This time, Serena Feng’s treatment was clearly upgraded: she wasn’t thrown into the Capital Prefecture Prison to keep Felix Fuller company, nor sent to suffer torture in the Bloodcloak Guard dungeon—instead, she was locked up in the very place where Ninth Royal Uncle was first imprisoned.
That’s right—the Sky Prison in the imperial palace. Her conditions had improved, but it also meant no one could see her, and she couldn’t learn any news from outside. The Emperor had completely penned her in.
After Serena was brought into the Sky Prison by the Imperial Guards, no one bothered with her—no interrogation, no torture. With the Phoenix Empress Hairpin in her possession, who would dare lay a hand on her? Even if they wanted to, they had to wait and see what the Emperor decided.
Compared to the blood and screams of the Bloodcloak Guard dungeon, the Sky Prison didn’t feel like a jail at all—it was more like a meditation chamber, eerily silent, as if Serena were the only person in existence.
"Oh, so solitary confinement isn't torture now? This counts as interrogation, you know!" Serena snarked to herself, knees bent, chin in her hands, sarcasm sharp as ever.
Should she be grateful that all they did was shut her in a dark little cell and cut her off from people? If they took turns tormenting her and kept her from sleeping, that would really drive someone insane.
If they only used cold, darkness, and silence to wear her down, they might fail—Serena had crawled out of piles of corpses before. How could she possibly be afraid of the dark? Did they really think she was some pampered noble lady?
But silence? Please. Not talking never killed anyone, and her mental resilience was ironclad. Fine, shivering in this icebox with no bed or blanket—that was real torture. Hey! Somebody call the warden—this is straight-up prisoner abuse!
Unfortunately, objections were useless—she didn’t even have anyone to talk to. At noon, someone did bring her a bowl of gruel so thin you could count the rice grains, but the person said not a word.
“Are they trying to starve me so I won’t have the strength to run? The walls are solid on all sides, and the only door is a half-person-high iron one, completely sealed, with a barred vent that’s locked. Even if they open it, it’s just big enough for a bowl to pass through. In a place like this, even if I wanted to run, there’s nowhere to go.” After finishing the gruel, Serena shoved the bowl back out through the slot, knowing someone was waiting outside.
As expected, the attendant snatched the bowl, locked the little grate with a harsh clank, and stomped away, boots echoing down the corridor. Serena let out a long sigh, turned her back, and stared at the wall, lost in thought.
"Should I try to escape or not? I’m bored anyway. Maybe I should leave a way out for myself—or for whoever ends up in this cell after me?" Serena stared at the wall, lost in thought. After struggling for a while, she finally decided to find something to do, or she’d really go crazy from boredom.
Activating the Smart Med-Pack, Serena rummaged around until she found the essentials for a jailbreak. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was watching, pulled on her gloves, picked up her tools, and boldly started hammering a hole in the wall.
She’d rather be a wanted fugitive than rot in Sky Prison for life. Even if she couldn’t use the tunnel, it didn’t matter—better to be prepared for the future!
When news came that Serena had been locked in Sky Prison, Adrian Dongling finally relaxed. He’d been afraid she might have another trick up her sleeve and escape again, but this time, everything went smoothly.
Adrian straightened his robes, beaming as he strode out: "Prepare the carriage. I’m going to the Imperial Clan Prison." With such good news, of course he, as the Emperor’s nephew, wanted to be the first to tell Ninth Royal Uncle.
But there was someone who didn’t want Ninth Royal Uncle to hear the news—the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was afraid that if Ninth Royal Uncle found out Serena had been imprisoned, he’d compromise unconditionally. So when he heard Adrian was heading to the Imperial Clan Prison to see Ninth Royal Uncle, the Crown Prince immediately set out for the prison himself, hoping to intercept Adrian.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was a step too late—he arrived just in time to see Adrian signaling the jailer to open the cell door.
"Seventh Brother!" the Crown Prince snapped. Adrian, ever the showman, turned with a courtly bow: "Crown Prince, fancy meeting you here—coming to see Ninth Royal Uncle too? What are the odds!" He didn't bother waiting for a reply, breezing into the cell ahead.
Adrian strode right past the Crown Prince, not giving him the slightest respect as heir—just walked straight in, as if the future king was invisible.
A flicker of anger flashed in the Crown Prince’s eyes. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. The Empress had come out, and the Emperor’s favor for Adrian was as strong as ever—while he himself was beset on all sides.
Suppressing his anger, the Crown Prince followed them inside.
Both were prisoners, but Ninth Royal Uncle’s treatment was far better than Serena’s. His cell was airy and bright, with a bed, blankets, table, chairs, and even tea.
Nolan hadn’t changed clothes in days, yet they looked fresh and spotless, not a single crease. Up close, there was a faint scent of bamboo lingering around him. He held a book in his hand and seemed utterly unconcerned by Adrian and the Crown Prince’s arrival.
"Uncle."
"Ninth Royal Uncle."
One greeting was respectful, the other perfunctory.
"Sit." Even as a prisoner, Nolan’s presence was undiminished. He accepted their salutes calmly, not even looking up.
"Thank you, Uncle." The brothers spoke in unison. After exchanging a glance, they sat down together—though the Crown Prince’s displeasure only grew.
Nolan lifted his eyelids slightly and just sneered at the scene.
The Emperor hadn’t raised the Crown Prince well—how could the dignified heir act so petty, squabbling with his brother over meaningless pride?
After the two sat down, Nolan still didn’t speak, nor did he bother to look at them. Anyone not in the know might think this was the study in the Ninth Prince Manor. Ahem... Ninth Prince Manor had been sealed, the study ransacked—probably not as tidy as this cell.
The two princes locked eyes in a silent battle of wills, neither yielding an inch. In the end, Adrian remembered his purpose and gave way, but even as the supposed victor, the Crown Prince felt no satisfaction—he knew Adrian couldn't be stopped. Sure enough, Adrian turned and announced, "Ninth Royal Uncle, I've come today to bring you a message."
Nolan turned a page and kept reading, completely ignoring Adrian.
[Irrelevant system prompt: skip translation.]
"Adrian, if Uncle Nolan's not interested, spare him the drama. Don't clutter his peace with your nonsense." The Crown Prince put on his heir-apparent airs, lectured Adrian, then turned to Nolan: "Uncle, do you need anything here? I'll have it sent over right away."
"That’s thoughtful of you, Crown Prince," Nolan replied, still without looking up, making it clear he didn’t welcome either of them.
"It’s what I should do," the Crown Prince said. He’d heard some rumors and was more convinced than ever that Nolan would survive this ordeal.
The urgent dispatch sent over eight hundred miles could be kept secret, but the fact that there was such a message couldn’t be hidden from the heir. The Crown Prince had people investigate and learned about the explosion of five mountains and the resulting ‘heavenly warning.’ With his sharp political instincts, he was sure there was a conspiracy—after all, the timing was just too perfect.
Adrian wasn’t bothered that Nolan responded only to the Crown Prince. He found an opening and interjected, "Ninth Royal Uncle, I’m not as attentive as the Crown Prince, always thinking of every little thing you might need. But just like him, I care about you. That’s why, as soon as I heard Serena Feng had been imprisoned for murdering the National Duke, I rushed over to tell you."
Adrian was ninety percent sure Nolan would react—after all, everyone in the capital knew how much he valued Serena, even to the point of being accused by the Emperor of neglecting his duties for her. Yet Nolan didn’t retort.
But...
Nolan’s reaction was the exact opposite of what Adrian expected—he remained cold and aloof, as if Adrian’s news were no different from a casual greeting.
The Crown Prince breathed a huge sigh of relief, while Adrian was left frustrated and unwilling to give up. He tried again: "Ninth Royal Uncle, Serena Feng killed the National Duke. The Emperor himself ordered a severe punishment. Right now, she’s in Sky Prison."
"I heard you the first time, Adrian. No need to repeat yourself." Nolan kept reading, as if his book was far more interesting than anything happening outside.
Faced with Nolan’s cold rationality, Adrian was utterly discouraged. With such a detached, unfeeling uncle, even the Emperor was helpless—so what could Adrian possibly do?
"Ninth Royal Uncle, aren’t you worried about Serena Feng? Murdering the National Duke is a capital crime." No matter what, Adrian pressed on, determined to get his point across. Who knew if Nolan was just pretending not to care?
"An eye for an eye, a life for a life—that’s only fair. If Serena Feng killed someone, then she should pay with her life. Why should I worry? She’s killed so many; even a hundred deaths wouldn’t be enough. What’s one more National Duke? They’re all just people—what’s the difference?"
"Still, if you just stepped up, Ninth Royal Uncle, Serena Feng would be out of danger—guaranteed." Adrian tried, voice dry as dust.
"Since when do I have that kind of power? Don’t forget, Adrian, I’m a prisoner too. And the law applies to everyone, prince or commoner. Even as a royal, I can’t stand above the law and let the dead die without justice." Nolan looked up, his deep black eyes boring into Adrian as if trying to see through him.
Adrian was unnerved by Nolan’s gaze. He forced himself to act calm, looking away with an awkward smile.
Nolan gave a mocking smile. To Adrian, it seemed cold and heartless.
Once treasured like a jewel, a woman could be cast aside as soon as trouble came. That’s how royal men were—even his own father had done it, neglecting his wife without a second thought.
"Ninth Royal Uncle, are you really not going to save Serena Feng? Will you let her die in Sky Prison? You should know, if you speak up, the Emperor will pardon her. Is it worth letting Serena die for something so trivial?" Adrian wasn’t sure if he was arguing for the Emperor’s sake or for Serena’s.
His mother was right—even the most talented and brilliant woman was just a plaything to the Emperor and Ninth Royal Uncle. They’d never take her seriously.
He really ought to learn from his father and Ninth Royal Uncle.
"Adrian, you’re too naive. She’s just a woman—not worth using the power the late Emperor left me to save." Nolan’s eyes dropped back to his book, making it clear he wouldn’t budge...
But that woman was Serena Feng...
So what!