Chapter 236 - 105: Why Can’t She Control Her Magical Power Anymore? Preparations to Usurp the Nest

Xiao Teng’s expression remained grim. His fists were clenched so tightly they cracked. The anxiety and agitation in his heart had never been so intense.

The middle-aged man looked at the chaotic battle still raging in the distance and whispered, "It seems the people from the Prime Minister’s Mansion didn’t expect this to happen either..."

"If they succeeded, why haven’t the people from the Prime Minister’s Mansion withdrawn yet?"

Xiao Teng looked over and saw that it was true, but it did little to quell the anxiety in his heart.

He gritted his teeth and said, "That treacherous Prime Minister is so cunning that even if he did succeed, he’d deliberately pretend to know nothing..."

The middle-aged man was taken aback. After a moment’s thought, he realized that made sense.

He sighed internally. ’What are we to do?’

...

"They actually failed?"

"What happened?"

In the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Prime Minister Jiang Lintian, dressed in casual clothes, was in his study poring over an Ancient Scroll Scripture.

Hearing the report from the butler beside him, his brows furrowed slightly. His once-refined face instantly took on an imposing authority that commanded respect without anger.

"Reporting to you, Master, Xie Jianjia was suddenly intercepted and abducted by an unknown party. It took everyone by surprise."

"That third young master of Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion now suspects that our people were the ones who succeeded."

"We thought he would be on the road to the Dao Cang Sword Sect, but he was following the Canglan Sword Sect group the whole time. When we made our move, he suddenly charged out with his men. There were also some other unknown forces involved in the shadows..."

"Among them were people from the Dark Flower Pavilion, secretly established by Emperor Xia."

The butler reported respectfully.

Jiang Lintian put down the Ancient Scroll Scripture. He let out a soft, cold snort and said, "It seems I underestimated that Xiao Teng this time. I don’t know how he found out which prison carriage Xie Jianjia was in and came so prepared."

"But if he suspects my Prime Minister’s Mansion succeeded, then let him bring his men and search. If he has the guts to come, then I, the Prime Minister, will show Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion exactly how the Xie Family met their end..."

A look of displeasure surfaced on his face.

He had thought it was a sure thing, even telling Jiang Lan to simply wait three days for Xie Jianjia to be delivered to the mansion.

But then this accident happened.

This made him lose face.

In his eyes, neither Xiao Teng nor Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion were worthy of concern. Even if Emperor Xia interfered, he hadn’t expected any slip-ups.

"Have you identified the forces that intervened from the shadows?" Jiang Lintian asked.

"Not yet, but it might be related to the Royal Family. I suspect Xie Jianjia was likely abducted and is now being protected by the Royal Family. After all, they have invested a great deal of resources and effort in her," the butler replied, offering his speculation.

Jiang Lintian nodded. He suspected as much.

"I thought the Royal Family wouldn’t offend me so brazenly over a single Xie Jianjia. But now, it seems something on Lan’Er’s end must have alerted them, prompting them to abduct her at all costs."

Jiang Lintian’s eyes showed he was deep in thought.

"Master, what should we tell the Young Master?" the butler asked.

"Tell Lan’Er the truth. This time, I was the one who was careless," Jiang Lintian said.

The news that the young lady of the Xie Family had been abducted while being escorted to the Canglan Sword Sect spread throughout the Imperial Capital Jingyang City the very next day. It caused a huge uproar, with discussions filling every teahouse and tavern.

Although the various nobles had their suspicions, they were still shocked and shaken when the news was confirmed.

This was already an open conspiracy. The reason the Xie Family had offended the Prime Minister’s Mansion was because of Xie Jianjia...

Now that Xie Jianjia had been abducted, many people instinctively suspected the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

But such thoughts could only be entertained in private. No one dared to openly discuss their suspicions.

「Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion.」

Xiao Teng stood before his father, Prince Zhenbei Xiao He, his face a mask of dejection and anxiety. He recounted everything that had happened the previous night in great detail, omitting nothing.

"Father, what should we do?"

"You know that villain Jiang Lan’s character. How many young ladies in the Imperial Capital have suffered at his hands? If Jian Jia falls into his grasp, her... her innocence will likely be lost."

Xiao Teng said desperately.

He felt that with every breath of delay, the chances of Xie Jianjia being violated increased.

Right now, he wished he could storm the Prime Minister’s Mansion alone and rescue Xie Jianjia.

"I don’t know what to do right now either."

"We have no concrete proof that the Prime Minister’s Mansion abducted Xie Jianjia. You should know very well what the consequences would be if we were to rashly storm their mansion demanding someone, Teng’Er..."

Prince Zhenbei Xiao He also looked helpless, not knowing what to do.

Xiao Teng’s face fell. He clenched his fists, then loosened them, a wave of powerlessness washing over him.

"Sigh..."

"I will try to think of another way for you. No matter what, you cannot act rashly. Otherwise, you will not only harm yourself but also Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion."

"Teng’Er, you’re a grown man now. You should understand priorities. At a time like this, matters of romance must be set aside for now."

Xiao He patted his shoulder, advising him earnestly.

He had already sent many men to help Xiao Teng escort Xie Jianjia this time, a treatment none of his other sons had received.

In a courtyard of the Prime Minister’s Mansion, adorned with brilliant maple leaves, Jiang Lan sat on a stone stool, casually examining the Bronze Mask in his hand.

He compared its details to the descriptions of the plot he remembered and nodded with great satisfaction.

’The efficiency is impressive. It only took a day to forge this. Not only is the style identical, but even the materials are convincing enough to pass for the real thing.’

’I’ll just need to refine a Divine Soul Secret Technique into it. Then, even if Emperor Xia were standing right in front of me, she wouldn’t be able to tell right away if the Bronze Mask in her hands is the real one, or if mine is...’

Jiang Lan put the Bronze Mask away.

With this preparation, his next plan would be foolproof.

The Naxian Alliance was the most important card in Emperor Xia’s hand, far more critical than the Dark Flower Pavilion or the Gathering Heroes Manor she had established.

However, no one in the Naxian Alliance had ever seen Emperor Xia’s true face. They only knew that she always wore green silk robes and a Bronze Mask.

Jiang Lan was familiar with the plot and knew exactly which important members were in the Naxian Alliance.

He felt he could try to pull a cuckoo-in-the-nest ploy, using Emperor Xia’s name and identity to get a lot of things done.

Even if he were exposed later, Emperor Xia would be the one to take the fall. She wouldn’t be able to shake off the blame.

But for now, he had more important things to do.

His father’s plan to abduct Xie Jianjia and bring her back to the Prime Minister’s Mansion may have failed, but that didn’t matter. Jiang Lan’s own plan had succeeded, and that was enough.

Song Youwei had not disappointed him.

So, in response to his father’s self-reproaching words, Jiang Lan had magnanimously comforted him, saying that it was only a woman and that his father needn’t be so concerned.

’Xiao Teng hates me even more now. But the more he does, the worse off he’ll be...’

Jiang Lan felt the karmic luck churning within his Mud Ball Palace, and a brilliant smile spread across his face.