Regency, The Emperor Living Longer Is to Our Advantage

After Prince Nolan left Serena's courtyard, he headed to the highest viewing pavilion in Feng Manor. This pavilion was specially built by Nolan during the manor's reconstruction, with William Wang overseeing the construction. Though located within Feng Manor, it feels set apart—almost above it all, and has become a signature scenic spot of the estate.

Nolan built this high pavilion so that he and Serena could enjoy the view undisturbed, without fear of anyone interrupting or spying. Unexpectedly, it’s now become the perfect place for secret conversations.

When Nolan arrived, Prince Titus of Lyndaria was already waiting. The moment Titus saw Nolan, he hurried forward, his face grave: "Prince Nolan, something big has happened."

"What is it? Has Prince Terrence forced a palace coup?" Nolan raised an eyebrow, utterly calm. For Titus, this would be the worst possible news.

Nolan had only meant it as a casual remark, but Titus nodded heavily: "Pretty much. My father is gravely ill, and Terrence is ruling as Regent."

"The Crown Prince acting as Regent? That’s a clever move." Nolan hadn’t expected this to be true, but he wasn’t surprised. In the palace, such things were all too common.

If a Crown Prince waits too long, either he grows impatient, or the Emperor simply can’t tolerate him anymore.

"Nolan, did you hear me? My father is gravely ill, Terrence is Regent—Westlyn could fall into Terrence’s hands any minute!" Compared to Titus’s panic, Nolan was terrifyingly calm, which made Titus so angry he wanted to bite someone.

Did Nolan even understand how serious this was? The Emperor gravely ill, the Crown Prince as Regent—that meant Terrence could easily become Westlyn’s new ruler.

If Terrence ascends the throne, Titus will be finished. All the years he spent laying groundwork in Westlyn will be wiped out—Terrence will systematically purge everything. Unlike a Crown Prince, an Emperor can crush Titus with barely any effort.

No matter what, Terrence must not be allowed to ascend the throne. If he becomes Emperor, all those years of struggle will have been for nothing.

Of course Nolan understood how dire things were, but so what? The crisis had already arrived.

Nolan said calmly, "I know. Westlyn and Eastlyn are a thousand miles apart—panicking won’t help you now."

Seeing Nolan’s calm face, Titus slowly regained his composure.

He was in Eastlyn—what good would panicking do? It wouldn’t change a thing.

Titus took a deep breath. "Fine, I won’t panic. But what do we do now?" He couldn’t just sit and wait for Terrence to take the throne. Even if Titus agreed, Nolan definitely wouldn’t.

"Of course you’ll go back to Westlyn and stop Terrence from seizing power. But before you return, you need to clarify a few things." Nolan gestured for Titus to sit down.

This wasn’t something that could be explained in a few words. Standing around like this was pointless.

Titus might look calm on the surface, but his anxious eyes told Nolan just how worried he really was. Nolan understood Titus’s fears, but in moments like this, panic would only make things worse—one wrong step, and every step after would be off.

"Who’s actually controlling Westlyn’s palace right now?" Nolan asked. He hadn’t expected that just when Terrence and his mother seemed doomed, a new twist would appear.

"The Princess Royal." Titus struggled to steady his nerves, forcing his mind to race.

"Princess Royal? Your aunt really is formidable. But if the palace is in her hands, that’s still better than if it were controlled by Terrence’s mother’s faction." Nolan actually admired the Princess Royal of Westlyn—at least, she’d handled this crisis well.

"She really is skilled. If the Princess Royal hadn’t taken charge, my mother, the Lyndarian Empress, wouldn’t have been able to get word to me." Titus relaxed a little at Nolan’s words.

With the Princess Royal controlling the palace, there was no need to worry about his father, the Emperor, suddenly "dying in an accident."

"The message came from your mother, the Lyndarian Empress? Did you verify it?" Nolan couldn’t help being suspicious—there were too many uncertainties about Titus’s mother, and this was a critical moment. They couldn’t afford any mistakes.

Nolan’s question left Titus speechless. He shook his head. "No, I haven’t. But even so, the message is almost certainly true."

No matter how ruthless his mother was, she wouldn’t lie about something like this—there was nothing to gain.

"I don’t doubt the message itself—I’m worried it’s been exaggerated." Maybe it’s mother-son instinct, but even though Titus had his doubts about the Lyndarian Empress, he often chose to trust her. Nolan was different; once he suspected someone, he would always think a step further.

"You mean the situation might not be so dire, and my mother is deliberately luring me back?" Titus wasn’t stupid—his mother had done pointless things before, even if there was no benefit.

"I can’t be sure either. Just be careful. Going back to Westlyn is the right move, but don’t be reckless or panicked. If you make a big show of returning now, Terrence might try to assassinate you. Even if he doesn’t, if your father is fine, he’ll suspect you. The Emperor is dying—how could the Crown Prince allow a legitimate royal son like you to return? That’s just asking for trouble."

Titus could return to Westlyn, but only after Terrence had officially ascended the throne or the Emperor had recovered. After all, the Emperor hadn’t summoned Titus back yet.

As a prince, it’s not like you can just go wherever you want.

"So what you’re saying is, I’ll have to sneak back—or maybe I shouldn’t go at all. If my father recovers, he’ll think I’m up to something. If he dies and Terrence takes the throne, Terrence won’t let me off either. Why is my mother asking me to return now?" Titus was lost.

Honestly, he’d never considered his father might fall gravely ill so suddenly. It came out of nowhere—he hadn’t prepared for it at all. If he’d known, he’d never have left Westlyn.

With the Emperor critically ill and Titus stranded in Eastlyn, he had no chance to fight for the throne. A prince stuck outside the realm is powerless—by the time he got back, everything would be settled.

Maybe your mother wants you back just to stir up trouble in Westlyn!

Nolan didn’t say this aloud—he hadn’t finished investigating the Lyndarian Empress, so he kept quiet. After a moment’s thought, Nolan said, "Titus, you do have to return to Westlyn, but don’t go alone. Take the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley with you, and before entering Westlyn, stop by Skyvault Palace. Ask Sean Xuan to send people to protect you."

Nolan quickly settled on a plan—one that could only help Titus.

"You mean—?" Titus caught on immediately when he heard he was to bring the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley.

Nolan nodded. "Your father’s illness is strange—he’s not old and has no chronic disease. It doesn’t make sense for him to fall sick so suddenly. If you bring the Master of the Mystic Healer Valley, even if he can’t help, it’ll show your filial devotion. Of course, if he does cure your father and gives him a few more years, that’s even better for you."

No matter what, Terrence still had the title of Crown Prince. Compared to Titus, the legitimate son of the main consort, Terrence’s claim to the throne seemed even stronger. Titus needed both time and the Emperor’s support…