Qinghuan said coldly, "Feng Ran, you have no status now."
"You're not coming over, do you look down on Lord Di?"
Feng Ran's hands, placed by her side, clenched tightly. As expected, Qinghuan would not let her off easily.
A favorite of the Emperor?
Someone who could take her life at any moment.
Even if she didn't want to deal with them, she still couldn't offend the person in front of her.
When one is under another's roof, one must bow one's head.
Feng Ran said in a low, humble voice, "Lord Di, it's not that I look down on you. It's just that Prince Xuanyuan said that anyone who gets involved with me, he would take their life."
Hearing Feng Ran's words, Lord Di's expression became exceptionally ugly.
His gaze fell on Qinghuan, clearly very displeased.
Qinghuan couldn't possibly be unaware of this matter. To say this, Qinghuan had tried to harm him knowing full well.
Qinghuan was completely flustered. She just wanted to scheme against Feng Ran and make her suffer, but this turn of events was beyond her expectations.
However, upon hearing the name Xuanyuan Heng, a flicker of desire ignited in his heart.
This Feng Ran, once Xuanyuan Heng's woman, if he were to humiliate her, it would be like stepping on Xuanyuan Heng, and that would be acceptable.
Moreover, if he didn't fulfill what he promised Qinghuan, what face would he have to speak of it?
Qinghuan, standing aside, was already resentful.
She had just been tricked by Feng Ran.
Qinghuan, as if boneless, collapsed into Lord Di's arms and said coquettishly, "Feng Ran's zither skills are excellent. It shouldn't be difficult to have her play a song."
"That works too," Lord Di finally agreed.
"This..." Feng Ran's eyes held a hint of hesitation. If it were before, she would have certainly agreed. But after that day, when she went to Prince Xuanyuan's manor, her hands could no longer play the zither.
Seeing the hesitation in Feng Ran's eyes, Qinghuan became even more delighted. Without giving Feng Ran a chance to speak, she anxiously said, "Lord Di, Feng Ran's zither skills are unparalleled. If she hadn't fallen to such a state, we likely wouldn't have had the chance to hear them in this lifetime."
"Now that such a rare opportunity has arisen, we must cherish the present moment."
Feng Ran's hands would never be able to play the zither again in this lifetime. If she were to force herself to play, her hands would likely be ruined.
"It is said that a few days ago, when she went to the Xuanyuan manor, Prince Xuanyuan ordered her not to play the zither. Can she play it now?"
"Lord Di..." A light flashed in Qinghuan's eyes, and she became exceptionally excited. The more this was the case, the more insistent she became.
"That's just a rumor. Who knows if it's true or false."
"Lord Di, can we just listen? I want to hear it."
"Such opportunities are rare."
"Do you really want to hear it that much?" Lord Di seemed hesitant, his tone laced with doubt.
"Yes, we definitely want to hear it."
"I've wanted to hear it for a long time, but with Feng Ran's status before, even if I wanted to, I probably wouldn't have the chance in this lifetime."
"But heaven seems to be kind to me. With such a rare opportunity, I want to hear it. Who knows if I'll have another chance next time." As she spoke, Qinghuan, as if boneless, leaned into Lord Di's embrace.
With soft fragrance in his arms, Lord Di's last shred of reason vanished.
Lord Di was still worried about the potential negative consequences of this matter, but under Qinghuan's insistence, he was persuaded. "Alright, alright. Whatever my beauty says goes."
"As long as my beauty is happy, I am willing to become a ghost," Lord Di's hand moved unsteadily to Qinghuan's waist.
Qinghuan felt extreme disdain and disgust in her heart, but on the surface, she still feigned great happiness.
His gaze fell on Feng Ran, and he said triumphantly, "If you perform well, I might be able to grant you one condition."
"Lord Di, what are you doing? How can such a lowly person be worthy?"
"Lord Di, with just a word from you, she will obediently listen."
"My dear, are you jealous?" Beside the man, his hand was not idle, and he chuckled into Qinghuan's ear, a laugh that was somewhat chilling. "My dear, you are my darling. The best will naturally be for you."
"Lord Di, you said it yourself," Qinghuan said with a fawning smile.
However, her eyes were filled with displeasure, and her heart was extremely disgusted.
But in order to humiliate Feng Ran, she was willing to do anything.
"Feng Ran, begin."
Qinghuan met Feng Ran's eyes, feigned a fearful gasp, then covered her mouth and said in disbelief, "Feng Ran, you don't think Lord Di's status is worthy, do you? You don't think you're too noble, do you?"
Seeing Lord Di's darkened face, Qinghuan was exceptionally pleased. This was the result she wanted to see.
"Lord Di, Feng Ran has been delaying. Does she look down on me?"
She covered her eyes and sobbed, saying sadly, "It is I who am unworthy."
"Yes, with my status, how could I be worthy? I was dreaming." Qinghuan said mournfully, secretly glancing at Lord Di's expression from the side, her heart filled with joy.
Heh, Feng Ran was doomed this time.
She just couldn't stand Feng Ran's air of superiority.
Feng Ran sat down, her slender hands placed on the zither. She knew clearly that escape was impossible today.
If her hands were ruined, then so be it.
Qinghuan watched, her heart filled with glee.
Feng Ran had been playing the zither for half an hour, but neither of them showed any signs of calling a halt.
Her wrists ached terribly. She even felt as if her hands were no longer her own.
Suddenly, she stopped. Her hands had already gone numb.
Lord Di frowned, looking at Feng Ran's pained expression, which did not seem feigned.
He had lost his earlier arrogance.
In fact, at this moment, he was somewhat afraid.
"Get out. This zither playing is extremely unpleasant."
"It seems those flattering words were all untrue."
Qinghuan was stunned. She hadn't had enough. Why was it over so soon?
No, this wouldn't do.
She didn't want to miss such a rare opportunity to humiliate Feng Ran.
Qinghuan wrapped her arms around Lord Di's neck and said charmingly, "Lord Di, I still want to listen. I haven't heard enough yet."
"Lord Di, aren't you feeling sympathetic?"
"My dear, it's not that."
"My heart is entirely with you. It is you I feel for, how could I feel for others?"
"But I haven't heard enough," Qinghuan said unhappily.
If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't afford to offend the person in front of her, she wouldn't bother pretending.
"Seeing her mournful face has ruined my mood."
"Good girl, if you want to listen, I'll have someone else play. They play ten or a hundred times better than her," Lord Di cajoled gently.