Master Ian Reed spent his life stifled by the Princess Royal, never expecting that in his old age, he would wield great power thanks to her. His fate truly has been full of dramatic twists...
Nearly all high officials in Lyndaria knew about the affair between the Princess Royal and Left Chancellor Damian Du. Although no one spoke openly, they gossiped about it in private with great enthusiasm.
Some even joked that to become Chancellor of Lyndaria, you first had to please the Princess Royal. Hadn't she just kicked out her old lover, Left Chancellor Damian Du, and elevated her new favorite, Master Ian Reed, to power?
Of course, these rumors reached Master Ian Reed as well. True to being someone valued by Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan, after years of patience, he certainly wouldn’t squander his chance now.
With his wit and talent, Master Ian Reed made it clear to everyone that he became Chancellor of Lyndaria through his own abilities. If the Princess Royal hadn’t suppressed him for over twenty years, there would never have been a Chancellor Du in Lyndaria.
Such pride and boldness immediately silenced the officials of Lyndaria. One by one, they stared wide-eyed, watching what Master Ian Reed would do next.
Master Ian Reed did not disappoint. Using thunderous methods, he crushed several political enemies and solved difficult government matters, earning the Emperor of Lyndaria’s praise. No one dared underestimate him again.
Only now did everyone realize that Master Ian Reed was no longer the consort they could mock, but the true Prime Minister—leader of all civil officials in Lyndaria.
When the Princess Royal and Crown Prince Terrence fought so fiercely, it not only gave Master Ian Reed a chance for a comeback, but also allowed Prince Titus to smoothly obtain military command in Lyndaria.
After confirming that the Emperor of Lyndaria was safe, Prince Titus quietly left the capital Shangjing with the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley, wandered outside for a while, and then openly returned to the palace.
Prince Titus returned to the palace at the height of the Princess Royal’s fierce power struggle with Crown Prince Terrence. Not long after, Titus requested a military posting, clearly declaring he would not take part in court conflicts or compete for the throne of Lyndaria.
This move made the Emperor of Lyndaria feel guilty toward Prince Titus, believing he had misjudged him and forced Titus to withdraw from the capital Shangjing to prove his loyalty.
Right away, the Emperor of Lyndaria granted Prince Titus the title of Southwest King, assigning him to guard the border between Lyndaria and Northlyn Kingdom.
"Southwest King, stationed at Northlyn’s frontier—how interesting." Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan read this report, his smile cold.
Is the Emperor of Lyndaria favoring Prince Titus, or just making things difficult for him? Maybe a bit of both.
The region bordering Northlyn Kingdom is unique for every nation—full of soldiers, but also hardship.
The Northlyn frontier is bitterly cold, and Northlyn’s troops are renowned for their valor. To keep the border secure, Eastlyn, Southlyn, and Lyndaria all station their largest and toughest armies there.
The generals stationed at Northlyn are all battle-hardened veterans. For example, Eastlyn’s commander at Northlyn is General Warren Yu, who brought three hundred thousand troops.
Southlyn’s commander at Northlyn is the general who once defeated General Feng, and he also commands three hundred thousand soldiers.
Lyndaria’s previous commander at Northlyn was also a seasoned veteran. But as he grew older, he couldn’t endure the hardships of the frontier, and holding so much military power made him fear imperial suspicion. He took the chance to request retirement, never expecting the Emperor would send Prince Titus to take his place.
Lyndaria’s garrison at Northlyn numbers four hundred thousand. To hand so many troops directly to Prince Titus—what trust the Emperor of Lyndaria must have.
Yet the Emperor assigned Prince Titus, a prince with no military experience or reputation among the troops, to lead hardened soldiers at Northlyn. Even if he trusts Titus, this move is questionable.
"The Emperor of Lyndaria is making a very interesting move," Serena murmured.
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan didn’t hide these secret messages from Serena. Whenever she didn’t understand something, he would patiently explain.
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan didn’t want Serena to become another Princess Royal, obsessed only with power and schemes, but he also didn’t want her to be ignorant of everything.
As the Feng Clan Head, Serena could ignore politics. But as the Phoenixfield Heiress—and possibly future King of Phoenixfield—she had to understand these matters, or she’d never hold that throne securely.
"Tell me, what’s so interesting about it?" Lyndaria’s situation had gone beyond Nolan’s expectations, leaving him with the sense that things were slipping out of control. He wanted to talk it through with Serena.
Serena didn’t hesitate: "Giving Prince Titus so much power isn’t a blessing. Forget his health—can he even hold onto that military command? He finally escaped court intrigue, but now the Emperor has dragged him right back into the vortex. With four hundred thousand troops in hand, neither Crown Prince Terrence nor the Princess Royal will leave him alone."
In Serena’s view, if the Emperor of Lyndaria truly felt guilty toward Prince Titus, he wouldn’t have sent him to Northlyn.
In the military, status means nothing—only ability matters. The Emperor knows all about Prince Titus’s leg ailment. Sending him to Northlyn is practically a death sentence, at least in Serena’s eyes.
"That’s true, but for Prince Titus, this is also an opportunity. Maybe the Emperor of Lyndaria has his own reasons. If Titus can win over the Northlyn frontier army, neither Crown Prince Terrence nor the Princess Royal will dare touch him. At that point, the Emperor might reconsider some things."
After all, the Emperor of Lyndaria is a clever man—he’ll choose a capable ruler, not just someone he personally likes.
But if that happens, the situation may no longer favor Titus.
Did the Emperor of Lyndaria notice something, and that’s why he arranged things this way?
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan couldn’t help but think more deeply—after all, people’s hearts can change.
Seeing Nolan’s grave expression, Serena knew what he was worried about. She asked softly, "Are you afraid that once Prince Titus holds real power, he’ll start thinking differently?"
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan nodded without hesitation. "If Titus has an army, he’ll definitely start thinking more. After all, he’s a Lyndaria prince—he’s very close to the throne."
If he could become Emperor himself, why would Prince Titus need to cooperate with anyone? Back then, Titus said he’d give Lyndaria away because he thought Nolan would never walk again and had no chance at the throne.
In Prince Titus’s eyes, that promise might never come true.
Later, Titus recovered his legs but still remained unappreciated in Lyndaria, with no power or hope for the throne. Plus, the Emperor and Empress of Lyndaria’s attitude toward him made him feel rejected and rootless.
But if one day, Prince Titus held true power and could claim the throne—would he still hand Lyndaria over as thanks for saving his life?
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan seriously doubted it.