Making a move against the Emperor isn’t something just anyone dares to do. Felix Fuller stood motionless, waiting until Ninth Royal Uncle had walked away before quietly replying, “As you command.”
If even the Phoenixfield Clan can let go of old grudges and use the opportunity to return to the Nine Provinces, why can’t the Fuller Clan? Ninth Royal Uncle might not scheme, but Felix had once hurt him—so why go after this Emperor, who isn’t even recognized by the Lan clan...
Sure enough, people only act when there’s something in it for them. Once Felix got Ninth Royal Uncle’s definite answer, he threw himself into the Southlyn campaign, even ignoring frontline danger to personally head there—swearing a military oath: Southlyn will be destroyed within four months.
If you count the days, there’s less than three months left—Serena Feng will be due soon. According to Ninth Royal Uncle’s plan, the enthronement ceremony will be held after Serena’s baby reaches one month.
Felix Fuller’s four-month promise to take Southlyn is meant as a congratulatory gift—for Ninth Royal Uncle’s first child, and to build momentum for his accession.
That’s some top-tier bootlicking, honestly.
With Felix’s ambition, Ninth Royal Uncle obviously wouldn’t stand in his way. The court approved everything Felix asked for, and gave him broad authority—except for direct control of the troops. For everything else in Southlyn, Felix could act as he saw fit, no need to wait for orders.
“I respectfully request permission to escort Prince Nathan back to Southlyn.” Felix formally petitioned, and Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t refuse. As agreed, with Prince Damien dead, Nathan—as a hostage prince—should naturally return home.
But only Prince Nathan is leaving; Yana Zhan is staying in Eastlyn.
Before leaving, Prince Nathan made a special visit to Feng Manor to see Serena Feng. As a hostage prince, he never had any real freedom in Eastlyn. Even though Ninth Royal Uncle never mistreated him, Nathan didn’t dare act out of line. He even avoided visiting Feng Manor too often, just in case outsiders suspected he was plotting his return with Serena’s help.
"Looks like I won’t get to see my little nephew born." Prince Nathan glanced at Serena Feng’s belly, a little disappointed.
"It’ll be the same when you come back." They all knew Prince Nathan would return. Even if he had ambition, Southlyn’s situation wouldn’t let him fight for anything.
Southlyn is just struggling on its last legs now.
"No idea when I’ll be able to come back." Nathan’s voice carried a touch of sadness.
I’m just a fish on the chopping block. Who knows if I’ll even make it back alive from Southlyn.
"Don’t worry, he won’t take your life." Even for her sake, Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t kill Nathan.
Of course Prince Nathan knew that much, but...
If the Southlyn royal line isn’t wiped out, can Ninth Royal Uncle really rest easy? It’s just like how the four emperors can’t relax while the Former Dynasty Lan clan still survives—they’re always afraid one day the Lan clan will rise from the ashes and try to seize the throne again.
Ninth Royal Uncle is the perfect example.
"Sister, while I’m gone, please look after Yana Zhan for me." Besides Serena, there’s no one else he can ask.
Serena understood what he wasn’t saying and sighed. "If you run into danger, find Victor Phoenixfield—he’ll save your life." That’s all she could do for him.
"Sister..." Prince Nathan’s nose stung, and tears silently streamed down his face. "I’m sorry." He never wanted to trouble Serena, but he really had no choice.
"Don’t say silly things. You call me sister, so it’s what I should do." Serena knew how tough things were for Nathan, but he was rational, and helping him wasn’t hard for her.
"Don’t worry, sister, I won’t put you in a tough spot." Nathan said it to reassure her—he wasn’t planning to make waves in Southlyn.
"I’m not even hoping to come back alive. If possible, I hope you’ll help me just once—Yana Zhan and I plan to settle on the grasslands." Even if he gave up, there’d always be Southlyn loyalists trying to use his name to restore the kingdom. Rather than live as a hostage prince in Eastlyn, he’d rather give up his status and be an ordinary person.
It’s not that he didn’t want to be someone important—he just had no choice. Even with Serena looking out for him, as a deposed prince he’d never get real privileges or live a life of leisure. And he didn’t want Serena to take care of him forever, only for his children to repeat the same miserable cycle.
If he gave up his royal status, maybe his descendants could live better lives—just regular people, earning their rights and wealth through their own efforts, instead of never even getting the chance to struggle.
Serena knew Nathan’s choice was the best for him—leaving the Capital was his only way forward. Still, it was better to let Ninth Royal Uncle know. If he could track Lady Min taking Clara Phoenixfield to the grasslands, he could definitely track Nathan too.
Serena asked, "Should I let the Emperor know?"
"You decide, sister—I don’t mind." Nathan had already chosen to leave, and he didn’t believe Ninth Royal Uncle would go after someone who wasn’t a threat.
"Alright, I’ll handle it. You just focus on Southlyn." Nathan had no objections, so Serena took care of everything.
Nathan didn’t thank her again—he just looked at Serena with deep reluctance. "Who knows when we’ll meet again?" This might be their last farewell.
"As long as we’re both doing well, that’s enough." People always hate saying goodbye, and Nathan’s departure tugged at Serena’s heart. But no matter how sad she felt, she still had to smile and send him off.
After sending Nathan off, Serena had someone deliver a message to William Wang, asking him to tell Ninth Royal Uncle about Nathan’s plans.
She was working hard to cut her ties with Ninth Royal Uncle—even if he didn’t want her to.
Serena didn’t hide any of this from Ninth Royal Uncle. Even if he tried to act oblivious, it wouldn’t work. But as her belly grew, the imperial physicians kept warning him not to upset her. No matter how much he disliked it, he could only swallow his frustration.
He waited—waited for the baby’s birth, waited for Serena’s confinement to end. Then everything would be settled. But before that, he had one more thing to do.
He dismissed William Wang with a few words, then summoned General Warren Yu.
"General Yu, where are the warships I ordered?" Ninth Royal Uncle shot Warren Yu a cold glare, full of murderous intent.
Warren Yu dropped to his knees out of reflex. "Your Majesty, the warships are under construction. The Ministry of Works and the shipyards are working day and night, nonstop."
"Good... General Yu, you’ve done well. Ten days from now, I’ll personally lead the Beiyang Fleet out to sea. I don’t want any mistakes." Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t care if Warren Yu could pull it off—he dropped the bomb and left, leaving Warren frozen in the great hall.
"What now?" Warren Yu was practically in tears...
He admitted it: to keep Ninth Royal Uncle from risking himself at sea, he’d secretly told the Ministry to slow down—hoping the ships wouldn’t be ready until the year after next. By then, Serena would’ve forgiven Ninth Royal Uncle, and he probably wouldn’t want to attack Ghost Hall at sea.
But now, with Ninth Royal Uncle suddenly setting the deadline, where was he supposed to get the ships?
Warren Yu honestly wanted to smash his head against the wall. But before dying, he had to get the job done—otherwise, even dead, Ninth Royal Uncle would probably whip his corpse.
"Sigh, guess I’ll have to go find Serena." Warren Yu let out a heavy sigh.
He hadn’t survived this long by being stupid. Warren Yu didn’t lack bureaucratic skills—he just never bothered to learn, since Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t want him to. So why bother?
Now, Ninth Royal Uncle wanted him to go to Serena. As a loyal minister, of course he’d help his Emperor out.
Serena, I’m sorry—I really have no choice!