This foolish woman—she drives me crazy, but I can't help loving her.
Prince Nolan was secretly delighted. This woman was worried about him, using her own methods to rescue him. Even if they hadn't met, he knew she was always thinking of him.
In this life, to find a woman who stays calm in a crisis and has her own opinions—how lucky!
Prince Nolan tightened his embrace around Serena. Of course, he'd never let her know what he was really thinking. Instead, he scolded her bluntly: "Serena Feng, you’ve got some nerve. Who told you to meddle in this? What, you think this prince can’t get out on his own and needs someone else’s help?"
He didn’t want Serena to underestimate him. He was just temporarily unable to leave—it's not that he couldn’t escape.
"Of course not," Serena shook her head quickly. "With your skills, Prince Nolan, there’s no way the Imperial Clan Prison could keep you trapped. It’s just that the Cui Clan is about to come out of seclusion, and the Wang Clan is changing heads and needs to make a show of authority. I thought, why not give both families a chance—otherwise people might say we’re too heartless."
Serena would never be foolish enough to wound Prince Nolan’s pride. On the contrary, she shamelessly acted as if she were doing the Cui and Wang clans a favor...
She raised her brows proudly, as if she might as well hold up a sign: I’m being good—come praise me!
Her tone matched Prince Nolan’s mood perfectly. He kissed Serena’s eyelids as a reward.
Serena grinned in triumph, and Prince Nolan’s mood soared with hers. His Serena should always be like this. One day, he would place the highest, most exalted throne before her—when that time came, whether it was the Cui Clan or the Wang Clan, they’d have no choice but to bow their heads and submit.
Prince Nolan gently smoothed Serena’s hair and let her lean against his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about the Cui and Wang clans working together. If you get the chance, I hope you’ll go to Skyvault Palace Sect.” Prince Nolan turned his head, resting it against Serena’s, and the two sat together in the chair, gently rocking, looking completely at ease.
"No way." Serena refused without hesitation. She was sure Consort Xuan's face had something to do with her—and going to Skyvault Palace Sect would definitely uncover things about her parents.
Before, she’d always wanted to know the truth about her parents. But for some reason, now she felt a vague unease.
When you don’t know, you’re desperate to find out. But when the truth is finally in front of you, you’re afraid to look—you fear it might be a burden too heavy to bear.
"Alright, if you don't want to go, then don't. I'll handle it for you. Whenever you want to know, just ask me." Prince Nolan didn’t push her—he simply took on everything she didn’t want to face.
Anything Serena didn’t want to deal with, he would take care of—so she’d never have to worry.
Serena’s eyes lit up, and she hugged Nolan’s neck, murmuring, “Having you is really good!”
Mmm!
Prince Nolan was stunned, then a wave of wild joy surged up in his heart.
That simple sentence—“Having you is really good”—was Serena’s way of affirming him. Prince Nolan felt his chest swell almost painfully, as if something inside might burst out, and he suddenly didn’t know what to do with his hands and feet.
He had a thousand things he wanted to say, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t get any out. Instead, he just nuzzled Serena’s head and muttered, “Idiot.”
Having you is what’s truly good.
......
You don’t really want to say it, but it’s true—happy moments always pass too quickly.
Serena still had a belly full of things she wanted to say to Prince Nolan, but the guards outside had already reminded her three times—it was dark, and she had to leave.
Ugh... She really didn’t want to go. Serena reluctantly peeled herself away from Prince Nolan.
"It’s dark—head back early. We’ll see each other again soon." Prince Nolan didn’t want her to leave either, though he’d never let Serena know.
"I know." Serena wasn’t the type to wallow in romance, but today’s atmosphere was just too beautiful—it made her want to linger.
Serena sniffed, then flashed Nolan a dazzling smile. "I’m heading back. I’ve got a ton of things to do, so I definitely won’t have time to miss you."
It was Serena’s way of telling Prince Nolan not to worry—she knew what to do.
Even her thoughtfulness was always so understated.
......
In ancient times, there were no streetlights. Once night fell, even the imperial city was pitch black. Serena’s carriage rolled alone down the official road. At that same moment, a fine horse galloped through the darkness toward the palace, its rider rushing to report Prince Nolan and Serena’s conversation to the Emperor.
The entire conversation between Prince Nolan and Serena was about love and feelings—not a single word of business.
"Is that really all?" The Emperor couldn’t believe it—how could two people spend an entire afternoon and talk about nothing important?
"That’s all I heard, Your Majesty. Prince Nolan held Serena in his arms, and they whispered to each other—I really couldn’t make out what they were saying." The guard was drenched in cold sweat, bowing lower and lower.
"Little Nine is getting bolder—he even dares act so improperly." The Emperor was annoyed, but not at the guard. "You may go."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The guard thanked him profusely and gratefully withdrew.
Serena had originally planned to return straight to her little courtyard in the western district, but halfway there she remembered her appointment with Victor Yun. She immediately told the driver to change course and take her to Feng Manor first.
Uh... As soon as Serena stepped into Feng Manor, she was startled by rows and rows of guards. The moment she got inside, she asked, "Where did they come from?"
"They're my men," Holden Cui replied bluntly.
"Are they here to protect you?" Serena was a bit unhappy; she didn’t like having so many strangers in her home. It made Holden Cui seem like the real owner of Feng Manor, and her just a guest.
Holden Cui shook his head. "I have my own shadow guards for protection. These men... they're here to guard your estate."
"Does Feng Manor really need protection?" Serena couldn’t help but laugh. It was such a big place—did anyone really dare try to burn it down again?
"Do you really think it doesn’t? Don’t forget, the arsonist who burned your estate still hasn’t been found. If they could do it once, they could do it twice. And Serena, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed strangers lurking outside your gates." If not for that, Holden Cui wouldn’t have stationed so many guards—their main job was to deter trouble.
Serena rolled her eyes. "Relax, no one would dare harm Feng Manor again. As for those people outside, they’re just bored onlookers—nothing to worry about."
The arsonist who burned her estate was almost certainly that scoundrel Li Xiang, and Li Xiang was already dead—so what was there to worry about? As for the people lingering outside, they were probably just curious. If anyone truly had designs on her or Feng Manor, they’d never make it so obvious.
The day after tomorrow, she would officially move into the manor. It was sure to be... interesting.