"Creak, creak..." Reid Yale shivered from the cold, his teeth chattering. "N-Ninth Royal Uncle, w-what are you going to do?"
Reid tried to pull the quilt over himself to get warm, only to find it soaked through, icy to the touch. He wanted to hug himself for warmth, but his left arm was powerless, so he could only wrap himself with one hand, rubbing his skin in hopes of driving away the cold.
Prince Terrence Valen couldn't bear to watch and was about to take off his coat, but Ninth Royal Uncle was already prepared. With a snap of his fingers, a guard stepped forward, carrying a thick cotton coat and draped it over Reid.
Reid originally wanted to throw it off out of pride, but as soon as the coat was on him, he couldn't bear to part with it. He quickly pulled it tight, clinging to its warmth, though the humiliation burned inside.
This was something given by Ninth Royal Uncle—he didn't want it, but the situation left him no room for pride. Reid pressed his lips together, swallowing the bitter taste of humiliation in silence.
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Prince Terrence Valen was deeply impressed; Ninth Royal Uncle's actions were flawless, giving full respect on the surface while leaving no opening for protest—making one suffer a great loss yet unable to complain.
Reid had it rough today, and Terrence could do nothing to help him now. All he could hope for was that the Eastlyn Emperor would get word and come quickly.
Right now, the only person who can rein in Ninth Royal Uncle is the Eastlyn Emperor!
After a stick of incense, Reid finally recovered enough to speak. "Ninth Royal Uncle, don't go too far. Night City isn't so easily bullied. If something happens to me, Eastlyn won't get away unscathed."
As the only son of Night City's Lord, if he dies, his father will never let the matter rest.
"Rest assured, Young City Lord. With this prince here, you'll return to Night City safe and sound. I'm not unreasonable. Young City Lord, you asked for an account, and I've already given one. What, are you dissatisfied?"
Take things too seriously and you lose.
Reid was so furious he lost all reason, and he was no match for Ninth Royal Uncle.
"An account? You call this an account—just a pile of snake remains? How is that any kind of explanation? Ninth Royal Uncle, don't go too far. Do you think Night City is so easily bullied?" Reid squeezed his eyes shut, unable to look at the snake carcass—if he fainted again, he'd lose all face.
A dignified man, brought down by a dead snake—twice.
"Whether Night City is easily bullied is up to you, Young City Lord. This snake is the culprit that hurt you, so I've handed it over for you to take out your anger. Isn't that enough?
Of course, if you're still dissatisfied, that's fine. Today, I'll make sure you get a satisfactory answer. Rest assured, I've ordered the Imperial Menagerie Grounds sealed and will investigate everyone inside. You'll be satisfied in the end." If you're not satisfied, we'll wait until you are.
Ninth Royal Uncle smiled faintly, glancing at Prince Terrence Valen—a warning in his eyes. How could he not know what Terrence was thinking?
Wait for the Emperor to come? That depends on whether he gets word from the Imperial Menagerie—and whether he has time to come. Today, the Emperor will be very busy, maybe too busy even to sleep tonight.
If you want to wait for the Emperor, then wait! Today, everyone in the Imperial Menagerie Grounds will stay here with him—no food, no sleep, because he won't allow it.
Reid's face was ghastly pale, lips drained of color, looking almost dead. Hearing Ninth Royal Uncle's words, his eyes widened in shock. After a long pause, he roared, "Ninth Royal Uncle, I said I won't pursue it! You don't need to investigate! I won't trouble Eastlyn over this. Now, I want to leave the palace!"
He threw off the quilt and tried to get out of bed, but as soon as his feet touched the floor, his legs gave way. If Prince Terrence hadn't caught him in time, he would have fallen right into the pile of snake remains.
"Reid, you..." Prince Terrence was startled by the burning heat radiating from Reid's body as soon as he touched him.
Reid was burning up all over—he had a fever.
"I'm fine." Reid gritted his teeth and fell back onto the bed, his left arm limp at his side, the wound faintly turning black. Only Ninth Royal Uncle noticed, but he'd sooner die than warn Reid.
He only thought Reid hadn't suffered enough yet.
"Your whole body is burning up. If this keeps up, even if you don't die, you'll be left a fool." Prince Terrence said this to Reid, but it was meant for Ninth Royal Uncle.
Do whatever you want to Reid, but if he dies, that's trouble. Night City's Lord only has one son; Terrence trusted Ninth Royal Uncle knew the limits.
Reid wanted to stay strong, but Terrence's words made him hesitate. He'd rather die than become a fool. Reid lay back on the icy bed, shivering in silence, looking utterly miserable.
Ninth Royal Uncle was, in his own way, considerate. Without waiting for Reid to speak, he took the initiative: "Miss Feng isn't feeling well—go and invite her over."
"Yes, sir."
"I don't—" Reid burst out, shaking off Prince Terrence, but Terrence cut him off: "Reid, a moment's patience avoids a hundred days of trouble. You're a grown man—why quarrel with a girl who's just come of age?"
Prince Terrence deliberately emphasized Serena Feng's youth, urging Reid not to stoop to arguing with a young girl.
"I'll endure." Reid bit his lips until they bled, his eyes unable to hide the humiliation.
For the first time in his life, he truly understood humiliation—again and again, shamed by others, all thanks to Ninth Royal Uncle. Reid's heart was full of hatred as he glared at him.
Ninth Royal Uncle didn't care in the slightest. He and Reid were already enemies; whether Reid hated him or not meant nothing. Did he really think his hatred mattered?
Soon, Serena Feng arrived—her clothes still stained with blood, hair tangled around her neck, sweat beads on her forehead. At first glance she looked a mess, far from beautiful, but if you looked closely, her eyes shone startlingly bright; their clarity transformed her entire presence.
"Greetings, Ninth Royal Uncle. Greetings, Your Highnesses." Serena Feng did not act arrogant just because she had Nolan's support; she remained composed, neither servile nor defiant, and bore no visible grudge over earlier humiliations.
Whatever Serena Feng felt inside, on the surface she left no flaw for anyone to seize upon. Her bearing and breadth of mind surpassed most men.
"You may rise." Ninth Royal Uncle made a grand show of standing up for Serena Feng—even sealing the Imperial Menagerie Grounds on his own authority, bypassing the Emperor—yet he kept his public demeanor with her strictly proper.
"Serena, Young City Lord isn't feeling well. Take a look at him."
Once again, the situation was baffling. Prince Terrence felt as if he were peering through mist at a flower—he couldn't make sense of the relationship between Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena Feng.
"Yes, sir." Serena Feng didn't make things difficult or complain; she knew that in this world, there was nothing Ninth Royal Uncle didn't know, only things he didn't care to know.
Ninth Royal Uncle had his reasons for everything he did. Serena didn't need to understand them—just cooperate for now. Suffer a small loss, gain a bigger advantage.
"By the way, Young City Lord has a noble status—be careful with your medicine." Ninth Royal Uncle seemed to remember suddenly, adding a pointed reminder.
That one sentence carried a world of meaning...