In the Xuanyuan Residence.
Feng Ran sat in the small courtyard, chin in her hand, even wondering how she could leave this place.
Her body had almost recovered.
Aunt Sheng came into the room and, not seeing Feng Ran, became anxious. Feng Ran had vanished early this morning, and her heart had been in her throat.
Aunt Sheng immediately stepped forward and took Feng Ran's hand. "Fortunately, fortunately, you didn't leave."
"Aunt Sheng, when can I leave the Xuanyuan Residence?"
Aunt Sheng sighed helplessly and shook her head.
Feng Ran smiled self-deprecatingly. Yes, what was she hoping for? This was the Xuanyuan Residence, not a place she could come and go as she pleased.
All she could do in this life was to accept her fate.
"Heh, Feng Ran, do you want to leave the Xuanyuan Residence so badly? Do you want to stay in Chun Manyuan for the rest of your life?"
Xuanyuan Heng, returning from outside, had not intended to come here, but he couldn't control his steps and eventually did.
He had never imagined he would hear such words.
Wanting to leave so much?
Yes, she wanted to leave. Did she want to stay here and be humiliated?
"Regent, thank you for your care."
"However, I am very clear about my identity."
"If I were to stay in the residence, it would be very bad for the Regent's reputation."
Heh, she said she knew her identity, she said she was worried about his reputation.
How ridiculous did that sound?
"Good, good, good." Xuanyuan Heng repeated the word "good" several times. His sinister gaze fell on Feng Ran, as if he were about to strike.
Meanwhile, Huang Qianqian, standing outside the door, turned ashen when she heard Feng Ran say she wanted to return to Chun Manyuan.
She had finally managed to get an opportunity to be here, and Feng Ran's words had destroyed all her hopes.
How dared Feng Ran?
No, this could absolutely not happen to her.
Huang Qianqian entered without a second thought.
This was her only chance now. If she lost this chance, her life would truly be over.
Xuanyuan Heng frowned deeply at Huang Qianqian's sudden intrusion, his expression extremely displeased.
Xuanyuan Heng even wondered why Bei Chenye hadn't chased this person away yet. However, he forgot that he had ordered everyone to remain in the Xuanyuan Residence. Therefore, Huang Qianqian's appearance here was quite normal.
Upon entering and seeing Xuanyuan Heng, Huang Qianqian trembled all over, even wondering why she had come in.
She regretted it deeply.
She mustered her courage, fixed her gaze on Feng Ran, and said anxiously, "Feng Ran, His Highness said that both you and I are to stay in the Xuanyuan Residence, yet you want to leave. You are disobeying His Highness's orders."
Feng Ran sneered and looked at Huang Qianqian mockingly. "If you want to stay, then stay. I will not."
Huang Qianqian looked at Feng Ran with resentment. Why, why could she decide not to stay?
And she had to leave with her?
Feng Ran, you don't want prosperity and wealth, but why must you block my path?
All the hopes of my life are about to be destroyed by your one sentence: "I want to leave."
Xuanyuan Heng, however, sat aside, watching the scene unfold as if it were a show.
Seeing this, Huang Qianqian wondered what she should do next.
After a long while, she came to her senses.
She had treated Feng Ran this way, and Xuanyuan Heng clearly didn't care about her. So why should she care?
Perhaps, by making things difficult for Feng Ran and acting against her, she might find a good solution.
With this thought, Huang Qianqian rushed directly towards Feng Ran and reached out to slap her across the face. But just then, Feng Ran grabbed Huang Qianqian's hand suspended in mid-air.
Suddenly, Huang Qianqian's face felt a sharp pain.
Huang Qianqian's eyes widened, looking at the person before her in disbelief. She had been hit. If not for the pain on her face, she would not have believed that Feng Ran had hit her.
Hit, Huang Qianqian went berserk and attacked Feng Ran wildly. However, her actions were eventually stopped by Bei Chenye.
As the icy sword landed on her neck, she was terrified, trembling all over.
Suddenly, her legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the ground.
There was also a puddle of unknown liquid on the ground.
Seeing this, everyone looked at her with surprise.
Huang Qianqian, by this time, had lost all face.
Huang Qianqian was dragged out like a dead dog.
Suddenly, Xuanyuan Heng's hand fell on Feng Ran, pulling her into his arms, and he gently stroked her face.
What did Xuanyuan Heng want?
"Feng Ran, your boldness has grown considerably these past few days. Who gave you the courage?"
"Or do you not want to live?"
Xuanyuan Heng sneered. "However, your wish to make me act against you, to make me kill you, I'm afraid cannot be fulfilled."
Feng Ran's face changed drastically.
Xuanyuan Heng's words had struck a nerve. The blood in her body instantly froze. She even wondered what she should do next.
Feng Ran's hesitation, fear, and worry made Xuanyuan Heng even more smug.
"Feng Ran, do not do anything you shouldn't do in front of me." Xuanyuan Heng's icy hand fell on Feng Ran's cheek.
Feng Ran's entire body stiffened, her face extremely grim. She didn't even dare to breathe loudly.
Her eyes were filled with terror. In her heart, she couldn't stop thinking, what did Xuanyuan Heng want?
After a long while, Xuanyuan Heng tidied the strands of hair that had fallen on her face.
Feng Ran was extremely scared now. She didn't even know what she should do or say next.
If Xuanyuan Heng wanted her life, it would be as easy as pie. But Xuanyuan Heng didn't take her life; instead, he kept it. Heh, thinking about it now, Xuanyuan Heng truly kept his word.
Her life had never been her own.
"Is it because of Ling Chi Yuan? Or Li Yun Cheng?"
Feng Ran's eyes widened, looking at Xuanyuan Heng. He knew everything.
He had investigated her thoroughly.
A mournful and self-mocking smile curved Feng Ran's lips. She had always thought she had hidden herself well, but she never expected that it was all just her own imagination.
The little secrets she thought she had, the things she thought no one knew, she never imagined Xuanyuan Heng knew it all.
It turned out she was the most ridiculous person.
Xuanyuan Heng's expression became extremely displeased.
Did Feng Ran truly 'obediently listen' and serve Ling Chi Yuan and Li Yun Cheng?