"Dead? Who died?" Serena Feng was stunned and quickly questioned General Warren Yu.
General Warren Yu shook his head, a trace of pity flickering in his eyes.
Serena Feng panicked and rushed forward to press him: "Warren Yu, tell me! Who died? Was it William Wang Jinling? Did something happen to him?"
The more Serena thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
If William Wang Jinling died, she’d lose the chance to prove she could cure him. All her and Ninth Royal Uncle’s efforts would be wasted.
Just imagining that possibility made Serena’s whole body go cold.
"Don’t worry, Serena. William Wang Jinling is fine. Remember, he’s the eldest son of the Wang Clan—no one would dare touch him. The Wang Clan isn’t that easy to mess with."
This wasn’t some stage play—people didn’t just get assassinated out of nowhere.
The higher up you went, the less likely you were to see assassinations like that.
If you killed my son today, and I killed yours tomorrow, wouldn’t everything fall into chaos?
"Good, I’m glad he’s safe. You scared me—I really worry someone will get hurt because of me." Just one Sun Yijin was already making her uneasy.
Serena Feng patted her chest, shooting Warren Yu a reproachful look. "If it wasn’t William Wang Jinling, why did you yell like that? Trying to scare me to death?"
Warren Yu tugged awkwardly at the corner of his mouth, but couldn’t manage a smile.
Thinking of how Serena Feng had knelt before her that day for that person, she knew...
Once Serena found out, she’d be devastated—so it was better not to say anything yet.
"I just didn’t react for a moment, that’s all. Come on, we should hurry to the Wang Clan. They’ve had a rough few days too—let’s get there early and put their minds at ease."
But Serena Feng wasn’t so easy to fool: "Warren Yu, tell me—who died? To shock you this much, it must be serious."
Serena had a vague suspicion that it might have something to do with her.
"It’s got nothing to do with you. Let’s go—William Wang Jinling is still waiting for you." Warren Yu clearly didn’t want to talk.
"No way. You have to tell me, or I’ll be so distracted something will go wrong." Serena Feng stared stubbornly at Warren Yu, making it clear she wouldn’t budge until he talked.
"Warren Yu, who exactly died? Just tell me—I can handle it."
"Serena..." Warren Yu hesitated a little. If he didn’t say it now, someone at the Wang Clan would probably spill it anyway.
But for Serena Feng, it was still a cruel blow.
"Go ahead. I’ll be fine." Serena Feng took a deep breath, bracing herself.
"Serena, do you remember the eldest daughter of the Sun clan you saved?" Warren Yu looked at Serena with deep concern.
"Sun Yijin?" Serena nodded blankly. The light in her eyes faded instantly—she seemed stunned. "Warren Yu, are you saying Sun Yijin is dead?"
"Yes. The news just came—she’s gone." Warren Yu let out a long sigh.
"How could she die?" Serena staggered backward.
It hurt—her chest hurt, like someone was choking her so hard she couldn’t breathe.
Serena’s eyes widened as she clutched her chest, gasping for air.
Sun Yijin. Sun Yijin was dead.
That wild, horseback-riding girl was gone—because of her?
Serena realized she couldn’t cry—the pain was too much, so much she couldn’t even shed a tear.
"Serena, don’t do this." Warren Yu saw her completely consumed by grief, unable to let it out, and felt a strange ache in his heart.
He’d known Serena would react like this—that’s why he’d hesitated.
She looked cold and distant, but was actually kind-hearted.
"Unrelated? How could it have nothing to do with me? She died because of me. I checked her injuries myself—I could guarantee she wouldn’t die. Even if there was danger, for her to die right now is way too much of a coincidence." Serena bit her lip, eyes red, tears brimming.
"It’s me—I killed her, it’s me. I killed her. If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t be dead."
Guilt. Shame. Regret.
Right now, Serena Feng truly hated herself.
Without strength, you can't protect yourself—and you drag others down too.
She was so useless.
Serena Feng hugged her knees, squatting on the ground, her head buried in her legs, motionless.
General Warren Yu stood there, at a loss for how to comfort her.
Sun Yijin’s death was inseparable from Serena Feng.
But...
Right now, there was something even more important.
If Serena collapsed now, she’d lose every chance she had.
Fortunately, Serena Feng didn’t disappoint Warren Yu. In less than half a stick of incense, she stood up again, radiating a cold killing intent.
"Let’s go."
Serena blinked, as if nothing had happened, and swung herself onto the horse.
Warren Yu said nothing. He just silently guarded her.
No matter how heartbroken Serena was, it couldn’t change the fact that Sun Yijin was dead.
Besides, now wasn’t the time for grief.
With the army protecting her, Serena’s path was smooth. But sitting on horseback, she was no longer confident and spirited—her whole body radiated a coldness that kept people at arm’s length, and that icy aura only made her appear even more striking.
"That woman really is made of iron—she recovers so fast." Prince Terrence Valen and Princess Yara Valen mingled in the crowd.
"Cold-blooded is more like it. I really don’t see what’s so great about her." Yara sneered.
"You’re just jealous, Yara." Terrence’s voice was icy, almost a warning.
Yara stiffened. Did her brother know she’d given Serena’s knife to Princess Serenity?
She glanced sideways at Terrence, her voice timid: "Brother, I..."
"Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done, Yara. You may be my sister, but don’t forget you’re a princess and I’m the crown prince. Royal siblings aren’t as close as you imagine."
With those words, Prince Terrence Valen turned and walked away, but not before glancing at Serena Feng.
That woman was truly extraordinary.
Serena Feng sensed someone watching her. She turned to find the source, but saw only a blue-clad figure’s back.
Who was that person?
"What’s wrong?" General Warren Yu noticed Serena’s unease and stepped forward to ask.
Serena shook her head. "It’s nothing, let’s go. One person dragged down is enough—I don’t want to implicate William Wang Jinling too."
"Mm." Warren Yu didn’t know what to say.
When Serena reached the Wang manor, she realized the chaos at Feng Manor was nothing in comparison. The Wang estate was even more outrageous—crowds packed layer upon layer, wailing and shouting that the Wang Clan were swindlers and thieves.
If the Wang clan’s servants weren’t so formidable, the mob would have stormed the estate by now.
"General Warren Yu, doesn’t the magistrate care about this?" Serena was shaking with rage.
The Empress and Princess Serenity were simply too overbearing.
"Care? How? Who would dare?" Warren Yu sneered.
Though he commanded the imperial city’s defenses, the commander of the nine city gates was loyal to the Empress.
The chaos at Wang manor was orchestrated by that person—there was no way anyone would intervene.