Feng Ran had been wandering outside for a long time, her ears filled with the curses of those she once called 'sisters' from Chunman Garden. In an instant, without understanding what had happened, she became a sinner.
Their curses were truly unbearable.
Feng Ran even felt like lashing out, but in the end, she didn't. Because, she knew better than anyone that this matter had indeed originated with her.
Outside the palace.
Feng Ran returned. She had actually come to try her luck. After all, the palace was a forbidden area, and if she wanted to enter, she had no qualifications.
With her lowly status, what if she could enter the palace?
If it were the past her, entering the palace would have been as easy as pie. The Feng family had once been high and mighty. Everyone had fawned over them.
But she had ruined all of that.
Now, the palace was a place beyond her reach.
A self-deprecating smile curved her lips.
Feng Ran, what can you do by returning now? You don't even have a chance to get in.
As Feng Ran raised her eyes, she saw An Ying.
An Ying stepped forward: "Your Highness is waiting inside the palace."
Feng Ran looked at An Ying with surprise, her heart filled with doubt. She wanted to ask, but in the end, she swallowed it back.
Some things really didn't need to be said.
Some things, she just needed to know.
Her gaze was filled with melancholy.
She sighed helplessly, even letting out a self-mocking laugh.
An Ying had been waiting for her appearance. This meant that Xuan Yuan Heng had already guessed she would return. She felt like a colossal joke right now.
Inside the palace.
Feng Ran was brought in by An Ying. She kept her head down, yet she couldn't bear the gazes falling upon her. Everyone looked at her with ridicule, and some even sneered at her.
And she knew very well that she had brought all of this upon herself.
Looking at the familiar surroundings, she remembered how, when she was the eldest daughter of the Feng family, these lowly servants wouldn't have dared to speak like this.
In fact, when they saw her, they were all obsequious.
The Feng family was gone, and she had become a joke in everyone's mouths.
She had even become a sinner of the Feng family.
Everyone, even lowly eunuchs and palace maids, could curse at her.
An Ying did not stop them, and seeing this, the others became even more outrageous.
Feng Ran endured it silently. Perhaps, all of this was implicitly permitted by Xuan Yuan Heng.
An Ying brought her before Xuan Yuan Heng. Feng Ran stood there, numbly in front of him.
"Regent, I hope you are well," Feng Ran said, stuttering and feeling uncomfortable.
"Heh, Regent, you hope I am well?"
Xuan Yuan Heng raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "How do you think this Prince is feeling at this moment? Do you think I am well?"
After speaking, Xuan Yuan Heng's gaze fixed on Feng Ran, as if he could see right through her.
Feng Ran remained silent, not even raising her head, just bearing it all.
After all, everything that had happened was because of her. Xuan Yuan Heng treating her this way was understandable.
After a long while, no one spoke, and the atmosphere became tense.
Feng Ran secretly glanced at Xuan Yuan Heng, even guessing that he was waiting for her to speak.
Waiting for her to humble herself and appease him.
She bit her lip tightly, and finally spoke first: "Regent, I was ignorant just now. It was I who, foolishly, dared to doubt the Regent. I beg the Regent to forgive me this once."
"Heh, is that so? Forgiveness?"
Feng Ran nodded and spoke again: "I believe the Regent is magnanimous and would not hold a grudge against me for trivial matters." She said softly, her voice lacking any confidence.
Seeing that Xuan Yuan Heng remained silent, Feng Ran spoke again: "Regent, it was my fault just now. I shouldn't have doubted the Regent. I judged a noble heart with a petty mind."
"Regent, after so much talk and so much effort, I now realize that it was all for my own good."
"Heh."
Xuan Yuan Heng let out a soft hum upon hearing Feng Ran's words. Just as everyone thought he would directly dismiss Feng Ran, they heard him keep her and even take her to a banquet.
At this moment, the people around them looked at Feng Ran with malice in their eyes.
In their opinion, if Feng Ran hadn't appeared, the chance to accompany the Regent would surely have fallen to them.
But how could Feng Ran, with her lowly status, be worthy of the Regent?
When Xuan Yuan Heng brought Feng Ran into the banquet, the legitimate daughters of noble families hated Feng Ran.
Feng Ran, sitting beside Xuan Yuan Heng, finally understood why Xuan Yuan Heng had brought her here.
It turned out he was creating enemies for her.
These daughters of noble families, the moment they saw her, completely resented her.
Although she knew why Xuan Yuan Heng was doing this, she could say nothing and could only remain in place.
Because, the misunderstandings had already occurred, and what was going to happen had already happened. She had no way back.
She followed Xuan Yuan Heng, and although those people looked down on Feng Ran and even wanted to make a move, they dared not, because of Xuan Yuan Heng. No matter how much they hated her, they didn't step forward.
"Regent, why don't I just go out? Here, those people will always point fingers at me. It's nothing to me, as I'm already used to it. But it's different for the Regent. I don't want to cause the Regent trouble because of me."
As Feng Ran spoke and was about to withdraw, Xuan Yuan Heng grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear, "Feng Ran, are you worried about this Prince?"
"In this world, there is no one who dares to disrespect this Prince, nor anyone who dares to say anything in front of this Prince."
"Feng Ran, do as this Prince tells you, understand?"
Feng Ran looked at the person before her with confusion, not understanding why he was doing this.
In the end, Feng Ran said nothing and obediently followed behind.
Xuan Yuan Heng directly pulled her hand and dragged her into his embrace. Feng Ran was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat, even feeling that her life was about to end.
"Regent, I beg you, let go of me."
At this moment, she knew many eyes were upon her.
Xuan Yuan Heng did not let go; instead, his grip tightened, and he said with a smile, "Feng Ran, you weren't like this back then, were you? What's wrong now? Have you become so demure?"
"I... no, I..." At this moment, Feng Ran was already too terrified to speak coherently.