The Valley Master saw the confusion on Serena's face and knew she couldn't accept—or perhaps simply refused to accept—his explanation.
The Valley Master placed the documents on the table, his expression serious. "Serena, as doctors, we must analyze a case objectively and fairly. We can't let our personal feelings affect our judgment just because the patient is someone we know. That would cloud our assessment."
I don't know how much you truly understand about Prince Nolan's past, but I can tell you with certainty: he has endured things that most people wouldn't experience in ten lifetimes, and faced pressures no ordinary person could bear. That he can live like a normal person is already remarkable." As the Valley Master spoke, he rarely showed a trace of pity.
Serena opened her mouth to speak, but in the end, she didn't ask.
The Valley Master let out a heavy sigh and patted Serena's shoulder. "Serena, don't ask me what Prince Nolan went through, because I don't know either. And don't go looking for his inner demons, or think about helping him overcome them. You and I both know how strong Prince Nolan is inside; he doesn't need a doctor's help.
I may not know what he went through, but I do know that back then, a hundred prodigies joined the same training as him, and only Prince Nolan walked out alive. Every one of those hundred was a rare talent chosen from thousands."
Serena was silent for a moment, then obediently nodded. "I understand. I won't touch his past."
Serena had indeed wanted to investigate what Prince Nolan had gone through, but after hearing the Valley Master's words, she could only suppress that urge.
Digging up Prince Nolan's past would only hurt him a second time. She wouldn't do anything to harm him under the guise of helping.
"I knew you were a child who knows her boundaries." The Valley Master looked gratified. "Don't dwell on this. We can all see how well Prince Nolan treats you."
"Hm?" Serena looked at the Valley Master, puzzled. "What did you all see? As far as I know, Prince Nolan has never treated me well in public."
"Ahem..." Only then did the Valley Master realize he'd let something slip, and quickly changed the subject: "By the way, Simon probably doesn't know you're back yet. You should go see him. That silly boy has been obsessed with your vaccine project ever since he arrived in Jiangnan—he spends all day on it and doesn't even take care of himself."
"I already saw Simon earlier today." Serena stared at the Valley Master, making it clear she wasn't letting the previous topic go so easily.
The Valley Master scratched his head awkwardly and laughed. "I forgot you'd seen Simon already. I've been out all day and haven't checked on his progress yet. I'll go see him now."
He tried to slip away as soon as he finished speaking, but Serena blocked his path. "Valley Master, explain yourself before you go. What exactly have you all seen? I knew something was up—why did Prince Nolan insist on taking a boat instead of entering through the city gate? Turns out he did it just to mess with you. What did you all do to deserve Prince Nolan's wrath?"
"Uh, well... This really wasn't our fault—it was the Prince of Jiangnan. Everything was his doing." Realizing he couldn't dodge the question, the Valley Master shamelessly threw someone else under the bus.
"Prince of Jiangnan? So Prince Nolan wasn't just stirring up trouble for fun—you all actually deserved a scolding? I knew it! Why else would Prince Nolan get involved in the Medical Academy business and chew out Victor Yun and Caleb Wang? And those two didn't dare say a word. So you all were at fault first." Serena finally understood why Prince Nolan had forbidden the servants from informing the Prince of Jiangnan after arriving at his manor.
"Heh heh..." The Valley Master gave a silly laugh, deciding to come clean—after all, Prince Nolan already knew, and they couldn't hide it for long.
The Valley Master explained how the Prince of Jiangnan had secretly "protected" Prince Nolan and Serena, and of course made sure to tell Serena that the Prince of Jiangnan and Prince Colin treated their affairs as entertainment.
"Well, well. You really do have too much time on your hands—having dark-guards record my every move with Prince Nolan!" Serena's smile twisted with anger.
No one would be happy to have their privacy exposed and discussed as entertainment.
"Really, it's not our fault at all—the Prince of Jiangnan ordered the dark-guards to do it. We were just bystanders." The Valley Master again shamelessly shifted all the blame onto the Prince of Jiangnan.
Unfortunately, Serena wasn't someone who could be brushed off so easily.
"The Prince of Jiangnan was the ringleader, but you were all accomplices. Prince Nolan only made you stand outside in the sun for a day—he let you off easy. Just wait, if I don't make you all pay, I'm not Serena." Serena glared at the Valley Master and stormed off.
The Valley Master looked frustrated, wondering if he should check in with Dr. Redwater and Dr. Marcus Guile to discuss how to handle Serena.
After thinking it over for a long time, the Valley Master gave up and quietly packed his things, preparing to run away alone.
Of the thirty-six stratagems, running away is the best. He decided to return to Mystic Healer Valley and see how Serena would exact her revenge.
But dreams are beautiful and reality is harsh—he hadn't gotten far before running into Left Shore and Dorian Owen.
"Well, if it isn't the Valley Master! What are you doing here—are you lost? Heading to the Jiangnan Prince's Manor, right? You're going the wrong way. Come on, I'll take you back. Don't worry, with Left Shore here I won't get lost. We'll be at the manor in no time." Without waiting for a response, Dorian Owen grabbed the Valley Master's arm and dragged him off toward the manor.
On the way, Dorian Owen didn't give the Valley Master a chance to speak, chattering nonstop. The Valley Master looked miserable, strongly suspecting that Dorian Owen wasn't just a fool—he was a devil in disguise. Every time the Valley Master tried to slip away, Dorian Owen caught him.