In the Night City incident, Serena Feng really pulled off a brilliant operation. She leveraged Lance Quinn’s resources to track down the perpetrators, and used Dominic Zhai and William Wang Jinling’s influence to identify the officials who delayed the reinforcements that day.
Step by step, she followed the clues, and finally dug up Felix Fuller and the Emperor, who were hiding behind the scenes. She not only cleared herself of suspicion, but also managed to get a bit of revenge against Felix in the process.
But it was almost too perfect—which is exactly why Nolan Dongling was dissatisfied. From start to finish, Serena never once went to the Ninth Prince’s Residence to seek his help.
Nolan stared at Serena, unable to see that pale, slender neck he liked—just the back of her head. When she didn’t answer right away, he pressed patiently, asking again: “Serena Feng, I’ll ask you one more time. Is there really nothing you want to say to me?”
“In reply to Ninth Royal Uncle, I have nothing to say.” Serena quietly sighed and repeated herself.
Nolan hoped she would confide in him about everything, but she didn’t want to. If she could solve something herself, she would; only when she couldn’t, would she consider asking for help.
In this world, relying on others is unreliable; only relying on yourself truly matters. Serena thought they’d already agreed on this, but judging by Nolan’s expression, maybe she’d been too naïve.
Serena let out a barely audible sigh. Nolan closed his eyes briefly and withdrew his gaze, calmly saying, “If you really have nothing to say, then let me ask you—where were you the night before last?”
“At home.” Serena knew the Emperor had sent Nolan to investigate Felix Fuller’s case. As expected.
“Are you aware of Felix Fuller’s injury?” Truthfully, Nolan wasn’t interrogating her—he was helping clear her name.
"I don’t know," Serena replied crisply.
Nolan left some things unsaid, but Serena understood. Still, she didn’t think she’d done anything wrong: "Ninth Royal Uncle, it’s not that I’m reckless. It’s just that some things won’t allow me to back down. I’m just a solitary woman. I used to yield at every turn, trying to keep the peace, but everyone thought they could step on me, trampling the dignity of Feng Manor underfoot."
"Is that really what happened?" Serena feigned shock, her eyes widening as she stared at Nolan. In her heart, she knew: Serena Feng isn’t someone to be underestimated—she has teeth and dares to bite back.
Serena’s old counter-interrogation training had left a deep impression. Faced with this kind of situation, she was completely at ease. Not just with Nolan—even the best interrogators wouldn’t be able to catch her slipping.
Whether or not she showed any cracks was one thing; whether Nolan believed her was another. Seeing how genuinely shocked Serena looked, Nolan sneered, "Felix was hurt by your unique weapon. Do you really think you can wash your hands of this with just an 'I don’t know'?"
Serena smiled wryly, almost mocking herself: "Ninth Royal Uncle, I’m not dodging responsibility—I truly don’t know. Everything that’s happened lately is beyond my comprehension. Felix was wounded by my hidden weapon, the Night City Lord was killed with it too. I honestly have no idea how a lone girl like me could pull off something like that—killing the City Lord with one hand, injuring Felix with the other."
Her explanation was reasonable enough; anyone would believe it. Nolan’s questioning was just a way to prompt Serena to say these words out loud.
But that wasn’t enough. Nolan pressed her sharply: "Serena Feng, don’t try to wriggle out of this. As far as I know, only you have that hidden weapon. The weapon is in your hands—how can you claim you know nothing?" He was determined to make her the scapegoat for the crime.
With a loud smack, Nolan slammed the table. Most people would have gone pale or dropped to their knees, but Serena just smiled: "To answer you, Ninth Royal Uncle, I know about the City Lord’s death—after all, his son stormed my manor that day. As for Felix’s case, I truly don’t know. The Feng Manor has been under Imperial Guard surveillance this whole time. If I’d left to attack Felix, the guards would know better than I do. And as for the ‘unique hidden weapon’ you mentioned, wasn’t that a gift from you?"
Nolan’s brows furrowed. He sneered, "Are you implying that I’m the one who attacked him?"
"No, Ninth Royal Uncle, you’re overthinking it. I just mean that possessing a weapon doesn’t make someone a murderer. I carry hidden weapons to protect myself, not to hurt others." Serena’s tone was calm; Nolan’s pressure didn’t faze her at all.
If her guess was right, Nolan was putting on this stern act because the Emperor had ordered him to come interrogate her—and, of course, to vent his own small grievances.
The Emperor was growing ever more confident: after several successful schemes and Nolan’s apparent concessions, he’d become so pleased with himself he’d forgotten Nolan’s true power and arrogance. He thought Nolan was genuinely afraid of him, but didn’t realize—the higher you climb, the harder you fall.
"So carrying a weapon doesn’t make you a murderer—then what does?" Nolan looked at Serena, amused, waiting to see how she’d defend herself.
Having a weapon only means you might commit murder; it doesn’t mean you will. If simply possessing a weapon made you a criminal, then every soldier in the army would be accused of murder, and every man in the Nine Provinces could be accused of wrongdoing at any moment.
Serena met Nolan’s eyes, lifting her chin slightly in pride. Her smug look only made Nolan more frustrated.
"You... you really dare to say anything, and you’ve got the guts too..." Nolan pointed at her, but seeing Serena’s fearless expression, he finally let his hand fall, powerless.
He knew Serena’s handling of the situation was brilliant—but still not perfect. According to her original plan, even if no one could prove she’d hurt Felix, both Felix and the Emperor would know deep down it was her retaliation—a direct strike against the Emperor, and proof she was in the know.
If the Emperor realized Serena was the mastermind, he’d kill her to silence her. Only by doing so could he guarantee Night City would never uncover the truth.
Serena’s handling of the whole affair was masterful—but her final act of revenge was too bold. Luckily, Nolan had swept up the mess for her, making Lance Quinn take all the blame.
Both the Emperor and Felix assumed Lance Quinn attacked Felix out of love for Serena, acting on her behalf while she knew nothing. Otherwise, the search of her manor yesterday would have been a direct execution order.
To those princes and young masters, Feng Manor was just a place to vent their anger. Whenever someone felt slighted, they’d bring people to smash up my home. Tell me, if I never fought back, how would anyone learn that Serena Feng cannot be bullied—that I have the courage and the means to strike back?
Tell me, if I never fought back, how would anyone learn that Serena Feng isn’t someone to be underestimated—she has teeth and dares to bite back?
"With me here, who could really hurt you?" Nolan said. Aside from the loss of face, Serena hadn’t suffered any real harm from the attack on Feng Manor—and she’d struck back hard. The ones who truly lost out were those who started the trouble.
"In Eastlyn, no one can easily take my life. But don’t forget, Ninth Royal Uncle, there are plenty of people outside Eastlyn who want me dead. Never mind the distant ones—just look at the Crown Prince of Lyndaria, the princes of Southlyn, and all those assassins lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to leave the city. If they really go all out, their power could shake the entire Nine Provinces."
Ninth Royal Uncle, I have more than one enemy, and you’re just the Ninth Royal Uncle of Eastlyn. You’re human, not a god; you can’t protect me every moment. If I want to survive, I need my own means of self-defense. If I want to put an end to these petty attacks, I have to show some deterrence."
"But the target you picked isn’t right." Nolan didn’t approve of Serena directly confronting the Emperor.
Felix may be favored by the Emperor, but he is merely an outside minister. The others are his sons—he is the best target if I want to survive. If Night City’s investigation is correct, the Emperor intends to make me his scapegoat for the crime.
No matter how careful I am, as long as I am connected to Ninth Royal Uncle, the Emperor will never truly let me go or trust me. So there is no point in worrying about the Emperor’s opinion.
"Who in Eastlyn would dare kill you?" Nolan circled back to the topic of life and death, his anger flaring.
Serena gave a bitter smile: "With the Night City Lord’s death, the Emperor isn’t just after my life—he’s after yours too. You have rank, power, and a unique position, but even you can’t withstand Night City’s iron cavalry. You know how mad Reid Yale can get. If this isn’t handled quickly, it’s dangerous for both of us."
"Hmph! Serena, do you really not trust me? You think such petty schemes could take my life? Are you overestimating the enemy, or just not taking me seriously enough?" Nolan’s gaze sharpened, full of swagger.
"Are you angry? Upset that I acted on my own?" Serena raised her brow, tired of Nolan’s posturing, and decided to lay everything bare.
"Ninth Royal Uncle, isn’t this exactly what you wanted? With me charging ahead, you can gather evidence in secret. With me drawing the Emperor’s and Felix’s attention, your moves go unnoticed. Don’t tell me you’ve done nothing these past few days."
Serena made it clear: even if Nolan claimed he’d done nothing, she wouldn’t believe it. With such a perfect opportunity, only a fool wouldn’t use it—and she didn’t believe Nolan was that naive.
Right now, Night City is full of gratitude for the Emperor. But when the truth comes out, their hatred will be just as deep.
Nolan definitely has enough evidence to prove the Emperor masterminded the Night City Lord’s murder. But he won’t reveal it yet.
He’ll wait—wait until Night City is fully loyal to the Emperor, wait until it’s almost in his hands. Then, when Reid Yale lashes out in his dying rage, he’ll bite the Emperor hard.
Nolan is deliberately cultivating an enemy for the Emperor—one not huge, but definitely troublesome. If she didn’t know for certain that Felix and Nolan were at odds, she’d almost suspect they’d teamed up to dig this massive pit for the Emperor to fall into...