Chapter 216 - 101: The Prime Minister’s Mansion Demands the Xie Family Hand Over Jian Jia? Lan’Er Only Needs to Wait 3 Days

"In three days, the Observatory will escort Xie Jianjia to the Canglan Sword Sect. I have already arranged for men to stage an ambush along the way. The Observatory will know to back off, and Xie Jianjia will be safely delivered to our mansion..."

"Lan’Er, there’s no need to be anxious. Just wait three days, and you will see Xie Jianjia."

Jiang Lintian didn’t press for details on how Jiang Lan planned to extract the Immortal Phoenix True Blood from her body. Since his son needed it, he would simply make the arrangements.

Li Qingshu, on the other hand, felt his method was too roundabout. She thought they should just send people directly into the Observatory’s prison and take Xie Jianjia.

Who in the court would dare to object? Even Emperor Xia, Xia Junxi, would have to pretend she saw nothing.

Jiang Lintian had to consider the broader situation in Great Xia, but Li Qingshu couldn’t care less about such things.

Jiang Lan simply offered a faint smile at this, with no intention of explaining further.

’Having such doting and fiercely protective parents certainly made many things much easier.’

As for Xie Jianjia, he wasn’t actually interested in her Immortal Phoenix True Blood, but rather her true identity.

Back in Anyang City, while contemplating the current state of Great Xia and planning his next move, Jiang Lan had already been considering how to eliminate Emperor Xia Junxi’s key supporters and plunder her fortune.

As the reigning Emperor Xia, Xia Junxi was undoubtedly a person of great fortune.

She herself was remarkably talented and had always cultivated Great Xia’s Imperial Extreme World-Suppressing Scripture. Her cultivation was already at the Seventh Realm, and she was protected by both Dragon Energy and the National Fortune, having earned the recognition and shelter of the National Treasure.

Within the Imperial Capital, you could say she was innately invincible.

Furthermore, she had the backing of experts from various factions, including Great Xia’s Dragon Guard and the Royalist Faction.

She appeared weak on the surface, but in reality, she was merely biding her time, accumulating resources and waiting for the perfect moment to turn the tables.

At the same time, she was also the youngest disciple of Great Xia’s National Master, Ge Qixing, and received covert support from his faction.

Jiang Lan had considered having his father step in to deal with Emperor Xia Junxi, but doing so would cause the situation in Great Xia to collapse completely.

The other major provinces of the Nine Provinces would surely take the opportunity to invade.

So, after some thought, he decided to take matters into his own hands. First, he would break her arms, and once her trump cards were exhausted, he would take her down in one fell swoop.

And the greatest weakness of Great Xia’s National Master, Ge Qixing, was his illegitimate son, Xiao Teng.

To manipulate and control Xiao Teng, he had to start with Xie Jianjia.

Xiao Teng was deeply in love with Xie Jianjia. In the original story, he had willingly handed over the Seven-Star Origin—which his birth parents had painstakingly spent years planning to acquire for him—to Xie Jianjia.

That Xie Jianjia had always pretended to be a pure, innocent flower, but she was anything but simple.

She had Xiao Teng wrapped around her little finger, and he willingly gave her many secret benefits.

In the original story, it was the protagonist, Lin Fan, who finally helped him see her true face and origins...

’Speaking of which, accusing the Xie Family of colluding with Demons wasn’t exactly a false accusation...’

Recalling the plot points related to Xie Jianjia, Jiang Lan wasn’t worried that she couldn’t be used for his own purposes.

After the family banquet ended, Jiang Lan returned to his chambers to rest.

As for Su Qinghan, his parents didn’t ask a single question, nor did they care if she was a pawn planted by Yuqing Zhenren at Jiang Lan’s side.

They had complete confidence in the current Jiang Lan and weren’t the least bit worried that Su Qinghan could stir up any trouble while with him.

Su Qinghan, who had been worried the entire time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

’It hadn’t gone perfectly smoothly, but at least she had managed to meet his so-called parents without any major mishaps.’

"Once things in Jingyang City are settled, I’ll arrange for someone to send you to the Dao Cang Sword Sect..."

"You don’t seem very comfortable here in the Prime Minister’s Mansion."

「Late at night.」

Inside the bedchambers, Su Qinghan leaned against Jiang Lan’s chest. The rosy flush had not yet faded from her exquisitely beautiful face, and upon hearing his words, she merely gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.

"What, can’t bear to leave me?" Jiang Lan chuckled.

Su Qinghan nuzzled her cheek against his chin, wrapped her slender, pale arms around his neck, and whispered, "Of course I can’t bear to leave you, Young Master."

"Besides, the Dao Cang Sword Sect is part of the Royalist Faction, putting it in direct opposition to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Since I belong to you, Young Master, I’m worried problems will arise after I go there..."

"Your master is Yuqing Zhenren. Are you still worried someone will bully you?" Jiang Lan said.

"I’m not worried about that, of course, but I’m afraid I’ll face a dilemma in the future," Su Qinghan replied, her clear eyes gazing at him.

"A so-called dilemma? What’s so difficult about it? Just follow your heart," Jiang Lan said with a smile.

"’My heart...’"

Su Qinghan suddenly sat up. The silk quilt slipped down, revealing skin as smooth as jade, shimmering with a faint, flawless glow.

She wrapped her arms around Jiang Lan’s neck, pressed her cheek against his, and murmured, "I’m worried that Master will make a move against you, Young Master."

Back in Yu Yi City, Yuqing Zhenren had placed three Restrictions on her.

To this day, she still didn’t know what those three Restrictions were for.

And based on the various pieces of information she had gathered, she could infer that her master’s identity and origins were even more shocking than she had imagined.

Yuqing Zhenren also wanted her to use the Nether Prayer Skill to see if she could control Jiang Lan...

Jiang Lan knew what Su Qinghan was worried about, but he had no intention of saying more.

’He would make a move against the Dao Cang Sword Sect sooner or later, but not yet. As for Yuqing Zhenren, he was indeed no match for her at his current level.’

’But once his Cultivation Realm improved, and he combined that with his Destiny Dao Fruit and the legacy of the Blood Immortal Sect, it would be a different story.’

’Besides, his greatest assets weren’t his cultivation and strength, but the background he could leverage and the card he currently held: Su Qinghan...’

「The next day.」

Jiang Lan rose early. Under the maple tree in the courtyard, Li Mengning was already sitting cross-legged, absorbing the morning glow as she began her cultivation.

Spiritual Mist drifted about as rays of dawn converged. Wisps of the morning glow flowed toward her as if they were Spiritual Energy.

Her gauze skirt and black hair fluttered gently. Her physical form was crystalline, like a Treasure Body, and she was surrounded by a faint, clear fragrance.

Sensing Jiang Lan’s approach, she merely opened her eyes, glanced at him with her serene gaze, and then treated him as if he were thin air.

Jiang Lan didn’t find this dull at all. He sat down on a nearby stone bench and simply stared at her.

Li Mengning continued to treat him as air.

Perhaps finding the veil on her face a bit of an eyesore, Jiang Lan smiled and reached out to take it off.

Li Mengning noticed his movement but didn’t dodge, allowing him to pocket her veil. He then pinched her cheek a few times before leaving, seemingly satisfied.

"..."

Su Qinghan, walking out of her bedchambers, happened to witness this scene and was left somewhat speechless and envious.

’She felt that the way Jiang Lan treated Li Mengning was completely different from how he treated the rest of them.’