What the Emperor truly intends—perhaps only he himself knows. The eunuch who received Commander Leon Li was clearly from the Empress’s faction; he understood the Emperor’s plans, knew exactly when His Majesty would return, but never gave Leon Li a definite answer.
The eunuch laughed arrogantly, pinched his fingers in a theatrical orchid gesture, and said in a mocking tone, "How could a servant like me know His Majesty's business? The Emperor has decreed: if there is urgent state business, you may seek an audience at the Mapleview Ridge Royal Villa. If you have pressing matters, hurry to Mapleview Ridge and report to His Majesty. If you delay state affairs, the consequences will be dire."
The eunuch deliberately emphasized the words "state affairs," reminding Leon Li that if he went to Mapleview Ridge just for something as trivial as Serena Feng’s case, he’d be courting death.
Seeing Leon Li hesitate, the eunuch giggled, then strutted away, leaving him behind...
Mapleview Ridge Royal Villa
The Emperor sat in his study, reviewing the memorials sent from the palace. Once he finished a stack, the eunuch placed them in a black iron box, locked it, checked it several times, and handed it to the waiting guard.
"Tell the Crown Prince to hurry up with this, and don’t delay important matters. Any urgent reports from Jiangnan, bring them to me immediately." The Emperor set down his brush and rotated his sore wrist. The eunuch hurried forward and began to massage his hand—neither too hard nor too soft.
"Your servant obeys." The guard standing in the center of the hall knelt with a thud, holding the black iron box in both hands.
The Emperor waved his left hand, and the guard immediately withdrew. The eunuch who was massaging the Emperor’s right hand also stepped back.
Only the Emperor and the chief eunuch remained in the study. The Emperor leaned back in the Dragon Throne, eyes closed in thought. The room was so quiet it felt lifeless. After a long silence, the Emperor finally spoke: "Zhao De, what do you think Ninth Royal Uncle means by this? The more I watch him, the less I understand. Isn’t he afraid Serena Feng might just die like this?"
It was only late August, early September—hardly the season for viewing red maples. The Emperor’s trip to the Royal Villa was just a pretext.
When news arrived that Serena Feng was gravely ill, the Emperor immediately decided to use this chance to test Nolan Dongling—or to crush him if necessary. Yet to his surprise, Nolan did nothing at all, showing not the slightest concern for Serena Feng’s fate.
"Your Majesty, no matter how clever Ninth Royal Uncle is, he can’t escape your control. This test of yours will force him to show his hand." Zhao De flattered the Emperor at just the right moment.
"Show his hand? My ninth brother is a fox—it’s not so easy to catch him out. He grew up under my nose without a mother’s guidance. How could he not be shrewd?" Though he spoke this way, a faint smile appeared on the Emperor’s face.
He was the sovereign—the Emperor of nine princes. Everything in this world was under his control.
The eunuch giggled. "Your Majesty, before, Ninth Royal Uncle only helped Serena Feng in passing—she was never in real danger. But this time is different. If her fever drags on, even if it doesn’t kill her, it’ll leave her mind addled.
If Ninth Royal Uncle doesn’t intervene, it means he never cared about Serena Feng—she was just a decoy to mislead his enemies, and after this, the pawn is spent. But if he truly cares and dares summon a doctor, he’ll be defying imperial orders—a capital crime.
No matter what he does, Ninth Royal Uncle loses this round. If he doesn’t save her, the pawn he worked so hard to set up is wasted. If he does, he’s defying imperial command. Either way, it’s all in your hands, Your Majesty."
"You old fox, well said. I’ll reward you with the lotus seed soup." The Emperor laughed heartily, his gaze lingering on the soup set on the low table. After a moment’s thought, he added, "Tonight I’ll stay with Noble Consort Helena."
"With Noble Consort Helena?" Chief Eunuch Zhao De asked cautiously.
As soon as Noble Consort Helena Hsieh arrived at the villa, she claimed to feel unwell—clearly angling for the Emperor to spend the night with her.
All four consorts held the same rank, but Noble Consort Helena was obviously the most favored. Whoever hosted the Emperor on his first night at the villa gained face. By choosing Noble Consort Helena, the Emperor was clearly snubbing her rival.
"Hmph, the Hsieh Clan has been far too bold lately. Do they really think I’m blind?" The Emperor’s face darkened as he recalled all the petty troubles of recent days, irritation rising in his heart.
It was a terrible feeling when the court officials slipped out of his control. The Wang and Hsieh clans were stirring, and the Emperor wanted to use this opportunity to put the court in order.
With domestic affairs unsettled, how could he send troops against the other three kingdoms?
The Emperor had spent more than twenty years patiently consolidating power; now the court was finally under his control. Yet just as victory was within reach, he found himself losing patience.
Zhao De wanted to offer advice, but the words stuck in his throat.
The invention of the Thunderblast Grenade had completely reignited the Emperor’s ambition. He was no longer young, and wanted to unify the Nine Provinces in his lifetime. No one could persuade him otherwise now.
……
Night fell. Serena Feng had been burning with fever for a full day and night. Her two maids had tried everything, but not only did her fever refuse to break, she hadn’t regained consciousness. After just one day, the two maids were close to collapse themselves.
After running into trouble at the palace, Commander Li Xun of the Imperial Guards didn’t dare pay too much attention to Serena Feng, lest he cause trouble. This made things even harder for the people at Feng Manor. Apart from daily meals, nothing was allowed in from outside, and no news could get out.
Only the Emperor, Empress, Prince Rowan, and Nolan Dongling knew that Serena Feng was ill—and that she was at death’s door.
There were some ginseng and bird’s nest in the Feng Manor storeroom. The maids sliced the ginseng for Serena Feng to suck on, but her fever only grew worse. As for the bird’s nest, she spat out every mouthful.
Though the two maids knew some basic medicine, even the cleverest cook can’t make a meal without rice. Serena Feng was a physician herself, but Feng Manor didn’t even have ordinary herbs. Besides, her condition didn’t seem like a simple fever, and the maids dared not act rashly.
"Mira, I’ll take the first half of the night, you take the second. We have to rest in shifts, or our lady won’t wake up before we collapse ourselves." Serena Feng’s two maids, when at Prince Rowan’s manor, were called Mira and Jada.
By rights, when they came to Feng Manor and acknowledged Serena Feng as their mistress, she should have given them new names. But Serena had completely forgotten about it and never brought it up.
The two maids had asked Serena Feng about it once, but she said she’d think it over—and then promptly forgot again.
Jada went to sleep, leaving only Mira in Serena Feng’s room. The guards who used to work at the manor had been sent to the outer courtyard by the Imperial Guards. In the inner quarters, only the three of them remained.
Mira had spent the whole day exhausted and anxious. While wiping down Serena Feng, she nearly nodded off several times, but pinched her own thigh hard to jolt herself awake through the pain.
When the water was hot, Mira carried the basin to fetch cold water again. But just as she lifted it, a wave of sleepiness overwhelmed her and she collapsed onto a chair, fast asleep...
"Finally, an opportunity." From the shadows, Lance Quinn, dressed in black and wearing a silver mask, slipped inside, quietly closing the door. Turning, he saw Serena Feng’s clothes had been pulled open, exposing much of her skin, and his ears flushed red.
"I never thought I’d have a day as a lecher, but now’s not the time for that. Saving her comes first—if I wait any longer, Serena Feng will die for sure."
Lance Quinn stepped forward and sat beside Serena Feng. Seeing her flushed face and rapid breathing, he hesitated, unsure where to begin...