Chapter 203 - 203 Unexpected Turn of Event
203 Unexpected Turn of Event
At the moment.
After Lin Ran blindfolded himself, he immediately grabbed the empress’s arm before a strong wind slowly lifted him and the empress up.
A moment later, Lin Ran felt himself stepping on solid ground again.
“The two of you wait here for a moment. I’ll report to the town guardian.”
The figure on the left said from behind Lin Ran. At the same time, a breeze blew past his face and the black cloth on his eyes was removed.
Lin Ran opened his eyes and realized that they had been sent to a room about thirty steps square. A few dim candles flickered in the wind, and most of the room was hidden in the darkness.
“My friend, I…”
Lin Ran wanted to take the opportunity to get something out of the two figures, but when he turned around, he realized that they were already gone. He pursed his lips and helped the empress up.
After channeling a trace of internal energy into her, Lin Ran said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “You don’t know how to suppress your realm. They’ll easily find out. Hold on for a while. I’ll find a way to get out of here as soon as possible.”
The empress nodded slightly. With this trace of internal energy to protect her, she no longer felt that weak. She took a deep breath and looked at Lin Ran. “Where did you learn the Regal Technique?”
Lin Ran’s pupils were constricted. He did not expect the empress to recognize it. Just as he was thinking about how to explain, he suddenly heard light footsteps.
Hearing the footsteps, the two of them subconsciously looked at each other and tacitly stopped talking. They only leaned against each other and pretended to be terrified.
A moment later, the footsteps stopped at the door. Then, the door opened and a figure walked in.
“The town guardian is actually a woman?”
When Lin Ran saw who it was, he couldn’t help but look surprised. Nanjiang Town was not an ordinary town.
As a military place, especially one where a large number of high realm martial artists were stationed, the one in charge had to be both capable and charismatic. Otherwise, he would be easily challenged by his subordinates. However, this guardian turned out to be a beautiful woman.
The room was dim, so Lin Ran couldn’t see her face clearly. However, the more hazy her face was, the more he could feel her charm. She was wearing a black robe and a jade belt, which accentuated her exquisite curves and added a hint of heroic spirit to her.
Seeing the female guardian enter, Lin Ran immediately went forward and cupped his hands. “Lord, my name is Lin Qiyun. Her name is Lu Di. We eloped here…”
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Ran felt someone grab his arm. He turned around and saw the empress shaking her head with a complicated expression. “Stop talking.”
Lin Ran was stunned. Before he could understand what was going on, the female town guardian opposite him spoke again.
“Wan’er, it’s been many years since we last met. You’ve really grown up…”
The female guardian looked at the empress with a faint smile. “Since when did you learn to elope with a man?”
Lin Ran was even more confused. He looked at the two women for a moment before fixing his gaze on the empress’s face. “Do you know each other?”
The empress ignored Lin Ran and took a few steps forward. She looked straight at the female town guardian. “Why are you here?”
The female guardian didn’t answer. She looked past the empress to Lin Ran’s face. “How far have you two progressed?”
Lin Ran pursed his lips. Although he didn’t know why, it was obvious that these two women knew each other and had a special relationship.
At the same time, Lin Ran had already vaguely guessed something, but he didn’t dare to be outspoken about it. He explained with a serious expression, “Eloping is just a lie to avoid trouble. I’m actually her guard.”
The female town guardian nodded as if she did not care.
“Why are you here?”
The empress repeated her question, but compared to last time, this time, her tone was clearly filled with anger and disappointment.
Lin Ran knew that he had guessed correctly. This “female town guardian” in front of him was most likely the previous empress of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty, the empress’s mother!
As if to confirm Lin Ran’s guess, the female guardian took a few steps forward, and her pretty face was illuminated by the candlelight.
It was similar to the mask the empress had made in Fort Liushi, but her facial features looked more natural in person. Her gentle beauty was as serene as the spring rain, but just looking at her quietly was enough to make one intoxicated.
Lin Ran took a glance and took half a step back. He cupped his hands and bowed. “Greetings, Empress Dowager. I’m the deputy general of the Northern Garrison of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty, Lin Ran.”
Hearing the words “Empress Dowager”, the female town guardian’s eyes trembled, as if a string in her heart had been tugged at, but it returned to normal in an instant.
“I’m no longer the empress dowager of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty.”
The female town guardian smiled and said in an emotionless tone, “I’m called Liu Ruxi. You can call me Town Guardian Liu.”
“Toan Guardian Liu.”
Lin Ran bowed again and silently retreated to the shadows in the corner. Although the atmosphere between mother and daughter didn’t seem right, he still felt that it was better not to get involved.
Seeing that Lin Ran was staying out of it, Town Guardian Liu sighed softly and turned to face the empress. She reached out, wanting to touch her head.
The empress suddenly took a step back with tears in her eyes, but her eyes were even more determined than usual. “Why are you here?!”
The same question was repeated for the third time. It was unknown if it was because of anger or impatience, but the empress’s tone was already very bad.
Liu Ruxi did not care. She quickly took a step forward and gently stroked the empress’s hair, her eyes filled with love. “Wan’er… you’ve really become a big girl.”
Slap!
The empress suddenly slapped Liu Ruxi’s hand away and repeated the question for the fourth and last time. “Why are you here?”
A hint of sadness flashed across Liu Ruxi’s eyes, but she still had no intention of answering.
The empress turned her head away from Liu Ruxi and shouted at Lin Ran in the corner, “Lin Ran, send me back!”
Lin Ran thought that the two of them were going to talk for a while, but when he was suddenly called out, he was stunned.
At this moment, Liu Ruxi suddenly said, “You can’t leave.”
As if afraid that the two of them would not believe her, Liu Ruxi said seriously, “The war has just ended and Nanjiang Town is under heavy security. Since you were captured and brought back, it’s impossible for you to leave so easily.”
“Stay here for the next few days. I’ll ask them not to make things difficult for you.”
With that, Liu Ruxi turned around and left, knowing that the empress did not want to see her at this moment.
The door closed, leaving only the two of them in the room.
The empress stood in the candlelight with a lonely expression. At some point, tears had already started rolling down her face.
“Actually… I don’t think you have to be so sad.”
Lin Ran blinked and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “I think there’s something else going on.”