Prince Nathan of Southlyn's motives were so obvious that even if Serena Feng wanted to pretend otherwise, she couldn't. In the past, she would have found this kind of manipulation deeply annoying, but after witnessing the Walker clan's internal struggles, Serena understood: no one truly controls their own fate.
Prince Nathan's status meant he had no choice but to fight for power—failure meant death. After all the hardship he'd endured to return to Southlyn, there was no way he would just give up.
If everyone were as simple as Evan Zhou, the world would be in chaos. Serena kept her distance from Su Rou, but her attitude toward Prince Nathan remained unchanged.
After a few polite exchanges, Serena asked the servants to escort Su Rou to the flower hall, while she personally took Prince Nathan to introduce him to Prince Titus. As for what would happen between those two foxes, that was none of Serena's concern—they both knew how to look out for themselves.
Few women ever visited Feng Manor, so the flower hall was rarely used. Su Rou sat there, visibly uneasy. Serena deliberately made a bit of noise at the door; Su Rou turned, saw her, and immediately stood up. "Miss Feng."
Her posture was so low that it instantly put Serena on guard.
"Miss Su Rou, you're too polite. Please, have a seat." Compared to Su Rou, Serena's manner was much more poised, displaying the air of a noblewoman—she naturally overshadowed Su Rou.
Su Rou didn't mind at all, her face showing just the right amount of a gentle smile. "Miss Feng, I'm very sorry about what happened last time. I truly had no choice."
Su Rou had already learned about Serena's personality from Prince Nathan, so she got straight to the point.
"Miss Su Rou, you're too polite. It was nothing." Was Su Rou referring to the hypnosis incident last time, or something else?
She definitely wasn't talking about the hypnosis incident—Su Rou was confident in her skills and certain she hadn't slipped up. So her apology was just for show.
Serena sneered inwardly. Su Rou really knew how to talk—her words were full of apology, but she never actually mentioned anything specific. If she needed to deny responsibility later, it would be easy.
"Miss Feng, as long as you don't mind, that's all that matters. This is a small gift I prepared—please see if you like it." Su Rou placed a little brocade box on the table.
Apologies, gifts—Serena really couldn't figure out why Su Rou was acting so submissive.
Serena opened the box and found a tiny jade bottle inside, no bigger than her thumb, glowing with a soft luster. One look and she knew it was worth a fortune.
"It's beautiful, I do like it. Thank you, Miss Su Rou." Accept the gift, but keep the account open. Serena learned that trick from Ninth Royal Uncle—her relationship with Su Rou was complicated. As long as Su Rou hadn't entered the palace, they were still rivals. Serena might let Su Rou go, but Su Rou might not return the favor.
Su Rou let out a sigh of relief, her smile growing even brighter. "Before I came, I was worried you wouldn't like it. Now that I see you do, I'm at ease."
Miss Feng, you wouldn't know—back in Southlyn, when Prince Nathan spoke about you, he said you were not only kind but also a remarkable doctor. I wanted to meet you so much. Later, when I heard about your contest with Sister Su Wan, and how you made her admit defeat wholeheartedly, I kept wondering: what kind of woman could have such astonishing talent? If I could meet you just once in this life, I would die content.
Serena, you wouldn't know—Sister Su Wan's skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were all taught by masters. In Southlyn, no one could rival her. I thought she was the best, but I never imagined you'd be even more incredible."
The look of adoration in her eyes, that slightly innocent tone—and just like that, Su Rou had gone from 'Miss Feng' to 'Sister Serena' in a few sentences. The Su family's gentle little sister was nothing like her surface persona.
If it were the old Serena, she would have bluntly said, "Don't call me Sister Serena, I don't have a little sister." But now? Su Rou could call her whatever she wanted—it wasn't like it would cost Serena a thing.
Besides, in a few months Su Rou would be an imperial consort. With her status as a Su family daughter from Southlyn, she was guaranteed a consort's rank. Serena had worked hard to change the Emperor's opinion of her—she didn't want Su Rou's pillow talk to sour that, leading the Emperor to send assassins or simply kill her for a reward.
Serena went with the flow: "You're too kind, Sister Su Rou. Miss Su Wan is incredibly talented—I'm truly impressed. If I won against her, it was just a stroke of luck. In etiquette, martial arts, and medicine, I lost to her every time."
"That was just a fluke, Sister Serena. Your poise and elegance are outstanding—no need for a contest to see that you're every bit as impressive as a royal princess. And as for medicine and martial arts, everyone knows your miraculous hands healed both the Grand Heir's eyes and Young Master Clay's illness.
Your healing hands can cure any illness—and you can tame wild horses, too. Even now, the noble ladies are still talking about how you tamed the Blackcloud Stallion and the Bloodsweat Charger at the animal park." Su Rou looked like she was defending Serena, but Serena knew she was probing for information.
Clearly, the riding and archery competition after spring was crucial to Su Rou. Too bad everyone knew Serena's horsemanship was on another level.
Faced with Su Rou's intense gaze, Serena just smiled and pointed to the fruit plate on the table. "Try some, Sister Su Rou. These dried apricots are specially made here at the manor."
"Ah, oh, I'll try them." Su Rou hadn't expected Serena to change the subject so suddenly, but she adapted quickly. Seeing that Serena didn't want to talk further, she let it drop.
"Sweet and tart, with the flavor of real fruit—Sister Serena, you're amazing, you can do anything. These dried fruits taste even better than the ones my aunt ate when she was pregnant with my brother. Did you make these especially for Imperial Noble Consort Helena?" Su Rou gazed at Serena with adoration, her eyes sparkling so brightly it was hard not to get lost in them.
Serena was floored—the Su family's illegitimate daughter was truly something else. She could even link a plate of fruit to Imperial Noble Consort Helena. No wonder Prince Nathan hadn't vouched for Su Rou; he knew she could handle herself.
Su Rou kept staring at her, eyes shining with a strange light that seemed to draw in one's soul. Serena was sure Su Rou wanted to try her old trick again—hypnosis.
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Su Rou was certainly confident in her skills. Serena smiled and said, "Sister Su Rou, the dried fruits for Imperial Noble Consort Helena are all made by palace physicians. She wouldn't care for my humble snacks. But if you like them, I'll have some packed for you."
Serena was sure she could never like Su Rou. Compared to her, Serena actually preferred Su Wan—at least Su Wan had the pride and talent of a legitimate daughter. Su Rou only had the tricks of a concubine's child, beautiful on the surface but as dangerous as a viper underneath.
"Thank you, Sister Serena." Su Rou accepted with a smile—she knew how to interact with people. This little exchange of gifts, though unequal in value, made their relationship seem closer.
Unfortunately, that was just Su Rou's wishful thinking. Serena didn't believe for a moment that they could ever be friends.
After that, Su Rou's questions all revolved around palace matters—mainly about Imperial Noble Consort Helena. But they were all trivial things, easy to find out if you cared to ask.
If Serena hadn't been burned by Su Rou before, she'd have thought Su Rou was just trying to prepare for palace life—afraid she wouldn't fit in, so she wanted some inside information.
None of Su Rou's questions were particularly important, but they did make people gradually let down their guard—not suspecting anything deeper.
That was exactly what made it dangerous. Serena stayed alert, but outwardly answered every question with ease. The more smoothly she replied, the brighter Su Rou's eyes became—until...
Su Rou's eyes were like black whirlpools, fixed on Serena as if to suck out her soul. At the same time, Serena's own eyes went vacant, unfocused—like a soulless doll.
For a moment, Serena realized she really was hypnotized—her mind foggy, thoughts blank. Luckily, she'd always been wary of Su Rou; sensing something was off, she quietly pressed her Plum Blossom Hairpin against her waist.
Serena was deeply grateful she'd kept the Plum Blossom Hairpin that Ninth Royal Uncle gave her. Otherwise, in that moment, she wouldn't have had anything sharp enough to wake herself up without drawing blood.
Her mind now clear, Serena kept her gaze empty, staring blankly at Su Rou—waiting to see what Su Rou would do next.
Su Rou grew anxious and asked Serena two test questions. Once she confirmed Serena was hypnotized, she got to the point, pulling a gold hairpin from her sleeve and holding it in front of Serena's eyes.
"When you see this gold hairpin, you must immediately bring its owner into the palace to meet Imperial Noble Consort Helena. Look closely!" Su Rou gripped the hairpin tightly, making Serena look at it again and again.
This was an advanced hypnotic technique—the subject wouldn't even know they'd been hypnotized. Only when the trigger appeared would they carry out their assigned task.
A related method was total hypnosis, where the subject only woke up under certain circumstances. Of course, this kind of high-level technique wasn't common—usually reserved for undercover agents.
The most successful undercover agents don't even know they're undercover. Only when they see a specific object do they remember their true identity and mission. It's effective, but the cost is high.
Watching Su Rou's actions, Serena had to admit—she'd underestimated her.
Three days apart, and you must see her anew—Su Rou had gotten stronger. Serena felt a surge of emotion, but her mind raced to recall what expression she'd worn under hypnosis, how to answer, and then acted it all out for Su Rou.
Satisfied, Su Rou put away the gold hairpin. She looked a bit drained, so Serena thought it was over—but then Su Rou produced a red riding crop.
"You're riding a fine horse, galloping at full speed. With one lash of the red crop, you tumble from the saddle."
So ruthless—she wanted Serena to fall from a running horse during the contest. Even if Serena survived, she would be crippled for life.
Su Rou was out for her life!
Serena quietly pressed the Plum Blossom Hairpin two inches deeper—she could not let Su Rou hypnotize her...