Sheng Yi directly placed a pillow behind Feng Ran and handed her a cup of hot water. Seeing Feng Ran drink the water, she felt a bit relieved.
"Feng Ran, what happened that day that you fainted?"
Sheng Yi thought for a moment, then felt that what she was saying seemed inappropriate at this time.
"Feng Ran, the imperial physician is still outside. Let him examine you. The way you looked that day, you had scared everyone. When I saw you, I even thought you were beyond saving. Fortunately, you woke up," Sheng Yi said with lingering fear. She placed her hand on Feng Ran's head, stroking her hair with a look of heartache.
"Yes. I will do as Sheng Yi says." Feng Ran's voice was unusually hoarse.
She had never objected to Sheng Yi's suggestions.
However, she felt a bit confused. If she remembered correctly, this was the Xuanyuan mansion. But how did she appear here from Chun Manyuan?
Sheng Yi's eyes were filled with tears. Feng Ran, so proud and arrogant, the eldest daughter of the Feng family, showered with affection. Now she looked so weathered.
Yes, after experiencing those events, Feng Ran was no longer the same Feng Ran.
She no longer possessed her arrogance. Now, she was always cautious.
Treading on eggshells.
"Feng Ran, you rest here. I'll get you some hot porridge."
Soon, Sheng Yi brought the hot porridge.
Sheng Yi dared not leave for too long, fearing someone might harm Feng Ran.
She had barely closed her eyes for the past few days, taking care of Feng Ran.
Feng Ran had returned to the Xuanyuan mansion. Those people regarded Feng Ran as a thorn in their side. Feng Ran's situation was extremely dangerous.
It was safer here in the Xuanyuan mansion than in Chun Manyuan.
As Feng Ran was about to eat the hot porridge, she heard a servant respectfully announce, "Regent."
Xuanyuan Heng was followed by a group of imperial physicians. With a chilling expression and his hands behind his back, he entered the room. Seeing the bowl in Feng Ran's hand, he directly stepped forward, snatched the bowl away, and shattered it on the ground. He said with a bloodthirsty tone, "Feng Ran, you want to eat? Then, get down and lick the porridge off the floor."
Feng Ran hesitated.
"Feng Ran, if you want to live, you must obey me obediently," Xuanyuan Heng gripped Feng Ran's chin, forcing her to look directly at him.
Feng Ran did not hesitate. She carefully got off the bed and immediately knelt on the ground. She picked up the porridge with her hands and ate it bite by bite.
Seeing this, Sheng Yi rushed forward, wanting to stop Feng Ran. She wanted to tell Feng Ran, "No, you don't have to do this."
But with just one look from Xuanyuan Heng, Sheng Yi finally stood frozen in place. She watched with her own eyes as Feng Ran slowly, bit by bit, "ate" the porridge.
Sheng Yi was heartbroken. She felt that Xuanyuan Heng was being too excessive.
However, she was of low status and owed her life to Xuanyuan Heng. She dared not say anything.
At this moment, Sheng Yi felt a pang of hatred for her own powerlessness.
Xuanyuan Heng let out a cold sneer, "Hmm, you're finally learning to be obedient."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness the Regent." Feng Ran's actions never stopped. She even raised her eyes to look directly at Xuanyuan Heng, a smile on her face, and said with a somewhat cheerful tone.
Xuanyuan Heng's brows furrowed, and he looked at Feng Ran with icy eyes.
His intention was to humiliate Feng Ran. But Feng Ran's smile made him feel as if his actions were like a joke.
Feng Ran lowered her head and continued her actions, but the smile on her face had disappeared. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Watching Feng Ran's actions, Xuanyuan Heng's foot directly landed on her hand. He said with a bloodthirsty tone, "Feng Ran, the thing I detest most is seeing that smile on your face."
"It is something you are unworthy of possessing in this lifetime."
Feng Ran's hands stiffened for a moment, but she quickly moved again. She nodded, her gaze still on him, and said calmly, "Yes, I will remember Your Highness's teachings."
Xuanyuan Heng's brows were tightly furrowed. Looking at the obedient Feng Ran before him, he felt something was not right.
He had expected that by humiliating Feng Ran like this, she would be overwhelmed with shame. He had not expected her to accept it so humbly.
Just then, Hongyi, who had just entered, saw the scene and was overjoyed. This was a rare opportunity. This time, even heaven was on her side, and she had to seize it.
Feng Ran, you've fallen into my hands this time.
Hongyi entered, even saying with some schadenfreude, "Feng Ran, what are you doing? Have you no shame? To do something so despicable in front of so many people."
"You have trampled the Regent's honor."
"Feng Ran, you are truly wicked. Even if you want to retaliate against the Regent, you shouldn't do this."
Feng Ran raised her eyes, her gaze falling coldly on Hongyi. She said calmly, "This is what the Regent commanded."
Xuanyuan Heng's face instantly darkened. He looked at Feng Ran and said coldly, "Feng Ran, even in this situation, you are still plotting against me?"
"However, I can see through all your dirty schemes clearly."
Feng Ran let out a self-mocking laugh and sat dejectedly on the ground.
Xuanyuan Heng could not bear to see Feng Ran so calm. He squatted down, gripped Feng Ran's chin tightly, and said, "Listening to you, it seems you are blaming me for saying the wrong thing?"
Feng Ran shook her head and replied absentmindedly, "No, how could the Regent be wrong? The fault is entirely mine."
"It is I who is shameless, I who is without virtue, and I who has brought this upon myself."
Feng Ran had just woken up, and her body was still weak.
At this moment, she was merely forcing herself to endure.
Xuanyuan Heng stared at Feng Ran like this, but did not say a word.
Hongyi was stunned. For a long time, she could not speak.
The imperial physician, who had been standing by and silent, was even more stunned.
Instantly, there was silence in the room.
After a long while, Xuanyuan Heng said coldly, "Then tell me, where is your fault?"
Feng Ran paused for a moment but quickly regained her composure. She said with lingering fear, "I was born a mistake. Therefore, anything that happens to me is my fault."
Xuanyuan Heng frowned as he listened to Feng Ran's words, seemingly not understanding why she would say such things.
This was a world apart from the Feng Ran he remembered.
Sheng Yi's eyes were filled with shock and bewilderment. She wondered what had happened that day to make Feng Ran utter such desolate words, demeaning and belittling herself to worthlessness.