The Emperor and His Thief - Chapter 41

Lin Xiao accompanied Fei YuXing and her company to the northern part of the market. The contrast between the eastern part and the northern part was just like heaven and earth. If the owners in the eastern part can work together, the people in the northern part were simply at each other’s throat.

‘The competitiveness is crazy in this part of the market…’ Lin Xiao can’t help but thought as he watched how the owners are having both quality and price wars. Some even bickered with each other, making their potential customers avoid them. ‘Aiya… if you act like that, how can someone go over to your shop, ah!’

Lin Xiao simply followed Fei YuXing closely as they walked through the street while the falcon flew above them, occasionally resting on a roof of a building or on top of a stall. “Sister Fei, about that favor I asked earlier, I hope you won’t tell Shizun that it was from me. Since I sneaked out today, I can’t let him know,” Lin Xiao once again reminded Fei YuXing.

“Don’t worry, brother Lin. Your secret endeavor is safe with me. Father once said that if a man did not act recklessly once, then they are not a man,” Fei YuXing replied with a slight giggle. She can’t help but find Lin Xiao being cute with how he is acting currently.

‘So different from when I first met him in the mountain,’ she thought to herself as she continued to gaze at Lin Xiao.

Occasionally, they would be stopped by merchants who wanted to drag them over to their shop to look at their items. Luckily, Chang Bo was with them so whenever the merchants went overboard, all he did is give them a cold glare and lifts his hand up to his sword strapped on his waist. As soon as the merchants see this, they all quiver in fear and restrained themselves.

“Here we are!” after walking for a while, they finally arrived before a bustling store. Just looking from outside, one can already see how busy the business is.

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Lin Xiao stared at the building before him, then he compared it to the other buildings nearby, then to the small stalls by the roadside. “Sister Fei, this place is the one you mention before? The items inside… are they not expensive?” Lin Xiao asked in a worried tone. The store was several times bigger than the rest, and it even has multiple floors.

He knew Fei YuXing does not have much money on her. Especially not when she lost most of her dowries. The money she has now was simply the pocket money that Xia YuanFeng had given her for the month as a small compensation for the bad experience she had during her journey to the capital.

“It’s alright, brother Lin. After all, you and Master Long saved my life. The thing that I have to get for both of you must be something that has its worth,” Fei YuXing replied.

“You’re getting one for me too?” Lin Xiao asked, feeling surprised.

“Of course, ah! If you didn’t save me at that time, who knows what my life would be by now. I might suffer a fate worse than death!” Fei YuXing said before she took Lin Xiao’s arm and dragged him inside. “Come on, let’s not waste any more time or else, the goods will be sold out!”

When they entered the store, Lin Xiao could see that they have several clothes on display. He could see the price at a glance when he went past them. ‘1 gold and 45 silver for a simple hanfu?!’ Lin Xiao can’t help but feel that the prices were being exaggerated.

Fei YuXing continued to drag Lin Xiao over and soon, they reached the third floor of the store. On this floor, Lin Xiao’s eyes almost turned blind from the price of the items on display. On the ground floor, the highest price Lin Xiao saw was only three gold pieces. But on this floor, even the cheapest one costs 10 gold pieces.

‘That is almost all of my earnings from Ping Jianyu, ah!’ Lin Xiao could only cry out in his heart as they continued to walk around.

“Brother Lin, what do you think about this jade hairpin?” Fei YuXing asked Lin Xiao as she held up a fine, jade pin with excellent craftsmanship. The design was kept very simple and yet, it still exudes the air of elegance that only nobles and royalties should have.

Lin Xiao also felt that such jade hairpin would look good on his beloved master but when he saw the price, he almost vomited blood on the spot. “Fifty gold pieces?! This store is simply outrageous with their pricing! Sister Fei, forget it. Let’s just go downstairs, ah!” Lin Xiao said.

“What are you talking about? The items on the floors below this one are all mass-produced items. They’re not good enough to be given as a present. Don’t worry about the price. Uncle Yuan gave me a lot of money when I told him I wanted to buy gifts for you and Master Long,” Fei YuXing informed Lin Xiao.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao can’t help but feel that his martial uncle is also using this chance to buy gifts for his master. “That… Sister Fei, did martial uncle also tell you to buy two items as gifts?” Lin Xiao asked.

“How did you know, brother Lin?” Fei YuXing sounded surprised that Lin Xiao knew about it.

“I just guessed. I mean, before… we were attacked at his residence so I thought that since he gave you a lot of money, he may also ask you to help him pick a gift for Shizun as a token of apology,” Lin Xiao gave out his reasoning. Of course, in his mind, he thinks differently. ‘Martial uncle… you’re so cunning. You knew Shizun won’t accept your gifts normally, so you have sister Fei help you. How ‘good’ of you, ah!’

“So, what do you think? Will Master Long like this jade hairpin?” Fei YuXing asked Lin Xiao once more, snapping Lin Xiao out of his thought.

“En. That is good. Since Shizun likes to put his hair up, it will look nice on him. He also has a set of clothes that is a matching color with this jade hairpin,” Lin Xiao said. Since he now knew Xia YuanFeng gave them a lot of money for buying gifts for his master, he won’t show any restraint. “And since we’re getting this jade hairpin, how about we pair it with this Jinbu?” Lin Xiao suggested as he picked up the waist ornament and held it up in his hand.

Just like the jade hairpin, it looked simple, but when Lin Xiao looked closely at the jade that was hung on it, he could see how detailed the craftsmanship was. At this, he quickly glanced back at the price tag and when he saw that it was ten gold pieces cheaper compared to the jade hairpin, he let out a sigh of relief.

“That looks great. Alright, let’s get both of them,” Fei YuXing quickly agreed. “Next is your gift. Brother Lin, go on and choose! Don’t worry about the money,” Fei YuXing said as she urged Lin Xiao to pick something up for himself.

“Well…” Lin Xiao now has a troubled expression. He didn’t mind helping to choose for his master but for himself, it’s a different story. He really did not want to trouble a young lady to buy him a gift but seeing Fei YuXing’s expectant eyes, he felt that if he says no, he will only hurt her good feelings.

“Let me look around first,” Lin Xiao said before he once again began to look around. Fei YuXing and her entourage patiently followed him around and it was only when he saw the cheapest Jinbu did he pick it up. Though it’s the cheapest, it still costs exactly ten gold pieces. The Jinbu is simple and even the jade is smaller than the one they got for Long YinLian. “I’ll just have this one,” Lin Xiao said to Fei YuXing.

“Really? There are others that looks more elegant and beautiful,” Fei YuXing said but Lin Xiao didn’t change his mind.

In the end, Fei YuXing can only call for the employee to help put the items in a box and wrap them in a cloth made from silk. Since the money was with Chang Bo, she told the guard to pay for it and also to hold the items.

“No, actually… take out brother Lin’s Jinbu,” Fei YuXing suddenly changed her mind, making Lin Xiao confused.

‘Don’t tell me she wants to change it… Sister Fei, please… I really don’t need anything expensive!’ Lin Xiao thought to himself as he watched Fei YuXing took the Jinbu out of its box. Then she went closer to him and just as she was about to help tie the Jinbu to Lin Xiao’s belt, Lin Xiao quickly took a step back because he felt that she was too close.

“Brother Lin, stay still and let me help you hang this on your waist,” Fei YuXing said with a slight reprimanding tone. When Lin Xiao moved earlier, she almost dropped the ornament down from surprise.

“Sister Fei, I can do it on my own,” Lin Xiao said as he tried to take the Jinbu off from Fei YuXing.

“Nonsense. I’ve never seen you wear it; do you know how to put it on?” Fei YuXing asked, and Lin Xiao can’t say anything else to retort against her.

In the end, he can only let Fei YuXing help put the Jinbu on him and he could only push down the awkward feeling he has to the back of his mind.

When they left the store, it was then that Fei YuXing realized that Lin Xiao has yet to pick a gift for Long YinLian. “Ah! Brother Lin… it was rude of me to forget that you also want to buy something for Master Long. How about we go back in so you can choose?” Fei YuXing said as soon as she remembered.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao quickly shook his head. “No need! What I want to buy for Shizun is something else. Let’s go to the western district.”

“Western district?” hearing this, Fei YuXing showed a look of discomfort. “Brother Lin, must we go there?” she asked for Lin Xiao’s confirmation.

“En. I want to get something for Shizun. A small weapon that can easily be hidden and yet, deadly if used right. That way, if someone tries to ‘take advantage’ of Shizun, he can easily use them where it hurts,” Lin Xiao said with an ‘innocent’ smile on his face.

“I see. Though I shouldn’t go there, since brother Lin says so, then let us go,” Fei YuXing said, though she was still feeling uneasy. For a lady to go over to a rough place like the western part of the market, it really is unsuitable.

Noticing her look, Lin Xiao figured out that she was only forcing herself. “Sister Fei, since you don’t seem comfortable to go to the western district, how about I just go alone, and you continue to walk around? When I found what I need, I’ll come and look for you,” Lin Xiao suggested.

Fei YuXing was just about to reject the suggestion but her maidservant who had been staying quiet this whole time decided to save her young miss. “That is actually a good idea, Lin-gongzi. We will be near the plaza waiting for you,” the maidservant said with her head bowed, and tone full of politeness. Fei YuXing shot her a glare and wanted to tell Lin Xiao that she doesn’t mind going along with him, but Lin Xiao already agreed to the arrangement.

“Then, I’ll come to look for you later. I promise, I won’t take long!” Lin Xiao said as he turned around and left Fei YuXing and her companion.