Chapter 317 122: The Prime Minister's Mansion in Trouble? Jiang Ruxian's Early Move, a Reminder from Emperor Xia

「The Imperial Capital, Jingyang City.」

「Inside Chengming Hall.」

Emperor Xia was cradling a snow-white cat while reviewing memorials. She wore a bright yellow Dragon Robe, and the crown on her head remained perfectly still. The dangling Five-Colored Beads, however, would sway gently with her every movement.

"What is it?"

"Why are you silent for so long?"

She lifted her gaze to glance at Spring Orchid, who stood before her holding a Communication Jade Talisman but hadn't spoken a word.

"Your Majesty, this message is from the Dark Flower Pavilion. It would be best if you reviewed it yourself."

Spring Orchid had intended to relay the message for Emperor Xia, but a glance at its contents left her stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.

Hearing this, Emperor Xia was somewhat surprised.

"Could it be that something happened to the woman in the portrait? Was she intercepted and taken away?" she asked.

Spring Orchid gave a wry smile. 'Her Majesty is truly clever,' she thought, 'but it's far more complicated than that.'

She took a few steps forward and respectfully set down the Communication Jade Talisman.

Emperor Xia picked it up and swept her Divine Sense across it. As the contents became clear, a look of astonishment and shock appeared on her face.

"A mysterious entity, suspected to be at or above the Eighth Realm, has made a move?"

Her brow furrowed, and she straightened her posture, no longer as casual as before.

Spring Orchid stood respectfully to the side.

When she had seen the contents herself, she couldn't help but be startled.

'For a mysterious Eighth Realm entity to suddenly appear at this critical juncture, one with deep connections to the Prime Minister's Mansion...'

Emperor Xia very carefully and seriously read through the entire contents of the Jade Talisman.

Within the borders of Great Xia, there were three reclusive Sword Immortals, each one an existence at the Eighth Realm of cultivation.

Publicly, this was the foundation of Great Xia's power, enough to deter all factions.

But Emperor Xia knew that the current Prime Minister, Jiang Lintian, was suspected of having stepped into this realm many years ago.

Furthermore, his wife, Li Qingshu, possessed unfathomable strength; if anything, she was stronger than Jiang Lintian, not weaker.

But what concerned her now was the news in the Communication Jade Talisman.

'That mysterious entity, suspected to be of the Eighth Realm... could they be seeking revenge against the Prime Minister's Mansion?'

Emperor Xia's fair fingertips stroked the Jade Talisman as she fell into thought. The information in the talisman was incomplete, as even the Dark Flower Pavilion had been unable to investigate thoroughly.

The Linglong Commander of the Observatory had only managed to vaguely deduce a few useful pieces of information.

First, the one who intercepted and rescued the woman from the Liu Clan was a mysterious woman, her strength suspected to be at or above the Eighth Realm, who would be coming to the Imperial Capital to seek revenge on the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Second, the woman from the Liu Clan was Jiang Lan's former wet nurse. For some reason, she knew some of the Prime Minister's Mansion's secrets, which was why she was attacked and targeted for assassination many years later.

Third, Jiang Lan was indeed hiding some unknown secrets. Moreover, his wet nurse had repeatedly expressed regret, believing that his transformation into his current state was related to an incident that had occurred at the Prime Minister's Mansion over a decade ago.

'What exactly happened at the Prime Minister's Mansion over a decade ago?'

'Combining this with previous reports, Jiang Lan also has a sister. Could she be this mysterious woman?'

'In other words, that secret incident at the Prime Minister's Mansion over a decade ago caused Jiang Lan to lose his cultivation and become the infamous wastrel heir of Great Xia, all to cover up what happened?'

'Is that also the reason he has now resumed his cultivation?'

Emperor Xia could clearly feel that she was beginning to piece together the general outline and clues.

All that was missing now were the specific details.

She tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, her brow furrowing ever deeper. Logically, she should be pleased that the Prime Minister's Mansion was facing such a powerful enemy.

But with the Southern Hunting exercises imminent, this matter brought her no joy.

At any other time, her mood would have brightened long ago. Now, however, she was worried about how this might affect the bigger picture.

Even she had to admit that the Prime Minister's Mansion deserved the lion's share of the credit for the current stability of Great Xia and for keeping the various Immortal Sect Lineages in check.

Without the Prime Minister's Mansion, she would not have been able to lie low, biding her time and growing stronger in a precarious position, let alone keeping the Vassal Princes and Commandery Princes in line and deterring any thoughts of rebellion.

Before she could gain complete control and possess the power to intimidate the Hundred Kingdoms and myriad sects, the Prime Minister's Mansion was Great Xia's most terrifying weapon—its fangs and claws.

'Though I despise it, for the sake of the grander scheme, I can only endure it for now...' Emperor Xia's hand clenched into a fist, her expression as still as water.

「That night, just after 7:00 PM, the moon rose over the willow trees.」

Emperor Xia changed into plain clothes and put on a disguise. Taking only Spring Orchid, who was dressed as an Attendant, she headed for the Desire Immortal Pavilion.

Based on her understanding of Jiang Lan, she was certain she would run into him there.

Sure enough, when Emperor Xia arrived at the Desire Immortal Pavilion, she had Spring Orchid make a brief inquiry and quickly learned of Jiang Lan's whereabouts.

He was in a quiet cottage near the riverbank, where white mist swirled. The faint silhouettes of songstresses and dancers could be seen within, accompanied by a voice as melodious as a warbler's song.

A Golden Lamp hung brightly from the eaves. The cottage faced the riverbank on one side and a pond in its garden on the other. At night, one could see the moon by looking up and see its reflection by looking down. Gazing out, one could see the moonlight shimmering on the river's surface, like a river of undulating, shattered silver.

Even Emperor Xia had to admit it was a fine place.

With her hands behind her back, she walked over with an unhurried air.

Jiang Lan was lounging on a soft couch, his eyes half-closed as he listened to the music, looking utterly relaxed.

Beside him, a young woman with delicate features, ink-black hair, and skin as white as snow, was massaging his shoulders and legs. She wore a black, waist-cinching long dress.