"Such a hateful person should be skinned alive! Chopped into ten thousand pieces! Drowned in a pig cage!" Bai Luohan gritted her teeth, glaring at Bai Ran.
As soon as the words left her mouth, Murong Chen’s veins bulged on his forehead, and even Long Jinhan in the distance wore a grim expression.
Murong Jin was shocked. He grabbed Bai Luohan by the throat, forcing her head down, and then knelt. "Your Majesty! Luohan's words were unintentional. I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
That damned woman, was she trying to get him killed! His third brother had already tried to marry Bai Ran in the hall earlier, and now this woman wanted Bai Ran to die a horrible death! Was she stupid!
"Ajin, what are you doing! I did nothing wrong!" Bai Luohan struggled desperately.
Bai Ran, however, calmly glanced at them and said faintly, "Murong Jin, I will give you two choices. One, die with Bai Luohan for the crime of plotting against the Emperor."
"No! I don't choose that!" Before Bai Ran could finish, Murong Jin spoke as if driven mad.
Bai Ran watched Murong Jin with amusement, calling him a coward.
"Two, abandon Bai Luohan and follow the Emperor."
The moment the words fell, Bai Luohan glared fiercely at Bai Ran, her eyes full of hatred.
"Bai Ran, you bitch, don't think you can sow discord between me and Ajin! I will never give Ajin to you!" She clung to Murong Jin tightly.
Give him to her master? Let alone Bai Ran, Murong Jin was utterly disgusted by her. Did his master even fancy this scumbag?
Long Jinhan’s handsome face beneath his mask darkened to the point of dripping water. Such nonsensical ramblings!
Bai Ran ignored her, smiling as she looked at Murong Jin, who was tightly held by Bai Luohan, and asked, "Have you thought about it?"
Upon hearing her, Murong Jin broke free from Bai Luohan's embrace, stood before Murong Chen, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Murong Jin is willing to follow Your Majesty."
Bai Luohan stared blankly at Murong Jin, who had broken free from her grasp and stood up. At that moment, she felt as if she didn't know the person before her.
"Ajin?" she called out softly.
Ajin chose to abandon her?
How could Ajin abandon her?
He had clearly... clearly said he would marry her, love her... and always put her first...
She stared fixedly at Murong Jin, a sense of collapse overwhelming her. Tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string, falling uncontrollably.
Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest, scattering at the approach of disaster.
Bai Luohan! This was the man you loved your entire life!
Bai Ran's gaze was cold as she walked to Murong Jin's side, tossed him a sword, and said, "Kill her and show your loyalty to the Emperor."
Murong Jin was taken aback, then with a look of resolve, he knelt, picked up the sword, turned, and slowly walked towards Bai Luohan.
Watching Murong Jin approach step by step, Bai Luohan's heart felt as if it were being torn apart. "No... don't... Ajin..."
Murong Jin's expression was cold as he raised the sword and pressed it against Bai Luohan's neck.
"Bai Ran, save me! I am your sister! You can't do this to me!" Bai Luohan turned her head and shouted desperately at Bai Ran.
"You personally renounced the Bai family, have you forgotten?" Bai Ran, clad in red, had an icy gaze, as if looking at a stranger.
Murong Jin's eyes were resolute. He suddenly raised the sword and swung it towards Bai Luohan's head.
As she saw the descending sword, she instinctively wanted to flee. But the one wielding the sword was the man she loved the most, how could she escape...
At the brink of death, she seemed to see again her Ajin smiling at her, calling her Luohan...
The hall was silent, save for the sound of Bai Luohan's head hitting the ground.
"Well done," Bai Ran said to Murong Jin, then glanced at Murong Chen.
"Guards! Murong Jin plotted against me, and plotted against the fourth daughter of the Bai family! Take him to the dungeon and publicly execute him tomorrow!" Murong Chen commanded.
Murong Jin looked at Murong Chen in disbelief, his ears buzzing, his mind as if exploding.
"Hahahaha, Murong Chen! What a scheme! Hahahaha!"
Murong Jin fell to the ground, laughing loudly, but tears of burning sorrow fell from his eyes. He was dragged away by the guards who entered in an orderly fashion.
Only three people remained in the hall.
"Master, I am indebted to you for this," Murong Chen let out a sigh of relief and smiled tenderly at Bai Ran.
After years of oppression and humiliation, his revenge was finally complete. Murong Chen was filled with indescribable emotion.
And all of this was because he had met her.
"Enough with the mushy talk. If you ever turn your swords against the Bai family again, I'll take your dog head," Bai Ran said.
Murong Chen smiled helplessly.
After speaking, Bai Ran left. Long Jinhan also disappeared shortly after.
Upon returning to the Bai family, Bai Zhantian rushed over to ask Bai Ran if she was injured and why the Third Prince would accuse the Bai family of rebellion.
Bai Ran used the excuse of being friends with the Third Prince to brush him off.
After entering her room, she summoned the four of them, Qingfeng.
"Master."
Bai Ran poured herself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and then said, "Tomorrow, you will all leave the Bai family. The plan should be put into motion."
The four lowered their heads. They knew that the plan Bai Ran spoke of was for them to become stronger and develop their own forces, but they were still reluctant to part.
"When you are settled, return to my side," Bai Ran said, looking at them. "Besides, I will be heading to Stargazer Academy tomorrow. You won't be able to see me if you stay here."
The four then agreed and withdrew.
Bai Ran lay on her side on the bed when a tear appeared in the space behind her.
"You really barge into a woman's chamber in the middle of the night whenever you please," Bai Ran said without even turning over.
Sensing that the person behind her wasn't moving, she was about to turn around when the bed dipped, and a pair of large hands wrapped around her. Bai Ran immediately grabbed his hands and moved them away.
"Can you tell me why you don't like me?" a deep, intoxicating voice came from behind.
Today, the little girl had revealed her true appearance. With so many people staring at her, and even proposals, he had been holding back with great difficulty.
Listening to his words, Bai Ran turned slightly, her heart filled with complexity.
A heart that had been hurt could never fully give itself again. If you loved someone but couldn't give your complete heart, what were you loving?
She, Bai Ran, would either not love at all, or love with all her might.
And loving someone was different from subordinates and friends. This person would be with her for a lifetime. She dared not gamble.
"In the past, I was betrayed by the one I loved most," she said slowly.
"The one you loved most?" Long Jinhan sat up abruptly, staring intently at Bai Ran, his body tense.
"Yes, it was my brother."
Long Jinhan suddenly couldn't think. His stern face froze.
Did this mean that the little girl wasn't refusing him because she disliked him? On the contrary, it was just that the little girl lacked the ability to trust people, and was forced to reject him?
And in fact, Bai Ran did not dislike Long Jinhan.
Long Jinhan's cold aura softened at this moment. His eyes, gazing at Bai Ran, were filled with doting and helplessness.
He lay down again, looking at the small, slender girl before him, his heart softening completely. "I don't need you to love me. I will prove my love for you with my entire life, and I will never betray you."