"You are lowly," Feng Ran said subserviently, "Yes, it was my fault, I was foolish."
"When Xiao Lan Jue held you, this king saw how happy you were."
"You even looked like you were enjoying it."
"Feng Ran, how do you explain this matter?"
"I can explain," Feng Ran replied quickly. She was stunned for a moment when she heard Xuanyuan Heng bring this up, but quickly answered.
"Xiao Lan Jue booked me for a month. And my duty is to serve him. If I disobey, I will be punished."
Xuanyuan Heng's deep eyes fell on her, and he let out a cold snort, "Heh, when did the dignified Miss Feng actually become so resigned?"
"Heh, Miss Feng, resigned?"
Hearing "Miss Feng" again, Feng Ran felt a sense of ridicule.
"Your Highness, isn't this exactly what you wanted to see? I am resigned, and Your Highness should be very happy."
"You sent me to such a place, and in the future, there will not only be Xiao Lan Jue, but others as well."
"As long as they pay the silver, I have to serve."
Feng Ran's eyes were filled with self-mockery as she said, "Isn't this the command Your Highness gave originally? Your Highness should have expected this from me now."
Meeting Feng Ran's resentful gaze, his actions suddenly faltered.
His eyes were filled with coldness.
Bei Chen Ye frowned, clearly sensing his master's extreme displeasure. She had truly touched Xuanyuan Heng's taboo.
He had followed Xuanyuan Heng for so many years, but this was the first time he had seen him like this.
He had never seen him like this, not even when Yu Wanyan died.
Xuanyuan Heng's eyes were filled with frost.
"Xuanyuan Heng, you let Huang Qianqian and Hong Yi go, wasn't it just to let them humiliate me? Wasn't it just to see me embarrassed? Now, everything has truly come true to your wishes."
As Feng Ran's words fell, Xuanyuan Heng exuded a terrifying aura.
Xuanyuan Heng said icily, "Feng Ran, you could have refused. The you of the past was not like this."
"The you of the past, if there was anything you didn't want to do, you wouldn't bow down."
Speaking of the past, a mournful smile appeared on Feng Ran's lips, and she said with self-deprecation, "Your Highness also said, 'the me of the past'."
"In the past, I was the pampered eldest daughter of the Feng family, but what am I now? I am the most lowly courtesan. Your Highness, tell me, how could I refuse?"
"And Your Highness's power is supreme in the imperial court. Who would dare disobey Your Highness's command?"
Feng Ran spoke coldly, her emotions devoid of any fluctuation, as if she were talking about something unrelated to herself, as if this were happening to someone else.
Feng Ran was truly ruthless when it came to demeaning herself.
Bei Chen Ye's expression grew increasingly grim. He looked at Feng Ran; the Feng Ran of the past was indeed not like this.
But the current Feng Ran made him feel a touch of pity.
In fact, he even felt that Feng Ran was not entirely wrong. If it hadn't been for Xuanyuan Heng's arrangements, she truly wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Your Highness, is my answer satisfactory?" Feng Ran asked with a fawning smile.
Xuanyuan Heng, however, kicked her away, saying coldly, "Feng Ran, you are truly despicable."
"To survive, you are willing to do anything."
Xuanyuan Heng's disgust and disdain for Feng Ran were expressed to their fullest.
Feng Ran smiled, a knowing smile, "Thank you for Your Highness's compliment."
"I never imagined that I was considered such a person in Your Highness's heart."
"Feng Ran, you truly make this king want to kill you at any moment."
"I know, I naturally know."
Feng Ran burst into laughter, "But Your Highness also said that my life was to be kept, and that Your Highness wanted me to suffer torment for all eternity."
"Your Highness, are you going back on your word now?"
Feng Ran laughed heartily, and her laughter deeply pierced Xuanyuan Heng.
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Feng Ran, clutched her neck, and said bloodthirstily, "Feng Ran, do you think that with Ling Chi Yuan, he can save you?"
"Then, I will take you to find Ling Chi Yuan."
"Let's see if he will save you."
Feng Ran was stunned.
Ling Chi Yuan? This matter had nothing to do with him from beginning to end. Why was he being dragged into it?
Although Ling Chi Yuan didn't seem like a good person, she didn't want to involve innocent people again because of her.
Feng Ran quickly said, "Xuanyuan Heng, everything here has nothing to do with Ling Chi Yuan. Why do you want to involve him?"
She couldn't understand.
This matter had nothing to do with him from beginning to end.
Why would Xuanyuan Heng suddenly drag Ling Chi Yuan into it?
If she caused Ling Chi Yuan to be implicated and injured because of her, then she would truly become a perpetrator.
Lan Lan had lost her life for her. She didn't want Ling Chi Yuan to be implicated because of her.
Perhaps, she was truly an unlucky omen.
Seeing Feng Ran's anxious and nervous appearance, Xuanyuan Heng's mood instantly soured. His face became exceptionally grim, and he looked at Feng Ran with disdain, "Feng Ran, look at how anxious you are. You say you have no relationship or involvement with Ling Chi Yuan, who would believe that?"
"Feng Ran, let's go. This king has prepared a good show for you next."
"This king wants to show you how someone is being implicated because of you."
"Let you witness firsthand the suffering those people endure because of you."
Feng Ran's face instantly turned pale.
She widened her eyes and looked at Xuanyuan Heng in disbelief.
"Xuanyuan Heng, this matter has nothing to do with Ling Chi Yuan. Why must you involve him?"
Hearing Feng Ran speak up for Ling Chi Yuan, Xuanyuan Heng sneered. He had initially thought the intelligence might be mistaken. But now, it seemed the intelligence was correct, and he had still harbored a sliver of belief in her.
"Since that's the case, Feng Ran, this king will truly make you witness firsthand how Ling Chi Yuan suffers undeserved punishment because of you."
Feng Ran's heart jolted. She had forgotten that she shouldn't have spoken up just now. Her words would only further enrage Xuanyuan Heng and accelerate his actions against Ling Chi Yuan.
Xuanyuan Heng directly dragged Feng Ran and forcibly shoved her into the carriage.
"Xuanyuan Heng, what are you doing?" Feng Ran looked at Xuanyuan Heng warily, and the thought of his words just now made her feel a sense of dread.
"Naturally, we are going to watch the show."
Xuanyuan Heng's single sentence plunged Feng Ran into hell. All her hopes were shattered.
She regretted it, falling into deep self-blame and guilt.
She knew deeply that if she had not spoken up for Ling Chi Yuan just now, none of this would have happened.
So, everything was her doing.