Serena Feng couldn’t be sure of the exact details behind the Feng Manor land deed issue, but relying on a woman’s intuition and her understanding of the capital’s currents, she was certain it was aimed at her—and that it was inseparably connected to the Second Prince of Lyndaria.
Having found the real source of trouble, Serena stopped rushing. The more anxious she got, the happier her opponents would be. So after returning from the Lu Residence, she made no further moves, putting on an outward show of giving up.
The Marchioness of Jinyang and Gavin Ning, Heir to Duke Ning, both breathed a sigh of relief, hurrying over to offer Serena several of their own properties to choose from. Serena smiled and declined, saying she would find a plot of land and build her own house later.
Serena asked Vincent Su to help her rent a three-courtyard house. She had originally meant to buy, but realized she didn’t have enough money. Vincent, ever generous, offered to give her the house outright, but Serena refused.
Serena Feng was no pampered songbird who had to rely on a man to survive. The rent was paid from the consultation fee sent by Duchess Ning—one thousand taels. Serena accepted it without hesitation; after all, a doctor charging for treatment was perfectly normal.
On the day she moved out of the Sun Estate, Serena still didn’t see Sun Zhengdao; she only said goodbye to Madam Sun. Serena couldn’t shake the feeling that Sun Zhengdao was hiding something from her—she’d tried to ask a few times, but Madam Sun always laughed it off, saying he was busy treating nobles as head of the Imperial Medical Directorate.
There was nothing Serena could do. Although she and Simon Sun had the title of master and apprentice, she couldn’t interfere in their family matters—she simply reminded Simon to keep a quiet eye out.
East is for wealth, west for nobility, south for poverty, north for baseness. Serena’s new house was in the western district of the capital, very close to Sutton Manor. The surroundings were quiet, refined, shaded with greenery, and had the charm of a Jiangnan-style courtyard. To be honest, compared to Feng Manor, Serena felt this little courtyard suited her even better.
Nice as the courtyard was, it wasn’t home. Feng Manor was the one place Serena swore she would reclaim, no matter what.
Once settled in the western district courtyard, Serena shut her doors and lived in peace. The Su clan sent maids, Dominic Zhai sent guards—she had no need to worry about her safety at all.
With Mira Tang and Jada Tang, whom William Wang Jinling had sent back, now serving at her side again, Serena never had to worry about daily trivialities.
Everything was just as it had been at Feng Manor. But the longer Serena stayed in the courtyard, the deeper her longing for Feng Manor grew. After half a month, autumn had set in, and many things had reached their conclusion.
The turbulence in court finally settled down, and a wave of new nobles appeared—some loyal to the Emperor, some from old families, and some still unaligned. The influx of fresh faces made the capital seem lively, softening autumn’s bleakness. But Serena knew that in another month, once the princes from the other three kingdoms left, the capital would be bathed in blood once again.
With new nobles rising, the old officials were either executed or demoted. Autumn was the ideal time for carrying out death sentences. Serena only sighed when she heard about it; she’d started the chain reaction, but everything that followed was driven by the big players—it had nothing to do with her.
Beyond the political developments, several major events were settled as well. Prince Quentin of Northlyn and Princess Serenity’s marriage was finalized—rumor had it that Ninth Royal Uncle personally arranged it. Prince Quentin repeatedly thanked him, and relations between Northlyn and Ninth Royal Uncle steadily improved. Prince Quentin had already returned home to prepare for the wedding.
Princess Yara of Lyndaria demanded not to marry Prince Adrian of Eastlyn, but instead wanted him to marry into Lyndaria. The Emperor stormed off in fury, so Ninth Royal Uncle stepped in and smoothed things over with Prince Terrence Valen. Princess Yara tearfully withdrew her request and returned home to await marriage, though Prince Terrence remained in Eastlyn.
“Ninth Royal Uncle really is formidable, handling everything one by one. What about Southlyn? How are Prince Damien and Su Wan?” Serena treated these national affairs as mere gossip, casually asking Vincent Su.
That’s right—Vincent Su was the source of all this news. As for his motives, Serena didn’t ask and didn’t see any need to.
“No idea. Haven’t heard anything from Southlyn. Apparently they still haven’t given up on marrying Su Wan to Ninth Royal Uncle. This time, he didn’t reject it outright.” Vincent Su’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he stared at Serena, not even blinking, clearly waiting for her to get angry.
Unfortunately for Vincent, Serena only replied with an uninterested “Oh…” and didn’t seem the least bit bothered.
Trying to test her with this—how amateur. If Ninth Royal Uncle really wanted to marry Su Wan, he’d have done it already. As for using her as a shield...
Seeing Vincent Su looking so anxious, Serena kept her face calm but sneered inwardly. In a close contest, whoever keeps their cool wins.
Wasn’t Ninth Royal Uncle just using the Feng Manor land deed to pressure her? Did he really think she knew nothing? Serena was determined to see who would ask for peace first.
Vincent Su was stumped. What was Serena playing at? After a moment, he probed again: "Serena, aren’t you worried Ninth Royal Uncle might really marry Su Wan? And what about the Feng Manor land—don’t you want it anymore?"
"What does it matter to me who Ninth Royal Uncle marries? Of course I want the Feng Manor land." Serena shot Vincent a look—since when was this sly fox so blunt?
"Uh, you really don’t care about Ninth Royal Uncle’s affairs?" Women are impossible to read—this one changed too fast.
"Why should I care? Ninth Royal Uncle’s business has nothing to do with me. Who am I to him?" Serena snorted. Vincent Su realized he’d crossed a line and, embarrassed, quickly changed the subject: "If you really want the Feng Manor land, why haven’t you made a move?"
Vincent Su was puzzled. Serena had asked so many people for help—surely she knew that only Ninth Royal Uncle could solve it. If she just asked, he’d definitely handle it for her, as long as she offered some compensation.
"I’ve done everything I can. The rest is up to fate. If the officials grant me the Feng Manor land, great. If not, so be it. Ordinary people can’t fight the state. My father was posthumously named Marquis of Loyalty, but he’s dead. I hold the title of Marquis’s daughter, but it means nothing—unless I marry and my husband inherits the title. Maybe then the Emperor would grant us an official residence." Serena’s smile grew colder as she spoke.
So Ninth Royal Uncle thinks she has no way out? She’d show him—if pushed, she’d find another way and marry someone!
"You want to take a husband into your own house?" Vincent Su felt faint. Serena was so bold—even after Ninth Royal Uncle had declared her his woman, she still dared to consider marrying someone else.
Serena blinked her beautiful eyes, full of seriousness and helplessness: "Yes, it’s the best solution. My reputation may be poor, but don’t forget I have a noble title as dowry. Picking a concubine-born son from a great house to marry is easy enough. If I truly can’t get the Feng Manor land, I’ll take a husband, and when the imperial decree comes down, I’ll ask for the ruined Feng Manor to be restored as the new Marquis of Loyalty residence. I don’t think the Emperor would make things difficult for me."
This was a threat. Serena was sure Ninth Royal Uncle would hear about it soon.
If things got desperate, Serena would marry without hesitation—and the one who lost out might not be her. Women in this world are supposed to marry and raise children, after all. Did anyone really think Serena couldn’t find a husband?
Even if the censors impeached her, what did it matter? As long as the Emperor didn’t condemn her, she was innocent. With a noble title as dowry, there would be plenty of men willing to marry into her house.
"Are you serious?" Vincent Su couldn’t believe what he was hearing—Serena was ruthless!
Serena’s face was solemn; she made it clear she wasn’t joking: "Three days. If I don’t get the Feng Manor land deed in three days, I’ll take a husband."
Leaving those words behind, Serena turned and walked away, not caring what Vincent Su thought.