"Fetch an imperial physician, quickly."
Xiao Lan Jue had only just arrived at the Regent's mansion when he heard Xuan Yuan Heng's wailing. His curiosity was instantly piqued. Was this a prelude to some good drama? Heh, this was getting more and more interesting.
Xiao Lan Jue didn't dare to delay and immediately stepped forward.
"Xiao Lan Jue, aren't you going to hurry in?"
Xiao Lan Jue, who had been anticipating a show, was stunned. But he quickly retorted, "Hey, I just got here, and you're already ordering me around."
"Even though you're the Regent, I have my own status. Is this how you treat me?" Xiao Lan Jue said indignantly. He had come to watch a show, not to be humiliated. Besides, he was already feeling down. Now, to be further insulted here, how could he possibly accept it? Xiao Lan Jue was practically fuming. There were plenty of people outside who fawned over him.
Xiao Lan Jue froze for a moment. He glanced at the injured Feng Ran, then widened his eyes at Xuan Yuan Heng, "You... you actually laid hands on Feng Ran. Do you want to kill her?"
Xiao Lan Jue's eyes were filled with condemnation. "Although Feng Ran has committed heinous deeds, it's still not good for you to be so ruthless towards her."
"With that stab, you truly intended to end her life."
"Xuan Yuan Heng, didn't you say you wanted to torture her? To kill her so quickly, don't you think that's too easy for her?"
"She did it to herself," Xuan Yuan Heng said, his eyes filled with malice. "But she desperately wanted to die, and I won't grant her wish."
"Heh," Xiao Lan Jue laughed coldly. "I never thought the esteemed Regent would resort to such excuses. It's truly laughable."
"I'm merely stating the facts." Xiao Lan Jue frowned, clearly displeased. He was deeply unhappy about Xiao Lan Jue's misunderstanding of his intentions.
Xiao Lan Jue dared not linger. He was sensible enough to know that Xuan Yuan Heng looked to be in a terrible mood, and he had no desire to court disaster.
The imperial physician arrived and began to examine Feng Ran. However, the physician's face grew increasingly grim. After the physician said a few words, Xuan Yuan Heng's expression turned extremely ugly.
The sound of a teacup shattering made the imperial physician immediately kneel and beg for mercy.
"Useless! What happened?"
The imperial physician trembled all over. The chief physician looked at Xiao Lan Jue and stammered, "She... she's been poisoned."
"Cure her," Xuan Yuan Heng said coldly.
"Your Highness, the poison has already spread throughout her internal organs. There is no known antidote."
"Useless."
"Your Highness, this poison has been in her body for many years. It is beyond saving."
"Even the gods would be powerless."
The imperial physicians were chased away by Xuan Yuan Heng. Although they were dismissed, they felt as though they had narrowly escaped with their lives.
Looking at the person on the bed, Xuan Yuan Heng suddenly exuded an aura of chilling cold.
"What happened to her all these years?" his bone-chilling voice rang out. His gaze fell upon Feng Ran. She must have known she was poisoned. That's why she had so recklessly attacked him. Recalling Feng Ran's resolute demeanor just now, he suddenly understood why she had seemed so unconcerned. What had happened to her all those years?
"Bei Chen Ye, go and investigate. Find out what happened to Feng Ran at that place."
As Bei Chen Ye was about to leave, Xuan Yuan Heng spoke again, "I want to know everything."
"Yes, Your Highness." Although Bei Chen Ye had his doubts, he did not voice them. He knew very well that some questions and matters were not for him to ask. His position was merely that of a servant, someone who carried out Xuan Yuan Heng's orders. He had no right to pry.
Bei Chen Ye worked swiftly.
"Your Highness, Feng Ran was indeed poisoned. She was poisoned the moment she was sent to that place," Bei Chen Ye stated calmly, recounting everything he had discovered.
Xuan Yuan Heng's gaze was fixed on Feng Ran. He wondered how she had endured it. He reached out and touched her cheek. Those years, living inhumanly in that place, how had she, afflicted with a deadly poison, managed to survive?
Bei Chen Ye, still kneeling, spoke again, "She was also afflicted with a Gu poison. It would erupt every month."
"Without an antidote, she could only endure it with sheer grit."
"To have survived until now is a testament to her resilience." Bei Chen Ye knew this was not a remark befitting his station, yet he could not help but utter it. Even he did not understand why. He just felt compelled to say it.
"How did she endure it? Was it merely her resilience?"
"And those people truly did as instructed, treating Feng Ran with such cruelty."
"When she was sent there, she had a miscarriage. Feng Ran will never be a mother again."
"Feng Ran's shoulder bears a scar, engraved with the character 'Jian' (贱 - slut/lowly)."
"Heh, is that so? Those people have grown truly audacious."
"I instructed them to 'entertain' her well, not to be so vicious. It seems those people should not be kept alive."
Bei Chen Ye understood. "Yes, Your Highness. This subordinate will handle it."
Bei Chen Ye withdrew.
...
Xuan Yuan Heng looked at Feng Ran, lying on the bed, still unconscious and in critical condition. At this moment, he thought of someone. He gently picked up Feng Ran and placed her in the carriage. He stopped at a secluded spot.
Xuan Yuan Heng's carriage halted, drawing the attention of many onlookers. However, the onlookers were terrified and quickly fled.
Li Yun Cheng's expression turned exceptionally grim upon seeing Xuan Yuan Heng. He said coldly, "Xuan Yuan Heng, this is not a place where you should be."
"Get lost. Don't blame me if I take drastic measures."
Xuan Yuan Heng looked at Li Yun Cheng and said coldly, "If I had no other recourse, I would not have come to you."
"Li Yun Cheng, I wish for you to save someone."
Li Yun Cheng let out a cold scoff, mockingly saying, "Xuan Yuan Heng, the esteemed Regent begging me is truly laughable."
"Perhaps if you knelt down, I might consider your request."
Xuan Yuan Heng's bloodshot gaze fell upon him, as if he were about to tear him apart. With a wave of Xuan Yuan Heng's hand, numerous archers appeared, surrounding Li Yun Cheng's residence.
Others might have been terrified by such a sight, but Li Yun Cheng was unfazed. He said with mockery, "Does the Regent intend to kill me?"
"However, you will be disappointed. These archers do not appear to be my match."
"If I wished to escape, these archers would only meet their doom."
"Xuan Yuan Heng, you should know my capabilities."
Xuan Yuan Heng looked at Li Yun Cheng's provocation, his face contorted with displeasure. He said coldly, "Li Yun Cheng, are you forcing my hand?"
Li Yun Cheng smiled. "Is that so? Then please, Regent, enlighten me."
It seemed that whatever Xuan Yuan Heng said held no consequence for Li Yun Cheng.