Entering the Capital and the First Signs of a Prosperous Age

After more than half a month of debate, the peace faction finally prevailed.

It’s not that the people of Eastlyn don’t want to fight—the truth is, the country simply cannot afford it. Anyone not blinded by hot-blooded patriotism knows full well that Eastlyn is in no shape to attack Northlyn right now.

The final outcome was just as Prince Nolan wanted: he put on a show of democracy, followed popular will, adopted the ministers’ advice, and let Northlyn send envoys to Eastlyn for peace talks.

“He’s showing more and more of an enlightened ruler’s bearing.” This was Felix Fuller’s private comment to William Wang about Prince Nolan.

Eastlyn is gradually settling into peace. Though Prince Nolan remains as domineering as ever, he shows none of it on the surface; in fact, even the newly appointed officials believe he is a rare enlightened ruler who values the ministers’ opinions.

Take his stance toward Northlyn, for example: he clearly wanted peace, but in the end, he made everyone think it was the ministers’ persuasion that changed the mind of this warlike emperor and led him to negotiate for the sake of Eastlyn’s people.

With Eastlyn and Northlyn at truce, both countries entered a temporary period of calm. Once Northlyn’s envoys arrived in the Capital and the peace documents were settled with Eastlyn’s officials, Prince Nolan issued an edict recalling Victor Phoenixfield to the Capital.

Before Victor Phoenixfield could reach the Capital, Prince Nolan’s desk received a memorial from Dorian Owen requesting permission to return.

“Dorian Owen wrote this memorial?” The whole thing was overflowing with flowery praise—completely unlike Dorian’s usual style.

“What do you think?” Prince Nolan arched his brow, looking utterly unconcerned.

The handwriting was Dorian’s, but he definitely doesn’t have that kind of literary talent—most importantly, he’d never praise Prince Nolan like that.

“He must’ve copied it out. There’s no way he could write this himself.” Serena Feng couldn’t bring herself to pretend otherwise; she knew Dorian’s temperament far too well.

“But a general only needs to fight well and be literate enough not to be cheated—there are always staff officers to write memorials. Not every general has to end up like General Warren Yu, shifting into a civil post.” After nearly two years without seeing Dorian, Serena really missed him. If he could come back, it would be a good thing.

“When there’s no war to fight, generals have nowhere to use their skills. In a flourishing age, civil officials shine; in troubled times, it’s the generals who matter. The world won’t stay chaotic for long.” In other words, Dorian can’t spend his whole life at war. When there’s no fighting, a general’s power shrinks.

Dorian is most alive when leading troops and charging across the battlefield—I don’t want him to become another General Warren Yu.” Serena smiled and gently refused Prince Nolan’s suggestion.

Dorian and General Warren Yu are different. Warren Yu carries too much responsibility; if he falls, his trusted aides and household will suffer as well. Whether he likes it or not, he has to protect his own power.

Dorian doesn’t have to bear all that. He has the Phoenixfield Clan and the Assassin Alliance elders behind him. All he needs to do is enjoy life and do what he’s meant to do.

Besides, with Dorian’s personality, if he ever became an official, I’d end up cleaning up his messes every single day. Honestly, even Ezra Phoenixfield doesn’t like working in the Ministry of War—he asked me when he first took the job if he could skip it.

Phoenixfield Clan people aren’t suited to being officials. Trap them in the bureaucracy and you just wear down their brilliance. Ezra Phoenixfield had no choice—staying in the clan was even worse, so tossing him into officialdom might at least toughen his character.

Serena Feng politely declined for Dorian, so Prince Nolan didn’t push it. Since Serena wanted to see Dorian, Prince Nolan naturally obliged and summoned him back.

If Dorian were summoned back alone, it would seem far too special. So Prince Nolan simply issued an edict recalling Colin Si, Dominic Zhai, and Dorian Owen—all under the pretext of reporting their service—so they could spend the New Year in the Capital.

As soon as Prince Nolan’s edict went out, the Capital was abuzz. The Phoenixfield Clan was thrilled, but it was the Assassin Alliance elders who were most excited—on hearing Dorian was coming back, they packed up, handed the Alliance over to Nolan’s people, and rushed to the Capital themselves.

Fine, they admitted it—they were just using Dorian’s recall as an excuse to come see the Young Mistress. She’d been born for some time now, but they hadn’t met her yet.

Elder Zhai and Marshal Steele got the news and immediately packed up their families to return to the Capital, ready to welcome their sons home and have a proper family reunion.

“How many years has it been since I’ve had a peaceful New Year?” Marshal Steele wiped away tears, thinking of all the years spent in fear. Now, everything felt like a dream.

So many Si men had died on the battlefield. If Colin hadn’t dared to gamble, the Si clan would never have survived to see this day. Everyone knows the current emperor is no gentle soul—when he acts, it’s utter annihilation.

“Dominic’s not young anymore—it’s time to find him a wife. Blades don’t care who they strike; better secure an heir for the Zhai family sooner rather than later.” Elder Zhai was both proud of his grandson and worried for him.

Still, compared to before, things were much better now. At least his grandson’s illness was cured, so the Zhai family wouldn’t die out.

“It’s all thanks to Her Majesty the Empress.” Marshal Steele thought of Colin’s illness and was full of gratitude. The royal family has its share of filth, and the Si clan was lucky; without Serena Feng, they might have survived, but the Zhai family would truly have ended.

To cut off a family’s descendants—now that’s a fate worse than death.

Elder Zhai and Marshal Steele were deeply grateful to Serena Feng. They knew Dominic and Colin’s return was thanks to her, so they decided to enter the palace the next day to thank her in person.

Serena Feng generally only met with court ladies in the harem, rarely with officials. But since Elder Zhai and Marshal Steele were both elderly, there was nothing to avoid, and when they requested an audience, Serena came out to greet them herself.

“We pay our respects to Her Majesty the Empress…” The two tried to kneel as soon as Serena appeared, but she was quicker, stepping forward to support them with a smile: “Are you trying to rob me of my blessings?”

Serena was dressed in plain clothes, never acting like an Empress. In fact, except for major ceremonies, she always wore casual attire in the palace, never the heavy Empress’s phoenix robes.

After all, she was the only woman in the palace—there was no need to dress up in regal splendor every day, waiting for Prince Nolan’s concubines to pay their respects.

“Your Majesty, the rites must not be neglected.” Elder Zhai and Marshal Steele insisted, but Serena was even more stubborn, having the eunuchs help them into the hall instead.

“Saying that among family just makes things awkward. You never made me kneel before, so why start now?” Serena treated them just as she always had, never putting on airs.

Seeing Serena’s sincerity, Elder Zhai and Marshal Steele stopped insisting. Elder Zhai even clapped her on the back, laughing, “Good, good, I knew I wasn’t wrong about you. You’re one of the good ones.”

To rise from orphan to high rank is no easy feat, but even harder is to keep your true heart at the top—to stay humble and calm, a quality few possess.

“Eastlyn is blessed to have you, and the Emperor is even luckier to have you as his wife.” Tears shimmered in Elder Zhai’s eyes…

He’d watched Prince Nolan grow up and had worried about him for years. Now, at last, he could rest easy. With a wife and son, Prince Nolan would never become a tyrant!