The emperor looked at everything before him, shook his head, and finally returned again.
As for Feng Ran in Xuanyuan Heng's embrace, he seemed not to see her.
His gaze fell on Xuanyuan Heng, and with a smile, he said, "These women are all legitimate daughters from their respective households, naturally worthy of the position of regent's consort."
His gaze fell on Feng Ran again, "Naturally, if you are still enamored with the woman in your arms, then keep her in your residence."
From Feng Ran's words and actions just now, it was evident that Feng Ran would not be of use to him.
Xuanyuan Heng shook his head and said firmly, "Your Majesty, the intention behind my bringing this person here, I believe, should already be known to Your Majesty."
"What I did not expect was that Your Majesty would not know, and even speak of things that are simply impossible."
Xuanyuan Heng said coldly, "Your Majesty, I have said long ago that what I have always wanted is Feng Ran. Others have nothing to do with this prince. I only hope Your Majesty will not speak carelessly."
"If Feng Ran were to hear this and take it to heart, it would not be good."
Xuanyuan Heng's arm around Feng Ran tightened even more.
Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression became exceedingly grim. He had not cared about Feng Ran's defiance just now. But now, Xuanyuan Heng was also beginning to defy him, leaving him, the ruler of a nation, with no dignity whatsoever.
However, no matter what Xuanyuan Heng said before him, even as a supreme emperor, he could only bow his head and agree. He had no other choice.
This was also what he hated the most.
He had done so much precisely to plant spies around Xuanyuan Heng, to have his own people become his confidants.
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Feng Ran and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, concerning the position of regent's consort, I believe Feng Ran is suitable."
"Tomorrow, I will announce to the world that Feng Ran will once again become Xuanyuan Heng's consort."
The emperor listened, his face darkening to the extreme.
Xuanyuan Heng actually dared to say it directly.
His intentions were already very clear.
Feng Ran looked up, her eyes filled with shock as she looked at the person before her, unable to comprehend why he would say such a thing.
Clearly, he had hated her to the bone, wishing her dead.
Feng Ran's eyes were filled with confusion. She really wanted to voice her doubts, but she had no chance. Before she could speak, someone had already intercepted her words.
The emperor did not fly into a rage, merely maintaining a dark expression.
After a long while, the young eunuch beside him prompted him, and the emperor coughed lightly. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at Xuanyuan Heng and said, "Regent, such a joke is not amusing."
"Feng Ran comes from Chunman Yuan. If someone of her status were to become the regent's consort, she would be ridiculed by the world. Regent, this concerns the reputation of the Xuanyuan Manor."
"Moreover, for you, the dignified regent, to marry a woman from the world of courtesans as your consort. If this were known to foreign nations, it would become a laughingstock."
"Regent, even if you do not consider yourself, you must think of me and the subjects of this realm."
"Regent, you must not act recklessly."
"When you do things, you must consider the consequences."
Hearing this, Xuanyuan Heng sneered, his entire being radiating a terrifying aura.
The emperor was momentarily at a loss for words.
Feng Ran lowered her gaze and smiled sadly, "Regent, what His Majesty said..."
"Silence. I did not ask you to speak."
Xuanyuan Heng looked at Feng Ran coldly and said heartlessly, "Feng Ran, just behave and say nothing."
"Regent..."
Xuanyuan Heng radiated a terrifying aura and said with bloodlust, "If you don't care about Feng Jin's life, you can continue to speak."
As expected, Feng Ran obediently shut her mouth.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Heng nodded with satisfaction.
He should have said this earlier.
Feng Ran lowered her head and gave a sarcastic smile. Yes, she was already in a precarious situation. Why should she still think of clarifying things for those people?
She only needed to take care of herself.
Xuanyuan Heng looked at the emperor and asked calmly, "Hearing Your Majesty say this, it means you have arranged someone for me, is that correct?"
The emperor: "..."
"These women are all..."
Xuanyuan Heng directly interrupted the emperor, saying disdainfully, "Your Majesty, these women are likely a smokescreen. Your Majesty already has someone in mind. Your Majesty should just say it directly."
"Your Majesty should know that I detest those who beat around the bush."
"If Your Majesty insists on not saying, if you continue to beat around the bush, then I shall take my leave now."
An emperor, high and mighty, being threatened by his subject and forced to obey, was already at the height of his humiliation.
The emperor's pride was deeply wounded. He forced a dry laugh and finally said, "The legitimate daughter of the Ling family, Ling Yao."
"Ling Yao is proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Most importantly, Ling Yao's heart has long admired you. Regent, Ling Yao is eminently qualified to sit in the position of regent's consort," the emperor said with satisfaction. If it weren't for the need to win over Xuanyuan Heng, he would have really wanted to take Ling Yao, with her beauty, into his own harem.
This was someone he had cultivated for three years, precisely to plant a confidant beside Xuanyuan Heng.
He could only say that Xuanyuan Heng was lucky.
Xuanyuan Heng's lips curled into a cold sneer, and he said contemptuously, "Ling Yao?"
And at this very moment, Ling Yao, who had been standing by the side, could no longer wait.
She rushed out and knelt before Xuanyuan Heng, "Regent, this humble subject is Ling Yao."
"Oh."
Feng Ran's gaze fell on Ling Yao. She watched Ling Yao's smiling face and, at this moment, she felt as if she were seeing her past self. How happy and excited she had been when Xuanyuan Heng had called out her name.
Even, just because Xuanyuan Heng had called her name, she could be happy for days.
But now? Looking at this familiar scene, she felt a sense of amusement.
Xuanyuan Heng's lazy voice rang out, clearly indicating that the woman before him was bound to face misfortune.
However, Ling Yao was unaware.
Instead, she tried to please him, speaking many words. Xuanyuan Heng remained silent, calmly watching the woman before him.
Seeing this, Ling Yao's heart grew even happier. Did this mean Xuanyuan Heng fancied her?
When she had seen Xuanyuan Heng so protective of Feng Ran earlier, she had been consumed by jealousy.
At this moment, facing Feng Ran, seeing Feng Ran shamelessly still in Xuanyuan Heng's embrace and not leaving, she glared at Feng Ran with malice, almost wishing she could pull Feng Ran away.
This Feng Ran was truly shameless.
How could she, in front of so many people, remain in Xuanyuan Heng's embrace and not come out?
Furthermore, she was monopolizing Xuanyuan Heng.
Ling Yao shot Feng Ran a fierce glare. The person who should be in Xuanyuan Heng's embrace was her, not Feng Ran.
Feng Ran was nothing.
What right did Feng Ran have?
Much loathing and many thoughts began to sprout at this moment.
Ling Yao, at this moment, even considered Xuanyuan Heng to be her own possession, as if, at this moment, Xuanyuan Heng belonged to her.