This Is What a Villain Is Like

"Strange," Jiang Lan said, looking away as if making a casual remark.

Since Emperor Xia was no longer concealing her identity, he naturally played along.

"Strange? What’s strange about it? This is my true appearance." Emperor Xia’s dark brows arched slightly, her tone laced with displeasure.

"Strangely beautiful," Jiang Lan said.

The words on the tip of Emperor Xia’s tongue vanished. Though she felt a little odd, she wasn’t offended. In fact, she was even a little flattered. Still, she snorted coldly. "Smooth talker."

Jiang Lan seemed unfazed by her tone. He changed the subject, offering a somewhat perfunctory congratulations. "Congratulations on your successful breakthrough to the Eighth Realm, Your Majesty. This achievement must have relieved you of many worries."

"Shouldn’t Your Majesty be in Chengming Hall reviewing memorials right now? How do you have the time to visit the Desire Immortal Pavilion?"

At the mention of this, a wave of irritation washed over Emperor Xia. With a flick of her hand, a round stool from across the room appeared before her.

As for the stool Fairy Miaoyin had occupied moments before, she casually tossed it aside.

"I came to find you because I have something to discuss. It’s extremely important and cannot wait." She sat down, her tone grave and earnest.

Jiang Lan nodded and looked up, gesturing for her to continue, but his expression remained lazy and casual, as if he couldn’t be bothered.

Seeing his attitude, Emperor Xia’s displeasure flared. She reached across and slammed her hand on the table. BANG! BANG! "I have something to discuss with you! How can you be so dismissive and casual? Are you even listening? Or is your mind still on that woman who was just here?"

As if oblivious to her anger, Jiang Lan simply said, "Since when did Your Majesty’s problems become my problems? I’m under no obligation to find a solution for you every time."

"Solve your own problems."

"You..." Emperor Xia’s hands clenched into fists.

"Regarding the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal, I was the one who helped Your Majesty devise the plan. As for the Southern Hunting drills, if I hadn’t found a way to buy you time, Your Majesty would never have had the chance to break through to the Eighth Realm."

"So how is it that, in the end, I’m the one Your Majesty holds the biggest grudge against?" Jiang Lan cut her off, stuffing whatever she was about to say right back down her throat.

Emperor Xia knew full well that she had only succeeded in those matters because of him. Jiang Lan had indeed helped her immensely.

As a result, he could no longer remain detached from worldly affairs, biding his time in obscurity as he once had.

This was why her attitude toward Jiang Lan was so tolerant and informal, not at all how she treated her other subjects.

"The Dragon-Suppressing Seal is lost."

With no further preamble, Emperor Xia stated flatly, her face devoid of expression.

Jiang Lan was about to raise his cup for a sip, but his hand froze mid-air. He didn’t seem to have processed what she’d said.

He looked up, his brow furrowed, his gaze questioning Emperor Xia.

Emperor Xia’s expression remained blank as she repeated, "The Dragon-Suppressing Seal is lost."

’Judging by his reaction, he really doesn’t know. Prime Minister Jiang Lintian must have rushed straight to the palace the moment he received that secret letter.’

’But that makes sense. With something this important, every person who knows is another potential leak.’

’An old fox like the Prime Minister was hardly comparable to a simple-minded Martial Artist like Prince Zhenbei, Xiao River.’

"Are you certain?"

Jiang Lan slowly lowered his wine cup, his expression turning serious and solemn. "How could a flawless plan like that go wrong?" he asked.

Emperor Xia didn’t want to admit it, but that was the reality of the situation.

Now, seeing the doubt and suspicion in Jiang Lan’s eyes, she grew irritated and frustrated, and for some reason, felt a pang of guilt.

’If only I hadn’t trusted Prince Zhenbei, Xiao River, so much, this whole mess probably wouldn’t have happened.’

’I’ve been thinking about it these past few days. If I had given the duty of guarding Changsheng Hall to my uncle, Prince Chong’an, the Blood Immortal Sect’s plot would have likely failed, and the Dragon-Suppressing Seal would not have been lost.’

"I didn’t want the Dragon-Suppressing Seal to be lost either, but there was truly nothing I could do that day..."

Her hand clenched tightly, and she had no choice but to recount everything that had happened deep within the Imperial Palace that day.

When she finished, Jiang Lan sank into thought.

’For some reason, after everything that had happened, Emperor Xia found herself inexplicably seeing Jiang Lan as reliable. There was something about him that put her at ease.’

’That’s why today in the Imperial Palace, when the Prime Minister pressured her about marriage and she was at a complete loss, her first thought had been of Jiang Lan...’

"Jiang Lan..."

Seeing him sitting there in silence, his expression unreadable...

Emperor Xia felt an inexplicable mix of guilt and agitation, like a child caught red-handed, waiting to be scolded by a parent.

And as she waited, her heart was a bundle of guilt and nerves.

"All this time has passed, and Your Majesty is only telling me now?" Jiang Lan’s tone was calm, a stark contrast to his earlier nonchalance as he looked at her. "Did some new problem arise? Or did someone find out and use it against you, leaving you with no idea how to respond? Is that why you’ve come to me?"

His gaze made her feel even more guilty. She was the ruler of Great Xia, a master of the Eighth Realm, yet her powerful aura was now completely crushed by his.

She couldn’t even muster a single word in her own defense. After all, her actions had been undeniably opportunistic.

’Hide it when there’s no trouble, but run to him for a solution the moment a problem appears?’

"Your Majesty, you don’t have to be so guarded around me. I’ve said it before—if I’m going to help you, I’ll see it through."

"You don’t have to watch your throne so closely, as if you’re guarding it from a thief. What you care about and what I care about are two entirely different things."