"Come here."
To Serena, it was just a casual remark, but for Zed, it was a difficult choice. Everything he'd experienced in Ninth Prince Manor had taught him: not everyone would treat him kindly like his father, and not everyone was as easy to kill as those he'd slaughtered before.
Zed felt a bit wary of Serena, but he remembered that she had never hit him. Every time they met, she only treated his wounds. After a moment's hesitation, Zed shuffled over to Serena's side.
His injuries hurt badly, and he hoped Serena would help him.
Zed’s obedience slightly improved Serena’s mood. She pulled him into her arms, letting him lean across her, but Zed refused, muttering, “I’m dirty.”
“I’m not exactly clean myself.” Her hands were stained with blood; her actions reckless, fearless. She was hardly better than Zed—maybe even worse. At least Zed didn’t hide behind flimsy excuses to cover up his own crimes, unlike her.
Serena pulled Zed close, letting him lie across her lap. Zed didn’t resist and stayed perfectly still, his eyes half-closed, looking drowsy.
With no hesitation, Serena opened her Smart Med-Pack, took out medicine, and began cleaning Zed’s wounds. Zed gritted his teeth through the pain, not making a sound.
With something to focus on, Serena concentrated fully on cleaning Zed’s wounds, pushing other thoughts aside. For the moment, her mood was unexpectedly calm.
The carriage turned off the avenue where Ninth Prince Manor was located and merged into the traffic. Whether it was people or carts, everyone who saw the Ninth Prince Manor’s emblem gave way—they didn’t dare compete for the road.
At the fork in the road, the coachman slowed down, uncertain where to go, and asked, "Miss Feng, where are we headed?"
"Home." Serena answered, then realized what she'd said and quickly corrected herself: "To Feng Manor."
To the coachman, 'home' meant returning to Ninth Prince Manor.
"Yes, Miss." The coachman steered the carriage into the left lane, heading toward Feng Manor.
Whenever a Ninth Prince Manor carriage appeared, it didn’t just make people yield—it also drew plenty of curious stares and gossip. Even though Serena tried not to listen, those voices still found their way to her ears.
“Look, it’s a Ninth Prince Manor carriage! Quick, look—it really is!”
“Huh? That’s not the carriage Prince Nolan usually rides in. Who’s inside?”
“Heh, if it’s not Prince Nolan, then who else would dare ride in a Ninth Prince Manor carriage and flaunt it around town?”
“Just a sparrow who thinks she’s a phoenix. Riding in the Ninth Prince Manor carriage doesn’t make her the Princess Consort.”
......
Upstairs in the teahouse, Princess Yara and Princess Serenity sat drinking tea. Hearing the noise below, they glanced out. Princess Yara smirked, "Serena must be feeling guilty, needing all this to prove her status."
"Her title isn’t proper, so her words carry no weight. All she can do is use these things to prop herself up." Princess Serenity replied blandly, glancing down before withdrawing her gaze.
A strange smile curled at Princess Yara’s lips. She turned to her guard and said, “Go, invite Miss Feng upstairs for tea.”
"Yes, Your Highness."
“Wait.” Princess Serenity called out. Princess Yara frowned, “Serenity, what’s wrong?” Such a good opportunity—how could she let it slip by?
“Sister-in-law, there’s no need to kick someone when they’re down. We don’t have to do anything—her situation is humiliating enough. Why give others more reason to talk?” Northlyn keeps pressing for my marriage, and soon I’ll be sent far away. Maybe that’s why I’ve grown more cautious.
“You’re right, Serenity.” Princess Yara forced a smile.
She really didn’t want to miss a chance to mock Serena. Thinking of her own humiliation at the wedding, Princess Yara seethed. But now she was Princess Consort Chun of Eastlyn, not Princess Yara of Westlyn. Here in Eastlyn, she couldn’t embarrass Serenity, so she could only watch as Serena’s carriage rolled past.
Still, Princess Yara quickly let it go. Her mother had fallen from favor, but her brother had regained the Emperor’s trust and was still Crown Prince of Westlyn. She still had a powerful family to rely on—she was far better off than Serena.
Yara was at peace, but Serena’s troubles were far from over. She didn’t run into Yara or Serenity—but she did cross paths with Charlotte Chu.
The carriage turned into a narrow lane, just as another carriage approached head-on. Neither coachman intended to yield, but as the two vehicles drew near and spotted each other's emblems, one asked Serena quietly, "Miss Feng, that's a Chu City carriage."
At the same moment, Charlotte Chu’s coachman also spoke up: "Miss, that’s a carriage from Ninth Prince Manor."
"Yield." Almost in unison, Serena and Charlotte Chu gave the same order, and both coachmen, understanding perfectly, pulled their carriages to the side. In the end, everyone stopped and waited.
"Miss Feng, Chu City has yielded to us." The coachman was not surprised—no one in Eastlyn would dare refuse to give way to a Ninth Prince Manor carriage.
"Then let’s go."
"Miss, Ninth Prince Manor has yielded to us," said the Chu City coachman, his tone respectful.
Charlotte Chu was surprised, then understood: "Looks like the person in that carriage isn’t Prince Nolan. To use the Ninth Prince Manor carriage, it must be Serena Feng. I’ve always wanted to meet her—since we’ve crossed paths, I should go say hello."
With that, she sent her maid ahead to ask for an introduction.
"Miss Feng, the carriage ahead belongs to Charlotte Chu, the eldest young lady of Chu City. She’s sent a maid to ask if she may greet you." In this situation, leaving without responding would be a serious breach of etiquette.
"Decline." Serena had no interest in meeting Charlotte Chu, but Charlotte was not one to take no for an answer. When her maid heard the refusal, she hurried back, and Charlotte Chu herself stepped down from her carriage.
"Miss Feng, Charlotte Chu herself is coming over," the coachman reported.
"I know," Serena replied, propping Zed up. "Sit properly. I have a guest."
Serena did not want to see Charlotte Chu. Besides feeling there was little point, she was acutely aware that her current appearance was far from presentable. Though it wasn’t strictly necessary to change into fresh clothes to receive a guest, being covered in blood, with hands stained red, was undeniably improper.
"I’ve heard much of Miss Feng’s reputation. Forgive my boldness in seeking an introduction. I hope Miss Feng will pardon my forwardness." Charlotte Chu, though braver than most women, was not uncouth; her manners were impeccable.
"Miss Chu, you’re too kind. My appearance is not fit for guests. I hope Miss Chu will forgive me." Serena refused again, maintaining courtesy.
Charlotte Chu quickly apologized: "It’s my fault for intruding. There are fresh, unworn clothes in my carriage—if Miss Feng does not mind, I can have them brought over so you may change."
At this, Serena could hardly refuse any longer.
"Thank you, Miss Chu, but I have an injured patient with me. Even if I change into clean clothes, they’ll soon be stained again." Serena calmly wiped the blood from her hands, glanced at her colorful, dirty outer robe, and, without a trace of embarrassment, lifted the curtain.
Charlotte Chu was determined to meet Serena today, and she would. Regardless of Serena’s status, she didn’t even have the standing to sit in her own carriage and converse as an equal. Even if she did, since Charlotte Chu had come to her, Serena had to step out.
Lose in status, but not in spirit. The world already calls Serena Feng an abandoned wife—if she refused to face Charlotte Chu now, the rumors would only grow worse…