Calculating Hearts, Ninth Royal Uncle’s Crushing Defeat

I'm not yours in any way!

Fine. Fine.

Nolan Dongling, the Ninth Royal Uncle, was so furious he actually laughed—a laugh like winter snow melting, except his eyes remained as icy as ever. "Serena Feng, you're really going to marry yourself off just for a land deed? You... you really have the nerve."

Nolan was so angry he nearly threatened, 'If you dare take a husband, I'll go to the palace and have your father's Marquis of Loyalty title stripped.' But thinking of Serena Feng's stubbornness, he forced himself to swallow the words.

One day, Serena Feng is going to be the death of him.

"Feng Manor is my home. It's where my parents' memories live. For the land deed to Feng Manor, I don't mind marrying myself off." Serena Feng lifted her head, meeting Nolan's deep, piercing gaze without flinching.

She's not wrong.

"You dare!" Serena's wild defiance only made Nolan's already foul mood even worse.

"Why wouldn't I? Men are supposed to marry, women are supposed to wed—why am I the only one denied the freedom to choose my own marriage?" The angrier Nolan got, the more delighted Serena became.

Serena even wondered if she had a twisted streak—watching Nolan lose his cool, seeing him seethe with nowhere to vent, made her feel utterly refreshed.

Hahaha, even you, Ninth Royal Uncle, have days like this.

"Serena Feng, listen to me. Right now, I am not anything to you. But don't forget, I am a prince of Eastlyn. As long as I am here, don't even think about having the freedom to marry whoever you want. To marry? I want to see who dares take you as his bride. Serena Feng, I've told you before—without my approval, no one can marry you."

Just the thought of Serena Feng taking a husband, marrying someone else, made Ninth Royal Uncle lose all reason. His voice involuntarily grew louder and sharper, and he didn't even notice the flash of cunning and mischief in Serena's eyes.

If you take things too seriously, you lose! That's the real lesson she learned from crossing swords with Ninth Royal Uncle so many times.

Serena Feng didn't take it seriously, but Ninth Royal Uncle did. The moment he strode into the western courtyard, Serena knew she'd already won.

"Ninth Royal Uncle, you may hold great power, but you can't block out the sky with one hand. If Eastlyn won't do, I'll look in the other three kingdoms and nine cities. I have a marquis title as my dowry—I refuse to believe I can't find one man brave enough to marry me." Serena tilted her chin, arrogance written all over her face.

This kind of Serena Feng was both infuriating and strangely captivating. Her proud bearing was just like a pampered little sparrow from a noble family—beautiful, haughty, making you want to spoil her even if you had to grit your teeth.

"Hmph...Serena Feng, you're too naive. You think that just because you have a marquis title, you can marry without worries? Let me tell you, even if someone dares marry you, he might not live long enough to enjoy that title." Ninth Royal Uncle had always liked this kind of Serena Feng—confidence radiating from her very bones, arrogance unmatched, making you want to spoil her no matter what.

This is the bearing a true heaven's favored daughter should have—the only kind of woman who can stand by his side. Thinking this, even Nolan's anger faded a bit, though his words were still sharp.

Serena only looked at Ninth Royal Uncle without speaking, her eyes full of uncompromising pride. Nolan, half angry and half amused, asked, "What? Not convinced?"

"That's right—I don't accept it." Serena replied calmly. Why should she submit?

"Don't accept what? That I won't let you marry?" Ninth Royal Uncle's reason slowly returned. As he pieced the situation together, he realized he'd fallen into Serena's trap.

Ninth Royal Uncle's usually expressionless face changed; his eyes narrowed, the sharp light in them suddenly withdrawing. His dark gaze glinted with something strange and unfathomable, as if he saw through everything.

Not good. Ninth Royal Uncle realized she'd tricked him on purpose.

Serena had been watching Nolan closely. Seeing his reaction, she almost turned to leave, but then thought: so what if he's figured it out? She wasn't using underhanded tricks like him—hers was an open scheme.

Didn't Nolan always say that against absolute power, all schemes are useless? She hadn't used any dirty tricks on him. With that thought, Serena felt at ease and stood her ground even firmer.

"Serena Feng, come here." Nolan took in all her changes, deep approval flickering in his dark eyes—though no one could see it.

"Alright." Serena suppressed the turmoil in her heart, stepped forward half a pace, and looked at Nolan with a calm face.

So what if Nolan suspected? She just wouldn't admit it. She'd stick to her story: marrying with her title as dowry.

"A little closer." Nolan was clearly dissatisfied with the several meters between them.

"Alright." Serena moved closer again. Nolan was still dissatisfied until only half a step remained between them—close enough to reach out and grab her. Then he was finally content.

If he couldn't make Serena come to Ninth Prince Manor on her own, he'd make her come closer to him instead.

"Serena Feng, you still want to recruit a husband?" Nolan brought up the topic again, this time with a teasing edge.

"Yes." Serena replied, stubborn as ever.

"Very well. Need me to help? I know more talented young men than you do." Nolan mocked. If Serena really wanted to marry just anyone, she'd have done it long ago.

But he himself had been blinded by jealousy and hadn't thought of that.

Serena Feng, for the sake of Feng Manor's land deed, you'll do whatever it takes. It's only because I care about you—if I didn't, would this trick work?

Nolan was fuming inside.

Serena played this card because she knew she had him—because she knew he cared. Otherwise, her words wouldn't have carried any weight.

Nolan was furious. He'd calculated everything—except his own heart. And Serena, without calculating anything else, simply counted his feelings in, and that was enough to utterly defeat him.

"Great! With Ninth Royal Uncle as my matchmaker, I have nothing to worry about. I trust your taste in men." Teasing her? Did he really think she was some sheltered lady who'd blush and bite her handkerchief at the mention of marriage? If she were that kind of person, she'd be dead by now.

He'd meant to trap Serena with words, but ended up cornering himself. Even knowing she wasn't serious, Nolan couldn't help but snap: "You really want to get married that badly?"

"It's not about wanting or not. Men are supposed to marry, women are supposed to wed—I'm just an ordinary person." Did he think everyone could be like him, old and unmarried, never even chasing after women?

If it weren't for...hmph, certain 'close encounters,' I'd suspect you didn't even like women, or maybe had some secret ailment.

Of course, Serena didn't say that last part aloud, but the meaning was obvious—even if Nolan pretended not to notice, he couldn't escape it.

Now it was his fault for not marrying? Nolan closed his eyes, refusing to look at Serena's triumphant face. From the moment he left Ninth Prince Manor, he'd already lost.

Enough. He was done arguing with Serena. So what if it was Feng Manor's land deed? He'd give it to her.

"The deed to Feng Manor will be delivered shortly."

All his efforts had been for nothing. This time, Serena won. Next time, he'd make sure she lost—and show her that her man was more domineering than she ever imagined!