A Beauty Arrives and Even Jealousy Requires the Right

Serena Feng picked a spot a little farther from the corpses and spread her tent from her backpack directly on the ground, making it convenient for Nolan Dongling to sit.

She did consider setting up the tent—at least it would block some wind during the cold night—but...

She glanced at Nolan Dongling’s strikingly handsome but expressionless face and decided against it.

Her intentions were obvious enough—if Ninth Royal Uncle thought she was trying to use the situation of a man and woman alone together to seduce him, she’d be in trouble.

Anyway, with the fire going, it wasn’t too cold.

Serena Feng skillfully gathered dry leaves and branches, quickly building a fire. Making a campfire outdoors was a real skill—she remembered how many times she’d failed before she finally got it right.

Watching the fire grow stronger, Serena nodded in satisfaction. She sprinkled some mosquito-repellent liquid around and tried to suppress the smell of blood.

Nolan Dongling remained silent the whole time, only sitting by the fire once Serena had finished preparing everything.

“Ninth Royal Uncle, you rest first. I’ll see if I can find something to eat or drink.” Serena set her backpack aside, grabbed her pistol and emergency lamp, and darted into the woods. She didn’t think there was anything wrong with preparing these things for him.

Nolan Dongling didn’t stop her, just watched Serena thoughtfully.

A timid young lady who never set foot outside the house had not only changed drastically in personality, but grown mysterious and odd—moving through the woods like she belonged there. Not something just anyone could do.

“Serena Feng, what on earth has happened to you? I’m growing more and more curious.”

Nolan Dongling closed his eyes, hiding the deep thought in them. His long lashes trembled—a meaningless gesture, yet one that could make people’s hearts race.

The firelight cast onto Ninth Royal Uncle’s face, bringing a touch of color to his pallor. A faint halo seemed to surround him, as if veiled and indistinct.

With his transcendent, ethereal aura and unmatched nobility and beauty, for a moment Serena Feng almost thought Ninth Royal Uncle was a monk descending to earth, about to ascend to immortality.

Serena stood there stunned, a thick snake in her left hand and a bundle of reeds in her right. If the snake hadn’t already been dead, it probably would have run off by now.

She froze, unable to snap out of it for a long time—until Ninth Royal Uncle spoke: “Have you seen enough?”

So blunt!

Cough, cough... Serena nearly choked to death, but at least the awkwardness was gone.

Pretending nothing had happened, Serena walked over with the snake. “Ninth Royal Uncle, I caught a snake. There’s no water here, so how about we roast it and make do?”

“Mm.” Ninth Royal Uncle opened his eyes and nodded to Serena Feng.

“You sit tight, Ninth Royal Uncle. I’ll be done soon.” Serena Feng smiled.

That counted as a kind of recognition, right? She wasn’t a burden.

“Oh, right—there’s water inside these reeds. I thought you might be thirsty, so I dug up a handful. There’s nothing to hold the water, so you’ll have to make do, Ninth Royal Uncle.”

Serena placed the reeds upside down, careful not to spill the water inside. Worried that Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t know how to drink from them, she demonstrated once.

Ninth Royal Uncle took the reeds from Serena Feng. “You know a lot.”

Faced with Ninth Royal Uncle’s seemingly all-seeing gaze, Serena Feng was startled, almost dropping the reeds. Luckily, he was quick and caught them—his slightly cold fingers brushed hers.

Serena felt a tingling sensation and quickly pulled her hand back, murmuring, “I heard about this from my father when I was little. I just tried it outside.”

After speaking, she stopped talking and turned to deal with the snake.

To be honest, Serena really hated snakes—their slimy skins made her scalp tingle. But no matter how much she disliked them, she had to grit her teeth and deal with it.

She was fine, but it was clear Ninth Royal Uncle hadn’t eaten all day. Other than snakes, the only thing here was corpses—surely he wouldn’t eat human flesh.

She did want to hunt some other animal, but that was only if she actually had the skills.

Putting on gloves and fighting her disgust, Serena skinned the snake, sliced the meat, skewered the pieces on whittled sticks, sprinkled them with salt from her pack, and started roasting.

Looking up, she saw Ninth Royal Uncle drinking water from the reeds. Even holding something so ordinary, he somehow made it look like sipping fine jade wine.

Born noble—if anyone fit that phrase, it was Ninth Royal Uncle.

Serena’s lips curled into a smile...

Even in the wilderness, being this close to Ninth Royal Uncle made Serena feel happy.

Soon, the aroma of roasted snake filled the air. Serena skillfully turned the skewers, sprinkling salt now and then. She held five or six sticks, never burning the meat.

That kind of skill couldn’t be learned in just a day or two. Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t believe Serena had picked it up from her father—she must have spent plenty of time outdoors to be able to find food in the forest.

But Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t plan to expose her.

Most of the snake ended up in Nolan Dongling’s stomach. He refused to admit Serena’s cooking was good—he only acknowledged he was hungry, so he ate more.

Full now, with his fatigue and chill driven away, Nolan Dongling’s mood improved. The cold edge of his face softened a little—though you’d hardly notice unless you looked closely.

Serena glanced at Ninth Royal Uncle, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. She kept watch by the fire, staying alert.

They sat together in silence, but it wasn’t awkward—just quietly harmonious. Serena didn’t speak again, not wanting to disrupt the mood.

As night deepened, Serena yawned, fought off sleepiness, and got up to add more firewood.

It wasn’t that Serena was afraid of the cold—firelight kept animals away, making them safer.

Nolan Dongling stood up too, turning his back to Serena. She didn’t know what he was doing, so she sighed at his silhouette and said nothing.

Half an hour later, the quiet of night was broken by the tinkling sound of silver beads colliding.

Seeing that Ninth Royal Uncle wasn’t wary of her, Serena understood this was the woman he’d been waiting for.

Serena snapped awake, grabbed her spear, and stood.

“Ninth Royal Uncle, someone’s coming.” Serena said, seeing Nolan Dongling unresponsive.

“Mm.” Nolan Dongling replied, clearly knowing who it was. Serena relaxed a little, hid her spear in her sleeve, and turned her back to him, facing the direction of the sound.

Soon, a distant light approached—flickering closer. Serena saw four young maids carrying palace lanterns, followed by a stunning beauty in red gauze.

The tinkling sound came from the silver beads at her waist as she walked. In the darkness, the beads gleamed, the palace lanterns casting shimmering rays.

As the group arrived, a sweet fragrance filled the air, overpowering the scent of blood.

Up close, Serena saw the woman in red was truly beautiful—willow brows, phoenix eyes, oval face, graceful and poised, like a lady from a painting. Her allure wasn’t just her face; her whole bearing dazzled.

Behind her were a group of guards, all sharp and steady.

Beautiful, talented, clever, noble—this woman was no ordinary person, far beyond Princess Anping and those society ladies.

Serena could tell this woman was either rich or noble. From the look in her eyes and her shock on seeing Nolan Dongling, Serena realized she liked Ninth Royal Uncle.

Seeing that Ninth Royal Uncle wasn’t wary of her, Serena understood this was the woman he’d been waiting for.

Serena quietly put away her spear and stepped aside.

For some reason, her heart felt especially sour, but she forced it down—Ninth Royal Uncle wasn’t hers; she didn’t even have the right to be jealous...

Only now did she understand why people say the worst feeling isn’t jealousy, but not even having the right to be jealous...

Unlike Serena’s sadness, the woman in red, after her initial shock, kept smiling. Seeing Serena step aside, her eyes grew thoughtful.

About ten meters from Nolan Dongling, the woman in red stopped. Her guards quickly set up a jade chair.

Dressed in red and seated on white jade, the woman looked delicate as a flower, serene as water—her uniqueness only more apparent.

Everyone else stood, but she alone sat—showing her status, though it also made her less likable.

Like Serena. Like Ninth Royal Uncle.

The woman’s arrogance and boldness made Serena breathe easier.

She knew Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t like such a showy woman.

As for the woman’s admiration? Serena thought, ‘If a family has a daughter, a hundred suitors will come; for a man like Ninth Royal Uncle, thousands of families would admire him—it's only natural.'

Calm and self-possessed, knowing her place—Nolan Dongling was quite satisfied with Serena’s behavior.

The woman in red sat, but Nolan Dongling still faced away, saying nothing. After waiting a long time, the woman grew annoyed but could only accept it.

Her eyes swept to Serena. “No wonder Ninth Royal Uncle waited here for Wanwan—he had a beauty for company. Wanwan is truly curious, what kind of woman could make Ninth Royal Uncle break his rules?”

Her words were aimed at Serena—a declaration that Ninth Royal Uncle was waiting here for her, even if it meant breaking his rules.

Serena thought she’d be fine if she just stayed out of the way, but this woman, like her, cared about Ninth Royal Uncle and the idea of a ‘special’ woman.

It seemed Serena wasn’t the only one without the right to be jealous.

Serena chuckled, her mood suddenly much better.

She’d avoided the situation out of caution, not wanting trouble for Ninth Royal Uncle or entanglement with this woman. But now, being directly called out, to keep dodging would be cowardly.

Serena stepped forward, each footfall deliberately heavy, radiating pressure...