Whether it's redeploying the northern army, launching a campaign against Night City, balancing the state treasury, or mobilizing laborers to build roads—these are all major affairs of Eastlyn. While Prince Nolan doesn't need to handle every detail personally, nothing can proceed without his decision; every matter requires his approval to move forward.
On top of that, Empress Dowager Helena Hsieh, who lives with the Taishang Emperor, is restless—every three days there's a minor quarrel, every five days a major one. She constantly demands to see the young Emperor, to see Prince Nolan. Though Nolan ignores her, he still has to assign people to watch over them to prevent any palace scandals.
With the Skyvault Fortress Martial Arts Conference about to begin, Prince Nolan is buried in official business and can't get away even for a moment. To handle matters as quickly as possible, he's been sleeping less than two hours a day lately.
Nolan didn't leave the palace because he had spare time; he rushed out after learning from William Wang Jinling that Serena Feng was planning to confront House Cui head-on to divert pressure from Holden Cui.
The moment Nolan heard this from William, he nearly knocked over his inkstone. He abandoned his pile of paperwork, hurried out of the palace, and rushed to Feng Manor, burning with anger and ready to speak his mind—only to find Serena Feng sitting serenely and comfortably in her chair as he entered.
Their eyes met from across the room. Faced with Serena's sweet, expectant smile, Nolan found himself unable to voice any reproach. Looking at her graceful figure standing before him, he couldn't help but smile himself.
Noticing Serena's hair was loose with a few stray strands by her ear, Nolan naturally reached out to smooth them and tuck them behind her ear. His tone was gentle: "Why haven't you tied up your hair?"
"It's more comfortable this way. At home, I don't need to fuss about those things." Serena took the opportunity to hold Nolan's hand, her voice full of concern: "It's only been a few days, how have you gotten thinner again?"
Not only had he lost weight, but his energy was much worse. Clearly, Nolan had been exhausted lately.
"It'll be fine once I get through this busy stretch." Nolan's voice was a bit hoarse, and with his uniquely slow cadence, it sent a tingling warmth straight to the heart. Serena wrapped her arms around Nolan's waist, burying her face against his chest, her voice muffled: "I feel so bad for you."
"I feel bad for you too. You've lost weight." Her waist was still soft and full, more curvy than most women these days, but Nolan preferred Serena a bit plumper—she looked healthier that way.
"I've been a bit tired taking care of Feng Jin these days. The Snow Wolf's injury has healed, and since Dorian Owen is too busy to play with him, sometimes I have to take him out running myself. Don't worry about me getting thinner—I'm feeling fine!" Serena dutifully reported her recent activities to Nolan, hoping to ease his mind.
But instead of feeling relieved, Nolan grew even more dissatisfied. His tone was sharp: "Yes, you certainly have energy—enough to meddle in House Cui's affairs. You haven't finished dealing with Ling Mo, and now you've taken on the Cui family too. Do you really think you're invincible, able to handle everything at once?"
Smack—Nolan flicked Serena's forehead, leaving a red mark between her brows. Serena rubbed her forehead, pouting: "That really hurt! Can't you be gentler? You're not gentle at all."
Smack—he flicked her again, right in the same spot. Serena's nose tingled, tears nearly sprang out; she rubbed her aching brow and looked at Nolan with grievance: "Did you just hit me?"
Is this domestic violence? Did Nolan just abuse her?
"You call that hitting?" Nolan raised his eyes, arching a brow and retorted, "Does it hurt or not?"
"Let me flick you twice and you'll know how much it hurts." Serena glared at Nolan, pushed him away, and turned to walk into the inner room—only to be pulled back by Nolan: "If you know it hurts, that's good. I'm just afraid you'll remember the pain but forget the lesson."
"I don't forget the lesson," Serena said, not struggling, just glaring at Nolan.
"You say you don't, but would you have gone after the Cui family otherwise? Don't you know what they're like? The Cui clan is ambitious—there's nothing good waiting for you if you take them on." Nolan rubbed the back of Serena's head firmly: "You're usually so clever, but when it comes to big things you get muddled."
Serena grew annoyed at Nolan's rough handling and pushed his hand away. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I'll be fine."
"You think you know? If you really did, you wouldn't provoke the Cui family. What do you have to fight them with now?" The Cui clan has deep roots and countless hidden forces—if they strike back with full force, Serena might only manage a couple flutters before being crushed.
"I'm not empty-handed anymore. I have military command and loyal clansmen—I'm not so easy to bully. And even if I can't handle it alone, don't I have you? As Eastlyn's Regent Prince, surely you wouldn't fail to protect your own woman?" Serena lifted her chin with pride, looking at Nolan with a smug little expression.
Nolan couldn't help pinching her cheek: "So you counted me in all along?" He would never admit it, but hearing Serena say this made him especially happy.
At least this woman still remembered he was her man, and would think of him first when trouble came.
"What do you mean 'counted you in'? That's a terrible way to put it. We're one and the same—if someone crosses me, they're crossing you too." Serena continued to show off; she knew Nolan loved hearing this.
Sure enough, the chill around Nolan faded, and his gaze softened: "You're right—if they cross you, they're crossing me. Cui family or not, do you think I'd be afraid of them?"
"Exactly, we're not afraid. Besides, fighting the Cui family could actually benefit us. Their power is hidden too deep—if we tried to investigate every branch, it might take decades. But if they start fighting among themselves, that's the fastest and most effective way to weaken them." Even the strongest fortress can't withstand being torn down from within.
The fiercer the Cui family's infighting, the more they'll be exposed and the greater their losses. For Serena and Nolan, that's good news.
"You're right, the Cui family is deeply entrenched. Titus wrote to say the dowry they're preparing for their legitimate daughter is worth the income of an entire city—their wealth is astonishing." Nolan closed his eyes lightly, masking the wariness and concern in his gaze.
"Titus wrote to me too. He said his mother seems unwell and hopes I can visit." The letter from Titus to Serena had been delivered by Cui Haoting, and there was nothing secret about its contents.
"No need to go. Titus mentioned it in his letter to me, too. Writing to you is just for show—to let others see what a filial son he is." Nolan's eyes flashed with a mocking smile. Serena, eager to change the subject, quickly asked, "So what's going on with Titus and his mother?"
"His mother doesn't approve of him marrying a Cui girl. When it became inevitable, she insisted he take a woman from the Yinli clan as a concubine. Titus refused, so she publicly accused him of being unfilial and unworthy to be heir." Nolan didn't hide anything, sharing this Westlyn scandal with Serena.
"Did I hear that right?" Serena stared at Nolan in shock, her mouth wide enough to fit an egg...