She hated Xuanyuan Heng to the bone, and hated the position of Regent Consort even more. It was a role Xuanyuan Heng had forced upon her.
She loathed this identity, yet now it was helping her. In this moment, she didn't know what to say.
Feng Ran suppressed the disgust and rage churning within her. She looked coldly at Elder Lan and said, "You are not qualified to speak to this consort."
"If not for Lan Xian, this consort could have taken your life at any moment. You should be clear about that."
Feng Ran's words sent a shiver down Elder Lan's spine and drew everyone's attention to her.
These people truly hadn't expected Feng Ran to be so audacious.
Xuanyuan Heng had placed her in the position of Regent Consort not to let her flaunt her power, but to humiliate her.
She was supposed to keep a low profile.
Yet, the person before them was anything but. She was exceptionally arrogant, even lashing out at everyone around her, showing them no regard.
Naturally, Feng Ran's behavior made those around her grind their teeth in hatred.
However, despite their aversion and loathing for Feng Ran, they ultimately dared not utter a word.
They could disregard Feng Ran, but they dared not show any disrespect to Xuanyuan Heng.
They had witnessed Xuanyuan Heng's methods.
If they crossed Xuanyuan Heng, their lives would truly be miserable.
"Regent Consort, while you are a royal consort, this is a family matter of the Lan clan. It seems your reach is a little too long."
"The consort should mind her own affairs first."
"The affairs of the Lan clan are not for the consort to meddle in." Elder Lan was somewhat fearful, but Feng Ran had publicly trampled on his dignity. How could he endure it?
He naturally could not.
"Is that so? Elder Lan, are you so resolute? Are you truly not worried that something might happen?"
"Tell me, with so many people watching today, you have offended me. Naturally, I am not favored, but Elder Lan, you must not forget that I am the Regent Consort. If I lose face, then the Regent also loses face. How do you think the Regent will treat you?"
Feng Ran spoke coldly, her sole focus at this moment on protecting Lan Xian, oblivious to what Xuanyuan Heng standing nearby might be thinking.
Looking at Elder Lan, Feng Ran deeply felt that Lan Xian's life must have been difficult over the years.
"Heh, do you think I will be intimidated by your words?"
"Even if you are the Regent Consort, so what?"
"You know in your heart why the Regent keeps you by his side."
Elder Lan said furiously, "The Lan clan's downfall is all your fault."
"You are the one who should die."
"Feng Ran, the Lan clan was implicated because of you. Lan Xian's current state is also your doing."
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly, but she did not respond to Elder Lan's words. Because what Elder Lan said was true; these were indeed her doing, and she had nothing to say.
After a long pause, Feng Ran looked up again, her gaze falling on Elder Lan. She said coldly, "Heh, is that so?"
"Elder Lan, those are the things you yourself did. Do not pin them on me."
"I will admit to what I have done. I will not admit to what I have not."
"Back then, you forced Lan Xian to do that. However, the Feng family did not succeed, and they declined, which led to this outcome."
"In fact, you simply backed the wrong person."
"When Lan Xian rose, you said nothing. Because you had your own calculations in mind."
"You agreed to Lan Xian's actions, thinking that if they succeeded, you could use Lan Xian's gratitude to help you, and the Feng family would do your bidding. But you didn't expect that you bet and lost."
"However, at that time, you thought you would win, so you made a big show of it publicly."
"But you didn't expect that because of this, you were ridiculed."
"Elder Lan, the cause of all this is your own doing."
"Yet, even though you made the wrong decision yourself, you still blame Lan Xian for everything. Elder Lan, you truly lack the courage to face your actions."
Lan Xian stood to the side, looking at Feng Ran with envy in her eyes.
Sometimes, she wished she could be like Feng Ran, able to speak her mind without restraint, without overthinking.
But in the end, she said nothing.
She had finally resigned herself to her fate.
Lan Xian looked at Feng Ran and said coldly, "Regent Consort, being so aggressive is not good."
"Or does the Regent Consort wish to destroy the Lan clan?"
"If so, just say the word."
"With a single word, the entire Lan clan could lose their heads."
"Now that you are the Regent Consort, it would be a simple matter to deal with the Lan clan."
"But Feng Ran, out of the past favors I did for you, can you spare me?"
"Consider it what you owe me, and return it to me, can you?"
Feng Ran looked at the person before her in disbelief, even momentarily at a loss for words.
Feng Ran simply watched Lan Xian, not quite believing what she was seeing, but finally, Lan Xian's resentful gaze and expression made her falter.
So, what she thought was for Lan Xian's own good, what she thought she had done well, had ultimately resulted in this.
Feng Ran's lips curved into a smile. It turned out that all her efforts, in her eyes, were nothing but her own wishful thinking.
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt it was extraordinarily ridiculous.
Feng Ran laughed self-mockingly. In reality, many years had passed, and many things had happened.
It was normal for Lan Xian to become this way.
Feng Ran looked at Lan Xian, her eyes filled with disappointment, and said, "Alright, I understand."
"Lan Xian, I will remember what you did for me back then for the rest of my life."
"I know that because of me, you have endured ridicule from everyone all these years."
"Lan Xian, I will say nothing of today's events. Let it be as if it never happened."
"From now on, there will be no more connection between us. Are you satisfied with this?"
"Lan Xian, I came here today to save you. I know the Lan family wants to marry you off to Prince Yelü, and I was trying my best to get you out. But Lan Xian, I suddenly realized that my hopes were too high."