Heart Sickness and the Price of Playing with Fire

In this era obsessed with filial piety and reputation, anyone branded as unfilial will not only be condemned behind their back, but also shunned by mainstream society, despised by the world, and even denied a place in it.

Just a few words from Titus’s imperial mother were enough to ruin everything for Titus—even the hard-won position of crown prince.

It’s natural for children to show filial piety to their parents. If your own mother accuses you of being unfilial, no one will bother to check the truth—everyone will simply blame Prince Titus of Lyndaria.

If this gets out, Prince Titus will carry the stigma of being unfilial for life. Even if he becomes Lyndaria’s emperor, it’ll be the excuse courtiers use to criticize and pick faults with him.

“Is Titus really his mother’s biological son?” Making sure she hadn’t misheard, Serena let out a sigh, feeling stifled inside.

In their past life, this mother and son must’ve been sworn enemies.

“I can confirm it—Titus is indeed the Empress’s biological son.” Prince Nolan nodded, but what amused him wasn’t that. He said, “Titus’s imperial mother ignored his objections and, together with the Princess Royal, begged the Emperor to issue a marriage edict for Titus. The imperial decree has already been given.”

“What a bizarre family.” Serena stared speechless at the sky. “They actually teamed up with outsiders to scheme against their own son. Did Titus’s mother have her head slammed by a door or something?”

Pfft... Prince Nolan couldn’t help but laugh at Serena’s words. “Maybe that’s really the case. Before the imperial decree was issued, Master Ian Reed and his clan had no idea about it. Once they received the edict, Master Ian Reed knelt outside the palace for a whole day, begging the Emperor to take back his order.”

“Didn’t that drive the Empress mad?” Titus’s mother wanted to help her beloved’s clan, but ended up making things worse.

Master Ian Reed’s clan is no match for the Cui Clan. Sending a daughter to the Eastern Palace to compete for favor with a Cui daughter is just asking to make enemies.

“Women of the inner court never see the bigger picture. All they care about is winning the future heir’s favor so their families can bask in glory—or maybe even birth a crown prince to inherit the throne.” Just like Titus’s mother, or the family of the former Lyndarian Crown Prince Terrence’s birth consort.

Prince Nolan understood what Titus’s mother was plotting. She’s now the Lyndarian Empress, and once Titus ascends the throne, given her health, she could easily live for decades. With her deep roots in the palace, it wouldn’t be hard for a girl from Master Ian Reed’s clan to bear the next crown prince.

Titus’s mother wants the next Lyndarian emperor to be born of a girl from Master Ian Reed’s clan. That way, the Reed family would instantly become imperial kin and have nothing to worry about for three generations.

You have to admit, Titus’s mother thought of everything for Master Ian Reed. Unfortunately, as an inner-palace woman, she couldn’t meet Master Ian Reed in person, couldn’t ask him whether this was what he wanted, or if he’d even accept a woman’s help…

A woman blinded by love is impossible to reason with. Serena thought about it for ages, but still couldn’t figure out Titus’s imperial mother’s logic. She just asked, “So what happened next? Did they take the side consort? Why hasn’t Holden mentioned it?”

“The Empress isn’t stupid. Of course she wouldn’t bring this up while the Cui Clan is in Lyndaria. Holden Cui hasn’t heard anything about it yet.” Prince Nolan explained, and Serena nodded, pressing on, “Did Master Ian Reed’s clan accept the decree?”

The Emperor issued the marriage edict for Prince Titus, probably because he’s worried about his own health and wants Titus to have another ally. Master Ian Reed is now Lyndaria’s prime minister and wields great power. Plus, with that history between Master Ian Reed and the Princess Royal, it’s clear they’ll never end up together. The Emperor used the marriage to draw Master Ian Reed’s clan to Titus’s side—a clever move.

“They accepted. The imperial edict is law—even if it’s wrong, it must be carried out.” The imperial authority of the royal house can’t be challenged. Besides, Master Ian Reed’s kneeling was just for show in front of the Cui Clan, not a real attempt to refuse.

“Titus is taking a side consort? He just got married.” Of course the Cui Clan would be upset—anyone would be uncomfortable with this.

Prince Nolan shook his head. “Ten years from now.”

“You mean Titus will only marry a girl from Master Ian Reed’s clan ten years later?” Serena blinked, clearly impressed.

That’s a clever move.

“Yes.” That way, everyone’s satisfied. Master Ian Reed is pleased—a girl from his family gets into the palace without clashing with the Cui Clan. The only one unhappy is the Empress, but at this point, no one cares what she thinks.

“Titus’s mother has a heart-sickness.” She realized she hadn’t helped her beloved at all—instead, she’d brought trouble to his family. Furious and heartbroken, she fainted on the spot.

When the Empress fell gravely ill, neither the Emperor nor her birth family showed any concern. If Titus weren’t the crown prince, the Emperor would have deposed her long ago. As for her birth family, they’re the ones hoping most for her death.

With the Empress alive, not only did she fail to bring her family closer to Titus, she actually made things worse. If this keeps up, once Titus ascends the throne, there’s no way he’ll reinstate his mother’s clan.

Serena shrugged, showing she understood. She had no intention of getting involved in Lyndaria’s mess, or even watching the drama. Both the Lyndarian Empress and Princess Royal were crazier than each other—she was better off staying far away.

“You just got back from the palace and haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll have the servants bring food. You should eat and get some rest—your eyes are bloodshot.” Serena looked at Prince Nolan with concern, gently tracing her finger around his eyes.

“Mm. Bath first.” Prince Nolan was indeed hungry, but seeing Serena uninterested in talking about the Cui Clan, he let it go for now—there was still plenty of time till dawn…

Serena had no idea what Prince Nolan was thinking—she just felt lucky to have dodged trouble and cheerfully went to prepare hot water and food for him.

The water was ready quickly. Serena waved the servants away and helped Prince Nolan undress, her fingers gliding over his lean back, making him shiver.

Serena let out a mischievous laugh, flicking her finger at Prince Nolan’s waist. He froze, standing stock-still as his breathing grew heavier. Helpless, Prince Nolan could only warn, “Serena, if you play with fire, you’ll have to put it out.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Serena denied it, quickly pulling her hand back and raising both hands in innocence.

Prince Nolan turned to look at Serena, saying nothing, then stripped off his underclothes and stepped naked into the bath.

With all that bare skin in front of her, Serena couldn’t help but swallow, blushing furiously as she stood rooted to the spot.

She hadn’t expected Prince Nolan to be bolder than her—he just stripped bare in front of her! Oh… she was definitely being teased.

Smack—a white towel landed on Serena’s head. Before she could react, she heard Prince Nolan’s voice: “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and scrub my back.”

“Huh? Scrub your back?” Serena froze. Prince Nolan had always bathed and scrubbed her back—she’d never done it for him before.

Prince Nolan didn’t give Serena a chance to refuse, adding, “Come here.”

“Oh, oh, coming…” Serena’s mind flashed back to the scene she’d just witnessed—she almost got a nosebleed.

Way, way, way… too stimulating. If she saw this kind of scene a few more times, she’d probably die young.

All this blood rushing to her head—if it happened too often, it’d be bad for her health…