Xuanyuan Manor.
Feng Ran stepped down from the carriage. It had been several years since she last appeared at Xuanyuan Manor.
Everything seemed unchanged, yet everything had changed.
The carriage left, and she stood frozen, unsure of how to proceed.
By now, circumstances had long since shifted, and familiar faces were gone.
Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself to take the first step.
"Wait a moment." The grand gates of Xuanyuan Manor swung open, and a deep voice, one she would recognize even if it were reduced to ashes, called out.
Recalling the man's cold-blooded demeanor from before, her body involuntarily tensed with fear.
Her eyes filled with terror, yet her feet remained rooted to the spot, unmoving.
"Crawl through there." The man pointed to a dog hole by the side, issuing a bloodthirsty command.
Feng Ran's eyes held disbelief, but she let out a self-mocking laugh. What was there to disbelieve? For the sake of that woman, he had even targeted the Feng family; he had even targeted her unborn child. What was there that Xuanyuan Heng couldn't do?
"Do you not understand my words? Crawl through there." The man's menacing voice boomed again.
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly, but she knew that in the face of power, she could only bow her head. She had no right to refuse. She had to comply. Gritting her teeth, she painstakingly moved her feet, bending low.
At that moment, Xuanyuan Heng strode forward and kicked her hard in the back. Feng Ran fell directly to her knees.
Feng Ran was utterly humiliated.
Yet, even in such a state, Feng Ran did not utter a sound.
What she didn't realize was that the more she behaved this way, the more enraged Xuanyuan Heng became.
He wanted Feng Ran to kneel and beg him.
"Is this the beginning of the performance?" the man speaking was Gu Yanchen, Xuanyuan Heng's friend, his voice filled with excitement.
He had come specifically to watch the spectacle.
Beside him stood a man in a green robe, his brows furrowed. "Xuanyuan, isn't treating her like this too lenient?" This was also Xuanyuan Heng's friend, Xiao Lanjue.
She knew all of them. In the past, her entire heart had been devoted to Xuanyuan Heng, and she had never imagined that the people around him harbored such dislike and cruelty towards her.
It seemed she had never offended them.
A trace of sadness crept into Feng Ran's eyes, but she could only resignedly accept what was happening before her.
She had never forgotten how Xuanyuan Heng had abandoned her in that bloodthirsty place. To survive, she could only desperately trample over others, to crush her way forward.
Only by stepping on others could she have a chance to live.
She feared those days of dire straits and did not wish to experience them again.
In the past, how gentle and caring Xuanyuan Heng had been towards her. And in turn, the torment she now suffered was just as tragic.
Towards Xuanyuan Heng, she felt only fear and dread.
Upon seeing Xuanyuan Heng, she surprisingly felt a flicker of pity.
"Crawl through," Xuanyuan Heng's relentless voice echoed again.
Feng Ran dared not hesitate. She crawled on her knees.
The man's face was contorted with rage. She dared not look further and quickly lowered her head.
Xuanyuan Heng stood tall and imposing, while she was like a clown, crawling on the ground.
Under the gaze of those onlookers, she crawled through the dog hole and entered Xuanyuan Manor.
However, she did not get up, maintaining her kneeling posture.
"Heh." Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold sneer, his eyes filled with contempt. He mockingly said, "After so many years, the eldest daughter of the Feng family has lost her arrogance, so smoothly crawling through a dog hole."
"After so many years, it's actually made me somewhat surprised."
"You understand how to bow your head, understand how to endure."
The man's voice, nearing fury, rang in Feng Ran's ears. Her face turned ashen. "Your Highness."
Feng Ran's entire body trembled, even her voice was unsteady. She kept her head down, not daring to look at the man before her.
Facing Xuanyuan Heng's humiliation, she didn't even dare to speak, her very breath felt utterly subservient.
Every move Feng Ran made was observed by Xuanyuan Heng.
Xuanyuan Heng sized up Feng Ran. If not for Hong Yi mentioning her, with his recent preoccupation with state affairs, he might have truly forgotten about her.
Recently, her life had been rather comfortable, but this was the last thing he wanted to see.
The once haughty, arrogant eldest daughter of the Feng family, now capable of such subservience. If he hadn't been sure it was Feng Ran before him, he would have suspected she was disguised or an imposter.
"You're obedient now, crawling through when told. Why didn't you do this earlier?" Xuanyuan Heng sneered coldly. He missed no opportunity to humiliate her.
"Your complexion is good, it seems you've been living well. How were those people handling things?" Xuanyuan Heng said with displeasure.
Feng Ran's expression changed drastically. She raised her eyes to meet Xuanyuan Heng's mocking gaze, her eyes filled with pleading. She did not want her affairs to implicate Sheng Yi.
"Once you're inside, the people inside are all waiting," Gu Yanchen said with a touch of excitement.
After all, it would be even more entertaining inside.
The matter was becoming increasingly interesting.
Xuanyuan Manor, side hall.
Entering, the hall was filled with dignitaries. Many of these people were familiar to Gu Yanchen.
It seemed Xuanyuan Heng was determined to humiliate her tonight.
Feng Ran instinctively retreated, and for a moment, she considered disregarding everything and fleeing.
But as she calmed down, she let out a self-mocking laugh. The world was vast, yet Xuanyuan Heng's people were everywhere. Where could she escape? The thought struck her as somewhat ridiculous: the world was so big, yet there was no place for her to take refuge.
Xuanyuan Heng saw through her intentions. He looked at Feng Ran and coldly threatened, "Remember, your reluctance, your hesitation, will harm those around you."
"Sheng Yi seems to treat you well."
"If something were to happen to Sheng Yi tomorrow, what do you think would be the reason?"
Feng Ran's face turned ashen, and she collapsed to the ground.
Her gaze fell upon the courtyard, from which various sounds emanated. Her hands clenched tightly, and her condition worsened.
The man before her watched the collapsed Feng Ran with amusement and said with disdain, "You don't have much time left."
His icy voice rang out, cold and ruthless. Feng Ran shivered uncontrollably.
"I, I'll go right away." Feng Ran, anxious to get up, stumbled and fell to the ground again.
"Heh." The man gave a light snort.
"Prince Xuanyuan, this lowly servant will go immediately." Feng Ran gritted her teeth and forced the words out with difficulty.
She lowered her head, feeling a burning gaze on her. The hand by her side clenched tightly as she waited for the man to speak.
Earlier, it was her lack of etiquette that made her refer to herself as 'I' in front of Xuanyuan Heng.
She was nothing but a lowly servant.
"Heh, you've finally recognized your place."
Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold sneer. "It seems you've learned your lesson."
"Your Highness, it is... it is this lowly servant's fault. I beg you, spare this lowly servant this once." To prevent innocent people from being implicated, Feng Ran could humble herself and demean herself. She repeatedly kowtowed, begging, "I beg Your Highness, with your magnanimity, please spare this lowly servant this time."
"This lowly servant will do anything Your Highness commands," Feng Ran said subserviently.