Feng Ran looked at Lan Xian and said, "Lan Xian, do you remember? That year, because of my naughtiness and disobedience, I almost fell into the water. You tried your best, and almost lost your own life."
"That day, you used half your life to save me."
"In the days that followed, you were always helping me and protecting me."
"Those days, looking back now, were truly beautiful."
"However, later, Lan Xian, because of my affairs, you and the Lan family were implicated. I feel immense guilt. I've always been thinking of finding an opportunity to compensate you."
"Yes, I'm back. I've returned from the brink of death. However, I've gone from one devil's den to another."
"Later, I ended up at Chun Manyuan. I wanted to find you and ask how you were. But I was being monitored, and I didn't even have the chance to look for you."
"Do you know why I'm here today?"
"The Regent said you would also appear. When I heard these words, my heart resisted coming here, but I still came."
"Lan Xian, you did so much for me when you first approached me, didn't some of that also involve your own selfish motives?"
"Back then, because of me, your entire Lan family prospered, didn't they?"
"Lan Xian, even though saying this will cause you immense embarrassment."
"But what I'm saying is all the truth."
"Lan Xian, I've always remembered your sacrifices for me. But have you forgotten that from the very beginning, your approach towards me was driven by calculation?"
These words were now coming from Feng Ran's mouth.
Those present knew that Lan Xian had helped Feng Ran a great deal, even sacrificing her own lifelong happiness.
However, they had never imagined that there were such underlying issues.
So, it turned out there was another hidden story.
Thinking about it this way, Lan Xian's current predicament was also her own doing.
Indeed, things were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
Xuan Yuan Heng's profound gaze fell upon Feng Ran. At this moment, Feng Ran did not have the same humble demeanor; she seemed to have reverted to her former proud self.
He had also never imagined that there were such matters concerning her.
Xuan Yuan Heng stared intently at Feng Ran, his eyes filled with confusion.
At that moment, Xuan Yuan Heng even felt that in the future, Feng Ran might treat him in the same manner.
Lan Xian had always maintained a pitiable facade, appearing like a delicate bird needing protection. But at this moment, after hearing Feng Ran's words, all her pretense and composure crumbled. Lan Xian even began to hate Feng Ran deeply.
Her eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty gleam.
If not for the crowd present, she would have rushed forward and destroyed Feng Ran.
Her hands, clenched at her sides, testified to how all these years of pretense had been exposed by Feng Ran's few words.
Lan Xian valued her reputation and face above all else.
But at this moment, what she cared about most had been utterly ruined by Feng Ran's few sentences.
Feng Ran had not wanted to say these words. She had not wanted to treat Lan Xian this way. However, Lan Xian had slandered her and plotted everything against her.
Perhaps, when Lan Xian was doing these things, she had already calculated and assumed that Feng Ran would not stand up and say anything.
That was why Lan Xian had spoken so brazenly.
And the way Old Master Lan treated her, all of it was actually orchestrated by Lan Xian.
Lan Xian was the true mastermind behind the Lan family.
However, to conceal herself, she had made Old Master Lan play the villain.
Feng Ran herself did not know these matters. It was only on the carriage that Xuan Yuan Heng had told her all the investigated details.
When she first learned of it, she didn't believe it, but gradually, she came to accept it.
Why would Xuan Yuan Heng do these things? Why would he tell her all of this at this particular time?
Feng Ran was unclear about the reasons behind it, but she ultimately did not delve further into the matter.
Old Master Lan's expression instantly soured. He had never imagined that such a scene would unfold.
The sudden reversal of the situation caught him completely off guard.
As everyone wondered how the situation would develop, Old Master Lan's gaze fell upon Lan Xian. Gone was his previous fierceness; instead, he looked at Lan Xian tentatively, as if asking her how to handle the situation.
It was unclear how they communicated, but at this moment, Old Master Lan was no longer flustered. He turned his gaze to Feng Ran and said grimly, "Regent's Consort, you are not welcome here. Please leave."
"Today is a joyous occasion for Lan Xian to meet Prince Yelü, and you? You are here, turning a perfectly good celebration into a joke."
"Regent's Consort, what exactly is your intention?"
"Lan Xian has helped you so much. If you don't thank her, so be it."
"Instead, you are here slandering her."
"What are your intentions?"
"Do you want Lan Xian to become a laughingstock again? It's always because of you."
"Or perhaps, you have long coveted Prince Yelü and wish to usurp him?"
Feng Ran simply looked at the people before her.
Heh, what intentions?
To make Lan Xian a laughingstock?
To usurp him?
How could Old Master Lan utter such ridiculous words?
Any rational person knew that between Prince Yelü and the Regent, one would definitely choose the latter.
How could the Lan family even compare Prince Yelü to Xuan Yuan Heng? There was simply no comparison.
She knew that the reason these people were not enraged, not resorting to physical action, and not even reprimanding her fiercely, was all due to Xuan Yuan Heng standing behind her.
Of course, Feng Ran also knew that it was because of Xuan Yuan Heng that her days were so stable.
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly. She had always known that her entire life had been filled with deception and betrayal.
But the person she cherished, the person she wanted to protect, was still the one who calculated against her.
Instantly, her whole being felt unwell.
So, everything around her was false. All lies.
Heh. Her life felt like a big joke.
Tears, against her will, began to fall.
At this moment, she stood there blankly, not even knowing what she had been striving so hard to live for all these years.
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly.
Xuan Yuan Heng's gaze remained fixed on Feng Ran, afraid to look away, lest something happen.
"Heh, Regent's Consort, these words have no evidence whatsoever. Naturally, you can say whatever you wish."
"You are the Regent's Consort; how would Lan Xian dare to resist you?"
"Is that so? Dare not?"
"But Old Master Lan handled it very well just now, didn't he? Just now, I didn't see Old Master Lan as someone who dared not."