Xuan Yuan Heng’s icy gaze fell upon the two women with disdain.
They shivered uncontrollably, their hearts pounding like drums.
They seemed to have forgotten what Bei Chen Ye had said when they came here. A shock ran through them. How could they still speak so calmly? The matters at hand were beyond their contemplation. Their only concern now was to preserve their lives.
Xuan Yuan Heng shifted his gaze. Huang Qian Qian and Li Hua’s faces turned deathly pale. Just as the two worried that something terrible would happen, their fears, this time, truly "came true."
Xuan Yuan Heng’s temper flared. With a single kick, he sent the two kneeling women flying.
Instantly, everyone in the room held their breath, not daring to exhale.
The smiles on Huang Qian Qian and Li Hua’s faces froze. Biting their lips, their bodies trembled.
Huang Qian Qian stepped forward first and said, "I wonder, Your Highness the Regent, what brings me here?"
Feng Ran was still alive. Therefore, Xuan Yuan Heng must have investigated and discovered something. Xuan Yuan Heng had declared to the world that he hated Feng Ran to the bone. Yet, she didn't believe it. If he truly loathed Feng Ran, she would have been a corpse by now.
Furthermore, she had not been involved in this.
She spoke first, laying out all the facts to distance herself from the situation.
However, she had little confidence in this approach. But given the current circumstances, she could only gamble.
"Heh, what business?" Xuan Yuan Heng sneered.
Huang Qian Qian was slightly taken aback. After a long pause, she finally spoke, "Your Highness the Regent suspects that I had a hand in whatever happened to Feng Ran?"
"I considered Feng Ran my good sister. How could I possibly harm her?"
Xuan Yuan Heng said coldly, "It has nothing to do with you? How could you harm her?"
"Then, regarding Feng Ran's poisoning, this King would like to ask you. Do you know who was responsible?"
Huang Qian Qian frowned, her expression turning extremely unpleasant, her body trembling. Her hands, by her sides, clenched tightly. She whispered, "It… it was… it was all Li Hua’s doing."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Heng sneered, "Is that so? Coincidentally, the person is here. Let her speak as well."
Huang Qian Qian glanced at Li Hua, a hint of unease in her eyes, but she pressed on, "If Your Highness the Regent does not believe me, you can certainly interrogate her severely. The truth will eventually be revealed."
Xuan Yuan Heng's eyes fixed on Huang Qian Qian with a chilling intensity that sent shivers down one's spine. "Are you teaching this King how to conduct himself? Do the people of the world see me as so incompetent?"
Huang Qian Qian was nearly terrified out of her wits by Xuan Yuan Heng's veiled accusations. At one point, she had even wanted to scream out loud.
Under Xuan Yuan Heng's piercing gaze, Huang Qian Qian's scalp tingled, and her entire body shook. She had anticipated that this matter would not be simple, but she had never imagined it would be so difficult.
Earlier, she had already coerced Li Hua into taking all the blame.
However, although Li Hua had not agreed, she had shown hesitation.
She believed that if she had more time, she would have a better chance of convincing Li Hua.
She secretly glanced at Feng Ran, unable to comprehend why one person, Feng Ran, was so coveted by so many, even by Xuan Yuan Heng.
What was so special about Feng Ran?
In terms of beauty, how was she inferior to Feng Ran?
Why were they all so infatuated with Feng Ran?
Clearly, she possessed beauty. Why did Xuan Yuan Heng not fancy her?
"Your Highness the Regent, everything was arranged by Li Hua."
Huang Qian Qian thought that if she could shift all the blame onto Li Hua and stick to her story, it would suffice.
She needed a scapegoat, and Li Hua was the perfect choice.
Soon, Li Hua, standing nearby, suddenly knelt with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy. "Your Highness the Regent, it… it was all me."
"I was cruel to Feng Ran. I was jealous of Feng Ran. Every time I saw her, I wanted to destroy her."
Li Hua kowtowed, pleading, "Your Highness the Regent, spare this lowly servant this once."
"Is Feng Ran not still alive and well?"
"Your Highness the Regent, spare this lowly servant."
Everyone remained silent, standing still.
Huang Qian Qian's heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally settled. She had been worried that Li Hua would not stand up for her. Now, it seemed she had worried unnecessarily.
"Spare you? Feng Ran is still alive?"
"You vile slave, who gave you such audacity?"
"You dare lay a hand on my person."
Xuan Yuan Heng delivered a swift kick, sending Li Hua sprawling onto the ground.
Li Hua was completely beside herself. Huang Qian Qian had told her that if she took the blame, her family would be safe, and she would only suffer minor physical punishment.
For some reason, Li Hua suddenly seemed to go mad. "Feng Ran, you deserve to die! I'm a lowly slave, and so are you!"
"No, I am far cleaner than you. You are utterly filthy."
"Your Highness the Regent, you've done so much for Feng Ran, and it's not worth it. Feng Ran doesn't deserve your kindness."
"Heh, Feng Ran is already tainted."
"Heh, is that so?" Xuan Yuan Heng exuded a terrifying aura.
At this moment, Li Hua was truly frightened, trembling all over. "Your Highness the Regent, no, I'm just spouting nonsense."
"Drag her away and feed her to the wolfhounds of this manor."
"Yes."
Li Hua's face turned ashen. She begged for mercy, even struggling. At this moment, Bei Chen Ye took a strip of cloth, stuffed it into her mouth, and dragged her away.
Xuan Yuan Heng glanced at the people around him. "My eyes are not blind. I can see everything clearly."
"Don't try to play any tricks on me."
Huang Qian Qian, in particular, felt her legs turn to jelly. She collapsed onto the ground, her back drenched in cold sweat.
She didn't know if Xuan Yuan Heng believed her words. But since Xuan Yuan Heng had only taken Li Hua's life and not harmed her, it meant her own life was safe.
"I have urgent matters to attend to. Take good care of Feng Ran." Xuan Yuan Heng supported his forehead, his eyes filled with exhaustion.
"Your Highness, it was Huang Qian Qian who did all this. Why aren't you punishing her?"
Xuan Yuan Heng said calmly, "Isn't it better to keep Huang Qian Qian alive to deal with Feng Ran?"
Xuan Yuan Heng’s hand landed on a bamboo leaf, snapping off the tenderest one. He spoke with chilling coldness, "One who wishes to kill Feng Ran, and another who wants to take her place. Isn't that more interesting?"
Bei Chen Ye nodded.