The members of the Sun clan, upon seeing Serena Feng, clung to her as desperately as drowning men to driftwood.
"Miss Feng, my father would never embezzle. He would never touch the disaster-relief funds!"
Of the Sun clan’s two sons, the eldest had followed Yu Wen Yuanhua to the frontier, while the second studied at the Wang family’s academy; at this moment, it was the second son who was managing the Sun household.
As soon as Serena arrived, he immediately declared his father’s innocence. On that youthful face, defiance and pride flashed unmistakably.
"Don’t worry. Lord Sun is safe for now." Serena didn’t bother to say, "I believe Lord Sun would never do such a thing."
In officialdom, no one is truly clean; the clean ones never last long, and Lord Sun is clearly one of those who wouldn’t last.
She trusted Lord Sun’s character—he wouldn’t steal disaster-relief funds. But so what?
Whether he’s innocent or not doesn’t matter; whether he embezzled or not doesn’t matter. What matters is how to get him out. The only thing to be grateful for is that the Emperor hasn’t thrown the entire Sun clan into prison.
Duke Allen took advantage of the Emperor’s upcoming birthday, submitting this memorial to provoke imperial fury. Without hesitation, the Emperor had Lord Sun thrown to the Bloodcloak Guard—yet that also bought Lord Sun some time. Before the birthday, his case wouldn’t be tried.
Duke Zhen probably thought Lord Sun was doomed once he landed in the Bloodcloak Guard’s hands. What he didn’t expect was that Serena’s relationship with Commander Lucan Lu was anything but ordinary. If Lucan wanted to spare Lord Sun, all it took was a word.
"Sister Serena, my father is with the Bloodcloak Guard. That’s the Bloodcloak Guard! Anyone who goes in either dies or comes out crippled. Sister Serena, please, please save my father, won’t you? He’s a good man—he would never do such a thing." Lily Sun’s tear-streaked face was smudged like a little tabby cat.
Today they’d begged help from everyone, but were turned away at every door. Even their own clan looked down on them, and now those relatives were just kicking them while they were down.
Serena patted Lily Sun’s hand, comforting her: "Don’t worry, your father will be fine. The Bloodcloak Guard isn’t as terrifying as you think—didn’t your sister Serena walk out alive from their cells?"
As she spoke, Madam Sun—her hair streaked with silver, her face lined with age—came out supported by the servants. Seeing Madam Sun like this, Serena’s guilt deepened. Madam Sun was only a few years older than Lady Lu, but standing together, they looked like they belonged to different generations.
The last time Elaine Sun died, Madam Sun cried so much she nearly blinded herself. This time...
Serena owed the Sun family far too much.
"Madam Sun." Serena stepped forward and knelt with a thud.
"Miss Feng, what are you doing? Quickly, get up!" Madam Sun hadn’t expected Serena to do this and fumbled to pull her up.
Serena refused, respectfully bowing three times to Madam Sun. "Madam, these three bows are on behalf of Elaine Sun. She’s gone, so the Sun family’s troubles are now my troubles."
"Good child, get up, get up." Madam Sun choked up as she helped Serena to her feet. "Yijin’s tragedy wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself—she was born unlucky. Maybe it’s better this way."
Broken engagement, ruined looks—even if Elaine Sun had lived, her life would have been full of hardship. Her death wasn’t entirely Serena’s fault, and at least the Sun family didn’t blame her.
"Madam Sun, don’t worry. Lord Sun is doing well with the Bloodcloak Guard—I’ve already asked someone to look after him. He’ll be fine." Serena helped Madam Sun into the flower hall to sit, passing on Commander Lucan Lu’s message so they wouldn’t worry: Lord Sun wouldn’t suffer in the Bloodcloak Guard’s hands.
"Madam Sun, if you’re still uneasy, tomorrow you can visit Lord Sun at the Bloodcloak Guard and bring him some food. Once you’re there, just ask for Commander Lucan Lu—he’s already arranged everything."
"Really? We can really see my father?" Lily Sun broke into a smile through her tears, her worries melting away at Serena’s words.
She trusted Serena’s word about her father, but she’d only feel truly at ease once she saw him herself.
"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you? Tomorrow, just go to the Bloodcloak Guard and ask for him. I’m afraid I won’t be able to go with you—I have to run around for Lord Sun’s case, and your family alone won’t be enough."
Madam Sun and Lily Sun didn’t quite understand, but Young Master Sun did. Hearing Serena’s words, he hurried forward to thank her. "Miss Feng, sorry to trouble you."
"Young Master Sun, you’re too polite. This is simply my duty." Serena didn’t take credit, and when he tried to say more, she cut him off: "Madam Sun, Young Master Sun, I have to visit a few respected elders, so I won’t stay long. Don’t worry about Lord Sun, and don’t go looking for help elsewhere—I’ll investigate."
She was afraid the Sun family would only make things worse by trying to help. Duke Zhen had planned everything from the start—he wouldn’t just drag Lord Sun down alone. Saving one man was hard enough; if the whole Sun clan landed in prison, she’d lose her mind.
"Don’t worry, Miss Feng—we know what to do." Madam Sun and Young Master Sun were stubborn, but not unreasonable. They understood Serena was acting for their sake.
"If anything happens, come find me at House Feng of Loyalty." With these words, Serena declined the Sun family’s escort and boarded her carriage.
"Miss, where to next?" The maid saw fatigue on Serena’s face and asked with concern.
Everything had been fine that afternoon, but then this crisis struck, forcing her mistress to rush all over. She hadn’t eaten, hadn’t even had a sip of tea.
"Where to?" Serena rubbed her brow. "To Sun Zhengdao’s house."
Duke Zhen has the Empress behind him. That means Serena’s only option is to borrow the power of Noble Consort Helena Hsieh.
In the harem, only Noble Consort Helena Hsieh, from the Hsieh family, can rival the Empress. The struggle in the harem is a struggle in the court. If Duke Zhen can produce evidence to send Lord Sun to the Bloodcloak Guard, then surely the Hsieh faction has enough evidence to send the Empress’s officials there too.
The carriage sped forward. Inside, Serena calculated how to muddy the waters of the imperial court.
With the Emperor’s birthday coming up, such trouble was sure to sour his mood.
(This chapter isn’t over yet~.~, click next page to keep reading!)
Serena’s lips curled into a cold, wicked smile. Her two maids shivered, sensing a chill, and looked at Serena with a trace of fear in their eyes.
When Serena Feng arrived at Sun Zhengdao’s house, the family had already finished dinner. Once again, she’d missed the meal, but fortunately, she wasn’t here for food. After checking on Madam Sun’s condition and exchanging a few words with Madam Sun and Simon Sun, Serena followed Sun Zhengdao into the study.
"Something happened?" Sun Zhengdao could tell just by looking at Serena.
Just that morning she’d been full of spirit, dealing out slaps with impressive flair—yet by evening, she looked utterly exhausted. Not even fine clothes could hide it.
Serena explained the situation with Lord Adrian Sun’s father. She hadn’t even finished before Sun Zhengdao’s beard bristled and he burst out, cursing: “That old bastard Duke Zhen! What a vicious, underhanded move. His mother was a scheming snake, so of course her son walks crooked. The sons born of concubines are all useless, only a filthy place like the House of Duke Zhen could breed such petty villains. He’d sell his own daughter for wealth…"
The longer Sun Zhengdao cursed, the smoother it sounded. Serena stared in shock—she couldn’t believe that the scholarly Sun Zhengdao could be so fluent in insults.
Noticing Serena’s gaze, Sun Zhengdao immediately stopped, coughed awkwardly, and asked straightforwardly, “Well? What do you need me to do?”
“Uh? You’re agreeing to help me that easily?” Serena was startled. She knew Sun Zhengdao was direct, but this was almost too much…
Sun Zhengdao snorted, clearly annoyed: “Why else would you come to me? Isn’t it because you need help?”
“That’s true, but you’re so quick to agree it makes me suspicious. When things are too easy, there’s always a catch. We’re not that close, so it’s only natural I’m cautious.” Serena spoke lightly, but her gaze was sharp—Sun Zhengdao really was acting strangely.
“Not close? My only son is your disciple. You think I can just pretend we’re not connected?” Sun Zhengdao retorted, though inwardly he cursed: ‘This sly fox is too shrewd. Couldn’t you be a little less clever? A girl ought to be at home embroidering or playing the zither, not meddling in court politics. Aren’t you afraid the Emperor might just cut you down?’
“That’s not the reason.” Serena shook her head. She knew Sun Zhengdao had helped her more than once, and it wasn’t just because of Simon Sun. She had a vague idea about Sun Zhengdao’s true status, but he clearly didn’t want to talk about it.
“If that’s not enough, I’ll give you another reason: my surname is Sun. In Eastlyn, most Suns are at least distantly related. That Lord Sun in the Bloodcloak Guard is my elder clansman—does that count?” The real reason was known only to Sun Zhengdao himself, and that, he would never say…
Serena didn’t reply. She simply stared at Sun Zhengdao, and only when he was nearly at his limit did she finally look away. “I suppose that’s enough. I trust you.”
I trust you! Sometimes those three words are a kind of shackle. What she really meant was: “I trust you, so don’t let me down.” In truth, she didn’t trust him completely—if she did, she wouldn’t have said it out loud.
Sun Zhengdao snorted, still annoyed: “Don’t act all innocent after getting what you want. So, what do you need from me?”
“Tomorrow, go to the Hsieh residence and treat the Hsieh clan’s patriarch.” Sigh. It used to be Noble Consort Hsieh clinging to her, but now Serena herself needed to hold on to the Hsieh clan’s support. Still, mutual need made the alliance stronger.
Serena was deeply grateful that she’d kept her head and hadn’t offended the Hsieh clan too badly before. Otherwise, Lord Sun would be in real danger now.
There really are no eternal enemies, and no eternal friends in this world.
“After all the face the Hsieh clan has cost you, you’re still willing to cooperate with them?” Sun Zhengdao understood Serena was right to do so, but he couldn’t resist poking at her anyway.
A woman with such clear-headed logic and strong will—how could these men possibly compare? Still, Sun Zhengdao was glad. With such vision, Serena Feng would never disgrace the Feng name!