Cure the Crown Prince's heart disease?
Adrian Dongling didn't believe Serena Feng was capable of such a feat, and the Empress certainly didn't either. But...
"Ziluo, better to kill by mistake than let danger live. No matter what, Serena Feng cannot be allowed to remain." The Empress didn't care about the details; she only knew one thing: minimize risk.
Killing Serena Feng to buy peace of mind—it's a bargain.
"I understand, Mother. I'll make arrangements." In the face of the throne, a promise means nothing.
If the Empress and Adrian Dongling could think of it, how could the Crown Prince not?
"No matter what, protect Serena Feng. I want her alive." Crown Prince Terrence Dongling, son of the former Empress, stood with his back to the candlelight. In the dim glow, he looked somewhat frail.
"Yes, Your Highness." Eight men in black took the order and left. They would guard Serena Feng day and night to ensure her safety.
Thus began a storm of blood and carnage!
Serena Feng had no idea. While she slept soundly, she had brushed past death several times already. Outside Feng Manor, batch after batch of corpses was carried away.
The faint scent of flowers drifted in the air, masking the stench of blood.
Lance Quinn watched from the shadows, taking in the whole scene. Once he dealt with the last batch of death-warriors, he didn't linger.
"Serena Feng, we're even now. Whatever happens at the Peach Blossom Festival, you'll have to handle it yourself."
......
The struggle between the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince felt far away to Serena Feng. She never imagined she'd be caught up in the battle for succession. Right now, all her focus was on the new operating room in the back courtyard.
Serena Feng personally supervised every detail, demanding perfection and refusing to settle for less.
Caleb Wang watched with growing admiration. He had to admit, Serena Feng was a woman who got things done. When he reported everything she'd accomplished to the Wang Clan, the voices of opposition grew much quieter.
Three days passed in a flash. As usual, Serena Feng was about to head to the construction site in the back courtyard when Zhou Xing came to report: four palace guards were waiting outside the gate to escort her to the Royal Country Villa for Princess Serenity's Peach Blossom Festival.
"What, the Peach Blossom Festival?" Serena Feng was stunned.
She'd completely forgotten about it.
Zhou Xing nodded, worry etched on his face. "Should I go tell them you're not feeling well and won't be attending?"
"Not going? Zhou Xing, don't be naive. When palace guards come in person, even if I died, they'd carry my corpse over." Serena Feng closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
She remembered Vincent Su and Caleb Wang had warned her that people die at the Peach Blossom Festival. Too bad she knew nothing about it—apparently, the original owner of this body had never attended.
"Zhou Xing, do you know what actually happens at the Peach Blossom Festival?" Serena Feng asked without much hope. As expected, Zhou Xing shook his head. "No idea. Should I ask Young Master Wang or Young Master Su?"
She'd been so busy these past few days she hadn't even thought about the festival.
Serena Feng shook her head. "There's no time. Tell the guards I'll change and be right out."
If soldiers come, send generals; if floods come, build dams.
She refused to believe she could survive the palace but not the Royal Country Villa.
A little Peach Blossom Festival—what was there to be afraid of?
Serena Feng returned to her room, removed the coarse cotton work clothes she'd been wearing, and changed into a nearly new gauze dress.
Her pale blue gauze dress was embroidered with butterflies at the hem. When she walked, they seemed almost ready to take flight—elegant but not plain, making Serena Feng look much brighter.
She dabbed on a touch of powder and rouge to improve her complexion, picked out some earrings and a pendant, and though she wasn't used to it, put on a pair of silver bracelets.
Serena Feng didn't plan to compete in beauty, only to avoid being called rude. At an event like this, dressing too plainly made you look poor—and foolish.
Back in her modern life, she'd often seen those ridiculous idol dramas where the Cinderella heroine attended a banquet in plain clothes, no jewelry, and somehow stunned the whole crowd.
That sort of thing never happened in reality.
As a young and capable military doctor, Serena Feng had attended several major banquets. At those events, if you dressed too simply and wore no jewelry, no matter how beautiful you were, it didn't matter. The male lead wouldn't even notice you, because...
You wouldn't even make it through the door.
Serena Feng patted her own head, forcing her wandering thoughts back to the present.
Once her jewelry, makeup, and hair accessories were ready, Serena Feng packed a spare violet gauze dress as backup.
Ahem... Bringing a backup outfit to a banquet is universal, no matter the era. Looking glamorous always comes at a price.
It's not the rare mishap you fear, but the certainty. Wearing damaged or dirty clothes to a banquet is considered very rude.
With everything ready, Serena Feng saw the Smart Med-Pack on her nightstand as she was leaving, hesitated, and doubled back for it.
Never harm others, but always be on guard.
Since Vincent Su and Caleb Wang both said the Peach Blossom Festival was dangerous, she couldn't afford to go unprepared.
Serena Feng opened the Med-Pack, took out two small scalpels, wrapped them in white cloth, and strapped them to her calf. After a moment's thought, she added a vial of anesthetic from the Smart Med-Pack to a pouch at her waist.
Serena Feng was about to close the Smart Med-Pack when she noticed the compass she'd taken out last time was still inside. After a moment's thought, she put it back.
That thing was just too useful to lose, and the Smart Med-Pack was the safest place to keep it.
Inside the Smart Med-Pack, the drugs and instruments were neatly sorted. The compass belonged in the auxiliary section.
She'd never really looked at the auxiliary section before, but today she found it held not just the compass, but also a dagger, rope, tent, and other wilderness survival gear. Most surprising of all, she spotted a Glock 19 pistol.
This chapter isn't over yet~.~ Click next page to keep reading!
"It even comes with a gun—how thoughtful! On the battlefield, we should always have a weapon. It's dangerous without one." Serena Feng kissed the grip, thrilled.
"Glock 19 pistol, I love you! With you, I go from rookie to expert in an instant." Without hesitation, Serena Feng took out the gun.
She checked the magazine—sixteen rounds, not one missing.
"With you, unless they send an army, my life isn't in danger." Serena Feng gazed at the gun, took a deep breath, and tucked it into her sleeve pocket.
The Glock 19 pistol weighed only 225 grams—small and sleek, easy to hide in her sleeve.
Even if someone saw it, so what? This wasn't gun-restricted China—this was Eastlyn, an age of cold weapons.
Besides, a little pistol like this couldn't threaten the country anyway.
With the pistol in hand, Serena Feng felt a surge of confidence, all her previous anxiety swept away. Under Zhou Xing's worried gaze, she boarded the carriage sent by Princess Serenity with poise.
As luck would have it, just after Serena Feng left, Vincent Su and Caleb Wang arrived at Feng Manor one after the other. As soon as they rushed in, both shouted:
"Zhou Xing! Zhou Xing! Where's Serena Feng?"
"She was taken by palace guards—to the Peach Blossom Festival." Zhou Xing ran out from inside.
"Damn, we're too late." Vincent Su and Caleb Wang exchanged looks, both flustered.
"Did something happen?" Zhou Xing sounded deeply uneasy.
"We got word—someone doesn't want Serena Feng to come back alive."
Clearly, Vincent Su and Caleb Wang had received the message from the Crown Prince's men.
"So what do we do now?" Zhou Xing asked, panic in his eyes.
They had no way to challenge the royal family.
"We have to find a way to save her!" Vincent Su and Caleb Wang said anxiously.
Vincent Su quickly ran through every possible ally in his mind.
"Right now, only one person can save Serena Feng."
"Who?"
"General Warren Yu," Vincent Su said to Caleb Wang.
Right now, no one wants Serena Feng dead less than the Wang Clan. And if General Warren Yu is going to get involved, only the Wang Clan can persuade him.
Sure enough, Caleb Wang looked troubled, but after a moment's hesitation, he nodded and said, "Let's go. We'll ask General Warren Yu."