Chapter 372 - 135: How Dare He? The Method to Maximize Benefits, I Will Be Behind You

"Is this information reliable?"

Inside Chengming Hall, Emperor Xia, who was reading a letter, shot to her feet. Her bright yellow robes were embroidered with a pattern of a dragon soaring over the vast sea. The sudden movement sent the hem of her robes rippling like tumultuous golden waves.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, her face a mask of turmoil.

Spring Orchid stood respectfully to the side, her head and delicate hands lowered. Upon hearing the question, she simply said in a low voice, "According to the report from our informant in the Naxian Alliance, it should be correct."

"Young Master Jiang changed his appearance, but for some unknown reason, he seems to be trying to approach that Blood Immortal Sect stronghold..."

The Naxian Alliance was, after all, personally established by Emperor Xia, who had secretly allocated many resources and Magical Artifacts to it.

So they could investigate secrets and intelligence with greater precision, some core members of the Naxian Alliance had been bestowed with Magical Artifacts of Insight into the Profound and Clear Heart. These artifacts could see through certain strange Magic and methods of disguise.

Emperor Xia had previously ordered members of the Naxian Alliance to keep an eye on Jiang Lan in order to investigate the secrets surrounding him.

But she never expected that while the Naxian Alliance had failed to uncover anything about him, they would accidentally spot Jiang Lan secretly sneaking toward the Blood Immortal Sect stronghold while monitoring it.

Last night, when she dispatched Xia Zhu to investigate the Blood Immortal Sect’s plot at that stronghold, she not only discovered the sect’s plan by chance but also learned the locations of several other strongholds.

However, with the Southern Hunting exercise imminent, Emperor Xia hadn’t dispatched anyone to eliminate them, so as not to alert the enemy. She merely instructed the Naxian Alliance and the Dark Flower Pavilion to keep them under constant surveillance from the shadows.

"Is he alone?" Emperor Xia sat back down on the Throne, but her brow remained tightly furrowed.

Spring Orchid replied, "According to the Naxian Alliance’s informant, Young Master Jiang is alone."

Emperor Xia said with a deadpan expression, "How dare he?"

"He truly has no fear of death..."

Spring Orchid remained silent.

Emperor Xia stared at the letter before her, silent for a moment, then said, "Instruct the Naxian Alliance to monitor the situation closely. If Jiang Lan is in danger, they are to protect him, so long as they can do so without exposing themselves."

"Going alone to infiltrate a Blood Immortal Sect stronghold... he’s certainly bold. If he dies now, he’ll only cause trouble for me."

"However..."

She thought of Jiang Ruxian. ’If she knew Jiang Lan was taking such a risk, she would probably follow him in secret.’

"Yes, this servant will relay the order at once," Spring Orchid replied.

’She had almost thought Her Majesty was planning to go herself. Lately, Her Majesty has been acting a little strange, paying far too much attention to Young Master Jiang.’

After Spring Orchid left, silence returned to the great hall.

Emperor Xia rubbed the bridge of her nose. ’Ever since I came into contact with Jiang Lan, it seems I haven’t had a moment of peace. Why have I been paying so much attention to him lately?’

’When I heard the report that he was risking his life at a Blood Immortal Sect stronghold, I, for the first time, felt a pang of worry... It’s probably because he absorbed so many Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects in the Dragon Transformation Pool. If something happened to him now, wouldn’t my investment be completely wasted?’

’Prime Minister Jiang Lintian would probably turn Great Xia upside down, too.’

Emperor Xia truly couldn’t understand. Why would Jiang Lan, for no apparent reason, take such a huge risk? ’Does he really have something to rely on, some source of confidence?’

’He’s only at the Third Realm of cultivation. Where does he get the nerve?’

She left Chengming Hall and returned to her bedchamber. As was her habit, she began to meditate and cultivate. Vast, surging Dragon Energy filled the palace, but Emperor Xia couldn’t quiet her mind for a long time.

The next day, after the morning court session ended, she finally learned from her attendant, Spring Orchid, what had happened the previous night.

Fortunately, no major battle had broken out. Jiang Lan, perhaps carrying a Magical Artifact that concealed his aura, had laid low in the Blood Immortal Sect stronghold for a night and left safely before 7:00 AM.

This allowed Emperor Xia to breathe a small sigh of relief.

After finishing her day’s affairs, at 7:00 PM, the lanterns were just being lit.

Just as she expected, she saw Jiang Lan again at the Desire Immortal Pavilion.

Surrounded by a flock of women, some slender, some plump, in a cloud of perfume and powder, Emperor Xia’s face showed undisguised disdain.

Jiang Lan seemed quite surprised by her arrival. He waved his hand, dismissing the group of Songstresses.

Outside the painted boat, a thin mist rose from the river’s surface, carrying a hint of moisture. Jiang Lan was reclining on a soft couch near the window. He didn’t bow when Emperor Xia arrived, simply offering a casual greeting before asking the purpose of her visit.

He had deliberately allowed the Naxian Alliance to reveal his whereabouts to Emperor Xia, anticipating that she would come looking for him after hearing the news.

Otherwise, Jiang Lan really had no suitable reason or means to contact her proactively.

After all, he couldn’t possibly go to the Imperial Palace for an audience with Emperor Xia himself. That would tear the paper-thin pretense that they were ignoring each other. Moreover, doing so would easily attract the attention of other powers, who would then start connecting the dots.

At least for now, Jiang Lan didn’t want anyone to know that he was in private contact with Emperor Xia.

After all, the National Master, Ge Qixing, had plenty of spies in the Imperial Palace.

"Must I have a specific reason to see you, Young Master Jiang?" Emperor Xia said, her expression flat.

"Not necessarily, but you are managing a myriad of state affairs. I imagine you don’t have this much free time."

"You couldn’t possibly have come just to see me, could you?" Jiang Lan chuckled.

Emperor Xia snorted coldly. "You really are full of yourself."

"Actually, for the past two days, I’ve been trying to figure out how to see you," Jiang Lan said, changing the subject.

Emperor Xia froze for a second, then asked, "You have business with me?"

She certainly didn’t believe Jiang Lan just wanted to see her.