The poison had already taken hold, yet Xuan Yuanheng chose to pierce her heart.
The poison intensified, spreading faster.
Xuan Yuanheng frowned, sensing something amiss. He reached for Feng Ran's hand, but as his fingers brushed her pulse, she snatched it away.
Xuan Yuanheng: ...
He stared at Feng Ran in surprise, taken aback by her sudden action.
Xuan Yuanheng's cold gaze fell upon Feng Ran.
He forcefully pulled her hand back, preparing to take her pulse.
Feng Ran stiffened, her breathing becoming shallow. She dared not look at the man before her.
She finally chose to close her eyes.
She could not overcome Xuan Yuanheng; she had to resign herself to fate.
Her face paled, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, "Regent, I lied to you. I never expected you to be deceived by me."
Xuan Yuanheng hesitated for a moment, then flung her hand away, his gaze fixed on Feng Ran with chilling indifference.
"You truly are a performer, at any time and in any place."
Xuan Yuanheng's icy voice resounded, "Feng Ran, you deserve this."
"Feng Ran, in this life, you will never escape from my sight. You will be trapped under my grasp for all eternity."
A cold sneer played on Feng Ran's lips as she looked at Xuan Yuanheng, saying nothing.
Then, she spoke with self-mockery, "But, Regent, were you not just concerned about me?"
"If you did not care for me, why would you have stooped so low to take my pulse just now?"
Feng Ran laughed out loud, and as she laughed, she began to cry, stifling sobs.
He had said: Feng Ran, you will live under my grasp for all eternity.
She offered a desolate smile. But how could she have eternity?
Eternity was but a luxury for her.
Was she not already suffering enough, bestowed upon her by him?
Was her current misery not yet enough?
Xuan Yuanheng repeatedly declared he wanted her life; then let him take it.
What was the point of her living?
She was already weary of everything in this world. What was left for her to linger for? What was there for her to care about?
At this moment, Feng Ran seemed to be trapped in a vicious cycle, unable to break free.
Just as Xuan Yuanheng was about to speak, Feng Ran lost consciousness. As Xuan Yuanheng turned, Feng Ran collapsed onto the bed, her senses completely gone.
Xuan Yuanheng was thrown into a panic. So, she wasn't acting just now; it had all been real.
Why couldn't he have noticed something was wrong sooner?
Without a second thought, Xuan Yuanheng scooped Feng Ran into his arms and carried her back to the Xuan Yuan manor.
...
When Feng Ran awoke, she glanced around and sighed in resignation. She was back here again.
At that moment, someone pushed the door open from outside. Feng Ran's nerves immediately tensed, and she curled into a corner of the bed.
Aunt Sheng took Feng Ran's hand, her eyes filled with heartache.
That day, Xuan Yuanheng had been in such a hurry to leave. She hadn't paid much attention, but seeing the person in his arms... what had happened to Feng Ran?
Without a second thought, she had followed.
Seeing Feng Ran's trembling form, Aunt Sheng's heart ached deeply.
She reached out, gently stroking Feng Ran's hair, and whispered comfortingly, "Feng Ran, it's alright now. The poison in your body has been resolved."
"However, the imperial physician said you must rest well and not be subjected to any more shocks. Otherwise, the poison will only deepen, and even the most divine of physicians would be unable to save you."
"Aunt Sheng, thank you," Feng Ran murmured. She knew Aunt Sheng genuinely cared for her.
Aunt Sheng had also been quietly protecting her.
Aunt Sheng withdrew her hand, a hint of melancholy in her heart. "Feng Ran, I cannot stay here long. I must leave."
Feng Ran nodded. This was the Xuan Yuan manor, and there were surely rules.
It must have taken considerable effort for Aunt Sheng to be able to stay and care for her.
She was likely worried she would be bullied, and that's why she followed.
Feng Ran lay on the bed, her gaze vacant as she stared at the ceiling. She could not die.
Yes, she could not die. Lan Lan's last wish was not yet fulfilled. Lan Lan's token was still with her.
At this thought, Feng Ran seemed to regain some spirit.
The door was pushed open again, and footsteps echoed.
Feng Ran did not turn to look. This was the Xuan Yuan manor, and whoever entered would surely be known to Xuan Yuanheng.
Naturally, those around Xuan Yuanheng would want to tear her to pieces; how could they possibly come to see her with good intentions?
She only needed to ignore them.
"Feng Jin, the person is here. Ask whatever you wish to ask," Xuan Yuanheng's cold voice rang out.
Feng Ran, who had been motionless, felt her entire body tense.
She lowered her gaze, even pulling the quilt higher to conceal herself.
How could she face Feng Jin in her current state? Even if Feng Jin had lost his memory, she did not want him to see her at her most vulnerable.
Why had Xuan Yuanheng brought Feng Jin here?
Xuan Yuanheng strode towards Feng Ran, directly grabbing her arm and forcibly pulling her down to sit on a stool.
After a long while, Feng Ran finally raised her head and looked at Xuan Yuanheng, "May I know what the Regent requires?"
Seeing Xuan Yuanheng remain silent, Feng Ran offered a sarcastic smile, speaking with self-mockery, "Thank you for saving my life, Regent. However, this wretched life of mine has nothing to offer in return."
"Consider it a favor to a ungrateful wretch."
A smile appeared on Feng Ran's face as she said mockingly, "Oh, right. I recall the Regent saying he wanted me to live for eternity, to torment and humiliate me for all eternity. In that case, I truly don't need to say anything for saving me."
As Feng Ran uttered these self-deprecating words, her eyes filled with tears, and her hands clenched tightly. Only she understood the depth of pain within her heart.
It was as if she were holding a knife, plunging it into her own chest again and again.
Bleeding, the pain made it impossible to breathe, yet she had to pretend nothing had happened, wearing a smile on her face.
At this moment, Feng Ran dared not even cast a glance at Feng Jin. Her hands were trembling.
The pain made it impossible to breathe, yet she forced a smile onto her face.
Feng Jin looked at Feng Ran in disbelief, as if unable to fathom that such words could come from her mouth.
Xuan Yuanheng had told him Feng Ran was his elder sister. But looking at her, she seemed not to recognize him.
Had the Regent mistaken her?
Or was it true, as outsiders said, that Feng Ran was a heartless and cruel person, indifferent to everyone?
Even the Feng family had been implicated and their property confiscated due to her selfishness.
"Feng Ran, you are my elder sister, aren't you?" Feng Jin asked, unsure of his own feelings at that moment.