Jealousy and a Clever Plan to Provoke Ninth Royal Uncle

Once he stepped outside, William Wang Jinling realized just how foolish he'd been. His behavior just now was so silly, it was completely unlike him...

No wonder Serena Feng had laughed at him—he really had made a spectacle of himself. Luckily, no outsiders saw it; otherwise, they’d have thought they were hallucinating.

William chuckled at himself. But none of that could ruin his good mood—the baby’s kick just now felt like it landed right on his heart, leaving him trembling all over.

For the first time, he felt how miraculous life could be. He was sure that if he told Ninth Royal Uncle, Nolan Dongling, about this, Nolan would be so jealous he'd cough up blood.

He’d greeted the baby before even the actual father—what could be happier than that? Determined to provoke Nolan a little, William shamelessly decided to head into the palace and show off his happiness.

William straightened his clothes and said calmly to the driver, "To the palace."

Uh... Hadn’t he just left the palace? He’d even told Lord Fuller that he wouldn’t be going to the yamen today and would head straight home. So why was he going back now?

The driver was completely baffled, but didn’t dare ask questions—he could only obediently drive the carriage toward the palace.

Inside the palace, Lord Fuller and Lord Ewen, who had been kept back by Ninth Royal Uncle to discuss state affairs, heard the eunuch announce William’s return. Both craned their necks curiously, eager to know what big event had brought William back so soon after leaving.

Just thinking about the baby’s kick made William’s smile uncontrollable. As he entered the hall, though he wasn’t grinning like an idiot as he had at Feng Manor, his smile was still noticeably brighter than usual.

"What good news is it?" General Warren Yu, who was more familiar with William Wang, and had often suffered at his hands, felt comfortable enough to ask first.

"It really is good news." Just thinking about it made William’s smile widen even more.

"That smile is just silly." Felix rolled his eyes, but he was just as curious—what could possibly make the usually composed Grand Heir grin like that?

"As long as I’m happy." William didn’t mind Felix’s sarcasm at all. He sat down in an empty chair, accepted the tea handed to him by a palace servant, sipped it slowly, and finally, after drawing things out as much as possible, began: "You all know I went to Feng Manor after court today."

The moment William started speaking, even Nolan Dongling, who hadn’t been interested, put down the memorial in his hand.

Ever since that day, he hadn’t dared to go see Serena. To say he didn’t want to would be a lie.

"What about Serena?" Felix, knowing exactly what Nolan was thinking, asked on his behalf.

"Serena’s fine, and so is the baby." William’s lips curved up as the three men looked at him expectantly. He tried to keep his tone calm and casual: "I just greeted Serena’s baby today. That little guy’s got some strength—he kicked me right through her belly."

The imperial physicians had already checked Serena and confirmed it was a boy.

"What? You touched Serena’s belly?" General Warren Yu jumped up, eyes shining—he’d always wanted to but never dared ask.

"Yes, is there a problem?" William tried to suppress his joy and raised his eyes with feigned calm.

"Of course there’s a problem! Why didn’t you take me with you? Ah, if I’d known, I would have gone too!" General Warren Yu dropped his memorial and jumped up, full of regret.

Felix glanced at the memorial, then at William’s calm face, and found him more and more exasperating. But what came next was even worse.

William said innocently, "Even if you went, you wouldn’t have felt the baby move. Serena said her baby is lazy, only moves three times a day—morning, noon, and night. Miss it and that’s it. Today, I just touched him and he moved. Clearly, the baby likes me best."

This was showing off—undeniably, blatantly showing off. No matter how casually William said it or how calm he looked, they could tell he came in just to brag.

"You—" Felix had just started to speak when a loud crack sounded. Looking over, they saw Nolan Dongling’s memorial shattered into countless pieces in his hand, and his face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

"All of you seem awfully idle, don’t you?" Nolan Dongling spoke, his voice colder and harder than winter ice. "If you’re bored, should I send you to the front lines to attack Northlyn?"

"Your servants are terrified." Felix and General Warren Yu immediately straightened up and saluted Nolan Dongling. William also rose calmly and saluted, but his tone...

Couldn’t he be a little more sincere?

Felix and General Warren Yu were nearly in tears. William, you’re causing trouble—when it comes down to it, we’ll be the ones who suffer.

Sure enough, Nolan Dongling stood up and tossed all the memorials onto the table. "I want these finished before dark."

Nolan Dongling emphasized the word 'I'—using the imperial pronoun—and looked pointedly at William as he spoke.

"As you command." William responded cheerfully, without the slightest reluctance—even a bit pleased.

Nolan Dongling snorted, swept his sleeve, and left the hall, leaving William, Felix, and General Warren Yu to share the emperor’s work.

"William, you’re killing us," Felix complained bitterly as he sat down. General Warren Yu was even more miserable: "I don’t know how to review memorials—I’d rather go fight a war."

"I never said you had to review them. Just do your own work. As for Nolan Dongling’s tasks, I’ll handle them." William was pleased, even with official duties, since he’d managed to irritate Nolan.

Nolan Dongling deserved a lesson—otherwise, he’d never learn to cherish Serena.

"So you came to the palace just to help Nolan with his work so he can chase after his wife?" Felix was skeptical; he doubted William was so noble.

William just smiled, happily handling the work Nolan Dongling hadn’t finished.

Serena, I’ve given you the chance—now you have to seize it. Make Nolan realize how disgusting it is to hide his fiancée from you and deceive you.

Just as William had expected, Nolan Dongling dropped the memorials and left the palace to find Serena.

Nolan Dongling entered through the main gate. The servants at the Feng residence didn’t dare stop him and hurried to report to Serena: "Miss, Ninth Royal Uncle—no, His Majesty, His Majesty is here!"

Before the words were finished, Nolan Dongling appeared before Serena, standing at the doorway without coming in.

"Leave," he said to the maid in the room. Once she had gone, he added, "Withdraw."

This was directed at the Eighteen Riders and the shadow guards. The shadow guards didn’t dare disobey, but the Eighteen Riders, having been scolded last time, refused to budge. Even with Nolan’s murderous aura filling the room, they gritted their teeth and stayed put.

Without Serena’s command, they couldn’t leave!