Teaching a Daughter, Not Wanting Her to Become Like Serena Feng

The person who understands you best isn’t your family, but your enemy. Prince Nolan didn’t know Prince Damien of Southlyn’s exact plan, but he knew that venomous snake would never let him leave Southlyn peacefully or return to Eastlyn without trouble.

As soon as they left the Southlyn capital, Prince Nolan seized the chance to have the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders escort Serena Feng and Master Wenyuan out ahead, while he took his personal guards down a different road to draw Southlyn’s attention.

Serena was suddenly handed the responsibility but showed no panic, nor did she argue with Prince Nolan. She calmly accepted the daunting task.

After a brief explanation to Master Wenyuan, she led the Eighteen Riders onto the road, handling every stop with meticulous care. Facing the Eighteen Riders, she showed no fear, issuing commands in an orderly way. Even though the Riders barely cooperated, Serena kept her composure and didn’t stoop to petty squabbling.

That night, Serena’s group failed to reach a town and had to camp in the wild. When it was time to pitch tents, the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders refused to help, claiming they “didn’t know how.”

As soldiers, there’s no way they didn’t know how to set up tents—they were just venting their dissatisfaction this way.

The Eighteen Riders had accepted orders from Marshal Si to protect Prince Nolan, and they’d agreed to it. But when Prince Nolan turned around and made them protect Serena, they were extremely unhappy.

Marshal Si had told them to obey Prince Nolan’s commands, but Prince Nolan wasn’t their true master—yet he kept ordering them around. If the Eighteen Riders were willing to accept that, it would be a miracle.

The Eighteen Riders were powerful and proud, just like Marshal Si. They only respected strength. Protecting Prince Nolan was no hardship, but being told to protect Serena—or take orders from a woman—was something they just couldn’t accept.

They could protect Serena, but if she expected them to do everything for her—no way!

Serena knew these eighteen men were deliberately making things difficult for her. She just smiled and said nothing, then called over the two guards Prince Nolan had assigned to her and asked them to help set up camp.

Women of this era were all pampered and sheltered, but Serena had spent years on the battlefield and learned to be independent. Setting up camp herself was no burden at all.

She took three tents from the carriage—these were made by Prince Nolan, modeled after the outdoor tents in Serena’s Smart Med-Pack. They were compact and easy to assemble.

Serena explained the trick to the two guards, then spread the tents out and directed them in the setup.

There were more than twenty people in the group, but only three women: Princess Vivian, Yana Zhan, and Serena. Vivian and Yana stood to either side behind Master Wenyuan, while the Eighteen Riders formed a semicircle for protection. Under everyone’s gaze, Serena moved quickly, setting up the tents herself.

"Father, I want to help Serena," Yana Zhan couldn’t bear to watch any longer and spoke up as soon as she stepped out of the carriage.

They were all women, yet while Vivian and Yana enjoyed the breeze and scenery, Serena was busy making sure everyone had a place to sleep. The contrast was too much. Serena wasn’t their servant, and her birth wasn’t much lower than theirs.

"What help could you offer?" Master Wenyuan smiled at his daughter. "Do you know how?"

Yana was taken aback and shook her head. "No, but I can learn."

"If you go over now to learn, you’ll only make trouble for Serena. With your strength, what could you really do?" Master Wenyuan wasn’t looking down on Yana—it’s just that most women were sheltered. Forget pitching tents, Yana couldn’t even fold a blanket.

Yana’s face flushed red at her father’s words. She protested, "I may not be much help, but standing here watching Serena do all this rough work alone—I really can’t bear it."

As she spoke, Yana’s gaze swept over the Eighteen Riders, clearly blaming them. The Riders arrogantly lifted their chins, neither arguing nor moving to help.

They weren’t Prince Nolan’s servants, nor Serena’s subordinates—why should they help Serena?

"Serena doesn’t mind, so why should you? Yana, you should learn from Serena. If you were rejected by those eighteen men, could you calmly pitch your own tent?" Master Wenyuan’s eyes glinted with admiration as he spoke.

Yana was more knowledgeable than most women, but her temper was quick. If the Eighteen Riders refused her, she’d get angry, secretly wipe her tears, feel sorry for herself, and think they were heartless—forgetting she had no authority to order them.

Even servants aren’t automatically your servants.

Yana stood frozen, staring at Serena. Under her father’s gaze, she slowly lowered her head. "I can’t be like Serena, but they really are too much—Serena is a woman, after all."

She meant the Eighteen Riders. Master Wenyuan glanced at the Riders, who pretended not to hear, and said, "They aren’t Prince Nolan’s subordinates—they’re just here to protect us. They have the right to refuse."

Prince Nolan knows their temperament and still dared leave them with Serena. That shows how much he trusts her ability. Even without the Eighteen Riders, Serena could manage the journey. Yana, do you remember what Jinling said about Serena riding alone into the gorge to save him?"

Master Wenyuan used this as a chance to teach Yana what made Serena different from other women. Maybe she didn’t have endless literary talent or eloquence, but to men like Prince Nolan and William Wang Jinling, an independent, self-sufficient woman who can always take care of herself is the one they truly value.

Yana’s eyes shone with admiration. "How could I forget? That’s what I admire most about Serena. She treats Jinling like a friend, but she’d give her life for him. But... Father, I could do that too." For Jinling, she’d give up her life without hesitation.

"No, you might act on impulse, but you couldn’t actually do it," Master Wenyuan said with certainty. Seeing Yana’s disagreement, he continued, "Yana, before we do anything, we have to ask ourselves if it’s beyond our ability. Will we actually help, or just make things worse?"

Serena rode alone because she knew she could do it—she could protect herself and not become a burden. But what about you? You’d act out of loyalty, but the truth is you might not save Jinling at all. You might lose your own life and end up needing your family or Jinling to rescue you." Master Wenyuan never missed a chance to teach his daughter, hoping she wouldn’t cling to love without return or blindly try to imitate Serena.

"Father, if I start learning now, is it too late?" Yana watched Serena’s deft movements and could tell she’d done this many times before.

Master Wenyuan smiled and shook his head. "Yana, you don’t need to learn these things. You’re not like Serena. She’s an orphan who can only rely on herself—these are her survival skills, the reason she’s so free now. But you’re different. You’re the cherished Miss of the Zhan family. With your family behind you, you can live a carefree life."

He admired Serena, but that didn’t mean he wanted his own daughter to be like her—fighting desperately just to survive. Better to be a beloved jewel in her parents’ hands than a lone eagle struggling in the cracks.