Departure, Banked Fury and Renewed Schemes

When two people are together, there are bound to be bumps and quarrels. After an argument, time is needed to smooth things over—this, both Prince Nolan and Serena Feng understand.

So, after they had spoken their hearts, clarified everything, and Serena Feng had forgiven him, Prince Nolan made no further demands. Serena Feng simply got along with him as if nothing had happened at all...

The next morning, Prince Nolan woke but didn’t get up right away. Instead, he held Serena Feng quietly, saying nothing. Serena stayed still too, eyes closed, savoring the warmth of the moment, until...

Serena Feng noticed it was getting late and had to remind him, "Time to get up. If you don’t, you’ll be late for morning court again."

"Don’t want to get up."

To Serena’s surprise, Prince Nolan was acting spoiled. She was so stunned her mouth dropped open wide enough to fit a duck egg.

Prince Nolan actually had such a childish side. Serena Feng secretly pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, then finally found her voice and, as if coaxing a child, gently said, "Morning court is starting soon. If you don’t get up, you’ll be late again."

Prince Nolan was just like Little Evan when he threw a tantrum and wanted her to coax him.

"I’m sick. I’ll call in." Prince Nolan turned his back to Serena Feng—she couldn’t see his face, but the thick nasal tone told her this man hadn’t really woken up yet.

Fine, there’s no point arguing with a man who hasn’t had enough sleep. Serena Feng wriggled out of Prince Nolan’s arms and sat up first. Seeing he still wouldn’t budge from bed, Serena couldn’t help but feel both helpless and amused.

"Excuse—" He hadn’t even finished the word before Serena cut him off: "No more excuses! Even Little Evan is better behaved than you. Up, now!"

Serena gave Prince Nolan no chance to argue. She got up, grabbed his clothes, and half-pulled, half-dragged him into them. "No time for breakfast. I’ll have the servants pack it in a box—you can eat in the carriage."

"Serena, I really could call in sick." Prince Nolan gazed silently at the sky, letting Serena fuss over him.

He might be the Regent Prince, but he wasn’t the Emperor. Even an Emperor could call in sick if he was unwell. If you’re too sick to get out of bed, how can you attend court?

The early morning chaos was half torture, half sweetness for Prince Nolan. But after all the fuss, the invisible barrier between them faded—a surprising reward.

The next morning at court, Prince Nolan’s face was as expressionless as ever, but the chill around him had softened. He wasn’t exactly warm, but he no longer felt like a biting winter wind.

When William Wang Jinling dared to challenge his plan, saying it wasn’t the right time to attack Liancastle, Prince Nolan didn’t glare coldly like yesterday. Instead, he compromised: no attack, but more troops.

The ministers saw Prince Nolan back down and breathed a huge sigh of relief. Of course they went along with him. When he announced he’d personally inspect the Imperial Mausoleum works, no one dared object.

Are you kidding? The officials dismissed yesterday were still sitting in jail.

Prince Nolan was in charge of the mausoleum’s construction by decree of the Taishang Emperor. It was perfectly normal for him to check on things now and then.

Of course, those ministers weren’t jailed just for opposing Prince Nolan. Yesterday, everyone in court spoke up against his reckless move. A few even called him a tyrant, but he only scolded them and demoted their ranks.

Those unlucky ones ended up in jail because they committed crimes—crimes Prince Nolan couldn’t tolerate.

They embezzled the compensation owed to fallen soldiers’ families. The sum wasn’t enormous, but Prince Nolan was ruthless: confiscated their estates, executed them, and banned their descendants from ever serving in court.

It was a harsh punishment, but no one dared say Prince Nolan was wrong. In chaotic times, you need heavy laws. To stamp out corruption, especially officials stealing from the dead’s families or skimming flood relief funds, Prince Nolan would rather be feared as a tyrant.

At the monastery, Lady Min, who usually spent her days quietly copying scriptures, found herself unable to calm down. Half the day passed, and she hadn’t even finished a single page.

Calm her heart? How could she possibly be calm!

She’d schemed so carefully, set up such a meticulous plan—only to get Prince Nolan’s icy warning in return.

Sending troops to Liancastle, replacing all her attendants—was this his warning to her?

Eastlyn’s Ninth, as your mother, I’m just like you—I won’t compromise easily. Let’s see who wins.

Lady Min lowered her head, hiding the fierceness in her eyes. By the time the maid entered, her aura was calm, and her pen flew across the page. By evening, she’d finished copying an entire scripture...

"Offer it before the Buddha." Once the ink dried, Lady Min handed the scripture to the new maid, who respectfully withdrew and passed it on to someone outside.

That person glanced through the scripture, confirmed nothing was amiss, then placed it before the Buddha statue.

He didn’t know that soon after, the old temple monk slipped in, swapped the scripture in front of the Buddha, and by nightfall had smuggled it out so Lady Min’s agents could act on her orders...

Meanwhile, Prince Nolan and Serena Feng were meeting with Sean Xuan, finalizing tomorrow’s departure for the Imperial Mausoleum...