Chapter 298 - 118: An Effort-Saving Tool Person, a Portrait, a Person of Extraordinary Courage

Watching Jiang Lintian depart, Jiang Lan quickly withdrew his gaze.

Since his father intended to help him pressure Emperor Xia, he could start thinking of ways to coordinate.

He didn’t expect his father to actually force Emperor Xia into submission. Given her personality—susceptible to soft tactics but resistant to hard ones—it would more likely end in mutual destruction.

Besides, based on the original plot’s description of Emperor Xia, her personality was somewhat morbid and crazy.

’After our last encounter, she should have started paying attention to me and ordered an investigation...’

’She can also find out about Su Qinghan. And because of the relationship between Su Qinghan’s master, Yuqing Zhenren, and the Royal Family, Emperor Xia will eventually come into contact with Su Qinghan.’

’So, the persona I’ve built in front of her is mostly established. All I need to do now is ride the momentum...’

Jiang Lan rubbed his teacup.

Thanks to the "gentle and refined" young master persona he had previously established in front of Su Qinghan and the others.

All he had to do now was casually let Emperor Xia notice that he, too, was someone whose hands were tied in the game between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and the Royal Family. Then, things would become much simpler.

The first step to winning over Emperor Xia was to eliminate her hostility and suspicion.

In his original plan, he intended to break her arms first anyway.

After losing her trusted aides and subordinates, who could she rely on amidst the current chaotic situation in Great Xia?

Then, he would become the blazing sun in her bleak and lightless world, bringing her hope and light.

’That Linglong Commander from Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain is certainly not simple.’

’Although she wasn’t mentioned in the original plot, her innate ability to converse with insects, fish, birds, and beasts allows all living creatures within a certain radius to act as her eyes and ears. This talent has numerous wonderful uses. If I can bring her to my side, she could help me uncover a lot of hidden information in the future...’

With a plan in mind, Jiang Lan began to ponder his next steps.

In truth, he could replicate this talent with his Destiny Dao Fruit. However, doing so would require him to plunder the life force of every living being in an area and sift through their memories for clues.

This method was very troublesome, and he couldn’t possibly do everything himself in the future.

’Right now, although the Linglong Commander is part of the Observatory, she’s actually already loyal to Emperor Xia.’

’But with her methods, it’ll be difficult to clearly investigate what happened at the Prime Minister’s Mansion back then. In that case, I might as well give her a little help...’

Thinking of this, Jiang Lan began to recall the vague memories of his childhood, finally focusing on a plump, somewhat wealthy-looking woman.

Relying on his memory, he had a maid bring him a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone, and then began to paint in the pavilion.

Before long, the image of the plump woman appeared on the white paper, startlingly lifelike.

’The original owner of this body was not only elegant and noble, with beautiful handwriting, but his painting skills were also exceptional...’

Jiang Lan looked at the person in the painting, clicking his tongue in admiration. He then added a few details, making her look much older than in his memory, with more wrinkles on her forehead and between her brows.

After several such adjustments, he nodded in satisfaction and rolled up the scroll.

At the same time, he sent a message to Song Youwei, telling her to come to the Desire Immortal Pavilion tonight.

Several days had passed with no news from her. He wondered if she had managed to obtain the Muddy Blood from the Blood Immortal Sect.

’Xiao Teng has been idle these past few days. It’s time to find something for him to do.’

’This is also the perfect time to put the matter of the Spirit Turtle Divination Shell on the agenda.’ Jiang Lan thought of something else.

In the original plot, the six Spirit Turtle Divination Shells were the key to accessing the Emperor’s Temple.

Within it were many inherited treasures left by the Ancient Emperor, such as the Thirty-Six True Methods of the Heavenly Cycle, the Celestial Book of Society and Country, and the Kunwu Immortal Ship.

Each True Technique possessed immense power and profundity. Although he didn’t lack offensive methods at present, when it came to opportune fortunes he could intercept, the more, the better.

’Of the six Spirit Turtle Divination Shells, one is in the Royal Treasure Vault, one is in the hands of the National Master, Ge Qixing. In the original plot, Lin Fan obtained two, and Xiao Teng got one by chance...’

’This is also a good time to let Xiao Teng and Ye Ming start interacting.’

After messaging Song Youwei, Jiang Lan contacted Ye Shiyin, asking her to find a way to make Xiao Teng search for a Spirit Turtle Divination Shell.

With two workhorses like them, Jiang Lan naturally wouldn’t waste his own effort on such things. Having his "Treasure Hunting Mice" saved him both time and energy.

...

「Bihu Manor.」

On a large bluestone by Bihu Lake, Ye Shiyin sat with her shoes and socks placed to the side. Beneath her pure white dress, a pair of delicate, jade-like feet, fair as snow and flawlessly translucent, were submerged in the lake. She swayed them gently from time to time, stirring up ripples.

Many Spirit Fish vied to gather around her, making her skin appear even more fair and delicate.

She held a scroll of scripture in her hands, reading with great interest.

A gentle breeze blew, causing her black hair to dance and fall, obscuring half of her exquisitely beautiful face. She would occasionally reach up to tuck a stray strand behind her ear, her expression cool and casual, yet exuding an air of grace and nobility.

During her time at Bihu Manor, she had been living a carefree and unrestrained life.

It was far more comfortable than her time with the Xie Family. She didn’t have to worry about her identity being questioned, nor did she have to show a false smile to others, wearing a hypocritical expression and feigning civility all day long.

The owner of Bihu Manor, Hu Sanniang, treated her as an honored guest, not daring to show the slightest neglect and providing her with all sorts of fine food and drink.

Normally, she wouldn’t even enter the courtyard where Ye Shiyin was resting, nor would she ever inquire about her whereabouts.