killed my loved ones one by one. And now, I can't avenge them.
Even my brother, Feng Jin, was killed by him. Tell me, how can I ever forgive him?
It seems the least I could do is not kill him.
Actually, when the imperial physician saved Xuan Yuanheng, I was very disappointed. At that moment, I even wondered why Xuan Yuanheng didn't die then.
How wonderful it would have been if he had died.
Xuan Yuanheng is alive now, and I have lost my chance for revenge.
After saying this, Feng Ran gave a self-deprecating laugh and stood up. "I'm a bit tired, I want to go back and rest."
Ouyang Jing was stunned by Feng Ran's words. He had never imagined that she harbored such deep feelings.
Seeing Feng Ran rise, he took out a pill from his embrace and handed it to her. "Take this. Otherwise, I'm truly worried you might lose your life."
As he spoke, Ouyang Jing forcefully placed the pill into Feng Ran's hand.
On her way back to her room, Feng Ran was stopped.
"Consort, actually, for many years, the Prince has been protecting you in secret. If not for the Prince, do you truly believe the Emperor would have let you go so easily? If the Prince hadn't been cold to you, if he hadn't sent you to that deserted place, perhaps your life would have been gone already."
Bei Chen Ye spoke with some agitation.
He had wanted to say these words for a long time, but the Prince had always forbidden him. However, he had overheard Feng Ran and Ouyang Jing's conversation just now, and he couldn't bear it any longer.
He didn't want the Prince's efforts to be in vain.
"Is that so? Then, I truly must thank Xuan Yuanheng for his great kindness." Feng Ran said calmly. She showed no excitement upon hearing these words.
"Consort, the Prince truly..."
"Bei Chen Ye, say no more. I already know some things. If you continue to speak, it will truly be detrimental."
"You are someone by Xuan Yuanheng's side, so it's natural for you to speak on his behalf."
Bei Chen Ye wanted to say something more, but ultimately chose to give up.
He thought that no matter what he said now, it would be useless.
As Bei Chen Ye turned to leave, Feng Ran called out to him. "Wait a moment." She looked at Bei Chen Ye and said, "Your Prince's body has almost recovered. So, am I allowed to leave now?"
"You..."
Bei Chen Ye left without another word.
After all, he was merely a guard by Xuan Yuanheng's side and had no authority to say more to Feng Ran. In fact, the words he had spoken earlier were already beyond his station.
Xuan Yuanheng's gaze fell upon Feng Ran. Upon seeing Ouyang Jing standing beside her, his expression instantly changed. However, he did not show anger, but calmly looked at Feng Ran and asked, "Is he treating you well?"
Ouyang Jing was slightly taken aback. He thought Xuan Yuanheng had misunderstood something.
At this moment, as he was about to explain, Feng Ran directly stopped him.
Feng Ran immediately replied, "Yes, very well."
Xuan Yuanheng felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, but he forced a smile and said calmly, "Feng Ran, I hope you will be happy in the future."
"Yes, I will. With Ouyang Jing by my side, my life is going very well."
"Feng Ran, I don't know how to make amends for what I've done to you over the years. All I can say is, I'm sorry." Xuan Yuanheng said with difficulty.
Xuan Yuanheng remained silent.
"Xuan Yuanheng, can you please stop bothering me from now on?"
"Do you know? I once couldn't bear it because of you, and wanted to end my own life."
"In the past, I still had some hope for you, but slowly, all that hope vanished."
"Do you know? I felt like I was living in hell back then. But now I've slowly walked out, and I don't want to go through those things again. It was so painful. The feeling was so painful that I couldn't breathe." Feng Ran spoke cautiously, and as she spoke, she seemed to be in a daze.
Xuan Yuanheng could not utter a word.
He knew very well what he had done to Feng Ran.
"Xuan Yuanheng, I hope you can also find your own happiness."
Feng Ran turned and left.
This time, Xuan Yuanheng did not stop her, but simply watched her walk away.
As Feng Ran's carriage departed, Ouyang Jing looked at her with reluctance and softly said, "Feng Ran, it's obvious that Xuan Yuanheng loves you. He really wants to keep you by his side right now. Are you really not going to give him another chance?"
"Perhaps it's also giving yourself a chance."
Feng Ran shook her head and glanced at Ouyang Jing. "Actually, I think it's best this way. If we continue to entangle ourselves, perhaps both of us will be in pain."
"Experiencing such suffering once is enough. I don't want to go through it a second time."
Ouyang Jing ultimately said nothing more.
Feng Ran's carriage looked incredibly beautiful in the setting sun.
Not far away, Xuan Yuanheng sat on his horse, quietly watching Feng Ran's carriage recede into the distance.
Bei Chen Ye, standing beside him, was extremely anxious, wishing he could rush forward and give chase.
But in the end, he didn't.
He also wanted to say something.
He wondered why the Prince wasn't chasing after her to keep her.
Was the Prince willing to let her go just like that?
Three years later.
Feng Ran returned, this time as a princess of a foreign country. She was here for a marriage alliance, and her intended groom was Xuan Yuanheng.
Xuan Yuanheng was initially unwilling.
"Your Majesty, this humble official already has a Regent Consort. If Your Majesty forces me further, then perhaps it is time for Your Majesty to abdicate."
The Emperor's expression changed drastically. He quickly said to Xuan Yuanheng, "Regent, why not see who the person for the marriage alliance is before refusing?"
Xuan Yuanheng said coldly, "No matter who it is, this humble official will not marry her, nor will I agree."
Feng Ran, dressed in a crimson wedding gown, walked in and went directly to Xuan Yuanheng. She said calmly, "Is that so? Those are the Regent's words. Regent, do not regret this."
Xuan Yuanheng was stunned. Looking at the person before him, he feared Feng Ran would disappear and held her tightly in his embrace, exclaiming excitedly, "It's you, it's actually you."
"This Prince could not have wished for anything more."
Feng Ran and Xuan Yuanheng embraced and wept.
Naturally, after their marriage, the two lived exceptionally happily. Xuan Yuanheng even stopped attending morning court for Feng Ran's sake, spending every day with her.
He cherished their time together even more.
Looking at Feng Ran, he silently vowed that he would treat her well, even if it cost him his life.