151 Night Rain
Not only Lin Ran, but even Huo Qiyun was shocked speechless when he heard this news.
“That explains everything.”
Lin Ran put away the scroll. “I couldn’t figure out why Liu Hongshan wanted to rebel.”
“But now I do. He wanted to avenge his father.
Huo Qiyun suddenly recalled Liu Hongshan’s meaningful words on Furnace Peak.
“You thought you had seen through everything, but you didn’t… However, it’s not your fault. After all, you’re still young and haven’t experienced a lot.”
At that time, Huo Qiyun thought that Liu Hongshan was acting, but now it seemed that Liu Hongshan was quite honest at that moment.
He had been incognito for decades not for the sake of power, fortune, or fame, but for the sake of revenge!
Lin Ran sighed and didn’t say anything. He turned to look at the empress and waved the scroll. “Where did this information come from? How trustworthy is it?”
“Absolutely trustworthy.”
The empress said firmly without thinking, her eyes revealing something indescribable. “This matter will damage the reputation of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty, so it has to be handled in secret.”
“Back then, the dynasty announced to the public that Liu Hongshan had entered the realm of Grandmaster, so they asked him to retire from the army. In fact, he was secretly captured and executed by the Five Elements Imperial Guards. This is the internal record of the Five Elements Imperial Guards.”
At the side, Huo Qiyun said, “Let’s not talk about this first. Since Liu Hongshan is from the Great Yong Dynasty, we can basically confirm that he’s preparing to rebel. We have to send Sister Empress to a safe place as soon as possible!”
Just as the empress was about to speak, Li Tianyi suddenly ran in in a panic. “Your Majesty! Something bad has happened.”
Lin Ran’s expression changed and he hurriedly asked, “What happened?”
“Outside! Outside!”
Li Tianyi pointed outside and said anxiously, “Guards have come to report! Someone barged in with a dagger. He’s extremely powerful. Hundreds of guards have died at his hands!”
“He’s here!”
Lin Ran and Huo Qiyun looked at each other and knew who the person holding the dagger was.
“Qiyun!”
Lin Ran turned to look at Huo Qiyun with determination in his eyes. “It’s very dangerous here. Take His Majesty away immediately. I’ll go and meet him!”
With that, Lin Ran disappeared in a flash.
“Your Majesty.”
Huo Qiyun shouted and stretched out his right hand. “It’s dangerous here. Leave with me!”
The empress also knew that the situation was urgent. She sighed softly and said worriedly, “With Lord Lin around, I’m not worried about Liu Hongshan causing destruction. I’m just afraid that he might have been in contact with the Great Yong Dynasty. If they cooperate, that would be…”
Before she could finish speaking, a black shadow suddenly barged in.
Huo Qiyun’s body tensed. He immediately protected the empress. Then, he looked at the black shadow and realized that it was a messenger from the border.
The messenger was almost covered in injuries. The part below his right arm was missing. There was also a terrifying wound on his back that was deep enough to reach his bones. The blood that seeped out formed a thick scab that almost glued his wound and clothes together.
The moment the messenger entered, he fell to the ground, and the air was immediately filled with the nauseating smell of blood.
He no longer had the strength to stand up. He could only lie on the ground and slowly extend his clenched left fist. He coughed blood and said weakly, “Your, Your Majesty… An urgent report from the border!”
After saying the last word, the messenger fell unconscious.
Huo Qiyun hurriedly went forward to check his breathing. Then, he shook his head at the empress with a sad expression. “He’s too seriously injured.”
The empress’s eyes instantly turned red, but she still maintained her dignity as an emperor. “Bring up the urgent report from the border.”
Huo Qiyun nodded and looked at the messenger’s clenched left fist. Even though he had already lost his life, his left fist was still clenched tightly.
Huo Qiyun tried a few times but couldn’t pry open his fist. In the end, he had no choice but to cut off the messenger’s finger before taking out a jade slip that was almost soaked in blood.
The empress ignored the blood and reached out to take it. Her expression suddenly changed. “This morning, the Great Yong Dynasty suddenly launched an attack at the northern border! At least 300,000 people were mobilized!”
Huo Qiyun immediately recalled what the empress had just said and couldn’t help but curse. “What we are afraid of really happened! Liu Hongshan must have planned this for a long time!”
“What’s the point of saying this now?”
The empress said coldly. After thinking for a moment, she ordered, “Pass down my orders! Order General Guo Fuzhen to defend the city to the death. Also, order General Sun Qingtao to bring 100,000 elite soldiers to the back of the enemy and cut off their retreat before fighting the enemy with Guo Fuzhen!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Li Tianyi nodded and ran out in a panic.
Huo Qiyun hesitated for a moment. In the end, he couldn’t help but say, “The Northern Garrison only has 200,000 soldiers whereas the Great Yong Dynasty came with 300,000 soldiers. A day has passed since the Great Yong army launched the attack. Even if we send the Western Garrison to reinforce them, it’ll probably be too late, right?”
When the empress heard this, she looked troubled. “I know it’s too late, but the Western Garrison is the closest to the battlefield. If we send troops from the capital, I’m afraid it will delay us even more!”
“Sister Empress, actually, the Western Garrison is not the closest.”
Huo Qiyun said softly with a strange expression, “Do you still remember the sects that participated in King Zhao’s rebellion?”
…
At the same time, outside the Meridian Gate.
Hundreds of guards fell to the ground, blood flowing everywhere. The pungent smell of blood could not even be blown away by the wind!
In the middle of the corpses, Liu Hongshan stood there with a faint smile on his face. His left hand was behind his back and he was holding a dagger in his right hand. Although he did not deliberately release his aura, the killing intent on his body was still so strong that it made people feel suffocated.
The guards from all over the palace kept surging over, but no one dared to take a step forward. They all stood dozens of feet away in fear.
Seeing that there were more and more guards around, the corners of Liu Hongshan’s mouth slowly curled up. However, just as he was about to swing his dagger, a surging sword intent suddenly descended from the sky. Rising on the Yin-Yang Sword, Lin Ran slowly landed with a dark expression.
After seeing the scene clearly, Lin Ran couldn’t help but grit his teeth.
From the time he received the news to the time he rushed over, it took him about seven to eight breaths. With Liu Hongshan’s strength, he could easily break into the palace. However, he stood there without moving. It was obvious that he was here just to kill the guards!
“Imperial guards, listen up!”
Lin Ran shouted and raised his guard commander token high. “I’m the commander of the imperial guards, Lin Ran! Leave this person to me. Go back and protect His Majesty immediately!”
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