137 Petty Grand Secretary
Hearing Lin Ran’s name, the empress’s expression instantly changed. This was different from the plan.
In Lin Ran’s original plan, after the Sacred Abyss Sword was stolen, the three of them would disappear into thin air. After dealing with Liu Hongshan or Xiao Huai, they would return with the fake Sacred Abyss Sword.
At that time, the Sacred Abyss Sword would be lost and found. Although the thief who stole the sword had yet to be caught, the empress could legitimately slow down the investigation. In a few years or so, this matter would be forgotten.
But now, not only was Lin Ran arrested, but he was also charged with “stealing Sacred Abyss Sword”. Even if the empress wanted to help him, she couldn’t. Otherwise, she would definitely be accused of “protecting” the thief!
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed across the empress’s mind, but in the end, she denied them all.
Everyone in the palace knew that Lin Ran was the empress’s favorite official. His status was almost on par with Li Tianyi. Therefore, even if Lin Ran was just a suspect, the empress couldn’t show any bias!
“Although I don’t know what you are up to I can only trust you now!”
The empress thought to herself, but she had an upright expression on her face. “Pass down my order! No matter who is involved in this, interrogate them thoroughly!”
Zhang Yueheng lay on the ground and probed, “Your Majesty, is Commander Lin the same?”
The empress’s eyes turned cold, and the emperor’s aura that made people not dare to look straight at her spread out from her body. “I said, ‘No matter who it is’. Don’t you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zhang Yueheng replied respectfully, but no one noticed that a cold smile appeared on his face.
Previously, the empress was bewitched by Xiao Huai to the point of ignoring all the state affairs. As the Grand Secretary, Zhang Yueheng went to persuade her, but he was almost beaten to death by the guards. If not for Li Tianyi’s help, he would probably have died outside the imperial study!
He led the ministers to kneel outside the imperial study for three days, but it wasn’t as effective as a few words from Lin Ran. This made him feel humiliated.
What was a Grand Secretary?
Other than the urgent reports at the border during the war, Zhang Yueheng was the first one who read all the official documents from all over the world. After he wrote down his suggestions, the documents would then be sent to the empress. If there was anything he did not want the empress to know, he could even withhold this official document.
He could influence the empress’s decision. Sometimes, he could even change the empress’s decision!
However, such an influential figure actually had less of a say than a mere guard commander in front of the empress. How could Zhang Yueheng, the Grand Secretary, accept that?
However, because Lin Ran was always nowhere to be seen, Zhang Yueheng never had the chance to take revenge. Now that he was finally in trouble, Zhang Yueheng would use this chance to strike back.
After asking a few more questions, Zhang Yueheng left excitedly.
As soon as he left the imperial study, Zhang Yueheng took out a jade slip and handed it to his servant. He instructed coldly, “Send it to the Grand Council as soon as possible. Tell them that His Majesty has decreed that the relevant people must be interrogated strictly!”
“Yes!”
The servant nodded, took the jade slip, and ran away.
Zhang Yueheng thought for a moment and took out two jade slips. He handed them to another servant. “Find someone else to ask the Grand Council every hour if there’s any progress!”
“Yes!”
The second servant also took the jade slip and ran away. Only then did Zhang Yueheng reveal a satisfied smile. However, what he did not know was that what he said was all heard by the empress in the imperial study.
“This damned Zhang Yueheng actually wanted to use the opportunity to get rid of Lin Ran. How despicable!”
The empress punched the desk and cursed angrily.
Zhang Yueheng’s series of arrangements looked conscientious, but the empress saw through him at a glance.
First, he used the decree to get the Grand Council to interrogate Lin Ran. Then, he sent someone to ask about the progress just to put pressure on the Grand Council!
At the moment, Lin Ran was the only suspect. When the Grand Council felt pressured, they would definitely be in a hurry to resolve this matter. At that time, God knew what the Grand Council would do. Torture would probably be the lightest punishment!
Thinking of this, the empress could not help but feel furious. However, Zhang Yueheng had a justifiable cause to do that, so she could not really do anything to him.
The empress could not help but clench her fists tightly as she stared fixedly at a certain spot. She did not even notice that her nails had dug into her flesh.
“Lin Ran, you have to be safe…”
…
Lotus Town, in a nameless house.
Before Shen Rulin left, he said that he would get someone to send a brush and ink over, but Lin Ran had been sitting here for an hour. Not to mention anyone, he didn’t even see a ghost.
“Is he trying to fool me? But what’s the point?”
Lin Ran held his chin and let his imagination run wild. His eyes subconsciously drifted to the door.
Although he knew that this might be a test, he couldn’t help but want to open the door and go out. After all, he had to return to the palace to discuss the plan with the empress as soon as possible. He didn’t have time to waste here.
However, at the thought that he might be shot by ten thousand arrows the moment he opened the door, Lin Ran didn’t act rashly. He closed his eyes and focused. A wisp of divine sense spread out in a circle with him as the center.
As he extended his divine sense, the scene outside the house quickly appeared in Lin Ran’s mind. Not only was the yard empty, but there was also no one in the room beside it.
Just as Lin Ran was about to extend his divine sense further away, he suddenly sensed a person walking towards him. His cultivation was not high, only at the sixth level of the Martial Master Realm, so he did not perceive that he was being watched.
However, no matter what his cultivation was, since he could come here, he should be on Shen Rulin’s side.
Lin Ran retracted his divine sense and waited as if nothing had happened.
A moment later, the person was already at the door. Instead of knocking, he asked from outside, “Is Lord Lin here?”
Lin Ran’s heart skipped a beat. For some reason, he felt that this voice was a little familiar, but he didn’t think too much about it and replied casually, “Yes, please come in!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the door opened and a young man in black walked in. He was holding a tray in each hand. On his left was tea and snacks, and on his right was brush, paper, and inkstone.
Lin Ran stood up and was about to take the things from him. However, when he saw the black-robed young man’s face, he was stunned on the spot.
He knew this person!
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