Translator: Mimi
Since it was night, all of palace's people were holding a lamp in their hand. You could see many brightly lit lights even from a very distant place. Every time Li Luo saw a light in the distance get close, Li Luo would quickly turn around, or find a place to hide. He didn't want to encounter those palace people. After all, he did not understand the rules inside this palace, and if he encountered a person of high rank he would need to give a ceremonious greeting, if he wasn't able to react and was delayed for so much time, it would be bad.
All the way Li Luo was being careful and cautious. He continuously dodged to the east and hiding on the west, making him spend nearly two hours. Finally he arrived at the secret tunnel that Xiao Qi spoke about, the secret tunnel that lead to the outside of the imperial palace inside the large garden.
[……Great Host, can you see the roadmap clearly? ]
After Xiao Qi finished speaking, a half translucent hologram of a map appeared before Li Luo's eyes, just like the Baidu map in his original world that he often used. The red dot indicated the destination and the blue dot was the location he was standing in now. Since it was half translucent, it wouldn't block his sight.
Li Luo walked in the direction of the red dot. Very soon he found a bamboo forest that was hidden from view inside the rockery.
……
Inside the luxuriously decorated room, there was hot steam floating in the air, the thick musky fragrance that was able to make one intoxicated filled into the entire hall. From the inside of the doorway of the hall there hung layer after layer of dark red muslin that was soft to the touch. So that people stationed outside the doorway couldn't clearly see the scene inside.
Jing Chun Empress Dowager was lying on a royal couch as she supported her head with one of her hands. Her eyes were slightly closed, and seemed to be caught up in a fast asleep.
There were several palace maids that surrounded her sides. One palace maids was fanning her. Another one was standing behind her, and massaged her shoulders. Furthermore, two palace maids were kneeling at her feet, as they meticulously kneaded her legs.
This tranquil scene was broken when a palace maid came in hurriedly from the doorway. She lifted up layer upon layer of soft muslin, and quietly walked to the side of Jing Chun Empress Dowager as she immediately knelt down toward Jing Chun Empress Dowager. The palace maid stole a glance at Jing Chun Empress Dowager's complexion, and then said softly, "Empress Dowager, Yunyang Hall Imperial Guard asks for an audience."
"Oh? Yunyang Hall?" Yunyang Hall, was it not the place where they held that boy captive at? Jing Chun Empress Dowager suddenly opened her eyes, "Allow him to come in."
"Yes." The palace maid that received the order immediately stood up and quickly left the room. After a moment, the Commander of the Imperial Guards come in, sweat dotted his forehead.
When Jing Chun Empress Dowager saw the Commander of the Imperial Guard's expression, she knew something was wrong. Jing Chun Empress Dowager slightly frowned, her tone had become a lot sharper as she asked, "What's the matter?"
"Empress Dowager, wei chen [1] had failed to meet your expectations. Even though wei chen guarded Su Mucheng the whole time, wei chen carelessly let him run away."
"Run away?!" Although Jing Chun Empress Dowager already guessed three quarters of it in her heart, but when she truly heard this news, she still somewhat could not believe it. In order to not make any mistakes, she made sure Li Luo didn't have the opportunity to escape. How could it be, she had sent so many of her elite subordinates to guard Li Luo, and really couldn't imagine how Li Luo was able to run away.
And now, the Commander of the Imperial Guards' squad that she had carefully chosen unexpectedly said to her that the person she ordered them to guard was gone?!
It's simply unbelievable!!
Jing Chun Empress Dowager's face darkened. The Commander of the Imperial Guards that was kneeling, completely did not dare to look at Jing Chun Empress Dowager's complexion. Under Jing Chun Empress Dowager's pressure, he could only bite the bullet and continued, "Yes, that's right. After the palace maid on duty this morning went inside the room, she found that the person that lying on the bed was not him, but another palace maid."