Counterattack, Offending the Empress Has No Good End

Prince Nolan wants more than just Southern Lyn—he wants the entire realm. He will never allow his own people to drag him down or sabotage his ambition to unify the continent.

Autocracy is taboo for an emperor, but timing is everything. Until the Nine Provinces Realm is unified, Prince Nolan will be a deliberately autocratic ruler. Whether aristocrats or commoners, all may seek their own benefit—but only within the bounds of his will. No one is permitted to defy him, right or wrong!

This kind of domineering strength is exactly the Prince Nolan Serena knows so well. She says nothing more, simply standing firmly behind him and letting him do as he must.

"No matter what you want to do, I support you. Eastlyn won't fall into chaos—at least not while I'm here." This is Serena's promise to Prince Nolan. With those words, what does he have left to worry about...

With Serena and the Phoenixfield Clan backing him fully, Prince Nolan accelerates his plans. He even summons William Wang Jinling and Warren Yu to join forces, gathering evidence of the prime minister and Three Excellencies' crimes—he intends to deal with all four of them at once.

"Attempting to murder the crown prince—this charge is enough to wipe out their clans to the ninth degree." Prince Nolan tosses out this line lightly, making it clear that he wants William to pin the poisoning of Little Dumpling on the prime minister and Three Excellencies.

Every official knows that Little Dumpling was poisoned on the day of the imperial wedding, but they don't know what happened afterward. They only know that a batch of old palace staff were sent away, and several senior figures vanished forever—the culprit was never found.

William Wang Jinling has long suspected that, nine times out of ten, this is tied to Prince Nolan's infamous mother. He thought Nolan would cover it up and block any investigation, but now realizes Nolan left this trap here specifically to bury the prime minister and Three Excellencies.

"Isn't 'attempting to murder the crown prince' a bit too heavy?" William isn't being soft-hearted—he's worried that such a charge will implicate too many officials and throw the bureaucracy into chaos for a while.

"Either make no enemies at all, or annihilate them completely. My mother taught me that herself." Prince Nolan lowers his gaze, idly rubbing the thumb-ring on his finger...

It’s a simple, repetitive gesture, but when Prince Nolan does it, it feels unfathomably deep. Warren Yu feels his heart skip a beat and is gripped by the urge to flee: these two together are truly terrifying!

William Wang Jinling is nothing like Warren Yu, who’s easily rattled. After carefully weighing the feasibility, William asks, "When do you plan to act?" He wants to arrange personnel.

"When will the Southern Lyn emperor arrive?" The officials already reported this to Prince Nolan, but he’s been busy and forgot.

"He’ll reach the outskirts in eight days. The Imperial Astrologers picked the date, so in ten days he’ll be presented in chains before the main hall." William’s extraordinary memory is obvious—he never forgets important events.

"Ten days?" Prince Nolan pauses in his gesture with the thumb-ring. "General Phoenixfield probably won’t make it back in time—have Ezra Phoenixfield stand in, and later arrange a civil post for him in the Ministry of War."

Since the prime minister and Three Excellencies are targeting Serena, it’s only right for her clansmen to lead the counterattack. That way, everyone plotting against Serena or pressuring Nolan to depose her will see just how fiercely the Phoenixfield Clan protects their legitimate daughter—Serena is not someone to trifle with!

Though this purge is really about cleaning out court parasites for Prince Nolan, it also publicly gives face to Serena and the Phoenixfield Clan. William is willing to work himself to the bone, even if it’s just for show.

In just one night, William compiles the full roster, marking which officials should be executed, which demoted, and which merely dismissed.

Additionally, William organizes the witnesses and evidence needed to pin the crime of poisoning Little Dumpling on the prime minister and Three Excellencies. These items he can’t obtain himself—they require palace cooperation, so only Prince Nolan can arrange it.

"Take a look." Prince Nolan hands William’s memorial directly to Serena.

All the witnesses and evidence William needs must come from inside the palace, and these fall under Serena’s authority. It’s best for her to handle it personally—this way, outsiders will see it as Serena’s counterattack, not Prince Nolan’s plot.

"I’ll take care of it." Serena would love to just hand everything to Prince Nolan, but she knows how busy he is. There’s no need to trouble him with these details—but...

"You want to use Ezra Phoenixfield?" Serena frowns slightly, not understanding why Prince Nolan chose Ezra—he used to dislike him.

Prince Nolan raises an eyebrow: "Are you reluctant?"

"Not at all. After the Clara Phoenixfield incident, I see clearly—he’s not one to act on emotion, and he’s wholly devoted to the Phoenixfield Clan. I doubt anything could make him betray us. If you think he’s useful, call him in."

No wonder Prince Nolan picked him—Ezra Phoenixfield really is talented. No matter how bad the situation, he quickly finds the most advantageous strategy and makes the best decision.

Ezra values affection but never lets it cloud his judgment. At critical moments, he knows how to choose; he acts decisively and remains rational—a born commander, though his children have held him back.

Even if Serena wanted to promote him, the clan elders wouldn’t allow it. Ezra’s brilliance has no platform in the Phoenixfield Clan, but if Prince Nolan is willing to use him, it could be a real opportunity.

But Prince Nolan’s intentions differ slightly from Serena’s. He presses his lips together and lightly shakes his head: "I don’t plan to use him heavily. He’s better suited for Little Dumpling." Nolan has no shortage of great commanders and ministers, and even if he did, he wouldn’t choose Ezra. During his reign, Ezra won’t have a chance to shine.

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll turn against you if you raise him up for the heir?" Serena teases, half-joking.

Many emperors raise talented ministers for their heirs. Prince Nolan is suppressing Ezra now, but once Little Dumpling ascends, Ezra will be promoted—unless he truly harbors treason, he’ll be absolutely loyal to the heir.

"Not worried—the Phoenixfield Clan is smart." Prince Nolan replies without hesitation.

The one who’ll inherit this country and this continent is Little Dumpling, who has half Phoenixfield blood. As long as the clan doesn’t act foolishly, they’ll serve him and me faithfully.

If Prince Nolan isn’t afraid, Serena certainly isn’t. Ezra Phoenixfield still has a son under her control—unless he’d rather lose his son than his daughter, he’ll have to serve her and her son obediently!

Of course, the urgent priority isn’t Ezra’s future, but coordinating with Prince Nolan to lure the prime minister and Three Excellencies into action—so they’ll make their move soon...