After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

Back at the Marquis's residence, Fang Xiaoran used the excuse of recuperating from her injuries to sleep in a separate room from Gu Yuqing.

Previously, Granny Zheng had tried every means to stop them, hoping to force them to consummate their relationship so that she could hold the young master before she died.

But this time the reason was valid, so Granny Zheng couldn't say anything and could only sigh helplessly.

However, Zheng Mama was furious about Fang Xiaoran's injury. She immediately brought her wound medicine and told her to rest well, saying, "Consort Ning is going too far. She is, after all, the young master's aunt, yet she did such a thing!"

However angry she was, she was still just a servant, while the other party was a noble concubine. What could she do? At most, she could only offer a few words of comfort.

However, she was still dissatisfied with the matter and said through gritted teeth, "This matter must be told to Madam. The young mistress has suffered such a great injustice, and we cannot let it go like this."

"Granny, don't worry about this. It's just a minor injury. Besides, I haven't been wronged. Consort Ning just wants me to cure her illness, so she's trying to use some tricks. But how can I let her have her way? As for Mother, you shouldn't go looking for her. Putting aside how to get to the island in the middle of the lake, I don't think Mother will care about this matter."

Although she had only been in the Marquis's mansion for a short time, Fang Xiaoran could tell that Shang Lingzhu didn't care about the affairs of the mansion at all. She didn't even care about Gu Yuqing's affairs, let alone Fang Xiaoran's.

She did suffer some injustice in this matter, but it was not worth the Marquis's concern.

Granny Zheng sighed, "The young mistress was wronged, but she comforted me instead. She is truly kind-hearted."

Fang Xiaoran smiled and said, "It's getting late, Granny, you should get some rest."

"Alright, then I won't bother you any longer."

Knowing that Fang Xiaoran needed to rest, Granny Zheng stopped disturbing her.

After Granny Zheng left, Fang Xiaoran frowned. Just now, she felt that the Gu spirit in Shang Heng's body had lost its vitality. The Gu spirit needs to parasitize a human body. Once the parasite dies, the Gu spirit will also dissipate.

It seems that Shang Heng has met with misfortune.

Fang Xiaoran tapped the table lightly with her fingertips, her eyes darkening.

Thus, another pawn was lost, but it was no big deal. Dealing with Consort Ning was only a matter of time. However, this incident also made her realize that the Empress was no match for Consort Ning at all. It seemed that she would have to secretly help her a little more.

After resting for a few days, Fang Xiaoran rarely went out. In addition to recuperating, she also continued to refine medicine. It was already the final stage, and there was no room for error.

She remained quiet for a few days, but the Liu family was in complete chaos during this time.

Liu Ruyan was imprisoned, but the specific crime was not explained. In fact, the Liu family was unaware of it until Madam Liu went to the palace to meet Consort Ning.

Madam Liu was very worried after not seeing Liu Ruyan for several days, fearing that something had happened to her, but she never expected this outcome.

"Your Majesty, even if Ruyan has committed a grave mistake, it was all for Your Majesty's sake. Please, Your Majesty, have mercy and forgive her this time," Madam Liu pleaded. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief after learning that Liu Ruyan had been imprisoned by Consort Ning. If she were in someone else's hands, Liu Ruyan would probably have to be abandoned, but with Consort Ning, there was a possibility of her being saved.

No matter what, the Liu family works for Consort Ning, so it's only right and proper to help them.

Consort Ning glanced at her with her beautiful eyes, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Spare her? This time it's already reached the Empress Dowager, how can I spare her?"

"Didn't the Empress Dowager never interfere in palace affairs? Why is she..."

Upon hearing that the Empress Dowager had intervened, Madam Liu turned pale, realizing that the matter was not so simple, and wondered why Liu Ruyan insisted on getting involved in this turmoil.

The situation was clearly stable and going very well, but now that things have escalated, even the Liu family will be affected.

"How could I possibly know what she's thinking? Why don't you go and ask her?" Consort Ning smiled, but the smile was unusually cold. She seemed angry, yet no anger could be felt, making her unfathomable.

Madam Liu trembled and quickly bowed her head, her forehead almost touching the ground: "Your Majesty, please understand, the Liu family is utterly loyal to you and has no disloyalty whatsoever! That girl Ruyan is young and impetuous; it's possible she was manipulated..."

Consort Ning suddenly chuckled, "Why would your Liu family protect such a stupid girl? Her master alone is not enough for me to give her an important position."

Consort Ning didn't care about Liu Ruyan; she only cared about whether the other party had any use to her.

However, none of Liu Ruyan's actions were enough to make her care.

“Your Majesty is wise. The Liu family needs a marriage alliance, and she is the most crucial one. If something happens to her now, it will be difficult to find a replacement. Moreover, a pawn that can be discarded at any time is naturally more useful than one that is out of control. The Liu family is loyal to Your Majesty and is doing this for your sake.”

Lady Liu spoke again, but this time her words pleased Consort Ning greatly.

Actually, Liu Ruyan was never the main point. The main reason was that the Liu family wanted to expand their power, and therefore, they needed to have such a daughter.

The appearance of Liu Ruyan filled this void.

"Then educate her more. If she continues to be so stupid and reckless, even I cannot save her."

Consort Ning leaned lazily against the soft couch, her fingertips gently twirling a blood jade thumb ring, a slight smile flashing in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu was extremely excited and was about to kowtow in gratitude when she heard her change of tone, "However, she also needs to learn a lesson, so let her suffer a bit first."

Judging from Consort Ning's words, she clearly did not intend to release the person immediately.

But her words at least indicated that Liu Ruyan was not in mortal danger, which put Madam Liu at ease. "Thank you, Your Highness. This girl deserves to suffer a bit. I hope Your Highness will discipline her and help her to behave herself."

"Alright, you've achieved your goal, so you may leave. I'm tired," Consort Ning said, waving her hand.

Lately, she's been feeling increasingly unwell. She should be sick, but no one seems to notice anything wrong. Could it be that she's just overthinking things?

It's one thing if Fang Xiaoran couldn't see it, but none of the imperial physicians could either. Even if their medical skills were inferior to Fang Xiaoran's, they shouldn't have failed to detect the illness at all.

Consort Ning was still worried, so she ordered someone to invite a folk doctor so she could check if there was anything wrong with her health.

Fang Xiaoran was not surprised at all to hear that Liu Ruyan had not been released yet.

Not to mention that the incident last time reached the Empress Dowager's ears, just the fact that Liu Ruyan made a move in Chengqian Palace and almost implicated her, she would never let Liu Ruyan get away with it. Liu Ruyan would suffer these days.

Although the matter did not spread widely, it was still known to some people.

Fang Menghe, in particular, had always been dissatisfied with Liu Ruyan and couldn't stand her nouveau riche attitude. When she heard that Liu Ruyan had been humiliated, she was overjoyed.

"What is Liu Ruyan anyway? She's just a tool for the Liu family to use in a marriage alliance. Sooner or later, she'll be abandoned like a stray dog." Fang Menghe toyed with the celadon teacup in her hand, a mocking smile curving her lips.