Chapter 468 - 159: Just One Little Sip Should Be Fine, Another Vicious Woman from the Original Story

"The Dust Sect?"

A flicker of change crossed Xia Jin’s eyes. This was a secret she held deep in her heart. Not many people knew she had once joined the Dust Sect.

Even her own father, Prince Wuxuan, Xia Xuan, was unaware of this matter.

She had only mentioned it once, in passing, to Emperor Xia, but Her Majesty hadn’t seemed to care at all.

The Dust Sect was just a Hidden Sect in Nanmo Province, not nearly as famous as the great Immortal Sect Lineages of the Celestial Central Province.

’How does Jiang Lan know about this? Could it be that Emperor Xia told him?’

"There’s no need for surprise, General Xia Jin," Jiang Lan said with a smile, clasping his hands lightly behind his back. "The Prime Minister’s Mansion has eyes and ears everywhere. It isn’t difficult for us to investigate certain matters. Your Spirit Sea didn’t actually wither away back then. It was merely an illusion you created by practicing an Ancient Strange Skill."

Xia Jin’s gaze sharpened. She hadn’t expected Jiang Lan to know even this.

"It seems nothing can be hidden from the Saint Monarch."

She cupped her hands and admitted, "This humble servant did indeed obtain an Ancient Strange Skill. I did not wish to become a pawn in a marriage alliance between Prince Wuxuan and the other Commandery Princes, so I created the illusion of a withered Spirit Sea to force that Commandery Prince’s son to come and break off our engagement."

Jiang Lan laughed. "Your plan was indeed clever, General Xia Jin. To this day, countless Noble Families in the Imperial Capital are still in the dark. Even Prince Wuxuan is completely unaware. He thinks you only had a fortuitous encounter after traveling far to the Southern Wilderness Province, which allowed you to set foot on the path of cultivation once more..."

Xia Jin said, "You flatter me, Saint Monarch. The circumstances were special, and I was left with no choice. I did not want my destiny to be controlled by others."

Jiang Lan smiled. "And the facts prove you succeeded. For a woman to have come so far, to guard the Southern Wilderness with such world-shaking merits that the Barbarian Race turns pale at the mere mention of your name... there is no one who does not fear you. Truly a heroine who is in no way inferior to a man."

"In fact, during my years in the Imperial Capital, I have long heard the many legends of General Xia Jin. I’ve admired you for a long time, but regrettably, I never had the chance to meet you in person..."

"You’Er, bring wine. Since we have this opportunity today, I must have a few proper drinks with General Xia Jin."

"Yes, Master."

You’Er, who had blended into the shadows behind him and vanished, responded before her figure disappeared in an instant.

"Saint Monarch, you mustn’t! There is a clear distinction between a monarch’s consort and a subject. If Your Majesty were to learn of this, she would surely be displeased..." Xia Jin waved her hands repeatedly in refusal upon hearing his words.

"Surely General Xia Jin doesn’t intend to refuse my goodwill? We are about to reach Immortal Ascension Island. You will have to return to your territory to guard the border of the Southern Wilderness Province against the Barbarian Race. Who knows when we’ll have another chance like this."

"On this trip to Immortal Ascension Island, I am also in your debt for escorting me. For the sake of both sentiment and reason, I hope the General will not refuse." A faint smile always lingered on Jiang Lan’s face, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze and easily inspiring goodwill.

In the original story, there wasn’t much about Xia Jin, but there was one thing he remembered very clearly: she loved to drink.

However, because she spent all her years in military camps and had to guard the border, she had never been able to drink to her heart’s content, always worried it would interfere with important matters.

Some hesitation showed on Xia Jin’s face. Jiang Lan was, after all, the Feng Jun, the husband of the empress. He had put it so plainly that to refuse again would be a snub, and she feared she would offend him.

"Then... this humble servant will be so bold as to accept..." she said, cupping her hands.

Xia Jin had always been very proper about her station. Even though they were on her War Flying Ship, if word of this were to reach Emperor Xia’s ears, she really wouldn’t know how to explain herself.

To put it another way, if a trusted general of an emperor were to privately drink and chat casually with the empress, what would the emperor think? He would probably have their head cut off at the first opportunity.

But Jiang Lan, of all people, seemed to care nothing for these rules and etiquette.

’This is truly a difficult position,’ Xia Jin thought.

Jiang Lan naturally knew what Xia Jin was thinking right now.

Not that he cared. After You’Er brought the fine wine, he had her prepare a private room. A simple mat was spread on the floor, as he intended for them to sit on the ground.

"This is Crimson Mist Nectar from overseas. It is said that cultivators from the Overseas Immortal Mountains collect the morning Dawn and brew it with the nectar of over three thousand types of flowers. Whenever a single bottle appears, it causes countless cultivators to fight over it at auction."

"This wine not only has a special flavor with an endless aftertaste, but it also contains potent medicinal power. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a medicinal spirit elixir..."

Once in the private room, Jiang Lan instructed You’Er to open the Spirit Wine and pour it.

A crimson mist immediately swirled within the white jade cups, like condensed, plump dewdrops. The liquid was a translucent, pale purple, carrying the fragrance of flower nectar.

Just a light sniff was enough to sense its mellow, lingering aroma, enough to intoxicate one’s very soul.

As a connoisseur of wine, Xia Jin had naturally heard of the famous Crimson Mist Nectar, but this was her first time seeing the real thing. She could only sigh inwardly at the sheer wealth of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Even with her own wealth, she would never be so extravagant in this regard.

’Just one small sip should be fine...’

Her gaze was immediately captivated by the liquid before her, which shimmered like dewdrops and had the color of grapes.

Jiang Lan smiled slightly, raised his cup, and said, "General Xia Jin, please. I’ll drink first as a sign of respect."

"Thank you, Feng Jun, for your invitation today."

Xia Jin also knew how precious this Crimson Mist Nectar was; it wasn’t something one could easily get to drink at any other time. So, she followed Jiang Lan’s example and raised her cup in a toast.

Although she had intended to take only a small sip, the moment the liquor touched her throat, its mellow, lingering flavor, infused with the fresh scent of nectar, seemed to explode in her mouth and rush straight to the crown of her head, making her whole body tremble slightly.