Ling Yao stepped forward and also knelt directly before the Emperor, kowtowing and saying, "Your Majesty, then this humble lady will settle for the next best thing and become a side consort."
Heh, if they blocked her from becoming the Regent's Consort, then she would settle for the next best thing. In this way, Feng Ran would have nothing more to say.
She wanted to see what Feng Ran could possibly say now.
When the Emperor heard this, his expression did not relax; instead, it grew even more displeasing.
But at this moment, Ling Yao was too happy, and her entire focus and thoughts were on Feng Ran. Naturally, she did not even notice the Emperor's expression.
The Emperor seemed to want Ling Yao to step down, but Ling Yao acted as if she saw nothing. Her gaze was entirely on Feng Ran, watching her triumphantly.
She wanted to see what else Feng Ran had to say.
"The imperial decree also stated that the Regent could only marry one person in his lifetime, and that person is Feng Ran."
Ling Yao's face turned pale. She could no longer maintain her composure and lunged at Feng Ran, but Feng Ran directly dodged her.
Feng Ran looked coldly at the person before her who was like a madwoman, and calmly said, "His Majesty also wrote in the imperial decree that the Regent's Consort can only belong to Feng Ran in this lifetime. What do you say? This position of Regent's Consort is all mine, and there is no question of the Regent divorcing me."
Ling Yao glared fiercely at Feng Ran, thinking, if only Feng Ran were dead, would all these problems be solved?
Feng Ran seemed to discern Ling Yao's thoughts and said coldly, "Even if I die, the Regent can only remain alone for the rest of his life."
After saying this, Feng Ran smiled, a self-deprecating smile.
To have the Emperor issue such an imperial decree and for the Regent to agree was enough to show how favored the Feng family was in the past.
Yet, despite this, the Feng family was ruined because of her, all gone.
She thought, if this imperial decree could bring back the people of the Feng family, she would gladly give it up.
She lived in torment every day.
"Feng Ran, you... you're spouting nonsense." Ling Yao looked at Feng Ran in disbelief.
No, she couldn't believe that the Emperor, in his supreme position, would issue such an imperial decree.
Why would the Emperor agree to such a humiliating decree?
Ling Ran only then remembered how unrestrained the Feng family had been in those years.
It was understandable that the Emperor would issue such a decree.
Ling Yao looked at Feng Ran and said coldly, "Feng Ran, even so, your current status is not worthy of the Regent. One must have self-awareness."
"Self-awareness?" Feng Ran smiled coldly and said, "Miss Ling, it is you who should have self-awareness."
"This is an imperial decree issued by His Majesty. Miss Ling, you are questioning His Majesty's wisdom."
Upon hearing this, Ling Yao immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy. She truly had not expected Feng Ran to have schemed against her in such a way. So, she had been waiting for her here all along.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it was not me. This humble lady did not mean that. This humble lady merely..."
Feng Ran looked at Ling Yao and said coldly, "Then, what did Miss Ling mean?"
Ling Yao stared fiercely at Feng Ran, wishing she could kill her.
This person was clearly trying to push her to a dead end, and what could she do? At this moment, she could only obey obediently.
"Your Majesty, this humble lady, this humble lady was just anxious and spoke carelessly. This humble lady did not mean anything of the sort. It is Feng Ran who deliberately misinterpreted my words."
At this moment, Ling Yao could no longer care about anything else. She kowtowed and begged incessantly, only wanting to survive.
The Emperor looked at the person before him, his anger blazing.
Feng Ran did not want to waste any more time with Ling Yao and continued, "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, so naturally, your words count."
Although the Emperor's expression was displeased, the imperial decree was there, and he could only chuckle and say, "Recently, state affairs have been busy, and I had indeed forgotten about this matter. Fortunately, you reminded me."
The Emperor's gaze fell upon Feng Ran, and he said calmly, "Feng Ran, take this imperial decree and cherish your position as Regent's Consort well. That Chunmanyuan has been confiscated by me."
Feng Ran: "..."
Her face was filled with shock. She had always thought that Xuan Yuanheng was responsible for the matter of Chunmanyuan. She never expected it to be the Emperor.
But why would the Emperor do that?
The Emperor chuckled and said, "Within Chunmanyuan, there was one person colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. This was discovered by my dark guards, so naturally, such a place should not exist."
Cold sweat broke out on Feng Ran's body. So, the destruction of Chunmanyuan was merely a casualty in the struggle between the Emperor and Xuan Yuanheng.
Her gaze fell on Xuan Yuanheng, and a smile was on his face.
Suddenly, she remembered what the Emperor had said: Feng Ran, cherish your position as Regent's Consort well.
So, she truly had to stay by Xuan Yuanheng's side. She no longer had any chance to leave.
So, all of this was Xuan Yuanheng's scheme.
If she wanted to survive, she had to stay by his side.
Feng Ran even felt some regret. But upon further thought, she had no chance to regret it.
If she had not stepped forward and said those things, Feng Jin's life would have been threatened.
So, all of this was Xuan Yuanheng's calculation. And every one of them was a pawn in his hand.
Feng Ran smiled self-mockingly. It was utterly laughable.
Ling Yao knew that she had no hope of becoming the Regent's Consort, but she was unwilling. The position of Regent's Consort that should have belonged to her was so close, and now it was gone. How could she be reconciled?
Her eyes were filled with bloodthirsty light, and she muttered something unknown, then directly pulled off her hairpin, gripping it tightly in her hand. At this moment, she stood up and aimed the hairpin at Feng Ran.
If she killed Feng Ran, with time, everyone would forget about the imperial decree, and the position of Regent's Consort would be hers.
She had paid so much for the position of Regent's Consort.
Why should Feng Ran's few words and an imperial decree ruin all her efforts and sacrifices?
No, she couldn't. She absolutely could not let such a thing happen to her.
If she did not become the Regent's Consort and returned to the Ling family, she would be ridiculed.
Her father would also sell her off. This was because the Ling family did not need people who had no value. And how much effort the Ling family had invested in her over the years. If she did not obtain the position of Regent's Consort, then endless suffering awaited her.
No, she couldn't. She could not endure such a hellish life.
Ling Yao's bloodthirsty gaze fell on Feng Ran, aiming the hairpin at her, and she rushed directly towards Feng Ran. Feng Ran, who was kneeling on the ground, clearly did not react in time.
At this moment, Feng Ran had no intention of dodging. She directly closed her eyes in resignation.
She was tired of all of it. She thought, she would repay the promise she made to Lan Lan in the next life.
Just as Feng Ran resignedly closed her eyes, she was embraced by a warm embrace, yet felt no pain.
At this time, Xuan Yuanheng's bloodthirsty and cold voice reached her ears, "Feng Ran wants to die? Have you completely thrown what I said out of your mind?"
Feng Ran: "..."
Her whole body trembled. She had not expected Xuan Yuanheng to save her. Looking at Ling Yao, who was sent flying by a kick from Xuan Yuanheng, Feng Ran did not know what to say.