After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

"Enter."

Upon hearing the noise, the man outside tiptoed in and quickly closed the door.

Xiao Ran couldn't help but smile when she saw his furtive appearance.

"You can still laugh!" The man in front of Xiao Ran was three or four years older than her. He was dressed as a servant, but that couldn't hide his handsome and bright face. His features were well-proportioned, and the corners of his mouth were slightly downturned because of his anger. His skin was fair and delicate, giving people a gentle and refined feeling.

Although he was angry, he still anxiously sat down next to her.

"Are you alright?" He asked with concern, looking at Xiao Ran's flushed face.

Then he slammed his fist on the table. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't asked you to go to the lake to catch cicadas that day, you wouldn't have fallen into the water."

Seeing his annoyed expression, Xiao Ran simply smiled and said, "Nangong Ming, do you want me to have nowhere to even have tea?"

"I'm not—" Seeing Xiao Ran's grinning face, he actually felt a little better. "It's just a table. If you need one, I'll bring you a hundred!"

Indeed, the man before them was none other than Prince Nangong Ming, the son of the Prince of Yan.

He was also the one who married He Wan in his previous life.

Xiao Ran slowly poured him a cup of tea, but in Nangong Ming's eyes, she seemed to be so feverish that she had no strength left. He immediately took the teapot from her and put it aside.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow at him.

"I don't care about this lousy tea. Tell me, how are you feeling right now?" In his anxiety, he grabbed her hand, feeling extremely hot.

Xiao Ran rubbed her head, closed her eyes, and shook her head. "Of course I feel dizzy and weak in my limbs."

"You wait!"

Hearing this, Xiao Ran squinted one eye to peek.

Nangong Ming released her hand and began groping himself, muttering, "What kind of clothes are these? I really can't get used to wearing them..."

Why would a prince, a prince of the royal family, have to disguise himself as a servant when he comes to the general's residence?

Xiao Ran chuckled inwardly. What else could it be? It must be because her aunt was using Nangong Ming's guilt over her falling into the water to shut him out.

Of course, Nangong Ming could have used his status as the heir apparent to barge in and make Xiao Ran's drowning a public spectacle, but he didn't do that.

Her aunt, however, did not make a fuss about it. On the surface, it was for the sake of harmony between the General's Mansion and the Prince Yan's Mansion, but behind the scenes...

How could she not understand? In order to better "feed the medicine," because Prince Nangong would definitely find a way to cure her.

But it's truly remarkable that a prince would sneak into her residence for her sake.

Nangong Ming took out a delicate little box from his clothes and placed it on the table. "This is what I obtained from the Empress. It can cure all diseases, both internal and external injuries."

The Empress's maternal family was a renowned medical family, so their medicines were naturally of high quality, as Xiao Ran had already confirmed in her previous life.

"Thank you."

Nangong Ming suddenly stammered, his gaze darting away from hers. "Um, there's something I haven't told you..."

Xiao Ran blinked and tilted her head in confusion, "What is it?"

"I didn't tell my father about this..."

Nangong Ming explained somewhat agitatedly, "But I didn't mean to keep it from you! It's because I'm afraid to let my father know; he'd kill me if he found out!"

After saying that, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Xiao Ran, and simply opened the box in his hand and handed it over.

After a moment, as if finally gathering his courage, he looked at her and asked, "Xiao Ran, can you...can you forgive me?"

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, so long that Nangong Ming swallowed hard, lowered his head, and held the box in his hand lower and lower.

Just as he was about to give up and dejectedly prepare to leave, Xiao Ran called out to him.

Xiao Ran shook her head and smiled slightly, "This is not your fault."

It was indeed not his fault. Falling into the water was arranged by someone. Their relationship broke down after he married He Wan, which was also instigated by someone. Even the execution of his entire family and his exile were not his fault.

They were in the same boat, both being used as pawns.

Why should she blame Nangong Ming? They're both just pitiful people.

Nangong Ming immediately sat back down, stammering, "Then, then! Next time we'll go catch cicadas again—oops, next time we'll go do something else, far away from the water. Oh, right! Last time..."

Nangong Ming is only seventeen years old. He has been pampered in the palace and is still a child at heart, which is why he can play with her, a girl who grew up in the countryside.

"I want to rest first." Xiao Ran rubbed her head. She was already dizzy and lightheaded, and now that she could hear Nangong Ming chattering beside her, she felt even more dizzy.

"Oh, alright then..." Nangong Ming shut his mouth, got up to leave, and after reaching the door, turned back to remind her again: "Remember to take your medicine."

After saying that, he sneaked away again.

After he left, Xiao Ran picked up the box, got up, went to the bedside, lay down on her back, and collapsed onto the bed.

He raised his hand and examined the exquisite box, which was opened and closed repeatedly.

Finally, she left it on the cabinet and fell asleep.

-

night.

A maid called softly from outside the door, and Xiao Ran woke up at the sound. The maid said that her father wanted her to go to the dining hall for a meal.

It couldn't possibly be a meal; it must be that Madam He filed a complaint and is just waiting to see what happens.

"Okay, I'll get ready and come right away." She stretched and yawned. After taking a nap, she felt much better, so it seemed that not taking the medicine had indeed helped.

No wonder Mrs. He brought her medicine every day during those days.

The maidservant bowed outside the door and replied, "Yes."

After putting on her coat, Xiao Ran slowly walked to the table, poured herself a glass of water, and held it up.

Does He really think she's as easy to bully as before?

Tea spilled in my face.

From this day forward, she will repay everything she has done before, tenfold!

……

After a while, the maid finally saw the young lady come out.

I was shocked when I looked up.

Xiao Ran was seen leaning against the door frame, her cheeks and hair soaked with sweat, her face flushed and her lips pale, looking extremely weak.

The maidservant rushed to help her up, "Miss, are you alright? Should I go and inform the General?"

"No need, my father must be getting impatient. We... cough cough." Suddenly, Xiao Ran coughed violently, immediately covering her mouth with a handkerchief, and then said, "Let's go quickly."

Although Xiao Ran quickly put away her handkerchief, the sharp-eyed maid still noticed a red dot on it.

The maid immediately knelt down, trembling with fear, and said, "Miss, it's my fault for not taking good care of you!"

"What are you doing? Get up quickly." Xiao Ran helped the nervous maid up. "Don't worry, I won't let them blame you."

"Thank you, young lady..."

A moment later, the maid brought Xiao Ran to the dining hall.

The dining hall was neither too big nor too small, and the tables and chairs in the hall were all made of the finest mahogany, with beautiful textures. Several calligraphy and paintings hung on the wall in the center. Xiao Mu was facing away from her with his fist clenched, while Madam He sat lazily in a grand chair to the side, with two servants standing beside her. One of them, Afu, was holding a bowl of medicine and staring blankly.

"General, Madam, the young lady has arrived," the maidservant reported in a low voice.

"Father—" Xiao Ran wanted to go forward and greet him, but before she could finish speaking, she heard Xiao Mu's angry voice.

"Kneel down."