Proposal and Letting Serena Decide Whom to Marry

Is it permissible?

It looks easy to answer, but everyone present knows that no matter how Ninth Royal Uncle replies, it will be wrong.

Never mind that Prince Damien of Southlyn’s demand to see Serena Feng was never made in good faith—just the fact that he skipped over the Emperor and questioned Ninth Royal Uncle directly was enough to put Nolan on the opposite side of the throne.

Damien was telling the Emperor: in his eyes, only Ninth Royal Uncle mattered, not the Emperor. If the Emperor and Nolan were close brothers, it wouldn’t matter—but everyone knew the Emperor was deeply wary of Nolan. Damien’s words were a direct provocation.

Fortunately, the Emperor knows how to keep the guns pointed outward. No matter how dissatisfied he is with Ninth Royal Uncle, he won’t show it here. He maintains a natural, authoritative smile, and even his gaze at Nolan is full of warmth.

Every member of the royal family is a master of acting, and the Emperor is no exception.

All eyes turned to Ninth Royal Uncle, waiting for his answer. But Nolan acted as if he hadn’t heard at all—his dark eyes as still as dead water, calmly meeting Damien’s gaze, yet holding no one within them.

Nolan’s skill far surpassed Damien’s; he didn’t need any extra expression at all. He just looked at him—seemingly at Damien, but with eyes that held no trace of him. Nolan’s actions made it clear: Damien wasn’t even worth his attention.

Damien was arrogant and loved showing off. Being so thoroughly ignored by Nolan—especially remembering his last humiliating defeat at Nolan’s hands—made his anger flare instantly…

His narrow phoenix eyes flashed with killing intent, glinting bloodthirsty like a wild wolf. If not for the setting, Damien would have struck already. He took a deep breath, forced down his rage, and pulled out a stiff smile: "Ninth Royal Uncle, since you don’t refuse, I’ll take that as your consent."

Most expected Ninth Royal Uncle to get angry, or at least say something in response. But Nolan didn’t care about Damien at all; Damien’s bluster was just a sideshow to him. Not only the crowd, even Damien himself was left hanging.

Damien was furious. His narrow eyes glinted cold and sharp, and the whole room grew tense. The crowd shrank back, fearing they’d be caught in the crossfire if these two clashed.

But instead, Damien suddenly laughed in his rage: "Ninth Royal Uncle truly is a remarkable man. I won’t disturb your peace any further."

With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and bowed to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, Ninth Royal Uncle has already agreed. May I ask if you can summon Serena Feng to the palace, so I might witness this extraordinary woman for myself?"

He bit down hard on the word "extraordinary." Thinking of his earlier mockery, everyone knew what he meant—if Serena Feng appeared, she would be ridiculed, and Eastlyn itself would lose face. The Emperor had no desire to let that happen.

The Emperor ignored Damien and, with a deceptively genial yet sly tone, turned to Ninth Royal Uncle: "Ninth Brother?"

"Your servant and brother is here." Nolan rose and bowed, calm and unhurried.

"Third Prince insists on seeing Serena Feng—what do you think?" The Emperor was quite displeased with Serena Feng; her recent rise in fame and the death of Liam Li had made him resent her. He asked Nolan, not out of concern for her, but to probe Nolan’s reaction.

"I leave it entirely to Your Majesty’s discretion." Nolan met the Emperor’s gaze, his eyes cold and deep as the night sky.

The Emperor had always known that Nolan’s face—and even his eyes—never betrayed his emotions, so he didn’t bother to look too long. He nodded for Nolan to sit, then turned to Damien: "Third Prince, Serena Feng is unmarried and it is improper for her to meet unrelated men."

The Emperor wasn’t protecting Serena Feng—he was protecting the reputation of Eastlyn’s women. He couldn’t let one Serena Feng ruin Eastlyn’s good name.

"Not allowed to meet outsiders? Then I’ll just marry her." Damien blurted out, clearly prepared for this: "Your Majesty, the position of side-consort isn’t beneath Serena Feng, is it? Since I’m willing to marry her, meeting me wouldn’t count as meeting an outsider."

"Since ancient times, marriage has been by parents’ order and matchmaker’s words. Third Prince, does the Southlyn Emperor know you’re seeking marriage?" Earlier today, Adrian Zichun had asked for Serena Feng as side-consort; the Emperor had been annoyed at his lack of tact. Now, with Damien’s proposal, the Emperor was tempted to play matchmaker.

He wanted to see if his Ninth Brother would lose his composure upon hearing this. But Nolan didn’t so much as move his robe’s hem. The Emperor thought to himself, as expected, his Ninth Brother was a man without expression—he missed the flash of killing intent in Nolan’s eyes.

The Crown Prince, sitting nearby, caught Nolan’s strange look—but when he glanced up, it was gone. He wondered if he’d imagined it.

Damien, like the Emperor, watched Nolan out of the corner of his eye while talking. But he saw nothing, either—Nolan was far too inscrutable. Still, the show had to go on: "Your Majesty, rest assured. Before coming, I asked my father about this, and he gave me leave to act as I see fit. If Serena Feng returns with me, she’ll be my side-consort. If you doubt me, I can proclaim it to the world. Serena’s parents are gone, so I can’t ask them for her hand. Why not ask you, Your Majesty? Will you consent?"

Announcing a side-consort to the world—only Damien would dare say such a thing.

"Hmph… Didn’t you just say Eastlyn’s women were harlots who seduced men? Now you want to marry one. Isn’t this a slap in your own face, Third Prince?" Before the Emperor could respond, Adrian Zichun jumped in.

He was furious!

He’d accepted marrying Princess Yara, but why shouldn’t he be allowed to take Serena Feng as side-consort? If he couldn’t have her, then neither could anyone else.

Every time Adrian Zichun thought of the gentle woman who had bandaged his wounds herself, his heart ached. He’d never liked anyone so much—liked her enough to want to treasure her for a lifetime. But fate…

Adrian Zichun glared at Damien like an angry bull. How could someone as wonderful as Serena Feng marry a man like Damien? It would be a disgrace to her.

(Irrelevant system message skipped.)

"Zichun, mind your manners." The Emperor reprimanded him, though his tone held no real blame—showing just how fond he was of Prince Adrian.

Nolan’s lips curved in the faintest smile as he loosened the fist hidden in his sleeve.

How could he forget? Serena Feng was truly someone people couldn’t help but like. Nolan shifted slightly, left hand slipping out of his sleeve as he made a secret gesture behind his back.

Right now, everyone was caught up in the argument between Adrian Zichun and Damien. No one noticed that the palace maid serving in the distance had quietly been replaced…

Whether by accident or design, Damien ignored Nolan and began fighting Adrian Zichun for Serena Feng. Both argued they were the best match for her, boasting of their virtues and exposing each other’s flaws, each insisting only he was worthy.

Damien stayed calm, but Adrian Zichun’s eyes grew red with emotion. Sensing the moment was right, Damien suddenly declared, "I will not give up. Serena Feng will be mine! Since Adrian Zichun won’t back down either, why not summon Serena Feng to the palace and ask for her own opinion?"

"Fine! Go ahead and ask—I don’t believe Serena Feng would ever choose someone neither man nor woman like you." Provoked by Damien, Adrian Zichun took the bait and turned to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, please summon Serena Feng to the palace and ask whom she wishes to marry. She has eyes—she’ll know to choose me."

As he spoke, he didn’t notice Prince Terrence Valen’s fiery glare—or the Emperor’s furious look, as if he wished he could slap him down.

Damien sneered, lips pressed tight in silent defiance. But Nolan knew: Damien hated being called neither man nor woman more than anything. With the Emperor protecting Adrian Zichun, Damien couldn’t retaliate for now—but that anger would surely fall on Serena Feng…

If only he’d agreed earlier, Nolan thought with a hint of regret—then Damien wouldn’t be so angry now. But at the same time, Nolan was secretly pleased: with both Damien and Adrian Zichun vying for Serena Feng, anyone else who wanted to pursue her would have to think twice about their status.

Serena Feng had turned down both a Southlyn prince and an Eastlyn imperial prince—who would dare propose so lightly now?

With things at this point, the Emperor couldn’t refuse any longer. He summoned Serena Feng to the palace. Yet he overlooked the fact that Serena was the woman Nolan had personally acknowledged—or perhaps he knew, and was seizing this chance to slap Nolan’s face in front of everyone.

Even in a united front, if there’s a chance to put Nolan down, the Emperor won’t let it pass.

The Emperor’s magnanimity was lacking, to say the least!

Warned in advance by Dominic Zhai, Serena Feng spent the afternoon holed up in her room, busily modifying medicines from her Smart Med-Pack. She didn’t have a gun, but she had other ways to kill.

For a doctor, killing was easier than saving lives. Serena had at least ten ways to kill openly and leave no trace for the authorities to find.

Her mentor had warned her again and again not to use medical knowledge to kill. But when her life was at stake, she had no choice but to break that rule. If she didn’t kill, she’d be killed. To survive, she didn’t mind bloodying her hands once more.

Serena Feng was ready. So when the palace sent for her, she didn’t panic. Rising from the floor, she handed the eunuch messenger a fat red envelope. "May I ask why His Majesty has summoned me? I’m quite anxious—could you enlighten me?" Her tone was perfectly polite, not fawning, but pleasing to the ear.

The eunuch discreetly opened the envelope and found a five-hundred tael silver note inside. His delicate face broke into a chrysanthemum smile as he briefly explained the situation at the banquet, and congratulated Serena Feng on soon becoming someone important.

"I hope Miss Feng will remember me when the time comes." The eunuch tried to curry favor, convinced Serena Feng would likely choose Prince Adrian.

"Of course, of course." Serena Feng replied with a forced smile, her eyes flashing with anger.

Marry her, just like that? Did they think Serena Feng was someone who’d agree just because they wanted her?