"Miss Feng, I truly apologize. Second Madam Hsieh has no choice in this matter—the master has declared that she must not have any private dealings with you. If he finds out Second Madam is secretly meeting you, he will divorce her and cast her out of the household."
He also said... he also said... if Miss Feng comes to Hsieh Manor, you are to be thrown out immediately, to uphold the house's reputation. Second Madam feared you would be humiliated if you entered, so she sent me to wait for you here instead."
The maid's eyes were filled with deep apology.
She had seen Serena Feng change Second Madam Hsieh’s dressings before, and truly could not believe that someone so gentle and meticulous could be the same person everyone claimed was secretly meeting men outside the city.
"I understand." Serena Feng replied, thanking the maid with a calm expression, betraying neither joy nor anger.
Seeing the maid’s unease, Serena Feng gave her a reassuring smile, deftly opened her medicine box, took out several bottles of medicine and bandages, and carefully taught her how to change the dressings. She also handed over a packet of anti-inflammatory pills, instructing her to give Second Madam Hsieh two pills, three times a day.
"Miss Feng, you really are a good person." The maid saw that Serena Feng was clearly upset but still forced a smile and thoughtfully cared for Second Madam’s health, and tears sprang to her eyes on the spot.
These maids might not have the education of noble ladies, but they saw things more clearly.
Miss Feng returning to the city disheveled was never about meeting men in secret—someone was clearly trying to frame her.
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Just like us maids—here we are, the fish, with others as the knife. All we can do is let ourselves be carved up.
Serena Feng shook her head. "I'm only doing what I should. All right, it's getting late—I should head back now."
After handing the medicine and bandages to the maid, Serena Feng didn’t even glance at Hsieh Manor. She simply turned and walked away.
Hsieh Manor!
You’d better pray you never need me. If the day comes when Hsieh Manor begs for my help, I’ll make every last one of you kneel and plead before I set foot inside.
Her heart seethed with indignation, but none of it showed on her face. Serena Feng’s expression was cold as she turned away, melting into the crowd, drifting through the streets like a living corpse.
Lance Quinn shadowed her the whole way, finally relaxing when he saw Serena Feng had no intention of doing anything drastic.
He knew her current predicament was inseparable from him.
If waking up disheveled outside the city on her wedding day was Adrian Dongling’s doing, then this second wave was all because of him—Lance Quinn.
He was certain that someone as clever as Serena Feng had already pieced together the truth behind it all.
Lance Quinn escorted Serena Feng all the way to Feng Manor, and saw that the crowd which had been gathered outside had finally dispersed. His eyes flashed coldly.
Prince Terrence Valen, Princess Yara Valen—this feud is set between us now.
......
Serena Feng was feeling a bit down, but seeing that the crowd outside Feng Manor had dispersed lifted her mood.
At least she’d done one thing right.
The later she appeared, the uglier the rumors would get, and the crowd outside Feng Manor would never leave—the consequences would only get worse.
She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and felt her mood improve. Her steps lightened as she pushed open the door and went inside.
"Evan Zhou, why are you standing at the door?" Serena Feng had one foot inside, one foot out, momentarily forgetting to step forward.
"Ahem, I was just about to go out." Evan Zhou’s eyes darted nervously.
He hadn’t told Serena Feng that since the moment she left, he’d been waiting here for her. Right now, he didn’t have the power to help her, but he could at least wait for her return and offer a shoulder if she needed to cry.
He never expected to wait all day for Serena Feng to come home, only to find she didn’t need any comfort at all.
Whether it was true or not, Serena Feng could read Evan Zhou’s face in an instant. Since he didn’t say anything, she pretended not to notice. "It’s late, almost dark. Whatever it is, handle it tomorrow."
With that, she stepped past Evan Zhou and headed for her own courtyard, looking perfectly at ease as if nothing had happened.
"Uh, Feng... Sister, are you really okay?" Evan Zhou’s attempts at comfort still needed work.
Serena Feng turned and smiled at Evan Zhou. "What could possibly be wrong? Don’t worry, I’m Serena Feng—the Serena Feng who can’t be knocked down. This isn’t the first time for rumors like these; you hear them enough and you get used to it."
Serena Feng waved her hand, signaling Evan Zhou not to worry about it.
"Oh, that’s good then." Evan Zhou nodded awkwardly, feeling a little uncomfortable, as if all his worrying had been for nothing. This Serena Feng really was a tough one.
"All right, go get dinner ready. Since you’re injured, I’ll cook myself."
The moment she could get out of bed, she had Evan Zhou send the Su clan people home. Right now, it was best not to be associated with her.
"Fine, I’ll wait then," Evan Zhou replied, not too happily. He stepped forward to close the door and glanced outside to see if anyone was still watching Feng Manor.
Serena Feng walked forward with composure, her sorrow hidden from her eyes, her pain tucked away in her heart. Her steps were as steady and calm as ever.
She was Serena Feng, an orphan with no parents. She had to be strong—only strength could let her survive in this world where people devoured one another.
What good did Evan Zhou’s concern do? Not a word of worry could change her fate. All she could rely on was herself.
Right now, what she needed was a chance—a chance to make her name known far and wide.
Dinner was just Serena Feng and Evan Zhou. The two ate happily; in Feng Manor, there was no such thing as silent meals or sleep.
After dinner, Evan Zhou insisted on cleaning up despite his injury. Serena Feng thought for a moment, then decided to let him handle it and obediently returned to her room.
Back in her room, alone at last, Serena Feng finally felt the exhaustion and loneliness. The whole day had left her physically and emotionally drained.
By candlelight, Serena Feng sat at her desk, writing and sketching, pondering her next move—searching for any opportunity she could use. But after thinking for ages, she still had no idea what to do next.
The rumors had surged again, sealing off every path she’d managed to open. In the capital, she had nowhere left to go.
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Maybe leaving the capital for some remote town really would be a good idea. But if she left under these circumstances, she couldn’t accept it—her pride wouldn’t allow it.
If others want to drive her out of the imperial city, all the more reason for her to live well here, just to spite them.
Serena Feng scribbled furiously on the paper, her mind agitated and unable to settle. Finally, frustrated, she crumpled the paper and tossed it to the floor, then stood and strode out to the courtyard.
Maybe a cold shower would calm her down. Only when she was truly clear-headed could she figure out her next move.
Outside in the courtyard, a large vat of water stood waiting. Serena grabbed a small bucket, filled it halfway, gritted her teeth, and dumped it over her own head.
"Ugh... that's freezing."
Splash! Icy water drenched her from head to toe. Serena Feng shivered uncontrollably, but the agitation in her heart slowly faded away.
"Ha! Looks like this method really works."
She kept filling the bucket and pouring water over herself... until most of the vat was gone. Soaking wet, she laughed aloud and went back to her room.
"This woman is crazy—barely recovered from a serious illness, and she’s taking cold showers? Does she have a death wish?" Prince Terrence Valen sat on the manor wall, looking utterly shocked.
He’d come here today hoping to see whether Lance Quinn would show himself.
After everything Serena Feng suffered in broad daylight, both emotion and reason dictated that Lance Quinn should come to comfort her—after all, the humiliation she endured was ultimately caused by him.
But instead of seeing Lance Quinn, he witnessed a scene of Serena Feng punishing herself.
Prince Terrence Valen shook his head.
He was absolutely certain this woman would survive whatever fate threw at her. A woman so ruthless to herself would never show mercy to her enemies.
A woman like this—either kill her, or recruit her.
But recruit her? What kind of man could ever truly tame a woman like Serena Feng?
A glint of restless curiosity flashed in Prince Terrence Valen’s eyes!