Seeking Help and Serena Feng’s Connections

Adrian Eastlyn (Prince Rowan) kept silent, and Serena Feng was even less likely to speak first. The silence was the same, but when Serena was with William Wang she felt reassured; sitting next to Adrian, she only felt uneasy.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was oddly tense. Other than the faint sound of breathing, there was nothing—Adrian would occasionally glance over with complicated eyes, but those looks made Serena’s skin crawl, as if something bad was about to happen.

For the first time, Serena felt the journey from the palace to Feng Manor was endless. The carriage ride made her restless, and as soon as they reached Feng Manor—before the carriage had even stopped—she jumped down in a hurry.

Now that was truly impatient!

Adrian didn’t stop her. Before leaving, he threw out a single line: “Serena Feng, you’ve won. I’ll make you my side-consort.”

With that, he ordered the driver to take him back to Prince Rowan’s estate, leaving Serena standing there, replaying his words in her mind.

“What does that mean? Make me his side-consort? Didn’t I refuse before? No, last time Adrian said it without a hint of reluctance, but this time he looked anything but happy. Could it be…”

“Is something wrong with his marriage to Princess Yara? Or did the Emperor order him to make me his side-consort? The first seems possible, but the second… that just doesn’t add up.”

After all, she was the infamous Serena Feng—the one whose ruined reputation had spread throughout the capital. Why would the Emperor ever let Adrian take her as a side-consort?

“What’s impossible?” Ethan Hsieh’s carriage stopped nearby. He called out to Serena a few times with no response; walking over, he caught her words and gave her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Ah—!" Serena jumped in surprise, then relaxed when she saw who it was. She patted her chest, "You scared me to death, Ethan. Couldn't you call out first? People can get scared to death by other people."

"I called you several times, but you didn’t answer," Ethan replied, looking aggrieved.

"Oh, that’s my fault. I was lost in thought. Did you need something?" Serena steadied herself, gave a faint smile, and covered up her earlier distraction.

Ethan was curious about what could leave Serena standing dazed in the middle of the road, but seeing her expression, he didn’t press.

"I do. I’m here on behalf of the Hsieh Clan to thank you."

"Thank me? Did Second Madam get pregnant? That’s impossible." Serena motioned Ethan to come inside first. It was early morning, but people were already out and about; standing in the street like this was hardly proper.

"It’s not about Second Aunt." Ethan signaled for the Hsieh servants to bring in the gifts. Serena didn’t object—if she refused the congratulatory gifts, that would mean openly making an enemy of the Hsieh Clan.

After half a year of grinding in the capital, she was no longer impulsive. However much she disliked the Hsieh Clan, she wouldn’t tear things open and create a powerful enemy for herself.

"Miss."

"Young Master Hsieh."

All the guards at Feng Manor had been sent by Dominic Zhai, and the servants—half from Vincent Su, half from Caleb Wang—were all well-trained, keeping the estate running in perfect order.

"Your manor finally looks respectable," Ethan remarked, remembering his first visit when Feng Manor didn’t even have someone to fetch water—everywhere reeked of decline and ruin. Yet in less than a year, it had completely transformed.

It’s true what they say: never underestimate the young and struggling.

"It’s all just for show—I’m used to being poor." In real noble families, etiquette and rules are strict and ingrained, not learned overnight. To those people, Feng Manor was just a nouveau riche’s house.

She wasn’t born for nobility, so why hold herself to noble standards?

"When were you ever poor? You just don’t know how to enjoy yourself." True elegance isn’t about status or fine clothes—it’s about one’s bearing and attention to detail.

Serena was a walking contradiction. To put it bluntly, Feng Manor was built from humble roots; for a family like hers, raising a refined daughter would be a stretch—just raising her to not be coarse was an achievement.

Yet Serena carried a subtle air of dignity and composure. Unfortunately, her casual and rough ways kept that noble aura hidden.

After they sat down in order of rank, a maid served tea and quietly withdrew. "It’s rare to drink such fine tea at your place." For someone of Ethan’s status, fine tea was nothing new—he only said it to close the distance between them.

"A gift from my apprentice." Serena truly wasn’t one for luxury—in food, clothing, or living, she only cared about comfort, never refinement.

"So all the nice things here are gifts from others? Good thing I brought some decent presents myself. Take a look when you have time."

The gifts from Hsieh Manor are certainly generous. If Ethan Hsieh brings them up again, he must have a request. Serena Feng took a sip of tea and asked lightly, "You're here about Noble Consort Helena Hsieh, aren't you?"

"Yes." Serena Feng got straight to the point. If Ethan Hsieh kept circling around, it would just seem insincere.

"As for Noble Consort Helena Hsieh, I can't help." That was the truth—Helena wasn't sick, so what could she do?

Ethan Hsieh set down his teacup and sighed heavily. "Serena, we've known each other for more than a day or two. There's at least a bit of friendship between us.

I didn't come here for anything else—just following family orders. I'm only passing on the message; whether you agree or not is up to you. I just hope you won't cut off our friendship because of the Hsieh clan's affairs."

"You are you, and the Hsieh clan is the Hsieh clan." Honestly, Serena wanted to say they weren't close at all, so there was no real friendship. But she knew that would be too blunt. Besides, Ethan wasn't a bad person, so she softened her words.

Ethan Hsieh breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. I really don't want you to dislike everyone in the Hsieh clan because of this."

Serena Feng smiled without replying. In truth, she did dislike the entire Hsieh clan; her first impressions made it hard to feel any fondness for them.

But she understood that being too rigid would only break her. She rarely showed her true likes and dislikes.

"Serena, the Hsieh clan has already investigated Noble Consort Helena Hsieh's situation. After you confirmed it yesterday, they know what to do. You won't be troubled by this, and you won't be dragged into it."

Serena nodded silently, wondering what else Hsieh Manor wanted from her if it wasn't about Helena.

"Serena, you know the Hsieh clan is a centuries-old family, but our foundation in the palace is thin. We've never had a close imperial physician at court.

So even when the imperial physicians noticed something wrong with Noble Consort Helena Hsieh, they said nothing. The Hsieh clan heard you were close to Imperial Physician Sun, so they hoped you could introduce us. Maybe Sun Zhengdao would help Helena in the palace." Ethan laid everything out.

"So Helena will be pregnant soon?" Serena Feng was starting to understand—the Hsieh clan already had their own solution. But from pregnancy to birth was a ten-month ordeal; during that time, Helena would need an imperial physician's help to safely deliver the child.

"It should be soon." Ethan Hsieh didn't know the details—he wasn't the head of the family or part of the inner circle.

Serena Feng nodded. "Understood. I'll speak to Sun Zhengdao, but I can't promise anything."

From her perspective, she hoped Noble Consort Helena Hsieh would give birth to a prince—then the Empress would have a true rival and wouldn't have time to target her...