Feng Ran, still on the ground, did not get up. She did not feel the coldness of the ground, but instead, she stared at the spot where Xuanyuan Heng had disappeared, lost in thought for a long time.
Five hours passed.
Feng Ran maintained her original posture, seemingly with no intention of getting up.
He said, "Feng Ran, you are truly vile. Feng Ran, you are truly disgusting. Everything you are experiencing now is your own doing."
Feng Ran covered her mouth with her hand, her body trembling with suppressed sobs, fearing that if her emotions became too overwhelming, she might blurt out something important.
Everything she was enduring now had been bestowed upon her by Xuanyuan Heng.
Feng Ran's whole body was shaking. Xuanyuan Heng, her greatest regret in this life was falling in love with him.
Bei Chenye, following beside Xuanyuan Heng, wore a troubled expression. How should the next course of action be handled?
"Your Highness, is it truly alright to simply abandon that person there?"
This was the first time Bei Chenye had stepped forward for Feng Ran. It was also the first time Bei Chenye had spoken up to plead for someone.
Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Heng's face darkened to an extreme.
Bei Chenye was his most loyal shadow guard, sworn to follow him to the death. Yet, he now stood up to speak for that damned woman. What was the reason for this?
At this moment, Xuanyuan Heng's expression was terrifyingly grim. Why did that person's name constantly appear by his side?
He looked at Bei Chenye and let out a cold sneer, "Bei Chenye, I merely instructed you to watch her, to monitor her every move, not to speak for her."
"Bei Chenye, I do not keep traitors by my side."
Hah, Feng Ran was truly remarkable. Not only had she won over the people around him, but she had also swayed his shadow guard.
It seemed his words were indeed accurate. These people had mastered the art of bewitching others.
Bei Chenye's body trembled uncontrollably.
He had completely forgotten the Prince's instructions and had committed a grave offense.
Bei Chenye immediately knelt on the ground. "Your Highness, please punish me." He spoke these words with unusual firmness.
"But from now on, have you not gone too far in this matter?"
"Her life is already miserable enough, can you not let her go?"
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Bei Chenye, his eyes filled with disbelief. He clearly knew he was wrong, yet he still spoke for Feng Ran. What had Feng Ran said or done to make Bei Chenye so devotedly speak on her behalf?
"Go and receive your punishment," a cold voice rang out. As the words fell, Xuanyuan Heng departed.
Bei Chenye knew he had crossed the Regent's taboo. It was already fortunate that the Regent had not put him to death. Receiving punishment was considered lenient.
Bei Chenye understood even better that without him, the Regent would simply assign someone else to monitor Feng Ran. He feared that Feng Ran's future would not be easy.
But he himself was in a precarious situation now. It was not that he did not want to help, but he was powerless.
...
Chun Manyuan.
Feng Ran was brought back by a carriage from the Xuanyuan mansion. However, she was helped out of the carriage by others. Seeing Feng Ran return in such a pathetic state, those people were naturally overjoyed.
Hah, they all looked down on Feng Ran with disdain. Did she really think she was superior just because she went to the Xuanyuan mansion? Look at her, injured all over and carried back. She must have done something to anger the Regent to suffer such a fate.
Those people dared not step forward. The people in the carriage, seeing no one to receive her, simply dumped Feng Ran on the ground.
The crowd surrounded Feng Ran, looking at the person on the ground with mockery and ridicule.
Aunt Sheng appeared. Upon seeing Feng Ran, she reprimanded those nearby and instructed them to help Feng Ran to a side room.
Those people were naturally unwilling, but Aunt Sheng had already spoken. And if they wanted to live well here, they had to obediently follow Aunt Sheng's orders.
In their eyes, Aunt Sheng was too biased towards Feng Ran. Although they knew this, they could not say anything.
Since Aunt Sheng was watching, those people dared not lay a hand on Feng Ran at this moment.
Of course, at this moment, they hated Aunt Sheng to the bone.
Why did Aunt Sheng speak up for Feng Ran like this? What was so special about Feng Ran?
If Aunt Sheng had supported them, perhaps they would have already curried favor with the Regent. Then, why would they be confined to this place now? However, Feng Ran had not given them any such opportunities, always preparing for Feng Ran. Thinking back, their time spent in Chun Manyuan had truly been in vain.
Aunt Sheng directly dismissed everyone, telling them to leave. She knew very well that their presence here would be of no use.
Aunt Sheng looked at Feng Ran, who had been settled on the bed, with immense heartache. She had been fine when she went to the Xuanyuan mansion, but returned in such a state.
It was hard to imagine what she had endured.
However, judging by her injuries, she had certainly suffered greatly.
Aunt Sheng took out a medicine bottle from her embrace, poured out a pill, and carefully fed it to Feng Ran.
Soon, Feng Ran woke up.
When Aunt Sheng saw Feng Ran looking at her, her face was filled with smiles.
Fortunately, she was alright.
Feng Ran wanted to get up, as if she had something to say.
Aunt Sheng quickly held Feng Ran's hand and said anxiously, "Feng Ran, you don't need to get up. Just tell me whatever it is."
Feng Ran hesitated for a moment, then finally obeyed.
Aunt Sheng watched Feng Ran and said softly, "Feng Ran, what happened? Why are you like this?"
"Aunt Sheng, it's nothing. I just had an accident and ended up like this." Feng Ran's voice was exceptionally soft as she spoke these words, her tone unusually calm. "Aunt Sheng, I'm really fine."
"See, I'm fine now, aren't I?"
"I suppose you're just worried because I looked so bad when I was brought back."
Feng Ran said with a calm expression, as if nothing had happened.
However, the brighter Feng Ran's smile became, the more she realized that whatever had happened to Feng Ran was certainly not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
Although Aunt Sheng had guessed that whatever happened to Feng Ran must have been very serious, she could do nothing if Feng Ran was unwilling to speak.
Seeing Feng Ran's not-so-good complexion, Aunt Sheng wondered whether she should say the words she had intended to say. After thinking for a long time, she gave a slight smile and said softly, "Yes, you're right. It will definitely be fine. If there were anything seriously wrong, you wouldn't be here now."
What she really wanted to say was not this, but Feng Ran's demeanor made her retract her words.