This Is What a Villain Is Like

Shao Hualou covered a large area, with pavilions, verandas, waterside gazebos, and rockeries. In its depths sat a cluster of grand palace halls, magnificent with carved railings and jade-inlaid steps—a breathtaking sight.

Green trees formed a canopy, and flowers bloomed in colorful clusters. The maids coming and going were all of uncommon beauty.

Fairy Miaoyin, a smile on her lips, personally came to welcome him, leading Jiang Lan deeper inside.

Though she wore a smile, she was inwardly frowning, trying to guess Jiang Lan’s intentions.

"Fairy Miaoyin, this manor of yours is quite large. But with just you living here, it must feel a bit empty and deserted."

Jiang Lan clasped his hands lightly behind his back, walking beside her. His gaze seemed to casually survey the manor’s layout, but in reality, he was using the Great Destiny Skill to see if he could perceive any clues from Fairy Miaoyin.

Although she might have an Exotic Treasure or some method to conceal her fortune, destiny involved the mysteries of Cause and Effect. If an Exotic Treasure capable of obscuring destiny even existed, it was likely not something she could possess at her current level.

And as Jiang Lan probed, he did indeed manage to vaguely deduce a few clues.

This Fairy Miaoyin carried a trace of the Shaking Light Stars’ aura. Shaking Light was one of the Seven Stars.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

She must have accidentally obtained the Shaking Light Origin at some point.

Xiao Teng was the reincarnation of the Master of Stars, but to awaken, he had to obtain the complete Seven-Star Origin.

The Shaking Light Origin was just one part of it.

"This Shao Hualou is my private property, and it just so happens I need to reside in the Imperial Capital for a while..." Fairy Miaoyin replied with a flawless smile.

Jiang Lan nodded slightly, mulling over the information his people had gathered.

Fairy Miaoyin’s original name was Fa Miaoyin. She had not grown up in the Divine Maiden Palace.

The Legalist School was no simple force in the Celestial Central Province. A powerful nation once destroyed by a previous Emperor of Great Xia had used "Fa" as its dynastic name.

The Legalist School active in the world today was likely just a branch of the true Legalist School. The main family primarily lived in seclusion and kept a very low profile.

"Young Master Jiang, for you to visit so directly... aren’t you worried about appearances at all?"

As Fairy Miaoyin led the way, she maintained her smile, asking in a seemingly casual manner to probe the current relationship between Jiang Lan and Emperor Xia.

After all, it had only been a few days since the Feng Jun Grand Ceremony, yet here Jiang Lan was, casually strolling about the Imperial Capital. Countless eyes were surely fixed on him.

His sudden visit had put her on the spot. She had originally planned to investigate Xiao Teng in secret, hoping to avoid attracting any attention.

But now, with Jiang Lan visiting so openly, all eyes had suddenly turned to her.

Now, anyone with an interest had only to investigate a little to discover she had been living here in seclusion.

She was ranked in the top ten on the List of Supreme Beauties published by the Celestial Secret Pavilion, and countless young prodigies were paying attention to her.

Jiang Lan was now a married man, which was completely different from when he was unattached.

What’s more, it had been less than two days since the Feng Jun Grand Ceremony, and here he was, having a "private meeting" with her. Was that appropriate? Even if no one dared to spread rumors, if word of this reached Emperor Xia’s ears, what would she think?

’Or is it that neither of them care about such things at all?’

"If you’ve done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. What is there to worry about? Or is Fairy Miaoyin afraid that if word gets out, it might damage your reputation?" Jiang Lan said nonchalantly.

Fairy Miaoyin pursed her lips into a smile. "What are you saying, Young Master Jiang? How could I possibly care about such empty fame? I am merely concerned that if word of this reaches Her Majesty Emperor Xia’s ears, she might not be pleased."

"And what if I told you that Emperor Xia was the one who asked me to meet with you?" Jiang Lan looked at her with great interest.

Hearing this, Fairy Miaoyin suddenly froze, her mind struggling to process it.

’This was actually Emperor Xia’s idea?’

She suddenly found she could no longer understand the relationship between Jiang Lan and Emperor Xia. Had the Prime Minister’s Mansion and the Royal Family truly buried their grievances and let bygones be bygones?

"It was I who was presumptuous, to speculate so freely on the relationship between Young Master Jiang and Emperor Xia."

She gave a slight curtsy and led Jiang Lan to a pavilion, then instructed the maids to bring tea and refreshments.

Jiang Lan waved his hand. "It is only natural that Fairy Miaoyin would think that way."

"After all, the whole world is speculating about the intentions behind this marriage alliance between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and the Royal Family..."

Fa Miaoyin was truly worthy of her reputation as a remarkable woman known throughout the world. Her every word and action revealed a measured, graceful propriety, yet her words also concealed subtle probes.

However, Jiang Lan hadn’t come here to have a heart-to-heart or idly chat about romantic trifles.

A thoughtful look appeared in Fairy Miaoyin’s eyes. She mulled over Jiang Lan’s words, sensing a much deeper meaning hidden within them.

"Young Master Jiang, you must have come today for that Star Meteorite, correct?"

Without much hesitation, she waved her hand. A maid came forward carrying a cyan Jade Plate, its surface covered by a black cloth. But even in broad daylight, one could feel faint wisps of brilliant starlight and a scorching, surging, tyrannical aura emanating from within.

The Jade Plate was very special, engraved with some kind of Restriction that completely suppressed the aura within. Otherwise, even a single wisp of its leaking aura would have triggered an astonishing phenomenon.

"Inside is the unusual Star Meteorite, which contains a drop of Immortal Phoenix True Blood. Please inspect it, Young Master Jiang."

Fairy Miaoyin generously uncovered the black cloth, revealing a fist-sized, iridescent Exotic Stone.

One glance was all it took for Jiang Lan to confirm the item’s authenticity.

However, he did not reach out to take it. Instead, he asked casually, "From which Stellar Tomb did you obtain this, Fairy Miaoyin? I must admit, I am quite curious."