Too Late

The Emperor never interfered in the disputes between the Empress and Serena Feng, but he was always perfectly aware of every detail.

Choosing Serena Feng was an act of desperation—and also because she was recommended by Nolan Dongling, the Ninth Royal Uncle.

The Emperor had never been able to catch Nolan Dongling in a mistake. Now that an opportunity was handed to him, how could he let it slip by?

If Serena Feng cured Adrian Dongling, that would be the end of it. But if she failed, the blame would surely fall on the Ninth Royal Uncle as well.

"Serena Feng, the Ninth Royal Uncle claims your medical skills are extraordinary, especially with trauma. Do not disappoint me. If you cure Prince Rowan, you will be richly rewarded. If you fail, don't bother returning to Feng Manor."

With imperial authority, the Emperor pressed down on Serena Feng, making it clear that if he wanted her dead, not even Nolan Dongling could protect her.

Serena Feng bowed her head even lower, but her voice was steady and calm. "I will do my utmost. May I examine Prince Rowan's injury?"

Serena Feng knew Nolan Dongling was right behind her. She wanted desperately to turn and look at him, but she knew she couldn't...

"Granted," the Emperor replied with a nod.

As Serena Feng walked toward the inner chamber, she sneaked a glance at Nolan Dongling. No matter the situation, he was always calm and cold, never revealing a hint of emotion.

Just as Serena Feng was about to retract her diagnostic thread, she met the Crown Prince's gaze—a smile that held layers of meaning.

Startled, Serena Feng quickly lowered her head and followed the palace maid's footsteps...

As she stepped into the inner chamber, the eunuchs and palace maids hurriedly moved aside. The few remaining imperial physicians, seeing her as their last hope, also retreated.

Adrian Dongling, Prince Rowan—we meet again! Serena Feng thought to herself.

Serena Feng looked down at Adrian Dongling, who was in a miserable, near-death state. Yet her eyes held no trace of pride or joy.

Serena Feng knew Adrian Dongling's condition must be dire; otherwise, the Emperor would never have summoned her to the palace.

Other than curing William Wang Jinling's eye disease, she hadn't done anything else to prove her medical prowess. Why would the Emperor entrust Adrian Dongling to her—especially since she was his former fiancée?

Adrian Dongling's reputation was in ruins, and Princess Serenity was trapped in the Bloodcloak Guard's prison.

Even if the Emperor wasn't afraid she'd act maliciously, the Empress surely was.

Her life was worth nothing; she was the last of the Feng clan.

But as Serena Feng watched Adrian Dongling's heartbeat grow fainter, she understood.

The Empress was desperate—this was truly a case of treating a dead horse as if it were alive.

In Adrian Dongling's state, even if the imperial physicians used the best medicines in the land to keep him alive, he could last half a day at most. After that, death was certain.

The arrow had pierced a major artery—removing it could kill him, but leaving it was just as deadly.

Worst of all, the critical treatment window had passed. If the bleeding had been stopped in time, this arrow wound wouldn't be so difficult to treat. But now...

Fortunately, the doctors also understood that excessive blood loss would kill Adrian Dongling even faster. The arrow hadn't been removed, but at least the bleeding wasn't rapid.

Serena Feng stood by the bedside, making no move to examine him yet. Her frown grew deeper and deeper.

Nolan Dongling really had high expectations for her—but this injury...

This was no ordinary problem, and even she wasn't confident.

Too much time had been wasted without treatment. She was a doctor, not a miracle worker.

The room was silent. Everyone stared at Serena Feng, waiting for her answer. Yet she remained motionless. In the end, it was the Empress who couldn't hold back. "Serena Feng, can you treat him?" she demanded.

"It's too late. If you'd called me earlier, I would've had an eighty percent chance to safely remove the arrow and save Prince Rowan's life. But now..." Serena Feng sighed. "Prince Rowan has lost too much blood, his body is weak, and the bleeding hasn't stopped. The blood supply to his lower leg is insufficient—it could very well become necrotic."

"What do you mean by that, Serena Feng?" The Empress's eyes flashed with panic and fear. Her fingernails dug into her palm, the pain the only thing keeping her steady.

Serena Feng ignored the Empress and crouched down, pressing both hands against Prince Rowan's lower leg. "It's not easy. I can save his life, but whether his leg will be crippled—I can't say."

"How dare you, Serena Feng! Are you trying to shirk responsibility? If you can't heal Prince Rowan, I'll have you buried with him!" The Empress shouted, as if only by lashing out could she suppress her regret.

"Your Majesty, killing me won't help. Prince Rowan's injury won't improve. It's too late—if you'd called me two hours ago, I could've guaranteed his recovery." Serena Feng replied calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"If you don't believe me, Your Majesty, ask the imperial physicians. Every word I've said is true—there's no personal motive." Serena Feng said.

The Empress fell silent.

The imperial physicians had already said as much.

Serena Feng knelt before the Emperor. "Your Majesty, please forgive my incompetence. If you wish to sentence me to death, I have no complaints—it's my own lack of skill."

She really wasn't confident about treating Adrian Dongling's injury.

Nolan Dongling's attitude was clear—he wouldn't help her.

Serena Feng knelt. "Your Majesty, I have only a thirty percent chance. If you allow me to treat him, I beg you to let me work alone in the room."

Even if there was only a slim chance, she couldn't give up.

Adrian Dongling was the patient, and she was the doctor—she wouldn't confuse their roles.

Serena Feng intended no harm, but the Empress was always on guard.

"No, Serena Feng, I do not agree," the Empress replied, regaining her dignified composure.

She glanced provocatively at Nolan Dongling.

She was waiting for Nolan Dongling to speak up for Serena Feng.

"If that's not possible, then I have no chance at all. I beg Your Majesty to execute me and find someone more capable." Though her words sounded like a threat, Serena Feng spoke with utter sadness.

"Your Majesty, I am a doctor. If the patient were a commoner, I would have rushed to treat him without hesitation. Saving lives is urgent; every moment of delay increases Prince Rowan's danger."

Serena Feng reminded them again: Adrian Dongling's current condition was entirely the Empress's doing, not hers.

"Serena Feng, how dare you threaten the Emperor?" The Empress's hard-won composure nearly shattered under Serena Feng's words.

Regardless of Adrian Dongling's status, the person lying on the bed, life uncertain, was her own flesh and blood.

Her pain was completely different from the Emperor's.

"Your Majesty, I would never dare. I'm only telling the truth," Serena Feng replied, nearly collapsed on the ground, her body trembling with silent fear.

She was truly afraid—terrified, in fact.

She feared the Emperor would force her to treat Adrian Dongling in front of everyone, or worse, have her dragged out and executed without a chance.

She didn't want to die!

Serena Feng knew that if the Emperor ordered her death, Nolan Dongling wouldn't protect her. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't.

She could only rely on herself.

Serena Feng gritted her teeth and urged again, "Your Majesty, Prince Rowan's injury can't wait any longer. The more you delay, the worse it gets. Please give the order."

Either kill me, or let me save Adrian Dongling!

Serena Feng's heart was in her throat as she waited for the Emperor's decision...

"I don't care about that, Serena Feng. I order you to do everything you can to save Prince Rowan—there must be no mistakes." The Emperor's gaze fell on Nolan Dongling as he spoke.

He wanted to see just how much his Ninth Brother cared for Serena Feng—would he step in to speak for her?

Unfortunately, he was disappointed.

Nolan Dongling stood there quietly, as if in his own world—unobtrusive, yet impossible to ignore.

Serena Feng bowed her head, not daring to even breathe.

She knew she had no right to refuse, but...