Xiao Lanjue had many more words prepared, but upon meeting Xuanyuan Heng's sinister and murderous gaze, the words he was about to speak were forcefully swallowed back.
Xiao Lanjue was filled with helplessness. He had merely stated what he saw, spoken the truth.
Alas, he couldn't even speak the truth now.
Xuanyuan Heng's gaze fell upon Feng Ran, exuding a sinister aura. His eyes seemed capable of tearing the person before him to shreds.
Xuanyuan Heng cast a cold glance at Feng Ran and said sternly, "Feng Ran, didn't you say you were already very capable? Then serve Xiao Lanjue well."
Feng Ran looked up, meeting Xuanyuan Heng's mocking gaze. She suddenly understood.
So, Xiao Lanjue's appearance was not an accident, but intentional on Xuanyuan Heng's part.
He truly hated her to the bone. He intended to utterly destroy her.
"Heh, what? Surprised? Aren't you supposed to serve others for the rest of your life? Was this king wrong?"
"Serve well, and you will be rewarded," he finished. He glanced at her bandaged, grotesquely swollen finger, the once slender digit now gone. Annoyed, he didn't know why, but he instinctively took out a small medicine bottle from his embrace and tossed it at Feng Ran's feet, stating coldly, "This medicine is worth a fortune. Naturally, someone of your lowly status is not worthy of it."
"However, seeing how diligently you've tried to please this king, I can't let your efforts go unrewarded."
Feng Ran looked at Xuanyuan Heng in surprise, her brows furrowed deeply.
She couldn't quite fathom why Xuanyuan Heng would suddenly say such things.
While she was lost in thought, Xuanyuan Heng gripped her chin. The man exuded a terrifying aura, and the rage in his eyes seemed set to incinerate the person before him.
"Feng Ran, do you think being injured can make you escape everything?"
"No, your plan will fall apart."
"This king will have people watch you until your hand has healed and you are capable of 'serving' properly. Only then will they be withdrawn."
"Feng Ran, this king will have someone watching you every day. You will never escape my grasp," Xuanyuan Heng declared, then roughly flung her away, filled with utter disgust.
Xuanyuan Heng left.
Feng Ran watched him go, her gaze reluctantly returning.
The moment Xuanyuan Heng appeared, she admitted, she had indeed felt a stirring, even a flicker of hope.
Had he believed her? Had he realized he had misunderstood her?
But the scenes that had just unfolded replayed endlessly in her mind. Xuanyuan Heng truly hated her, seizing every opportunity to humiliate her.
She let out a self-deprecating laugh, her gaze falling on the small medicine bottle. He said she should quickly heal her finger so she could serve others.
Feng Ran looked at the small bottle, but ultimately, she put it away.
...
"Xuanyuan Heng, what do you take me for? You were the one who told me to come here. I have no impure thoughts about Feng Ran."
"Feng Ran is already miserable enough. She has paid the price she should have paid. Can't you let her go?"
"The Feng family was ruined because of her. Feng Ran was forced by you to watch her parents and the members of the Feng family burn alive. This is cruel enough for her; this punishment is sufficient." Xiao Lanjue had wanted to say these words for a long time but had never found the opportunity. This chance was rare.
"Miserable? Her life is still intact, isn't it? How can she be miserable?"
"But..." Xiao Lanjue hesitated.
"What did Wan Yan do wrong? Wan Yan was merely by my side, and because of Feng Ran's jealousy, a vibrant life was lost. Wan Yan was also carrying an unborn child. How could Feng Ran be so heartless?"
"When she acted, did she show any mercy to Wan Yan?"
"If she had shown any compassion, Wan Yan would not have met such a tragic end."
"Xuanyuan Heng, the full circumstances have not yet been investigated. We cannot definitively conclude that Feng Ran did it."
Xuanyuan Heng glanced at Xiao Lanjue and chuckled softly, "Heh, is that so? I witnessed it with my own eyes. What do you say? Did Feng Ran do it?"
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have treated Feng Ran this way.
If Wan Yan's life were still intact, he certainly wouldn't have acted so ruthlessly.
Xiao Lanjue sighed helplessly. He had said what he needed to say. From now on, if Xuanyuan Heng regretted it, he couldn't blame him.
"You were supposed to return to your manor today for important matters, weren't you? You can leave now."
Xiao Lanjue thought: He's used me, found me useless, and is now discarding me, is that it?
Has my value become so cheap now?
"What if I'm not busy and insist on staying with you?" Xiao Lanjue said with a smile, his expression somewhat provoking.
"That is your business; this king cannot interfere."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lanjue's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he busied himself.
Chun Manyuan.
Qing Huan was dragged by someone from Madam Sheng's retinue. Upon reaching their destination, the person simply threw her to the ground, showing no compassion whatsoever. Madam Sheng even felt it was too lenient.
Qing Huan's hands hit the ground first, scraping her palms.
It was painful, but not too severe.
"It was you who leaked the information about Feng Ran, wasn't it?"
"The Regent appeared so promptly. Does that mean he has foresight?" Madam Sheng asked coldly, her face like ice.
In fact, she knew that Qing Huan had resented Feng Ran from the moment Feng Ran appeared. And the events that had transpired during this period had only deepened her hatred. Whenever something happened, she would try desperately to torment Feng Ran.
As long as Feng Ran was unhappy, she would be delighted.
Feng Ran had truly been harmed greatly by Qing Huan this time.
If she hadn't appeared in time to do things for Feng Ran, Feng Ran would likely have already lost her life.
Qing Huan, facing Madam Sheng, naturally wouldn't foolishly admit to what she had done.
"Madam Sheng, we all work here. Why do you suspect me?"
"Madam Sheng, I truly did nothing."
Faced with Madam Sheng's gaze, which seemed to see right through her, Qing Huan trembled all over. The words she had intended to keep silent now escaped her.
"Madam Sheng, you can't possibly blame me for everything that happens to that person," Qing Huan said, frowning, but her speech remained slow.
"Madam Sheng, I would never deign to lay a hand on that lowly individual."
"Heh, is that so? So, you're being framed?" Madam Sheng said icily.
"Yes," Qing Huan replied firmly.
"Someone, come in." As Madam Sheng spoke, two people entered.
Upon seeing the two people enter, Qing Huan's expression drastically changed. Her hands clenched tightly, and she swayed, almost losing her balance and falling.
Why were they here?