"Serena." The eunuch messenger straightened his posture, face severe: "The Taishang Emperor wants you to reveal the whereabouts of Divine Doctor Guile and the Master of Mystic Healer Valley. You should know very well—whoever caused the Taishang Emperor to end up like this, it must have been someone’s doing."
She knew the Emperor wasn’t at ease. This kind of talk was bound to be misunderstood.
A cold smile curled at Serena’s lips as she retorted, "Is the Taishang Emperor this ill because someone harmed him?"
"Serena, let’s not play games—everyone knows you have the Regent Prince backing you, so what are you afraid of?" The eunuch’s expression turned fierce, his gaze unconsciously flicking behind Serena.
He did it so discreetly that if Serena hadn’t been so observant, she would have missed it.
What was behind her?
Serena didn’t dare move, but her mind raced. She’d checked when she entered—the wall behind her was hung with a painting of a beauty asleep in spring, nothing unusual at first glance. But remembering the palace’s secret passages, she grew even more cautious, casting a deep look at the Taishang Emperor. His eyes remained sharp, revealing nothing.
For the moment, Serena couldn’t guess what the Taishang Emperor was up to, so she answered carefully: "Taishang Emperor, I don’t understand what you mean. Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master are people of the Jianghu. I know them, but we’re not close. I truly don’t know their whereabouts."
"You really don’t know?" The eunuch pressed again, voice harsh and arrogant, clearly trying to provoke Serena.
Serena slowly shook her head, face calm: "I truly don’t know."
Serena grew suspicious, not wanting to linger in the hall or get entangled with the eunuch. She bowed respectfully to the Taishang Emperor: "If there is nothing else, may I take my leave?"
"Serena, please wait!" The eunuch called out urgently, stopping her.
"Does the Taishang Emperor have any further instructions?" Serena asked politely, her tone even.
The eunuch steeled himself and said, "Serena, the Taishang Emperor is very concerned about the assassination attempt on you. He ordered a thorough investigation, and yesterday, some clues finally emerged."
"Thank you, Taishang Emperor." Serena showed no interest in asking further, leaving the eunuch at a loss. He finally blurted out, "Serena, the assassins who attacked you on the street were nominally Prince Jason's men, but in fact were connected to Liancastle."
"Liancastle?" Serena raised an eyebrow, a trace of puzzlement in her eyes.
Serena trusted the Taishang Emperor wouldn't try to fool her, but she couldn't figure out when she'd become enemies with Liancastle. She remembered that Lance Quinn seemed close to the people of Liancastle, but couldn't imagine why they'd go to such lengths to assassinate her.
The eunuch, thinking Serena didn't believe him, insisted, "Serena, this is absolutely true. The Taishang Emperor has no reason to deceive you."
"I understand." Serena thought, if the Taishang Emperor wanted to lie, he wouldn't use Liancastle as an excuse—there was no enmity between him and Liancastle.
"As long as Serena understands." The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "Serena, the Taishang Emperor is very concerned about the Emperor's health. Both the Taishang Emperor and the Emperor were afflicted by Gu and cured at the same time. The Taishang Emperor worries the cure may have left aftereffects—could it have harmed the Emperor?"
The eunuch's words were tactful, but it was obvious he wanted to implicate Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master, or get Serena to admit that Ninth Royal Uncle had harmed the Emperor.
Serena was no fool, nor one to lose herself in pride. She gazed at the eunuch, smiled elegantly, and said, "Rest assured, Taishang Emperor. The Emperor's health is excellent—as long as he is properly cared for, he could live to a hundred. The medicine used to draw out the Gu was personally cultivated by Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master; every herb is rare and beneficial."
Serena watched the Taishang Emperor's reaction closely. Seeing his fingers tremble, she smirked and continued, "Taishang Emperor, after the Gu was removed, your body and spirit improved thanks to Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master. All hidden ailments were cleared; your health may not match a twenty-year-old, but is not inferior to someone in their thirties or forties. So long as you live normally and do not over-indulge, living to a hundred is possible."
Serena deliberately stressed 'over-indulgence.' As expected, the Taishang Emperor's face darkened, his eyes flashed with regret and hatred, and his body convulsed again.
"Your Majesty, please—don't frighten your servant." The eunuch, seeing the Taishang Emperor's condition worsen, rushed to comfort him: "Your Majesty, don't take Serena's words seriously."
"Taishang Emperor, every word I say is true. If you doubt it, you may have the imperial physicians consult together." Serena, still not finished provoking, added, "Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master are masters of medicine and ethics, worthy of respect. They acted for your benefit, never intending..."
Serena sighed heavily, as if unable to continue, glanced at the Taishang Emperor, who was nearly breathless with rage, and said dejectedly, "Taishang Emperor, please take care of yourself. My skills are limited and I cannot share your burdens."
Without waiting for a response, Serena turned and walked out of the hall. Before leaving, she glanced at the wall behind her but saw nothing unusual.
Was she overthinking it?
Serena frowned, unwilling to dwell on it. She hadn't said anything incriminating, and at least now knew who was behind the assassination attempt.
But why was it Liancastle?
She couldn't understand—when had she become enemies with Liancastle?
Serena watched the Taishang Emperor's reaction closely. Seeing his fingers tremble, she smirked and continued, "Taishang Emperor, after the Gu was removed, your body and spirit improved thanks to Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master. All hidden ailments were cleared; your health may not match a twenty-year-old, but is not inferior to someone in their thirties or forties. So long as you live normally and do not over-indulge, living to a hundred is possible."
Serena deliberately stressed 'over-indulgence.' As expected, the Taishang Emperor's face darkened, his eyes flashed with regret and hatred, and his body convulsed again.
"Your Majesty, please—don't frighten your servant." The eunuch, seeing the Taishang Emperor's condition worsen, rushed to comfort him: "Your Majesty, don't take Serena's words seriously."
"Taishang Emperor, every word I say is true. If you doubt it, you may have the imperial physicians consult together." Serena, still not finished provoking, added, "Divine Doctor Guile and the Valley Master are masters of medicine and ethics, worthy of respect. They acted for your benefit, never intending..."
Serena sighed heavily, as if unable to continue, glanced at the Taishang Emperor, who was nearly breathless with rage, and said dejectedly, "Taishang Emperor, please take care of yourself. My skills are limited and I cannot share your burdens."
Without waiting for a response, Serena turned and walked out of the hall. Before leaving, she glanced at the wall behind her but saw nothing unusual.
Was she overthinking it?
Serena frowned, unwilling to dwell on it. She hadn't said anything incriminating, and at least now knew who was behind the assassination attempt.
But why was it Liancastle?
She couldn't understand—when had she become enemies with Liancastle?