Feng Ran's hand clenched tightly. At this moment, she even wished she could hide here forever, never leaving.
Just to be quiet like this.
Feng Ran even loathed herself. Why hadn't she refused earlier?
Now that she was here, if she persisted, it would probably be truly bad.
She even thought that outside the palace, if she persisted, Xuanyuan Heng would truly be enraged.
This time, she must have completely disgraced Xuanyuan Heng.
One might ask, who in the world could treat the Regent King like this?
After much thought, she finally chose to obediently come down. She knew very well that if she continued now, she would suffer even more torment.
Feng Ran alighted from the carriage, and she keenly felt the gazes of those people, even looks of disdain. She thought that if Xuanyuan Heng were not present at this moment, those people would probably have attacked directly.
They might have even humiliated her.
Xuanyuan Heng said nothing, nor did he do anything.
Feng Ran dared not stand with Xuanyuan Heng. She simply stood behind him, quietly following.
Feng Ran's head was bowed the entire time, she even dared not breathe loudly.
At this moment, she wished she could cover her face.
Xuanyuan Heng stopped, but Feng Ran did not notice Xuanyuan Heng's gaze falling upon her.
He stared at Feng Ran intently.
Xuanyuan Heng gazed at Feng Ran, and the current scene reminded him of the first time he met Feng Ran back then.
He remembered it very clearly. Feng Ran was extremely arrogant then. She disdained those around her, not even glancing at them directly, and walked straight up to him, speaking words that were baffling.
Hmph, recalling the scene where she had humiliated Yu Wanyan in front of him. Xuanyuan Heng's eyes turned exceptionally cold.
But now, in the same place, the person was different.
He remembered sending Feng Ran to Chun Manyuan. The first time he saw Feng Ran, she was kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy, serving those people with utter humility, and when Feng Ran pleaded with him, saying she would do anything to save her life…
He recalled that in Feng Ran's eyes back then, there was no one else but him. But now? It was different. In her heart and eyes, he no longer existed. Many people had appeared by her side.
"Feng Ran, you can choose to be alone, or choose to follow this king."
"This king respects your choice, and will not stop you." Xuanyuan Heng's indifferent gaze fell on Feng Ran, and he said coldly, "It is likely that you are familiar with this palace."
"Feng Ran, today I let you choose. This king will not interfere with your choice."
Feng Ran bit her lip tightly, her hand clenched, and she raised her eyes to meet Xuanyuan Heng's playful gaze. She finally shook her head.
A choice?
But what right did she have to choose?
She immediately lowered her head, not daring to look at the man before her. In fact, everything she did now was done with extreme caution, for fear of offending the person in front of her.
Xuanyuan Heng was not in a hurry. He simply watched the person before him, but he let out a soft hum.
And she realized that the surrounding people seemed to be increasing, and the voices of discussion grew louder.
"Isn't that Feng Ran?"
"Yes, the eldest daughter of the Feng family."
"I heard she has fallen into a life of debauchery and makes a living by selling her charms."
Those humiliating voices continuously came.
Feng Ran's face turned deathly pale. Her eyes filled with tears, and she bit her lip so hard that it broke, releasing the taste of blood.
Xuanyuan Heng's gaze never left Feng Ran. He heard everything the people by his side were saying, and he had not even considered stepping forward to speak for Feng Ran.
Xuanyuan Heng wondered when he would see Feng Ran, just like before, pointing at the noses of those people, loudly questioning them, loudly scolding them, and verbally tearing them to shreds.
He remembered that the Feng Ran of that time had indeed done so.
So proud and arrogant.
However, Xuanyuan Heng forgot that the woman before him had become this way because of him. Everything was his doing, and how could he still have the nerve to utter those hurtful words?
Feng Ran encountered her old nemesis, and that person kept pestering Feng Ran, constantly provoking her.
If it were in the past, Feng Ran would have immediately retorted with humiliation, even making those people lose all face. But now, Feng Ran merely let out a cold scoff. What right did she have to do so?
Now, she was nothing. What right did she have to confront that person?
With those humiliating words and disdainful glances, as Feng Ran stepped into the palace, she turned and ran away.
When An Ying was about to capture her, Xuanyuan Heng waved his hand and said coldly, "It's fine, let her go."
An Ying's eyes showed a hint of confusion. He didn't understand why the Prince didn't let him pursue her.
The Prince had gone to great lengths to bring Feng Ran here, yet did nothing, and then let her go.
Xuanyuan Heng glanced at An Ying and said something inaudible. An Ying then left.
Xuanyuan Heng simply watched Feng Ran's retreating figure. A cold smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and he said softly, "Ultimately, she will still come back."
...
Feng Ran fled back to Chun Manyuan, only to find that Chun Manyuan had disappeared overnight.
Feng Ran looked at the ruins before her, not daring to believe why it had all vanished in a single night.
Just then, the people who had originally been in Chun Manyuan all came out. They began to punch and kick Feng Ran, looking at her with hatred.
In their eyes, everything was caused by Feng Ran. If it weren't for Feng Ran, they would have at least had a place to stay in Chun Manyuan. But now? Even their place to stay was destroyed.
How could they not hate her?
Just as those people were about to attack again, Sheng Yi appeared. Sheng Yi directly blocked their path and said coldly to them, "Have you considered the consequences? If she gets hurt, do you still want your lives?"
Those people immediately stopped.
Feng Ran looked at Sheng Yi and asked her what was going on.
Later, she finally understood. It turned out that all of this was done by Xuanyuan Heng.
Sheng Yi's voice was filled with helplessness as she said, "Feng Ran, the Regent King destroyed this place knowing you would return."
"If you had been obedient and stayed by the Regent King's side, perhaps he would have…"
Feng Ran looked at Sheng Yi, filled with apology, and said, "Sheng Yi, I truly didn't know that so many things would happen because of me, I…"
Sheng Yi shook her head and looked at Feng Ran, saying, "Feng Ran, run away. If you continue to stay here, I'm afraid you might even lose your life."
"Feng Ran, don't ruin yourself for us."
"If Chun Manyuan is gone, there are other places."
Listening to Sheng Yi's words, Feng Ran was filled with guilt and self-reproach.
So, what those people said was right. She was a sinner.