Qinghan wished she could tear Qinghuan apart with her bare hands. However, with Xuanyuan Heng present, she maintained a smiling, gentle demeanor, saying, "Your Highness, I am Qinghan."
Xiao Lanjue watched from the side with an air of anticipation, as if witnessing a good show.
These two women were clearly not good people. The moment they saw Xuanyuan Heng appear, they seemed desperate to pounce on him, as if he were a prize pig and they were hungry dogs.
"Who will speak first?" Xuanyuan Heng said icily.
Xiao Lanjue's eyes widened, looking at Xuanyuan Heng as if he had seen something utterly vile. Had this man been replaced by some evil spirit?
He spoke the coldest words, yet his tone was laced with an unusual ambiguity.
Or, what was he trying to achieve now?
"Your Highness, I will speak first," Qinghan stepped forward eagerly, rushing to speak.
Hmph, the perfect opportunity she had earlier was snatched away by Qinghuan. Now, she had to seize every chance and not let Qinghuan have another opportunity.
Seeing this, Qinghuan also immediately stepped forward. She seemed to lose all her composure and moved closer to Xuanyuan Heng, but he swiftly dodged her. He looked at the woman before him with cold eyes.
Qinghuan stumbled and fell to the ground. She looked up, her eyes filled with confusion, wondering what she had done wrong. Why hadn't Xuanyuan Heng caught her?
The fall had truly been agonizing, almost suffocating.
"Your Highness, have I done something wrong? Your Highness, are you punishing me like this?"
Xuanyuan Heng remained silent, his gaze fixed icily on the woman before him.
Qinghuan spoke again, trying to appease him, "Your Highness, whatever you wish for me to do, I will do."
Xiao Lanjue, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He would have held back if he could, but he simply couldn't contain himself.
Aunt Sheng, standing nearby, could no longer bear to watch. "Your Highness, these are the items you asked me to prepare."
Aunt Sheng placed the items directly in front of Xuanyuan Heng.
Upon seeing the dagger and white silk, Qinghan and Qinghuan's faces turned exceedingly grim.
They even regretted appearing here in the first place.
The man's cold gaze fell upon the two women.
Xuanyuan Heng flicked the dagger, and it grazed Qinghuan's cheek, drawing a line of blood.
Yet, even in such a situation, Qinghuan dared not cry out. She still didn't know what Xuanyuan Heng truly wanted or what he expected from them.
She wanted to stay.
Perhaps, this was a test from Xuanyuan Heng.
Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold sneer. "Did you harm Feng Ran?" he asked indifferently.
"Then, what else do you plan to do next?" Xuanyuan Heng asked coldly, his question leaving one uncertain of his true intent.
"I want to hear about your next move. Do you have any unspoken grievances?"
Qinghan immediately shook her head. "Your Highness, no... this is not difficult at all."
"I am most willing."
"If I can alleviate Your Highness's worries, then my presence here today will have been worthwhile."
"Then, please continue."
Qinghan had initially believed that by speaking flattering words, she could garner more of Xuanyuan Heng's attention.
Qinghan's back was slick with cold sweat.
Her entire body trembled.
"Your Highness, I have said all that I can."
"That day, I took action against Feng Ran because she did something so infuriating that I couldn't help but teach her a lesson."
"We do not have any usual conflicts."
"So, you and Feng Ran have a very good relationship?" Xuanyuan Heng questioned icily, his tone sending a chill down one's spine.
Qinghan's heart jolted. Had she said something wrong?
Xuanyuan Heng's expression was extremely displeased. Yet, the outside world rumored that Xuanyuan Heng hated Feng Ran to the core because she had killed his beloved. In his grief for his lost love, Xuanyuan Heng had annihilated the Feng family overnight, turning Feng Ran from the esteemed eldest daughter of the Feng family into a lowly servant.
Heh, even more contemptible than her.
Right, Feng Ran was here, and Xuanyuan Heng had ordered her to entertain guests properly.
Therefore, it was logical that Xuanyuan Heng wanted to destroy and torment Feng Ran.
Qinghan made a firm resolve in her heart. It was time to take a gamble. If she won, she would enjoy immense wealth and status. If she lost, she would still be here. It seemed there was no disadvantage in taking a gamble.
Qinghan took a deep breath and said in a charming, cooing voice, "Your Highness, if you wish for me to do something for you, I will naturally comply."
"My methods will surely satisfy Your Highness," Qinghan said triumphantly, a look of determination on her face.
Xiao Lanjue's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at her.
Did this person have a problem?
What was she thinking, saying such things in front of Xuanyuan Heng?
Did she even believe the rumors from the outside world? It was truly and inexplicably laughable.
"Aunt Sheng, how did you manage to train someone like this?" Qinghan's flattery disgusted Xuanyuan Heng to the extreme. He wished he could banish the woman before him at once.
"Your Highness." Aunt Sheng glanced at Qinghan. This woman was truly asking for trouble. She wouldn't have ended up in such a predicament if she hadn't brought it upon herself.
But the woman before her, with her fawning demeanor, seemed oblivious to having offended the person in front of her.
Aunt Sheng delivered a fierce kick. She walked step by step towards Qinghan, placing her foot directly on Qinghan's fingers, pressing down hard. She said coldly, "Qinghan, with your status as a lowly slave, you dare to dream of currying favor with His Highness. Do you think you are worthy?"
"Feng Ran's standing is hers, she belongs to His Highness."
"No matter how arrogant you are, you cannot slander Feng Ran in front of His Highness."
"Aunt Sheng, I... I..."
Qinghan trembled all over. She regretted it.
She had only wanted to please Xuanyuan Heng, but she had inadvertently sealed her own doom.
"Anyone with a brain would know what to do at this point."
"Qinghan, do as you are told," Aunt Sheng said coldly.
Following Aunt Sheng's instructions, Qinghan recounted all that had happened recently and what she planned to do next. She explained it all clearly.
After she finished, she collapsed onto the ground, completely drained. Naturally, she had omitted many details.
Some things could not be said. Revealing them would cost her life at any moment.
Qinghan believed she was doomed. Her face was devoid of color.
Just as despair washed over her, a cold voice echoed from above, "Not bad. Such excellent ideas for tormenting people. I never thought of them myself."
Qinghan looked up, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at the person before her. She finally came to her senses, filled with excitement. She had stumbled upon fortune in misfortune. Xuanyuan Heng had not only spared her but had praised her.
Was she about to turn her fate around?