"These Lan family members actually think they have brought honor to themselves?"
"If it were anyone else, they would hide away after such a disgraceful event."
"Exactly."
"Only someone as thick-skinned as the Lans would be so pleased with themselves."
"Indeed. They should look at the faces of those who fawned over them."
"Precisely. Remember, it was these same people who kicked the Lan family when they were down."
"Heh, yet old Master Lan still seems overjoyed."
"Let's not say any more. It wouldn't be good if the Lans overheard us."
"True. After all, the Lans are now connected to Prince Yelü, they're the new powers. If we offend them, we might have a hard time."
The people who had been gossiping fell silent.
Old Master Lan's previously joyful face instantly lost its smile.
He even wanted to step forward and argue with them, but was stopped by Lan Xian beside him. Lan Xian said to him, "Grandfather, it's best not to stir up trouble right now."
"If this continues, it won't be good for anyone."
Old Master Lan looked at Lan Xian and said fiercely, "Lan Xian, don't think you can be arrogant just because Prince Yelü wants you. No matter what, I am your grandfather, and the Lan family is your support. You need to think clearly."
Lan Xian's lips curled into a cold smile as she looked at her grandfather with disdain.
She even wondered if her grandfather had truly grasped the situation.
Didn't he understand what was happening, to say such things?
If she were to disown the Lan family, they would amount to nothing.
Right now, her grandfather should be trying to curry favor with her, not speaking to her in such a venomous tone.
However, she didn't want to say or do anything.
Lan Xian looked at her grandfather and said, "Grandfather, I'm a bit tired and want to go rest."
Seeing Lan Xian about to leave, Old Master Lan said fiercely, "Lan Xian, you are not allowed to leave until I say so. Do you understand?"
Lan Xian seemed not to hear him and continued to walk forward.
But at that moment, Old Master Lan's palm landed directly on Lan Xian's face, and he said fiercely, "Today is my moment of glory, and you dare to bring bad luck. Lan Xian, have you forgotten your place?"
"Let me tell you, even if you marry Prince Yelü, you are still a member of the Lan family, and you'll never escape the Lan family's control in this lifetime."
Lan Xian simply looked at her grandfather.
The words he spoke seemed normal to her.
Over the years, even more vicious things had happened to her, and yet she had never uttered a word.
Some things cannot be changed overnight.
"Old Master Lan, aren't you afraid of losing your head? She is no longer the Lan Xian who would let you scold and beat her as you pleased."
"Old Master Lan, such actions show disrespect to Prince Yelü."
Suddenly, those who had been watching Old Master Lan's scene with schadenfreude, and those who had been fawning over him, found themselves speechless.
"Old Master Lan, you are already at this age. If you get into serious trouble, it will truly be a loss outweighing any gain."
At that moment, all eyes turned to Feng Ran.
Old Master Lan, thinking someone was defending Lan Xian, did not restrain himself upon seeing it was Feng Ran, and said with cold sarcasm, "Hmph, who did I think it was?"
"Feng Ran, eldest daughter of the Feng family, what right do you have to speak to me like this? If not for your foolishness, the Feng family would not have declined. Feng Ran, what right do you have to stand here and lecture me?"
"Oh, I'd like to see who in this world dares to look down on my Consort. It's truly rare."
Upon hearing this, Old Master Lan's arrogance completely vanished.
He had been a bit too smug and had forgotten that Feng Ran was now the Regent's Consort, someone he couldn't easily insult.
At this moment, Old Master Lan was filled with regret.
If it were just Feng Ran, he wouldn't be afraid, but with the Regent involved, the situation was truly uncertain.
Old Master Lan had assumed that Xuanyuan Heng brought Feng Ran to humiliate her and would not stand up for her.
However, it seemed he had misjudged. The Regent was now speaking up for Feng Ran.
The rumors outside seemed to be inaccurate.
Although Old Master Lan felt resentment, he dared not act too presumptuously in front of Xuanyuan Heng.
"Regent, it was me. I was confused and spoke those words, offending the Consort."
"It was my confusion."
Old Master Lan continued to beg for forgiveness, but his venomous gaze fell upon Feng Ran, as if he wished he could kill her.
He thought that his humiliation today was all Feng Ran's fault.
If not for Feng Ran, he wouldn't be in this predicament.
This Feng Ran was a calamity.
But all these thoughts could only remain in his heart.
Feng Ran saw through Old Master Lan's hatred for her completely.
Yet, she didn't care. Such things were far too common.
If she were to care about all of them and be afraid, she would truly have no place to stand.
The experiences of the past few years had taught her that some things were simply not worth dwelling on.
Feng Ran knew that these people looked down on her.
But for her, it didn't matter if they looked down on her. She didn't care. The contemptuous looks and disdainful glances she had experienced were far more brutal than this.
Feng Ran clenched her fists tightly.
She glanced at Xuanyuan Heng in surprise. She had thought he would join those people in making things difficult for her.
But she hadn't expected him to stand on her side.
Although she didn't know the reason, she didn't want to investigate. Naturally, she wouldn't be grateful either.
She knew very well that Xuanyuan Heng still hated her deeply.
As for why he was helping her, she didn't know.
But at this moment, being able to borrow his influence to make these people wary of her was extremely important.
Feng Ran's gaze fell on Old Master Lan, and she said coldly, "Old Master Lan, don't forget, I am the Regent's Consort. Your words just now were treasonous, a matter of losing your head."
"Old Master Lan, being so venerable, should know this."
"Old Master Lan, in a single day, offending the Regent's Consort and Prince Yelü, there is probably no one else in this world besides you, Old Master Lan."
"At this moment, Old Master Lan should be worried about his own life, rather than harboring resentment and thinking about how to deal with me."
"I know that making things difficult for you and taking your life would be most painful for Lan Xian. Therefore, for Lan Xian's sake, I will not do anything to you."
"However, Old Master Lan, today you have offended Lan Xian and me. If you offend other noble figures another day, Old Master Lan might not be so lucky."
Feng Ran said coldly. At this moment, Feng Ran realized how useful the position of Regent's Consort was, allowing those who once looked down on her to bow down.
Looking at everything unfolding before her, she suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.