Some things, even knowing the risks and knowing Ninth Royal Uncle will worry, Serena still chooses to do. She still takes the risk, and even if she could do it all over again, she would make the same choice.
To follow her own heart—this is Serena’s rule of conduct. She cannot change it for anyone, just as Ninth Royal Uncle would never give up contending for the realm simply because Serena worries for him.
“I know fighting for that position is dangerous, but I never once thought to ask you to give up, or to retire with me to the countryside. Do you think I don’t worry about you?”
Ninth Royal Uncle, I have never interfered in your affairs, never forced my will upon you, never insisted that you do what I think is right just to please me. I know you have your own code of conduct—whether right or wrong, I respect your choices. So please, give me a little respect too, so I don’t have to live like a puppet.” Serena spoke these words to Ninth Royal Uncle with absolute seriousness.
Serena directly and pointedly called out Ninth Royal Uncle’s current attitude, forcing him to seriously consider whether everything he’s done has made Serena feel unsafe.
Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t immediately promise anything. He only said, “I need to think about this carefully.”
He only knew how worried he was about something happening to Serena, but he had never considered how much Serena worried about him when no one else was watching—especially since what he did was often risking his own life.
Serena has never interfered in his affairs or shown him a bad attitude out of worry. She always waits until he’s injured, then brings her medicine chest to his side and gives him the best care she can. But he...
As a pampered son of heaven, he’s used to everyone obeying him and acting according to his wishes, but he’s never considered that Serena isn’t his subordinate.
There are no grudges between husband and wife that last overnight. Once things are spoken plainly, even if Serena still feels a little uncomfortable inside, she won’t show Ninth Royal Uncle a bad face. After all, the feelings between them are deep—but...
Some things take time to work out. The two of them grew up in different backgrounds, with different values and codes of conduct; they have to slowly adapt and learn to tolerate each other.
However, although the two didn’t have a big fight, after something like this happens, there’s no way they can immediately return to a sweet, loving state.
Serena didn’t hold it against Ninth Royal Uncle, but she also didn’t give in as easily as before—she didn’t surrender her principles just because he coaxed her. Claiming she wasn’t feeling well, she refused his advances, but didn’t refuse to share the bed.
Some lessons need to be deeply felt to be truly learned. She’s an adult, she has her own reasoning and judgment, and she hopes Ninth Royal Uncle will respect her in the future, just as she respects him.
The next day, Serena still helped Ninth Royal Uncle dress as usual, but the usual intimacy was missing—mainly, she didn’t tease him like she used to.
Ninth Royal Uncle sat nearby, watching Serena go about her morning routine as if he weren’t there. He felt a loss he couldn’t put into words. He wanted to approach her, but honestly didn’t know what to say.
Most of the time when they quarreled, it was Serena who coaxed him; he couldn’t lower his pride even if he tried.
The strange tension between them was obvious—even the guards noticed it. When the Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders and Master Wenyuan came out, they too saw something was off, but with Ninth Royal Uncle’s cold face, no one dared ask. Only Princess Vivian gave Serena a meaningful look before getting into the carriage.
Serena smiled generously at Princess Vivian but said nothing. Seeing Ninth Royal Uncle get into the carriage, Serena turned to go to her horse, ignoring the guards’ attempts to persuade her and insisting on riding ahead.
Ninth Royal Uncle waited a long time, but Serena didn’t get into the carriage. Just as he was about to ask, his aide spoke up first: “Your Highness, everything is ready. We can set out now.”
At this point, even if Ninth Royal Uncle wanted to swap for a horse, it was impossible—especially since he’d specifically ordered this morning that he wouldn’t ride and would take the carriage instead.
Ninth Royal Uncle swallowed his frustration and said coldly, “Go.”
The aide shivered, tugged at his clothes, and quietly withdrew. Of course, he didn’t forget to give Serena a resentful look.
Cold wars between masters are the worst—clearly, they’re innocent, so why are they always the ones who suffer?
There’s so much you want to say, but the other person won’t give you a chance—that must feel great!
Serena looked up at the sky and found it especially blue, the clouds especially white. Sure enough, everything seemed brighter when she was with Ninth Royal Uncle.
“Get ready to leave—everyone, make sure your rain gear is packed. Looks like it’s going to rain.” The aide said with a stern face, looking at the gray sky and feeling the road ahead would be just as gloomy.
The road ahead really was gloomy. Ninth Royal Uncle kept failing to find a chance to talk to Serena properly—whenever he rode, Serena took the carriage; when he finally got tired of the carriage and wanted to ride, Serena said riding was tiring and hid in the carriage.
The Si Clan’s Eighteen Riders found a chance to formally apologize to Serena, who generously let it go, but Ninth Royal Uncle still couldn’t find an opportunity to make peace.
It’s not that Serena refused to speak to him—there were just too many people around, so the two of them had no private space. They couldn’t say or do anything intimate, and their polite public interactions did nothing to warm up their relationship.
Finally, after overcoming every obstacle, Ninth Royal Uncle found a chance, but Princess Vivian stepped in with a smile, ignoring his cold look and bringing up things that happened between him and Serena in Southlyn.
Whenever this happened, Serena didn’t get jealous like before. Instead, she graciously stepped aside, leaving space for them—making Ninth Royal Uncle so angry he nearly choked.
“Serena is so clever—this is exactly what she should do.” Zhan Yan and Master Wenyuan enjoyed the show, with Zhan Yan even clapping on the sidelines. As for Princess Vivian…
Zhan Yan spoke to her less and less, saying, “People who walk different paths shouldn’t make plans together.”
Master Wenyuan looked at Ninth Royal Uncle with a teasing gaze, nodding from time to time to show that Serena did well. Both he and Zhan Yan had heard about what happened the day Serena returned.
No matter the reason, anyone would be upset by the cold treatment Ninth Royal Uncle gave—especially since Serena hadn’t just been out for fun. She must have suffered a lot to escape danger on the road.
No matter what, Serena is still a woman—after surviving danger, she needed comfort, but Ninth Royal Uncle put on airs and intimidated her. If she were less composed, she’d probably have cursed him out.
As for saying Serena was reckless and didn’t care about her own safety, Master Wenyuan just scoffed.
If she could avoid it, no one would choose danger. Serena wasn’t self-destructive—she only risked herself because she had no choice.
People often have no choice—this holds true for Northlyn as well. Northlyn doesn’t want war with Southlyn, but events are out of their hands, because…