Cooperation and the Scapegoat Fate of the Bloodcloak Guard

Lucan Lu actually came just to deliver Doudou, but the way he did it was really unacceptable.

"Chief Lu, what happened to him?" Serena Feng pointed at Doudou, who was being guarded by the Bloodcloak soldiers, trying her best to keep her voice from sounding too sharp or sarcastic.

She was furious—how could Doudou end up detained by the Bloodcloak Guard in just half a day? Wasn’t this just creating trouble?

Lucan Lu glanced at Serena with a half-smile and said, "Nothing much. He just broke into Censor Liu’s house at night and happened to catch Young Master Liu fooling around with a maid, scaring the young master half to death."

Lucan spoke lightly, but Serena knew things weren’t that simple.

Breaking into an official’s home at night is a capital crime—never mind that he frightened Young Master Liu.

Serena shot Doudou a fierce glare: If you’re going to break in, at least don’t get caught.

Doudou looked aggrieved, but with so many people present, he couldn’t explain himself and could only bow his head in silence.

Caught red-handed, even Serena’s silver tongue couldn’t talk their way out of this. She could only force a smile: "Chief Lu, what does Censor Liu want?"

As long as she could appease the main party’s anger, the rest would be easy to handle.

"Censor Liu handed him over to me and wants me to deal with him harshly." Bringing him here to Feng Manor was giving Serena huge face—by law, Doudou could be punished without even a trial.

"Censor Liu is an imperial censor, yet instead of sending the suspect to the Capital Magistrate, he sent him to the Bloodcloak Guard. Looks like Censor Liu and Chief Lu are pretty close," Serena said with a half-smile, her words carrying a clear warning.

The Bloodcloak Guard is the Emperor’s attack dog—he’d never allow them to get cozy with high-ranking officials. Especially not a censor, whose position is supposed to be above reproach; they rarely have dealings with the Bloodcloak Guard.

Lucan understood Serena’s meaning and grinned: "Miss Feng, you’re getting more and more amusing. Censor Liu only sent him to me because he suspects this man is a Lyndarian spy. The Emperor ordered me to handle all Lyndarian espionage cases myself."

In other words, he had every right to take charge of Doudou’s case.

"Is that so? Then I must have misunderstood Censor Liu." Serena didn’t argue further—Lucan was clearly prepared, so there was no point in dragging this out.

Serena asked directly, "So, Chief Lu, why did you bring him to me? What do you want in exchange? If this is a trade, let’s lay out our terms and talk."

"Miss Feng, you’re refreshingly straightforward," Lucan praised quietly, then deliberately said to the guards holding Doudou, "Everyone knows Miss Feng’s feud with Lyndaria. Since this young hero belongs to her, he can’t possibly be a Lyndarian spy. The Bloodcloak Guard need not intervene."

"Thank you, Chief Lu. I’ll be sure to visit Censor Liu personally and apologize another day," Serena replied, understanding Lucan’s meaning: he could release Doudou, but she’d have to settle things with Censor Liu herself.

Even if Doudou wasn’t a spy, the crime of breaking into an official’s home at night couldn’t be erased.

Lucan nodded in satisfaction, motioned for Doudou to be released, and signaled his men to leave. Freed at last, Doudou pitifully came forward: "Qingchen..."

"Enough, look at you—filthy from head to toe. Go get cleaned up first." Serena cut him off quickly.

Doudou never knew when to keep quiet; if he blurted out something inappropriate in front of Lucan, it would be a real problem.

She and Lucan had some personal history, but their relationship was mostly transactional.

"Alright, I’ll come find you later then." Doudou drooped his head, looking like an abandoned puppy.

"Once I’m done here, I’ll find you," Serena promised, though she had no idea how long her talk with Lucan would last.

"Okay!" Doudou grinned brightly, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.

Serena shook her head, then turned and braced herself to deal with Lucan: "Chief Lu, you’ve been restored to full command. I haven’t had a chance to congratulate you yet—please forgive me."

"Restored? No one else may know, but surely you do, Miss Feng." Lucan saw through the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"You’re the Emperor’s true confidant. This post has changed hands several times this year, but only you can hold it steady," Serena said, deliberately flattering him.

Very few people knew the Emperor suspected Lucan Lu; Serena certainly wasn’t going to admit she did.

Lucan gave a bitter smile. "Miss Feng, let’s not beat around the bush. I don’t know how long I’ll keep this position. You should know, my predecessor was the Emperor’s real favorite."

That was the real reason Lucan came to Feng Manor today. He’d been looking for a chance to connect with Serena, and Doudou’s blunder just handed him the perfect excuse—he’d be foolish not to use it.

"Felix Fuller? I thought he left the city." Serena feigned ignorance. Lucan didn’t call her on it, only replied, "Felix will be back in the Capital in two days."

"Old General An will finally have somewhere to vent his anger," Serena said casually, making it clear to Lucan that Felix’s return wouldn’t be a celebration.

"With the Emperor protecting him, nobody can touch Felix." Felix was a rootless official, relying solely on the Emperor’s favor. The Emperor trusted him because...

If Felix ever betrayed the Emperor, he could be crushed at any moment—no family or allies would object.

"But he can’t take back the Bloodcloak Guard. You may only be acting commander, Chief Lu, but now that the Guard is in your hands, you’re not about to just hand it over again." Serena didn’t believe Lucan had made no arrangements.

If Lucan were really that compliant, Prince Rowan and Felix wouldn’t have suffered so many setbacks within the Bloodcloak Guard.

"Ah... Miss Feng, you may not know—the Bloodcloak Guard isn’t what it used to be. The Emperor grew dissatisfied and ordered a major purge when Felix took over. The Guard lost its old power to watch over all officials." Lucan was brutally frank; he almost said outright that the Emperor had separated the true backbone into hidden units, some under Felix, some under the Emperor himself.

As Commander of the Bloodcloak Guard, Lucan’s position looked glamorous on the surface, but he was always the one taking the blame for the Emperor.

Serena just responded with a soft "Oh," not surprised at all.

The Bloodcloak Guard’s reputation was already ruined. After years of Lucan’s management, even he didn’t know how many spies lurked within. As the intelligence department, the Emperor would never allow it to wield unchecked power like before.

By hollowing out the Guard and pushing it to the front, the Emperor ensured it would always be the scapegoat. You had to admit—it was a clever move.

Seeing Serena remain silent, Lucan continued, "Miss Feng, I know Ninth Royal Uncle and Felix have their differences. Coincidentally, I do too."

He was clearly proposing to team up with Serena against Felix.

Serena’s heart tightened, but she didn’t show it. She just raised her eyes to give Lucan a long, searching look, then lowered them again. After a moment’s thought, she answered, "I can’t decide this alone. I’ll ask Ninth Royal Uncle first."

Lucan had delivered Doudou and sold her a favor—she couldn’t refuse outright. Her answer pleased him; he smiled and stood. "I’ll wait for your good news, Miss Feng."

He was certain Ninth Royal Uncle would agree to cooperate.

Serena couldn’t imagine where Lucan got such confidence. She lowered her head, hiding the mockery in her eyes...