The Empress's eyes blazed with fury, as if she wanted to devour Nolan Dongling whole.
Letting Serena Feng treat Adrian Dongling was already a concession from her.
As the mother of the nation, she could not afford such humiliation.
Suppressing the ferocity on her face, the Empress coldly said to Nolan Dongling, "Ninth Royal Uncle, Prince Rowan risked his life to save you—how can you entrust his injury to a woman? Serena Feng is just a woman; how could she possibly have such ability?"
Aside from saving face, the Empress also did not trust Serena Feng.
In the Empress's eyes, Serena Feng absolutely resented Adrian Dongling. Even if Serena really had the skill, the Empress was unwilling to let her treat him—afraid Serena might use the chance to kill Prince Rowan.
Serena Feng’s life was worthless, but Prince Rowan was a different matter.
The Emperor ignored the Empress and turned his sharp gaze to Nolan Dongling. "Ninth Brother, why do you value Serena Feng so highly?"
Nolan Dongling’s standards were famously high; who in this world could catch his eye—let alone a woman?
The Emperor’s suspicion was only natural.
"Madame Feng was not bad." Nolan Dongling finally looked the Emperor in the eye, his expression open and straightforward.
This time, the Emperor did not hesitate. With a word, he commanded: "Summon Serena Feng to the palace."
The Empress’s face turned deathly pale, but she could not utter a word; the Emperor’s decree was issued, and it was beyond her power to change.
Serena Feng, sound asleep, was unfortunately dragged out of bed. Eunuch and Imperial Guards had Feng Manor surrounded, leaving not a single gap.
"Sirs, what’s happened?" Evan Zhou’s face was grim, his thin body trembling slightly.
"Is Serena Feng here?" The eunuch did not even spare him a glance.
Evan Zhou let out a sigh of relief, realizing they weren’t here for him. But Serena Feng...
Evan Zhou was about to ask, but the eunuch just snorted coldly, refusing to answer.
Helpless, Evan Zhou hurried to invite Serena Feng out.
Serena Feng was still a bit groggy from sleep, but the sight of the scene snapped her wide awake.
A jolt ran through her heart—what on earth had happened this time?
Judging by this setup, it didn’t look like Duke Zhen’s Estate.
"You are Serena Feng?" The eunuch screeched arrogantly.
"Serena greets you, sir. May I ask how I should address you?" Serena Feng bowed, and with a flick of her sleeve, a fifty-tael gold ingot landed in the eunuch’s hand.
The eunuch glanced down, and his corpse-like face instantly bloomed into a smile; his tone grew much friendlier. "Miss Feng, my surname is Zheng."
"I didn’t expect Eunuch Zheng to honor us with his presence. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
After speaking, she made a gesture of invitation, but Eunuch Zheng declined. "Miss Feng, there’s no need for ceremony. I’m here by imperial decree."
"Imperial decree?" Serena Feng’s eyelid twitched.
"Miss Feng, Prince Rowan was ambushed last night and gravely wounded. The doctors are helpless; Ninth Royal Uncle recommended you." Eunuch Zheng was very pragmatic.
Now was absolutely not the time to offend Serena Feng. If she cured Prince Rowan, both the Empress and Prince Rowan would owe her a favor. Add in Ninth Royal Uncle’s support, and her rise to power would be just around the corner.
"Prince Rowan was injured?"
Serena Feng exclaimed in shock, but also felt a wave of relief—it seemed they weren’t here to cause her trouble.
But what a coincidence—just yesterday she’d saved someone who was wounded, and today Prince Rowan was stabbed. Could his injury be related to that person from yesterday?
Serena Feng was startled by the thought. If that were true, she’d be in serious trouble.
She’d saved the person who stabbed Prince Rowan.
"Miss Feng, are you alright?" Eunuch Zheng noticed Serena Feng’s pale face and spoke with some displeasure.
Was Serena Feng trying to feign illness and escape responsibility?
Serena Feng flashed a radiant smile to cover her distraction, then quickly asked, "I'm worried about Prince Rowan’s injury. May I ask where he was wounded?"
"His thigh," Eunuch Zheng replied without hesitation. "Miss Feng, you’d better hurry. Prince Rowan’s condition is serious. You were recommended by Ninth Royal Uncle—if anything goes wrong, he’ll be held responsible too."
Serena Feng nodded quickly. "Thank you, Eunuch Zheng. I’ll change clothes, prepare, and leave right away."
Serena Feng dashed toward the inner courtyard like a whirlwind.
The wound was on the thigh; the imperial physicians didn’t dare operate—most likely the artery was injured.
Who knew how much blood had been lost overnight? Even if the wound was treated, excessive blood loss would cause organ failure.
Ninth Royal Uncle had recommended her—she absolutely could not let him down.
As for everything else, it wasn’t her concern. She was just a doctor; if a patient came to her, she had to save them.
While packing her things, Serena Feng kept running through possible solutions—only to realize...
Without seeing the actual case, all the planning in the world was useless.
Serena Feng patted her cheeks to calm herself, and to make her complexion look a bit rosier.
She double-checked all her emergency medicines, making sure nothing was missing. Looking down at her own half-worn clothes, Serena Feng hesitated—should she change into something better?
Ninth Royal Uncle had recommended her, which meant he would probably be there too. Would it be better to dress nicely for him?
Serena Feng opened her wardrobe and looked at the expensive gauze dresses in the corner, but in the end she shook her head.
Forget it. Ninth Royal Uncle had already seen her in ragged clothes; dressing up now was pointless. Besides, those layered gauze dresses weren’t suitable for "work" and didn’t fit a physician’s image.
With a bang, she shut the wardrobe door, grabbed her medicine box, and dashed out.
Serena Feng’s mind was filled with thoughts of Ninth Royal Uncle—his appearance, his words, the anticipation and approval in his eyes.
Saving a life was a race against time. The Imperial Guards saw Serena Feng come out and, without another word, ushered her onto the carriage and headed straight for the palace.
"Huh? What’s going on with the Feng family now?"
A passerby noticed, but only commented before turning back to their own business.
Eunuch Zheng led Serena Feng to Ziluo Dongling’s palace. Only after he went in to announce her arrival was she allowed to enter.
In all her haste, Serena Feng had no time to admire the palace decorations.
Both times she’d entered the palace, it had been in such chaos. Serena Feng shook her head and, led by a palace maid, walked in with composure.
Last time, she’d been anxious, afraid she might die in the palace. But this time?
She was still uneasy, but it was much better—at least she wasn’t here as a criminal this time.
"Serena Feng greets Your Majesty: Long live the Emperor! Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress, Ninth Royal Uncle, and the Crown Prince." Outside the palace, a eunuch had already instructed her on the proper etiquette.
"Rise." The Emperor waved his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Serena Feng stood up, head lowered, not daring to move recklessly.
At this point, even the Empress couldn’t change anything. She looked at Serena Feng with a complicated expression, unsure whether she wanted Serena to heal Ziluo Dongling’s injury—or not.
If Serena healed him, the Empress would owe her a huge favor.
If she failed, the Empress would lose a son—and her chance to become Empress Dowager someday...