Chapter 373 - 135: How Dare He? The Way to Maximize Benefits, I Will Be Behind You

"I do have something to discuss. I’m not sure if you know about it already. If you do, that’s fine. If not, I figured I should give you a warning."

"So you can avoid suffering a terrible loss," Jiang Lan said nonchalantly.

A sharp glint seemed to flash in Emperor Xia’s eyes. She looked at him and retorted, "Why would you think to warn me?"

"Just returning a favor. Besides, I’ve been feeling uneasy these past two days. Perhaps someone is secretly slandering and cursing me, thinking I took huge advantage of her."

Jiang Lan drawled, casually tossing a letter in front of her. It listed a long string of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects.

Emperor Xia’s beautiful eyes narrowed. She glanced at the letter, then nonchalantly looked away, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.

"After all, not everyone is as wealthy as Young Master Jiang, with a fortune that could rival a nation’s..."

She seemed to spit out the words "rival a nation’s," her tone dripping with resentment.

Jiang Lan chuckled at her words and sat up straight on the soft couch. "True. After all, I’m not stingy and miserly like some people, haggling over every last Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object..."

Emperor Xia stared at him, a dangerous glint appearing in her eyes.

"Why did you want to see me?" she asked, quickly regaining her composure and fixing him with a cold stare.

"It’s about the Blood Immortal Sect," Jiang Lan said without preamble.

Emperor Xia froze. She had a vague inkling of what he meant, and her expression became one of surprise and disbelief.

Seeing Emperor Xia fall silent, Jiang Lan continued, "I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but the Blood Immortal Sect is plotting to steal the National Treasure Dragon-Suppressing Seal during the upcoming Southern Hunting."

Emperor Xia had actually learned of this last night, which was why she had been so enraged.

What she hadn’t expected, however, was for Jiang Lan to take the initiative and tell her himself.

Now, looking at the completely relaxed and nonchalant Jiang Lan, an unnameable emotion welled up inside her.

’He risked sneaking into the Blood Immortal Sect’s stronghold last night... was it for this?’

"You don’t believe me?"

"But that’s up to you. I was just giving you a friendly warning."

"Believe it or not, that’s your problem," Jiang Lan continued, his expression composed and his tone unhurried.

Emperor Xia collected herself and snorted coldly. "Mind your own business. How could I possibly be unaware of something like this?"

Jiang Lan just chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly. "Got it. My mistake for getting involved."

"I’ll meddle less in the future."

"No, I won’t meddle at all."

"You..." Emperor Xia faltered, stunned by his words and unsure how to reply.

She knew her tone had been out of line. After all, no matter how one looked at it, Jiang Lan had been trying to help.

But that was just her nature.

Jiang Lan glanced at her as if reading her mind. "Why do you always have to be so prickly?" he said coolly. "The harder you act, the more it reveals how fragile you are inside."

"And I’m not going to coddle you or put up with that attitude."

Emperor Xia’s chest rose and fell at his words. She clenched her fists, a dull, stabbing pain tightening in her chest. Every word was a dagger to the heart.

"I’m sorry. My tone was out of line..."

But after a moment’s thought, she bit her lip, spoke candidly, and chose to back down.

She had always been one to adapt to the situation. It was just that with Jiang Lan—a man whose cultivation and status were both beneath hers—she always felt like he had her wrapped around his finger, leading her by the nose. That was why she never gave him a pleasant look.

But that didn’t mean she couldn’t read the situation or recognize good intentions when she saw them.

Jiang Lan, for his part, didn’t seem inclined to press the issue. His expression softened slightly. "Do you have a plan to deal with it?"

Emperor Xia paused, then realized he was asking about her plan to counter the Blood Immortal Sect’s scheme.

To be honest, she had been trying to figure out a counter-strategy herself. For the Blood Immortal Sect to dare plot against a National Treasure, they must have some serious backing and confidence.

She had been thinking about it all day, but there were few people she could truly trust, and time was desperately short.

She hadn’t been able to come up with a firm plan.

"No."

Emperor Xia answered honestly. Looking at Jiang Lan now, she felt a strange sense that he was dependable.

’Could he... actually be reliable?’

Upon hearing her answer, Jiang Lan rose from the soft couch. He gave Emperor Xia a look and shook his head slightly, an "I knew it" expression on his face.

He hadn’t said a word, but his meaning was perfectly clear.

Emperor Xia was instantly infuriated. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists again. ’What kind of look is that?’

’If I had enough time and manpower, of course I’d have a plan! But the fact that the Blood Immortal Sect dares to covet the National Treasure means they’ve already planted their agents within the Imperial Palace and among the ministers and Noble Families.’

’The most difficult part is... I don’t know who the moles and spies are. Unless I conduct a massive, swift purge of everyone in the Imperial Palace, or I focus all our efforts on protecting the National Treasure.’

’But the Southern Hunting is a matter of Great Xia’s honor; it can’t be treated lightly. I can only focus on one or the other.’

’Unless... the Prime Minister’s Mansion were to set aside its feud with the Royal Family and help?’

At this thought, Emperor Xia’s eyes fixed on Jiang Lan, a new light shining within them.

"Is there something on my face?" Jiang Lan asked, feigning ignorance as he touched his cheek.

"You have a plan, don’t you?" Emperor Xia asked, her tone carrying a trace of hope she herself hadn’t noticed.

Jiang Lan sighed softly. "If even you don’t have a plan, what makes you think I would?"