"Do you know? That young master of the Feng family is still alive."
"Didn't they say the entire Feng family was dead, leaving only Feng Ran? How is the young master of the Feng family still alive?"
"Alright, stop talking. If others overhear this, you'll face consequences."
The maids who had been passing by, hearing the wet nurse's reprimand, immediately dispersed.
Feng Ran, kneeling in the snow, listened to their words, wishing she could rush forward and ask for clarity.
Is her brother truly still alive? Are their words true?
But the maids who had been gathered together talking had already scattered under the wet nurse's scolding.
Feng Ran clenched her fists tightly, biting her lip, constantly admonishing herself, "No, I absolutely cannot die. There are still many things I need to understand."
The study door was shut with a chilling finality.
On that snowy winter day, Feng Ran's face was pale from the cold. She used all her strength to prop herself up.
Earlier, Xuan Yuanheng had pinched her mouth and said coldly, "Feng Ran, you must understand that even death is not a right you possess."
She could have simply left.
But she made the most disadvantageous choice for herself: to stay.
She wasn't here out of guilt, nor out of admitting guilt.
She wanted to uncover the truth about her brother.
A chilling coldness washed over her, yet she remained kneeling on the ground in thin clothing, shivering all over, her lips already turning purple.
Her clothes had been ripped by Xuan Yuanheng earlier, leaving only a thin layer, which offered no protection against the cold.
Several men stood before her, placed there by Xuan Yuanheng. They were to watch her, and if she dared to move or act rashly, they would be free to do as they pleased.
Was she afraid? Of course, she was.
In the snow, her hands were tightly clenched, her teeth gritted, preventing the fear from escaping her heart.
The snow fell harder and harder, Feng Ran's face grew paler and paler. She knelt in the snow, her gaze lifting to the study.
She would obediently listen to Xuan Yuanheng's words, kneeling here, not taking a single step away.
He had said that as long as she was good and waited for him to appear, he would listen to her explanation. She waited, and she believed Xuan Yuanheng's words.
But looking at the shut study door, doubt flickered in her eyes. Would her persistence yield any results?
Would he truly give her a chance to explain?
Or was it just a casual remark?
The snow fell harder and harder, almost burying her knees.
She shivered uncontrollably, her lips trembling from the cold, already turning purple.
...
The snow showed no signs of stopping, falling ever more heavily.
A mocking smile touched Feng Ran's lips, as if even heaven couldn't bear to watch.
After a night of snow, half her body was buried, her hands frozen purple.
Finally, the study door opened. Xuan Yuanheng emerged, holding an umbrella as he walked towards her.
"Feng Ran, get out of my sight," Xuan Yuanheng said coldly, not even deigning to glance at her.
Feng Ran trembled all over. She was so frozen that speaking became difficult. Her pale face and bloodless lips trembled as she said, her voice hoarse, "Your Highness, I have done as you asked. Will Your Highness now listen to my explanation?"
Xuan Yuanheng did not spare her another glance, saying icily, "Feng Ran, surely you don't think I would actually listen to your explanation?"
"Heh, do you really think I'd believe those lies you speak?"
Feng Ran's ability to endure until this point stemmed from her firm belief that as long as she knelt and waited for Xuan Yuanheng to appear, he would listen to her explanation.
Once he heard her explanation, the misunderstanding between them could be resolved. There would be no more misunderstandings.
Feng Ran's hands clenched tightly, her eyes filled with bloodshot veins and unwillingness.
Xuan Yuanheng finally cast a glance at her, letting out a sneer.
Feng Ran raised her eyes, looking at Xuan Yuanheng, and said softly, "Your Highness, I did not harm Yu Wan'yan."
"And why would I harm her?"
"For years, Yu Wan'yan has provoked me, yet I have never taken her life. This time, it would be even less likely."
"Your Highness, if you truly wish to know the truth, then you are welcome to investigate. If you are willing to investigate, you will surely find clues."
Feng Ran, forcing herself to stand, spoke with exhaustion.
Xuan Yuanheng refused to listen to her explanation, and she would not sit idly by.
Whether Xuan Yuanheng believed her words or not, she had to explain.
As Xuan Yuanheng listened to Feng Ran, his gaze towards her was filled with disgust and disdain.
"In this world, besides you, who else possesses such a malicious heart to want to harm Wan'yan?"
"Feng Ran, you still have the audacity to speak of investigation? This Prince has already thoroughly investigated the matter."
Xuan Yuanheng's sinister gaze fell upon Feng Ran, and he said menacingly, "Feng Ran, you killed Wan'yan, yet you can still calmly utter these words of escape. You truly open my eyes."
"You know that my heart only holds Wan'yan. It has always been you who pestered this Prince. If this Prince didn't need to use you, you wouldn't even be allowed a step inside the manor."
"This Prince intended to make arrangements for you after I finished dealing with things. I never expected your heart to be so wicked that you would conceive the malicious intent to kill Wan'yan."
Feng Ran's attempts at explanation were forcefully stifled.
At this moment, it seemed that whatever she said was wrong.
In everyone's eyes, Yu Wan'yan had been killed by her.
"Feng Ran, get out of my sight," Xuan Yuanheng said coldly to Feng Ran, his voice icy. "Is heaven blind? It should have been you who died, not Wan'yan."
"The one who should die is you," Xuan Yuanheng said with increasing venom. "Why don't you just die?"
Feng Ran's body swayed uncontrollably. She could no longer support herself and collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.
After a long while, Feng Ran woke up to the cold. When she opened her eyes, she found her entire body drenched.
Xuan Yuanheng let out a cold sneer. "Do you think you can escape by fainting?"
"Guards, continue to pour!" Xuan Yuanheng's command prompted those standing nearby to continue splashing ice-cold water onto Feng Ran.
"Pour until she wakes up," he ordered coldly, without a hint of compassion.
Feng Ran remained kneeling, enduring the cold water being poured on her by the servants at Xuan Yuanheng's behest, shivering violently.
Xuan Yuanheng was cold and cruel.
Wan'yan was killed by Feng Ran, so Feng Ran would never live peacefully.
Feng Ran trembled with cold all over, her teeth clenched, her lips purple. She said with self-mockery, "Wan'yan, your move is truly formidable. You've ruined me."
Yu Wan'yan, when will you ever leave me alone?
Do you want Xuan Yuanheng? I'll give him to you. You can live again.
You don't need to keep acting.
Now I've done as you wished, and I am utterly pathetic. You can come out now. My pathetic state is exactly as you desired.