This Is What a Villain Is Like

"I have a feeling you’ve been tricking me from the very beginning."

Seeing that Jiang Lan was ignoring her, Song Youwei took the three bottles of Elixir Pills. She uncorked one of them, breaking the wax seal, and immediately smelled a familiar scent.

"Take a guess," Jiang Lan said. "Or you could not take it for three months and see if the Heart-Devouring Pill acts up."

"You’re awful..." Song Youwei shot him a sideways glance.

"Before you leave for Central Plains Province, there is something I need you to do." Jiang Lan recalled the matter he had been considering.

He had originally planned to set it aside for a while.

But once Song Youwei was gone, it would be difficult for him to handle.

"What is it?" Song Youwei blinked.

Jiang Lan made a hushing gesture, motioning for her to lean in. Song Youwei, unsuspecting, scooted closer to him.

A rich, elegant fragrance wafted over, like an orchid from a secluded valley—it was absolutely intoxicating.

Jiang Lan reached out and took Song Youwei’s delicate hand. She was slightly surprised but didn’t resist. Instead, a smile touched her lips as she leaned even closer, her breath as fragrant as an orchid. "So, what is it?"

"Hold on tight."

Jiang Lan said only that, then paid her no further mind.

Afterward, his consciousness sank into his Sea of Consciousness, immediately startling the Dragon-Suppressing Seal within. In the instant it was about to erupt, he swiftly enveloped and extracted a wisp of its aura, then withdrew his consciousness from the Sea of Consciousness Palace.

He then sealed that extracted wisp of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal’s aura into Song Youwei’s palm.

"What is this?"

Song Youwei was astonished. She could feel a blazing sensation in her palm, as if a True Dragon were leaping within, trying to break free, carrying an aura as magnificent as heavenly might.

"A wisp of National Fortune from the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal."

Jiang Lan explained casually, then reinforced the seal to ensure the wisp of aura would not easily escape.

"The National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal?"

Song Youwei was shocked, but also a little disappointed.

"What do you need me to do next?" she asked.

"I need you to write a specially prepared letter in your capacity as a member of the Blood Immortal Sect, and have someone deliver it to the Prime Minister’s Mansion," Jiang Lan said.

Song Youwei was sharp as a tack and immediately understood Jiang Lan’s intentions.

’Although the Royal Family has suppressed much of the news, the fact that Jiang Lan can produce this wisp of National Fortune most likely means the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal has already been lost. This is something that even the many high-ranking members of the Blood Immortal Sect failed to accomplish. He actually managed to do it.’

......

「The next day, inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.」

Prime Minister Jiang Lintian, who had just returned to his study after the morning court session, received a secret letter from his steward.

He sensed the faint aura emanating from it, opened it, and scanned the contents. His face immediately darkened, his expression turning grim and uncertain.

The steward, still in the study, stood with his head bowed, his expression equally grave.

"My lord, this secret letter was delivered by someone claiming to be from the Blood Immortal Sect. It contains a corresponding aura, so it should be authentic," the steward said in a low voice.

"I am aware. You may leave."

"And have Lan’Er sent here."

Jiang Lintian’s brow was tightly furrowed. He stared at the contents of the letter and sensed the subtle aura sealed within it, feeling that the situation had become rather tricky.

But if the letter’s contents were true, this would be a devastating blow to Emperor Xia.

For Great Xia, however, this was not good news at all.

Soon, Jiang Lan arrived in the study.

Jiang Lintian looked at him and handed over the secret letter.

"The court has been in turmoil these past few days. Emperor Xia has been cutting through the chaos like a sharp knife through tangled hemp. She faced the impeachments from the various clan elders and ministers without the slightest panic. All who defied her were dealt with through iron-fisted means, and she looks ready to rewrite the very rules of the Great Xia Royal Family."

"I have been observing the changes without intervening, waiting for the situation to evolve beyond Emperor Xia’s control before making a move to apply pressure..."

"But today, a remnant of the Blood Immortal Sect delivered this secret letter."

"Lan’Er, what do you make of this?"

Jiang Lan scanned the letter’s contents, his brow furrowing as if he, too, found the matter troublesome. "The Blood Immortal Sect leaked this to you, Father, because they want you to capitalize on the situation. By doing so, you’d throw Emperor Xia into chaos and cause her to gradually lose the people’s support."

"If that happens, Great Xia will inevitably become a scattered mess, giving the Blood Immortal Sect the opening they need."

"Their intentions are truly sinister."

Jiang Lintian nodded. "I also did not expect that the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal would be lost, and into the hands of the Blood Immortal Sect, no less. Emperor Xia used her breakthrough to the Eighth Realm and her supposed control of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal as a pretext to cover this up perfectly. None of us knew; we were all kept in the dark by her."

"This letter contains a wisp of the National Fortune that has accumulated on the National Treasure over countless years. It cannot be a fake."

"Since it’s a lie, the truth was bound to come out eventually."

"However, the Blood Immortal Sect didn’t spread this news far and wide. Instead, they chose to inform you via a secret letter. They must be planning to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, or perhaps they’re unable to publicize the information for some other reason..." Jiang Lan said, as if speculating.

Jiang Lintian nodded in agreement. "The National Treasure is, after all, the foundation of Great Xia’s stability. Although it’s lost, its power remains. Even if the Blood Immortal Sect produced the real National Treasure, they couldn’t activate it to fully convince the common people. On the contrary, it would be easy for Emperor Xia to turn the tables, claim it’s a fake, and purge them on charges of spreading seditious rumors."

"After all, one needs a profound level of cultivation to distinguish the real National Treasure from a fake. Even if the Blood Immortal Sect announced it to the world, it would have little effect. It’s not a good strategy for them."

"For you to say that, Father, you must already have a plan in mind," Jiang Lan said with a smile.

Jiang Lintian sighed. "Although the world calls me the Wolf Aspect and accuses me of throwing the court into chaos, there’s no benefit for me if the empire of Great Xia falls into turmoil. The Blood Immortal Sect wants to use my hand to suppress Emperor Xia and destabilize the situation. They have underestimated me."

"Heh, that’s true. But this secret letter has also given you a way to threaten Emperor Xia, Father," Jiang Lan said with a small smile.

Jiang Lintian agreed. "Indeed. With this letter as leverage, even though Emperor Xia has broken through to the Eighth Realm, she will be powerless and at our mercy."

At this, he glanced at Jiang Lan.

"Rest assured, Father. I know what to do. I’ll be counting on you to play the ’good cop’," Jiang Lan said, still smiling.

Although he had Song Youwei send this letter in the name of the Blood Immortal Sect, Jiang Lan had personally arranged its contents, including the wisp of aura, so there would be no loopholes.

Emperor Xia’s breakthrough to the Eighth Realm had indeed made her less easy to manipulate than before, but he still had plenty of ways to deal with her.