Pleasure Barge, As Long As You Ask I Can Do It

That night, after Prince Titus left, Prince Nolan was preparing to depart as well. Nolan didn’t tell Serena Feng where he was going, and Serena didn’t ask. She only noted the grave look on Titus’s face as he left, and vaguely understood that this trip would be risky.

"Take care of yourself. Don’t make me worry about you." Before leaving, Serena stepped forward to tidy Nolan’s clothes. They were standing close—close enough that a soft breath would catch the scent of the other’s skin. Nolan lowered his head, pressing his lips to the crown of Serena’s head. "Nothing will happen."

At the very least, he wouldn’t let himself fall into danger.

"Mm." Serena leaned gently against Nolan’s chest, listening to his steady, powerful heartbeat. Softly, she said, "I’ll wait for you to come back." To say she wasn’t worried would be a lie—until Nolan returned tonight, she definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep.

"Tomorrow, I’ll enter the capital with the Eastlyn officials." The implication was clear: he wouldn’t return tonight, and Serena should get some rest.

"Alright." Though a bit disappointed, Serena wasn’t upset. She knew it wasn’t easy for Nolan to come here, and that spending a whole day with her was already more than she could ask for.

Nolan, on the other hand, felt a bit regretful. From last night until now, this was the only moment they’d had alone together. Before, there had always been people around—even whispering a secret was impossible. Now that he wanted to speak, he couldn’t find the right chance.

It seemed that this trip really was only for Mr. Yinli.

"Aren’t you going to ask who I’m meeting?" Now wasn’t the time for sweet words, so Nolan chose the safest question.

"If I ask, will you tell me?" Serena looked up at Nolan. Without hesitation, Nolan replied, "I will."

"Then I won't ask." Serena gently pushed Prince Nolan away. "Women who have to poke their noses into everything are scary. You give me space, so I should give you the same respect. I'm not your mom—no need to meddle in everything."

She didn't want to be Prince Nolan's burden, didn't want him to feel tired or anxious every time he thought of her.

"Sometimes, I really don't get what's going on in your head." Prince Nolan reached out, pulled Serena back, and ruffled her hair until it was a mess. Only then, satisfied, did he let go—before she could get mad, he said, "Don't worry about Feng Jin's illness. There was a bit of trouble in Jiangnan recently, but it's all sorted now. Divine Doctor Guile is already on his way."

"What happened in Jiangnan? Does it have anything to do with Xiao Sword Manor?" Ethan Xiao from the manor was a man with a story.

"Jason Lan and that mysterious aunt of his seem to want something out of Ethan Xiao. They've been sending people to approach him nonstop." Prince Nolan felt uneasy at the news from Jiangnan.

"Nobody's figured out what it is?" If Prince Nolan's people couldn't dig it up, Jason Lan's wouldn't stand a chance.

"Either Ethan Xiao doesn't know, or he's just too tight-lipped. Nobody's gotten a single thing out of him." Sometimes, that's actually a good thing.

"What about the ruins of Xiao Sword Manor? Did anyone go check them out?"

"That land belongs to Moonvault Palace Sect. They've already turned Xiao Sword Manor upside down—if there was anything to find, Moonvault Palace wouldn't be bothering with Ethan Xiao." Prince Nolan flicked Serena's forehead. "Alright, quit worrying about all this. Just wait here. I'll be back soon."

"Ow! I told you to stop flicking my forehead—it's gonna leave a mark!" Serena rubbed her forehead, and while Prince Nolan was distracted, she grabbed his hand and bit him, then dashed inside.

She only stopped when she reached the doorway, her face serene as she looked straight at Prince Nolan, as if she hadn't just bitten someone: "Go on, then."

"Alright." Prince Nolan stood where he was, giving Serena Feng a deep look before leaving without a trace of hesitation.

Truthfully, he didn't want to leave at all. Being with Serena, even with Feng Jin and Snow Wolf as obstacles, still felt warm and comfortable.

No words were needed—as long as he could look up and see Serena, that was enough...

Still at the pleasure barge—Mr. Yinli seemed to have a particular fondness for these boats. By the time Prince Nolan arrived, it was already late. The barges on the riverside were scattered sparsely, and Mr. Yinli's vessel was moored right in the center of the river. To board, one had to first take a small boat.

It was a rather tricky spot—if you didn't have some nerve, you wouldn't dare to go aboard.

"Your Highness..." The guard sent by Westlyn's Tianyu looked at the situation on the river, deeply uneasy, hoping to persuade Prince Nolan not to board.

The barge's position was perfect for an ambush, but terrible for protection. If Mr. Yinli wanted to harm Prince Nolan, he could easily station assassins on the boat or have them lurking in the water ahead of time. The guards wouldn't be able to reach him in time if something happened—they'd just have to watch helplessly as disaster struck.

"It's fine." Prince Nolan waved his hand, signaling them not to say more. "Keep watch—don't let anyone get close." He wasn't afraid of assassins lying in wait; what he guarded against was Westlyn's soldiers suddenly appearing.

If Westlyn got proof he'd sneaked in, Eastlyn would have to give up most of the benefits in this partnership. That was the last thing Prince Nolan wanted to see.

"Yes, sir." The men arranged by Tianyu of Westlyn didn't dare disobey Prince Nolan's orders. They could only watch as he stepped onto the little boat and headed for the barge at the center of the river.

The small wooden boat glided forward, quickly reaching the side of the barge. The lanterns aboard were all lit, but the place was eerily quiet, not a sound to be heard. Prince Nolan leapt lightly aboard.

"Sir, my master invites you." As soon as Prince Nolan had his footing, an old servant appeared, leading him through twists and turns into the barge.

Going down a level inside the barge, clear zither music drifted into his ears. The old servant stopped at the doorway and gestured for him to enter.

"Such elegant taste, sir." Prince Nolan clapped his hands, breaking off Mr. Yinli's music.

Mr. Yinli regretfully set his hands aside. "Your Highness, you really picked the wrong time—only one section left." Feng Jin's royal status was just one rank below a prince; if he wanted to compete, it wouldn't be impossible.

"Missing the last note means it's not a complete piece." Even if he was half a rank short, Feng Jin wouldn't have a chance to compete.

"Your standards are too high, Your Highness. Not everyone is like you." Mr. Yinli smiled calmly, rose with elegance, and gestured for Prince Nolan to sit. Then he knelt to the left, took out the tea set, and began to brew tea at a leisurely pace.

Prince Nolan smiled without a word, sitting comfortably to the side, watching Mr. Yinli make tea with an appreciative gaze.

Tonight, he came—boarding the barge alone. That was enough to show Mr. Yinli his trust, and his fearlessness toward Westlyn. Whatever Mr. Yinli wanted, as long as he asked, Prince Nolan of Eastlyn could make it happen...