This Is What a Villain Is Like

As the Prime Minister’s only son, Jiang Lan had been doted upon since childhood. No matter how much trouble he got into, his father, Jiang Lintian, and mother, Li Qingshu, were always there to cover for him.

So, the news of Jiang Lan’s sudden confinement had indeed caused quite a stir in the Imperial Capital.

Many people were speculating, wondering what could have happened. They wondered if he had done something to infuriate the Prime Minister to deserve such a punishment.

When Emperor Xia, who was in Chengming Hall, learned of this, she felt a helpless headache coming on.

Although she had known this would be the outcome, she still felt powerless now that it had actually happened. This also revealed the Prime Minister’s determination.

Even Jiang Lan was implicated and confined. He probably wouldn’t be let out easily for at least ten to fifteen days.

"Your Majesty..."

"Actually, in this servant’s humble opinion, there’s no need to worry too much. Since Young Master Jiang is also against this matter, it shows that your interests are aligned for the time being..." Spring Orchid said softly as she ground ink for Emperor Xia.

Emperor Xia understood this, but her current worry was how to deal with Jiang Ruxian.

Jiang Ruxian didn’t know about this yet.

’Should I incite her to stop the Prime Minister?’

’But doing so would mean a complete break with the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Once Jiang Ruxian gets involved, Jiang Lan’s attitude might change as well.’ Emperor Xia leaned back on the soft couch, her slender, jade-like hands rubbing her temples.

She still hadn’t decided how to answer the Prime Minister.

And now, Jiang Ruxian... was also a problem.

Just as Emperor Xia was pondering, a cold, clear fragrance like frost and snow suddenly filled the hall. Her eyes narrowed slightly. She sat up straight and ordered, "Spring Orchid, serve tea."

Spring Orchid, who was still grinding ink, looked up in confusion.

"There’s no need for tea."

In the great hall, light and shadow shifted. Ripples spread through the emptiness, coalescing into an ethereal, transcendent figure, like that of an immortal.

"Shouldn’t you give me an explanation?"

Jiang Ruxian slowly walked out of the Void, her dress billowing like mist. Her face was indistinct, but her eyes looked down upon Emperor Xia with calm indifference.

Even the ruler of a nation seemed no different from a mortal ant in her eyes.

Emperor Xia sat up straight on the soft couch, inwardly shocked by Jiang Ruxian’s methods.

She had already reached the Eighth Realm and was in the Imperial Palace, where she cultivated and meditated year-round, yet she still hadn’t sensed Jiang Ruxian’s arrival.

The more profound her cultivation, the more she could feel Jiang Ruxian’s power and invincibility.

"To what matter does Miss Ruxian refer?" Emperor Xia asked directly, her composure restored, pretending not to understand.

"Did you think you could hide it from me?"

Jiang Ruxian’s eyes seemed to grow cold. Instantly, Emperor Xia felt the surrounding Heaven and Earth Void Qi dissipate as she was silently pulled into a vast, boundless Void. She found it impossible to struggle free from the turbulence, and even her breathing became difficult.

"Can’t you just talk properly? Must you resort to violence every time?"

She coughed, her dark brows knitting together. She could clearly feel Jiang Ruxian’s killing intent.

"I agreed to help you, yet you deceived and tried to fool me behind my back. If this were the past, you would already be dead..." Jiang Ruxian retracted her aura, her gaze as placid as ever.

’Jiang Lan wouldn’t have been confined by Prime Minister Jiang Lintian for no reason.’

’The only possibility is that it involves some matter of extreme importance.’

Emperor Xia rubbed her uncomfortable neck and said, "I am the supreme sovereign. Since I gave you my word, I will naturally not go back on it. It’s just that an accident has occurred."

She then told Jiang Ruxian about the loss of the Dragon-Suppressing Seal and explained how Prime Minister Jiang Lintian had threatened her, forcing her into a marriage pact with Jiang Lan. At the end, she made sure to add that this was Prime Minister Jiang Lintian’s idea and had nothing to do with her.

’I’m truly a bit scared of Jiang Ruxian. This woman appears transcendent and detached, but in reality, she’s a lawless individual who does whatever she pleases.’

After hearing this, Jiang Ruxian didn’t respond. The icy aura surrounding her only grew thicker, and frost began to form in the Void, threatening to spread outward.

Emperor Xia watched her, also remaining silent.

"From what I see, you don’t seem too opposed to this matter."

After a long moment, Jiang Ruxian finally spoke. Her beautiful, pool-like eyes stared at Emperor Xia, seeming to hold a deep emotion within them as she took in the Emperor’s every reaction.

Emperor Xia’s expression remained unchanged. "Even if I were to resist, what could I do? I must consider the vast empire and its hundreds of millions of subjects."

Jiang Ruxian continued to stare at her, then said with a ghost of a smile, "How disingenuous. Though you are the sovereign of Great Xia, you are also a woman. If the Prime Minister’s Mansion wasn’t your enemy, you’d actually be quite willing to accept this marriage."

It was unclear if her words were a sneer or a test.

Feeling cornered and utterly frustrated, Emperor Xia finally snorted coldly. "Jiang Lan has helped me time and again, risking exposure to force Jiang Lintian to confront the Barbarian God’s phantom. How could I not be aware of that? I can distinguish between rumors and reality, right and wrong, truth and lies. I know exactly where things stand."

"If he were truly worthless, why would you be so unable to forget him, wanting to rekindle your old flame?"

"Besides, even though he’s started cultivating again from scratch, he’s already pulled ahead, able to suppress other Celestial Prides in his realm. It won’t be long before he catches up to his peers. Give him a little more time, and breaking through to the Seventh and Eighth Realms will be no problem at all. He pretends to be a wastrel, hiding his true abilities and biding his time, but in reality, his intellect is profound and his methods are exceptional. If he were to be my husband, the Feng Jun, he would certainly..."