The Emperor and His ThiefCh76 - With me around, you’ll receive the Emperor’s Grace

Lin Xiao still doubted the Emperor’s true intention but what else was he supposed to do? Who told the Emperor to be the great Son of Heaven?

“Since… the game will begin tomorrow, can Lin Xiao look around the palace?” he asked after a while. Since he agreed, then he may as well get a feel around the palace area so that he won’t get lost or confused when the time comes. KOtbo4

“You may,” Qin Yijun replied with a smile.

“Is there a place that is forbidden?” Lin Xiao asked once again.

Chrysanthemum Garden.

“There is none—” Qin Yijun paused in his sentence before a frown appeared on his face. “No… there are two places where you are not allowed to go. Liangren Palace and Hua Baihe Palace,” Qin Yijun told Lin Xiao. “But don’t worry. The keys won’t be hidden at those two places.”

Lin Xiao kept the name of the two locations in his mind before nodding his head. “Then other than those two?” VE 5lD

“You are free to visit them. Even if you wish to visit Zhen’s bed-chamber,” Qin Yijun replied with a playful smirk.

“… Please excuse Lin Xiao, Your Majesty,” Lin Xiao decided not to comment on it and simply asked to be excused. Qin Yijun also didn’t plan to tease Lin Xiao more in fearing that the other might end up running away before he could accomplish his goal.

Once Lin Xiao had left, Qin Yijun then gestured for the shadow guards to pick the keys. There were six keys, but the guards only took five of it. “All of you are to hide the keys at Li Fangming’s favourite spot. Considering you have been accompanying Zhen since young, you would know, right?” Qin Yijun asked and the shadow guards nods their head. “Good. Now go,” he ordered and the guards disappeared into the winds, just like how their name is; shadows.

Left alone, Qin Yijun then touched the last key on the table. This key is the key to the innermost iron case. He was responsible to hide this key but he already knew where to hide it. After all, which better place to hide it other than on oneself?

“Li Fangming’s favourite… I am also one… right, Ming-er?” Qin Yijun murmured softly to himself before he placed the key safely within the hidden pocket inside his robe which is the closest to his chest.

Lin Xiao who didn’t know anything about the Emperor’s little ploy had just reached the entrance of the palace courtyard. It was here that he finally realised that none of the guards and eunuch had actually followed them inside. Out of curiosity, Lin Xiao looked up to the gate and saw the name of the palace written on the plaque. ‘Yuexing Palace…?’

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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‘Don’t think too much. You are Lin Xiao, not someone else…’ he quietly told himself, as if he’s trying to delude himself. Then, he looked down at his own attire. The more he stared at the lavish and expensive clothes, the more he felt that he is far from himself. If it were not for getting even with the Huang family, he wouldn’t be wearing these clothes, nor would he accept the title of Qing Wang. VymwTq

‘I had no choice. If I didn’t take revenge for the distress they cause Shizun to feel, I won’t be reconciled. It was either this or…’

Lin Xiao’s mind went back to the scene of last night. After they left the Huang residence, Lin Xiao naturally went to the Bai residence since that is where Long Yinlian is. He had thought that after the Emperor was done with the matters with Huang family, he would return to the palace. But to his surprise, the Emperor had followed him all the way to Bai residence, causing the members of the Bai family to be nervous the whole night.

It was there that the Emperor suggested to help him get even with the Huang family. He had told Lin Xiao that as long as he wished for it, he could make the Huang family disappear. But Lin Xiao’s nature is one that likes to take his own revenge and not depend on anyone else in doing his dirty deeds so, he immediately rejected the idea.

For Qin Yijun, it was one of the rare chances where he could help his beloved, so he was unwilling to let Lin Xiao deal with it alone. Fortunately, An Yi had told him about his slip up so he capitalised on that and made the shadow guard’s lie into a reality. Thus, an Imperial Decree was written on the same night, bestowing Lin Xiao with the title of Qing Wang. This way, without the Emperor’s consent, none of the officials of the court can cause harm to Lin Xiao. dfCmGD

The title was given in a rush and there was no ceremony. The only witness is the people whom the Emperor had brought, and the whole members of the Bai family. Originally, the Emperor had told Lin Xiao that he would propose a date for the banquet where he would announce Lin Xiao’s identity as Qing Wang but it was rejected at once by said Wangye.

It was only a title that he received in order to get back at Huang family. He felt that there was no need for a formality. In addition, he felt that it was too troublesome.

“Wangye…” a hesitant voice calling out to him snapped Lin Xiao out of his thoughts. “Is there anything wrong?”

Lin Xiao turned his attention to the person who had just called him. It was a familiar face, and not too long ago, the two of them had actually sparred and Lin Xiao, had ruthlessly kicked his family jewel. Qd rJZ

“Brother Meng,” the corner of Lin Xiao’s lips curved upward, forming a mischievous smirk. “Lin Xiao wonders if Brother Meng’s little brother had recovered?”

The change in Meng Chen’s expression was something that Lin Xiao revelled. His days have been chaotic ever since he got into that carriage with the Emperor. Now, he finally found an outlet. He was expecting Meng Chen to lash out but to his surprise, Meng Chen schooled his displeasure and changed his expression back.

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“Wangye, please don’t remind Meng Chen of that experience,” he said in a polite tone.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao couldn’t help but frown. He thought that the other would flare up but instead, Meng Chen merely lowered his head in submission. ‘If it’s like this… I very much prefer the old Meng Chen than this obedient… dog.’ ZBu5t1

“Meng Chen,” Lin Xiao said his name in a serious tone.

“Meng Chen is here, Wangye.”

“Stop with the politeness, it’s disgusting.”

Meng Chen: … BNpVAw

“I don’t like it when people put on an act. Showing one face at the back and another at the front… is it so fun being two-faced?” Lin Xiao asked.

“… How is this being two-faced? I am merely showing respect to my superior… this is normal.”

“It is normal to show respect to someone who kicked your family jewel?” Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow and sure enough, at the reminder of that particular event, Meng Chen’s face changed again.

“Good, good! Keep it like that! I may have accepted that title of Qing Wang but at the end of the day, I am still Lin Xiao. In front of me, you don’t have to put up that disgusting act of currying favour,” Lin Xiao told Meng Chen. Ybd8Gh

“Who wants to curry favour with you?!” Meng Chen finally exploded.

Finally finding someone that doesn’t treat him like he’s someone else, even if it was Meng Chen, Lin Xiao felt satisfied in his heart. “Brother Meng, just stay like this,” Lin Xiao said. “You are better like this. I’m sure, even if your little brother didn’t make full recovery, you’ll still go far in your line of work as long as you stay honest!”

Of course, Lin Xiao didn’t know much about being a soldier or a guard but since Meng Chen is someone who is placed under Bai Chenyi, honesty must be one of the qualities that are placed as important aside from loyalty. He had been with Bai Chenyi for mere few days and he already could figure out the other’s character. Loyal to the bone.

Even if he would end up dead, he was sure that Bai Chenyi would still carry out the Emperor’s order without any question. What happened last night was a good example. He could’ve just abandoned Lin Xiao when Huang Zhexian came over to capture him. But Bai Chenyi still tried to protect him and his Shizun. For this, Lin Xiao is grateful for the young general. And since Meng Chen is one of Bai Chenyi’s people, he will try to be more ‘accommodating’ and make sure that this idiot with a single mind won’t be manipulated. 8UfuRP

“Speaking of which… Meng Chen, why were you waiting outside and not following us inside?” Lin Xiao finally couldn’t hold back his curiosity.

“Ah, right. Wang-I… mean…” Meng Chen faked a cough when he saw Lin Xiao glaring at him as he was about to address the other by his title. “Brother Lin, after the event from two years ago, no one else other than the occasional servants who came to clean the palace is allowed to enter without the permission of His Majesty.”

“Anyone who was found to enter the palace without His Majesty’s permission… were all executed at once. Inside this palace… there is one shadow guard that guards the palace.”

“…” Lin Xiao didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt as if his neck was cold. He lightly touched the back of his neck, then looked up at the plaque again. “Let’s leave. Meng Chen, you follow me and give me a tour around the palace.” cUIpHk

“I can’t do that. I don’t have the permission to wander around the palace,” Meng Chen replied.

Lin Xiao merely took out the Imperial Edict that he had received not too long ago and waved it in front of Meng Chen playfully. “With me around, you now received the Emperor’s grace,” he said with a smirk.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

A/N: To be honest, I am very close to wrapping the arc 1 of this story. If I didn’t have any day job, I could’ve finished it faster but alas, I need the job lol. In any case, if you’d like to donate, you can do so by donating at Ko-Fi or use the button that says “Buy me gold coins to hoard”.

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Finally, thank you very much for sticking with this story! Those who came from wattpad, thank you for following through! Though the story has changed slightly, the plot did not change much so try not to give out spoiler when a certain scene come in the future, okay? This author is begging you