Ling Chi Yuan's gaze fell upon Feng Ran, his heart aching at her pale complexion.
He even regretted why he hadn't held back just now. Feng Ran must have been terrified by his actions.
He thought that if he had to punish Yun Sheng, it should be when Feng Ran wasn't around. For someone like Yun Sheng, it wasn't worth making Feng Ran misunderstand him.
Ling Chi Yuan simply stared at Feng Ran, contemplating how to explain himself.
As Ling Chi Yuan approached, he found Feng Ran dodging him, her eyes filled with terror as she looked at him.
Clearly, she was frightened.
Yun Sheng clutched his kicked stomach, glaring fiercely at Ling Chi Yuan. However, facing Ling Chi Yuan, he dared not act or say anything.
He finally shifted his gaze to Feng Ran. "Feng Ran, I didn't expect your methods to be so formidable. You still had a backup? No wonder you were so obedient. So, this is what you were waiting for, Master."
"Today, I was careless, and you managed to scheme against me."
"But Feng Ran, your luck won't always be this good. Ling Chi Yuan won't always show up." Yun Sheng shouted. Although he didn't dare confront Ling Chi Yuan directly, he wasn't afraid to say such things. This was because he was sure that even if Ling Chi Yuan acted against him, he wouldn't take his life.
Who would seek trouble for themselves over a lowly woman?
Moreover, the Ling family and the Yun family had intricate connections.
Most importantly, he, Yun Sheng, had a sister who was a noble consort. No matter how bold Ling Chi Yuan was, he wouldn't dare kill him. So, what did he have to fear?
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran's expression changed drastically.
She walked towards Yun Sheng, knelt on the ground, and bowed her head in apology.
She truly didn't understand why Ling Chi Yuan had appeared. And Yun Sheng had spoken a crucial truth: Ling Chi Yuan might appear to protect her, but he couldn't protect her forever.
As long as there was an opportunity to humiliate and retaliate against her, Yun Sheng, who had suffered such humiliation today, would certainly not let her off easily.
If possible, she wished Ling Chi Yuan had never appeared.
She had already endured enough humiliation and disgrace. She had already taken her step; why did he have to appear?
Did he know? His appearance had ruined all her efforts.
Her eyes were filled with coldness, even a hint of resentment.
Yet, a mocking smile flickered across her lips.
Feng Ran, what right do you have to say these things? Feng Ran, you have no right.
Could you stop what Ling Chi Yuan intended to do?
Feng Ran, accept your fate. You can only accept it.
No matter what happened, you could only bear it.
It didn't matter anymore. Truly, nothing said or done mattered anymore. What was destined to happen, had already happened. It was irreversible.
No matter how she acted or what she said, what had happened had already led to resentment.
No matter how much she did or said, it was all futile.
Qing Huan had been watching from the sidelines from the very beginning. Hmph, she was jealous of Feng Ran because Ling Chi Yuan had acted so aggressively for her.
At the same time, she was pleased. One should know that Ling Chi Yuan's actions would only push Feng Ran further into hell, making Yun Sheng resent her even more and view her as a thorn in his side. Then, Feng Ran's future days would only be more difficult.
Thinking of this, Qing Huan felt immensely pleased.
A smile curved her lips. Then, she stepped forward, looked at Feng Ran standing before her, and said with a light laugh, "Feng Ran, I didn't expect your scheming to be so deep."
"You went to such lengths to seduce Young Master Yun."
"However, does Young Master Ling know about this?"
"Feng Ran, you're eating from one bowl while looking at another. You're truly a woman who's open to all."
"Feng Ran, the eldest daughter of the Feng family, who was once skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and studied the Four Books and Five Classics, how could she be so shameless?"
"However, Feng Ran, your plan is clear to everyone present. It's just that you probably didn't expect your luck to be so terrible today, that Young Master Ling would stumble upon it."
"You must know, Young Master Ling despises vulgar women the most, and what you did has crossed his bottom line."
"Feng Ran, you killed Yu Wan Yan back then, and now? Who else do you want to harm? Is it Young Master Yun? Or do you want the Yun family and the Ling family to become sworn enemies because of you?"
"If Young Master Ling hadn't appeared today, then this Young Master Yun would likely have become your pawn again."
"Feng Ran, you truly have remarkable methods."
"In Chun Man Yuan, you used all sorts of tricks to get Madam Sheng to protect you. Not only did you get involved with Young Master Ling, but you also got involved with Young Master Xu, and even Poison King Li Yun Cheng."
"Feng Ran, your skills and methods are truly impressive, controlling these men and playing them all around your finger."
Ling Chi Yuan's brow furrowed.
As he heard these words, he stared at Feng Ran. His unfamiliar gaze pierced Feng Ran's heart.
Feng Ran?
Did she truly know so many people?
Was Feng Ran truly just using him?
Was Feng Ran deliberately playing hard to get just to make him obedient?
Was all of this her plan?
Does that mean he was also just a pawn in Feng Ran's hands?
When he was no longer useful, he would be discarded, right?
No, no.
Feng Ran wouldn't do such a thing.
There must be some misunderstanding.
He had seen Feng Ran at her most vulnerable, seen Feng Ran sobbing at night, seen Feng Ran at her most helpless. He didn't believe Feng Ran would do such malicious things.
"Feng Ran, you killed Yu Wan Yan. Yu Wan Yan was pregnant at the time. You ordered someone to dig out the fetus from Yu Wan Yan's womb alive."
"Yu Wan Yan died. You thought that by doing these things when Xuanyuan Heng was away, it would be seamless. Perhaps, even Heaven couldn't bear it. That day, Xuanyuan Heng returned to the manor an hour earlier, and the Regent witnessed your crime."
"Feng Ran, you have nothing more to say, do you?" Qing Huan said triumphantly. She had spent a large sum of money to obtain this information.
She had always wondered when she could use it. Today was truly an opportune moment.
"Feng Ran, in Chun Man Yuan, you were willing to do anything to please those men."
"You were already utterly vile, rotten to the core."
"Oh, right, Feng Ran, you once told me to my face that you were always using Ling Chi Yuan. You said that yourself, didn't you?"
Feng Ran: "..."
Qing Huan, however, became a little flustered. If Feng Ran denied it now, she would truly be doomed.
"Feng Ran, what's wrong? Do you dare to do it but not admit it?"
Feng Ran simply looked at Qing Huan silently.
Today, Qing Huan had forcibly brought her here just to humiliate her?
Heh, but now it seemed she had succeeded.
One step after another, she had lured her in. And she had indeed fallen into the trap, hadn't she?