Ling Yao watched everything before her with resentment, thinking it should all have belonged to her.
Her eyes were filled with disbelief, unable to fathom that Xuan Yuanheng would kick her away so forcefully to protect Feng Ran.
Growing more unwilling, she looked at Xuan Yuanheng, her voice filled with grief and indignation. "Xuan Yuanheng, why are you so good to Feng Ran? A woman as dirty and lowly as Feng Ran should have died long ago."
"In a place like Chun Manyuan, she must have been utterly defiled. Yet, you still want her,"
"Rumors are everywhere about her flirtations with Ling Chi Yuan and Xu Yun Qing. Haven't you heard them?"
"Can you truly pretend not to hear anything?"
"Xuan Yuanheng, why? Why can't you spare a glance at me, when I am so much better?"
At this moment, Ling Yao was no longer the haughty figure she was before. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes brimming with unwillingness and bloodshot.
Seeing that her words had elicited no reaction, not even a glance from Xuan Yuanheng, Ling Yao's eyes filled with disappointment. It was clear she had been chasing a phantom all on her own.
For years, all her thoughts had been on Xuan Yuanheng, yet all she received was the man's icy gaze.
It was even tinged with disdain.
Suddenly, she felt how utterly foolish she had been.
All her efforts had yielded nothing.
Knowing that further words to Xuan Yuanheng were futile, she finally turned her gaze to the Emperor.
She reasoned that everything was orchestrated by the Emperor, so he must say something, do something.
Would she be sent back like this? If she returned to the Ling family, all that awaited her was death.
Ling Yao crawled forward, her eyes fixed on the man seated on the high throne. She pleaded, "Your Majesty, you promised me that I would prepare well, and the position of the Regent's Consort would surely be mine. But why, Your Majesty, has everything changed now?"
Seeing the Emperor remain aloof and silent, Ling Yao's lips curved into a cold smile. "Your Majesty, are you not afraid of being ridiculed by the world?"
Perhaps emboldened by Feng Ran's audacity in questioning the Emperor earlier, Ling Yao thought that even if she spoke such words, the Emperor would not kill her.
However, Ling Yao seemed to have forgotten one thing. The reason the Emperor hadn't killed Feng Ran, despite her words, was firstly the imperial decree, and secondly, and most importantly, because Feng Ran was protected by Xuan Yuanheng.
He dared not act against someone Xuan Yuanheng protected.
The Emperor, who felt his dignity utterly shattered, unleashed all his fury on Ling Yao for her suicidal act.
"Guards, drag Ling Yao away and have her executed by slow slicing in front of the Ling manor. Let the Ling family remember this lesson and let all under heaven witness that imperial authority cannot be slandered."
While the Emperor acted against Ling Yao, it was clearly a show for Feng Ran.
Ling Yao's face turned pale. She had never imagined her words would cost her life. Earlier, Feng Ran had spoken similarly, so why was her life spared?
Ling Yao trembled all over. As she tried to beg for mercy, her mouth was immediately covered by a guard, and she was dragged away.
Xuan Yuanheng looked at the Emperor and said coldly, "My consort is feeling unwell. We shall take our leave."
Before the Emperor could respond, Xuan Yuanheng had already scooped up Feng Ran and left.
This banquet was originally held for Xuan Yuanheng. Since the guest of honor had departed, there was no longer any reason for it to continue.
The Emperor rose and left, and the remaining guests naturally followed suit.
They were, however, fortunate not to have lost their lives over this incident, unlike Ling Yao.
Yet, they were unaware that they had only seen the surface and had no inkling of what truly transpired.
...
Feng Ran was carried by Xuan Yuanheng into the carriage, and upon arriving at the Xuan Yuan Residence, she was still carried inside.
Feng Ran did not struggle, nor did she consider walking on her own, but Xuan Yuanheng offered her no such opportunity.
He possessively held her within his embrace.
Upon entering Xuan Yuanheng's chambers, he roughly tossed Feng Ran onto the bed.
"Xuan Yuanheng, what exactly do you want? I have already done as you said, I have been obedient. Why can't you ever let me go?"
Feng Ran was backing away incessantly as Xuan Yuanheng slowly advanced. She had retreated to the very back, with nowhere left to flee.
She trembled all over, watching him with wary eyes. Her only recourse was to clutch herself tightly, her voice quivering as she cautiously pleaded, "Xuan Yuanheng, please, can you let me go? I have done as you asked."
"I just want to live."
Live? Let her go?
Feng Ran sobbed, her eyes filled with fear as she looked at the man before her. She had no idea what to do next.
At this moment, she saw Xuan Yuanheng as if he were a demon.
She felt as though she could barely breathe.
Yet, no matter how she tried to evade, she was still encircled by Xuan Yuanheng. She felt utterly powerless, her eyes devoid of any light, filled with despair.
She said nothing more, her gaze fixed ahead with a sense of resignation, as if accepting her fate.
"Regent, please spare me."
Feng Ran knew that even saying this, Xuan Yuanheng would not let her go.
"Feng Ran, you will stay by my side from now on," Xuan Yuanheng said coldly. "From this day forward, everything within the Xuan Yuan Residence will be under your command."
"This is what you always dreamed of. You should be delighted now."
"No, I don't want it. I was young and foolish to have harbored such thoughts back then. But now I am self-aware. I know that my life, and my person, are not worthy of the Regent, and I should live my life humbly." Feng Ran said softly, with extreme caution.
"Feng Ran, it is too late for you to realize this now."
"Your desires are not what matters. From now on, everything is decided by me."
"Feng Ran, you no longer have any right to choose."
"If only you had known this sooner, why would you have done it in the first place?"
Feng Ran laughed. Yes, if only she had known that all her efforts were merely to win the heart of one person. But the price she paid was too great.
She regretted it, but there was no room for regret now.
She was now living like a pitiful wretch.
"Regent, back then, with Yu Wan Yan in your arms, you glared at me, you told me, 'Feng Ran, you will never be by my side in this lifetime.'"
"I remember these words clearly. Has the Regent forgotten them?"
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly. After a long hesitation, she finally spoke, "Regent, were your promises to Yu Wan Yan all lies?"