"Serena Feng, you are brazen indeed—how dare you defy an imperial edict!" The Emperor, furious, slammed his hand on the desk, making the teacups and pastries rattle. His eyes were sharp as blades, fixed on Serena Feng.
When the Emperor was enraged, all the top officials trembled. Thud, thud, thud—everyone in the room dropped to their knees. Yet the one person who most ought to kneel remained standing with a faint smile, utterly unruffled by favor or disgrace.
Very few people could stand tall before the Emperor’s direct gaze, but Serena Feng was one of them—her defiance was clear, refusing to bow her head.
Everyone knew: today, it was Serena Feng’s robes being stripped, but the real blow was aimed at the Ninth Prince. If Serena yielded, she would never be able to stand firm before the Emperor again—and it would drag the Ninth Prince down with her.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes, cold light flashing within. Whether for public or private reasons, he was determined to strip Serena Feng of her ceremonial robes.
Nolan’s nerve was getting out of hand. It was one thing to brazenly flaunt his own private affairs, but to have Serena Feng—a mere orphan girl—enter the palace in the Ninth Prince’s Princess Consort formal regalia? What was he trying to do?
He was acting as if the Emperor didn’t even matter.
The Emperor, blinded by rage and eager to crush Nolan, had forgotten that Nolan’s move had already killed off Lady Chu’s hopes of marrying him—solving his biggest headache in the process.
"Your Majesty, Serena would never dare. My maids were only acting out of loyalty—please forgive them, Your Majesty." Serena Feng offered a perfunctory apology, then coolly ordered Mira Tang and Winter: "Stand down."
"Yes, Mistress." The two women withdrew, but the murderous aura clinging to them didn’t fade, making the lesser eunuchs too terrified to approach.
Serena Feng knew exactly where she stood—and what she had to do to avoid being sacrificed. In this standoff with the Emperor, she couldn’t retreat even half a step; any retreat would mean Nolan was backing down.
The Emperor and Serena Feng remained locked in stalemate, neither speaking. Everyone else present, including the Empress, kept silent—anyone who spoke up now would meet a terrible fate.
Serena Feng had thought the Emperor would just keep staring her down, but suddenly, a eunuch’s high-pitched voice cut in: “The Crown Prince has arrived, Prince Rowan has arrived, Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria has arrived, the Third Prince of Southlyn has arrived, Miss Wendy Summers of the Su family has arrived…”
At the eunuch’s announcement, everyone finally realized why Serena was at the Imperial Medical Directorate: to compete in medical skills. Thinking back on the Emperor’s arrival and the timing of his orders, the clever ones broke out in a cold sweat.
The Emperor was clearly out to destroy Serena Feng.
He had timed the arrivals of Prince Damien of Southlyn and Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria perfectly. If the eunuchs had carried out his orders immediately, those men would have walked in to find Serena Feng with her clothes in disarray—or even stripped bare by the eunuchs.
If that happened, not only would Nolan’s reputation be ruined, but Serena Feng herself would be disgraced. Even if she could endure the shame, Nolan would never accept her again.
Prince Damien of Southlyn and Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria both had issues with Nolan. They were powerful and wouldn’t hesitate to mock him. Seeing Nolan and Serena Feng together, Prince Damien in particular might sneer: “Nolan, you have good taste. Serena Feng is certainly exquisite—charm in her very bones. I’m lucky to witness her exposed cleavage today.”
What man could stand to have his woman insulted like that? Over time, no matter how much he liked her, he’d eventually cast her aside.
Such is the heart of an emperor. The imperial physicians grew more anxious the more they thought about it, but also deeply admired Serena Feng for standing firm before the Emperor. Otherwise, she really would have become the sacrificial victim in the Emperor and Nolan’s power struggle.
When the Crown Prince, Prince Rowan of Eastlyn, Prince Damien of Southlyn, Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria, and Wendy Summers entered, they didn’t see the Emperor—they saw Serena Feng standing at the center.
“Royal Aunt?” The Crown Prince was close to Nolan; everyone knew it. His greeting was a clear show of support for Nolan.
If Nolan recognized a woman, even if the Emperor and the royal family didn’t, even without a formal wedding, he acknowledged her.
Prince Rowan’s face darkened; he snorted coldly and said nothing.
Seeing Serena Feng again, she seemed even more beautiful—her proud bearing radiated from her, making her impossible to desecrate.
“Ahem, Your Highness, this is Serena Feng—not your royal aunt. Just look at her attire; she’s still dressed as a maiden.” Prince Terrence Valen wasn’t sure why, but hearing the Crown Prince’s words, he immediately felt the need to explain.
Serena Feng stood with poise, her allure undeniable. The formal Princess Consort regalia suited her perfectly, highlighting both her proud purity and her mature charm.
It was a contradictory, even extreme mix of qualities—but on Serena Feng, it was disturbingly harmonious, impossible to look away.
For a moment, Prince Terrence Valen wondered if the rumors were true—had Nolan and Serena Feng really slept together? He quickly dismissed the thought.
If there really was something between Nolan and Serena Feng, Nolan wouldn’t let the rumors run wild, nor would Serena Feng need to wear the Princess Consort regalia to prove their relationship.
Clearly, Prince Damien of Southlyn and Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria were thinking the same thing. Of course, Damien wasn’t interested in what was going on between Serena Feng and Nolan—he was only interested in ruining their plans.
As long as Nolan and Serena Feng were unhappy, he was happy.
Prince Damien shamelessly ogled Serena Feng, as if appraising merchandise. Serena Feng frowned in disgust, but Damien didn’t notice; after sizing her up, he burst into loud laughter…
His eyes glinted with vicious intent…
Seeing Serena Feng again, she seemed even more beautiful—her proud bearing radiated from her, making her impossible to desecrate.
“Ahem, Your Highness, this is Serena Feng—not your royal aunt. Just look at her attire; she’s still dressed as a maiden.” Prince Terrence Valen wasn’t sure why, but hearing the Crown Prince’s words, he immediately felt the need to explain.
Serena Feng stood with poise, her allure undeniable. The formal Princess Consort regalia suited her perfectly, highlighting both her proud purity and her mature charm.
It was a contradictory, even extreme mix of qualities—but on Serena Feng, it was disturbingly harmonious, impossible to look away.
For a moment, Prince Terrence Valen wondered if the rumors were true—had Nolan and Serena Feng really slept together? He quickly dismissed the thought.
If there really was something between Nolan and Serena Feng, Nolan wouldn’t let the rumors run wild, nor would Serena Feng need to wear the Princess Consort regalia to prove their relationship.
Clearly, Prince Damien of Southlyn and Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria were thinking the same thing. Of course, Damien wasn’t interested in what was going on between Serena Feng and Nolan—he was only interested in ruining their plans.
As long as Nolan and Serena Feng were unhappy, he was happy.
Prince Damien shamelessly ogled Serena Feng, as if appraising merchandise. Serena Feng frowned in disgust, but Damien didn’t notice; after sizing her up, he burst into loud laughter…
His eyes glinted with vicious intent…