Playing with Fire, Who Is More Pitiful, Prince Nolan or Serena Feng

While Prince Colin of Qing and Victor Yun continued to suffer their punishment, Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng had already slipped away north by boat, accompanied by Ethan 'Left Bank' Banks and Dorian 'Beanie' Owen.

Nolan and Serena were hurrying back to the Capital—not out of fear of revenge from Prince Adrian of Jiangnan or the Valley Master, but because they received a letter from William Wang Jinling. Besides, both Adrian and Colin were behaving themselves, and there was nothing urgent left to do in Jiangnan. Returning to the Capital early made more sense.

William Wang Jinling’s letter to Nolan relayed two things. First, the truth behind Master Wenyuan Adrian Wren’s death had been 'fully clarified': a Deputy Palace Master of Jixia Academy had confessed to the crime. The matter would not implicate Nolan further. William had already sent word to the Eastlyn authorities, so Nolan could return to the Capital without worry.

That was the major news. The second item was far more interesting.

Yana Zhan was now engaged—and her fiancé was Prince Nathan of Southlyn. Nathan had personally come to House Zhan to propose, promising to marry Yana in three years.

Although Nathan is not yet Crown Prince, his succession is essentially guaranteed. His proposal to Yana is more than a marriage—he is offering House Zhan an alliance with Southlyn’s future queen-mother seat, trading it for their support and to win William Wang Jinling’s goodwill.

After Master Wenyuan’s death, House Zhan urgently needed a powerful ally. Prince Nathan was clearly the best choice. Once Yana was asked for her opinion and did not refuse, the engagement was set.

“I didn’t expect Yana would actually agree to marry Prince Nathan. That’s a surprise,” Serena thought. This world was full of unexpected twists—she’d assumed Yana would hold out longer, given how deeply she loved William Wang Jinling. Even as an outsider, Serena could see it plainly.

“For Yana, Nathan is the best choice. With him as her backing, House Zhan won’t dare neglect her.” From this match, Nolan could tell it was William Wang Jinling’s handiwork—his aim was clearly to help Yana live better within her own family.

William Wang Jinling might have some sway, but House Zhan is based in Eastlyn. Even if William wants to help Yana, he can’t be there for every crisis.

William Wang Jinling truly did his utmost for Master Wenyuan and Yana Zhan. Without his intervention, given Prince Nathan’s current status in Southlyn, he could have chosen a wife with even better prospects.

Serena had thought of this too. Though she regretted that Yana and William didn’t end up together, she was happy for Yana: “It’s a good thing for Yana to have found a good home. She’s a wonderful girl.” She hoped Nathan would cherish her.

Nolan just smiled and didn’t reply. Like drinking water, only you know if it’s hot or cold. Whether marrying Prince Nathan is truly a good outcome for Yana depends on whether she has the skill to turn this alliance-based marriage into something stable.

Their journey south had been relaxed and full of sightseeing, but heading north, Nolan and Serena had no such mood. Though they weren’t traveling night and day, the schedule was still tight—a month’s journey was squeezed into just twenty days.

Serena had set out from the Capital at the end of summer and returned at the start of winter. Most of the time was consumed on the road; the actual business hardly took a few days.

Serena swore that if Nolan ever ascended the throne, she would build roads, invent the steam engine, push for an industrial revolution, and maybe even dream of cars—if not airplanes, at least a four-wheeled carriage.

Riding might look glamorous, but traveling by horseback is brutal. Serena’s whole body felt shaken to pieces, and the insides of her thighs were rubbed raw and bloody. The pain was so bad she didn’t dare bathe—just wiped herself quickly and applied medicine before Nolan came back.

Even though Nolan and Serena shared a bed every night on the road, all they did was sleep. Nolan worried that nighttime passion would leave Serena too tired for the next day’s ride, so he always acted the gentleman.

Serena never mentioned her injury and rode alongside everyone else as if nothing was wrong. Nolan never once realized she was hurt.

It wasn’t until the day before they reached the city that Nolan, returning to their room early, accidentally discovered the truth.

When Nolan entered the room, Serena had already changed her bandages—except she hadn’t disposed of the bloody one.

“You’re hurt?” Nolan asked, certain there was no one else in the room.

“Just a minor wound. I’ve already bandaged it,” Serena replied, not bothering to hide it now that she’d been caught.

To Serena, it truly was a small wound—after all, as a doctor, she wasn’t about to die from something so minor.

“Where is it? Let me see.” Nolan glanced at the dark red blood on the bandage and knew it wasn’t a fresh wound. He felt a pang of guilt—how had he not noticed Serena’s injury sooner?

“I’ve already bandaged it. Let’s wait until tomorrow.” The wound was on her inner thigh, and Serena really didn’t want Nolan to see it—it was just too… sensitive.

Nolan looked Serena up and down, finally fixing his gaze between her legs. “From riding?” he asked.

Aside from that, Nolan couldn’t imagine Serena being injured anywhere else without him knowing.

His heated gaze made Serena’s cheeks flush.

Damn it, of all places to get hurt—why did it have to be somewhere so awkward?