Bai Ran stepped out of the palace, and the vast palace vanished behind her as if it had never existed.
The thick mist outside also slowly evaporated, revealing Jing Feng standing in his original spot.
The two gazed at each other from afar, wide-eyed.
This infuriated Jing Feng. He desperately wanted to grab her by the ear and scold her for where she had been, but he dared not.
A surge of anger built up within him, making him incredibly uncomfortable.
Bai Ran glanced at him. "We're out. Aren't you following?"
Jing Feng reluctantly followed.
After leaving the secret realm, he concealed himself and silently followed Bai Ran back to the Bai family manor.
Before they even entered the gate, Qing Xue rushed forward, hugging her tightly, her entire head buried in Bai Ran's embrace.
Qing Hua stood quietly to the side, her eyes red.
Bai Ran realized something must have happened.
She patted Qing Hua's back and gently rubbed her head.
"What's wrong? Why are you such a little crybaby?"
Qing Hua pursed her lips and spoke, "Mistress, the Third Miss was injured. She was brought back by the Second Prince before you. The Second Prince said..."
She paused, and Bai Ran gestured for her to continue.
Clenching her fists, she said indignantly, "He claimed you wanted the Third Miss dead, and that he happened to arrive and save her."
"The Third Miss's father was furious upon hearing this and brought a group of people to smash things in the courtyard. Qing Feng and Qing Yue tried to stop them and were severely injured, and are now lying in bed, their lives hanging in the balance."
Bai Ran's eyes darkened upon hearing this, and she quickly went to Qing Feng's room.
The person on the bed lay weakly, as if he could breathe his last at any moment.
Bai Ran felt his pulse. Fortunately, he was only injured and had fainted.
She took out a fourth-tier Returning Spring Pill from her spatial artifact and fed it to him.
"He will wake up shortly. Qing Xue, stay here and take care of him. Qing Hua, come with me to Qing Yue's."
Upon arriving at Qing Yue's room, Bai Ran's rage reached its peak as she looked at Qing Yue's state.
The once handsome, fox-eyed man's face was now disfigured. The numerous wounds on his body were all fatal.
That he was still alive was nothing short of a miracle.
Bai Ran sat beside Qing Yue, gently took his hand, and felt his pulse.
His spiritual energy was gone, his meridians were severely damaged, and he had lost too much blood.
Bai Ran took out another fifth-tier Life Continuation Pill and fed it to him.
Qing Hua stood by, her face turned away, unable to look at Qing Yue. She bit her lower lip fiercely, blood flowing down her mouth and dripping onto the ground, and onto Bai Ran's heart.
"It's alright. Take good care of him."
Qing Hua turned back, only to see Bai Ran's receding figure.
As Bai Ran walked, a dark glint flashed in her eyes.
Strength. She had never craved strength so much!
Bai Ran was a ruthless and cold-hearted person, but once someone entered her heart, she would protect them for life.
Bai Ran walked directly towards Bai Luohan's courtyard.
The guards at the entrance saw her and said, "Fourth Miss, the Third Miss is still recovering from her injuries."
The implication was clear: do not harm their Third Miss any further.
Bai Ran merely glanced at him. Her fiery red sword emerged, and the guard's head fell.
The people in the courtyard were terrified and quickly made way.
Bai Ran entered Bai Luohan's room unimpeded.
Bai Luohan was sitting on the bed, drinking medicinal soup. Upon seeing Bai Ran, she first gave a startled gasp, then gritted her teeth and said, "Bai Luohan, what are you doing here... Ah!"
Before Bai Luohan could finish, Bai Ran grabbed her by the neck, flung her from the bed, and dragged her by her hair towards the door.
The servants nearby had never witnessed such a scene and could only stand by fearfully.
Bai Luohan, being dragged by her hair, struggled and shouted, "Bitch! Let go! And you lot, why aren't you notifying Father and Grandfather yet!"
The servants remained frozen in place, infuriating Bai Luohan immensely.
"Bitch, let go!"
"So noisy."
Bai Ran slapped Bai Luohan, knocking her unconscious.
"If you want someone, go find the Emperor." With that, she dragged the unconscious Bai Luohan away.
Only after they had gone far did the servants rush to report to the family head and Bai Hong.
"What! You say Ranran did what!"
Bai Zhantian's head felt like it was about to explode. How could Ranran do such a thing! Could it be related to the events a few days ago... Thinking of this, he rushed towards the imperial palace.
Meanwhile, Bai Hong, having received the news, was furious.
Bai Ran! You have such audacity! This time, I will surely take your life!
Bai Hong also hurried to the imperial palace.
Bai Luohan, being dragged away, had new injuries added to her old ones. The two were a conspicuous sight, with people pointing and whispering all the way.
Qianlong Palace
"What! Bai Ran dragged Bai Luohan here?" Murong De heard this and rubbed his temples. "Call her in."
With a "bang," the palace doors were kicked open. Bai Ran entered, dragging the severely injured Bai Luohan.
Dressed in red, her imposing aura filled the hall.
"What do you want now?" Murong De glared at the person before him, somewhat annoyed. How could those assassins be so incompetent, unable to kill even one person?
She smiled at Murong De and threw Bai Luohan aside like trash. "I found a divine artifact in the secret realm."
A divine artifact? A divine artifact!
Murong De's attitude immediately shifted by 180 degrees.
"Girl, tell me, what is it you want?"
"I wish to present this divine artifact to the royal family," Bai Ran said, waving her hand.
Present it to the royal family! Murong De was ecstatic. It was a divine artifact!
But Bai Ran's tone turned. "However, as soon as I exited the secret realm, I heard the Second Prince say that I injured Bai Luohan. I've come to seek justice from you."
Murong Jin? That useless wretch again!
Murong De was furious. He caused trouble for him every day!
"Guards! Go fetch that unfilial son to come here!" Murong De slammed the table and roared at a nearby eunuch.
The eunuch, startled, scrambled away to the Second Prince's palace.
"Girl, you must be tired from your trip to the secret realm. Rest for a while," Murong De said, calling for tea and refreshments, coaxing Bai Ran.
Bai Zhantian and Bai Hong also arrived at Qianlong Palace around this time.
As soon as the two entered the palace, they saw the Emperor coaxing Bai Ran, while Bai Luohan was discarded in a corner, covered in wounds.
Bai Hong was enraged. He knelt before the Emperor and cried, "Your Majesty! The Bai family has brought shame upon itself! Bai Ran, this despicable wretch, actually tried to kill my daughter in the secret realm!"
The Emperor frowned upon seeing Bai Hong. He had only just managed to pacify this troublesome girl, and now he dared to add to the chaos!
"Insolent fool! Are you senile! The Bai family girl acts with integrity and righteousness. What nonsense are you spewing with that old mouth of yours!" Murong De shouted at Bai Hong.
Bai Hong was stunned. He hadn't expected the Emperor to favor Bai Ran so much!
Bai Zhantian, standing nearby, was also surprised.
"Ranran, tell me why you did this. Grandfather is here," Bai Zhantian looked at Bai Ran with concern.
Bai Ran turned her head to look at Bai Zhantian.
Bai Zhantian doted on her, but his affection was only for Bai Ran. Therefore, he showed little concern for the injuries or deaths of those around her.
He was not wrong, but Bai Ran disliked it.
"I was slandered, my courtyard was trashed, and my people were severely injured. Grandfather, were you unaware?" Bai Ran asked Bai Zhantian calmly.
Bai Zhantian looked at Bai Ran's placid eyes and felt inexplicably flustered. "Ranran, I was aware of the slander against you, but I never believed it. I've already had someone clean the courtyard. As for those few people..."
Bai Zhantian could not bring himself to say it. He hadn't cared about the lives of those servants, never imagining they were so important to her.
"Grandfather, those people are my people. For Bai Hong to treat them as such is to treat me as such. I know you dote on me, but you also wouldn't want my people to suffer because of me while you stand by indifferently."
Bai Ran spoke to Bai Zhantian, her words firm and clear.
"Grandfather, if one day something happens to me and you cannot save me, and the people in the family choose to stand by and watch, I think you would be very heartbroken."
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhantian hunched his back. At this moment, he did not look like a powerful family head, but simply a grandfather wanting to apologize to his granddaughter.
"Ranran, Grandfather was wrong."
"Ranran never blamed Grandfather."