Ninth Royal Uncle's "beautiful idea" was doomed from the start. It wasn't that Serena was stingy or reluctant to give a "reward"—it was just...
Serena laughed so hard she was out of breath and couldn't recover for a long while. Not only did Ninth Royal Uncle get no reward, he had to carefully help Serena catch her breath, afraid she might choke.
To have the person being laughed at help the one laughing catch her breath—that feeling was truly suffocating. Just looking at Ninth Royal Uncle's increasingly gloomy expression said it all. Unfortunately, Serena wasn't afraid of him at all; she didn't care about his dark or cold face, and kept laughing anyway.
"Are you done laughing yet?" Ninth Royal Uncle gritted his teeth, biting out each word with extra emphasis.
"Yes, yes, I'm done." Serena held her stomach with one hand and wiped tears from the corner of her eyes with the other. It wasn't that she had a low threshold for laughter—Ninth Royal Uncle's dead-serious demand for a reward was just too comically awkward.
"You..." If it were anyone else, Ninth Royal Uncle would have kicked them long ago. But this was Serena. Even if he was full of complaints, he could only bottle them up.
"Stop laughing already."
"Okay, okay, I—I'm not laughing, not laughing, really not." Serena straightened up, leaning against the table behind her, and took a long time to catch her breath. Her radiant smile made her look even more beautiful, and when Ninth Royal Uncle glanced over, he was almost stunned.
"Ahem..." Ninth Royal Uncle turned his face away, not daring to look directly at Serena, afraid his mind would wander and that, if he lost control, he'd just pin Serena to the table right then and there.
Serena didn't notice Ninth Royal Uncle's change. After teasing him for so long, she felt a little guilty, worried he'd hold it against her, so she changed the subject and brought up Jason Lan.
"Do you think Jason Lan might have already left the city?"
Although Serena's change of topic wasn't what Ninth Royal Uncle wanted, it was still better than thinking about that other matter. So he answered seriously, "No. He's definitely still inside the city. There's no way he could leave without alerting anyone."
Whether it's Jason Lan or Liancastle, neither of them has that kind of ability. Ninth Royal Uncle was absolutely confident about this.
"Could there be a secret tunnel somewhere in the city that leads outside? After all, he's a Former Dynasty person—maybe he knows about some hidden passage. Just like how he mysteriously entered the Capital before." Serena speculated boldly.
Of course, she preferred the idea that someone was helping Jason Lan. After all, if such a tunnel really existed, then the towering city gates and all those patrolling soldiers in Eastlyn's imperial capital would be a joke to Jason Lan.
"It's not impossible." Ninth Royal Uncle's eyes shifted slightly, his voice growing colder.
"If there really is a secret tunnel, that's trouble. We don't know where the exit is, or the entrance." Serena frowned, assuming Ninth Royal Uncle was just as concerned as she was.
Ninth Royal Uncle didn't let his emotions show and quickly returned to normal: "It's only a possibility. There are troops stationed outside the city too—if he tries to leave, he'll leave traces."
"So you're saying, even if there's a secret tunnel, he's still in the city and hasn't left yet?" Serena asked.
Ninth Royal Uncle nodded in agreement, then added, "There's also another possibility—he might be hiding in the tunnel right now."
"If he's hiding in a tunnel, we'll never find him. Let's set that aside for now and assume there is no tunnel. Without a secret passage, where would Jason Lan be? We've turned the imperial city upside down, disturbing the people and causing panic—it's impossible that we haven't found a single trace." Serena was certain: Jason Lan was like a rat, truly skilled at hiding.
"Not every place has been searched." For example, the Wang Estate, the Cui Estate, Feng Manor, and the residences of high-ranking officials and marquises.
Even Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn't dare order a search lightly. Offending one or two officials is fine, but if you offend the entire civil and military court, even the Emperor couldn't handle it.
Serena rolled her eyes at Ninth Royal Uncle in annoyance. "Don't tell me you don't have spies in those places."
"Of course I do," Ninth Royal Uncle admitted. "But not every place can be infiltrated by spies. Eastlyn produced one Lucan Lu—who's to say there isn't another?"
"Even so, Jason Lan definitely wouldn't hide there. If I can guess you've planted spies in those households, there's no way Jason Lan wouldn't figure it out." Serena didn't like Jason Lan, but she had to admit he was very good at weighing risks and benefits.
"There is one place where I would never plant spies," Ninth Royal Uncle said.
"Where?" Serena pressed.
Ninth Royal Uncle softly uttered two words: "Your house."
"My house? You think he's hiding in Feng Manor? Impossible." Serena shook her head without hesitation.
Just because Clara Phoenixfield can come in doesn't mean Jason Lan could hide at her house. Did people really think her home was a hotel—come and go as they pleased?
Ninth Royal Uncle shook his head. "Not Feng Manor—another place."
"Another place?" Serena thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, "I know—the West Side Courtyard."
"That's right." Ninth Royal Uncle nodded in approval.
"But Linden Ling lives there. Has he lost his mind?" Serena could understand the Taishang Emperor and Jason Lan teaming up—they shared Ninth Royal Uncle as a common enemy—but Linden Ling?
Serena couldn't understand it. Why would someone who was perfectly fine as the young master of Skyvault Fortress get involved in this mess? Was he tired of living?
"Who knows? We'll find out when we go check." If Jason Lan really was there, they'd catch everyone in one sweep; if not, it was just a wasted trip.
"Isn't it a bit late to go now? Wouldn't that just alert them?" It was already deep into the night, and Serena couldn't think of a good reason to drop by, let alone check the inner residence.
Although it was technically her property, she'd lent it to Linden Ling. Barging in with threats and violence would be a slap in Skyvault Fortress's face.
"It's too late tonight. Tomorrow..." At dawn, they'd catch Linden Ling completely off guard.
"Then let's go early. If those two really are working together, we can't let Jason Lan slip away." Serena was itching for action, ready to go all out.
If Jason Lan really joined forces with Linden Ling, Ninth Royal Uncle could immediately charge him as an accomplice. There'd be no need to go to Skyvault Fortress—he could deal with the young master right here.
"Don't worry. I'll have people watching outside. If he's there, he won't escape." Ninth Royal Uncle's lips pressed into a thin line, a flash of killing intent in his eyes.
As for the trouble that killing Jason Lan might bring, Ninth Royal Uncle wasn't considering it for now!
While Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena were planning how to discreetly investigate the West Side Courtyard tomorrow, Jason Lan was also seeking out Linden Ling, asking him to arrange an escape.
"In just one day, the entire imperial city was turned upside down. Ninth Royal Uncle really does wield unmatched power." Jason Lan spoke with a mix of envy and jealousy.
Linden Ling gave a noncommittal laugh, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. Still, deep down, he also wished that one day he could command the same respect and influence as Ninth Royal Uncle.
"Yet they still haven't found you." Linden Ling offered a subtle compliment. Jason Lan's eyes flashed with pride, though he responded modestly, feigning depth: "It's safe outside now, but here in your place, Ninth Royal Uncle might grow suspicious."
"You're leaving?" Linden Ling raised his brows in surprise.
Was there anywhere in Eastlyn's imperial city safer than Serena's courtyard?