This Is What a Villain Is Like

Jiang Lan sipped his wine, ignoring Fairy Miaoyin’s gaze. He waved his hand dismissively and said,

"Fairy, if you have something to say, then say it directly. If not, don’t disturb me while I’m enjoying the music."

"I don’t have the spare time to waste here with you, Fairy."

In truth, he had a faint idea of why Fairy Miaoyin had come.

The Divine Maiden Palace she belonged to possessed a Supreme Treasure called the Shaking Light Immortal Jade.

The origins of this treasure were mysterious. It was said to have been nurtured over tens of millions of years in the Shaking Light Star Realm, a place beyond the Nine Heavens. It contained the secret of the Shaking Light, one of the Seven Stars, but was tragically lost many years ago.

Few people knew of this matter; even the other top Immortal Sects were largely unaware.

But Jiang Lan, who was familiar with the plot, knew everything clearly.

The current Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace was none other than Xiao Teng’s birth mother. She had conspired with the Great Xia National Master, Ge Qixing, to steal the Shaking Light Immortal Jade and later nurtured it within Xiao Teng’s body.

Xiao Teng’s fate as the Master of Stars was also something the Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace and Ge Qixing had personally worked together to usurp for him, paying an enormous price to steal a glimpse of heaven’s secrets.

The two then used a heaven-defying method to alter his fate, nurturing the Residual Soul and destiny of the Master of Stars deep within Xiao Teng’s body, all in the hope that he could one day replace the Master of Stars.

In the process, the pair could also use this opportunity to plot for the Space-Time Secret Collection and the many fortunes and opportunities left behind by the Master of Stars.

The Master of Stars was a figure from an ancient era who commanded the constellations and had comprehended supreme creation.

Although it was unknown why this figure had fallen, the opportunities and fortunes they left behind were still coveted by countless people.

Fairy Miaoyin bit her lower lip. She hadn’t expected Jiang Lan’s attitude to remain the same. ’He really won’t make a move without a clear prize.’

If he were truly just a spoiled rake, he would have been utterly bewitched by her charms long ago.

"Young Master Jiang, I have actually come to ask a favor of you." She sat back down, taking the opportunity to refill the empty wine cup in front of Jiang Lan.

"What is it?"

Jiang Lan looked at her, gently swirling the wine in his cup. "Fairy, you might as well say what’s on your mind. I prefer people who are intelligent and straightforward."

"I know that there has long been friction and conflict between Prince Zhenbei Xiao River’s third son, Xiao Teng, and you, Young Master Jiang. Not long ago, the two of you even clashed over Lady Xie Jianjia of the Xie Mansion..."

Fairy Miaoyin continued, "But now, the Xiao Mansion is continuously showered with favor. Even with the matter of the Blood Immortal Sect, they haven’t been implicated much. Young Master Jiang, you..."

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A sudden smile played on Jiang Lan’s lips as he cut her off. "Didn’t you have a favor to ask? Why are you suddenly bringing up the grudge between me and Xiao Teng? If I wanted to deal with him, would I need you to give me advice?"

"Or... are you trying to use me to deal with Xiao Teng?"

Fairy Miaoyin quickly replied, "Young Master Jiang, you’re overthinking it. How could I possibly think that? I just feel there’s something special about that Xiao Teng, that he might be hiding a secret, so I wanted to let you know."

’I can’t visit the National Master, Ge Qixing; he’s refusing all visitors. And if I show up at Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion, I’ll likely be noticed by the Palace Master.’

’My master is the current Grand Elder of the Divine Maiden Palace, and she’s been locked in a power struggle with the Palace Master for years.’

’Given that Xiao River’s temperament, if he found out I was paying attention to Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion, he would definitely send a secret message to inform the Palace Master.’

’That would make it even more difficult for me to investigate the secret Xiao Teng is hiding.’

She always felt there was some unspeakable scheme going on between Xiao Teng, the Palace Master, and the National Master, Ge Qixing.

"Hiding a secret?"

Jiang Lan’s gaze shifted slightly, and he asked with a hint of surprise, "What secret?"

Seeing that he was interested, a corner of Fairy Miaoyin’s mouth curved up. She didn’t answer right away, instead saying, "A secret that Young Master Jiang would definitely be interested in."

Jiang Lan scoffed. "What does any secret Xiao Teng has have to do with me? Don’t tell me you want to use this to make a deal with me, Fairy? You might be thinking too highly of it. In comparison, I’m much more interested in you."

"I happen to be in need of a handmaiden lately. If you’re diligent and quick with your hands, Fairy, I might consider it."

Fairy Miaoyin didn’t get angry at his words. Instead, the smile on her lips deepened, her eyes shimmering. "If word got out that Young Master Jiang wants me as his handmaiden, I can’t imagine the public outrage it would cause."

"I don’t know about any ’public outrage,’ but I do know that if you keep spouting nonsense and wasting my time, I’ll seriously consider sending someone to your Divine Maiden Palace. I’m sure the Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace would be very happy to get on good terms with my Prime Minister’s Mansion and send you to me as a handmaiden..." Jiang Lan said unhurriedly.

Hearing this, Fairy Miaoyin’s smile instantly vanished.

She knew the current situation in the Divine Maiden Palace better than anyone.

The relationship between the Palace Master and her master, the Grand Elder, was like fire and water. If the Prime Minister’s Mansion were to interfere at a time like this and propose such a condition, the Palace Master might actually persuade the other Elders to agree to it.

’Jiang Lan seemed to have said it casually, but he was actually telling me... that he knew the situation in the Divine Maiden Palace, thousands of miles away, like the back of his hand.’

’It seems the world has truly underestimated Young Master Jiang...’ She looked at Jiang Lan, her thoughts suddenly adrift.

Jiang Lan remained silent, continuing to search through his memories of the plot. But his recollections related to Fairy Miaoyin could only be described as scattered fragments.

In the original plot, she wasn’t even significant enough to be considered a supporting character.

Even if he were to probe her fate now, it was indeed unremarkable—merely at the level of a favored daughter of heaven.

If there were something special about her, if her fortune was extraordinary, perhaps he would consider taking her under his wing.