Divination, the Eighth Prince Is a Noble Benefactor

Prince Nolan carried an aura that inspired trust. With just a few words, he put Serena at ease, and that night she slept deeply. The entire Feng Manor relaxed.

As long as their young mistress was well, everyone else could breathe easy.

By the next day, Serena’s spirits had improved a lot. Seeing Simon Sun also looking better and eager to practice in the operating room, Serena nodded repeatedly, silently thanking Prince Nolan a hundred times over.

The uproar caused by Daniel Sun’s severed head hadn’t subsided, but the atmosphere in the manor was no longer so oppressive. To comfort Simon, the butler changed the décor to plain colors and had the staff wear mourning clothes.

Such a small gesture warmed everyone’s hearts. Serena found herself ever more satisfied with the butler.

After handling the manor’s affairs, Serena called Jada Tang and Mira Tang to her side. The two maids hadn’t slept all night and looked as drained as Serena had the day before.

Seeing this, Serena couldn’t bear to blame them. She only asked them to investigate which people Daniel Sun had interacted with over the years. Although Daniel’s departure from the Capital had been secretive, someone must have seen it. Serena wanted them to trace every lead.

Jada and Mira promised again and again that they would get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible, urging Serena to trust them.

Serena had always relied on these two maids for private matters. Of course, she wouldn’t cast them aside over this incident. After a round of gentle scolding and reassurance, she let them go.

Seated in her study, Serena mulled things over and decided to write to Prince Nathan of Southlyn, asking him to help investigate whether Prince Damien of Southlyn and Reid Yale were behind Daniel Sun’s murder.

If those two were capable of desecrating her parents’ remains out of spite, they could certainly do something as cruel as sending Daniel Sun’s severed head.

Just as she picked up her pen, a servant came to report: Ethan Hsieh (Third Young Master) was here to visit.

Ethan Hsieh?

Serena hesitated for a moment, but decided to meet him.

Now, her only contacts in the Hsieh family were Imperial Noble Consort Helena Hsieh and Ethan Hsieh. Ethan knew her relationship with the Hsiehs was tense; he wouldn’t come to her alone unless it was important.

After several days apart, Ethan Hsieh looked much more mature. Gone was the flashy young noble—he had withdrawn his sharp airs and now seemed far steadier.

Serena suspected that Ethan must have gone through something serious, but she didn’t ask. She simply greeted him, her tone guarded: “Third Young Master.”

Serena and Ethan Hsieh exchanged a few strained pleasantries. Ethan hesitated, then chose a distant, formal address: "Miss Feng." Serena didn’t press further.

The rivalry between the Fengs and the Hsiehs couldn’t be changed. It was better for Ethan to keep his distance—if the day ever came for them to clash, neither would hesitate.

Ethan Hsieh had come this time under the pretext of thanking Serena for saving the Eighth Prince. The Hsieh family brought generous gifts, which Serena accepted without ceremony.

At this time, the Hsieh family only brought gifts because the Eighth Prince had gained the Emperor’s favor. Back when the Emperor despised the boy, the Hsiehs never even spared him a glance.

After a round of polite greetings, the two fell silent, unable to find anything else to say.

Imperial Noble Consort Helena Hsieh explained: the Emperor had, on a whim, sent the Eighth Prince’s birth date to the Imperial Astrologers’ Office—without revealing his identity—and asked them to read his fate.

“Leaving? Where are you going?” Serena was taken aback.

Ethan said ‘leaving,’ not studying abroad or traveling. He meant he wouldn’t be coming back.

Ethan gave a bitter smile. “No one’s lived at the ancestral house in Taian for ages. I plan to return there and spend the rest of my life guarding the old residence.”

Luckily the tea wasn’t hot. But as the attendants tried to wipe him clean, the Eighth Prince scooped some of the water into his mouth, and then…

Serena glanced at Ethan, but ultimately held her tongue. She only said, “It’s not so bad, going home. Guarding the ancestral house, reading, gardening—there’s peace in that life.”

It was clearly a retreat in defeat, but Serena made it sound like a peaceful retirement. Ethan smiled and didn’t correct her. He invited Serena to visit the Hsieh family residence if she ever had the chance—he would welcome her warmly.

Serena agreed readily, though whether she would actually visit was another matter.

Seeing it was getting late, Ethan Hsieh got up to leave. Serena walked him to the door, where Ethan lingered, hesitated for a long time, and finally said, “I’m sorry,” before hurrying away.

Serena watched Ethan’s departing figure, deep in thought. At last she sighed, then called for Jada Tang and Mira Tang to investigate what the Hsieh family had been up to lately.

Ethan’s last ‘I’m sorry,’ and his talk of returning to the ancestral house, made Serena all the more suspicious.

After Prince Nolan publicly humiliated those people at Windchaser Tower, most of them received some form of appeasement afterwards—except the Hsiehs.

The Hsiehs didn’t dare move against Prince Nolan, but they had no qualms about targeting Serena.

The incident with Daniel Sun was clearly premeditated. It would be difficult to uncover the truth quickly, but with Prince Nolan’s assurance and her suspicions about the Hsiehs, Serena wasn’t in a rush.

No use rushing—when the enemy hides in the dark, she must first root them out.

For the next few days, Serena stayed at Feng Manor without leaving once. She pieced together useful clues from the information Jada and Mira collected. During this time, Serena made one trip to the palace to check on the Eighth Prince.

Thanks to the imperial physicians’ careful care, the Eighth Prince was recovering well. In another ten days or so, he would be ready for surgery.

For the next few days, Serena stayed at Feng Manor, never setting foot outside. She sifted through the intelligence that Jada and Mira brought back, carefully teasing out useful clues. During this period, she made a single trip into the palace to examine the Eighth Prince.

Serena grew even more puzzled by the Emperor’s sudden change—he had once despised the Eighth Prince and tried to hide his existence, but now…

The astrologers declared that the Eighth Prince’s fate was one of wealth and nobility, destined to be the Emperor’s benefactor and shield him from disaster.

The Emperor was half skeptical, half convinced, but in the end asked Helena Hsieh to bring the Eighth Prince to see him.

Whether by coincidence or fate, the Eighth Prince did seem to ward off disaster. When the eunuch carried him in, he somehow knocked over the Emperor’s tea, spilling it on himself.

Luckily the tea wasn’t hot. But as the attendants tried to wipe him clean, the Eighth Prince scooped some of the water into his mouth, and then…

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