The Emperor and His Thief - Chapter 55

When Bai Chenyi said he’d sleep on the floor in the same room as Lin Xiao and the rest, he did not expect to share the floor with three tigers. His eyes went over to Lin Xiao who is currently helping Long Yinlian to the bed.

“Is something the matter, General Bai?” Lin Xiao asked after he had finished helping Long Yinlian to the bed.

“These tigers… are they feral?” Bai Chenyi asked, trying to be mindful of the fact that the three tigers have yet to pounce at him.

“If they’re feral, you’d be dead by now,” Lin Xiao replied. Taking the extra blanket, he called the three tigers over. “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t harm me or Shizun, they won’t attack you.”

Lin Xiao let the three tigers settle down beside the bed before he too finally lay down on the floor. He glanced over at Bai Chenyi who appears to still be rooted near the entrance.

“General Bai, there’s a daybed over there,” Lin Xiao pointed at a direction. “You can use them if you want. Also, dinner here is usually served at Xu Shi. There’s still time, so you can rest a bit.”

“En. Thank you,” Bai Chenyi replied and Lin Xiao only waved his hand in return as he closed his eyes for a nap.

Walking over to the daybed, Bai Chenyi noticed a few scratches adorning the wood, then his eyes went to the three tigers from before. He had his suspicion that the daybed had been used as a scratch post, but he decided not to talk about it.

Placing the extra quilt on top of the daybed, Bai Chenyi sat down and began to ponder on what had just happened.

He is one of the few Generals who had sworn his loyalty to the Emperor, Qin Yijun when he first ascended to the throne. He considers himself to be the Emperor’s trusted aide, and also a close confidant. He remembered a few years ago, the Emperor had asked them to scour over their land to search for a missing person.

When the Emperor brought Lin Xiao back to Tianlong palace, he heard the Emperor rescinding the order of the missing person search. ‘Is Lin Xiao the person His Majesty has been looking for?’

Just then, there was a small shift in the wind and Bai Chenyi noticed there are two more people in the room. He glanced up, eyeing the ceiling above. ‘Two? His Majesty didn’t even send one shadow guards to protect the Empress Dowager, but he sent Lin Xiao two? Just how high is Lin Xiao’s place in His Majesty’s heart?’

Time continues to pass as Bai Chenyi is deep in his thought. When the time gets closer to Xu Shi, there was a light knock on the door, followed by Xia Yuanfeng’s voice.

“Ah’Yin, Xiao-er, Lord General, it is almost time for dinner.”

Bai Chenyi opened his eyes and turned his head towards Lin Xiao and the rest. He saw that one of the tigers have already woken up and let out a big yawn.

Lin Xiao also woke up as he felt the movement and looked up at the tiger. “Zan-er, is it dinner time?” Lin Xiao asked sleepily.

The tiger, Wang Zan let out a snort and stood up. Following suit, the other two tigers also started to get up, stretch their body and walked over to the door. Lin Xiao was last to get up, but he first went to the bed to wake Long Yinlian up.

“Shizun, it’s time for dinner. Let’s go,” Lin Xiao’s voice was soft as he gently wakes Long Yinlian up.

“Hmm… alright,” Long Yinlian replied as he slowly sat up. Getting off the bed, they walked over to the door. Bai Chenyi also stood up and followed them from behind.

As they neared the dining hall, they could hear whispered discussion and most of it was about Bai Chenyi. When they stepped into the dining hall, the whisper died out as most eyes landed on Bai Chenyi.

“Lord General Bai, it’s an honour to have you here in our humble household!”

“Lord General Bai, I heard that you have yet to be wed, I have a daughter who is close to your age…”

“Lord General Bai…”

More and more voices joined the first one, and all of them seems to want to curry favour with the young general. Lin Xiao gave Bai Chenyi a sideways glance and saw that despite the stoic expression, the eyes appear to show a hint of annoyance.

“Everyone, I appreciate the kind thoughts but I am only here under the order of His Majesty. I will not entertain any of you,” Bai Chenyi told them. “If you wish to socialise and get more connection, then you may wait for the longevity banquet of my father.”

The members of the Xia family immediately quieted down. Who didn’t know how scary the Old General Bai was. And his longevity banquet, only people with the invitation can go. Xia family is not that well known for them to be invited to the banquet.

Not to mention, during the last war of the throne, they were in a different camp.

When the situation has calmed down, Lin Xiao finally led Long Yinlian to sit at their normal place. Since Bai Chenyi was around, there was an extra seat beside them. But just as Bai Chenyi was about to take his seat, a small shadow beat him to it.

“Ah’Shen!!” a stern yet panicked voice called out to the small shadow. “Come back here!”

But the small shadow ignored it and continued to rush over to Lin Xiao’s side.

“Big brother Lin!” a voice of a young boy cried out. The boy turned out to be Xia Yushen, the boy whom Long Yinlian had decided to train.

“Xiao Shen!” Lin Xiao chuckled as he took the young boy onto his lap. “Did you train well today?”

“En! Tomorrow morning, big brother Lin will train Ah’Shen again like usual?”

Lin Xiao raised his hand and pats the young boy’s head. “We will see,” he replied. He couldn’t promise since training Xia Yushen was merely a punishment given to him by Long Yinlian and Xia Yuanfeng at first. But he had to admit, the young boy had grown on him.

“Oh…” Xia Yushen’s excited expression appeared to be deflated, and Lin Xiao felt slightly guilty.

“How about this, tomorrow… you follow big brother Lin to the market. We’ll buy you your first weapon,” Lin Xiao said as he tries to cheer Xia Yushen up.

The effect of his word could be seen almost immediately and Xia Yushen beamed up at him. “Then, that’s a promise! Will Shizun also come along?” he asked as he looked over at Long Yinlian.

Though Long Yinlian couldn’t see, he somehow could feel Xia Yushen’s pleading gaze on him. With a low chuckle, he also pats Xia Yushen’s head. “Alright. I will go and accompany you. Now, go to your seat and wait for dinner to be served.”

“Can I not eat here?”

“Ah’Shen…” Xia Yushen’s father, Xia Yutian called his name again, this time in a warning tone.

Lin Xiao glared at Xia Yutian before he let Xia Yushen settle on his lap. “You can eat with big brother Lin. Martial uncle, that’s alright, right?” Lin Xiao glanced at Xia Yuanfeng for back up.

“If you’re okay with it. Then its fine,” Xia Yuanfeng said before he looked over at the head servant. “Go and tell them to serve dinner now.”