Helping Backfires With Wife Lost and Soldiers Wasted

That radiant, gentle smile—it's fooled not only the late Emperor, but the current one as well.

Prince Duan stared at the Princess Royal's smiling face, unable to look away for a long time. He simply couldn't understand—how could such a fake smile keep deceiving his shrewd father and brother over and over again?

Prince Duan wanted to laugh too, but he feared that if he did, he'd end up crying. In the end, he could only use a cold laugh to cover his sorrow, staring at the Princess Royal with open mockery: "An imperial decree? Hmph... Little Third, you're still so naïve. Do you really think I'm still that powerless little prince you used to bully?"

Prince Duan leaned in close to the Princess Royal's ear and whispered, "Little Third, you'll regret everything you've done today."

Pah—Prince Duan spat, and a mouthful of thick phlegm landed right on the Princess Royal's face.

"Ah—!" The Princess Royal screamed, frantically grabbing a handkerchief to wipe her face. "What have you done?!"

Hahaha—Prince Duan laughed loudly, swaggering away and leaving the Princess Royal trembling with rage, screaming at the top of her lungs: "Ah... ah... ah! Little Fifth, you stop right there! I swear I'll kill you!"

The disgusting phlegm ran down her cheek, and the Princess Royal shook with fury—never in her life had she suffered such humiliation!

......

"Serena, what's the best way to get revenge on someone?" Prince Duan asked out of nowhere as soon as he returned to the manor and found Serena.

Serena looked up at Prince Duan. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes were unmistakably rimmed with tears.

Serena understood instantly. She turned away, acting nonchalant, and pinched Little Dumpling's cheek, saying to him, "The best way is to repay someone in their own coin. Isn't that right, Little Dumpling?"

Under Evan Feng and the Snow Wolf's patient guidance, Little Dumpling had learned to give simple responses. He obediently nodded, agreeing with Serena.

"Good job, Little Dumpling. Later, the Snow Wolf will let you ride him like a horse." Serena kissed Little Dumpling on the cheek as a big reward, earning a stiff, mechanical kiss in return.

It was such a simple gesture, yet Little Dumpling did it so awkwardly. The tears Prince Duan had just managed to hide welled up again.

His son had finally learned how to respond to the world around him, but even such a simple action had taken hundreds of tries to master...

Serena caught sight of Prince Duan out of the corner of her eye, and while he was lost in fatherly affection, she scooped up Little Dumpling and made her escape.

No way was she going to stick around—he'd clearly been riled up at court, and who knew what impossible orders the Emperor might have given him? Maybe something like sending Evan Feng back, or returning the Princess Royal's people.

She had no intention of staying here and letting herself be exploited.

Serena slipped away at just the right moment. After Prince Duan recovered from his emotional daze and was about to discuss the Emperor's orders with her, he looked up—only to find she was already gone.

"She's really become a master at this." Prince Duan didn't need to think twice—he knew Serena had slipped away at the perfect moment.

"No wonder Prince Nolan still hasn't married her—any man who takes home such a fierce woman would be lucky to survive." Prince Duan imagined Prince Nolan being bullied by Serena and finally felt a bit better.

Even though the Emperor claimed they were just siblings, his word was law. However unwilling Prince Duan felt, he couldn't openly defy the imperial decree.

Prince Duan had already decided, while still in the palace, to cooperate with Prince Titus of Lyndaria and help him ascend the throne. Now, he had to show his goodwill: "Go to the Crown Prince's Manor and tell him I have a matter I need his help with. I wonder if His Highness the Crown Prince would be willing to lend a hand."

Prince Titus is the Crown Prince, and soon he will be master of the realm. Owing your master a favor is worth more than granting him one—Prince Duan had always understood this balance perfectly.

The steward was startled, glancing quickly at Prince Duan. Meeting his sharp gaze, the steward bowed his head and, without needing another word, hurried off to the Crown Prince's Manor himself.

As Prince Duan's trusted aide, the steward knew well how loyal his master was to the Emperor. This time, it seemed the Emperor had truly broken his master's heart.

His master had only one precious son. When disaster struck, not only did the Emperor fail to bring justice, he also left Prince Duan heartbroken. It was enough to chill anyone's heart.

Thinking of the imperial physicians and the Grandmaster who still hadn't arrived, the steward felt even more desolate. Still, he was grateful his master had made a decision.

Inside the Crown Prince's Manor, Prince Titus heard that Prince Duan's steward had come to call. He sighed inwardly and thought, 'Fifth Uncle, I'm sorry. I never meant for Father to hurt you. I had no choice—if you never lost faith in Father, you would never stand on my side.'