Attentive Hospitality and the Real Matter

No matter how agitated or exhausted Lady Min was, she could not collapse at this moment. Jason Lan had left no heir, and he could not die now. She could not let the direct Lan bloodline end in her hands.

Rubbing her brow, Lady Min forced herself to rally and quickly made her decision: "Send word—withdraw everyone from Jiangnan, and pull out all operatives from the Divine Tactics Corps and the inner city. Not a single one is to remain. Have the Old City Lord take the Young Lord to Jiangnan to seek out the Master of Mystic Healer Valley. Tell the Valley Master that once this matter is resolved, Liancastle will no longer covet Mystic Healer Valley."

Lady Min spoke slowly, every word weighed down with gravity. These were the fruits of years of effort by her and her subordinates, and now she had to call it all back. Naturally, her heart was heavy—but for Jason Lan, she had no other choice.

After making so many concessions, Nolan Dongling should understand her intent. As long as he still wants to keep his identity hidden, he won’t stop the Valley Master from saving Jason Lan.

"Understood." The subordinate quietly let out a breath of relief. With Lady Min’s approval, he quickly withdrew, afraid that lingering even a moment longer might provoke her wrath and spell disaster for him.

The other servants also retreated to the outer room, leaving Lady Min alone inside. She sat there, lost in thought, her eyes fixed on the candlelight atop the table, tears glimmering in her gaze…

Sleepless through the night!

Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng didn’t sleep much that night either. Nolan only dozed briefly in the second half before rising. Seeing Serena sleeping soundly, he moved with utmost care not to wake her, dressed quietly, and left the courtyard.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard, a shadow guard approached and quietly reported the latest intelligence to Nolan.

Nolan paused for a moment, nodded expressionlessly, but the cold gleam in his eyes betrayed his mood…

That day, the timing was perfect. Nolan Dongling arrived at morning court on time—no more of those “from now on, the king neglects court” scandals. He gave the censors no chance to lecture him for dereliction.

The main topic at today’s small court was Lady Min’s conferment as Grand Empress Dowager. Nolan Dongling voiced no objections, simply instructing the Ministry of Rites to handle it, with one cool remark: “The frontlines are tense—we must not be extravagant.”

The officials below were all seasoned. As soon as Nolan spoke, they understood: the Ministry of Rites would draft a plan for a simple yet dignified conferment. Only the chosen venue left them completely puzzled…

“Holding the conferment ceremony in the Imperial Temple—what does Ninth Royal Uncle mean by this?” Eastlyn has existed less than a century, and Lady Min is the first Grand Empress Dowager. With no precedent, they could only reference the Former Dynasty’s rites, but even then, no dynasty ever held such a ceremony in a temple.

The Minister of Rites, afraid of misstepping yet not daring to question Nolan Dongling directly, sought out William Wang Jinling, who always seemed approachable.

“Grand Heir, what is the Regent Prince’s intention here?” William Wang Jinling, always gentle and refined, greeted everyone with warmth. Even knowing his methods were formidable, officials simply couldn’t dislike him.

William Wang Jinling truly lived up to his title as Jade Beau; he smiled before speaking, gentle and courteous: “I don’t know the specifics myself. But in private, I heard the Regent Prince say that the Grand Empress Dowager is devoutly Buddhist, and still cannot let go of her grief for the late emperor—she often lies awake through entire nights.”

William didn’t spell it out, but his words were clear enough; if the Minister of Rites still didn’t get it, he wasn’t fit for the job.

“Thank you for your guidance, Grand Heir.”

“I wouldn’t dare claim such credit.”

After formally thanking William Wang Jinling, the Minister of Rites hurried back to order another revision of the ceremony plan, while quietly leaking the news to trusted officials to prevent anyone from misreading Ninth Prince Nolan Dongling's intentions.

Watching the Minister of Rites depart, William Wang Jinling allowed himself a faint, knowing smile. "Ninth Royal Uncle really ought to thank me this time—I just solved a major headache for him."

Naturally, William Wang Jinling was quite pleased to see Lady Min take a hidden loss.

Lady Min had schemed against Serena Feng, using her ennoblement as a stepping stone—others might not realize it, but William Wang Jinling certainly did. Still, with the public storm raging, he dared not intervene, lest Serena be dragged in deeper.

William Wang Jinling left the palace with a light step. His servant immediately came forward, removed his cloak, and whispered, "Young Master, Ninth Royal Uncle has booked Windchaser Inn today."

"Who is he planning to kill?" William Wang Jinling's response was pure reflex.

Everyone in the Capital knew that whenever Ninth Prince Nolan Dongling dined at Windchaser Inn, nothing good ever came of it.

"We couldn't find out. It happened too suddenly—Ninth Prince Manor sent word at the last minute," the servant replied, bowing his head in silent shame at his own incompetence.

"If it were that easy to find out, people wouldn't be so terrified every time," William Wang Jinling said with a wave, heading for his carriage. Privately, he ordered his men to keep an eye on Windchaser Inn and report any developments immediately.

Not everyone was as well-informed as William Wang Jinling. Aside from him, almost no one knew Ninth Royal Uncle was headed to Windchaser Inn; most only learned about it after Nolan Dongling and Serena Feng had already finished their meal there...

At Windchaser Inn, one exquisite dish after another was served, with crab taking center stage.

Though it wasn't the peak of crab season, anything Ninth Prince Nolan Dongling wanted was naturally the finest. Serena Feng casually cracked one open, revealing a crab packed full of golden roe.

The aroma was mouthwatering; Serena Feng couldn't help but salivate. Nolan Dongling, amused, took the crab from her and began to shell it carefully himself.

Serena Feng was startled by the attention. "You didn't invite me here just to eat crab, did you?"

He wouldn't even let her lift a finger—was this what 'imperial-level' treatment felt like?

No, even emperors never received such personal service; only Nolan Dongling would wait on her like this.

"Is there a problem?" Nolan Dongling raised an eyebrow, placing a neat piece of crab meat in Serena Feng's bowl.

Serena Feng took a bite, deeply satisfied, but instead of eating more, she set down her chopsticks and asked, "That's very suspicious—you aren't the type to be this idle."

Nolan Dongling merely smiled, offering no answer as he continued to peel crab for Serena Feng. Seeing her eat with such contentment, he felt content as well.

At the Wang residence, William Wang Jinling heard the news from Windchaser Inn and almost doubted his own ears—he nearly lost his composure enough to go see for himself.

When did Ninth Prince Nolan Dongling become so adept at coaxing women? Or maybe—had he done something to wrong Serena Feng, and was trying to make amends?

It wasn't just William Wang Jinling; even Serena Feng herself wondered the same thing.

After finishing her meal, Serena Feng put down her chopsticks and asked, "Go on, what is it? Whatever it is, I can handle it." She wasn't the type to pry, or she wouldn't have waited this long to ask.

Nolan Dongling couldn't help but laugh. "What are you thinking?" Then, a trace of guilt flickered in his eyes—it was his own fault for caring so little in the past that even a rare, motive-free kindness now seemed suspicious to Serena Feng.

"Are you sure you don't have anything to say to me?" Serena Feng pressed. Nolan Dongling sighed softly. "There really wasn't anything at first, but since you insist, I might as well tell you."

This was something he'd only decided just before morning court today...