Translator: Greed

Editors: Salti

After Marrying the Empress

Chapter 9

The Dagan Imperial Prison is the most tightly guarded place in the capital. Legend says that the King of Thieves once attempted to rescue someone, but was beaten and had his legs broken at just the entrance. Over time, the people started calling the Imperial Guards, “Imperial Dogs”.

Despite the tight security, the Big Beard wasn’t surprised when Li Yun showed up in front of him.. They discussed whether to save him and ultimately, Li Yun decided not to.

“……” Big Beard was speechless.

“I was just being polite. Forget it, I don’t want to get out. The food here is pretty good. There is still a year before I get my head chopped off for my crimes. It won’t matter even if I get out, since I’m already close to death as a result of malpractice during my cultivation. But there are some things you should know…”

“Why are you in the capital?” Li Yun asked. Big Beard being in the capital is as likely as Barbie entering Jurassic Park.

“After you left, the senior leaders believed that you would be gone forever. Believing this, they seemed to have formed a new plan. I don’t know the details, but I feel like there’s something wrong with it, “ he said, then sighed. “You can think of the current rebels as a separatist group fighting over power, they are completely different from when you were the leader.”

He looked up at Li Yun and found that Li Yun didn’t really care even after hearing of this. He couldn’t help but smile. “Indeed, it’s probably better for you not to care. They’re all bastards who have been pressuring you for five years to fight.”

“I married my wife. She’s an ordinary person who can’t stand the loss of family and country.” Li Yun sat down cross-legged and said through the prison door.

“I saw her, she’s beautiful.” Big Beard sighed. “You should enjoy life.”

Li Yun suddenly remembered something, took out a bag of items from his pocket, and said: “Don’t say that I didn’t treat you, I spent all of my money to buy you this.”

“How shameful of me to take it…” Big Beard grinned and looked up. To see that it was five big white steamed buns, which sold for one penny each on the street, he became silent.

“All of your money?” Big Beard asked to confirm.

“Okay.” Li Yun pressed his forehead, “Actually, it was from my wife’s leftovers. I have to pay fifty taels of silver tomorrow. After all, I also have to save face. I can’t go empty-handed to meet an old friend .”

Big Beard was silent, have you been living such a miserable life up till now?

Looking at the bun, Big Beard said, “Let’s divide it.” 

“That would be great.”

After eating, Big Beard looked at Li Yun who was about to leave and said: “Be careful of the aristocratic families, especially the one surname Wang. You almost dug up their foundations in the beginning. They harbour a deep hatred for you. If they weren’t in a cooperative relationship with the new faction amongst the current rebels…”

“If necessary, you can seek help from the new emperor, she is different from the old emperor.”

Li Yun paused after hearing this, then turned and left without saying anything.

Soon after, Yun Yi walked into the Imperial Prison. He saw Big Beard whistling and looked towards the front of the cell…

Not a single trace.

“Someone was here?” Yun Yi asked.

“This is the most secure prison in the world. Even if your old man comes, he will still fall onto the street. Do you think anyone can just sneak in?” Big Beard sneered. “Brat, it’s time you stop believing in the kind of mythical people that could do that.” 

(T/N: Fall onto the street, also called “pok gai”(扑街), is a common Cantonese curse phrase)

If someone like that really did exist, he would have to put five pennies on his tab.

……

Although Li Yun didn’t have a lot of money, he never worried about eating and dressing well. Zhou Ruoli always prepared these things, even if he didn’t know where she got them from.

“Put it here.” Zhou Ruoli said to Chen Hai who was dressed in blue armour. He carried several large boxes that included food, clothing, and other things that Zhou Ruoli didn’t know of.

Although she didn’t know, Chen Hai knew, so he became Zhou Ruoli’s temporary slave.

Outsiders would have fainted at the sight of the Dagan Palace’s Imperial Guards moving things around.

Although he was reluctant in questioning the empress’s will, Chen Hai slowly put down the things he was carrying and asked, “Your Majesty, is this as planned?” 

“Of course.” Zhou Ruoli’s answer indifferently.

Chen Hai heard the sound of someone’s footsteps and immediately turned around and jumped onto the eaves to leave.

When Li Yun came back, he saw several boxes packed with things at the door, and Zhou Ruoli standing there.

“You’re late. I had to move all these boxes by myself for a long time.” Zhou Ruoli said, looking up at Li Yun.

No, even if several strong men came to carry those boxes, they would still be exhausted. Li Yun complained in his heart.

But his instinct told him that if he said so now, he would be sleeping peacefully at the bottom of the well tonight, so he gave a thumbs up and said, “good waist.”

Li Yun naturally knew whether it was good or not, but Zhou Ruoli immediately slapped his face with a tomato when she heard that.

The yard was close by, so Li Yun wasn’t tired after moving the boxes.

He looked through the contents of the box and found that they were full of ingredients. He couldn’t help but sigh: “Do you know how to cook too?”

He wanted people to help move things, but others can’t help with the selection of ingredients, so she probably chose it herself.

“Of course.” Zhou Ruoli said with a smile.

The two continued to chat, and as Li Xue was probably finished spreading publicity outside, she passed by the door.

“Yo, Mr Landlord.” Li Xue noticed Li Yun. Her courtesy was good. If it was Zhou Ruoli, she would just ignore you.

Li Yun also said hello with a smile.

“I learnt something today. There are people related to the rebels in the aristocratic families.” Li Xue said triumphantly.

Li Yun almost crushed the teacup in his hand, Zhou Ruoli was also a little surprised and raised his eyebrows.

“How do you know?” Li Yun asked. A ruined lady like Li Xue shouldn’t have known this.

“Beautiful girls have many ways.” Li Xue hugged her chest and shook her head with a smug expression on her face.

“Which family?” Zhou Ruoli asked.

Li Xue frowned suddenly: “Why do I feel like both of you care about this a lot? Are you related to this?”

 Shouldn’t she be the one who cares the most?

Both of them were startled, then Li Yun smiled and said, “Who doesn’t like listening to gossip.”

“I guess that’s true.” Li Xue agreed.

“The family’s surname is Wang. I heard that they were in contact with the rebels recently, but I don’t know which rebels were involved now that they’re divided into several branches. If that person was there, they wouldn’t dare do this.”

The family surnamed Wang, Big Beard said this too. Li Yun pondered for a while and decided that he needed to learn more about this, otherwise, the capital will explode one day.

It didn’t matter if the capital exploded, but he couldn’t let his wife experience any incidents.

Li Xue ate three bowls of rice at Li Yun’s house that day for this little piece of news. According to her, the food for the past three days was in her stomach.

Li Yun thought about giving her more to eat, but Li Xue was a person who didn’t eat food that came for free, so she decided to come back once she learned more.

……

The family surnamed Wang… did I beat them up before? No impression. Li Yun sat in the yard and thought about how they came in swarms before, so they didn’t leave any impression.

“Did your memory go bad?” Zhou Ruoli couldn’t help but sneer at his distressed face next to her.

“There are some things that can’t be remembered even if you wanted to.” Li Yun spread his hand.

“That’s just you being stupid.” Zhou Ruo said with her chin on her hand.

Li Yun felt that he couldn’t be stupid, since he could at the least be considered number one in the world in terms of martial arts.

“Do you have an example?” Li Yun was a little unconvinced.

“I remember everything that has happened ever since I met you. Do you want to review it with me?” Zhou Ruoli sneered, the cold silver moonlight on her black hair.

Li Yun lost, she was the number one woman in the world.