Boom...
At the very moment Feng Manor collapsed, the Emperor was declaring the banquet over. Envoys from every nation and all the ministers rose together; after escorting the Emperor out, each departed on their own.
Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan dropped his usual elegance and composure, striding out with long, urgent steps.
"Royal Uncle, what happened?" Crown Prince Adrian, sensing something was wrong, hurried forward and asked in a low voice.
Nolan shook his head. "I am leaving the palace. Your Highness, do as you wish."
With that, he left the Crown Prince standing alone. Prince Evan, Prince Henry, Prince Kieran, Prince Jason, Prince Colin, and Prince Rowan all noticed Nolan's unusual behavior and, as if by prior agreement, moved together to stand beside the Crown Prince.
"Brother, what's going on with Royal Uncle?" Prince Colin, who resembled the Crown Prince, spoke up.
Prince Colin's mother comes from the Crown Prince's maternal clan, but her low status as one of the nine lesser consorts means his own rank isn't high. That's why he relies on military merit, serving long at the frontier, and is one of the Crown Prince's key allies.
The Crown Prince shook his head. "It's nothing, Royal Uncle is just impatient. Colin, Evan, Henry, Kieran, Jason, Rowan—it's been ages since we've all met. It's still early, so let's gather for a proper reunion. I'll host a banquet at my residence tonight."
Though the Crown Prince's tone wasn't harsh, none of the princes could refuse. The Crown Prince is their lord, and they are his subjects; refusal isn't an option.
The princes looked troubled, knowing the Crown Prince was deliberately keeping them from investigating Nolan. Though they were unhappy, none dared show it.
"Great idea! We've been back in the capital for days and haven't had a proper reunion. Your Highness's suggestion is perfect," Prince Jason, Zhou Dongling, chimed in. The others, unwilling but wary, kept quiet.
They wanted their father, the Emperor, to see that they were loyal—to both him and the Crown Prince.
......
Inside the palace, everyone was celebrating. Outside, Serena Feng stood at the gate of Feng Manor, covered in ash and dust, staring at the collapsed ruins. She couldn't move for a long time, her eyes bloodshot as she stared unblinking into the sea of fire.
"Miss, let's go," her two maids pleaded, but Serena Feng seemed not to hear. In the firelight, the desolation and helplessness on her face were painfully clear.
At that moment, Serena looked just like an abandoned puppy.
"Go? Where would we go? My home is gone—I'm truly homeless now." No father, no mother, no home; this was Serena Feng's fate, in both her past and present lives, always destined for hardship.
Serena recalled how, in her previous life on the battlefield, she'd met a major who claimed to read faces. After studying her hand for ages, he'd declared her fate full of misfortune, endless wandering, no bond with parents, and doomed to die unnaturally.
The moment he said it, he'd realized he was too blunt and quickly apologized. Serena hadn't cared then, but now she saw he'd been right. Except for actually dying unnaturally, she'd repeated the same fate in both lives.
Thinking of this, Serena couldn't hold back her grief. Her tears mingled with the dust on her face as they fell.
"Miss, what's wrong?" The two maids were startled, unsure how to comfort her. In their eyes, Serena was never weak or helpless—she was always decisive, strong, and independent. They'd never seen her like this before.
Serena shook her head; at last, some light returned to her empty gaze. Looking at her bedraggled maids, she remembered how refined they had been when she first met them—almost like noble ladies. She sighed inwardly.
"Feng Manor is destroyed. I have no home left. You should return to the Wang estate."
Thud! The two maids blanched and instantly dropped to their knees. "Miss, are you abandoning us? We won't leave! We're your maids—wherever you go, we go."
"I can't afford to keep you." It was true—the Wang family's maids were used to a standard of living higher than most noble girls. Leaving a ruined mistress would actually be better for them.
The maids shook their heads fiercely. "No matter what, we won't leave. Wherever you are, we'll be. If you want to drive us away, you might as well kill us!"
The maids kept swearing their loyalty, but Serena seemed not to hear and let them kneel. The two were almost in tears with anxiety when, suddenly, a carriage marked with the Wang family crest rushed out of the darkness.
Hearing the sound, Serena turned and gave a bitter smile. So she hadn't been completely abandoned by the world—someone still cared.
The carriage stopped, and William Wang Jinling jumped out in a rush, his face full of anxiety and worry. The moment he saw Serena, he lost his usual composure and grace, stumbled, and ran to her. Before she could react, he pulled her into a fierce embrace.
"Serena, thank goodness you're safe. That's all that matters." At last, his heart settled. Though William seemed frail, his grip was strong—Serena couldn't move, her arms aching, but she didn't cry out. Surrounded by his familiar, calming scent, she leaned against his shoulder. "Jinling, my home is gone."
No tears, no complaints—just a plain statement. But it was even more heartbreaking.
"It's alright. You still have me. If the house is gone, we can rebuild. Even if it's different, it'll still be your home. As long as you're there, Feng Manor will always exist." William understood what mattered to Serena, but knew the old home could never return.
Serena nodded silently. William gently patted her back and soothed her. When her emotions finally settled, he said, "Serena, everything will pass. Right now, you need to rest. Come back with me to the Wang estate—no one will dare touch you there."
William didn't need to investigate to know the fire was set on purpose—someone wanted Serena to die in the blaze. For her, the Wang estate was the safest place.
Serena was about to speak when a sudden flurry of hoofbeats interrupted her. She and William looked toward the sound, and saw a shadow flashing through the night—so fast they almost doubted their eyes.
A lone rider, like a shooting star!
That was what both Serena and William thought at the same moment. The Wang family's hidden guards sensed trouble and tried to emerge to protect William, but it was too late...
The rider's horsemanship was extraordinary. Just as the guards moved, the horse accelerated again. All they could do was watch as the rider flashed past Serena and William like a meteor...
"Watch out!" Serena instinctively shoved William aside, but before she knew it, she was snatched up and lifted high off the ground.
Damn it, which bastard is it now? Was she not miserable enough already?