Translator: Greed

Editors: Salti

After Marrying the Empress

Chapter 11

That night, Li Yun looked over the book he had brought from Wang’s business, but to his astonishment, it included no vital information other than how the Wang family head had been greened.

It would be difficult for me to understand unless the Patriarch is selfless enough as to use specific details as the hidden signal. Li Yun sighed, persuaded by the defeat. 

But if it wasn’t, his eyes flashed and he thought about it.

“Tap, tap.”

He tapped the book’s spine a few times with his fingers, and his enraged energy rocked the book with a unique, drumbeat-like pattern. This is a common decoding technique among the rebels, and he soon saw a new message. 

“Even if someone else picks up this book, they won’t expect to find something in such a filthy text.” Li Yun let out a sigh.

He concentrated his gaze on it and noticed the concealed information.

“It doesn’t matter if he’s in the capital…”

“It has no effect on the plan…”

Is this referring to me? Li Yun pondered.

The text was partly unreadable since the encoding inside was different during his time, but Li Yun could still estimate it based on the context.

“When the Emperor leaves the palace…start the plan.”

Does this mean that they’re going to attack the emperor? Li Yun no longer felt sleepy as he read this, and he hoped that they would do a better job this time.

Anyway, it’s the emperor, and has nothing to do with my family. He even preferred that they assassinate a few people in the palace. Li Yun thought this solely because the shadows cast by the past were too deep, and he burst out laughing.

Li Yun continued to read and he discovered that there was no particular plan of action, which made it tough for him to decide on what to do next.

The emperor’s trip out of the palace was a routine activity. They would take a stroll through the capital to let the commoners know who their ruler was, and then return to the palace and continue to stare at the people. Although the process was bound to be different and far more troublesome, this was the general outline of the process.

But this should be the time for them to do it.

I’m not sure how they plan to deal with the emperor. It doesn’t matter if the emperor is dead, but what if his wife suffers as a result? Li Yun began to consider it seriously.

It took some time for him to come to a resolution.

Although the activity was extremely significant to the emperor, Zhou Ruoli didn’t have to go as long as Li Yun didn’t let her go.

“Excellent thinking!” ​​Li Yun commended himself.

(T/N: Originally Li Yun used a very Chinese term to praise himself)

……

“That’s all there is to it.” Zhou Ruoli looked at the procession route in the imperial study.

The parade was not intended to gratify the emperor’s vanity, but to demonstrate to the people of the capital that the city is safe and prosperous, especially now that the rebels have been defeated. All the details must be apparent.

He’d be startled if he spotted me sitting in the carriage during the parade. While lying on the table, Zhou Ruoli couldn’t help but chuckle. 

It’s a shame I can’t see him acting that way. If it was revealed, it would be too risky for him, so the imperial carriage would be covered in drapes. 

“Your Majesty, the imperial kitchen is ready to deliver the cakes. What flavor would you prefer?” With great trepidation, the maid’s voice emerged from the door. Your Majesty clearly prefers sour ones, but she frequently requests sweet pastries from the imperial chef, almost driving him insane. Even the maid who delivered the cakes was nervous. 

It’s time to return, Zhou Ruoli pondered. 

Zhou Ruoli noticed Li Yun as soon as he arrived home, as she placed a tray of sweet pastries on the table in the yard. 

“It’s your favorite pastry,” she exclaimed. 

“Wasn’t it troublesome for you to make it again?” At the first glimpse, Li Yun smiled. It tasted extremely wonderful. 

Trouble? Zhou Ruoli remembered the pale face of the imperial chef. 

“It’s not difficult. It was fairly straightforward.” She said lightheartedly. 

Li Yun couldn’t help but give a thumbs up. His wife was a fantastic cook, having no trouble making such complicated desserts. 

“By the way, I’m going out with my friends tomorrow morning.” Zhou Ruoli told Li Yun. 

The emperor will be parading tomorrow morning, which means… 

“My wife has friends…” Li Yun was stunned and unable to speak it aloud, and he instantly converged when he noticed Zhou Ruoli’s gradually dissatisfied expression. 

“I assumed you had no friends since you constantly exude a domineering and overbearing persona.” Li Yun grinned “So you’re going on a trip with your friends to explore the town? Not to sit in the emperor’s parade carriage, right?” 

Li Yun originally wanted her not to go, but since it was one of his wife’s rare friends, he didn’t want to prevent her from becoming a person with no interpersonal relationships. 

But how can the royal family and the rebels ensure the safety of the people when they act? 

“Then I’ll accompany you.” Li Yun stated. I can’t guarantee perfect her safety if I’m not present. Of course, he didn’t need to follow Zhou Ruoli that closely as long as there were no serious signs of danger. 

“Are you going as well?” Zhou Ruoli was taken aback; she had not expected Li Yun to volunteer to follow her, but she immediately grinned. 

“Then you must greet me whenever you see me.” 

“How do you know I’m going to see you?” 

Li Yun inquired curiously. 

There will be a large crowd at that time. 

Zhou Ruoli didn’t respond, instead she got up and walked out of the room, leaving him taken aback. 

Of course, the emperor will be visible in the carriage, so who wouldn’t be able to see her? 

…… 

Zhou Ruoli left quite early the next day. 

Before leaving, Zhou Ruoli said, “By the way, I heard the emperor is the most beautiful person in the world, you should go see.” 

“The curtain is drawn closed the whole trip, no one knows how beautiful they are.” Li Yun stated. 

Furthermore, the emperor could be assassinated halfway through the parade. Li Yun pondered over the matter. However, his wife’s safety must be ensured. 

Only two hours after Zhou Ruoli left the house, a large crowd gathered on the street, and Li Yun joined them. 

He leaned against a house on the side of the street, uninterested in the emperor’s lengthy queue, and instead was looking out for Zhou Ruoli. 

Didn’t she say I could see her easily? How can I not find her? 

Li Yun stood in place and looked around, but after a while, he saw the emperor’s imperial carriage approaching him and slowly passing by. 

“I heard the new emperor is the world’s most beautiful person…” 

“Really? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to marry her…” 

“You daydream too much.” 

Li Yun was uninterested in the people chatting next to him. Anyway, the emperor is not as attractive as my wife, so I would refuse her even if she presented herself to me. 

He scratched his head irritably as he looked left and right but couldn’t find Zhou Ruoli. 

At this point, he noticed the emperor’s slender figure sitting in the imperial carriage and they appeared to have turned their head to look at him, smiling. 

Li Yun had no idea who the emperor was staring at. To put it simply, he didn’t want to pay attention to it. He snorted and cocked his head. 

Don’t look over there, I’m heading on the path of pure love, not the harem route. I still need to find my wife. 

Today, Zhou Ruoli was donned with some light makeup behind the curtains, making her look more glamorous than usual. The emperor couldn’t help but smile when she saw Li Yun looking around for someone. 

You see, you didn’t even greet me.