Feng Ran sensed Li Yuncheng's gaze fall upon her.
She appeared flustered and after a long moment, spoke, "I... I didn't mean to. It was just an instinctive reaction out of fear."
Feng Ran lowered her head. "Young Master Li, this is my fault. You can kill me or flay me as you please." As she spoke, Feng Ran moved to kneel.
Li Yuncheng's fan pressed against her knees, and he shook his head. "You don't need to kneel before me, nor be so cautious."
Feng Ran looked up, her eyes filled with confusion as she regarded Li Yuncheng, pondering his words.
A devilish smile curved Li Yuncheng's lips. The next moment, like a demon from hell, he provocatively lifted Feng Ran's chin with his fan and sneered, "Who gave you this medicine?" He carefully unfolded the medicine he had picked up earlier and placed it before Feng Ran.
Medicine? Where did it come from?
Feng Ran's heart pounded wildly. She kept her head down, afraid to meet Li Yuncheng's gaze, lest he see through her.
She wouldn't care if something happened to her.
But she wanted to protect the person who had helped her.
She shook her head and then stated firmly, "Xuan Yuan Heng gave it to me."
"Who? Xuan Yuan Heng?"
"Yes, Xuan Yuan Heng."
Li Yuncheng suddenly laughed, a loud, disbelieving sound. His scrutinizing gaze remained fixed on Feng Ran.
His eyes clearly conveyed his complete disbelief in her words.
"Is that so?"
"It's true. If Young Master Li doesn't believe me, you can go and ask Xuan Yuan Heng. You'll know if you ask him." Lowering her eyes, she spoke with a hint of guilt. She was gambling, betting that Li Yuncheng wouldn't go to Xuan Yuan Heng to clarify.
She thought no one would question Xuan Yuan Heng, after all, he already held immense power. Perhaps this excuse was the best.
"It is said that the Regent hates you to the bone, wishing you dead. How would he give you such precious 'life-saving medicine'?" Li Yuncheng chuckled. "If this were poison, I might believe you a little more."
After speaking, Li Yuncheng stopped questioning Feng Ran and released her.
He knew he wouldn't get anything out of her.
Naturally, he wouldn't give up so easily. After all, he had been searching for years, and finally, there were some clues. He wouldn't let them slip away.
Feng Ran had never left Chunman Yuan. Thus, it must be someone from Chunman Yuan. He only needed to investigate those who had interacted with her.
"Can I ask you to please stop investigating further?"
Li Yuncheng's expression flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Then, it depends on whether what you say is the answer I'm looking for."
"Young Master Li, the person you've been desperately searching for might know you are looking for her. But she is deliberately avoiding you."
"Or perhaps, it is fate."
"Young Master Li, some things might be predestined, yet unchangeable."
After saying these words, Feng Ran, though fearful, felt no regret.
If she were to be punished for these words, she was willing to accept it.
"Heh, is that so?" Li Yuncheng's hand moved to her chin, pinching it as he said coldly, "Then, do you know? The moment you said those words, you deserved to die a thousand times over."
"..."
When she spoke those words, Feng Ran was already mentally prepared.
"She said this medicine was specially refined for me. She said that by using poison daily, I would eventually suffer a backlash. She told me to stop, but I didn't listen to her."
"That day, I was poisoned, went mad, and it seemed like I had harmed her to death, or perhaps not."
Feng Ran stood still, listening intently to his words, but uttered nothing, not wishing to interrupt him.
She wondered if the person Li Yuncheng spoke of was Aunt Sheng?
She remembered that Aunt Sheng had said some things back then. Although not explicitly stated, it was clear that Aunt Sheng carried some burdens.
"Perhaps, one day, she will return to your side."
Li Yuncheng smiled, a faint smile on his face, and a flicker of light in his eyes as he looked at Feng Ran. "Feng Ran, your performance today was good. If you serve me well next time, perhaps I will find a way to take you out."
Feng Ran was stunned. Her brows furrowed. Why would Li Yuncheng suddenly say such things?
Her gaze followed Li Yuncheng's, and she trembled all over, her face instantly paling.
Just as Feng Ran was about to say something, Li Yuncheng directly pulled her into his embrace.
She instinctively struggled, not wanting any contact with Li Yuncheng.
She worried that people outside might misunderstand her.
"Feng Ran, be good, don't resist. Understand?"
"Otherwise, your life will be forfeit."
Feng Ran dared not move. She knew very well that the person before her would do exactly as he said.
She had already experienced Li Yuncheng's ruthlessness once. She didn't want to go through it again.
"Young Master Li..."
Li Yuncheng directly released Feng Ran.
As Feng Ran tried to move, Li Yuncheng placed his hand on her shoulder, applying a slight force that made Feng Ran sit on a chair.
When Feng Ran attempted to stand up, she was frozen by a look from Li Yuncheng.
"Be obedient." His voice was cold and bloodthirsty, his eyes filled with a savage glint.
Li Yuncheng waved his fan, and the door opened.
Xuan Yuan Heng, his face dark, looked at the people inside, his voice chilling as he spoke, "Feng Ran, you are indeed debased."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran's face turned ashen.
Li Yuncheng looked at Xuan Yuan Heng and said mockingly, "Xuan Yuan Heng, you are the one who sent Feng Ran to this place, and you are the one who made her entertain guests."
"Yet, you are scolding her like this now. This is where you are wrong."
Xuan Yuan Heng's face darkened as he glared at Feng Ran. "Get over here."
"Since you like serving people so much, then this Prince will let you serve to your heart's content today."
Feng Ran's once rosy complexion instantly paled, her eyes filled with fear. She even wanted to flee, to escape this place.
Xuan Yuan Heng narrowed his eyes, his entire being exuding a terrifying aura, and said coldly, "It seems I need to take matters into my own hands."
Hearing this, Feng Ran met Xuan Yuan Heng's threatening gaze. She dared not hesitate and rose, walking towards Xuan Yuan Heng.
At this moment, Li Yuncheng provocatively looked at Xuan Yuan Heng and said, "The rules of Chunman Yuan, Regent, you haven't forgotten, have you?"
"Feng Ran is booked by me today. Therefore, no one can snatch her from my grasp unless I am willing to yield."
Li Yuncheng chuckled. "These rules were personally decreed by the Regent back then."
"Regent, you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?" he said with a smile.
Watching Xuan Yuan Heng's expression turn increasingly grim, Li Yuncheng's smile widened.