After issuing the order to destroy Liancastle, Prince Nolan didn't even say a word of farewell—he simply collapsed to the ground. Fortunately, General Warren Yu reacted quickly and caught him just in time.
"Prince Nolan, are you alright?" General Warren Yu was stunned, but before he could get a reply, Nolan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"This is bad—Prince Nolan is coughing blood!"
"Shut up! Quick, summon the imperial physicians!" At the critical moment, William Wang Jinling stepped up and took charge, personally overseeing the palace and sealing off all news—no one outside could be allowed to know that Prince Nolan was in trouble.
Even with the Valley Master, Divine Doctor Redwater, and Dr. Marcus Guile working together, using the best medicines—including Jade-Flora Orchid—Prince Nolan still lay unconscious in bed for five whole days before finally waking up.
During those five days, William Wang, Felix Fuller, and General Warren Yu were frantic with worry. It wasn’t that they were timid—the imperial physicians’ prognosis was simply too dire, and more than once they thought Prince Nolan might really die.
If Prince Nolan died, all those who had followed him—except perhaps William Wang—would likely meet a terrible end.
Luckily, Prince Nolan’s fate was tenacious. Even when the imperial physicians had no confidence, he still managed to wake up.
The imperial physicians diagnosed him and announced that Prince Nolan was out of immediate danger, but his injuries were so severe that he would need more than half a year of rest before he could get out of bed. Unfortunately, Nolan ignored their advice—after just two days in bed, he resumed his official duties right in front of the stunned physicians.
The imperial physicians were dumbfounded. They pleaded with Prince Nolan not to joke with his own health, but he paid them no mind. No matter how much they begged, he continued working as usual and forbade them from revealing his condition.
William Wang also tried to persuade him, but Prince Nolan wouldn’t listen: "I know my own body. I won’t die."
Seeing no alternative, William Wang took on a mountain of work himself, hoping to give Prince Nolan a chance to rest and recover.
But Prince Nolan refused to stop. As soon as he awoke, he insisted on personally arranging Vincent Su’s funeral, determined to make it as grand and solemn as possible.
If Vincent Su couldn’t enjoy honors in life, then Nolan would make sure he suffered no indignity in death.
This time, William Wang didn’t try to persuade him. Instead, he helped Prince Nolan organize Vincent Su’s funeral.
Vincent Su’s greatest wish in life was to rise high and earn a noble title. With his achievements, he could easily be granted a marquisate, but Prince Nolan didn’t bestow any official rank.
Nolan had promised Vincent Su that once he unified the realm, he would make him a noble, bring him into court, and ensure that the Su family’s descendants would never have to bow to officials again.
He intends to keep that promise. Once the Nine Provinces are unified, the first thing he’ll do is honor Vincent Su as a founding hero.
At the funeral, Prince Nolan saw Ethan Su Wenhang—just waist-high—dressed in mourning for Vincent Su. The sight filled Nolan with guilt.
Unable to comfort Ethan directly, Nolan could only instruct William Wang and Zuo An to look after him, treating him as well as Feng Jin, never letting him suffer any slight. He also assigned Jada Tang to personally care for Ethan and help guide him through his grief.
After the funeral ended, Prince Nolan stayed in bed for another three days. Fortunately, his resilience and the rare medicines prepared by the Valley Master and Divine Doctor Redwater kept him alive, even though his body was covered in wounds.
Everyone thought he would finally rest, but instead, Prince Nolan threw himself back into dealing with the Taishang Emperor, working at a pace that seemed determined to drive himself to death.
At first, William Wang didn’t notice anything, assuming Prince Nolan was just under pressure and eager to resolve matters quickly. But after seven or eight days of seeing Nolan collapse at his desk, William began to suspect something more.
"Did something happen between you and Serena? Why hasn’t she returned to the capital?" William Wang found a moment to ask Prince Nolan directly.
Ever since Serena didn’t return, William wanted to ask, but Nolan was buried in work as soon as he arrived, and then fell unconscious, leaving William with no chance to raise the question.
Prince Nolan glanced at William Wang but said nothing, burying himself in memorials as if determined to finish reading the towering stack before him.
William Wang was never easy to fool. When Prince Nolan stayed silent, William pressed on, placing a hand on the memorials: "Serena is fine, so why did she go to Mystic Healer Valley?" That was the answer Nolan gave when he returned to the capital.
"To nourish the fetus." This time, Prince Nolan answered quickly. The reply stabbed at William’s heart for a moment, but he soon recovered and smiled, "So Serena is pregnant—congratulations to you... both."
"If you don’t want to smile, then don’t. It looks awful." Seeing someone else as miserable as himself, Prince Nolan felt a bit better.
"I really am happy for Serena." After a moment, William’s smile became much more genuine. As he said, he truly was happy for her.
As for Prince Nolan? He was never someone William worried about—so long as he didn’t die, that was enough.
"Hmph..." Prince Nolan snorted coldly, snatching the memorials from William Wang, only for William to ask again: "Serena’s pregnant, but you don’t seem happy at all. Is it because she still won’t marry you? Say it out loud—maybe it’ll cheer you up."
Prince Nolan’s hand froze. He looked up at William, set the memorials aside, and leaned back tiredly. "It’s complicated."
"So something really did happen?" William Wang pressed, surprised.
"Our relationship isn’t any of your concern." Prince Nolan’s vulnerability lasted only a moment—then he was cold and hard as ice again.
William Wang glanced at Prince Nolan, realizing he wouldn’t get any answers. He didn’t press further—as long as Serena was safe, that was enough.
"I don’t want any mistakes tomorrow. If you have time to worry about me, spend it on state affairs instead." Prince Nolan shifted the topic to politics, and William didn’t ask again. Thinking of Nolan’s plans, William couldn’t help but advise: "The Taishang Emperor has already agreed to retire to another palace—why push him so far? If he hadn’t backed down in time, things would be even bloodier."
"In the imperial family, there are no true brothers. The moment he struck at me, he should have expected today. If I had lost, he wouldn’t have spared me." If the Taishang Emperor had stayed bedridden, Nolan wouldn’t have minded supporting him in comfort. But now that he can stand again, he’s restless.
Even if it’s just to set an example, Prince Nolan won’t let the Taishang Emperor off easily. Besides, "If I can ascend openly and legitimately, why would I need to steal my nephew’s throne?"
The throne was always his—he’s merely taking it back now.
William Wang knew persuasion was useless and could only sigh softly. "I’m keeping an eye on everything—there won’t be any trouble. At a time like this, no one dares make a move. The Taishang Emperor has been wanting to see you, but you kept refusing. Now..."
"I’ll see him." Prince Nolan cut William off. "It’s fine, you may go." With that, he buried himself in memorials, looking busy.
William Wang, left with a bellyful of words, couldn’t get another out—he had no choice but to leave.
Prince Nolan sat stern-faced, staring at the memorials as if they held earth-shattering secrets. But only he knew—he hadn’t read a single word.
He tried hard to drown his thoughts in work, keeping busy so he wouldn’t think about Serena. But with one sentence, William wiped out all his effort.
He simply couldn’t stop thinking about Serena.
He wanted to know how she was in Mystic Healer Valley; if she’d woken up; how the child was; if Serena would forgive him; if he could be by her side...
But he couldn’t.
He was Nolan of Dongling, the future emperor of Dongling. He had to put the greater good first. He couldn’t drop everything to go with Serena to Mystic Healer Valley—he had to stay in the capital and clear every obstacle before she returned.
During this time, he couldn’t sleep at all. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind replayed that scene at the cliff—just like when he returned from the battlefield of human gu.
He couldn’t control himself. All he could do was work harder and harder, staying so busy he had no time to think, exhausting himself to the limit—only then could he barely sleep.
Closing his eyes to ease the soreness and agitation, Prince Nolan quietly calmed his emotions. When he opened them again, they were as tranquil as an ancient well—utterly unchanged from his usual demeanor.
Cold, ruthless, unmoved by anyone or anything—this was the true Prince Nolan of Dongling. Wearing a flawless expression, he headed for the Taishang Emperor’s palace.
It was time for the two brothers to meet—perhaps for the last time.
Outside the palace, heavy guards stood watch. The Taishang Emperor had no freedom; apart from his attendants, no one could approach him. He was living like a prisoner—but even that wasn’t enough.
Tap, tap, tap... With the eunuch’s shrill announcement, Prince Nolan strode into the inner hall, ignoring the Taishang Emperor fiddling with his chessboard, and sat directly in the seat of honor: "You wanted to see me."
"Play a game with me." The Taishang Emperor didn’t even look up, still arranging the chess pieces.
When the Taishang Emperor was still on the throne, he loved to play chess with Prince Nolan. Back then, no matter how impatient Nolan felt, he never showed it and would play along. But now...
"No interest." That’s right—he no longer cared to spar with the Taishang Emperor.
Smack—the Taishang Emperor tossed a chess piece aside, sounding rather disappointed: "This should be our last game as brothers. Can’t you play one more with me? Even if I’m bound to lose, I’d still like to try."
"Brothers?" Prince Nolan sneered. "What kind of brothers are we? When you burned the late emperor’s decree and stole my throne, did you treat me as a brother? When you tried to kill me again and again, did you treat me as a brother?"
"Old Nine..." the Taishang Emperor said in a low voice, a flash of displeasure in his eyes.
A man used to being emperor couldn’t stand being questioned like this—especially after he’d just tried to show weakness.