Envoy of Eastlyn, We Will Pursue This Case

As Serena Feng negotiated with the Westlyn Emperor, the Envoy of Eastlyn raced to the gates of Lyndaria Imperial Capital. Unfortunately, the gates were already closed; unless Prince Nolan himself arrived with the Emperor's special permission, the city would not open.

"We'll have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully nothing major happens to the Prince tonight." The Eastlyn Envoy was the top scholar of the last imperial examination, hailing from a declining gentry family. Talented in both civil and martial arts, with no family burdens, he was a rare talent.

The envoy turned his horse toward the nearby post station. After presenting his credentials, the station officials arranged his lodging and sent someone to the palace to deliver the message.

Eastlyn sent an envoy, but why hadn’t they received any prior notice? Was the border paperwork unclear?

The post station official was baffled and didn’t dare take responsibility, so he reported the news to the palace overnight.

Unable to find fault with Serena, the Westlyn Emperor was about to keep Serena and Feng Jin in the palace under close watch. Before he could speak, his chief eunuch hurried in.

The chief eunuch looked grave and whispered a few words in the Emperor’s ear. No one else could hear what was said, but after listening, the Emperor glanced at Serena, his eyes filled with appreciation, praise, and wariness—so complex they were impossible to read.

Serena had no idea what had happened, but she wasn’t worried. If the sky fell, Prince Nolan would hold it up. His formation was nearly at the border; even without her mother’s matter, the Westlyn Emperor wouldn’t dare take her life—at worst, she’d lose her freedom like the Eighteen Riders.

What Serena feared most now was that they’d target Feng Jin. As the Princess Royal’s son, the Emperor had every reason to detain him.

“Miss Feng, Eastlyn has sent an envoy.” The Emperor looked at Serena, his words layered with meaning.

"An envoy?" Serena was completely puzzled. Prince Nolan had come in person—why send an envoy as well?

"What, Miss Feng didn’t know?" The Emperor’s tone made it clear he didn’t believe her.

Serena shook her head honestly. "Your Majesty, since entering the city, I’ve only stayed at the Princess Royal’s residence and Prince Duan’s Manor. I just moved to a small courtyard last night. If not for your summons today, I wouldn’t have left the manor at all."

Serena truly didn’t know about this, but the Emperor didn’t believe her. "Eastlyn sent an envoy to investigate the assassination attempt on you at the city gate. The envoy brought an official letter—Eastlyn intends to pursue this to the end."

The Emperor deliberately emphasized "assassination attempt." After the incident, aside from the Brocade Guard detaining the Eighteen Riders, nothing more happened, and Serena hadn’t gone to the authorities to report it.

Both sides thought there was a tacit agreement: Serena wouldn’t pursue the assassination, and Westlyn wouldn’t pursue the Eighteen Riders killing civilians at the city gate. Once Serena left, Westlyn would quietly release the Eighteen Riders.

But unexpectedly, before Prince Nolan could negotiate border trade with Westlyn, an envoy suddenly appeared. Did this mean Eastlyn’s stance was: if the assassination attempt on Serena wasn’t settled, the border market wouldn’t open?

"Your Majesty, I truly wasn’t aware of this." Serena made it clear she was innocent. She hadn’t planned to pursue the matter—she had no power to fight the Princess Royal or the Emperor here, and if she did, the Emperor would just find a scapegoat. But now...

Now, it might be worth pursuing. With Eastlyn’s envoy here, even if Westlyn tried to bluff, they’d have to at least make it look convincing.

The Eastlyn envoy was an official; unless Westlyn wanted war, they wouldn’t harm a diplomat. The matter had escalated to a major issue between two nations. Whether the Emperor liked it or not, Westlyn now had to start investigating.

From the moment Eastlyn sent its envoy, the matter was settled—there was no point in further argument. The Westlyn Emperor, face dark, once again proposed keeping Serena in the palace to assist with the investigation.

If it had been before, Serena would have endured it—but now?

A faint smile appeared at Serena’s lips. She spoke lightly: "With nothing but the Princess Royal’s speculation, Your Majesty suspects me. Shouldn’t I also be allowed to say the assassins at the city gate were sent by the Princess Royal? She didn’t even spare the Crown Princess’s brother—why would she care about a foreign woman like me?"

"I did not kill Third Young Master Cui." The Princess Royal forced the words through clenched teeth.

Ever since Serena arrived in Westlyn, nothing had gone right for the Princess Royal. Prince Duan smashed up her palace, and now she was entangled in the Cui family’s troubles.

"I understand... The Princess is so noble and kind—how could she kill anyone? Third Young Master Cui must have run onto her sword himself, tired of living too long." Serena said it with perfect seriousness; if it weren’t about the Cui family, Holden Cui would have laughed.

Holden Cui, who had stayed silent, now stood and bowed to the Emperor. With grief in his voice, he said, "Your Majesty, my Cui family has always upheld the law. My third brother was loyal and filial; he went out only to earn blessings for our grandmother, yet he met misfortune as soon as he left home..."

Holden Cui’s eyes were red and swollen, his grief unbearable. He choked out, "My third brother was not the sort to despair or seek death. I beg Your Majesty to grant justice to my family."

"I also do not believe Third Young Master Cui would take his own life." Prince Tianyu of Westlyn stepped forward, outwardly supporting the Cui family but in reality helping Serena.

Master Ian Reed glanced discreetly at Serena and Feng Jin, then rose and said calmly, "I personally examined Third Young Master Cui’s wounds—they do not look self-inflicted."

The palace was the Princess Royal’s domain. Leaving Feng Jin there would be far too dangerous; even if Master Ian Reed didn’t care much for Feng Jin, he was still his own flesh and blood.

Serena’s teasing remark drew agreement from everyone except the Emperor—proof that the Princess Royal had failed at winning people over.

The Emperor was displeased. These three had stayed silent until now, all for this moment—they were traitors at heart.

The Emperor’s expression was grave; the hall was silent. Feng Jin sensed the tension and frowned uncomfortably. Serena felt it was time and stood up as well: "Your Majesty, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Rest assured, with Prince Derrek’s heavily armed guards watching, I couldn’t escape even if I grew wings."

Not only did Serena refuse to stay in the palace, she even wanted Prince Derrek’s soldiers as her bodyguards. She had finished what she came to do in Westlyn; the rest would be handled by Eastlyn’s envoy and Prince Nolan. All she needed was to wait quietly for Prince Nolan to arrive.

Serena was the first to use guards meant to watch her as personal protection. The Westlyn Emperor saw through her ploy, but he couldn’t let Serena die in Westlyn. With Prince Derrek’s troops ‘protecting’ her, the Emperor felt reassured.

From the moment the questioning strayed off topic, there was no way it would end as the Emperor and Princess Royal hoped. Serena left as calmly as she had arrived, escorted by Prince Derrek.

The Princess Royal was so furious she could have coughed blood, but could only watch helplessly as Serena walked away. Serena didn’t know that, not long after she left, the Westlyn National Preceptor—whom she had always feared—emerged from the shadows...