Colin Si did not arrogantly sit atop his horse, looking down at Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan. Instead, he dismounted early, strode forward, and stopped at arm’s length before Nolan.
Facing each other, Nolan’s expression was calm, though the hand gripping his sword behind his back tightened slightly. Colin’s pupils contracted, cold sweat soaking his back.
The two stood on the battlefield, locked in silent confrontation. Colin’s personal guards and Nolan’s shadow guards, seeing this, wisely kept their distance.
They trusted their own master.
No one knew how much time passed. Nolan remained upright and unyielding, while Colin suddenly dropped to one knee: “Your subordinate, Colin Si, greets Ninth Royal Uncle. Long life, long life, may you live a thousand years.”
"Mm." Nolan graciously acknowledged him, loosening his grip on the sword and letting his aura recede somewhat.
Only then did Colin feel some relief, quietly shaking off the cold sweat from his palm as he struggled to stand. Wearing armor made kneeling difficult, and rising just as hard—Colin swayed as he got up, while Nolan happened to turn away.
That was no coincidence.
Colin respectfully begged forgiveness: “I did not know Ninth Royal Uncle was here and accidentally injured you. Please punish me.”
“Young Marshal Colin was simply following orders. What crime is there?” Colin wanted to cover up the truth, but Nolan exposed the real reason for his actions without letting him off the hook.
Nolan spoke slowly, his tone calm and emotionless, but Colin could hear a faint trace of mockery. He forced a bitter smile: "Thank you, Ninth Royal Uncle, for sparing me. I accidentally killed your guards and request permission to personally escort you."
This was a gesture of goodwill from the Si Clan, but Nolan refused without hesitation: "No need. Young Marshal Si carries imperial orders; I won't delay your journey."
Traveling with a large army to Southlyn would be too conspicuous—and frankly, less enjoyable.
Colin did not give up and continued: "Since you currently lack personal guards, why not let the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders escort you, Your Highness?"
Nolan said nothing, but gave Colin a cold glance, as if to ask: What is the Si Clan up to?
Colin also remained silent, bowing his head. Seeing Nolan hesitate, Colin added: "Please rest assured, Ninth Royal Uncle. The Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders will never harm you. During this escort, they will obey only your orders."
Such unsolicited kindness is suspicious. Nolan knew he had no personal ties with the Si Clan, so their “generous gift” left him puzzled.
Though puzzled, Nolan did not voice his doubts. Instead, he gave Colin a long look and… accepted the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders.
Thus, the Emperor’s assassination attempt on Nolan not only failed, but the Si Clan ended up providing their elite Eighteen Riders to serve as Nolan’s private guards.
After this brief exchange with Colin, Nolan set off with the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders. The riders were silent, attending only to Nolan’s protection and nothing else.
That night, just as Nolan was about to order an investigation into the Si Clan’s motives, a letter from Serena arrived first.
The letter contained little, summed up in a single sentence: Prince Samuel Zhai broke into the Imperial Palace at night and had a complete falling-out with the Emperor.
“Prince Samuel’s speed is impressive,” Nolan remarked, not surprised. What did surprise him was how serious Dominic’s condition was—even the Valley Master said it would take three to five years to cure.
Nolan shook his head and didn’t keep the letter; he burned it immediately. As for the order to investigate the Si Clan, he held off for the moment.
He had a vague sense of understanding.
When the third letter reached Nolan, he finally understood why the Si Clan was showing such goodwill.
“Prince Samuel is ruthless indeed.” Years of training private soldiers, and he simply handed them over—to Serena, no less. Wasn’t this a direct challenge to the Emperor?
Prince Samuel knew perfectly well about his relationship with Serena. Those private soldiers, rather than being given to Serena, were in effect given to him.
This time, Prince Samuel not only fell out with the Emperor, but also developed real resentment. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have handed over his private soldiers.
As for the Si Clan—
Grand Marshal Si was once Prince Samuel’s confidant. Colin Si grew up with Dominic Zhai. When Dominic was young, he was poisoned by mysterious drugs; Colin may have suffered the same fate.
This time, the Emperor summoned the Si Clan to the Capital to attack Westlyn; Colin’s mission to kill Nolan was just one part of it.
Having the Si Clan’s divine archers lead the army to kill him should have guaranteed success. But the Emperor forgot: not only the Zhai family, but the Si Clan also has only a single heir.
The Si Clan doesn’t want its line cut off, so they would never truly kill him!
“The Emperor truly has no one left to use.” If he had anyone, he wouldn’t have called the Si Clan to the Capital.
Of course, this isn’t really the Emperor’s fault—it’s Nolan’s.
In the battle with Westlyn, Eastlyn must win. At this moment, there are only a few who can lead troops. The Emperor originally favored Old General An or the Marquis of Valorwing, but both lost sons to mysterious deaths and are bedridden, unable to fight.
As for the others… either they lack prestige, or they’re too closely tied to the princes. The Emperor has been suppressing Prince Rowan and Prince Chase, so he can’t let their people gain military merit and power.
With no other options, the Emperor chose the Si Clan. The Si Clan has always been loyal, but the Emperor didn’t anticipate Dominic’s crisis at this critical moment.
“This situation is truly interesting.” Nolan smiled and picked up his pen to reply to Serena.
Serena had written three letters in a row; he had to reply to at least one.
Nolan mentioned Colin Si to Serena, asked her to keep the Valley Master and the other two great doctors in the Capital until they had diagnosed Colin, and then gently praised Serena, saying her first letter was excellent and encouraging her to keep it up.
As for his own recent danger, Nolan didn’t mention it at all. He simply advised Serena to be cautious: Eastlyn and Westlyn are about to go to war, so she should avoid getting involved in interstate affairs. If anything happens, she should seek help from Holden Cui.
Holden Cui’s sister is about to marry Titus of Lyndaria, and the Cui family, for their own interests, won’t act against Titus.
Judging by the time, Zuo An and Doudou should be back soon. Nolan considered mentioning what they’d been doing in Westlyn, but decided it was too important and that Zuo An should report directly to Serena.
After all, raising a child is no big deal for them.
Nolan always wrote concisely. Though he explained many things, a single sheet sufficed. Seeing the blank space left, he impulsively began a poem: “Longing and longing. If you ask when longing will end, only when we meet again…”
At this point, Nolan suddenly paused, a trace of annoyance flashing across his face, and he immediately struck out the previous line.
How could he still act like a youth, writing such bluntly romantic poetry again and again? Truly…
It’s not like him!
Refusing to give himself time to hesitate, Nolan struck out the half-finished poem and sealed the letter immediately.
“Send it off!” he ordered, voice severe.
The shadow guard shivered—his master was terrifying when serious!
The guard took the letter and vanished in a flash, not daring to linger even a moment.
Author’s note to readers: I’m truly a good kid—please vote for me this month!