The Emperor and His Thief - Chapter 51

Without any choices, Lin Xiao and Long Yinlian can only accept Bai Chenyi to be their escort and bodyguard. Before leaving the Imperial Palace, Bai Chenyi had talked to Meng Chen and by the time he’s done, Lin Xiao could see the look that Meng Chen was giving him. It was clearly asking him what he had done for the general to be demoted to a mere bodyguard.

Lin Xiao, of course, didn’t know what he did. In fact, he himself still could understand what happened before. He only knew that he suddenly obtained a bodyguard of a general class. So, to answer Meng Chen’s questioning look, he only gave the other a shrug of his shoulders.

Meng Chen didn’t seem to accept his answer and walked over to him. Bai Chenyi saw this, and a frown appeared on his face.

“Meng Chen,” he called out. His voice contained a hidden warning, but Meng Chen didn’t seem to realize it as he continued to approach Lin Xiao. “Meng Chen, don’t cause any trouble,” Bai Chenyi once again gave out his warning.

“But General Bai! How can you be content being his personal bodyguard? And for an indefinite amount of time too! Just because he can’t protect himself, does he have to trouble you? A great general is being reduced to a mere bodyguard?” Meng Chen voiced out his dissatisfaction.

Lin Xiao who heard it, felt insulted. He narrowed his eyes as he confronted Meng Chen, glaring at him. “I don’t even want your general to be my bodyguard! The one who ordered him to be one is the Emperor. If you have anything to say, say it to him! I’d be more than happy to return without any escort,” Lin Xiao said before he grabbed Meng Chen by the front of his robe, pulling on it so he could look at Meng Chen in the eyes. “And you dare say that I can’t protect myself? I assure you if I want to… I’d be able to beat you up until you’re crying all the way to your mother’s bosom!”

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“You… you… You-!” Meng Chen ended up being too angry to even form a proper sentence.

“’You, you, you’ what?! Did you turn stupid already? If you have anything else to say, say it now!”

Long Yinlian rarely hears Lin Xiao getting angry. The only few times, it was because of bandits. But Meng Chen is a guard. No matter how low his rank is, he is still an official. Long Yinlian wanted to stop Lin Xiao when Lin Xiao first started to respond to Meng Chen, but he was suddenly stopped by Bai Chenyi.

“Let them have at it. They are still young, and have too much energy to spare,” Bai Chenyi said. “Don’t worry. I won’t let your son be hurt.”

‘It’s not Xiao-er I’m worried about… that little guard doesn’t know what he’s getting into,’ Long Yinlian said in his heart. “General Bai, if the Emperor got wind of this, won’t you get in trouble?” Long Yinlian asked.

“I will be responsible for my own decision.”

Meng Chen’s blood raised up to his head, a vein could be seen on his forehead, showing just how angry he was. “If you can protect yourself, then why would His Majesty send one of the best generals he has to protect you?!”

“How would I know, ba! Maybe your general had turned rusty, so the Emperor thought that your general had been too idle. Rather than letting him idle around, it’s best to be a bodyguard instead!”

Bai Chenyi: …

“I’m sorry… I apologize on behalf of Xiao-er,” Long Yinlian said in an apologetic tone.

“It’s alright… I know someone who would probably say the same thing as your son…” Bai Chenyi replied.

As Lin Xiao and Meng Chen continued to make a scene with their argument, the officials and other guards had started to gather, curious about what is happening.

“What’s this? Is it a fight?!” one of the guards who had just arrived asked around.

“Yes. It looks like its Meng Chen. There’s General Bai nearby but it doesn’t seem like he plans on doing something about it…”

“What? Not doing anything? Is Meng Chen on the right here or…?”

“Hmm… I heard from someone who came earlier than I say that the guy that’s currently having a beef with Meng Chen even insulted General Bai so, maybe?”

More and more whispers could be heard while both Lin Xiao and Meng Chen appeared to be deaf about it. With how much commotion had been caused, naturally more high-ranking officials would come to know about it. One particular general, known for his straight-forwardness and hot-headedness also came over out of curiosity.

When he arrived, everyone moved to give him the way. He walked until he saw Meng Chen and Lin Xiao engaging in a word fight. “Bah! What’s this? I heard there was a fight and all I see is two men fighting with their mouth. How disappointing!” the general said. His voice was loud enough that every other whisper died down and finally, Lin Xiao and Meng Chen finally realized their surroundings.

“General Bing,” Meng Chen turned and saluted the other man respectfully.

“Oh, if it isn’t Meng Chen! I see that General Bai is here too,” the man known as General Bing said with a huge smile. “But what are you guys doing, ah! If there is any dispute, just throw them in the dungeon!”

When Lin Xiao heard this, his impression of this general plummeted down to the lowest.

“We can’t do that, General Bing. They are the honoured guests of His Majesty,” General Bai replied. “His Majesty placed them at utmost importance,” he added.

Almost immediately, General Bing’s expression changed. “So, they are His Majesty’s guest… My apologies, young man,” General Bing said as he slightly bowed his head while apologizing to Lin Xiao. “But why is Meng Chen fighting with you?”

When General Bing apologized to him, Lin Xiao was surprised. ‘Maybe, he is not that bad…’ Lin Xiao thought to himself. When he was asked why Meng Chen was finding fault with him, Lin Xiao turned to glare at Meng Chen again. “Because this idiot said that I’m weak even though he’s clearly weaker than me! He can’t even give me a chase back in the market!”

“What was that?! If you were not so cowardly, would you even run when I chased after you?”

The two once again engaged in word fight and General Bing wasn’t interested. “Alright, enough! Isn’t this easy to solve? Since the problem lays on who is stronger, then just have a spar! Whoever wins is the stronger one. Men! Get me two of those wooden training swords!”