Tianlong Palace

Seeing that the person in his arm has passed out, the Emperor took the liberty to scoop him up and carried Lin Xiao in a princess carry. Lin Xiao’s head rested on his chest, and Qin YiJun could feel the warmth seeping through his robes.

“Meng Chen,” Qin YiJun called out a name.

“Meng Chen is here, Your Majesty.”

“Deal with everything here. Not a word of what happened is allowed to escape this room. As for the blind one, bring him to Zhen later,” Qin YiJun said before he walked out of the hall while carrying Lin Xiao.

Meng Chen watched as the Emperor carried Lin Xiao in his arm. He had served the Emperor ever since the Emperor rose to the throne and he has yet to see the Emperor let anyone get close. Now, he saw the Emperor taking the initiative to hold someone close, and even carry the other person. He can’t help but think highly of Lin Xiao, despite his first impression of the thief.

Turning his attention back to everyone in the hall, Meng Chen finally speaks up. “I am very sure that you heard what His Majesty had said. No one is allowed to speak of what happened in this hall earlier. If anyone dares, then your family might find you missing… no, they probably won’t since they will go ‘missing’ along with you,” Meng Chen said, his words laced with hidden threat. “Is that being understood?”

“Of course, of course! This small official wouldn’t dare to say anything. Today, only the Xia family is present, and there is nothing much that happened except the court decided that Elder Xia HaoXiang is guilty of the charges against him, and thus will be imprisoned for 50 years as punishment,” the officials who seemed to be very domineering earlier towards Lin Xiao and Long YinLian suddenly turned into a chicken. He had seen how the Emperor treat the younger man, so it was best if he did not offend anyone that he shouldn’t offend.

After that, Meng Chen nodded his head and went to Long YinLian’s side. He was actually having trouble with how to treat the other. But remembering how the Emperor treats this man’s adopted son, Meng Chen decided that it was better if he treats the other with the utmost respect.

“This esteemed master, please stand up,” Meng Chen said as he reached out and helped Long YinLian to stand. Long YinLian was about to open his mouth to ask but Meng Chen quickly cut him off. “If you have any questions, I also don’t know how to answer. Only His Majesty will be able to. His Majesty asks me to bring you to him, so you will be able to inquire about what the Emperor is thinking,” Meng Chen said in a calm tone.

“I… alright. But nothing will happen to my son, right?”

‘With how the Emperor treat your son, I doubt anything bad would happen, ah! You couldn’t see it, but I see it clearly. The Emperor is treating your son like the most precious treasure!!’

Although Meng Chen wanted to say that out loud, he still holds himself back. “How can we, His Majesty’s humble subjects, know what is in the mind of a monarch? But I can assure you that nothing bad will happen to your son.”

Long YinLian still wasn’t feeling relieved but he could only follow Meng Chen. Just as Meng Chen and Long YinLian was about to leave the hall, Xia YuanFeng called out to them.

“Wait! Is it possible for me to accompany him? Ah’Yin is visually impaired he would need someone to help him get by…” Xia YuanFeng said, hoping that he would be allowed to come along. After all, he didn’t feel assured if Long YinLian goes by his own.

“The Emperor only named him. As his loyal servant, I do not dare to go over my authority and bring an extra person,” Meng Chen replied. “Xia Patriarch don’t have to worry. This Meng Chen will naturally be willing to help him get by,” he added after a while. After that, despite his unwillingness, Xia YuanFeng can only watch as Long YinLian left with Meng Chen.

Meng Chen also did not mistreat Long YinLian. He asked for a carriage from the Court and helped Long YinLian inside before acting as the coachmen. He brought the carriage through the gate of the Imperial Palace and directly into the inner court.

They alighted from the carriage and Meng Chen helped Long YinLian to the Emperor’s study. But when they arrived, they were told that the Emperor is not in the study by the guards on duty. “Meng Chen, His Majesty left you a message. His Majesty told us that if we see you, we have to tell you to bring the honoured guest to Tianlong Palace.”

Hearing the word Tianlong Palace, even Meng Chen could no longer suppress the fear in his heart. ‘Next time, I have to treat these two people better if I don’t want to lose my head!’ he thought as he then led Long YinLian once more.

Tianlong Palace is the palace where the Emperor lives. The people who were allowed inside other than the working servants can be counted by a single hand. And it must also be said that not even the Emperor’s Royal Uncle and living siblings were allowed into its wall. The only other person that Meng Chen knew is his general, General Bai.

When they arrived, Meng Chen saw that his general is already waiting outside the entrance to the palace’s courtyard. As soon as they got close enough, Meng Chen saluted the other person. “Greetings to General Bai!”

“En. Is this the person that His Majesty is waiting for?”

“Yes, sir,” Meng Chen replied.

“Alright. I will take over from here. You can wait outside,” the general said before he went over to Long YinLian.

“Honorable master, please come with me,” General Bai said as he then helped Long YinLian into the courtyard.

Long YinLian had been quiet throughout the journey. Based on what he hears, he knew that they are currently in the Imperial Palace. ‘Since we are in the palace… then Xiao’er is also brought here?’ it was only his worry for Lin Xiao did he dare to step into the Emperor’s residence. After all, if he accidentally did something, or hear something that he shouldn’t, then all that awaits him is death.

When they entered the main residence of Tianlong palace, Long YinLian immediately noticed that something was wrong. The palace was too quiet.

“General Bai, help the guest to his chair,” Long YinLian heard the Emperor’s voice. At first, he thought that he would be treated roughly but the general only politely asked for Long YinLian to follow him and even carefully helped him to his seat. “You can leave us now. Zhen has a few questions for the guest.”

From his sharp hearing, Long YinLian heard the footsteps getting farther and farther until he could no longer hear it.

“This person… you said you adopted him. Will you please tell Zhen how you found him?”

“Your Majesty, I—”

“Zhen has been looking for someone these past few years, and your son looks similar to him. He was Zhen’s most important person. Unfortunately, he was plotted against, and before Zhen could save him, Zhen was told that he had fallen to his death and his remains were eaten by the tigers living in the forest,” Qin YiJun spoke up again. “Zhen heard that you brought along three tigers when you arrive at the Xia family residence?”

“Your Majesty has been investigating me? That person… My three tigers are not the one who ate him. It must be other tigers…” Long YinLian replied.

“Zhen is not accusing your tigers. Zhen only wants to know; how did you find Lin Xiao? Did those tigers of yours help you find him? How was his condition when you found him?”

Long YinLian became more confused at the Emperor’s questions. ‘Indeed, us normal people cannot understand the thought of a monarch…’

From the beginning, Long YinLian began to recount on how he found Lin Xiao, and how the other had decided to live with him. If Long YinLian was able to see, he would be shocked that the son he is talking about, is currently laying on the Emperor’s Daybed and his head rests on the Emperor’s lap. Even the Emperor’s hand is gently stroking the other’s face occasionally.

“So, after waiting for a long time for his family to pick him up, he finally decided that he is an abandoned child? Thus, decided to live with you in order to repay your life-saving grace?” Qin YiJun asked after Long YinLian finished telling his story.

“At first… that was how it is. Then, one day, he saw this humble subject practising his martial arts and he said he wanted to learn. Since then, our relationship changed to that of master and disciple… Time goes by, and this humble servant grew more and more fond of him, so even without realizing, I have thought of him as the son that I would not be able to have.”