Moved Feelings, Ambiguity Is Not a Sin
Serena Feng nodded to show her understanding. With the Emperor holding both military and political power, even if the great clans wanted to rebel, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
Take the Wang Clan, for example. Their entire family is based in Eastlyn. If they ever tried to commit treason, the Emperor could immediately order their extermination. As for escaping ahead of time? With tens of thousands of Wang clan members in Eastlyn, where could they possibly run…
Since the great clans don’t dare betray or rebel, the Emperor, though dissatisfied, isn’t in a rush. He’ll take his time, grinding down the clans bit by bit. And truthfully, the clans don’t want the nation to fall—without a country, there’s no clan. If Eastlyn were destroyed, even the Wang Clan could become nothing but history…
Many lesser clans in the Former Dynasty vanished along with the Lan imperial line’s fall…
Serena Feng didn’t understand the tug-of-war between clans and imperial power, nor did she care to. What she was curious about was: “If the late Southern Lyn emperor was originally from the Wang Clan, why did his surname become ‘Lyn’?”
“Because he married into the Lyn royal house and gave up the Wang surname. In reality, the Southern Lyn imperial family has no real connection to the Wang Clan—once they abandoned the Wang name, they stopped being considered true descendants. The Wang Clan never regards them as kin; in fact, they’re seen as a disgrace.” For Wang clan members, their surname is a source of pride, something they hold in the highest esteem.
In the Former Dynasty, after the Lan, Phoenixfield, and Cui clans, it was the Wang Clan—once the fourth most prestigious surname under heaven. To be cast aside like that is a deep humiliation for the Wang Clan, and the Southern Lyn imperial family is nothing but a stain on their honor.
The Wang Clan never acknowledges the Southern Lyn imperial descendants, and is even openly hostile toward them. All four kingdom’s emperors know this, so there’s no need to worry about the Wang Clan ever siding with Southern Lyn’s royal house.
The pride of the great clans—no matter how powerful the royal family—cannot be trampled.
“So that’s it. Prince Damien of Southern Lyn must be desperate for the Wang Clan’s recognition—that’s why he listens to you so obediently, isn’t it?” Serena finally understood. Some people value family above all else; it’s their root, and they’ll live or die for it. If someone is cast out from their clan, they become an outcast, looked down on by all, unable to find their footing in the world.
"Careful!" William Wang Jinling tried to steady himself as he fell, but when he saw Serena thrown forward too, he deliberately let himself fall first, becoming her cushion.
Thud—
William landed heavily, and Serena crashed right on top of him. Their cheeks collided, and Serena's lips grazed William's.
It was like a jolt of electricity. Both froze, forgetting to move, lips touching in the darkness. They couldn't see each other's faces, but their rapid, heated breaths mingled.
Time seemed to stop—just a split second, but for them, it felt as long as a lifetime.
Suddenly, the horse outside whinnied in panic. Serena and William jerked back to reality, awkwardly turning away, silently grateful that the carriage lantern had gone out in the chaos—otherwise, this scene would be impossible to explain.
Serena coughed, propping herself up on her elbow, but—
"Ah—" William cried out in pain.
Serena realized she'd pressed down on William. "Sorry, I didn't mean to!" She quickly tried to move, but ended up falling right back into his arms.
So this is what it means to 'fall into someone's arms.'
Luckily, it was too dark to see—otherwise William would surely notice that Serena's face was as red as an autumn apple.
So awkward!
The carriage was so cramped, the way they were tangled together—could it get any more ambiguous? And... Serena, with her medical expertise, was all too aware of William's involuntary physical reaction.
So embarrassing!
Serena was mortified, but William was even worse off. Flat on his back with Serena moving against him—unless he were dead, his body was bound to react.
William's face was as red as a boiled shrimp. He tried to shift his legs to spare Serena embarrassment, but she wasn't an ordinary girl—she'd already noticed.
In the tiny carriage, the temperature seemed to spike, the air thick with ambiguous tension. Serena didn't dare move, just lying there, waiting for William to calm down.
"Patriarch, there are assassins." The coachman, probably guessing the situation inside, tactfully stood guard outside—close enough to protect them, far enough not to overhear.
William swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady: "Mm. Try to keep one alive."
"Yes, sir." The coachman replied, but didn't leave, staying put to protect them.
His duty wasn't to fight off assassins, but to protect William Wang Jinling.
There really are assassins!
Serena, still sprawled atop William, split her focus—trying to figure out whether the assassins were after her or William.
Assassinating the Wang Clan Patriarch was a perfectly plausible objective.
"Cough... Serena, you can get up now." As William's breathing steadied, he realized Serena hadn't moved and gently reminded her. He suspected she knew exactly why she was staying still.
Thinking about it, William blushed again. He truly hadn't meant to disrespect Serena—everything was just an uncontrollable instinct...
"Serena, I..." William wanted to explain, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn't say anything. How could he talk about this with an unmarried woman?
"Patriarch, there are assassins." The coachman, likely guessing what's happening inside, tactfully stands outside the carriage—close enough to protect William and Serena, far enough not to overhear.
William swallows hard, forcing his voice to sound normal: "Mm. Try to keep one alive."
"Yes, sir." The coachman answers but doesn't leave, staying put to protect them.
His duty isn't to fight off assassins, but to protect William Wang Jinling.
There really are assassins!
Serena, still sprawled atop William, splits her focus—trying to guess whether the assassins are after her or William.
Assassinating the Wang Clan Patriarch is a perfectly plausible objective.
"Cough... Serena, you can get up now." Time passes, William's breathing steadies, and seeing Serena still unmoving, he has to remind her. He suspects she knows exactly why she's staying put.
Thinking this, William blushes all over again. He truly never meant to disrespect Serena—everything was just an uncontrollable instinct...
"Serena, I..." William wants to explain, but when the words reach his lips, he can't say anything. How is he supposed to talk about this with an unmarried woman?