Humiliation, Learning Who Tried to Assassinate You

Running a country means endless tasks. Even with the help of the Three Dukes, Felix Fuller, and William Wang Jinling, Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan was still swamped. Especially now, with the Eighth Prince newly enthroned, Nolan was so busy he barely touched the ground, wishing there were twenty-four hours in a day.

Lately, Nolan spent most nights in the palace to avoid wasting time on the road. After more than half a month of nonstop work, he finally squeezed out a bit of free time and planned to visit Serena at Feng Manor, where she was recovering from her injuries. But as soon as he arrived, the steward reported that Serena had been summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager.

"The Empress Dowager? Why would she want Serena?" Noble Consort Helena Hsieh was a clever woman—though she held the title of Empress Dowager, she rarely made a sound. Nolan had almost forgotten she even existed.

"The eunuch who summoned Miss Serena said the Emperor’s health was failing." The steward kept his head down, answering cautiously.

Nolan’s aura was icy—he was getting older and couldn’t take it anymore.

"The Emperor’s health is failing? Have all the imperial physicians died?" Nolan’s voice was cold as snow.

He had finally managed to visit Feng Manor, and now the Empress Dowager dared to snatch Serena away from him. She had some nerve.

The old steward’s legs went weak and his lips trembled. "I—I’ll go fetch Miss Serena right away!"

"No need." Nolan flicked his sleeve and strode out of Feng Manor.

Nolan knew all too well how stubborn Serena could be. If the young Emperor was truly ill, even if he went to fetch her himself, he might not be able to bring her back. Nolan had no intention of embarrassing himself like that.

"Respectfully seeing the prince off." The old steward and all the gatekeepers knelt in unison, only getting up after a long while. The old steward wiped the sweat from his brow and muttered to himself: Ninth Royal Uncle’s authority was even greater now—his presence might even surpass the Emperor’s.

Noble Consort Helena Hsieh, now the Empress Dowager, had summoned Serena to the palace in the young Emperor’s name, but in reality, the boy wasn’t ill at all.

The Eighth Prince was no longer the neglected child used and manipulated by his father. Now he was a revered Emperor. Nolan hadn’t given him any real power, but everything due an Emperor—Nolan made sure he had it, never treating him unfairly.

With his current status, even the slightest illness meant the Eighth Prince could summon the best imperial physicians. He no longer had to wait in agony for Serena to save him, like before.

At first, Serena urged the coachman to hurry, but when she saw the eunuch escorting her to the palace wasn’t in any rush, she realized the young Emperor was perfectly fine—nothing like before, when everyone was desperate for her help.

She’d overestimated her own importance. Serena gave a self-deprecating smile, put away her worries, and strolled into the palace.

Arriving at Empress Dowager Xie’s palace, Serena didn’t rush to ask about the young Emperor’s condition as she used to. Instead, she greeted Empress Dowager Xie with proper etiquette: "Your subject, Serena Feng, pays respects to the Empress Dowager…"

But Empress Dowager Xie didn’t dare accept Serena’s bow. Before Serena could kneel, she personally helped her up, half affectionate, half reproachful: "Qingchen, get up—quickly. From now on, don’t bow to me. If anyone should be bowing, it’s me to you. If not for you, my son and I would’ve been exiled who knows where."

Empress Dowager Xie wasn’t exaggerating. Considering the Taishang Emperor’s hatred for the Hsieh clan and Helena Hsieh, exile would’ve been the lightest punishment. If Nolan hadn’t supported the Eighth Prince, he’d never have made it to the throne.

"Your Ladyship flatters me—I dare not claim any credit." Serena didn’t insist on bowing, but she also kept her distance, stepping back to put space between herself and the Empress Dowager.

She and Helena Shaw could never go back to the way things were. Helena was the young Emperor’s mother, but all the real power in Eastlyn belonged to Nolan. No matter how open-minded Helena tried to be, over time she was bound to feel resentful.

Serena didn’t want to get caught in the middle, so she kept her distance from Helena, hoping to avoid trouble later.

Serena’s aloofness was so obvious that Empress Dowager Xie couldn’t miss it. She felt a little hurt, though she didn’t show it, keeping her smile warm and generous as she apologized: "Qingchen, I summoned you so suddenly—did I interrupt anything important?"

"Your Ladyship flatters me. I’m a doctor—healing people is my duty." Serena wasn’t pleased that Empress Dowager Xie had used her physician status to summon her to the palace.

Did Empress Dowager Xie really need to use the young Emperor as a pretext just to see her?

"Qingchen, I..." A flicker of embarrassment crossed Empress Dowager Xie’s face, but she quickly composed herself.

In Eastlyn, she might be the Empress Dowager, but she had to live by Nolan and Serena’s moods. She couldn’t afford to offend either of them—even if Serena made things awkward, Helena had to pretend not to notice.

Helena had always known what she could and couldn’t do. She quickly adjusted her expression and explained her real reason for summoning Serena: "Qingchen, I’m sorry for using Little Eight’s name to call you to the palace, but I had no other choice."

Helena looked troubled, waiting for Serena to give her an out. But Serena turned away, pretending not to notice.

Seriously, Serena might lack other talents, but she was good at reading a room. Eastlyn was Nolan’s domain now, and as his woman, if she didn’t act a little arrogant, she’d be letting down her powerful backer.

Serena hadn’t expected to make Helena lose face again and again. Helena’s expression grew a little awkward, but she quickly let it go. Serena had saved both her and Little Eight—without Serena, neither of them would be here.

Helena spoke bitterly, her tone melancholy: "Qingchen, the one who wants to see you is the Taishang Emperor. I… really have no choice. Please don’t take it to heart."

Serena ignored Helena’s humble tone and frowned. "The Taishang Emperor? What does he want with me?"

She didn’t think she had anything to discuss with the Emperor—especially since he’d used Helena to summon her and kept it secret from Nolan. That couldn’t be anything good.

"The Taishang Emperor said he knows who tried to assassinate you in the street." Helena didn’t know the details; she was just relaying the message.

Don’t ask how Helena could still speak to the Taishang Emperor, or why she’d deliver his messages. She had her reasons—in the palace, nothing was done without benefit.

Helena had never wanted Little Eight to take the reins of power—she just wanted him to grow up safe. But Eastlyn’s current situation terrified her. She feared Nolan might discard her and her son when they were no longer useful.

Even for Little Eight’s sake, she needed a way to protect herself—and the Taishang Emperor could provide that.

"Is that so?" Serena blinked and smiled. "So, the Emperor wants to negotiate with me? Has he forgotten my connection to Nolan?"

Helena shook her head. "I don’t know what the Taishang Emperor wants from you. He just asked me to pass along his message. Whether you see him or not is up to you. I’d never force you."

It wasn’t that she wouldn’t force Serena—she simply had no power to threaten her.

"Of course I’ll see him. Why not? It’s not like the Taishang Emperor can eat me alive." Serena’s face was calm, her chin lifted, her pride and confidence on full display. Under Helena’s gaze, she turned and walked toward the Taishang Emperor’s palace.

No matter what, Serena wasn’t about to be intimidated by a bedridden ex-Emperor!