Free and Unrestrained, the Crown Prince Is a Local Emperor

Serena Feng spoke so directly about her own fears and dissatisfaction that Prince Nolan could hardly pretend not to notice. But the path he had chosen meant that his life could never be ordinary, and both he and Serena were destined to walk through water and fire together.

Now that things had come this far, even if he wished it, there was no turning back. If he didn’t stand at the very top, death would be his only fate.

He couldn’t promise Serena a lifetime of peace. The only thing he could offer her now was to spend a few quiet days together when nothing threatened them, to enjoy rare moments of tranquility.

The Jiangnan region, with its picturesque water towns and endless famous scenic spots, was too tempting for Prince Nolan to pass up. As soon as they arrived, he sent away the guards and Dorian Owen, and took Serena out on a small boat to tour Jiangnan.

Times had changed—Jiangnan was now the fief of the former Crown Prince and Prince Colin. Prince Colin had long fortified Jiangnan into an iron bastion, so here they didn’t need to worry about the Emperor’s agents and could relax and enjoy the autumn scenery of Jiangnan in September.

Jiangnan’s beauty needed no further praise—scholars and poets had written endlessly about it. But Prince Nolan and Serena were practical people; reciting poetry on the deck was not their style.

With the crisp autumn air and pleasant temperatures, neither Prince Nolan nor Serena stayed cooped up in the cabin. Instead, they sat on the deck, admiring the views along both banks.

A small tea table sat between them, piled high with all kinds of nuts and seeds. Serena, all sweetness, nibbled on this and that, occasionally complaining about Prince Nolan’s poor ‘craftsmanship’—the walnuts or almonds he shelled didn’t look good enough and spoiled her appetite.

Prince Nolan had never realized how troublesome women could be. Even as Serena picked at him, his hands couldn’t slow down—if he did, he wouldn’t shell enough for her to eat.

“Young master and madam, your relationship is really good. You must be newlyweds, right?” The old boatman, who had originally been intimidated by Prince Nolan’s cold face, relaxed after seeing how obedient he was to Serena.

No matter how fierce a man is, if he dotes on his wife, there’s always a limit. Most such men are cold-faced but warm-hearted.

Serena just smiled without answering, but Prince Nolan responded with a quiet ‘yes.’ That made the old man even more certain, and he chuckled, “When my wife and I first got married, we were just like you two. She loved fish, and was so picky—insisted I catch them alive at dawn, said only fresh fish tasted good. And she’d only eat ones exactly eight taels in weight—not too big, or the meat was tough; not too small, or it was all bones.”

As the old man spoke of his wife’s fussiness, there was no trace of annoyance—only deep fondness and nostalgia on his face.

Serena looked at the old man with envy and asked, “Do you still catch fish for her now? Does she still insist on exactly eight taels?” Catching fish for a day or two is easy; what’s rare is doing it for a lifetime.

A small thing, if done for a lifetime, becomes a big thing. Prince Nolan could never shell walnuts for her all his life.

“Of course I do—if I’m not out on the river, I catch fish for her every day. But she knows I’m old now and my eyesight’s poor, so she doesn’t fuss anymore. Just having fish makes her happy.” The old man grinned foolishly, clearly thinking of his wife and already planning to catch fish for her when he got home…

“You two have a wonderful relationship. Auntie is truly blessed.” For a woman, even mountains of gold can’t compare to a man who will indulge her unconditionally.

“Haha, madam, you love to joke. What’s so blessed about our kind? I’m just a boatman, making a living by ferrying people. We won’t starve, but I can’t give her fine clothes and rich food. Not like you, madam—your husband is handsome and treats you well.” The old man was good with words; with just a few, he managed to praise Prince Nolan, which clearly pleased him.

“He does treat me very well right now.” Serena answered with a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

Whether she and Prince Nolan could really grow old together was still an open question.