Feng Ran watched everything unfold before her eyes, remaining silent, not uttering a word.
She wondered how Xuanyuan Heng would save her.
And Yu Wanyan? She remembered Yu Wanyan had come to find her. Yu Wanyan had said she would snatch Xuanyuan Heng away from her.
But why, upon waking, was Xuanyuan Heng still by her side? And Yu Wanyan was nowhere to be seen?
Xu Qing'er was also gone.
She couldn't quite grasp what Xuanyuan Heng wanted from her.
She could only watch him warily.
Xuanyuan Heng, for reasons unknown, held her tightly in his embrace.
She endured, for she knew better than anyone that struggling or trying to escape would be futile; she could not break free from Xuanyuan Heng's grasp.
She didn't want to speak, nor did she want to offer pointless resistance. She waited, to see what Xuanyuan Heng would do to her.
Feng Ran could only calmly observe the unfolding events, thinking, "When the enemy attacks, we defend; when the flood comes, we build dams."
Whatever happened, she would face it then.
"My Lord, please release me. I feel unwell, I can barely breathe."
Xuanyuan Heng did not reply, but his grip loosened slightly. Yet, he did not let Feng Ran go.
His hand still held her firmly captive.
As Feng Ran's mind wandered, Xuanyuan Heng had already moved onto her bed.
Feng Ran instinctively recoiled.
However, Xuanyuan Heng gave her no chance and drew her into his embrace.
Feng Ran was helpless.
"You... what do you want?"
Her whole body trembled, her voice unusually low.
"If I truly wanted something, Feng Ran, do you think you could stop me?" he said mockingly, his eyes filled with coldness.
Yes.
It was as Xuanyuan Heng said. If he truly wished to do something to her, her words and actions would be useless.
It was her. How could she have ever thought she could lay a hand on Xuanyuan Heng?
How had she imagined she could prevent Xuanyuan Heng's actions?
After so many years, she should have known better than anyone that she could never succeed at anything in front of Xuanyuan Heng.
This was her fate.
Yet, she yearned to escape, to resist. But now, she was truly not her own mistress.
Her heart ached more and more.
It ached so much she could barely breathe, yet she was utterly powerless.
Xuanyuan Heng's hand rested on Feng Ran's pale neck, his voice filled with amusement as he said, "Feng Ran, do you want to kill me? Do you want to escape from me?"
"But in the end, you'll find you can never escape."
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Feng Ran, watching her fear of him, a smile gracing his lips as he said, "If you beg me to spare you..."
Before Xuanyuan Heng could finish, Feng Ran blurted out, "I beg you, Xuanyuan Heng, please, can you let me go?"
"I am of no use to you now. Please let me go."
"I was merely speaking casually. You didn't truly believe I would let you go, did you?" Xuanyuan Heng said, his eyes cold, a hint of triumph in his tone.
However, where Feng Ran could not see, Xuanyuan Heng's eyes were filled with heartache and love.
Feng Ran, let you go? Impossible.
I want to keep you by my side for all eternity.
This life, you have no chance.
Feng Ran, when you first appeared by my side, scheming to marry me, that was your destiny.
You had no other choice.
Feng Ran, this life, you can no longer distance yourself from me, from my sight.
"Xuanyuan Heng, what must I do, how must I act for you to let me go? I know I was wrong. I know I was ungrateful back then."
"I regret it now. Please let me go, can you?"
"Let you go?" Xuanyuan Heng's voice was a cold retort, his eyes filled with frost.
Is it not too late to say these words now?
His eyes burned with anger.
"Feng Jin? Did you kill Feng Jin?" Feng Ran looked at Xuanyuan Heng with deep resentment.
Xu Qing'er had told her about this. She didn't believe it, but the matter lingered in her heart, filled with questions, and she longed to uncover the truth.
"How did you know?" Xuanyuan Heng asked, bewildered.
Feng Jin was dead, but he hadn't killed him.
Feng Jin had been poisoned. A potent poison, requiring the consumption of human blood to sustain life. Feng Jin, naturally, refused to do such a thing.
Therefore, Feng Jin knelt before him, begging for his life.
Xuanyuan Heng was unwilling at first. He knew better than anyone how important Feng Jin was to Feng Ran. If Feng Jin died by his hand, then he and Feng Ran would truly have no hope in this life.
However, Feng Jin knew better than anyone that only Xuanyuan Heng could help him.
He begged Xuanyuan Heng because he lived in agony every day.
He said: Xuanyuan Heng, do not worry. I will leave a letter. That letter will explain everything. Even if Feng Ran finds out, if you show her the letter, she will not misunderstand you. She will surely forgive you.
Hearing Xuanyuan Heng's words, Feng Ran was almost unable to remain seated.
So, it was truly him who had administered the poison.
"It was really you, you were the one who did it, weren't you?"
Xuanyuan Heng nodded.
It was indeed him who had acted, but he had his reasons.
"Feng Ran, it was I who acted, but I did so because Feng Jin begged me. I..."
Rarely did Xuanyuan Heng offer an explanation, but his words were so pale and weak that no one would believe them.
"Feng Ran, this matter, I..."
Feng Ran refused to listen further. She slapped Xuanyuan Heng across the face.
Xuanyuan Heng did not get angry. Instead, he took a letter from his embrace and offered it to Feng Ran.
Feng Ran did not take the letter.
"What's wrong? Afraid to read it? This is a letter Feng Jin wrote to you," Xuanyuan Heng said coldly.
Feng Ran, who had been indifferent moments ago, immediately reached out and snatched the letter.
It was written by Feng Jin to her. But why was it in Xuanyuan Heng's possession?
Her face was filled with confusion as she looked at him.
She read the letter, her face etched with disbelief. At that moment, there were so many things she wanted to say but could not.
She couldn't comprehend what kind of poison had necessitated Feng Jin's death.
Was there truly no antidote?