Qinghuan did not want to experience what Qinghan had gone through; it was truly miserable.
She raised her eyes, secretly observing. Xuan Yuanheng thought that perhaps if she tried harder, Xuan Yuanheng would let her go.
"Your Highness, Qinghan was treated this way because she harmed Feng Ran," Qinghuan said nervously. "Your Highness, Feng Ran was someone you abandoned, discarded, and humiliated. Have you come here to vent Feng Ran's anger?"
"Your Highness, your actions against Qinghan were because Qinghan foolishly attacked Feng Ran. But I, I did not attack Qinghan. Your Highness, if you act against me, it would be unreasonable, wouldn't it?"
"Your Highness, even with your immense power, you cannot act arbitrarily." Qinghuan thought that by speaking this way, she might appear different, and perhaps Xuan Yuanheng would look upon her with more favor.
"Your Highness, even if one is to be convicted, there should at least be a charge. But currently, there is no charge, yet you have directly condemned her. This is neither reasonable nor justifiable."
Unreasonable?
Xuan Yuanheng chuckled and glanced at Qinghuan. She looked up, her gaze fixed on him, arguing her case logically. She did bear some resemblance to Wan Yan.
However, the calculation in her eyes made him feel a bit nauseous.
It seemed that this person before him was even more cunning than the one before. Perhaps she desired even more.
Xuan Yuanheng let out a cold snort, his eyes filled with disdain.
Over the years, people had been sent to his side, many with a semblance to Wan Yan. Yet, he had not kept a single one.
Looking at Qinghuan's feigned demeanor, his eyes were filled with contempt.
This person was even more detestable than the one before.
"Aunt Sheng, the people of Chun Manyuan are becoming increasingly undisciplined," he said coldly.
"Your Highness, it is my fault. I will teach her the rules immediately."
Aunt Sheng walked directly to Qinghuan and pushed her down. A pill suddenly appeared in her hand. Qinghuan's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Aunt Sheng. She instinctively clamped her mouth shut, fearing the pill would be forced into her mouth.
She knew very well what kind of pill this was. She hadn't experienced it herself, but she had heard of it. Those who were given such pills were those who disobeyed and brought shame upon Chun Manyuan. To this day, only two people had received it.
Of course, one of them went mad, and the other died.
Qinghuan tightly shut her mouth, shaking her head incessantly. No, she couldn't swallow it. If she swallowed it, she would truly have no escape.
She regretted it, regretting that she should have just obeyed from the beginning.
If she had just done as she was told, none of this would have happened.
But it had already happened, and it could not be changed.
Aunt Sheng's icy voice echoed in her ear: "If you do not obediently swallow this, you will end up in the mass grave. Think carefully about the consequences."
"You don't have much time."
Just as Aunt Sheng was about to say more, Qinghuan no longer hesitated and swallowed the pill.
Not eating it meant certain death. By swallowing it, perhaps there was still a sliver of hope.
Qinghuan was filled with unwillingness. She had thought she could gain something different this way, but now, all her aspirations were shattered.
Despite her deep unwillingness, Qinghuan could only look at Aunt Sheng and say, "Aunt Sheng, I have done as you said. Can you let me go now?"
Qinghuan remained kneeling on the needles, enduring the pain, begging for mercy.
She was in extreme agony, her face contorted.
She didn't know how long she had been kneeling. She felt as if she could no longer hold on and would collapse at any moment. Qinghuan looked at the needles surrounding her and knew that if she fell, her face would be ruined, and her life would be truly over.
She forced herself to hold on. Finally, her eyelids felt heavy, and she could bear it no longer. Looking at Aunt Sheng, she pleaded, "Aunt Sheng, I know I was wrong. I am so tired. Please, can you let me go?"
"Give me one chance. Next time, I promise I will never make such a mistake again."
"Heh, is that so?"
Aunt Sheng clapped her hands, and two burly men entered, one on each side. They grabbed Qinghuan's hands.
Aunt Sheng said disdainfully, "This way, you won't fall."
Xuan Yuanheng watched coldly. She couldn't endure this for long. When they troubled Feng Ran, did they ever consider if Feng Ran could endure it? Did they pity Feng Ran?
Feng Ran must have also pleaded desperately, but did they let her go?
For some reason, Xuan Yuanheng felt a pang of sympathy for Feng Ran at that moment.
Qinghuan's vision blurred. She could no longer hold on.
How she wished the person before her would let her go.
"Release her in three hours. If she cannot endure, throw her directly into the mass grave."
"Remember, make sure someone watches. They must watch until she is torn apart by horses before they leave."
Qinghuan trembled all over, her eyes wide with terror as she looked at the man before her.
With all her might, she said in a low, pleading voice, "Your Highness, no, this lowly servant, this lowly servant can endure."
As the lit incense stick slowly burned down, Qinghuan's hatred for Feng Ran grew.
All of this was Feng Ran's fault.
If it weren't for Feng Ran, she wouldn't have to endure such humiliation and torment.
If she had known that by attacking Feng Ran, she would be treated this way, she would never have let Feng Ran off so easily.
Feng Ran, Feng Ran.
Qinghuan cried out in her heart. At this moment, she wished she could kill Feng Ran.
Finally, three hours passed.
Aunt Sheng went to the private room to report: "Your Highness, the person has only a breath left."
Xuan Yuanheng stood up and looked into the distance. He seemed to see a figure walking with a limp. He had intended to spare the person before him, but at this moment, he said coldly, "Throw the person into the main hall, so that all those with ill intentions will know."
"Then, no one will make such mistakes again."
...
If she were thrown into the main hall, everything Qinghuan had built in Chun Manyuan would be destroyed.
Naturally, the people in Chun Manyuan would also know, and how would they treat these two people then?
A month later.
"Lihua, how is Qinghan?" Qinghuan asked softly, holding Lihua's hand.
Now, in Chun Manyuan, besides Lihua, no one was willing to speak to her.
If she wanted any news, she had to rely on Lihua.
However, Lihua was quite easily persuaded. If she was given some silver, she would tell her everything she wanted to know.