This Is What a Villain Is Like

Forget fear or respect. It was considered a mercy if they didn’t utter a few sarcastic remarks whenever the topic was raised.

Even Canglan Sword Sect and Infinite Sword Sect, two of the three great Sword Sects within Great Xia’s territory, seemed to have grown disloyal.

Although Emperor Xia wished to change this situation and restore Great Xia’s former glory, the court was in turmoil.

The Prime Minister held immense power, acting unscrupulously, his influence blotting out the sky.

His wife was the former Saintess of the Taiyi Sect, backed by the Sui Ji Li Family—a background of terrifying proportions.

The Sui Ji Li Family was one of the most ancient families in the Celestial Central Province, their history stretching back even further than the Great Xia Dynasty itself.

Emperor Xia was determined to overhaul everything.

This Southern Hunting expedition against the Barbarian Race of the Southern Wilderness Province was a chance for her to display the Royal Family’s might and awe the various Immortal Sects.

She would not tolerate any mistakes, let alone any variables beyond her control.

She had already thoroughly investigated the strength of the younger generation from Great Xia’s various powerful Noble Families. The sole exception was Young Master Jiang Lan of the Prime Minister’s Mansion. She had never been able to get a read on him. She didn’t know if he was deliberately feigning weakness to be overlooked, or if he was truly the good-for-nothing, wastrel heir he appeared to be...

「Several days passed in a flash.」

The situation in Jingyang City grew increasingly chaotic. It seemed calm on the surface, but a violent undercurrent surged in the shadows.

The Southern Hunting was imminent.

Some Immortal Sects from distant lands had also set out. The faster ones were already nearing the Imperial Capital.

Under the strict investigation of Right Captain Situ Ying of the Imperial Army, the rumors about Emperor Xia being a woman were gradually suppressed.

Many who had intentionally spread the rumors were discovered, implicating numerous factions. Heads rolled.

For this Southern Hunting, Emperor Xia made many preparations in advance, taking out numerous treasures from the national treasury, including Celestial Secret Scrolls, Spiritual Elixirs and Dao Artifacts, and Celestial and Earthly Treasures, to be used as rewards.

During this time, the Nobility in the Imperial Capital were also making their own preparations. The younger generation was eager for a chance to shine, intending to make a name for themselves at the Southern Hunting and bolster Great Xia’s prestige.

「Inside the Prime Minister’s Mansion.」

Jiang Lan had also settled down. He stopped stirring up trouble behind the scenes and instead remained obediently in the mansion. By day, he cultivated methodically as his parents wished; by night, he frequented the pleasure quarters to enjoy music and song.

When he had free time, he would go and tease Li Mengning.

He had intentionally instructed Song Youwei to find people from the Blood Immortal Sect to secretly spread the rumors of Emperor Xia’s gender. Of course, this wasn’t because he was bored and just wanted to antagonize the Emperor.

He was engineering the perfect opportunity.

After a few days, he finally received a definite reply from Song Youwei.

「7:00 PM. Night began to fall.」

As was his custom, Jiang Lan led a large retinue of guards and Knights toward the Desire Immortal Pavilion, where the pleasant sounds of music and melodious singing drifted through the air.

Painted boats and Cloud Boats sailed across the river, half-hidden by the swirling mist. Their brilliant lanterns cast a radiant glow, and the lilting voices of women drifted from within.

"Young Master Jiang, you’ve arrived..."

"The private room on the third floor has been reserved for you. Will you be listening to music today? Or watching a dance?"

"Yan’Er has been missing you dearly, wondering why you were so late."

As had become his habit over the past few days, Jiang Lan boarded a painted boat, its decorations exceptionally lavish and brilliant.

A middle-aged woman, heavily powdered and perfumed, her face thickly painted and fair skin half-exposed, had clearly been waiting for some time. Upon seeing him, she rushed to greet him, her face plastered with a wide smile.

"The usual."

Jiang Lan casually bestowed an Exotic Spirit Stone upon her, instructed his guards and Knights to wait outside, and followed the woman to the third floor of the painted boat.

Inside the private room, an ethereal mist drifted through the air. Beside a soft couch, a Jade Plate was already laden with an assortment of Spirit Fruits, fine delicacies, and wine.

Attended by several women, Jiang Lan removed his outer robe and lay down on the soft couch, looking slightly languid.

In an Incense Burner to the side, wisps of fragrant smoke began to rise.

Accompanied by the faint fragrance, several women attended to him: one massaged his legs, one rubbed his shoulders, and another peeled various Spirit Fruits and melon seeds for him, delivering them to his lips.

Behind a screen, a graceful woman with a beautiful figure, her body veiled in light gauze, had a zither placed before her. She gave him a shy smile from behind the screen, then raised her slender hands and began to play.

Her fair, slender hands, beautiful in their own right, danced across the strings. With light plucks and slow twists, she coaxed a soft, moving melody from the zither. Her clear singing accompanied the music, a sound as beautiful as if from the heavens.

Jiang Lan’s eyes were half-closed, the very picture of languor. "Yan’Er," he asked casually, "you once cultivated at the Illusory Sound Sect. How did you fall to this, becoming a Qing Guanren?"

The Illusory Sound Sect was a renowned sect with a profound heritage. Its disciples cultivated music, using sound to enter the Dao. They could kill an enemy unseen, in the middle of a casual conversation.

"To answer Young Master Jiang..."

The graceful woman who was playing and singing softly paused slightly upon hearing his words and replied,

"I accidentally broke an Elder’s Flowing Water and Falling Cloud Zither and couldn’t afford the compensation. My parents are old; they fought with enemies in their youth, and now their vitality is weak and old wounds have flared up. They need Elixir Pills every month just to keep the injuries in check. I also have a younger brother cultivating in a Sword Sect, and the Spirit Stones he requires daily are a huge expense..."

As she spoke, her eyes dimmed, and her voice filled with helplessness and sorrow.

"How truly pitiful."

Jiang Lan chuckled. He might not have heard this exact sob story a hundred times, but he’d certainly heard it dozens of times before.

The Desire Immortal Pavilion was one of the most famous pleasure houses in the Imperial Capital.

Its patrons were almost exclusively high officials, nobles, and the sons of powerful families. At the very least, they were young Celestial Prides from major sects.

Some attractive female disciples from Immortal Sects, unable to get by in their own Sects, would often change their methods, reinvent themselves, and come here to fish for a wealthy benefactor.