"Heh, you can't even save yourself, yet you dare to plead for others. Feng Ran, have you not realized your place yet?"
Xuanyuan Heng said as he forcefully pulled Feng Ran over, trapping her in his embrace. Feng Ran's struggles only enraged him further. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him, and said with a bloodthirsty glint, "Feng Ran, do you think your pleas can change any decision I make?"
"Heh, look at yourself first."
"What makes you think your pleas or threats would make me afraid?"
"Regent, I know I am insignificant and my words carry no weight. I am acutely aware of my lowly status, and even speaking with the Regent is a luxury. However, I do not wish for anyone to be implicated because of me."
"Regent, if you are unhappy or displeased, you may vent your anger on me. Please do not harm the innocent."
"Actually, the Regent's fury is solely because of me, isn't it?"
"You want me to feel guilty."
"Heh, I didn't expect that your skill in serving others has improved, and so has your ability to guess people's thoughts."
"You want to play the good person?"
"It's not impossible."
"I can give you that chance." Xuanyuan Heng's eyes sparkled with a bloodthirsty gleam. "Kneel before me, kowtow, and confess all your wicked deeds. I will grant your wish and release the innocent. What do you say?"
"Feng Ran, I can handle my own affairs."
"I don't need your fake kindness here," Gu Yanchen said coldly, his tone exceptionally displeased.
He knew perfectly well that Xuanyuan Heng was saying this intentionally, and he wouldn't harm Gu Yanchen.
But seeing Feng Ran being humiliated by Xuanyuan Heng for his sake stirred an unpleasant emotion in his heart.
"Feng Ran, listen, he doesn't appreciate your good intentions."
"It seems your calculations have gone awry."
"Feng Ran, are you utterly disappointed?"
"Regent," Feng Ran's eyes were bloodshot with anger. "Regent, no matter what you think, this matter indeed originated because of me. You can punish me however you wish."
Feng Ran understood clearly that Xuanyuan Heng was humiliating her. Yet, she remained calm and accepted it.
However, Xuanyuan Heng's words pierced her heart like ice, making it difficult to even breathe.
Although Gu Yanchen had been harsh towards her earlier,
she knew there were reasons for it. Despite his harsh words, he hadn't harmed her. Just moments ago, when Yun Sheng attacked her, it was he who stepped forward to help her.
Thinking about it, he was her savior.
Over the years, no one had ever helped her. Aunt Sheng was the only one. And Gu Yanchen had also helped her just now.
Gu Yanchen hadn't helped her in an obvious way, but she knew he had genuinely helped her.
However, Xuanyuan Heng, because Gu Yanchen had helped her and spoken for her, was now directing all his anger towards Gu Yanchen. This caused her more guilt and self-blame than if he had attacked her directly.
"Regent, what exactly do you want? As long as you say it, you can have this life of mine," Feng Ran looked up, staring coldly at the person before her, her eyes filled with malice.
Her anxious voice betrayed her deep concern.
Gu Yanchen looked at her with a hint of confusion and disbelief. She dared to speak to Xuanyuan Heng like this to prevent him from being punished. Was she truly not afraid of death?
Was she acting? If so, was the price too high?
"Feng Ran, you don't need to sacrifice yourself for me. Even if you hadn't stepped forward, I wouldn't have..."
With a "plop," Gu Yanchen's words were cut short. Feng Ran knelt directly on the ground, uttering the words of pleading and confession she was expected to say.
Feng Ran's pupils were unfocused, lacking any discernible gaze.
At this moment, she seemed possessed, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Feng Ran, do you think this is enough? Don't you find it too perfunctory? You should know better than anyone what I want to hear."
Feng Ran froze, looking at Xuanyuan Heng, who remained motionless.
Meeting Xuanyuan Heng's venomous gaze, her heart sank, and she inwardly cursed her misfortune. She quickly pleaded again.
"Heh, is this enough?" Xuanyuan Heng said coldly. Just then, someone emerged carrying a bucket. Xuanyuan Heng took it and, lifting the bucket, poured the water directly over Feng Ran's head.
Xuanyuan Heng smiled, "Feng Ran, how does that feel? Are you happy?"
Feng Ran did not retort.
The water was frigid and salty. Most importantly, it soaked her to the bone. The water clung to her hands and body, and the wounds from her earlier humiliation made it impossible to breathe.
She gasped, trembling all over, but ultimately endured.
Feng Ran firmly believed that if she remained silent and endured, Xuanyuan Heng would grow to despise her, and then he would forget and abandon her.
Her greatest wish was for Xuanyuan Heng to simply forget about her.
Xuanyuan Heng assumed this would make Feng Ran break and beg him.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Heng's expression turned exceptionally ugly. How dare Feng Ran? She had already humbled herself to the dust; what right did she have to be arrogant now?
Xuanyuan Heng stood outside the mansion, and naturally, no one dared to speak out.
Watching Feng Ran remain so calm, Xuanyuan Heng felt deeply unsettled. Suddenly, as if an idea struck him, he squatted down, grabbed Feng Ran's chin, and said coldly, "Feng Ran, if I were to invite Feng Jin here, would you still be so calm?"
"Although Feng Jin doesn't remember you, Feng Ran, don't forget that you still remember Feng Jin."
"He is still your brother. Imagine, if one day he regained his memory and learned he had a sister who had fallen into disgrace, how would he feel?"
"Feng Ran, if you were alive then, it would be a disgrace to Feng Jin." Because of you, Feng Jin would become the target of ridicule in this circle.
"Feng Ran, let Feng Jin come here and watch how you are humiliated. Do you think things will get more interesting if Feng Jin regains his memory in the future?"
Xuanyuan Heng said with a face full of smiles, his eyes glinting with sarcasm and triumph.
Feng Ran glared fiercely at Xuanyuan Heng.
The rage in her eyes was almost enough to kill the person before her. Xuanyuan Heng intended to completely destroy her.
She remained silent, looking at the person before her calmly.
At this moment, she didn't know what to say. Perhaps she was contemplating what she should say.
As she thought, Feng Ran suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh. How could she be foolishly thinking about what she should say, what would be appropriate to say?
Before Xuanyuan Heng, she didn't even have the right to speak.