"Lan Xian, you wicked daughter, how dare you utter such sarcastic remarks."
"Do you still think the Lan family hasn't suffered enough, and you want all the Lan family members to be buried with you?"
Upon hearing this, Lan Xian's expression changed, and she quickly explained, "That's not true."
"The Lan family is also my refuge; of course, I want the Lan family to prosper."
"Heh, Lan Xian, if you truly wanted the Lan family to prosper, you should be seeking out Feng Ran right now, currying favor for benefits, instead of standing here doing nothing."
Lan Xian looked at the person before her and said softly, "Ultimately, who wants the lives of the Lan family members, me or you?"
"If I go to Feng Ran and something happens to the Regent, if the Regent is angered, then the Lan family will truly be finished."
Lan Xian resignedly said, "Didn't you say you were going to marry me off to the border in exchange for benefits? I've already agreed."
"I won't run away; I will be obedient."
Hearing this, Old Master Lan's expression improved considerably. He reprimanded, "You'd better remember what you said. If you mess this up again, you'll never set foot in the Lan family again in this lifetime."
"Yes, even if I have to die, I will marry into the border. Will that put your mind at ease?"
Old Master Lan still felt uneasy, "The Regent bringing Feng Ran here surely means no good intentions."
"Remember, no matter what Feng Ran says or does later, you must treat her with indifference, do you understand?"
Although Lan Xian didn't understand why her grandfather was so wary of Feng Ran, she felt he was overthinking things.
She nodded and said, "I will do as grandfather commands."
"It's best to be obedient like this. You can't be like before, putting on a brave face while acting differently behind my back."
"Lan Xian, you made a mistake back then. You should have atoned with your life then. But your mother sacrificed her life for yours, and only then did you survive."
"Lan Xian, even if you don't think for the Lan family, think for your mother. She used her life to protect you. If you don't cherish your own life, your mother's spirit will never forgive you."
Listening to her grandfather's words, Lan Xian let out a soft scoff.
It was utterly ridiculous to hear such words from the person before her.
If he hadn't forced her back then, her mother wouldn't have died.
Yet, this was clearly his fault, but he could shift all the blame onto her and her mother. If there were a next life, she didn't want any connection with the Lan family.
Feng Jin's appearance caused an uproar.
Those people were whispering amongst themselves.
Feng Jin looked at the people around him, puzzled. When he tried to step forward to ask what they were saying, they would stop talking as soon as he approached.
Feng Jin felt that something was being kept from him.
He wanted to find out, but after all these years, he still couldn't.
As soon as he found a clue, it was as if someone would step in to obstruct him, and the trail would be lost.
Feng Jin's gaze fell on Feng Jin again. When he tried to look away, he found that Feng Ran had been staring at him intently, never breaking eye contact.
He even looked at Feng Ran with a sense of bewilderment. He almost wanted to rush to Feng Ran and loudly question, do you know me?
But as he thought about rushing forward, he remembered Feng Ran's cold words: I do not know you. How could someone of my status possibly know Young Master Feng?
Young Master Feng must have mistaken me for someone else.
Many words and things were rendered useless by Feng Ran's words, and Feng Jin could find no clues.
He was sure that Feng Ran knew him; that gaze could not deceive anyone.
However, he knew that Feng Ran's denial of knowing him meant she had her own difficulties.
Feng Ran quickly averted her gaze. Although she longed to acknowledge Feng Jin.
She knew very well that her current life was the best for Feng Jin.
Just then, Xuan Yuan Heng's playful voice sounded in Feng Ran's ear, "Feng Jin has appeared. Do you want to go say hello?"
"I believe you want to go."
Feng Ran lowered her head, saying nothing. She clenched her fists tightly, not daring to even make a sound with her breathing.
Did she want to? Of course, she did. But Xuan Yuan Heng's question extinguished all her longing.
She knew very well that with Xuan Yuan Heng's methods, she couldn't bring any trouble to Feng Jin.
But fate seemed to be playing tricks on her. She was desperately trying to avoid Feng Jin, yet Xuan Yuan Heng brought Feng Jin right before her eyes.
Feng Ran's hand tightened. She then realized that Xuan Yuan Heng seemed to have something to say. Suddenly, she didn't know why, but she felt that whatever Xuan Yuan Heng was about to say would not be good.
She quickly interrupted Xuan Yuan Heng.
At that moment, Old Master Lan, with Lan Xian, appeared at the main seat. His actions were all too clear.
For the future of the Lan family, she would be forever imprisoned in the border.
But Lan Xian had resigned herself to her fate.
As her grandfather had said, her life should have ended long ago. To be able to live these past few years was a gift from heaven. And what she needed to do now was to do what was beneficial to the Lan family; that was what she should do most in this life.
Old Master Lan rose and said, "Today, I have invited everyone here for Lan Xian's marriage. Today, I, Old Master, will betroth her to the King of the border to alleviate the Emperor's worries about war."
"This is also the Lan family's best repayment to the Emperor."
"For the sake of the Emperor's reign, the Lan family is willing to die, and die without regret."
"This is the time for the Lan family to pledge their loyalty to the Emperor."
Old Master Lan looked at Xuan Yuan Heng and said firmly, "I implore the Regent to speak well of the Lan family before His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran stared at Lan Xian in shock and disbelief.
She looked at Xuan Yuan Heng and asked softly, "Didn't you say there were still options? Haven't we made a choice yet? Why is it decided so quickly?"
Feng Ran thought that she would do nothing today and that there was still time. She could find a solution to this matter slowly after returning to her manor.
However, how could she not be surprised to hear such words?
Feng Ran looked at Lan Xian, about to say something, when Old Master Lan directly asked Lan Xian, "Lan Xian, do you agree to this matter? If you don't, it's also acceptable. After all, it's your lifelong event, and I, your grandfather, am just..."
Listening to these words, Lan Xian found them somewhat laughable.
To think that such words would come from the person before her. Glancing around, Lan Xian finally understood something. It turned out that someone wanted to play the good guy and avoid being criticized, and at this thought, she almost wanted to laugh.