Xuan Yuan Heng shot a furious glance at Feng Ran. "Heh, yet I see you're living quite well."
Feng Ran fell silent at his words, offering no reply.
Living well?
The Feng family had been destroyed because of her. The innocent Lan Lan was also a victim of her actions. Sheng Yi's Chun Manyuan, built with all her heart, was ruined. Feng Jin was still alive, and that brought her joy. Yet, her very existence was a constant threat to Feng Jin. Was she living well now? Was it not a life worse than death?
Xuan Yuan Heng let out a cold scoff. "At least you're alive, while some have been persecuted to the point of losing their lives."
"I never intended to take anyone's life. I..."
"Is that so? But Feng Ran, you cannot deny that Yu Wan Yan's life was taken by you, because of you."
"On this point, Feng Ran, you cannot refute it."
Yu Wan Yan's life was taken by her. Feng Ran froze.
After speaking, Xuan Yuan Heng turned and left.
He did not lay a hand on Feng Ran. Watching his figure disappear from her sight, she was lost in a daze.
She couldn't fathom Xuan Yuan Heng, nor did she know his true intentions.
Could she not fathom him?
Heh, fathom? From beginning to end, she had never truly understood him.
However, her life had always been in his hands.
What he said was true; if he wanted to kill her, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
He said, "Feng Ran, your life is for atonement."
Because of those words, her entire future was sealed.
She longed to escape this control, to flee. But she was utterly powerless.
Xuan Yuan Heng did not leave the estate, remaining in his study, while Feng Ran stayed in her room, pondering why he had brought her here.
Xuan Yuan Heng said nothing, did nothing, yet he had made her feel utterly miserable.
She sat in a constant state of unease.
She could do nothing at the moment.
She thought she couldn't just wait to be dealt with; she needed to find a way to escape.
Who knew what method Xuan Yuan Heng would devise to torment her?
If she escaped, she would be safe.
The drum signaled the night watch, and people had retired for the night.
Xuan Yuan Heng entered her room. Upon seeing Feng Ran, he said with icy indifference, "What? Do you expect me to serve you to bed?"
Feng Ran finally rose, resigned to her fate.
She had intended to leave, but he forcefully pulled her into his embrace.
In Xuan Yuan Heng's arms, she dared not move an inch.
The next day.
Feng Ran, like a condemned soul, helped Xuan Yuan Heng dress. Though she was utterly unwilling, she didn't realize that her actions were the envy of the women in the manor.
Indeed, they harbored deep resentment towards Feng Ran.
They thought that if Feng Ran hadn't appeared, such a tremendous opportunity would have fallen into their laps. But because of her presence, she had reaped the benefits unfairly.
Feng Ran was aware of the displeasure and anger directed at her by the maids. A helpless smile touched her lips.
If she could choose, she would rather hide far away.
But she could do nothing.
After Feng Ran finished attending to Xuan Yuan Heng, she stepped aside. The women in the manor flocked eagerly to him, while Feng Ran seized the opportunity to retreat.
She only needed to do her assigned tasks.
If those women wanted to curry favor, let them. It would satisfy their desires and her own, a win-win situation. Why not?
However, Feng Ran couldn't evade him. Her hand was tightly gripped by Xuan Yuan Heng, preventing her from leaving.
"Regent, I have completed the tasks I was assigned. Do you have any further instructions?"
"Did the Regent not find my service unsatisfactory?"
"These women are all carefully chosen. They are undoubtedly skilled at serving the Regent. The Regent..."
"Feng Ran, have you forgotten everything I said?" Xuan Yuan Heng questioned coldly.
"I remember it all clearly," Feng Ran replied resignedly.
"Then you should be by my side. I said you must always stay by my side."
"Wherever I go, wherever I walk, you must follow."
"What's wrong? Are you afraid? Do you intend to escape?"
Afraid, yes, she was certainly afraid. Escape, yes, she desperately wanted to escape.
Xuan Yuan Heng's grip on Feng Ran's hand tightened, almost as if to break her wrist. He pulled her along, forcing her to follow: "Feng Ran, accepting your fate is what you should be doing now."
Feng Ran resigned herself to her fate.
She did not struggle, nor did she speak, simply following beside Xuan Yuan Heng.
Even if she didn't want to, it was impossible for her to leave.
Her hand was held tightly.
Feng Ran was dragged out by Xuan Yuan Heng, and the people in the manor watched clearly. As she stepped onto the carriage, Feng Ran was met with the envy and hatred of everyone present.
...
After alighting from the carriage, Xuan Yuan Heng still pulled her along to a quiet courtyard. The servants in the courtyard looked at her with evident shock and astonishment, even disbelief.
Feng Ran, however, seemed accustomed to it. She did not utter a word.
Because he had important matters to attend to, matters of a secret nature, he could not bring Feng Ran along.
Xuan Yuan Heng settled Feng Ran in a pavilion and said coldly, "Feng Ran, wait for me here."
He took a few steps, then turned back, his gaze falling on Feng Ran. He said with icy severity, "Feng Ran, you can do as you please while you're here. However, once I've concluded my business, if I emerge and you are not here, Feng Ran, I will take your life at any moment."
Feng Ran stared at him with a mixture of shock and astonishment, but eventually suppressed her bewilderment.
Xuan Yuan Heng left, and Feng Ran finally awoke from her stupor.
Xuan Yuan Heng was gone, and in his stead, the people here began to make things difficult for her.
Feng Ran, however, paid their torment no mind.
This was because, for her, being made to suffer was already a familiar experience.
Xuan Yuan Heng had seen it all from afar. He had not intervened, standing in the distance and watching coldly.
He thought that Feng Ran would surely complain to him later.
The Feng Ran of the past would have made a mountain out of a molehill for such a small matter.
Humiliated as she was by these people today, she would undoubtedly cause a scene.
Thinking of Feng Ran's potential outburst, he not only didn't get angry but felt a sense of pleasure.
Xuan Yuan Heng's appearance caused the others to rein in their behavior, no longer as unbridled as before. They stood respectfully to the side.
Xuan Yuan Heng stood before Feng Ran, awaiting her complaint.
But after a long while, Feng Ran remained silent.
His expression turned exceedingly grim.
A sarcastic smile played on his lips. She had truly changed quite a bit over the years.
Or perhaps, it was because she now had someone else in her heart that she had become this way?
A dark glint flickered in his eyes. He reached out and cupped her chin, questioning her coldly, "Feng Ran, do you have nothing to say to me?"
"Feng Ran, those people bullied you so severely just now, and you have nothing to tell me?" Xuan Yuan Heng asked again, his tone laced with irritation.