Farewell, Why Isn’t Ninth Royal Uncle Angry

Westlyn is anything but stable these days. The emperor is aging, the crown prince wields ever more power, and the Princess Royal is running wild. Officials split into factions, forming cliques—today you join me, tomorrow I join you. Every few days, some official gets into trouble, and it's not rare to see criminals beheaded right outside the market gates.

It’s not just the officials who feel uneasy—even the common folk living in the capital are constantly on edge. Add to that the wars and indemnities of recent years, and Westlyn’s harsh taxes have driven people so far they’re nearly selling their sons and daughters.

Plenty of radicals in Westlyn blame their current poverty on Eastlyn, harboring deep prejudice against Eastlyners. For Serena to go to Westlyn—while it won’t be impossible, she certainly won’t be welcomed with open arms.

“The Cui Matriarch has passed away, so Holden Cui must observe one year of mourning, while his uncles have to keep three years of heavy mourning. For Holden, it’s both a burden and an opportunity. While you’re in Westlyn, Holden will likely be too busy to look after you—so be careful in everything. If you run into anything you can’t handle, go to Titus. I’ll write him a letter—whatever it is, he’ll help you, and you don’t need to hold back. Do whatever you want.” Prince Nolan deliberately emphasized the words “whatever it is,” making it clear he didn’t want Serena to suffer any injustice in Westlyn.

After a moment’s thought, Prince Nolan added, “If it’s something Titus can’t handle in public, then go to the Commander of the Brocade Guard in Westlyn—he’s my man.”

This is Prince Nolan’s deepest chess piece in Westlyn, aside from Master Ian Reed.

“Commander of the Brocade Guard? Westlyn’s intelligence chief?” Serena couldn’t help her shock—the news was too staggering.

Serena knew perfectly well how vital intelligence is to a battle, or even to a whole nation. Was Prince Nolan really holding the entire Westlyn intelligence network in his hands? What could Westlyn possibly keep from him?

“That’s right.” Prince Nolan saw Serena’s astonishment and calmly explained, “It’s not as exaggerated as you think. I never use him for routine intelligence in Westlyn—good steel belongs on the blade’s edge. His value isn’t in collecting information.”

Earning the Westlyn emperor’s trust means that, up to now, he hasn’t done anything to harm Westlyn.

“Using someone like that just to gather intelligence would be a waste.” Sometimes, a single piece of wrong information is enough to destroy a nation. Prince Nolan’s chess piece is buried deep—if he ever betrays, it will be to strike Westlyn with a thunderbolt.

All loyalty is leveraged for the final moment of betrayal. These words aren’t just a warning—they’re a tactic, and Serena took the lesson to heart.

“When the time comes, I’ll go to him.” Serena understood that Prince Nolan only told her about this man so she’d have a lifeline at the brink of life and death.

“Mm.”

Next, Prince Nolan told Serena about several strongholds he had in Westlyn, so if she needed anything—intelligence, assassination, whatever—those people could help her.

Of course, Serena might not need them, but Prince Nolan was just being cautious. After all, he wouldn’t be by Serena’s side in Westlyn, and if something happened to her there, he might not even hear about it.

Prince Nolan has operated in Westlyn for years; his influence there far outstrips Serena’s fledgling network. Serena listened intently, missing no detail.

Some of those strongholds Serena had already visited with Prince Nolan on her last trip to Westlyn, so she wasn’t unfamiliar—they were much easier to recall.

With these connections, as long as Serena isn’t plotting rebellion, she can always get out of Westlyn alive.

To keep one last escape route, Prince Nolan didn’t mention his relationship with Master Ian Reed. Master Ian is truly Nolan’s trump card in Westlyn.

When even the Commander of the Brocade Guard can’t settle things, that’s when Master Ian Reed’s importance truly shows.

With enough backing from Prince Nolan, Serena had no fear at all about her journey to Westlyn. After saying goodbye to Prince Nolan, she set out at dawn the next day with the Eighteen Riders.

She really does hate farewells.

On the city wall, William Wang Jinling stood tall in his smoke-blue robe, facing the wind, quietly watching ahead, his eyes following that black-clad figure as she rode away…

The shadow grew more and more distant, shrinking to a tiny dot, until nothing could be seen. Only then did William lower his gaze: "Go early, come back early."

He turned away gracefully, his robe swirling in a gorgeous arc around his feet, rising and falling with each step…

“The Grand Heir really does care.” Storm Cloud Bu had been sent out on an errand by Prince Nolan last night, and only returned this morning. Before even entering the city, he saw the scene and couldn’t help a sympathetic smile.

He and William Wang Jinling—how alike they were.

Both of them had fallen for Prince Nolan’s woman.

“Young master, someone’s watching us.” One of William’s guards stepped forward and whispered in his ear.

William glanced up, and his guard immediately pointed in a direction. Following the gesture, William saw Storm Cloud Bu leaning against a wall.

“Don’t worry about it.” The distance was too great for William to make out Storm Cloud Bu’s face, but he was sure the man meant no harm.

William nodded at Storm Cloud Bu, then walked off without a second thought, not taking him seriously at all.

Being ignored so naturally, Storm Cloud Bu couldn’t even muster any anger—he just stared blankly at William’s carriage.

"I used to think only Prince Nolan could get away with being so arrogant and have it treated as normal. Turns out the Wang clan’s Grand Heir has the same knack." Storm Cloud Bu stayed leaning against the wall, and after a while, checked that his abdominal wound wasn’t bleeding before heading toward Sutton Manor.

He’d actually planned to hitch a ride just now…

After reporting last night’s events to Prince Nolan, Storm Cloud Bu couldn’t help adding, “When I came into the city, I saw the Wang clan’s Grand Heir sending Serena off.”

Prince Nolan didn’t respond…

“Before Serena left, she went up and hugged the Wang clan’s Grand Heir—I saw it with my own eyes.” Storm Cloud Bu added fuel to the fire, hoping to provoke Prince Nolan.

Prince Nolan still showed no reaction.

Serena even promised the Grand Heir that when she returned, they’d go traveling together. To make it all sound real, Storm Cloud Bu gestured animatedly, recreating the scene so vividly that even Vincent Su looked displeased.

For Serena to be so intimate with the Grand Heir at the city gate—where did that leave Prince Nolan?

“You didn’t see it—when the Grand Heir and Serena stood together, they looked perfectly matched. If he weren’t so tied up, the Grand Heir would’ve definitely gone with Serena to Westlyn; his eyes and heart were all on her.” Storm Cloud Bu finished painting the scene of longing at the city gate, sneaking glances at Prince Nolan, growing more baffled by the moment.

Even Vincent Su was unhappy—so why wasn’t Prince Nolan reacting at all?

“Nolan, are you even listening?” Storm Cloud Bu looked at him, full of suspicion.

Was his voice too soft, or was he just telling the story wrong?

Otherwise, how could Prince Nolan not be angry?