The Price of Trading a City for One Man

Although Serena Feng had been secluded in the Capital Prefecture for five days and nights, she wasn’t completely cut off from the world. She knew a bit about what was happening outside—just not as much as Spring had reported.

Hearing Spring mention that some court officials were using this incident to make things difficult for Ninth Royal Uncle, Serena wasn’t surprised at all. Power struggles in the bureaucracy never end—fortune favors the bold, and there are always those willing to risk everything for ambition.

Even if Nolan Dongling replaced a batch of officials, another would soon rise. A bloody purge could force them to behave for a while, but given time, they’d start scheming again.

There are only so many seats at the top. If you want to climb higher, you have to push others down. Faced with huge rewards, very few can stay truly rational.

Serena trusted that Nolan Dongling could handle these people; she wasn’t worried about him losing power. In this world, real authority comes from force—Nolan has troops and loyal men. A few loud-mouthed scholars can’t shake him in the slightest.

She stopped at the courtyard gate, and Spring fell silent at just the right moment. Serena didn’t press further, instead turning to say, "Sort out the news from Tong Jue and Xia Wan. I want to see it when I wake up."

"Yes, ma’am," Spring replied, dropping to one knee.

"Everything else can wait until I’ve rested," Serena said, exhausted, gesturing for Spring to leave. Spring had barely taken two steps when Snow Wolf’s voice rang out. She stopped immediately, waiting nearby...

Snow Wolf had stayed by Serena Feng’s side at the Capital Prefecture for five days and nights. Even with meat at every meal, he’d still gotten thinner. Spotting Serena and Feng Jin from afar, Snow Wolf let out an excited howl, his bright red wolf eyes brimming with joy.

A flash of white—Snow Wolf shot over to Serena, waving his sharp claws at her and Feng Jin.

This was a trick Snow Wolf had learned from Dou Dou a while back, but he’d never had the chance to use it—until today.

"Pfft..." Serena was used to it, but Spring couldn’t help laughing. This wolf was getting more and more human by the day.

"Awooo..." Snow Wolf bared his teeth at Spring: How dare you laugh at Lord Wolf? Tired of living, are you?

Spring realized her slip and quickly nodded in apology. Only then did Snow Wolf retract his fangs and start flattering Serena again: I’m so tired, so tired. If you’re going to sleep, how can you leave me out? I want to sleep too. I want to join you.

Snow Wolf’s big eyes were full of pleading. Serena found herself actually understanding what he meant, gazed up at the sky, then flatly refused: "No way."

No matter how clever Snow Wolf was, he was still a wolf—and wolves shed fur. Little Feng Jin was sleeping with her tonight. If he inhaled wolf fur and it blocked his airway, that wouldn’t be a joke.

"Awooo!" Snow Wolf protested loudly, stomping his feet in anger: Discrimination! Total discrimination against wolves! Why shouldn’t he be allowed on the bed? He could sleep there too!

Serena refused to budge. Girl and wolf faced off at the courtyard gate. Spring quietly picked a spot with a good view, where she wouldn’t be noticed, and settled in to watch the show.

She watched, curious to see who would win—Serena or Snow Wolf.

But as she watched, Spring realized something was off. Glancing back, she discovered the Eighteen Riders were all crowded behind her, watching the drama too...

These bored men, honestly.

Serena and Snow Wolf were both stubborn—neither willing to back down. But this stalemate couldn’t last forever. Not to mention Serena, even Snow Wolf was exhausted after so many days. In the end, girl and wolf each retreated half a step: Serena allowed Snow Wolf to sleep inside, but not on the bed—only on the floor.

Snow Wolf felt shortchanged, but he knew you can’t become a fat wolf in one bite. Reluctantly, he compromised.

Finally, she could sleep. She was dead tired. That was Serena’s heartfelt thought.

Finally, the show was over. Not nearly long enough—Spring and the Eighteen Riders thought it would be even better if Ninth Royal Uncle joined in. Their wish was about to come true.

When Nolan Dongling heard Serena had returned to Phoenixfield Manor, he finished his urgent business and headed straight there. Knowing Serena was asleep, he didn’t have her woken up, but went directly to her bedroom. One look, and Nolan’s face turned dark.

Snow Wolf was alert—the moment Nolan appeared, he noticed. He bared his fierce fangs, but when he saw it was Nolan, Snow Wolf gave a flattering grin and went back to sleep...

Ignored again.

But that wasn’t the point—the real issue was: what was with this girl and wolf taking up his spot?

Snow Wolf was fine, sleeping on the floor—call it guarding Serena. But that toothless little kid on the bed?

Curled up in Serena’s arms was fine, but those stubby little legs—how did they end up draped across her stomach? Okay... fine. But what about those chubby little hands? One was actually resting on Serena’s chest!

Nolan Dongling felt like his territory was being invaded. A chill filled the air—Serena shivered in her sleep, thinking she’d kicked off the blanket. Half-awake, she pulled it over herself and Feng Jin, wrapping them up even tighter.

Snow Wolf got cold too. His fur bristled as he looked at Nolan, bewildered: What’s going on here?

He couldn’t do anything about Feng Jin, but Nolan could still deal with Snow Wolf. One icy glare—Snow Wolf shivered, crawled up nervously, and flashed his fangs: Mess with me and I’ll bite you.

Nolan narrowed his eyes. Snow Wolf quivered, hesitating about whether to fight back. After thinking it over, he decided to give up, drooping his head and standing off to the side, pretending to be well-behaved.

Snow Wolf would never admit he was scared of Nolan—he just didn’t want to bite the hand that feeds him. During those days at the Capital Prefecture, Serena was so busy she barely ate, let alone fed him. Nolan was the one who kept him fed, so it’d be pretty un-wolf-like to eat and then turn his back on the guy.

That’s right. That’s exactly it.

Snow Wolf nodded vigorously, proud of his noble wolf character. So when Nolan gave him a look that said ‘get out,’ Snow Wolf hesitated, then rolled himself right out the door. For such a big guy, he didn’t make a sound—truly impressive.

Snow Wolf was easy to deal with, but what about Feng Jin?

Nolan tried several times, but couldn’t toss out that toothless little kid without waking Serena.

Nolan stood at the bedside for ages, glaring, but Feng Jin didn’t react at all. In the end, Nolan had to compromise—he took off his outer robe, wrapped both Serena and Feng Jin in his arms, and as he drifted off to sleep, a thought crossed his mind: If they ever had a child, would that kid be like Feng Jin, clinging to Serena all day and fighting him for her attention?

Hmm, it’s entirely possible. That possibility had to be nipped in the bud. From now on, he and Serena couldn’t have too many kids—and any they did have would be fed by a wet nurse, so none of them could monopolize Serena’s time.

Nolan decided he’d write this down as an important rule and enforce it strictly. There was no way he’d let those little troublemakers steal his wife from him...

While Nolan, Serena, and Feng Jin slept soundly together as a family of three, over in Liancheng, not a single person could sleep. Staring at the letter from Nolan, the city’s top leaders looked grim, silent and tense...

This time, they’d really offended Nolan badly—and with that, he’d lost all interest in Liancheng.

Lord Liancheng looked every bit his age, his hand shaking as he gripped the letter. "For the sake of one person, we’ve made Nolan lose faith in us. Now do we really have to trade the whole city for him?"

He was loyal to the Former Dynasty, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t think for himself. Young Lord Jingyang was no match for Nolan at all, yet he’d still overestimated himself and went looking for trouble—truly foolish beyond belief...