Chapter 48 - A Mission at Night

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

However, they were in public after all. The empress did not show disdain on her face. She cleared her throat and asked, “Lord Lin, how have you been doing in the palace for the past few days?”

Hearing the empress’s voice, Lin Ran came back to his senses and knelt on one knee. “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I’m doing very well in the palace!”

“Stand up.”

The empress waved her hand and said with a faint smile, “In that case, I’ll arrange an errand for you.”

“Your Majesty, at your service!”

“Recently, I heard from Consort Rong that she’s been hearing some strange sounds in the Cloud Prayer Palace every midnight. Consort Rong was so scared that she couldn’t eat or sleep well. She also lost a lot of weight, so I decided to accompany Consort Rong tonight. Lord Lin, you are very capable, so I’ll let you patrol the area around the Cloud Prayer Palace!”

When others heard this, they would not think too much about it, but Lin Ran instantly understood that Consort Rong was not pregnant yet. The empress asked him to continue working hard at night!

Lin Ran didn’t want to agree. If he had the time, he would rather find somewhere quiet to cultivate.

However, since the empress had given the order, Lin Ran’s refusal was equivalent to an offense punishable by death.

Helpless, Lin Ran could only reply, “Your Majesty, don’t worry! I’ll definitely patrol the area well. I won’t let anyone get close to the Cloud Prayer Palace!”

What Lin Ran meant was that he would not get close to the Cloud Prayer Palace too. It was unknown if the empress understood what he meant, but she changed the topic and said, “Sword God is staying in the palace these days. He might take a walk in the palace at night. Pass down the order to let the guards not to stop Sword God when they see him.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Lin Ran cupped his hands and accepted the order, but he was cursing the empress in his mind.

Not only did he have to work hard at the Cloud Prayer Palace tonight, but he also had to take the time to pretend to be the Sword God. Even the donkeys in the production team were not used like this!

As if having guessed what Lin Ran was thinking, the empress’s smile deepened. She waved her hand and said calmly, “Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can leave first. Don’t forget to patrol the Cloud Prayer Palace tonight!”

“Then I’ll take my leave first!”

Lin Ran agreed and stood up to leave. Before he left, he subconsciously looked at Consort Rong again. It was not that he was addicted to sex, but the change in her was a little shocking.

At this moment, Consort Rong also looked at Lin Ran. Their eyes met, and a strange look suddenly flashed across Consort Rong’s eyes.

Seeing this, Lin Ran’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that she recognized him as the one who slept with her?

The lights in the bedroom were dim, and the human skin mask given by the empress was of excellent quality. There was definitely no flaw with the disguise.

However, no matter how good the human skin mask was, it could not hide the eyes. At that time, the distance between the two of them was extremely close…

Thinking of this, Lin Ran didn’t dare to stay any longer. He hurriedly lowered his head to avoid Consort Rong’s gaze and quickly left.

After leaving the imperial garden, Zhou Hao and the others were still waiting outside.

Seeing Lin Ran come out, Zhou Hao hurriedly went forward and smiled obsequiously. “Lord Lin, why did His Majesty summon you?”

“Nothing. I’m asked by His Majesty to patrol the Cloud Prayer Palace tonight.”

Lin Ran replied casually.

Unexpectedly, when Zhou Hao heard this, he suddenly revealed a happy expression. “Congratulations, sir!”

Lin Ran frowned in confusion. Zhou Hao explained in a low voice, “Sir, you might not know this, but I heard that His Majesty is going to the Cloud Prayer Palace to sleep tonight. Now, he wants you to patrol the area. Doesn’t it mean that His Majesty values you very much?”

“I see.”

Lin Ran smiled lightly. He instructed Zhou Hao to continue patrolling and returned to Mingzhao Hall alone.

After changing into black clothes, Lin Ran went out again and rode sword straight to the imperial study.

When the guard outside the door saw that someone had barged in, he immediately drew his saber and blocked the door of the imperial study. After realizing that the person was the “Ten Miles Sword God”, he sheathed his saber and continued to guard.

Lin Ran pushed open the door and walked into the imperial study.

The empress was dealing with some state affairs. When she saw Lin Ran enter, she couldn’t help but frown slightly. “You came too early. I will only depart for the Cloud Prayer Palace two hours later.”

“I’m here to talk about this.”

Lin Ran took off his mask and smiled bitterly. “Your Majesty, I’m afraid you’ll have to rely on yourself tonight.”

The empress stopped what she was doing. “Rely on myself?”

Lin Ran nodded. Although he was certain that no one was eavesdropping outside, he still subconsciously lowered his voice. “When we were in the imperial garden today, Consort Rong seemed to have recognized me.”

“What?!”

The empress was also shocked when she heard this, but then she looked puzzled. “But how is that possible? The human skin mask I gave you was flawless. How could Consort Rong easily recognize you?”

“You might not believe it, but I feel that she recognized my gaze.”

Lin Ran said with a strange expression. Then, he recounted how he and Consort Rong looked at each other.

The empress nodded slightly. “In that case, it’s indeed possible for Consort Rong to discover something, but you want me to go and do… that?”

Lin Ran looked helpless. “I know you can’t, but if I’m really recognized by Consort Rong, the consequences will be unimaginable!”

The empress frowned and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, she chuckled. “That’s easy. When you arrive at the Cloud Prayer Palace tonight, tell her that you’re tired from dealing with state affairs and want to rest early. No matter how suspicious Consort Rong is, she can’t force your eyes open, can she?”

Lin Ran hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Although this tactic could work, if Consort Rong touched something that she should not touch on Lin Ran, he would probably have to kill her to protect the empress’s secret!

In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.

Li Tianyi’s voice came from outside the imperial study. “Your Majesty, it’s getting late. You should go to the Cloud Prayer Palace to rest.”

“I know. Prepare the dragon carriage!”

The empress replied loudly. Then, she looked at Lin Ran, who was disguised as her. “Believe in yourself. You can do it!”

Lin Ran smiled bitterly. However, the moment he stepped out of the imperial study, his aura changed. His face was solemn, and his eyes were deep. He exuded the faint dignity of an emperor!

“Let’s go!”

With Li Tianyi’s shout, Lin Ran was carried by more than ten palace servants towards the direction of the Cloud Prayer Palace. In less than half an hour, he stood in front of the door.

When he entered the room, the palace maids and eunuchs had already been dismissed.

Consort Rong stood by the bed in a pink gauze robe. Her fair skin was faintly visible under the light, and there was a hint of shyness in her eyes. She had both the charm of a married woman and an innocent girl.

“Your Majesty, I’ll help you change.”

Consort Rong spoke softly like a bird. As she spoke, she walked behind Lin Ran and reached out to touch the jade belt on Lin Ran’s waist.

Just as Lin Ran was about to tell her he was tired, he suddenly felt a strong killing intent. Then, he tightened his waist and a cold glint flashed across his eyes!

A cold voice shouted behind him, “Useless emperor! Go to hell!”