Serena, the Baby Just Said Hello to Me

Whether it was laying out strategy against Southlyn or investigating Zhe Zhe’s case, neither could be finished in a day or two. Prince Nolan was busy for a full five days before everything was finally arranged. At this time, Simon Sun was also preparing to go to the front lines together with Divine Doctor Redwater.

William Wang gave Serena Feng a rough overview of the situation in Southlyn.

"The plague in Southlyn is man-made. The final traces we found are linked to Ghost Hall. The Ghost Doctor’s disciple once appeared in Southlyn and ultimately stayed there." William Wang kept his explanation brief, not telling Serena Feng the disciple’s motives, but Serena still figured it out.

"It’s both revenge and provocation, isn’t it?" The Ghost Doctor died by her hand—this was no secret.

"I knew it—hiding things from you is never easy. But don’t let this weigh on you. Even without the Ghost Doctor incident, Southlyn’s plague would have happened all the same." Without the Southlyn King’s support, the disciple couldn’t have caused such chaos or so many deaths.

"When those in power lack compassion, the common people suffer." Serena Feng might feel guilty, but she wouldn’t let it consume her. After all, no one could have predicted the Ghost Doctor’s disciple would go this mad—or that the Southlyn King would go along with him.

Even the emperor didn’t care for his own people—how ridiculous for her, an outsider, to rush in and claim the blame.

"The Southlyn royal house’s luck has run out." William Wang knew that even without Prince Nolan, the Southlyn throne was doomed—the Southlyn King would ruin his own kingdom sooner or later.

Did he really think being emperor meant he could do whatever he wanted?

Absolutely laughable.

Domineering as Prince Nolan, forceful as Prince Nolan. Even seated on the dragon throne, sometimes he must compromise, must find balance. Running a nation is never the work of one person alone; even an emperor has limits.

William Wang Jinling does feel some regret for Southlyn, but it doesn’t move him deeply. If Southlyn falls, so be it—the Wang Clan has already been high-profile enough, and he has no desire to court disaster.

Just as Prince Nolan thinks, Serena Feng also believes that man-made plagues are far more terrifying than natural disasters. After sending William off, she returns to her room, activates the Smart Med-Pack, and searches for epidemic-related materials.

Serena carefully copies out the key points and hands them to Simon Sun: “I don’t know for sure if what’s on the front lines is truly plague, so be extra careful when you go. I’ve prepared a batch of preventive medicines—you’ll have someone deliver them. When you receive them, make sure the soldiers drink first; if there’s any left, give it to the local civilians.”

Though it’s man-made, every doctor diagnoses it as plague. Serena treats the front-line illness as plague; without seeing cases firsthand, she can’t mix the medicines herself, so she can only prepare preventive doses.

Serena exchanges all her Medical Ethics Points for as much anti-corpse-qi and anti-plague medicine as possible, then has William Wang Jinling arrange for it to be sent to the front lines—a small effort on her part.

No matter what, she bears part of the responsibility.

When the medicines Serena sent arrive, William Wang Jinling makes a special trip to Feng Manor after morning court to find her.

“Serena, the soldiers on the front lines will be grateful to you.” William doesn’t ask how she managed to gather so much medicine so quickly; he only cares about carrying out her instructions.

“I just hope they come back safe.” Most of the front-line soldiers are Phoenixfield Clan troops. Serena isn’t a saint—when she can’t save everyone, she at least wants her own people to survive.

"With these medicines and Divine Doctor Guile and Redwater at the front, they'll be safe, and this atrocity will be avenged." Once the epidemic stabilizes on the front lines, Phoenixfield and Si will strike together—Southern Lyn's collapse is just ahead.

"Let's hope so. May this war end soon, and may the people finally have peaceful days again." Serena Feng touched her belly and sighed softly.

Since becoming pregnant, her hands seemed always stained with blood. If these medicines truly helped, perhaps it would earn blessings for the child in her womb.

William Wang noticed Serena's gesture, his gaze softening. "Is the little one doing well?"

Serena's belly grew by the day. William longed to reach out and touch it, but he was too embarrassed to ask.

"Very well-behaved. Such a little lazybones—moves only in the morning, at noon, and at night." Ever since the first quickening, the baby had kept to those three times, never moving at any other moment.

Every noon and night, little Feng Jin would press against her belly, waiting for the baby to move. After 'communicating' with the baby, if he wasn't satisfied, he'd lie beside her hoping for another kick—but it never happened.

Hearing Serena's explanation, William's curiosity only grew. After hesitating for a long time, the refined Grand Heir blushed and stammered, "Serena... um, may I touch your belly?"

Afraid Serena might misunderstand, William quickly added, "Serena, please don't take it the wrong way. I mean nothing else—I just want to feel it. I've never seen this before."

William's cheeks flushed red, his ears nearly steaming. In all his years, he'd never made such a forward, almost impolite request.

It was hardly the act of a gentleman, but he truly wanted to touch her belly.

"Go ahead. But the baby just moved at noon, so it's unlikely to move again now." Boundaries between men and women were important, but Serena knew William's intentions were pure.

She'd seen this eager look before—on Zuo An and Simon Sun, when they first learned about pregnancy. People unfamiliar with expectant mothers and babies couldn't help but be curious.

"Then I really will touch it." The usually suave and unrestrained Grand Heir was suddenly awkward and tentative, nothing like his usual confident self—nervous as a green youth.

Serena couldn't help but smile. Ever since becoming pregnant, all sorts of strange things had happened around her.

"Go ahead." With a layer of autumn clothes between them, it wasn't too awkward.

"Alright." William's voice held a new excitement, and when he touched Serena's belly, his face broke into the brightest smile. "So this is..." A baby really feels like this.

Before William could finish his sentence, he felt something kick his palm. He jerked his hand back as if shocked, then froze in place—mouth stretching into a goofy grin, eyes growing wider and wider until he was outright beaming.

William burst out, "Serena, it moved! It moved! The baby just moved—it kicked me!"

His eyes sparkled—if not for a shred of self-control, he would have jumped for joy right then and there.

"That's odd. Why would the baby move at this time?" Serena felt the kick too and reached out to touch her belly, but the baby refused to perform for its mother—now it was perfectly still. "Not moving anymore."

"I just felt it kick me—just once, but I swear it happened!" William explained eagerly, almost drooling with excitement.

"Yes, the baby just greeted you." Serena found it odd but didn't overthink it. Fetal movement wasn't something she could control.

"So that means the baby likes me!" William was even more delighted at the thought, grinning so wide he looked downright silly...

Serena had the privilege of being the first to see William lose his composure. She teased him, "Wipe your mouth—you're drooling."

Boom—

The flush that had just faded from William's face surged back. Forgetting all about dignity, he made a hasty excuse and fled.

Too embarrassing!