194 The Mysterious Emperor
Hearing that Xuan Wushang was actually the emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty, Lin Ran stood up in shock. “What did you say?!”
The empress also looked surprised, but there was still suspicion in her eyes. “Are you sure that person’s name is Xuan Wushang? What does he look like?”
“He’s tall and thin. He looks quite young, but his eyes are sinister and make people uncomfortable. One look and you can tell that he’s not a good person…”
Lin Ran recalled the scene when he met Xuan Wushang and suddenly clapped his hands. “By the way, his robe is a little strange. It flutters without wind and looks like a cloud.”
“That robe is called ‘Fluttering Cloud’. It’s a secret treasure passed down from generation to generation in the Great Yong Imperial Family.”
The empress said with a solemn expression. Although her voice was very soft, one could still hear the nervousness in it. “The fact he is wearing Fluttering Cloud means that he is indeed Xuan Wushang.”
After receiving the empress’s confirmation, Lin Ran couldn’t remain calm.
It had to be known that the forest was thousands of kilometers away from the capital of the Great Yong Dynasty. As the emperor of a country, why did Xuan Wushang come here instead of staying in the palace?
However, looking at the empress in front of him, Lin Ran was no longer puzzled.
“You emperors are really interesting.”
Lin Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as he pinched the space between his eyebrows. “Why did you want to come to such a remote place instead of staying in the luxurious palace?”
The empress ignored Lin Ran’s sarcastic remark and said solemnly with a frown, “Xuan Wushang is a very ambitious person. Ever since he ascended the throne 30 years ago, he has provoked war against our Heavenly Saint Dynasty several times…”
“Wait a minute!”
Lin Ran suddenly raised his hand and said suspiciously, “Did you just say that Xuan Wushang has been on the throne for 30 years?”
The empress nodded slightly.
Lin Ran hesitated for a moment before asking, “Um… can I ask how many years you’ve been on the throne?”
The empress’s expression darkened. “Why are you asking this?”
“I am just curious!”
Lin Ran quickly shook his head, thinking to himself that no matter what world it was, the topic of “age” was always a taboo for women.
After rolling her eyes at Lin Ran, the empress continued, “The few wars that Xuan Wushang provoked previously ended in failure. However, now that the Great Yong Dynasty has just retreated in defeat, he appeared near the border. I’m afraid he really has some ulterior motive.”
“I think it has something to do with the bones.”
Lin Ran analyzed, “He lured me here this time to warn me not to investigate this matter anymore. If this was just Liu Hongshan’s own doing, would the emperor need to personally intervene?”
“That being said, there are always exceptions.”
The empress sighed and looked at Lin Ran with a complicated expression. “Don’t forget that Liu Hongshan is also a Half-Saint. Martial artists like you and him are extremely important to any country.”
What the empress said made sense. Lin Ran nodded and did not say anything else.
After a moment of silence, the empress suddenly asked, “Do you have Spirit Rhinoceros with you?”
Lin Ran nodded and took out Spirit Rhinoceros. “This place is too far from the central region of the Great Yong Dynasty. If you want to find your mother, I suggest you wait a little longer. After we meet up with Yuan Yangguo and the others, I’ll let them go back first before bringing you to the central region of the Great Yong Dynasty.”
The empress suddenly revealed a playful smile. “Does that mean you agree to let me stay?”
“I’m just afraid that if I don’t agree, you’ll cause me more trouble!”
Lin Ran rolled his eyes and replied helplessly. As he spoke, he prepared to put away Spirit Rhinoceros.
“Give it to me.”
The empress suddenly said, “There is an agreement between me and my mother. Once I enter the territory of the Great Yong Dynasty, I’ll contact her, and she will tell me where she is.”
Lin Ran didn’t say anything and handed Spirit Rhinoceros over.
The empress took the hairpin and pricked her finger with the tip of it. She squeezed out a drop of blood and applied it to the iris pattern on the hairpin. “I need to focus for a while. Try not to make too much noise.”
Lin Ran nodded to show that he understood. At the same time, he spread his divine sense a thousand steps away. The empress also put the hairpin in the middle of her black hair.
Just as the empress put down her hand, the hairpin emitted a green halo.
Lin Ran couldn’t help but be vigilant. Fortunately, this halo was inconspicuous during the day. If it was at night, this halo would definitely expose their location instantly!
…
In the palace in the capital of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty.
Li Tianyi leaned against the pillar and stood at the door of the imperial study with a gloomy expression. He looked up at the sky with listless eyes and held the tai chi whisk in one hand while massaging his legs with the other.
At this moment, a red-robed official entered the courtyard.
This person was Song Rentong. Ever since Zhang Yueheng was executed by the empress for malfeasance, he was promoted to the position of the new Grand Secretary.
When Li Tianyi saw who it was, he hurriedly stood up and staggered forward. “Lord Song, you’ve been promoted to Grand Secretary. You’re really second only to one person and above tens of thousands of people. I have to serve His Majesty at all times, so I can’t pay you a visit to congratulate you. I hope you won’t mind.”
“Eunuch Li, what are you talking about? If you didn’t recommend me to His Majesty, how could I be so lucky?”
Song Rentong chuckled. While shaking hands with Li Tianyi, he passed a pair of high-quality cat’s eye gems to him without anyone noticing.
Li Tianyi opened a gap between his fingers. After seeing what was on his palm, his haggard face turned glowy. “Lord Song, you’re being too generous!”
Song Rentong chuckled and raised his eyebrows in the direction of the imperial study. “It’s been two days, but His Majesty hasn’t shown up yet.”
At the mention of this, Li Tianyi’s bright eyes dimmed again. He sighed and said softly, “You’re right! His Majesty stayed in the imperial study for two days, and I stayed here for two days. My legs are about to break!”
“Sigh… His Majesty must be worried about state affairs.”
Song Rentong also sighed. Then, he said helplessly, “I’ve been in office for two days. It seems like I won’t be able to see His Majesty and show my gratitude today either!”
“Lord Song, there’s no need…”
Li Tian wanted to comfort him, but he suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Song Rentong waited but didn’t hear Li Tianyi continue. When he looked up, he saw Li Tianyi frowning at the sky. He couldn’t help but follow his gaze.
A white cloud had floated over from the blue sky in the distance.
There was naturally nothing strange about a white cloud. What was strange was that this white cloud was drifting lower and lower, almost falling to the ground!