Feng Ran felt as if her hand was about to break, the pain making it impossible to breathe.
Her entire body was enduring.
She looked up, her eyes wide, at the person before her, full of fear.
Even in Xuanyuan Heng's eyes, she saw killing intent. He truly wanted to take her life.
In truth, she had told herself not to care too much. She should have expected such humiliation long ago.
The pain in her hand was something she had already experienced. Now, it truly didn't count for much.
Cold sweat covered her back.
At this moment, she even wished to directly question Xuanyuan Heng, to have him explain everything. But she found it incredibly difficult.
In the end, she chose to swallow her pride.
"Your Highness, please move your noble foot."
"It is naturally fine for someone of my status to be injured."
"It is just that if my dirty hands were to stain your esteemed foot, I would have committed a great sin."
Seeing Xuanyuan Heng's exceptionally grim expression, Feng Ran sneered, yet calmly said, "Your Highness, my current predicament is all thanks to Your Highness's 'care.' I will remember such 'generous treatment' for a lifetime."
Disgrace, humiliation, slander, nearly costing her life. All of this was bestowed upon her by Xuanyuan Heng.
Xuanyuan Heng, you are the one who created this lowly person.
Xuanyuan Heng's gaze fell upon Feng Ran, meeting her resentful eyes, her icy stare. He couldn't help but tremble.
At this moment, he felt something being slowly dug out from his heart, slowly drifting away from him.
Xuanyuan Heng frowned and said coldly, "Feng Ran, I don't know what you are talking about."
"It's just that some things are not as you think."
"Feng Ran, if you were to properly please me, properly serve me, perhaps I would grant your wish and make those who harmed you pay the price they deserve."
"Feng Ran, if you were obedient, if you bowed your head to me, your life would be a hundred times, a thousand times better than it is now. You should know how to choose."
Please me?
Reward?
He was in a good mood?
Feng Ran looked at Xuanyuan Heng and laughed, a loud, booming laugh. Her gaze towards him was like looking at a lunatic. He actually said such ridiculous words.
"Your Highness, when you say such things, don't you feel you're slapping yourself in the face? That's not what you said before. Your Highness, surely you haven't forgotten your own words."
Feng Ran spoke coldly, her face now a mask, revealing nothing of her inner thoughts.
"Your Highness, do you believe those words when you say them?"
"Heh, those were the words Your Highness spoke."
Xuanyuan Heng's expression changed drastically. Yes, he had said he wouldn't kill Huang Qianqian and Hong Yi. He had also said he would protect them, not treat them harshly.
It was no wonder Feng Ran had no faith in his words now.
What Feng Ran said was perhaps even correct. Maybe, he was just as Feng Ran described, wanting to do things without even knowing what he was doing himself.
Xuanyuan Heng's gaze fixed on her, staring intently. "Feng Ran, your presence affects me."
"At times, I even forget what I've said or done."
"Heh, is that so? Then, Your Highness, how do you intend to treat me now? Will you end me with a blade, or continue to torment me?" Feng Ran, however, was calm, as if she had long expected him to say such things.
"Your Highness, you seem to have forgotten. You said that as long as I had breath, even if I had to crawl or be carried, I would have to serve people properly." Feng Ran said with a light laugh, "I am about to go and serve someone. Please be merciful, Your Highness."
Xuanyuan Heng simply watched her resolve the matter.
Xuanyuan Heng kept staring at Feng Ran, pondering the things she had done and the words she had spoken. He wondered if she truly had such confidence, if she would really succeed.
Seeing her eagerness to disappear from his presence, he was truly enraged by what Feng Ran had done.
He even realized that whenever he encountered Feng Ran, he could never remain calm.
Feng Ran was truly his nemesis.
Xuanyuan Heng neither agreed to let her leave nor stopped her.
Feng Ran knew she could leave now.
Feng Ran, dragging her injured leg, left the Xuanyuan manor.
Of course, the servants stood there, watching silently. None reached out to help. Some, eager to please Xuanyuan Heng, even insulted Feng Ran, even splashing icy water on her.
Xuanyuan Heng summoned Bei Chenye.
"Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Xuanyuan Heng spoke, while Bei Chenye's expression grew increasingly grim. Finally, he nodded.
Bei Chenye seemed somewhat perplexed, wondering what Xuanyuan Heng was trying to achieve with this charade.
Feng Ran returned to Chun Yuan.
Her arrival was met with scornful glances from those present. However, they dared not approach or confront Feng Ran.
Perhaps it was because she returned from the Xuanyuan manor, or perhaps Sheng Yi had said something.
She paid no mind to the gazes surrounding her. In fact, seeing that they dared not approach, Feng Ran felt truly relieved.
At this moment, Lihua, who stood nearby, began to stir.
Just as Lihua was about to confront Feng Ran, Sheng Yi's appearance made her retract all her movements.
Because of Sheng Yi's sudden appearance, Lihua, unable to stop herself in time, fell directly to the ground.
No one spoke about what they had witnessed, and Lihua could only get up sheepishly.
Lihua glared at Feng Ran with intense hatred. In the end, she blamed Feng Ran for everything that had happened.
Feng Ran paid her no attention.
There were too many misunderstandings surrounding her; such misunderstandings were something she truly did not care about at all.
Just as Feng Ran was about to return to her room, Sheng Yi called out to her.
"Feng Ran, wait a moment. I need you for something. Come here."
Feng Ran nodded and calmly followed Sheng Yi. Those onlookers could only watch helplessly as Feng Ran was led away by Sheng Yi, unable to do anything.
They could tell that Sheng Yi was determined to protect Feng Ran.
What they couldn't understand was that Sheng Yi treated everyone the same. She never favored anyone, nor had she ever spoken up for anyone. They were accustomed to this. However, Feng Ran's appearance had changed everything.
They couldn't comprehend what had happened.
Or perhaps, Feng Ran possessed a way to sway people's hearts, because from the moment she appeared, Sheng Yi had become very different.
One could even say she was exceptionally protective of Feng Ran.
This was not a good thing for them.
Feng Ran followed Sheng Yi to her room.
"Sit down," Sheng Yi said, a hint of helplessness in her tone.
Feng Ran hesitated for a moment, but then obediently sat down.