Imperial Preceptor and the Wang Clan’s Stance

Dr. Marcus Guile's Gu-extraction for the Eighth Prince went smoothly. But instead of pushing the Emperor to finally accept treatment, it only made him more hesitant...

If Dr. Marcus Guile wanted to kill him, even a slight slip of the blade would be enough to end his life.

Should he take the gamble, or not?

The Emperor was torn...

Everyone except the Emperor understood that, no matter how much he hesitated, he would eventually agree. Treatment offered a slim chance at survival; refusing meant certain death.

Prince Nolan wasn't worried at all. No matter what the Emperor chose, things would still unfold exactly as Nolan had planned.

Originally, Prince Nolan had planned to give the Emperor more time. But the imperial marriage decree had left Nolan deeply dissatisfied, so he decided to provoke the Emperor and force a quick decision.

That day, after morning court, Prince Nolan didn’t return to Feng Manor as usual, but headed straight for The Windchaser Inn.

Whenever Prince Nolan visited The Windchaser Inn, it meant someone in the Capital was going to die. Officials dreaded any connection between him and the Inn, fearing for their own heads.

When spies saw Prince Nolan enter The Windchaser Inn, they immediately reported back to their masters. Whatever Nolan was planning, they knew it was best to prepare in advance.

From the moment Prince Nolan’s carriage stopped at The Windchaser Inn, hidden powers in the Capital sprang into action, desperate to uncover his plans and who he intended to meet.

Who on earth would dare keep Prince Nolan waiting?

The spies waited outside for ages, but saw no suspicious visitors. Just as they thought Nolan was simply there to dine, the Wang clan’s carriage arrived…

As expected, the one inside was William Wang Jinling. He made no effort to avoid attention, walking boldly into The Windchaser Inn and straight into Nolan’s private room.

So, the person Nolan was waiting for was the Wang clan’s Grand Heir. It made sense—besides Serena Feng, only the Grand Heir could keep Nolan waiting in the Capital.

There was no way this meeting was just a casual meal.

The spies were both nervous and excited, scheming for ways to get inside the Inn and eavesdrop on their conversation.

News spread like snowflakes in the shadows. No matter which faction the spies belonged to, their masters had only one demand: find out exactly what Nolan and William Wang discussed.

Nolan and William sat by the window, watching the hurried crowds below. William joked, “Making such a spectacle—are you trying to stir up more chaos in the Capital?”

William had received Nolan’s message out of the blue. Though he had no idea what Nolan wanted, he still played along.

Either way... with the Emperor and the Hsieh Clan both on the verge of collapse, whether he takes a side or not hardly matters.

“Break, then rebuild.” If you don’t muddy the waters, how can you catch everything in one net?

Eastlyn is unstable, and if things aren’t settled here, none of his plans can move forward. Eastlyn is his foundation—if he doesn’t secure this base, everything else will be blocked.

“Aren’t you afraid of rebellion?” William wasn’t trying to intimidate him. Both Prince Jason and Prince Evan had shown signs of mobilizing troops, and Chu City was quietly contacting other cities, seemingly aiming to unite and march on Eastlyn.

Right now, Eastlyn is a juicy piece of meat—everyone wants a bite.

“I’ve never been afraid.” As long as the Prince of Jiangnan and Prince Colin stay put, Jason and Chu City can dream of rebellion all they want—it’s pure fantasy.

“Good. I don’t want Eastlyn to go to war.” The Wang clan’s roots are in Eastlyn; if chaos erupts, they’ll be hit hardest. “So, tell me—why did you have me come to The Windchaser Inn?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t heard a thing.” Nolan sneered, swirling the wine in his glass but not drinking.

William didn’t bother to play dumb. He asked directly, “Is this about Divine Doctor Guile’s miracle cut, or your refusal to marry? What, worried I’ll steal Serena?”

The last line was pure self-mockery. Nolan snorted, “As if I’d be scared of you.”

“You really don’t need to worry about me. Serena trusts you—what’s there to be afraid of?” William refused to admit his jealousy.

Neither he nor Nolan could marry Serena anytime soon, but Serena was still willing to compromise for Nolan’s sake.

Nolan’s face was blank; he didn’t want to discuss personal matters with William and went straight to business: “The Emperor is trying to sow discord between us.”

“I know, but it’s doomed to fail.” Serena isn’t the type to act on emotion—even if she’s unhappy, she’ll put the bigger picture first.

“Of course.” Nolan was confident about that. “Since he wants to create division, let’s cooperate and show him the opposite.”

“Cooperate? How?” William replied, “The Wang family doesn’t take part in throne struggles.” He understood that Nolan’s idea of cooperation wasn’t their usual tacit agreement, but something staged for the Emperor to see.

“No need. I have no intention of claiming the throne—at least not yet.” The word ‘yet’ made Nolan’s ambition clear. William raised his brows but said nothing, motioning for Nolan to continue.

Nolan said bluntly, “Tomorrow, enter court and accept the post of Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince.”

“Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince? I have no interest in teaching a child.” William rejected the idea without a second thought.

Nolan had expected this and didn’t try to persuade him. He calmly added, “In a month—Imperial Preceptor.”

Not every Crown Prince ascends the throne, and not every Grand Preceptor becomes Imperial Preceptor. With those words, Nolan fixed the Eighth Prince’s path—and William Wang Jinling’s as well.

The Eighth Prince is still young, and Nolan has no time to manage Eastlyn’s affairs. As Imperial Preceptor, William would have the power to govern, making him the true ruler in all but name.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll change Eastlyn’s surname to Wang?” The temptation was real, but it held no appeal for William.

Nolan looked William in the eye and said seriously, “If you have the ability, go ahead.”

“Don’t believe I could do it? You’re welcome to test me.” William’s tone was gentle, but the strength behind his words was unmistakable.

Nolan sneered, “I said, if you have the ability, go ahead.”

William met Nolan’s gaze, searching for any trace of hesitation or regret—and found none. Shaking his head with a soft laugh, he said, “You really do trust me.”

“You’ve earned it.” Whatever else, Nolan trusted William’s character. If William had wanted the throne, he’d have made his move long ago.

“That’s a stirring speech—enough to excite anyone. But I’m past the age of reckless passion. I won’t die for a friend’s cause.” William made his stance clear.

He could be Imperial Preceptor, but he wouldn’t sacrifice himself or the Wang family for Nolan’s ambitions.

“No need.” If William ever put Nolan’s interests above the Wang family’s, he wouldn’t be the William Nolan knew.

The two raised their glasses, glanced at the panicked crowds below, and exchanged a mocking smile.

After half a year of chaos, the Capital was finally about to settle down!