The Empress's eyes lit up.
Serena Feng was about to get into trouble!
Suppressing her joy, the Empress sat quietly to the side, waiting for Serena Feng's misfortune.
"Anything else?" The Emperor pressed.
Seriously? Was the Emperor really targeting her?
Serena Feng knelt low, her body trembling even harder.
To outsiders, she appeared terrified, but only Serena herself knew it was because her legs were numb—and she was truly alarmed.
Something felt seriously off today. The Emperor had so easily let her treat Prince Rowan; she’d asked for no outsiders in the room, and he’d agreed just as quickly.
Earlier, she’d thought it was all just parental worry, but now she couldn’t afford to think that way.
Prince Rowan was safe now, but aside from the Empress, no one present seemed happy about it.
Ninth Royal Uncle’s reaction was normal.
The Crown Prince’s response was expected too—he and Prince Rowan were rivals, probably wishing Rowan would die.
But what about the Emperor?
Prince Rowan was fine, yet the Emperor wasn’t satisfied. Instead, he was interrogating her—a supposedly irrelevant person—sometimes showing favor, sometimes applying pressure. If she were just a regular noblewoman, she’d have spilled everything under his manipulation by now.
But no matter how Serena Feng thought about it, she couldn’t figure out what was worth all the Emperor’s effort.
Back when the scandal of her lost chastity broke, the Emperor had let her off lightly. Why would he suddenly dislike her now?
Could it be...
Ninth Royal Uncle?
Serena Feng nodded.
She understood now—the root of the problem lay with Ninth Royal Uncle.
After the Bloodcloak Guard incident, the Emperor probably believed her relationship with Ninth Royal Uncle was unusual. Nine times out of ten, he wanted to use her words to frame Ninth Royal Uncle.
Hmph... If that's what you want, then I'll do the opposite.
Serena Feng wiped the cold smirk off her lips and spoke to the floor: "Replying to Your Majesty, the thread I used to suture Prince Rowan was catgut. I was afraid... afraid His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress would punish me for it."
Her voice buzzed with grievance, and after all that anticipation, the Emperor was sorely disappointed by her answer.
This was nothing like what he wanted, but he wasn’t willing to give up so easily.
"Catgut, you say? Bring it here for me to see."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Serena Feng was perfectly obedient, presenting the needle and thread together. But the Emperor’s greed was insatiable: "Bring that medicine box over here."
Serena didn’t need to move; a eunuch stepped forward and took the box from her hands.
Inside were only needles, thread, and a scalpel—the very one Princess Serenity had returned to her after the Bloodcloak Guard incident. Besides that, just traditional medicine items, nothing of real value.
Serena Feng’s aversion and wariness toward the palace were instinctive; she’d packed carefully before coming.
After all, she had her Smart Med-Pack with her. Anything that might reveal her true identity, she’d stashed away before entering the palace.
Everything else was useless. The Emperor was disappointed, taking out the suture needle, thread, and scalpel.
He set the needle and thread aside, and studied the scalpel for a long time, but couldn’t tell what it was made of.
Suddenly, the Emperor’s expression turned murderous. He pointed the tip of the scalpel at Serena Feng and shouted, "Serena Feng, how dare you! You brought a weapon into the palace—are you trying to die?"
Once, a minister had fainted from fright when the Emperor flew into a rage.
Serena Feng was startled too. She bit her tongue to stay alert, then enunciated clearly: "Your Majesty, this is not a weapon, it’s used to cut away necrotic tissue. See, the handle is long, the blade is thin and fine—it couldn’t harm anyone."
Stabbing someone wouldn’t work, but in a doctor’s hands, it could easily kill.
One slice to the artery, and you’d be dead in five minutes.
"Bang." The Emperor slammed the scalpel down on the table.
Thud... Everyone was startled; the eunuchs and maids were already shaking with fear.
Serena Feng, how does a woman like you know such things?
The Emperor fixed a sharp gaze on Nolan Dongling, as if asking whether Serena Feng's medical skills came from him.
Nolan Dongling acted as if he hadn't seen anything and didn't respond at all.
By pushing Serena Feng forward, he knew the Emperor would think this way.
After so many years of being watched by the Emperor, he was fed up. It was time to find someone else to divert the Emperor's attention.
Serena Feng was a good choice.
The more capable Serena Feng appeared, the more suspicious the Emperor grew, and the deeper he would dig.
But in the end, any investigation would turn up nothing.
If even he couldn't uncover her background, there was no way the Emperor could.
Nolan Dongling remained calm and dignified, making it clear he was above reproach.
Serena Feng attributed all her medical knowledge and the scalpel to her late mother, saying her mother taught her as a child, though she only remembered a little.
If the Emperor wanted answers, he could ask her dead mother.
But the Emperor would never find her.
Her mother died saving the Empress, leaving no remains behind.
Maybe Serena Feng was imagining things, but when she mentioned her late mother, the Emperor's murderous aura seemed to lessen and the tense atmosphere eased a little.
With no answers, the Emperor turned to Nolan Dongling, smiling faintly: 'You recommended a fine candidate. If not for your recommendation, Prince Rowan might not have survived. How should I reward you?'
The Emperor gave the Crown Prince a meaningful look, and the Crown Prince quickly bowed his head in fear.
Everyone understood the meaning behind the Emperor's words.
Although Nolan Dongling usually supported the Crown Prince, this time he hadn't taken his side.
If Nolan Dongling hadn't recommended Serena Feng, Prince Rowan would have died—leaving the Crown Prince with one less strong rival.
With just one sentence, the Emperor planted a seed of suspicion in the Crown Prince's heart.
Nolan Dongling replied humbly, 'Your Majesty, I am fearful. Prince Rowan risked his life to save me, and he is my nephew. It was only right to help.' He stood up, his posture perfectly straight.
Handsome and proud, that was Nolan Dongling.
The Crown Prince turned pale, and the Emperor nodded in satisfaction.
'Didn't you say you were tired, Ninth Brother? Prince Rowan is safe now, everyone can leave.' The Emperor stood up and marched toward Rowan's room, but stopped halfway.
'Serena Feng, you have rendered meritorious service saving Prince Rowan, but your methods are unorthodox. I will neither punish nor reward you—go home.'
Serena Feng breathed a sigh of relief.
She hadn't hoped for a reward—just surviving was enough. Treating royals was a deadly risk; she only wanted to live and never come back.
Just as she was about to get up, the Emperor's voice sounded again: 'Physician Liu, take her needles and scalpel and study them well. I don't want there to be a next time.'
Pff...
Thief!
Serena Feng was so angry she wanted to cough up blood.
Not only did she get no thanks for saving a life, they even stole her things.
Too much!
Serena Feng was utterly frustrated, but there was nothing she could do.
Serena Feng scrambled to her feet, but in her anger she moved too quickly, and everything went black as she staggered forward...
Just as she was about to fall, she seemed to see Nolan Dongling right in front of her. On impulse, Serena Feng didn't reach for anything to steady herself and fell forward directly.
A strange hope flickered in her heart, but...
Just as she was about to fall, Nolan Dongling suddenly stepped aside.
Thud...
Serena Feng crashed to the ground...