However, now that Feng Ran was confirmed to be alright, resentment began to fester in Hongyi's heart.
She looked at Aunt Sheng and said indignantly, "Aunt Sheng, you were absent these days, and I handled everything alone. It's only natural that some things were overlooked due to relaxation.
"Furthermore, those were tasks Feng Ran should have handled. All the girls at Chun Manyuan went through the same. Aunt Sheng, you've treated Feng Ran with such favoritism. It's unfair."
Hongyi seemed to have forgotten that when she first arrived at Chun Manyuan and was subjected to bullying and humiliation, Aunt Sheng had still stood up for her. However, the current Hongyi, consumed by hatred and blinded by her rage, couldn't think of that.
At this moment, all she wanted was to ruin Feng Ran.
She thought that Feng Ran was the last person who should be alive in Chun Manyuan.
"Heh," Aunt Sheng glanced at Hongyi and said coldly, "Hongyi, don't forget what it was like when you first came to Chun Manyuan.
"As a person, you shouldn't forget your roots.
"Hongyi, Feng Ran belongs to the Prince.
"Although the Prince has placed Feng Ran in Chun Manyuan, he also stated that no one is allowed to harm her in the slightest. Yet, what you did almost cost Feng Ran her life.
"Hongyi, have you considered how you will explain and account for this to the Prince?"
Suddenly, Hongyi's face turned extremely unpleasant. She looked at Aunt Sheng with eyes full of resentment and fiercely questioned, "Aunt Sheng, for the sake of someone who just arrived, for someone unrelated, you treat me like this. Aunt Sheng, have you forgotten how we relied on each other in Chun Manyuan all these years?"
Feng Ran is truly remarkable, managing to change Aunt Sheng.
For Feng Ran's sake, she spoke such words to her.
Feng Ran is truly utterly debased. It seems she's become accustomed to seducing others.
"Hongyi, don't say such unpleasant things," Aunt Sheng said with great anger, looking at Hongyi coldly. "This is the Prince's decision. If you have anything to say, go to the Prince.
"I am merely following the Prince's orders."
Hongyi trembled all over. Her hand landed on Aunt Sheng's neck, and she tightened her grip, saying coldly, "Aunt Sheng, with just a little more pressure, your life will end here. Don't push me too far.
"If you dare, then go ahead and do it."
Aunt Sheng remained calm. "Go ahead and do it." She looked at Hongyi trembling all over. "I'm afraid you don't have the guts to do it."
"Aunt Sheng, the Prince also instructed that Feng Ran is here to serve others.
"Arranging for her to serve others, I have not disobeyed the Prince's instructions.
"It's just that this incident is something no one wanted to see."
"Heh, let her go, she went willingly. I never forced her."
Hongyi said coldly, "If there are problems, the fault lies with Feng Ran, not me."
Aunt Sheng let out a cold laugh.
"Hongyi, you know better than anyone what kind of person Du Rong is."
She said coldly, "And you, by sending Feng Ran to serve Du Rong, aren't you pushing Feng Ran into a fiery pit?
"The Du family has a sister who is a favored imperial concubine in the palace. Because of this, whenever Du Rong committed a mistake, people would choose to resolve it peacefully to appease Imperial Concubine Du.
"But Hongyi, you were mistaken. This time, the Prince has dealt with Du Rong, who harmed Feng Ran.
"If Imperial Concubine Du learns that this incident was caused by you, your own life might be forfeit.
"Hongyi, you probably never dreamed of such consequences.
"Although the Prince, on the surface, claims to not care about Feng Ran and has subjected her to severe torture, he has ultimately spared her life. For what reason, I believe you are intelligent enough not to need me to elaborate."
Hongyi, who had been filled with burning rage, initially thought that even if she admitted to this incident, what of it? Feng Ran was still alive, so she would be fine.
Most importantly, she firmly believed that the Prince would not harm her for the sake of a lowly woman.
"Oh, and one more important thing I'd like to tell you, so you can recognize your place," Aunt Sheng said, her voice like a demon's, ringing in Hongyi's ears. "Feng Ran has been taken back to the Prince's mansion to recuperate."
"No, it's impossible," Hongyi shook her head, her face full of disbelief. She refused to believe anything Aunt Sheng said.
"You must be lying. If Feng Ran is recuperating in the Regent's mansion, why is she here at Chun Manyuan now?" Hongyi gritted her teeth and questioned Aunt Sheng.
Aunt Sheng let out a cold scoff.
"Do you know? Feng Ran threatened to end her life to leave the Regent's mansion, and the Prince had no choice but to send her back to Chun Manyuan.
"Although Feng Ran returned covered in injuries, the imperial physician followed behind her.
"What that signifies, you should be able to understand clearly.
"Do you know?" Aunt Sheng said coldly, "The Prince, while claiming to detest Feng Ran, does not allow her life to be threatened. Why do you think that is?"
Hongyi's previously determined face began to crack. She hadn't known things would turn out this way. But now, she was frightened. Connecting the dots of what Aunt Sheng said, and thinking about it seriously, she felt a chill down her spine.
As Hongyi recalled the Prince's words and the events of the past few years, her face turned ashen.
Instantly, she became flustered.
Seeing this, Aunt Sheng left.
Hongyi was one of Xuanyuan Heng's trusted individuals, assigned to watch over Feng Ran.
She said these things only because she didn't want Feng Ran to be troubled by Hongyi.
She wanted Hongyi to have some reservations and not easily harm Feng Ran again. After all, she couldn't always be there to protect Feng Ran.
As Aunt Sheng left, her gaze fell on Feng Ran, and she said coldly, "Hongyi, remember this: do your own duty and don't covet what doesn't belong to you.
"Otherwise, it won't be good if you end up losing your own life."
Hongyi's face was calm, but her thoughts remained hidden.
Aunt Sheng glanced at Hongyi and said coldly, "If I were you, I would definitely go to Feng Ran. You know better than anyone what you should do next."
…
Hongyi directly pushed open Feng Ran's room. Feng Ran was just about to leave.
Hongyi looked at Feng Ran intently. "Feng Ran, you…" She wanted to ask Feng Ran something urgently, but meeting Feng Ran's scrutinizing gaze, she ultimately gave up. After a long hesitation, she said, "I have something to say to you, don't leave yet."
With that, Hongyi went directly to the door and closed it securely.
She did not want anyone to know that she had come to find Feng Ran.