After months of adjustment, Eastlyn's new junior generals had grown increasingly familiar with their colleagues and subordinates. Both sides gradually adapted to each other's working styles, and the young officers began to establish their own authority within the army.
Victor Phoenixfield distinguished himself in the army. The troops he led were more than twice as effective as others, and his steady approach gradually quieted the court’s complaints.
All these newcomers were personally promoted by Prince Nolan—trusted confidants, every one of them. Prince Nolan was very satisfied with their performance.
Seventy percent of the army’s power had fallen into Prince Nolan’s hands. The Taishang Emperor could do nothing but watch. Empress Dowager Xie (Helena) grew increasingly uneasy and hinted at her wish to have the young emperor abdicate and make way for Prince Nolan.
It’s better to offer it herself now than wait for the ministers to depose him later.
Prince Nolan neither agreed nor refused. He simply said, “No rush.” If he wasn’t in a hurry, why should Empress Dowager Xie (Helena) be? Everything would wait until his return.
In private, Prince Nolan sought out William Wang Jinling and revealed he was leaving again. William, usually gentle and refined, nearly lost his composure on the spot.
William Wang Jinling took a deep breath, repeatedly reminding himself that he couldn’t beat Prince Nolan—don’t even think about trying!
Suppressing the urge to throw a punch, William Wang Jinling asked seriously, “When do you plan to ascend the throne?” He couldn’t stop Prince Nolan from leaving, but he refused to believe that, once enthroned, Prince Nolan would still abandon his ministers to play at traveling incognito.
By then, the Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t even make it out the palace gates before the outside was packed with kneeling officials.
"After I return." This time, Prince Nolan gave William Wang Jinling a definite answer. William’s eyes lit up. "Are you sure?"
Prince Nolan nodded. "You can start preparing."
"Good, this will be the last time. Once you ascend the throne, if you dare leave again, I’ll resign!" He wasn’t about to do the emperor’s work while drawing a minister’s salary.
"Felix Fuller will be back soon." So someone else can share the burden of state affairs, and you won’t have to act like a cat with its fur on end—bad for your elegant image.
But William Wang Jinling sensed something else and raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Is the Taishang Emperor getting anxious?"
Felix Fuller was thriving in Southlyn. If not for special circumstances, Prince Nolan would never summon him back at this time.
Prince Nolan glanced at William Wang Jinling without replying… This man was just too clever.
Felix Fuller really was urgently summoned by the Taishang Emperor. Fortunately, his mission in Southlyn was nearly complete; most of the remaining tasks were already arranged for others to handle.
Before leaving, Felix Fuller secretly met with the Southlyn King. Using the power held by Prince Damien, he brokered an agreement between the Southlyn King and the Taishang Emperor, securing Southlyn as an ally for the Taishang Emperor.
By agreement, when the Taishang Emperor moved against the Ninth Royal Uncle, Southlyn would send troops to support him. The price, of course, was… Tyre City would be ceded to Southlyn, and the Phoenixfield clan handed over for Southlyn to deal with.
Those two territories didn’t originally belong to Eastlyn anyway, so the Taishang Emperor giving them away wasn’t really selling out the country. Felix Fuller agreed without hesitation—either way, it wasn’t his headache.
Having completed his mission perfectly, Felix Fuller left Southlyn quietly, abandoning Prince Damien—who was now trapped there—and headed back to Eastlyn.
"Felix Fuller is the best double agent—no contest!" Serena Feng praised Felix Fuller right in front of Prince Nolan, then complained, "I met Felix Fuller first, so why’s he working for you lately?"
Her slender fingers jabbed hard at Prince Nolan’s chest, demanding an explanation...
By now, Prince Nolan had already changed into spring robes. Serena Feng’s jab actually hurt a bit; he helplessly caught her finger, unusually patient as he comforted her: "Felix Fuller isn’t someone just anyone can control. It’s a blessing he’s not working for you. The Taishang Emperor and Prince Damien both wanted to use him and trusted him, but in the end, he betrayed them both."
"Hmph..." Serena Feng snorted, pulling her hand back. "Aren’t you worried Felix Fuller might betray you one day?"
"Not worried. No one but me dares use him." Felix Fuller’s ambition was immense, and his background was questionable. Across the Nine Provinces, who else but Prince Nolan dared employ descendants of the Fuller and Phoenixfield clans?
Serena Feng understood too—she couldn’t give Felix Fuller what he wanted, so it was perfectly normal that he didn’t work for her. Really, she was just using the topic to tease and play with Prince Nolan.
After their playful banter, Serena Feng asked about business: "I’ve arranged everything on my end. When do we leave?"
Serena Feng wasn’t like Prince Nolan—she didn’t have a whole country to run or need to worry about Northlyn, Southlyn, and Westlyn. As long as she managed Feng Manor and the Phoenixfield clan’s affairs, that was enough. The outside world’s speculation about her identity didn’t concern her; with Prince Nolan as her shield, no one dared touch her.
"Wait a little longer—once the other kingdoms send people to Myriad Blades Grove, we can set out." With the Master of Mystic Healer Valley present, Jason Lan could survive a few more days. Driven by sheer stubbornness, Jason, half-conscious, managed to utter a few words.
Myriad Blades Grove. Heaven-Son Tomb.
When those six words came out, the three kingdoms that had been watching silently sent secret teams to the ruins of Xiao Sword Manor, searching for Myriad Blades Grove.
They even dug up Xiao Yi, the former manor master hiding in Mystic Healer Valley. Luckily, the route to Mystic Healer Valley was treacherous—though the kingdoms knew its location, they didn’t dare send people lightly, for fear of dying from poison along the way. Xiao Yi managed a bit of peace.
Jason Lan kept his promise to Prince Nolan: when the Master of Mystic Healer Valley arrived, Jason passed on the news. The Nine Provinces map was the treasure guide, but the real key was the Heaven-Son Sword. As for its location, Jason didn’t know.
There was one more crucial clue, but Jason insisted he’d only reveal it if the Master of Mystic Healer Valley healed him—making Prince Nolan wait.
Once the Heaven-Son Sword was confirmed as the key, Prince Nolan refused to wait any longer. Jason was never going to recover; keeping him alive was just a way to distract the other kingdoms.
So they waited, until late spring and early summer, when elite scouts from every kingdom converged on Moonvault Palace. They discovered that Skyfortress and Ghost Hall had already sent people in, and the kingdoms panicked, joining forces to suppress Skyfortress and Ghost Hall.
Skyfortress wasn’t in too much trouble; Northlyn supported them in secret. Even though Northlyn was mired in civil strife, they wouldn’t truly harm Skyfortress—outwardly intimidating, but not enough to cripple them.
Ghost Hall wasn’t so lucky. With only a handful of people present and most of their strength overseas, no matter how skilled their agents, facing three kingdoms at once meant they could only take a beating.
Ghost Hall refused to take it lying down. When Prince Nolan received a secret message from Bu Jingyun, he knew—the opportunity had arrived…