Thanks, Small Forbearance and Great Strategy

Her home had been destroyed once again.

The last time, it was Liam Li who wrecked her home—he was blown to pieces by her own hand. This time...

Serena closed her eyes, suppressing the sting in her nose. On the way, she occasionally ran into a few servants, their faces streaked with tears. As soon as they saw Serena, they rushed over and dropped to their knees, choking back sobs.

"Miss, you're finally out."

Now that Serena had come out, they had someone to rely on, and their fear melted away.

"Get up. Go do what you need to do." Serena didn't bother with comforting words. Her steps grew more resolute, her eyes even brighter.

Even after a whole day and night without sleep, the cold gleam in her eyes couldn't be hidden...

From afar, Serena spotted the Crown Prince chatting and laughing with Prince Titus of Lyndaria. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes—the Crown Prince felt very different today.

But no matter how different he was, it had nothing to do with her. Serena quickly collected herself, hid her astonishment, stepped into the hall, and knelt in formal greeting: "Serena greets Your Highness the Crown Prince—may you live a thousand years."

Serena’s movements were swift and crisp. The Crown Prince knew she was doing it on purpose, but said nothing. He was no longer the cautious man he’d been yesterday. Now, he didn’t bother guessing what anyone thought or cared what they did—as long as he was happy, that was enough.

"You may dispense with formalities!" the Crown Prince said, waving his hand.

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Serena didn’t stand on ceremony and rose to her feet. As she did, she bowed again: "The great kindness you have shown Feng Manor, I will remember always. If Your Highness ever needs my skills, I will not refuse."

If it were any other day, the Crown Prince would have accepted her thanks without hesitation. But today, he had no interest in scheming, no desire to win anyone over, and certainly no intention of using Serena to curry favor with Ninth Royal Uncle. He waved his hand indifferently: "No need to thank me. I was only acting on someone else's behalf. If you want to thank someone, thank Ninth Royal Uncle."

"If I must thank Ninth Royal Uncle, then I must also thank Your Highness. Without your help, Feng Manor would not have survived today." Everyone had seen the devastation—if the Crown Prince hadn't arrived in time, Serena was certain Adrian Dongling would have torn the place apart.

As a prince, Adrian Dongling had both the right and the power to destroy Feng Manor.

"Speaking of thanks, I should thank you as well. What happened at Feng Manor was just a minor effort on my part." The Crown Prince spoke the truth—if not for today, he would have died as the same weak, humiliated heir.

Seeing Serena about to speak again, the Crown Prince waved her off: "Enough. Let’s not go back and forth with thanks. What happened today may have occurred at Feng Manor, but we both know it was an unjust disaster. Since you’re out now, I return control of Feng Manor to you. As for Adrian, Evan, Jason, and the Walker clan, I’ll take them away. Adrian is a prince—no matter what he’s done, as long as the imperial family stands behind him, he’ll be fine. Handle the rest yourself."

The Crown Prince rose and signaled his guards to escort Adrian and the others out, removing their bonds and restoring their princely dignity.

The princes, usually so proud, were now led away like prisoners, their faces dark with humiliation. If anyone were to suffer for this, it would be the staff of Feng Manor, but the Crown Prince had no intention of letting that happen.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Serena understood perfectly, and that was why she was truly grateful to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince truly was different now—he no longer schemed at every turn. If he left Adrian in Feng Manor, even if Serena could swallow her anger, Adrian would never let her off.

The Crown Prince smiled but didn’t respond, clearly unwilling to discuss further. As he was leaving, he asked Serena, "By the way, do you have anything you want me to pass on to Adrian?"

After what happened to Feng Manor, Serena was not one to let things slide. The Crown Prince's reminder was clear: no matter what, Adrian was still a prince, and going head-to-head with him would bring only trouble.

Serena hadn’t planned on saying anything, but since the Crown Prince asked, she put on a sincere face: "Please ask His Highness Adrian to accept my deepest gratitude for sweeping away the old and ushering in the new at Feng Manor. Everyone here will remember his kindness."

If you ignore what Adrian actually did, Serena’s words weren’t wrong at all.

The Crown Prince smiled, surrounded by his guards, and headed out of Feng Manor. Serena saw him off but didn’t spot Adrian and his entourage—they must have already been ‘invited’ onto the carriage.

Serena didn’t dwell on it. She turned and went back inside. Butler Wu rushed over: "Miss, except for the ancestral hall and the wooden cabins, every courtyard has been smashed. Not a single usable item remains, and all your medicines have been shattered."

"All the banknotes have been torn up and can’t be exchanged. Other than some loose silver, there’s nothing left. Everything usable in the manor was sent over by Young Master Su—I’ve registered it all," Butler Wu continued.

"I understand. Handle these matters as you see fit. If you need silver, send someone to borrow from the Su family’s bank—use Feng Manor’s land deeds as collateral. Once the silver arrives, give every servant one hundred taels and every guard two hundred taels as my token of appreciation," Serena instructed as she walked.

The servants of Feng Manor stood up to the Bloodcloak Guard, defending the ancestral hall without fear of death. Of course Serena would reward them—and reward them heavily—so that their loyalty would never be forgotten.

"Understood, Miss," Butler Wu choked out, his voice thick with emotion.

Because of Serena’s words, Butler Wu felt all his hardships today were worth it. A hundred taels was a lot, but what mattered more was Serena’s recognition of their loyalty.

Serena didn’t say anything more—she trusted Butler Wu to handle things. Entering the main hall, she didn’t see Vincent Su and asked, "Where’s Young Master Su? Did he leave any message?"

Serena sat down in the hall and took the tea offered by Jada Tang. It wasn’t hot, so she drank it all in one go.

"Young Master Su was injured, but after seeing Feng Manor stabilized, he left first. He asked that you remain calm and endure this year; whether it’s the Walker clan or the imperial house, they’ll have to give you an explanation for today," Butler Wu reported.

Despite her home’s destruction, Serena neither screamed for Adrian’s head nor cursed the heavens. She simply pulled herself together and handled the aftermath.

This was the kind of strength that made people ache for her—Serena was heartbreakingly strong.