Refusal, Serena Feng, You Can Secretly Smile Now

As expected, Su Wan of Southern Lyn is no ordinary woman—only she could say something like that. Ninth Royal Uncle turned away in disdain, gazing into the distance...

But his mind was elsewhere, wondering how Serena Feng would react to this news. Last time she heard Su Wan wanted to marry him, she was so furious she nearly wanted to kill someone. He wondered if she still cared about him now.

The Emperor smiled as he looked at Su Wan. His usually stern gaze now carried a hint of warmth, making him seem more like a cultured scholar—refined and dignified.

It had to be said, the Emperor was actually quite handsome. It was just that his usual airs and piercing gaze made people afraid to look at him directly, causing his looks to be overlooked.

Being stared at by such a mature man, even Su Wan, thick-skinned as she was, couldn't stand it. Her cheeks flushed and she lowered her head, but in that moment she didn't forget to sneak a shy, timid glance at Ninth Royal Uncle.

Now she pretended to be shy, but it was too late!

Although Ninth Royal Uncle wasn't paying attention to Su Wan, he didn't miss her little act—it was just too obvious.

Ninth Royal Uncle made no effort to hide his disgust. Seeing the Emperor and Su Wan lapse into a heavy, wordless atmosphere, he 'rudely' interrupted: "Your Majesty, I didn't sleep at all last night. If there's nothing else, may I withdraw?"

"Ninth Brother, what were you doing last night that kept you up?" The Emperor already knew Ninth Royal Uncle was with Serena Feng. A man and woman alone together all night—what could they have done?

"Riding by night." Ninth Royal Uncle bowed his head, but a chill flashed in his eyes.

He had no intention of marrying Su Wan, but the Emperor’s move was just too much—wasn’t this blatantly using Serena Feng as a shield? When the time came, wouldn’t Su Wan hate Serena to death?

Fine, Ninth Royal Uncle admitted that if it were before, he would have just gone along with it. But now? He knew he shouldn’t have left the city with her last night, but he still went—and since he did, he had to do his best to protect her.

"A nighttime ride with a beauty—now that is a fine thing," the Emperor said with a laugh, echoing the sentiment. Facing the probing from Lyndaria, Southern Lyn, and Northlyn, the Emperor responded with neither softness nor hardness. Besides Liam Li, he still held another trump card: the birthday gift from General Warren Yu.

Without Liam Li’s thunder-blast grenades, the Emperor would have to step back, but he wouldn’t let Terrence of Lyndaria, Quentin of Northlyn, or Su Wan get everything they wanted. Some things were matters of principle—he would not budge, including an alliance between Ninth Royal Uncle and the Su clan.

Ninth Royal Uncle stood like a wooden stake, saying nothing. The Emperor didn’t force him. Just as Su Wan was losing heart, her probing seemingly fruitless, the Emperor suddenly relented: "Ninth Brother, Miss Su Wan left her homeland for the sake of the common people—truly admirable. Such a woman deserves the best man in Eastlyn. Ninth Brother, am I right?"

Su Wan, Prince Terrence of Lyndaria, and Prince Quentin of Northlyn all brightened at once. At this moment, Su Wan couldn’t speak, so Terrence smiled and said, "Your Majesty is right. Miss Su Wan is a woman of rare virtue and character. She would not disgrace Ninth Royal Uncle’s status."

The Emperor laughed heartily: "Prince Terrence is absolutely right! I’ve always thought Miss Su Wan and Ninth Brother were a perfect match. I even considered issuing a marriage edict, but the late Emperor decreed that Ninth Brother’s marriage is his own to decide. So now I ask: Ninth Brother, are you willing to marry Miss Su Wan?"

Su Wan’s heart pounded wildly. She didn’t know why the Emperor suddenly agreed to her marrying Ninth Royal Uncle, but no matter what, she was full of hope. With the Emperor speaking, surely Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t dare refuse.

Unfortunately, Su Wan still didn’t understand Ninth Royal Uncle—or the Emperor. If the Emperor truly wanted him to marry Su Wan, he wouldn’t bring it up now. He’d choose a more formal occasion.

Ninth Royal Uncle turned, looked Su Wan up and down until her face burned and her heart raced, then coldly spat out two words: "I will not."

Seriously, if he didn’t flatly refuse or used Serena Feng as a shield, that woman would probably bite his head off from rage.

Su Wan’s smile froze, but she quickly regained her usual poise and gentleness. "Your Majesty, marriage alliances between kingdoms are no child’s play. How could you joke about such a thing? In a few days, our Second Prince will personally visit Eastlyn to discuss the matter with Your Majesty."

"Is that so? The Second Prince is coming to Eastlyn, yet I haven’t heard a word of it." A cold glint flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.

Does Southern Lyn think Eastlyn is weak now that it’s lost the thunder-blast grenades? Outrageous.

"The official letter should reach Your Majesty’s desk today. Su Wan only learned early thanks to the Su clan’s vast network." Su Wan subtly highlighted her clan’s power, hinting to the Emperor and Ninth Royal Uncle that marrying her would bring only benefits.

Of course, both the Emperor and Ninth Royal Uncle understood how deeply rooted the Su clan was. Used well, they’d be a tremendous asset. That’s exactly why the Emperor didn’t want Ninth Royal Uncle to marry Su Wan—and wanted him to personally offend the Su clan.

Having achieved his aim—and with Southern Lyn’s Second Prince arriving soon—the Emperor lost interest in the garden stroll. "The Su clan truly is full of talent. I’m tired. Ninth Brother, see Prince Terrence, Prince Quentin, and Miss Su Wan out for me."

"As you command." Ninth Royal Uncle replied with no expression. After the Emperor left, he escorted Prince Terrence and the others out of the palace, not saying a single word along the way.

At the palace gate, after sending off Prince Terrence and Prince Quentin, Ninth Royal Uncle ignored Su Wan and simply walked away. Panicking, Su Wan hurriedly called out, "Ninth Royal Uncle, please wait."

"What is it?" Ninth Royal Uncle actually showed a rare hint of impatience. Though Su Wan was bitter inside, she could only smile and say, "Ninth Royal Uncle, why won’t you marry me? If you did, the Su clan would be entirely at your disposal, helping you achieve your ambitions." She was hinting: whatever he wanted, the Su clan would support him.

The Su clan needs an investment target—someone who can bring them greater power. They’ve chosen Ninth Royal Uncle.

"I don’t need to rely on a woman. Besides, do you Su clan people even know what I want?" Ninth Royal Uncle tossed out these words and left without looking back, leaving Su Wan standing stunned.

He’d already chosen the woman who could stand by his side. Even if it meant offending the Su clan, so be it. The Su clan might be powerful, but Su Wan wasn’t the one he wanted. Cooperation was possible, but to marry Su Wan? Dream on!

Ninth Royal Uncle climbed into his private carriage, closed his eyes, and reflected bitterly on what had just happened.

It had been years since he’d felt so impulsive. Today, he actually fell right into the Emperor’s trap—the Emperor knew he’d never marry Su Wan and deliberately brought it up to make him refuse, offending Su Wan and the entire Su clan.

There were plenty of ways to refuse Su Wan and the Su clan, but today he’d chosen the most direct, most irreparable way. Now he’d offended the Su clan to the bone. From now on, forget about borrowing their power—if they don’t become his enemies, he should count himself lucky.

Still, Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t regret it. When word of his refusal reached Serena Feng, she might show nothing on the surface, but inside, she’d probably be secretly smiling.

Through his actions, he’d told Serena Feng: even if he can’t marry her now, he won’t marry any other woman...