Unintentional, Covering Your Eyes Doesn’t Make the Sky Dark

Serena had always known Simon Sun was a little slow outside of medicine, but she never expected him to be this oblivious. After a whole round of questioning, Serena nearly coughed up blood.

At first, Serena worried Simon Sun might overthink things, so she tried to ask about Charlotte Chu in a roundabout way. But the kid just couldn't understand her at all.

Fine, Serena asked him directly. Simon was even more clueless, staring blankly at her: "What does the eldest young lady of Chu City have to do with me? I don't even know her."

To Simon Sun, Charlotte Chu was just a patient's family member. He really couldn't understand why Serena was asking about his impression of her.

What kind of impression could you have of a patient's family member?

Serena let out a heavy sigh. Having a kid in the house who was completely clueless about relationships was honestly exhausting.

Still, even though Serena was nearly driven to spitting blood, she realized Simon Sun had no ulterior motives toward Charlotte Chu. He was still a pure, good kid, totally ignorant about romance. Since that was the case, Serena didn't need to go easy on Charlotte Chu anymore.

The best way to suppress rumors is to create even bigger, juicier ones. Charlotte Chu was already a magnet for gossip, so Serena felt no guilt about using her.

After Serena finished worrying about Simon Sun, it was his turn to worry about her. Seeing that Serena looked okay, Simon asked tentatively, "Master, are you and Ninth Royal Uncle still alright?"

"We're fine, why?" Serena laughed, surprised that her disciple cared about gossip as well as medicine.

"As long as you're fine." Simon Sun patted his chest in relief. "I thought Master would be mad."

Rumors painted Serena in the worst light, and with Ninth Royal Uncle staying silent, not speaking up for her, everyone in the Capital assumed Serena was about to become a discarded wife.

Actually, the nobles in the Capital weren't mocking Serena for seducing Ninth Royal Uncle—they were mocking her for being abandoned by him. After all, catching his eye was every noblewoman's dream.

"Master is angry, but not at Ninth Royal Uncle—I'm angry at myself," Serena sighed, her eyes tired. "Simon, I'm not mad at anyone else, just at myself for being careless, for bringing this disgrace, and for dragging others down with me."

"Master, this isn't your fault—you're innocent," Simon Sun said quickly. "You just love Ninth Royal Uncle, that's not a crime."

"But if loving him ruined my family's reputation, then it's wrong." After this, Serena realized some things can't be taken for granted; she couldn't sacrifice those around her for her own naivety.

Just look at Simon Sun—having a master with a bad reputation would be a huge stain on his medical career.

"Master, are you giving up on Ninth Royal Uncle?" Simon Sun's eyes widened, his hands clenched, and he leaned back like he'd just heard something earth-shattering.

Serena couldn't help but laugh. "Of course not, Simon. Why would you even think that?"

She'd worked so hard for this—how could she give up over a little trouble? If Serena could be defeated by rumors, she'd have died long ago.

Whew... that's good, that's good. I was really worried you'd give up because of the pressure. I've been out practicing medicine lately, so I've heard some of those rumors—just hearing them makes me want to kill someone, let alone you, Serena.

How can these people say such things about my master? Serena isn't some low or shameless woman.

"Master isn't that fragile," Serena smiled.

No matter what happens, she won't give up—unless the other person gives up first.

That's good, but Master, you should go out less these days so you won't be bothered by those people.

Simon, things aren't that simple. Covering your eyes doesn't mean the sky is dark. Master never deceives herself. Don't worry, I'll handle it. Now that I know you have no feelings for Charlotte Chu, I can act without hesitation.

Flies don't bite eggs without cracks. It's easy for her to create new rumors.

Seeing Serena so confident, Simon nodded. Master and disciple returned cheerfully to Feng Manor, which became lively again—even Zed came out.

Though Mira Tang and Jada Tang were wary of Zed, they couldn't resist his shy smile. They immediately made him two new outfits in bright red, forgetting all their previous caution.

As soon as Serena saw Zed in his new red clothes, her smile vanished. Pointing at his outfit, she asked sternly, "Who made these new clothes for him?"

"It's us, Miss," Mira Tang and Jada Tang answered nervously, unsure what they'd done wrong.

Serena frowned and told the butler, "Take off his red clothes. From now on, he can't wear red. Dress him in white—use the snow-silk the Emperor gave us."

"No!" Zed protested, fiercely defending his clothes and glaring at Serena.

He liked red, the color of blood. He didn't want to wear white—it felt like mourning.

"In my house, you don't get to say no." Serena's face turned cold, her aura nearly as strong as Ninth Royal Uncle's. Zed shrank back instinctively, then tried to stand his ground, but Serena was unyielding—she never let anyone block her decisions.

"What are you waiting for? Strip Zed's clothes. If he won't cooperate, take everything off. Ninth Royal Uncle might care about a child's dignity, but Serena doesn't."

In the orphanage, six-year-olds often went without clothes in summer—there just weren't enough to go around.

"No! If you dare touch me, I'll have my father kill you and tear you to pieces!" Zed shouted, eyes blazing.

"Tear you to pieces? After just a few days, you're already disobedient. Looks like my household has spoiled you. Maybe I should send you back to Ninth Prince Manor." Serena ignored Zed's threats and ordered the strong servants to act.

"Hmph... I'm not afraid of you." Zed retorted stubbornly. "You can't send me back to Ninth Prince Manor. Ninth Royal Uncle doesn't want you. You're just a woman nobody wants."

After these days, he'd figured out that Serena and Ninth Royal Uncle had fallen out. Serena would never send him back, and as long as he didn't return, he'd be safe.

"Ninth Royal Uncle doesn't want me? Who told you that?" Serena smiled, but there was no warmth in her eyes as she swept her gaze over the servants. Except for Mira Tang and Jada Tang, everyone else lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.

Now Serena understood—since she came back from Ninth Prince Manor and no one from there had visited, everyone assumed she'd fallen out with Ninth Royal Uncle and been abandoned.