"Is that so?" Feng Ran picked up Qing Huan's handkerchief directly, her eyes filled with a bloodthirsty glint as she said coldly, "Look at this cheap craftsmanship. Even as a floor rag, I wouldn't want it. You treasure it like a gem, truly bringing bad luck."
Feng Ran's gaze fell upon Qing Huan, and she said menacingly, "I told you, I'm not afraid of you. I just find speaking with someone like you to be an insult."
Feng Ran's sudden, chillingly cold words startled Qing Huan. Qing Huan stumbled backward, falling flat on her face.
Suddenly, Qing Huan seemed to recall something. She looked at Feng Ran and said triumphantly, "Feng Ran, you'd best recognize this: you're the one who's utterly disgraced now, not me."
"What right do you have to say such things to me?"
Looking at Feng Ran, she said with indignation, "Feng Ran, what are you so proud of? My belongings are clean and pure, but yours? Who knows how dirty they are."
The surrounding whispers made Qing Huan even more pleased. She sneered, "Although I'm also at Chunmanyuan, I'm not like you, who would do any despicable thing to get what you want."
With that, Qing Huan left. As she departed, her gaze fell upon Feng Ran, and she said coldly, "Feng Ran, without a carriage, you'll have to walk back."
"Oh, right, it's started to pour outside."
Qing Huan's smile grew even more delighted. "You're so filthy, a good wash with the rain wouldn't be bad, would it?"
With that, Qing Huan left.
The banquet ended.
The young ladies came here partly for Xuanyuan Heng and partly to win Ling Chiyuan's favor. Since neither of them appeared, they naturally left.
What was there to do here? Mingle with such a tainted person?
In the vast banquet hall, only Feng Ran remained.
Feng Ran stood in place, looking around, tears welling in her eyes.
The silence around was terrifying; no one was there. It was as if everything that had just happened never occurred.
Just as Feng Ran was about to leave, someone appeared. They slowly walked towards her.
Qin Yue walked step by step towards Feng Ran, blocking her path.
Qin Yue smiled, her voice echoing around. She held a handkerchief, wiping the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with triumph, and said loudly, "An Nuan, I told you, Ling Chiyuan can only be mine, and only belong to me. You dare not even dream of getting involved."
"Feng Ran, if you had been obedient and stayed away from Ling Chiyuan, keeping your distance, then what happened today wouldn't have happened."
Feng Ran said nothing, merely watching the person before her calmly.
So, it was all Qin Yue's doing.
No wonder Qing Huan was so confident and unafraid of offending Ling Chiyuan.
Qing Huan had said that someone was protecting her, and that doing this wouldn't kill her, nor would she be troubled.
Recalling Qing Huan's words about loving Ling Chiyuan, a mocking smile curved Feng Ran's lips as she looked at Qin Yue.
Did Qin Yue know that Qing Huan liked Ling Chiyuan?
If Qin Yue knew, would Qing Huan still be so triumphant?
In the end, Feng Ran did not say these words.
Qin Yue reached out and poked Feng Ran's face with her fingernail, tossing the handkerchief at Feng Ran's feet. Triumphantly, she said, "Feng Ran, this was bestowed upon me by the Emperor, an item from the palace, priceless."
"Aren't you going to pick it up?"
"If someone were to see this, it's a capital offense."
Feng Ran bent down to pick up the handkerchief.
She endured the humiliation because she did not want to cause any further conflict.
She was tired and did not want any more entanglement with these people. It was better to have fewer troubles.
As Feng Ran's hand touched the handkerchief, just as she was about to pick it up, Qin Yue's foot landed precisely on her hand.
Qin Yue deliberately stepped down hard, thinking in her heart, how wonderful it would be if she could crush her hand. No, how wonderful it would be if she could disfigure her face.
However, she only dared to do this much, and no more.
She wanted to hear Feng Ran kneel and beg her for mercy.
But after a long while, Feng Ran still said nothing.
Qin Yue was so angry she wanted to lash out but restrained herself.
Qin Yue moved her foot away, feigning surprise, and exclaimed, "Ah," quickly covering her mouth. She whispered, "Oh, I did that accidentally. You won't hold it against me, will you?"
Qin Yue spoke, her eyes fixed on Feng Ran.
She saw Feng Ran's composure and her resentment grew even more.
At this moment, Qin Yue took out the silver from her person and threw it on the ground, saying gently, "Don't you lack money? Consider this silver a reward from me."
Feng Ran lowered her gaze, looking at the scattered silver on the ground. She bent down again and picked up the broken pieces of silver.
For her, this silver would take a long time to earn.
A look of deep disdain flashed in Qin Yue's eyes.
Hmph, truly greedy for money.
This was clearly an insult, yet she acted as if she saw nothing and calmly picked up the silver.
At this moment, Qin Yue felt as if her actions were like punching cotton, completely useless, even a little ridiculous.
Qin Yue even wanted to hit Feng Ran.
But then she remembered what she had investigated: Feng Ran seemed to be watched by Xuan Yuanheng's secret guards. She dared not.
She knew that the secret guard was there to monitor Feng Ran.
As long as she didn't do anything out of line, the secret guard wouldn't appear.
Feng Ran stood up, collected the silver, and then said, "Thank you for your reward, Miss Qin. I will surely repay you in the future."
Qin Yue: "..."
Feng Ran looked at Qin Yue and gave a slight smile, calmly saying, "By the way, Miss Qin, do you know why I lack money? Do you know why I'm so desperate for it?"
Qin Yue looked at Feng Ran, confused. She didn't understand why Feng Ran would bring this up at this moment.
A bad feeling suddenly welled up in her heart.
"The Regent said that as long as I save enough money, I can leave Chunmanyuan."
"Therefore, thank you, Miss Qin, for your generosity."
"After all, everyone knows about this matter, so no one dares to give me money. Miss Qin is truly my lucky star."
"If I succeed in redeeming myself in the future, I will definitely thank Miss Qin."
Feng Ran watched Qin Yue's increasingly pale face and smiled faintly, saying, "I suppose the Regent's secret guards have already reported everything that happened here to the Regent."
Hearing this, Qin Yue's face turned ashen. She reached out and snatched the silver back, shouting, "Feng Ran, I knew you were a wicked woman, trying to ruin me with such a scheme."
"Feng Ran, you wait! One day, I will make you regret this."
After speaking, Qin Yue quickly left. She didn't want to stay in this place any longer.
Just now, she had almost thought she was going to die.