If You Won’t Leave, I’ll Come Personally to Take You

Prince Chase had no idea that Serena Feng already knew the secrets of his back courtyard—and the darkness in his heart.

Prince Chase hurried over, wanting to stop Serena Feng from meeting any of the other women in the back courtyard. But halfway there, a servant rushed up to report: "Your Highness, Ninth Royal Uncle has arrived."

"Ninth Royal Uncle? What is he doing here?" Prince Chase froze, a flash of malice crossing his eyes.

"Ninth Royal Uncle didn’t say." The servant dropped to his knees with a thud, showing just how brutal Prince Chase usually was in his manor—just a single question could scare a servant half to death.

"Go. Tell the steward to keep an eye on those women in the back courtyard—not a single one is allowed out." Prince Chase had no choice but to turn back to meet Ninth Royal Uncle.

When he reached the flower hall, Prince Chase had already wiped away his gloom and put on an air of carefree innocence. As usual, he went up to greet warmly: "Ninth Uncle, what brings you here? I was just about to visit you myself."

Ninth Royal Uncle lifted his eyelids slightly, his gaze cold as a blade. Prince Chase’s heart skipped a beat, and the smile on his face nearly slipped.

Ninth Royal Uncle’s eyes seemed to see right through people. He had never looked at Prince Chase like this before.

With just one glance, Ninth Royal Uncle withdrew his gaze, a flash of mockery passing through his eyes. He said slowly, "I heard your manor is in chaos, so I came to see for myself. How are the funeral arrangements for the Princess Consort of Chun going?"

The smile vanished from Prince Chase’s face, replaced by a look of grief. "His Majesty sent people from the Ministry of Rites to handle it. That poisonous woman... I don’t want to see her."

Zi-Chun, don’t say no to me. You have no right to refuse me. I’m not asking you—I’m ordering you.

Prince Chase’s pupils widened in shock. He glared at Ninth Royal Uncle with violence in his eyes, but when he met the killing intent in Nolan’s gaze, he quickly lowered his head and muttered a sullen "yes."

You may go. Ninth Royal Uncle barely spared him a glance, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.

He was just a powerless, orphaned prince—what could he possibly use to challenge Nolan?

Prince Chase truly had no power to defy Ninth Royal Uncle’s orders, so he didn’t dare disobey. Soon, Serena Feng arrived.

Uncle Nolan? What brings you to Prince Chase’s Manor? Serena Feng found it odd when the servant said Ninth Royal Uncle wanted to see her.

Ninth Royal Uncle had been so busy lately he was barely seen—how did he have time to come to Prince Chase’s Manor? Today wasn’t Princess Yara’s funeral.

Ninth Royal Uncle’s gaze was piercing, fixed on Serena Feng’s eyes until she felt inexplicably uneasy. "What’s wrong? Is something the matter?" she asked.

Serena Feng checked herself from head to toe, but found nothing wrong.

Ninth Royal Uncle snorted coldly, his tone displeased: "If I hadn’t come to fetch you, were you planning not to leave?"

Huh? You came to fetch me? Serena pointed to herself in disbelief.

If I weren’t here to fetch you, why else would I come to Prince Chase’s Manor? Only you could stand to stay in a place like this. Ninth Royal Uncle’s disgust made Serena Feng wonder if he knew something.

Impossible. Knowing how petty Ninth Royal Uncle is, if he’d found out, there’s no way Prince Chase’s Manor would still be so peaceful.

Serena Feng quickly shook her head, tossing that thought aside.

What’s this? Don’t want to leave? Planning to stay at Prince Chase’s Manor? Ninth Royal Uncle’s tone suddenly rose, startling Serena Feng. "Of course not, I’ll go right now. Even if you hadn’t come for me, I was planning to leave."

Staying at Prince Chase’s Manor made her feel sick, and she couldn’t sleep well.

If that’s the case, then let’s go.

Ninth Royal Uncle strode toward the door, and Serena Feng had to jog to keep up. "Uncle Nolan, Simon is still here."

I’ll have someone send him home. Ninth Royal Uncle silently credited Simon Sun for protecting Serena.

Good—he knew to protect Serena Feng.

Ninth Royal Uncle was clearly angry. He didn’t care about Serena Feng’s pace, and even when getting into the carriage, he didn’t help her as usual—he just got in first.

Serena Feng wondered to herself—what had she done lately to make Ninth Royal Uncle angry?

But no matter how much she thought, Serena Feng couldn’t figure it out. She’d been well-behaved lately, busy investigating Daniel Sun’s severed head—she hadn’t had time to cause any trouble.

Uncle Nolan? Are you in a bad mood? Serena Feng asked tentatively, earning a cold look from Ninth Royal Uncle. Serena was left baffled and decided not to ask about the Emperor’s poisoning or Princess Yara’s death.

Serena Feng obediently lay on the small table in the carriage, idly playing with a cup.

Princess Yara’s death, just as Lance Quinn said, had nothing to do with her. If Ninth Royal Uncle was in a bad mood, she’d just keep quiet.

Right now, her biggest concern was still Daniel Sun’s case. She suspected the Hsieh family was taking revenge, but neither Jada nor Mira Tang had found anything, and Ninth Royal Uncle wouldn’t tell her what he’d discovered, leaving her to worry endlessly.

After playing for a while, Serena Feng grew depressed. She stole a glance at Ninth Royal Uncle and saw he looked terrible—dark circles under his eyes, clearly sleep-deprived.

Serena Feng felt both heartache and a bit of guilt. Ninth Royal Uncle was already so busy, yet she’d made trouble for him and forced him to come fetch her—she really shouldn’t have…

Later, she’d have to think carefully about how to make it up to Ninth Royal Uncle!