Du Rong was behind Huang Qianqian, and upon seeing Feng Ran lying on the bed in a slumber, he was immensely excited.
He thought, Huang Qianqian indeed hadn't lied to him; she was truly a beautiful, budding flower.
Du Rong's brow furrowed. He had heard rumors outside that Feng Ran was disfigured, but what he saw was not so.
Upon seeing Feng Ran, Du Rong could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward directly, reaching out to touch Feng Ran. However, when he saw the scar on Feng Ran's forehead and another on the other side of her face, his eyes were filled with disdain and disgust.
"You have the audacity to call this a beauty?"
"Huang Qianqian, are you teasing me? Or do you think I, Du Rong, am a fool, fit only for such a plain woman?"
Huang Qianqian was stunned, cold sweat trickling down her back.
Honestly, she had indeed thought Du Rong was a fool, believing that any woman would suffice.
She assumed Du Rong would refuse no one.
But now, she was flustered. Things seemed to be completely different from what she had imagined.
Damn Du Rong, didn't he say he'd take any woman? Now he's being picky.
Du Rong cast a sinister glance at Huang Qianqian and slapped her directly, roaring with fury, "Huang Qianqian, who gave you the guts to bring such an ugly person to taint my eyes?"
Huang Qianqian cautiously looked at Du Rong, her voice trembling, "Du Rong, isn't this even better? It means no one else has touched her, only you. How wonderful."
"The Regent's woman, and you, Du Rong, have touched her. Wouldn't that be enough to boast about?"
Huang Qianqian's gaze fell upon Feng Ran, her eyes filled with a venomous malice.
Feng Ran, it's all because of you, yet you act as if nothing has happened. Heh, isn't that laughable?
Huang Qianqian walked to the table and directly splashed the water on it onto Feng Ran.
Feng Ran woke up with a start. Upon fully regaining consciousness and seeing Du Rong, her whole body trembled with extreme fear.
The person before her looked at her with utter disgust.
Huang Qianqian, however, said with an unusual air of triumph, "Feng Ran, this is Du Rong. You had better serve him well. If you make Du Rong happy, you'll have good days ahead."
"Heh, is that so?" Feng Ran retorted sarcastically. "If it's truly such a good thing, why don't you have it yourself? You're actually pushing it away, which isn't like you."
"Huang Qianqian, haven't you always wanted to curry favor with the powerful and wealthy to buy your freedom? Or to secure a position as a concubine?"
Du Rong watched Feng Ran's defiant response to Huang Qianqian, and his eyes instantly lit up. He found the person before him rather interesting.
"And you? If you serve me well, I will buy your freedom. Are you willing?"
Feng Ran lowered her eyes. She did not refuse directly but hesitated. After a long pause, she finally looked up, as if she had figured something out, and a fawning smile instantly appeared on her face. "If Young Master Du can buy my freedom, then I will naturally serve you well."
"Really?" Du Rong was somewhat incredulous that Feng Ran could so easily agree to such a humiliating condition.
Didn't she love Xuanyuan Heng deeply?
"Feng Ran? The eldest daughter of the Feng family? Xuanyuan Heng's discarded wife? The former Princess of Xuan Yuan, is that right?"
"Yes."
"So? If I agree to please you and serve you, you will buy my freedom?"
"You will let me go, won't you?" Feng Ran said, a hint of anticipation in her voice.
"Feng Ran, who do you think you are? Do you still think you are the eldest daughter of the Feng family? Do you still have the right to negotiate terms?"
"It is your good fortune to serve Young Master Du. Stop with your wishful thinking," Huang Qianqian said fiercely, practically wanting to attack.
She had brought Du Rong here to humiliate Feng Ran, to have Du Rong torment Feng Ran to death.
The things she had just said were not what she wanted to hear.
She was still in Chun Manyuan. How could Feng Ran have the right to leave first?
Feng Ran should remain here forever, to be humiliated for all eternity. This was her fate.
Feng Ran didn't even spare Huang Qianqian, who was raving like a madwoman beside her, a glance. Her attention was entirely focused on Du Rong.
She looked at Du Rong and said firmly, "Young Master Du, what do you say?"
"Heh, your request is rather difficult to fulfill."
"When Xuanyuan Heng sent you to Chun Manyuan, he issued a stern warning."
"He said that anyone who dares to speak up for Feng Ran would be considered an enemy of the Regent, and would be utterly annihilated." Du Rong spoke these fearful words, yet a smile remained on his face. He looked at the calm Feng Ran and said playfully, "Tell me, what is it about you that would make me disregard everything, just to win a smile from a beauty?"
After speaking, Du Rong stared at Feng Ran, unwilling to miss any part of the unfolding drama.
After all, spectacular scenes like this were rare.
Feng Ran, however, said calmly, "Young Master Du, you already knew what you would face before coming here, so these worries you speak of, you have already considered."
"Whether it can be done is merely a matter of Young Master Du's word."
Upon hearing this, Du Rong was not angered; instead, he was in a very good mood.
"Tell me, if Xuanyuan Heng knew that you were willing to serve someone just to buy your freedom, would he kill you?"
"Xuanyuan Heng is a decisive man. Aren't you afraid?"
Feng Ran let out a light laugh, "Then are you afraid, Young Master Du?"
Du Rong seemed surprised by Feng Ran's response and hesitated for a moment. Then, he quickly said with a smile, "With the Du family behind me, Xuanyuan Heng wouldn't dare touch me. At most, I'd be confined."
"After all, I have the Du family's backing, but you are different."
"When Xuanyuan Heng finds out about this, how do you plan to deal with it?"
Feng Ran's face was full of smiles, "Is Young Master Du worried about me? Actually, there's no need to worry."
"The Regent said he would not take this lowly life of mine. He wants to torment me for all eternity. He said that death, for me, would be a release."
"He has treated me with such cruelty, therefore, he will never let me find release easily."
"Oh, is that so? Eldest daughter of the Feng family, since when have you become so cold-blooded?"
Feng Ran lowered her gaze, not answering Du Rong's question.
Feng Ran knew Du Rong was staring at her, waiting for her answer.
Was she cold-blooded? A mocking smile curved her lips. "That is a truth learned with the blood of the Feng family."
"Young Master Du, you know what happened to the Feng family. Now, do you still think I am cold-blooded?"
"Have I not learned my lesson? Can I still be carefree like before?"
Feng Ran hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, coldly, "If Young Master Du cannot do it, then please leave. After all, do not obstruct my 'business.'"
Business? Obstruct?
"Alright, I keep my word," Du Rong's eyes were filled with light. This Feng Ran was truly becoming more and more interesting.