Just as the Valley Master said, the identity of the Phoenixfield Heiress brings Serena Feng not wealth and glory, but endless trouble and disaster...
Serena Feng knows that even without solid evidence, the other kingdoms will never let her go. For them, it's a perfect excuse to launch a campaign against Eastlyn. Once their emperors shift their focus from the Former Dynasty Imperial Hoard, all eyes will turn to her—or to Prince Nolan.
Outwardly, Serena acts unconcerned about the rumors, but secretly she orders her people to focus all their efforts on tracking down the mastermind and monitoring the moves of every kingdom and city.
From the latest intelligence reports, Serena notices the situation is turning in a strange direction: on the surface, every kingdom seems obsessed with her and Prince Nolan, but behind the scenes, their real energy is focused on the Former Dynasty Imperial Hoard.
Investigating her and Prince Nolan's backgrounds has become a public façade—a cover to hide their true intentions.
"It's really hard to figure out who set up such a massive game. Aren't they afraid the situation will spiral out of their control?" Serena muses. Rumors are easy to start, but no one can predict where they'll lead.
After all, these rumors have swept up the most powerful figures in the Nine Provinces Realm. What they'll think or do is completely beyond anyone's control.
Serena feels utterly confused; she can't figure out what the mastermind wants. But she does know that her identity being exposed at this moment actually works in her favor.
Amid all the tangled truths and falsehoods, her story is buried in a flood of bigger events. It draws attention, but few people truly believe it.
"Keep watching." After learning the kingdoms' true intentions, Serena finally breathes a sigh of relief, knowing that her Phoenixfield Heiress identity won't put her in immediate danger—for now.
To avoid trouble, Serena has kept a low profile lately. Except for treating patients, she's been almost invisible—no one can find her or even catch a glimpse.
"It's really hard to see you these days." That afternoon, William Wang, looking much thinner from overwork, finally found time to visit Feng Manor and relay the Grand Empress Dowager's request: "She wants to see you again—just you, alone."
Last time, it was after Prince Nolan's victory that Lady Min wanted to see Serena. Serena brought Empress Dowager Xie along, so Lady Min didn't dare say much; her act of kindness fooled no one.
This time, with Prince Nolan about to return in triumph, Lady Min wants to see Serena again. The timing...
"You have to admit, Lady Min's sources are unusually sharp." Serena can't figure out how Lady Min, surrounded by Prince Nolan's people, still knows what's happening outside.
William Wang gave a wry smile: "A young monk accidentally let something slip. You know how stories of Prince Nolan's battlefield heroics are spreading like wildfire outside."
"Did he really slip up by accident, or was it on purpose?" The rumors outside made Serena even more wary of Lady Min.
"We checked—the young monk is clean. He grew up in the temple, never had contact with the outside world." William Wang understood how the monk might have slipped.
Earlier, the urgent battlefield dispatches had thrown the entire capital into panic; all of Eastlyn was shadowed by the threat of defeat. Now, not only has Prince Nolan driven Northlyn back, he’s pushed deep into enemy territory. The people of Eastlyn are desperate to vent two months’ worth of fear and anxiety.
The court is happy to see this and certainly won’t stop it.
"Good, as long as there's no problem. You know her background is extraordinary—you can't afford not to guard against her." Thinking of the rumors outside, Serena frowned, a shadow passing through her eyes.
William Wang’s heart skipped a beat, but his face showed nothing. He feigned casualness and asked, "You’ve heard the rumors outside too?"
William didn’t spell it out, but both understood. Serena gave a bitter smile: "With all the commotion, how could I not know?"
"I suspect Prince Nolan has a hand in this." Serena looked at William. She’d panicked for a while because of the rumors, but after calming down, she realized how unnatural it all was.
This was definitely premeditated. Otherwise, how could it erupt so dramatically in such a short time? Except for Eastlyn, the other three kingdoms and six major cities had all their attention and energy diverted by the rumors. Whether it’s Liancastle or Ghost Hall, countless eyes are watching—any movement is instantly known to all.
William Wang simply shook his head, giving no direct answer.
That shake of the head could mean he didn’t know, or that Prince Nolan hadn’t intervened. After all, Prince Nolan had been on the Northlyn front the whole time. Even now, no one suspects that he might be behind the rumors.
Because among those most hurt by the rumors are Prince Nolan himself and Serena Feng. No one would ever believe he’d expose himself like this.
"Do you believe any of those rumors?" Serena, still without an answer, asked again.
"Which ones, exactly?" William Wang’s smile didn’t falter, but his scalp prickled with nerves.
The rumors had been swirling for so long, and William hadn’t come to see Serena—he’d been avoiding her, afraid she’d ask about them. Yet after all this time, Serena still brought it up.
"You already know my background, so there’s nothing to say. As for the rest—even if it’s true, it doesn’t really concern me. What I want to ask you, aside from Prince Nolan’s mother’s identity, is what else there could be?" Prince Nolan being the son of a princess from the Former Dynasty is the most outrageous rumor, but to Serena, it’s the most believable—because…
Lan Jingyang once said: "Eastlyn Nine, Aunt will never let you go."
Serena always thought "Aunt" was just a respectful term for a woman. But now, maybe "Aunt" refers to the Former Dynasty Princess—or possibly Lady Min, as the rumors suggest.
"Why do you think that?" William Wang’s palm began to sweat; he was starting to regret coming.
If he’d known, he wouldn’t have come in person. He should have waited until Prince Nolan handled Serena, and then come to talk to her.
Serena told William about what Lan Jingyang had said, then added, "I just feel that Lan Jingyang is very familiar with Prince Nolan, and seems to have a natural hostility toward him. There must be some connection between them."
Details she’d always overlooked now came back to her—there had been signs all along, she’d just ignored them.
"The most important thing is Prince Nolan’s attitude toward the Grand Empress Dowager. He’s extremely wary of her, even designed to keep her confined in a temple for life. Don’t tell me he did it for my sake—I don’t believe it for a second." Serena was sick of the open and secret ridicule from outsiders.
Prince Nolan isn’t the kind of person who would neglect his own mother for her sake. He must have acted first because there’s something wrong with Lady Min herself.
"About that... I really don’t know what to say. There are rumors that Moon Palace is hiding the Former Dynasty’s eldest princess. There is indeed a mysterious woman in Moon Palace." William Wang didn’t dare say more, nor answer directly.
The more you say about these things, the more likely you are to be wrong. Besides, he didn’t have any definite answers himself—how could he respond to Serena’s questions?